<![CDATA[Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners]]>7bc88923-d0ad-5f92-b827-8b7358ff0d48Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:04 +0000Captivate.fmNAEYChttps://artwork.captivate.fm/2afa0f67-b9c3-44dc-89ae-fa9273ad327b/Web-Photo-Editor-1.jpgSmall Talk: Big Ideas About Little LearnersNAEYCNAEYCHow important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together to shape the future of early learning? NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future. Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.https://naeyc.org/smalltalkfalseserialnopodcastPay Equity: Berna Artis and Owen SchochetPay Equity: Berna Artis and Owen SchochetIt seemed fair to pay early childhood educators the same as K-12 teachers with similar education and experience. Taxpayers and policymakers in Washington, DC, agreed, setting up the Pay Equity Fund. The move increased ECE salaries by $15,000 per year, stabilizing the workforce and opening more childcare slots for families. NAEYC’s Daniel Hains talks with DCAEYC Executive Director Berna Artis and Mathematica Senior Researcher Owen Schochet about what’s working, what’s threatened, and what DC’s experiment signals about the fate of similar pay equity efforts around the country.

]]>It seemed fair to pay early childhood educators the same as K-12 teachers with similar education and experience. Taxpayers and policymakers in Washington, DC, agreed, setting up the Pay Equity Fund. The move increased ECE salaries by $15,000 per year, stabilizing the workforce and opening more childcare slots for families. NAEYC’s Daniel Hains talks with DCAEYC Executive Director Berna Artis and Mathematica Senior Researcher Owen Schochet about what’s working, what’s threatened, and what DC’s experiment signals about the fate of similar pay equity efforts around the country.

]]>1a04e01c-0204-4520-97a2-045758bab533Wed, 20 May 2026 02:00:00 -040036:11falsefull1331The Power of Play: Kathy Hirsh-PasekThe Power of Play: Kathy Hirsh-PasekFor decades, researchers in early childhood development have documented evidence that young children learn best while doing what they do best: playing. CEO Michelle Kang explores the importance of play in helping little learners build foundational skills in literacy, math, and more, in a conversation with author, Temple University Professor, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.

]]>For decades, researchers in early childhood development have documented evidence that young children learn best while doing what they do best: playing. CEO Michelle Kang explores the importance of play in helping little learners build foundational skills in literacy, math, and more, in a conversation with author, Temple University Professor, and Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Kathy Hirsh-Pasek.

]]>b64eb11a-7d2e-44d4-a4db-c785318c9b5fWed, 15 Apr 2026 12:00:00 -040037:31falsefull1221Leading for Change: Rhian Evans Allvin and Mark GinsbergLeading for Change: Rhian Evans Allvin and Mark GinsbergThree NAEYC CEOs, spanning 25 years of leadership, reflect on what it means to lead the early childhood education field through periods of upheaval, uncertainty, and change. As NAEYC kicks off its centennial year, CEO Michelle Kang sits down with two of her predecessors to talk about where the early learning field has been and where we are going.

Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO

Guests:

  1. Mark Ginsberg, President, Towson University (NAEYC CEO 1999--2010)
  2. Rhian Evans Allvin, Founder, Brynmor Early Education & Preschool (NAEYC CEO 2013--2022)

]]>Three NAEYC CEOs, spanning 25 years of leadership, reflect on what it means to lead the early childhood education field through periods of upheaval, uncertainty, and change. As NAEYC kicks off its centennial year, CEO Michelle Kang sits down with two of her predecessors to talk about where the early learning field has been and where we are going.

Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO

Guests:

  1. Mark Ginsberg, President, Towson University (NAEYC CEO 1999--2010)
  2. Rhian Evans Allvin, Founder, Brynmor Early Education & Preschool (NAEYC CEO 2013--2022)

]]>d05ef7e5-8c12-405e-8a26-b453f2447ba5Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -040028:04falsefull1111Season TrailerSeason TrailerHow important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for

child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together

to shape the future of early learning?

NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk:

Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues

dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up

for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future.

Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.

]]>How important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for

child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together

to shape the future of early learning?

NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk:

Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues

dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up

for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future.

Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.

]]>63d6df3d-176c-4c44-a243-680807b2bfb4Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:35:00 -040001:40falsefull