<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/style.xsl" type="text/xsl"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><atom:link href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/small-talk-big-ideas/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title><![CDATA[Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners]]></title><podcast:guid>7bc88923-d0ad-5f92-b827-8b7358ff0d48</podcast:guid><lastBuildDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:00:15 +0000</lastBuildDate><generator>Captivate.fm</generator><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright 2026 NAEYC]]></copyright><managingEditor>NAEYC</managingEditor><itunes:summary><![CDATA[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.]]></itunes:summary><image><url>https://artwork.captivate.fm/2afa0f67-b9c3-44dc-89ae-fa9273ad327b/Web-Photo-Editor-1.jpg</url><title>Small Talk: Big Ideas About Little Learners</title><link><![CDATA[https://naeyc.org/smalltalk]]></link></image><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/2afa0f67-b9c3-44dc-89ae-fa9273ad327b/Web-Photo-Editor-1.jpg"/><itunes:owner><itunes:name>NAEYC</itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author>NAEYC</itunes:author><description>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.</description><link>https://naeyc.org/smalltalk</link><atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" rel="hub"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>serial</itunes:type><itunes:category text="Education"></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Kids &amp; Family"><itunes:category text="Education for Kids"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Education"><itunes:category text="Self-Improvement"/></itunes:category><podcast:locked>no</podcast:locked><podcast:medium>podcast</podcast:medium><item><title>Leading for Change: Rhian Evans Allvin and Mark Ginsberg</title><itunes:title>Leading for Change: Rhian Evans Allvin and Mark Ginsberg</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p>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.</p><p>Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO</p><p>Guests:</p><ol><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Mark Ginsberg, President, Towson University (NAEYC CEO 1999--2010)</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Rhian Evans Allvin, Founder, Brynmor Early Education &amp; Preschool (NAEYC CEO 2013--2022)</li></ol><br/>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>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.</p><p>Host: Michelle Kang, NAEYC CEO</p><p>Guests:</p><ol><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Mark Ginsberg, President, Towson University (NAEYC CEO 1999--2010)</li><li data-list="bullet"><span class="ql-ui" contenteditable="false"></span>Rhian Evans Allvin, Founder, Brynmor Early Education &amp; Preschool (NAEYC CEO 2013--2022)</li></ol><br/>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://naeyc.org/smalltalk]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">d05ef7e5-8c12-405e-8a26-b453f2447ba5</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/2afa0f67-b9c3-44dc-89ae-fa9273ad327b/Web-Photo-Editor-1.jpg"/><pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:00:00 -0400</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/d05ef7e5-8c12-405e-8a26-b453f2447ba5.mp3" length="67365120" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>28:04</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>1</itunes:season><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><podcast:episode>1</podcast:episode><podcast:season>1</podcast:season></item><item><title>Season Trailer</title><itunes:title>Season Trailer</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[<p>How important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for</p><p>child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together</p><p>to shape the future of early learning?</p><p>NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk:</p><p>Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues</p><p>dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up</p><p>for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future.</p><p>Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.</p>]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>How important is play to a child’s brain development? Why do Americans pay so much for</p><p>child care while educators earn so little? How can families and policymakers work together</p><p>to shape the future of early learning?</p><p>NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, presents Small Talk:</p><p>Big Ideas About Little Learners. CEO Michelle Kang and her colleagues</p><p>dive into conversations that matter now -- to little learners and the big people who show up</p><p>for them, bringing you stories of struggle, inspiration, and hope for our children’s future.</p><p>Learn more at https://www.naeyc.org/smalltalk.</p>]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://naeyc.org/smalltalk]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">63d6df3d-176c-4c44-a243-680807b2bfb4</guid><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/2afa0f67-b9c3-44dc-89ae-fa9273ad327b/Web-Photo-Editor-1.jpg"/><pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:35:00 -0400</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/63d6df3d-176c-4c44-a243-680807b2bfb4.mp3" length="4014720" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>01:40</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>