Best Ambassadors Academy Podcasts (2024)

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Episode 47 - Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Training and Workforce Support 32:17

1h ago32:17

32:17

Send us a text This week we’re highlighting early childhood workforce development opportunities in the Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health space. Joining us is DECAL’s Laura Lucas, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Director, Dr. Bentley Ponder, Deputy Commissioner of Quality Innovations and Partnerships, and our guests from Georgia Stat…

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169. Becoming Educators, Gaining Confidence and Becoming "Good Enough" 49:00

8m ago49:00

49:00

Kim Sandberg is the Education Manager at Handi Quilter, as well as a talented teacher and quilter. She offers a wealth of inspiration, covering topics like building confidence in your skills, addressing the common question, "Am I good enough?", avoiding pitfalls as a quilting educator, and marketing. If you're passionate about sharing your love for…

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Episode 46 - Family Peer Ambassadors 20:23

3d ago20:23

20:23

Send us a text Since Fall 2019, DECAL has had a group of volunteers working in their communities to share information with families about the resources available in our state. Our DECAL Family Peer Ambassadors are fathers, mothers, grandparents, foster parents, and other kinship caregivers of young children. They serve as leaders in their community…

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168. Taking out the Fear and Emotion of Money 43:10

7d ago43:10

43:10

Taking out the Fear and Emotion of Money with Danielle Hayden. Danielle is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc. a bookkeeping and accounting firm that is on a mission to coach six figure (+ beyond) female entrepreneurs so they can better understand their numbers through bookkeeping, financial analysis, and support so they can grow p…

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Episode 45 - Car Seat Safety Awareness Week 33:24

10d ago33:24

33:24

Send us a text The third week in September is Care Seat Safety Awareness Week which focuses on the proper use of car safety seats for children. The national campaign urges parents and caregivers to protect their children making sure they secure them in the correct car seat for their age, height, and weight. Joining us to talk about Car Seat Safety …

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167. How To Have a Career As A Quilt Pattern Writer 34:56

14d ago34:56

34:56

Jennifer Long, one of the most skilled and experienced quilt pattern writers, shares her insights on building a successful career in pattern writing. We discuss the intricacies of pattern writing, along with an exciting announcement for all quilt pattern writers! Turn your CRAFT into a CAREER! Did you find this podcast helpful? Find more creative b…

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Episode 44 - LITTLE Grants 30:45

23d ago30:45

30:45

Send us a text Licensed Family Child Care Learning Homes and Child Care Learning Centers in Georgia who are two or three-star Quality Rated are eligible for grants aimed at fostering early language and literacy skills of infants and toddlers. The LITTLE grants, standing for Lifting Infants and Toddlers Through Language-Rich Enviroments, equips prov…

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Episode 43 - CDC's "Let's Rise" (Routine Immunizations on Schedule for Everyone) 24:20

30d ago24:20

24:20

Send us a text New data from the CDC here in Atlanta show that vaccinations among kindergarteners has declined to its lowest level in decades and an estimated 750,000 young learners entered kindergarten during the COVID-19 pandemic who were not up to date on their school vaccinations. Joining us this week to talk about immunizations is Kathleen Hol…

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166. Crochet and Craft Shows 56:45

28d ago56:45

56:45

Crochet and Craft Shows with Camryn of Camryn's Cute Creations shares all about her journey to make her love of crocheting into a full time career! She is not only a talented crochet artist, but she sells patterns, crocheted baby products and teaches others how to be successful at craft shows! If you have been wanting to make your craft, art or som…

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Episode 42 - Georgia's 2Gen Academy 35:52

1M ago35:52

35:52

Send us a text The second class of a two-generation academy created by Commissioner Jacobs has now graduated. The Georgia 2Gen Academy is presented each year by the Georgia Children’s Cabinet and facilitated by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia. Twenty-six representatives from state agencies, including DECAL and a…

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Episode 41 - Preparing for Pre-K 33:01

1M ago33:01

33:01

Send us a text As the new school year approaches, thousands of children across Georgia are getting ready to take their first steps into the world of structured learning in Georgia’s nationally recognized Pre-K Program. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming for both parents and children. Joining us to talk about preparing for Georgi…

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165. The Power of Creativity with Janet Clare 56:18

1M ago56:18

56:18

Textile artist shares about her career and the power of creativity. Hear insight and ideas for your creative business! Turn your CRAFT into a CAREER! Did you find this podcast helpful? Find more creative business takeaways, tutorials, courses, plus much more below. SHOW NOTES: https://quilterscandy.com/https://quilterscandy.com/podcast-episodes/pod…

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Episode 40 - State School Superintendent Richard Woods 53:49

2M ago53:49

53:49

Send us a text For nearly a decade, Richard Woods has served as State School Superintendent here in Georgia. He has over 30 years of experience in public education, from Pre-K through 12th-grade. He was a high school teacher for 14 years, serving as department chair and teacher mentor….he has also served in administrative roles like principal, ass…

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164. Sewing Illustrations with Minki Kim 52:37

2M ago52:37

52:37

Hear Minki Kims story! Minki is a Fine Arts major and has formal training as a sculptor but has turned her artistic talent into using thread, fabric and her sewing machine into beautiful sewn illustrations! She is not only a sewing illustrator, but a fabric and sewing designer and author. Hear her insights and be inspired on episode 164 of the Craf…

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Episode 39 - We Care Child Care Sweepstakes & Careers at DECAL 40:58

2M ago40:58

40:58

Send us a text You’re getting two topics for the price of one on this week's podcast. First, it’s never too soon to start saving for your child’s college education. DECAL and Path2College 529 Plan are making that easier with the We Care Child Care Sweepstakes. And then, careers at DECAL…this year we celebrate 20 years as one of the few state agenci…

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163. Jaycee Afuvai 45:30

2M ago45:30

45:30

Jaycee Afuvai is a creative business owner. She is a fabulous embroidery artist who does beautiful work and is known as the Stay at Home Artist. She shares her business story, insights and helpful business tips, especially for new entreprenuers who feel like imposters or have fear of taking themselves and their ideas seriously. She encourages you t…

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Episode 38 - New State Laws and their impact on DECAL 24:32

2M ago24:32

24:32

Send us a text Last month, we looked at the impact on DECAL of the $36-million Fiscal Year 2025 budget signed by Governor Kemp in May. There several bills passed by the Georgia General Assembly and signed by the Governor that took effect July 1 and have an impact on DECAL. Joining us to talk about these new laws taking effect is Rian Ringsrud, Depu…

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162. When People Steal Your Ideas 29:14

2M ago29:14

29:14

Have you been bothered or hurt by someone has stolen your business idea? In this episode, I address this topic and invite you to think of it differently... for your benefit. If you think your design or idea is unique, then you're kidding yourself. Now obviously there are certain situations when trademarks, brands, logos, etc are stolen that are leg…

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Episode 37 - Open Records 35:54

2M ago35:54

35:54

Send us a text Open Records play a crucial role in promoting an open government by providing citizens with the tools to engage with and understand the workings of their government. The concept of Open Records in grounded in the principles of transparency and accountability, ensuring that the public can obtain information about government operations…

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161. Success is Not Correlated With Effort 25:19

2M ago25:19

25:19

Our success is not correlated with our effort. This is a big fallacy. Burnt out? We don't have to kill ourselves to get the success that we want. I talk about shifting our mindset and being better served by realizing that you can work less and have even more success. I'll explain what I mean by this, as wrll as how you can avoid burnout and do what…

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Episode 36 - Update on CAPS Payments to Providers 29:38

3M ago29:38

29:38

Send us a text Last year, DECAL took over the provider management function of the CAPS Program, something previously handled by our contractor, Maximus. We implemented these changes to offer more streamlined and effective services to child care providers who play a crucial role in supporting children and families. A major component of offering more…

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Episode 35 - Children's Author Kelly Young-Silverman 34:41

3M ago34:41

34:41

Send us a text A Georgia teacher and author has a new children’s book that takes readers on a food tour of our state. Kelly Young-Silverman is a teacher at The Lovett School in Atlanta. She lives in Marietta with her husband and daughter. The book is called “Hot Boiled Peanuts” and highlights lots of culinary delights from the Peach state. Hope you…

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160. Why Some Succeed (and Others Don’t) 40:13

3M ago40:13

40:13

Why is it that some people succeed and some do not? Mindset matters! Elizabeth shares about the "bell curve" and five thought processes that we all may find ourselves having in different situations as a business owner and as a customer. These mindsets can determine our success. Plus, Elizabeth shares some marketing and business insight with a littl…

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Episode 34 - FY2025 Budget Impact on DECAL 37:20

3M ago37:20

37:20

Send us a text In May, Governor Brian Kemp signed the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget at a signing ceremony in the North Wing of the State Capitol. It’s a $36-billion budget that includes raises for state employees and public school teachers as well as an influx of $97-million for Georgia’s Pre-K Program. Joining us to talk about the FY2025 Budget Impact o…

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159. How to Handle the Haters 29:21

3M ago29:21

29:21

Anyone in business who is growing and having sucess WILL get haters. This can range from mild to severe. Learn what to do when the heat goes up and people start hating on you, your business, or how you run your business. There is a time and place to listen to feedback, and then there are strategies when it's not in your best intrest to engage. Lear…

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Episode 33 - Chat with Pam Stevens 27:17

3M ago27:17

27:17

Send us a text With over 4,300 licensed child care programs in Georgia, our Child Care Services Division is dedicated to ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment through licensing, monitoring, and professional development. We do it all to support the growth and development of Georgia’s young children. Today we're chatting with Deputy Commis…

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158. What A Female Billionaire Teaches Us 29:02

3M ago29:02

29:02

Love her or hate her, we have so much to learn from this female billionaire. In fact, being so loved AND hated by people is part of the lesson. We want to attract and repel people. Taylor Swift does just that. Learn tangible lessons that make your business more fun (for you and your customers), and more profitable! Turn your CRAFT into a CAREER! Di…

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Episode 32 - A Magnificent Field Trip to the Governor's Mansion 35:35

4M ago35:35

35:35

Send us a text When Author, Super Bowl Champion, and Valdosta Native Malcolm Mitchell sat down to write his second book for Georgia’s Pre-K Program, he set the story at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion where the First Couple welcomed students on a field trip to “The People’s House.” On May 8, thanks to Malcolm, First Lady Marty Kemp and DECAL Commiss…

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Episode 31 - Retiring DECAL employees 31:17

4M ago31:17

31:17

Send us a text A career in state government offers employees an engaging and diverse work environment that allows them to fulfill personal and professional ambitions while taking pride in providing services that contribute to Georgia’s success. The work of a state employee impacts economic development, environmental quality, education, housing, hea…

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Giving up on Instagram? Think again! With Nicole Burke 47:38

4M ago47:38

47:38

I hear you. You are tired of trying to play the algorithm game. Your engagement is lower than before. You aren't seeing growth. Is it even worth it to be on Instagram as a business owner? Let me tell you. IT IS WORTH IT! And even better? There are strategies that can help you grow your audience, get engagement, and not just for vanity. All of this …

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EPISODE 32 - Glenn Hoddle 1:13:27

4M ago1:13:27

1:13:27

We are graced with true Spurs royalty on Off The Shelf this week 👑 Joining Milesy and Ben Haines on the podcast is lifelong fan, generational football talent, former England manager and a person who transcends the beautiful game, Glenn Hoddle 🤍 Growing up as a football-obsessed kid, Glenn describes how he fell in love with the Club, progressing thr…

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Episode 30 - Look Again 25:07

4M ago25:07

25:07

Send us a text For the eleventh consecutive year, DECAL is reminding families and caregivers of children to increase their awareness of the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles. Joining us to talk about preventing vehicular heatstroke is Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety; Robert Hydrick, Communications M…

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156. Quilter On Fire Brandy Maslowski 34:37

4M ago34:37

34:37

Brandy is a fellow quilter and podcast host. She shares her unique journey from fire fighter to quilterpreneur, her different revenue sources, and what has really helped her business grow. It can be hard to leave a full-time business and make a create career work, but Brandy has done this. She shares how she did this so that you can do the same. Tu…

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Episode 29 - CareSource 18:24

4M ago18:24

18:24

Send us a text Our Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning recently received the Heart of Community Award from CareSource, a nationally recognized, nonprofit managed care organization serving over 2 million members across five states including Georgia. Joining us to talk about the award from CareSource is Senior Manager for Population Healin…

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155. Becky Campbell of Sew Forever 26:13

4M ago26:13

26:13

Join Becky's coaching call where we look at her unique niche for English Paper Piecing. Becky has a unique product and is struggling to grow her audience and sell more products. As we tlak about what Becky can do to get more success, you will learn that these same skills will work for any business owner to grow your audience and get more sales, as …

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EPISODE 31 - Karl Steptoe 47:29

4M ago47:29

47:29

Off The Shelf this week is exploring something completely new and different as joining Daws and Milesy is the Club's Sport & Exercise Psychologist, Karl Steptoe. In this engaging episode, lifelong Spurs fan Karl shares his journey from how a professional golf career then stemmed into sports psychology and now working with elite sportspeople in foot…

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Episode 28 - Educators Luncheon 35:53

4M ago35:53

35:53

Send us a text Friday, April 19, was a big day for DECAL, the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning, and all of our educators of the year being honored this year. The Georgia Lottery and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon honoring our three Early Childhood Educators of the Year and our two Georgia’s Pre-K Program Teach…

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154. Secret To Success: with Joe Hudson 59:44

4M ago59:44

59:44

Joe Hudson is the owner of Art of Accomplishment. He has been a venture capitalist, coaches CEOS, and successful business owners and teams. He joins us on the Craft To Career podcast to discuss some hidden secrets of success. After working with top earners in the business world, he has seen what makes or breaks an individual and a company/business.…

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Episode 27 - Summer Plans 27:47

5M ago27:47

27:47

Send us a text It might be May but the Summer of 2024 is just around the corner…starts June 20 according to the calendar, but really kicks in sooner than that here in Georgia. The question is….are you ready? Joining us to talk about Summer Plans in Georgia is Sonja Steptoe, Communications and Outreach Manager in our Quality Innovations and Partners…

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153. Business Growth with Artist Alex Kincaid 58:29

5M ago58:29

58:29

Alex is a floral watercolor teacher who sells and licenses her art. Her business has grown a LOT in recent years. She shares what has made the difference, what entrepreneurs can learn about memberships, surrounding yourself with other successful individuals, and what makes (and what doesn't) make a difference for success. Turn your CRAFT into a CAR…

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BONUS EPISODE - Life Advice 15:34

5M ago15:34

15:34

"It's always nice to be important, but even more important to be nice" - this bonus episode is dedicated to life advice. Hear from our Off The Shelf guests as they share their pearls of wisdom and advice to help empower you on your journey in football or in life. From career decisions to personal growth, this special episode offers practical gems a…

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Episode 26 - Upgrade to PANDA 38:45

5M ago38:45

38:45

Send us a text This fall will be the 32nd year of Georgia’s Pre-K Program which now serves nearly 72,000 students statewide. This year we are making significant improvements to PANDA, the Pre-K Application and Database Access system for providers. Joining us today to talk about Georgia’s Pre-K Program and the online improvements is Susan Adams, Dep…

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152. Embroidery Teacher Alexis Galloway 57:44

5M ago57:44

57:44

Join the coaching call with Alexis as we talk about how to add a new course to what she offers. Alexis has been a succssful business woman for years, but is ready to uplevel her business. Alexis teaches people how ot start a business as an embroiderer. She has studied business and applied many business skills already. This is a really fun call to h…

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BONUS EPISODE - Football Memorabilia 16:57

5M ago16:57

16:57

This bonus episode is all about memorabilia 🏆💫 Those priceless items that our Off The Shelf guests have collected from encounters with football icons or those that hold sentimental value from precious moments throughout their careers 🤍 From football shirts, hat-trick balls, international caps, a coat hanger and Diego Maradona's boots and shirts... …

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Episode 25 - Economic Impact Study 40:19

5M ago40:19

40:19

Send us a text In March, DECAL released the results of our most recent Economic Impact Study, which evaluates the importance of the early care and education industry to the state’s economy. This is the third Economic Impact Study we have commissioned, following the first in 2008 and the second in 2016. Like previous studies, this report is a collab…

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151. What next: Coaching with Aynex Quilts 34:42

5M ago34:42

34:42

A winner of a free one-on-one coaching call, Aynex Quilts, shares her professional life and her creative Turn your CRAFT into a CAREER! Did you find this podcast helpful? Find more creative business takeaways, tutorials, courses, plus much more below. SHOW NOTES: https://quilterscandy.com/category/podcast-episodes/ QUILTERS CANDY WEBSITE: https://q…

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BONUS EPISODE - Ultimate 5-A-Side Teams 16:07

5M ago16:07

16:07

In this bonus episode, we set our Off The Shelf guests a very tricky task: build an Ultimate 5️⃣-a-side Spurs team 💫 Hear from some of our esteemed stars as we put them on the spot to make the BIG team calls when selecting a five-man squad 🤔 Sounds easy, right? Well, as you'll hear in this special episode, it's anything but! Who would make your sid…

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Episode 24 - Children's Mental Health Week 2024 30:14

5M ago30:14

30:14

Send us a text DECAL will celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week in Georgia May 6-10, 2024, as we have done for the last four years in the first full week of May. Similar to Georgia’s Pre-K Week, and Inclusive Early Learning Week, this special week in May reminds us that the early years in a child’s life provide a key opportunity to establish safe…

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150. Quilts and Macramé with Ellene McClay 1:02:51

5M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Ellene of Brave Nouvelle was an art teacher for years. She has studied and taught many forms of art, and recently started a creative business with these skills. Ellene feels a quilt isn’t finished without embellishment. For example, she loves to add a macrame element to her quilts. With people asking if she teaches this, we discussed how she could …

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EPISODE 30 - Michael Dawson 1:21:59

6M ago1:21:59

1:21:59

Yes, you read that right, the tables have turned as host Michael 'Daws' Dawson takes to the Off The Shelf hot seat 🤍 In our 3️⃣0️⃣th episode, the charismatic Yorkshireman takes us on a trip down memory Lane across his 324 appearances, like forging close relationships in a tight-knit dressing room that culminated in League Cup success 🏆 high praise …

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