Best Chanie Wilschanski Podcasts (2024)

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From Overwhelmed to Thriving Leader with Stacey Smith 28:41

1d ago28:41

28:41

In the demanding world of early education, balancing professional challenges and personal life can feel overwhelming. So, how did Stacy Smith, founder of Big Timber Daycare, transform her childcare center into a thriving example of integrated leadership and personal fulfillment? Join Chanie Wilschanski as she and Stacy delve into the transformative…

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189. Audit Season: Maximizing Summer to Enhance School Leadership 20:31

9d ago20:31

20:31

When I lived in New York, I spent a lot of time inside during the winter because I didn’t want to freeze my face. But here in Florida, it’s the exact opposite. I find myself indoors all summer because I don’t want to melt. My older kids are away at camp, and Mayer’s and my work schedules both have a little bit more flexibility. We’ve started a fami…

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188. How to Coach Staff when they are in a State of Helplessness 17:04

15d ago17:04

17:04

One of my clients is a school owner who hired a new director to lead a brand-new location. In the beginning, the director was doing a great job. But then she started to fall short… including on tasks that were not all that complicated. The owner was concerned the director was acting helpless, especially when it came to her regular duties. She said …

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187. Tolerating Good Enough For Long Enough To Create Excellence 31:09

29d ago31:09

31:09

I remember when I got my first W2 job when I was 19. I was so proud and excited. I was working hard, showing up every day, and doing my best. But when I got that first paycheck, my heart sank. I thought, “There’s something wrong. This is not the amount that was in my contract.” I went to my boss and gently let her know about the mistake. Little did…

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186. Navigating Conflicting Emotions Around Big Decisions 21:18

1M ago21:18

21:18

Big decisions are tough. I was speaking with one of my clients who was considering letting a director go. There was a clear mismatch of values between the director and the school. Everything the owner had tried to get the director on track had failed. And yet if she fired the director, the owner would have to expand her workload. She would get stuc…

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185. Veteran vs New Staff: Leadership and Decision Making 31:29

1M ago31:29

31:29

During my second year of teaching, I was only 20 years old. Our school had teachers do home visits before the school year started, so the child could get to know their teacher before entering the classroom. I remember one home visit distinctly because the child’s mom came on so strong. “How old are you? Do you have a college degree? Are you in a re…

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184. Veteran vs New Staff: Professional Development 30:12

2M ago30:12

30:12

I was recently texting with a one-on-one client. She had a decision to make about professional development, and she asked me what she should do. It would have been easier for me to say, “Do XYZ.” But I didn’t. Instead, I wrote back, “You hired me to coach, mentor, and uplevel you. I want you to trust your decision-making ability. What do you believ…

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183. Veteran vs New Staff: Parent and Child Engagement 21:34

2M ago21:34

21:34

Recently, I was reading an article in the Journal of Human Resources that highlighted a difference in the teaching practices between veteran teachers and new teachers. Veteran teachers demonstrate confidence and expertise in the classroom. They’re experienced, and they love to be recognized for what they’ve brought to your school. New teachers are …

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182. Building a Culture of Excellence with Kathy Gray 33:17

2M ago33:17

33:17

In 2019, Kathy owned three ECE centers near Richmond, Virginia. She felt a lot of empathy for the dedicated women who worked in her school. They always were the kind of people who would always give, give, give without receiving in return. They were burning the midnight oil and without inner peace. That meant burnout was on the horizon. Kathy knew s…

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181. Winning in the Dark: Shame and Anger 32:49

2M ago32:49

32:49

Recently, I was speaking with an owner who was opening a second location. Despite this being an exciting time for her school, she was drowning in shame. “Chanie, I keep starting and stopping, starting and stopping,” she told me. I asked her what she meant. She told me she felt ashamed that she couldn’t be consistent with her decisions. “I keep crea…

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180. Winning in the Dark: Comparison 20:18

3M ago20:18

20:18

Comparisonitis is so common for school leaders. I used to compare myself to others constantly. It’s only natural in the face of successful-looking influencers and mountains of social media content. But two and a half years ago, I got super honest with myself. What was actually important to me? Was it accolades and endless business growth? No. What …

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179. Winning in the Dark: Enoughness and Worthiness 31:41

3M ago31:41

31:41

My client, Jaycee, was doing something truly amazing. She’d worked hard and put in extra hours to build a culture of teacher collaboration. As a result, there was unity within the staff, and children’s learning and engagement soared. She was really pleased with the outcome. …But no one else seemed to notice. She brought the question to the Schools …

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178. How to Lead the Last Staff Meeting of the Year 21:18

3M ago21:18

21:18

I’m one of the few people who actually enjoys public speaking. Walking onto a stage excites me, and I gain a lot of energy from interacting with a crowd. But I know I’m an outlier. Most people panic when they’re asked to give a thought-provoking response in front of the whole staff with no advanced warning. You can avoid this reaction in your staff…

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177. Defining Your Own Success at the End of the School Year 16:11

3M ago16:11

16:11

In January, the internet was full of cute memes about going back to the gym, eating salads, and recommitting to your health. At the end of the calendar year, school leaders often take a look at fiscal performance and next year’s goals. But right now, as the school year comes to a close, we tend to focus on the next thing. Our brains are already in …

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176. A Path to Leadership Mastery with Cayla Rush 31:12

4M ago31:12

31:12

In 2020, everyone’s world turned upside-down Sioux Falls school owner Cayla Rush knew there was too much on her plate as the pandemic began, but she didn’t see an alternative. She felt it was her responsibility to make countless decisions that could impact the health and well-being of her staff, herself, and the families she served. “My self-trust …

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175. A Culture of Urgency: Creating the Calm 24:14

4M ago24:14

24:14

Have you seen Forbes’ 30 Under 30 and 40 Under 40 lists? They feature the brightest, shiniest, hardest-working entrepreneurs. These individuals embody hustle, grind, and achievement. It would be exciting to get on one of those lists, right? Let’s step back for a moment. When you’re 40 years old, or even 50, 60, 70, or 80, your school will still be …

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174. A Culture of Urgency: Recognizing the Patterns 25:24

4M ago25:24

25:24

Leaders have lots of amazing ideas. And sometimes, those ideas can turn into multiple priorities. This is absolutely normal. But when there’s a new idea, a new priority, every month, week, or day, it’s exhausting and confusing for the whole school. As the focus shifts constantly from one urgent matter to the next, everything becomes a priority. In …

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173. The Invisible Labor of Decision Making 34:01

4M ago34:01

34:01

Summer is coming, faster than we could have anticipated. Have you figured out what you and your family are doing for the break? “What are your summer plans?” It sounds like a simple question—one you’ll probably get asked a bunch over the coming weeks—but the reality is anything but easy. If you’re feeling panic or irritation at having to make yet a…

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BONUS: Season of Life Reflective Questions 6:47

4M ago6:47

6:47

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ More about the show: If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools…

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172. Respecting the Season of Life You're in 39:50

5M ago39:50

39:50

When my business was new, I was in the practice of waking up at 5:00am to work on some big, exciting projects. I would reply to emails and write content while my house was asleep, so I could get some focused work time in. But when I had my fourth child, Yossi, I suddenly could no longer set an alarm for 5:00am and expect to be productive—because I …

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171. Redefining Leadership with Paige Kepner 40:59

5M ago40:59

40:59

“We were only closed for two weeks when the pandemic started, but I swear it felt like we were closed for four months.” This is what Paige Kepner, Glen Allen, VA center owner, told me during a recent conversation. I find this is such a common experience for school leaders when they're in the midst of a crisis. The sheer amount of pressure, communic…

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170. The Paradox of School Leadership: Support 26:22

5M ago26:22

26:22

A director I was coaching a few weeks ago told me about a repeat problem that kept coming up in her center. She was constantly being interrupted by teachers coming to her office asking for help with little things. She was glad to support them, but it was getting to a point where she couldn’t focus on her own tasks. Her own behavior—going out of her…

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169. The Paradox of School Leadership: Control 27:22

5M ago27:22

27:22

Recently, I was speaking with a school owner who was selling a location. She had truly done her due diligence in her preparations for this moment, crossing every T and dotting every I. The only thing left to do was to inform her team. Feeling anxiety about the conversation, she came to me for coaching and guidance. Many coaches might give general a…

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168. The Paradox of School Leadership: Success 32:38

5M ago32:38

32:38

Recently, I was on a coaching call with two ECE center owners. The first owner had just purchased her second location. This was a huge milestone for her, and she expected to feel accomplished. And yet, she was struggling to step into a double identity as both an owner and the director of the second site, until it could get fully staffed. The second…

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167. The Paradox of School Leadership: Choice 32:13

6M ago32:13

32:13

When’s the last time you went to a huge buffet? While it seems like a treat to eat anything you want, you can’t eat it all—and that means you have to choose. The number of decisions you have to make in the buffet line is totally overwhelming. In the same way, too many choices can feel paralyzing when it comes to our centers—for leadership, teachers…

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166. The Paradox of School Leadership 32:01

6M ago32:01

32:01

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: http://Chanie.me/jointhedic More about the show: If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence P…

1
165. Values Driven Leadership with Catherine Doberstein 29:33

6M ago29:33

29:33

In 2022, Catherine Doberstein had just started listening to my podcast. In an episode, I mentioned the live, in-person Summit of Excellence that was coming up, and she decided to attend. She told me, “I had been looking for a community of young business owners to be surrounded by, but I didn’t realize there was a whole group of early childcare lead…

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164. Timeless Leadership Insights with Simon Sinek 1:12:50

6M ago1:12:50

1:12:50

Back in 2017, I had the immense pleasure of interviewing author and speaker Simon Sinek about how to be an effective leader. It's a topic that many people talk about but few can agree on. During the interview, I asked Simon to define what it means to be a leader. Rather than give me a simple statement, he chose to tell a story that I'll never forge…

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163. Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences 18:48

7M ago18:48

18:48

Communication is about more than just your words. Years ago, when I was still working as a teacher, I was preparing for parent–teacher conferences with my mentor, Dana Levy. She was guiding me through a role-play exercise to help me feel more confident in my communication with parents. When I got to the part of the interaction where I was supposed …

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162. 2024 ECE Forecast: Navigating Money Leaks & Investment Gaps 37:00

7M ago37:00

37:00

When my husband Mayer and I moved to Florida, we had a pool for the first time ever. But as New Yorkers, we had no idea how to take care of it. So when we were told we didn't have to do much to maintain it, we took those words at face value. Over time, different parts of the pool started to break down, and we had no choice but to call a maintenance…

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161. 2024 ECE Forecast: Cultivating Healthy Child Relationships 36:12

7M ago36:12

36:12

When I was a new parent, I thought I could give my kids more by simply loving them more. Spoiler alert: I was mistaken. Don't get me wrong—my heart was in the right place. Like so many before me, I wanted to give my kids a life even better than the one I had experienced. But with time and maturity, I came to realize you can't give what you don't ha…

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160. 2024 ECE Forecast: The Shifting Landscape of Parent Partnerships 33:13

7M ago33:13

33:13

Has someone ever told you to calm down? It's one of the most aggravating statements ever. Recently, I was having a conversation with my husband, Mayer, and things were getting a little heated. Before things got out of hand, I wanted to regulate myself so I could operate from a more level mindset. Instead of giving me the space to work through my em…

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159. 2024 ECE Forecast: Pioneering a New Era of Leadership 35:30

8M ago35:30

35:30

Are you living by your values? While you think that question over, let me tell you a story. In our family, generosity is a core value, and one of the ways in which we embody that value is by hosting members of the community in our home. So when the High Holiday was approaching this past year, our initial intention was to host two or three out of th…

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158. Shifting into Legacy-Minded Leadership with Mandy Moore 33:07

8M ago33:07

33:07

School leadership can be a lonely journey. When you're at the top of the org chart, it's your responsibility to support your team—meaning there's no one to catch you when it's you who has fallen down. That's the harsh reality that Mandy Moore came face-to-face with when she became the owner of her center, Steadfast Academy in Texas, a few years ago…

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157. Building Strong Relationships in Leadership with The Little Foxes Team 36:41

8M ago36:41

36:41

Last year, after speaking at a conference, I was contacted by, Sophie Kerr, the owner of Little Foxes Nursery School in Wiltshire, England, an early childcare center that believes in the power of strong role models in children's learning and development. She had heard me speak about B.R.I.D.G.E., the 6 key meta skills you need as a childcare center…

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156. Educating your Team on Reporting 26:26

9M ago26:26

26:26

When you write out a to-do list—whether for your team, your family, or yourself—does it give an accurate representation of everything that goes into completing each task? Take laundry, for example. When I put "do the laundry" on my to-do list, I would be kidding myself if I thought it was a one-step process. There's sorting, washing, drying, ironin…

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155. How to Plan Travel as a Leader 23:52

9M ago23:52

23:52

When my husband Mayer and I still lived in NYC, he held a position at a college that was highly demanding (to put it lightly). As part of his role, he was required to work 7 days a week, with very limited PTO. And when he did have time off, he fell ill—just like clockwork. That wasn't a coincidence. When we work ourselves to the bone without allowi…

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154. Navigating Tough Talks: A Guide to Handling Termination Communication 34:25

10M ago34:25

34:25

No matter the industry, leaders are often afraid to be honest about why they're firing someone. They think that by sugar-coating the truth or dancing around the issue, they're protecting the person's feelings. But the reality is that being dishonest doesn't help anyone but you. Rather than protect them, you actually protect yourself from uncomforta…

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153. Leadership and Letting Go: When is it Time to Say Goodbye? 28:46

10M ago28:46

28:46

Many years ago (when my kids were a lot smaller), my husband Mayer and I took a trip to Niagara Falls. As usual, I had organized everything in advance, including reserving adjoining rooms for our family. Because our kids were so young at the time, it was really important that we had that adjoining room. So, I made sure to call the hotel—both the da…

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152. The Fear of Firing: What is the True Cost? 26:05

10M ago26:05

26:05

No one enjoys having to fire an employee. In most cases it's uncomfortable and unpleasant to have to let someone go, especially if they didn't do anything "wrong." But hanging on to a team member who's not the right fit for your center's vision and values can have some serious consequences… maybe more than you realize. In the case of Janine, a Scho…

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151. Fighting Flu Season: How a Proactive Insurance Policy Makes a Difference 31:24

10M ago31:24

31:24

Every year, flu season seems to come as a surprise. We know it’s coming. And yet, it always seems to catch us unaware, putting us into all kinds of highly stressful situations. Like having to find a sub for your subs' sub. Seriously. I was dropping off one of my kids at school one day, and I didn't recognize one of the teachers. When I asked her wh…

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150. Creating a Culture of Growth & Gratitude Ashriel Huber 40:57

11M ago40:57

40:57

It’s easy to feel pulled down by the difficult happenings at your center. This was the case for Ashriel Huber, second-generation legacy owner of A Child’s Touch in Colorado. Her desire to make the previous owner proud, coupled with the stress of taking over a large center with many moving parts, led to dysregulation, impostor syndrome, and a sense …

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149. Your Distress Tolerance Staff Toolkit 31:42

11M ago31:42

31:42

Does the word “stress” make your chest tighten? If so, you’re not the only one We tend to think of stress as a negative thing. But the truth is, it’s an integral part of being human. In fact, on last week’s podcast episode I introduced the concept of eustress—a type of positive stress that helps to motivate us. This week, I want to talk about the t…

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148. Developing your Distress Tolerance as a School Leader 36:06

11M ago36:06

36:06

You’re no stranger to challenges. Whether it’s helping fifteen children into their winter coats, navigating a difficult relationship with one of your teachers, or balancing a busy schedule, you have a lot on your plate. It’s stressful. It may even be distressing. Enter distress tolerance. Building your own, personal level of distress tolerance is o…

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147. From Loss to Legacy 20:13

11M ago20:13

20:13

In our society, conversations about grief are largely dominated by death and the experience of losing someone we love. But death is far from the only time we deal with loss. Anytime we go through periods of transition in our lives, we experience grief triggered by the loss of how things used to be. For leaders in early childhood education, these tr…

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146. How to Create Your School Org Chart 35:27

12M ago35:27

35:27

Roles and responsibilities are crucial to building a school of excellence. You can't weather the storm—let alone captain your ship—if your crew isn't clear on what they should be doing and when. That's where developing a school org chart comes in handy. With a visual representation of the structure of your center on hand, you can clear up a lot of …

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Additional Tips on How to Plan for Chaos 32:18

12M ago32:18

32:18

This episode is from a Strategic Advisory from our Membership programs. I know that the impending chaos of a new year is incredibly unsettling. You’re preparing for new kids, new teachers, new protocols, and new expectations, and you know everyone will look at you like deer in the headlights. It's inevitable… and believe it or not, that's a good th…

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145. Tolerating Good Enough For Long Enough To Create Excellence 30:37

12M ago30:37

30:37

When you sit down to draw with a 4-year-old, you know you're not going to get the Mona Lisa. Kids don't have the capacity for things like perspective, texture, or—let's be honest—simply coloring within the lines. So, if that's the case, then why do you expect perfection out of your most inexperienced teachers and newly hired staff? In a world that …

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144. The Ambition Equation: Balancing Passion, Purpose, and Practicality 31:22

12M ago31:22

31:22

What does ambition look like to you? Does it mean owning the best school in your city? Expanding your center? Retiring early? Maybe it's none of those things… and that's okay. Contrary to what we're made to believe, there's more than one charted path to success. Your destination can be whatever you want it to be—and the journey to get there can loo…

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143. Overcoming Overwhelm and Cultivating Confidence with Ashley Corthell 29:23

1y ago29:23

29:23

What if I told you that you didn't have to be at your center 40+ hours a week? Would you believe me? The reality for a lot of owners is that the line between home and school is so blurred it's almost nonexistent. They spend so much of their time wrapped up in the day-to-day operation of their centers that they end up spending more time there than t…

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Chanie Wilschanski Podcasts

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