Grab your coffee—or whatever you need to survive drop-off—and join Brittany and Crystal as they dive into the wildly hilarious, completely unhinged side of early childhood education. In this episode of Teachers After Dark, the duo swaps real stories submitted by educators, from innocent (and slightly concerning) kid logic to the absolute wildest parent requests imaginable.

​From toddlers asking if retiring teachers are going to heaven and misnaming "bikini bread," to parents demanding high-res diaper photos, moonlight blackout rules, and amateur classroom exorcisms, nothing is off-limits. They also unpack the chaotic reality of managing boundary-crossing parent...

In this episode of ECE Unhinged, we return to our wage transparency series with a perspective we have not covered yet: an in-home childcare provider.

Tashia Lush joins us from Illinois to share how she went from working as a teacher and director in childcare centers to opening a licensed program in her own home. She talks honestly about startup costs, licensing, ratios, food reimbursement, supplies, grants, household expenses, and what it really takes to make an in-home program profitable.

We also dig into one of the biggest questions facing early childhood educators right now...

Most teachers dream of inventions that could revolutionize childcare but what if some ideas are better left uninvested? On this playful episode of Teachers After Dark, we turn the spotlight on hilarious yet insightful "Shark Tank" style pitches, from toddler translators to self cleaning diaper stations.Imagine having a magic bubble wand that instantly ends tantrums or shoes that dodge bodily fluids sounds practical, but would you actually invest? We break down the ridiculous and the revolutionary, exploring the real problems educators face daily, like kids sneaking out of the room or messy classrooms that seem impossible to tidy...

The hidden cost of caring: why early childhood educators are worth so much more than their paycheckWhat if everything you thought you knew about your worth as an ECE teacher is backwards? Despite playing roles that span CEO, detective, clown, nurse, and counselor, early childhood educators are paid pennies compared to the value they bring—often working far beyond their job descriptions and sacrificing personal well-being in the process.In this episode, Brittany and I peel back the curtain on the true cost of working in early childhood education. We dive into the unspoken emotional labor, physical toll, and fi...

Description:

​Welcome to the very first episode of our new series, Sandbox Confessionals (aka Crisis in the Sandbox). This week, we are pausing our financial transparency series to dive deep into the raw, unspoken realities of working in Early Childhood Education.

​In this episode, we share the true story of "Dani," a former toddler teacher in Colorado who reached out to us after leaving a center plagued by severe licensing violations, emotional abuse of children, and direct workplace retaliation. To protect her identity, we are sharing her story anonymously-but the violations she experienced are a real...

Would you charge parents 6 cents a minute for tuition? Retired University Director Ida Bauer joins the ECE Unhinged podcast to talk about her career and how she built a center from the ground up.

This week on Teachers After Dark, Crystal and I are diving into the hilarious, bizarre, and downright unhinged world of toddler logic. We aren't talking about typical classroom management here; we're talking about the moment a child has a full-blown meltdown because their grilled cheese was cut into squares instead of triangles.

​If you've ever felt like you were negotiating with a tiny, unreasonable terrorist when all you wanted was for them to eat their lunch, this is the episode for you. We’re unpacking those "unsolicited confessions" about their parents' habits, why they think the shower is a...

Many teachers feel frustrated by outdated practices in early childhood education. Brittany and Crystal explore the hidden reasons behind these routines, revealing how understanding their purpose can empower educators to advocate for change. From strict diapering policies to unnecessary safety rules, discover how these practices impact workload and burnout. Gain insights on fostering child-centered routines and challenging norms to improve quality care.

#EarlyChildhoodEd #TeachingTips #Childcare #EducationReform #Podcast #BrittanySpeaks #TeacherSupport

In episode 2 of our wage transparency series we're joined by center owner Katie McDonald for a raw no-filter conversation about the financial realities of running a private preschool. From the weight of commercial rent to the impossible struggle of balancing fair wages with tight margins, we're exposing the truth behind the "secretive" ECE industry.

#EarlyEdInsights

#TeacherSupport

#EducationReform

#RespectTeachers

#SystemicChange

#ChildhoodEducation

#TeacherVoices

#EducationMatters

Proof of concept , trial episode! Let us know what you think and send in your story!

Don't panic, Our regular episodes are staying the same! Crystal and I are still bringing you the same ECE Unhinged content you know and love but today we are dropping something a little different and fun! Welcome to our new cinematic audio docuseries format! We wanted to find a way to get everyone's voices out there and stories told but still protect the privacy of our educators. Let us know if you like this and we can tell your story the...

What do you do for self care?

Join us for a conversation as we talk to a childcare director in New Orleans and see what keeps her center going!

In this episode of "ECE Unhinged," hosts Brittany and Crystal introduce a new series focused on wage transparency in early childhood education. They discuss the financial challenges faced by teachers, such as low wages despite high tuition fees. The series aims to uncover where the money goes by interviewing various center owners and directors. They emphasize the need for transparency and open discussion without blaming directors, who often struggle to pay fair wages due to financial constraints.

The episode also includes a segment called "Red Flag Green Flag," where they discuss various classroom scenarios and their implications...

An Interview with a parent from the past!

Most parents don't realize how much early childhood education has shifted in the last 35 years-sometimes for the worse. In this eye-opening episode, Chris, a father with over three decades of experience, reveals how childcare expectations, teaching practices, and industry standards have changed since the days when kids played outside all day and structure meant discipline, not coddling.Discover the surprising differences in preschool programs: from a $220/month structure-focused environment to today's high-cost, trauma-informed franchises. Chris shares personal stories of how expectations around manners, leadership, and independence have eroded, and...

This weeks Teachers After Dark gets it's own episode! Are you drowning in the chaos of a lively classroom, desperately wishing you could hit pause or hit the delete button on some of the daily mess? Imagine if you could choose what stays, what goes, and what’s instantly forgotten-without the guilt. In this episode, teachers spill their most hilarious and relatable “room, exit, or burn” decisions, revealing the chaotic truths behind what we really want to get rid of in our classrooms-and what we secretly love to keep.

 No sugarcoating. No filters. Just the messy truth. Today, Brittany and Crystal answer your questions about the "unhinged" life of an early childhood educator. From the "thong-scrunchie" disaster to the reality of SPED issues in private centers, we’re covering it all.

Highlights:

Teachers After Dark Segment: Don't turn it off yet! In our After Dark segment, we’re talki...

In this episode, we talk with Tiffany Chacon, a teacher who left the classroom and is now behind the scenes, about burnout, the realities of early childhood education, and the deep purpose behind caregiving. She shares honest stories about the challenges educators face and the moments that remind us why this work matters, including how “the smallest little smile or song is going to form a child's life” and why “you need to have a full cup” to keep showing up with intention.

Be sure to check out Tiffany’s podcast Nature to Nurture, a thoughtful show for parent...

I'm not frustrating you, you're feeling frustrated," wise words from a three year old that perfectly capture the emotional rollercoaster of ECE. After our series on burnout, we're flipping the script to focus on why we stay. This episode is grounded in the research article "Early Childhood Teachers' Well-Being: What We Know and Why We Should Care" by Kyong-Ah Kwon, Diane M. Ahorn ( University of Oklahoma-Tulsa) and Chris Amirault (Tulsa Educare MacArthur)

In this episode, we discuss:

The "small wins", Why Developmental milestones outweigh the daily stressors

Professional Identity: How tools like Conscious...

​We had to separate this segment because the conversation took a much heavier, more raw turn than our main episode. Welcome to the first-ever Teachers After Dark Live Call In session, where we stop talking about the research and start talking about the "living hell" that exists behind some classroom doors.

Listener Discretion Advised: This episode contains raw, unedited discussions regarding workplace toxicity, surveillance, and substance abuse in childcare settings.

In this segment, Brittany and Crystal are joined by live callers to expose the toxic administrative hurdles and "abusive relationship" dynamics that make staying in EC...

Leading With Humanity: The B Word

We’re wrapping up our burnout mini series with a conversation about teacher burnout in early childhood education and how it shows up differently for every educator. We share takeaways for recognizing burnout, setting boundaries, and holding space for your own experience without guilt.

Follow the podcast for more honest stories from ECE teachers and join our Facebook group ECE Unhinged The Listeners Lounge to connect with other educators, share your wins, and be part of the conversation.

This hour long episode kicks off our mini-series, Leading With Humanity- "Rethinking Teacher Burnout," starting with a conversation with our very own owner and director. The first few minutes set the stage but bear with us, the heart of the conversation delves into one directors perspective on teacher burnout, leadership behind the scenes and what it really looks like to support educators in todays world. We also kick off our new segment "Teachers After Dark!" so stay tuned after the music and join us for a game of Would You Rather? to decompress!

If any of this...

Episode Description

Burnout isn’t a diagnosis -- it’s a signal. In this special roundtable episode, we are peeling back the layers of the "B-word" to look at it through a lens of humanity and hope. Join your cohosts and our special guest, a first-year teacher fresh to the field, as we explore how burnout manifests differently for everyone and why it does not have to be the end of your story in education.

Inside this episode:

The Survivor Lens: One cohost shares her journey of rediscovering her passion for teaching after hitt...

You sent them, we read them and wow! This episode is a collection of real stories from teachers, some hilarious and some completely unhinged, and some that just make you question how you survive the day. We're recording this one from the car, reading and reacting as we go. It's messy, It's honest and it's a reminder that none of us are alone in the chaos of this work.

Have a story of your own? We're talking about them in our Facebook group over in ECE Unhinged- A podcast for Todays Early Childhood Educator

We're Brittany and Crystal, two educators still in the classroom with over 40 years of experience between us. We love our jobs but the system is broken- and we are here to talk about it-from the car...So come along for the ride as we share what early childhood education really looks like and why we started this podcast!

Like what you hear? Follow us on facebook to drop your stories and reviews and to see the latest updates @ECE Unhinged - A podcast for Today's Early Childhood Educators