That Early Childhood Nerd

About That Early Childhood Nerd

Each week host Heather Bernt-Santy and a member of the ECE Nerd Collective share and discuss a quote with a focus on effecting change in the early learning world.

Publisher

Explorations Early Learning

Category

education · education · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

6 Jul 2021

Latest episode

12 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

381 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Dec 2025

   NERD_0392 The Hyper Focus on School Readiness with Dr Dale Farran

   IMPORTANT REMINDER! After this episode, That Early Childhood Nerd will be published by Heather and the Early Childhood Nerdwork instead of Explorations Early Learning. If you have subscribed to the show on iTunes or Spotify, you’ll have to find the new feed for the show and resubscribe. Just search That Early Childhood Nerd, and find the new feed! Host Heather Bernt-Santy knew as soon as she read the Defending the Early Years blog post, “How Did Early Childhood Programs Become So Focused on School Readiness Skills” by Dr Dale Farran–she HAD to invite Dr Farran to discuss it. And here she is! Find the blog post here: https://dey.org/how-did-early-childhood-programs-become-so-focused-on-school-readiness-skills/ (https://dey.org/how-did-early-childhood-programs-become-so-focused-on-school-readiness-skills/) Thanks for listening! Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/product-category/live-on-line-trainings/) and support the show with the coupon code NERD. Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron (https://patreon.com/playvolutionhq), shopping our Amazon Link (https://amzn.to/2RFrIRR), or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here (https://playvolutionhq.com/podcasts/nerd/). Click here for more Heather (https://thatearlychildhoodnerd.com). For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/podcast-self-study-certificate-portal/) for listening to podcasts.

2. 

   3 Dec 2025

   NERD_0391 Nurturing Brilliance with Sally Haughey

   Author and educator Sally Haughey is here to discuss the incredible unfolding and blossoming that happens during play. Her new book Nurturing Brilliance provides a science-based approach to understanding and sharing about the inherent brilliance of children’s growth and development. Find Sally’s book here: https://www.redleafpress.org/Nurturing-Brilliance-Using-Play-Activated-Learning-to-Awaken-Childrens-Potential-P3103.aspx (https://www.redleafpress.org/Nurturing-Brilliance-Using-Play-Activated-Learning-to-Awaken-Childrens-Potential-P3103.aspx) More of Sally’s work: https://wunderled.com/about/ (https://wunderled.com/about/) Have you ordered Heather’s book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood yet? It’s available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/) or you can order directly from the publisher on the Teachers College Press website Thanks for listening! Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/product-category/live-on-line-trainings/) and support the show with the coupon code NERD. Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron (https://patreon.com/playvolutionhq), shopping our Amazon Link (https://amzn.to/2RFrIRR), or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here (https://playvolutionhq.com/podcasts/nerd/). Click here for more Heather (https://thatearlychildhoodnerd.com). For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/podcast-self-study-certificate-portal/) for listening to podcasts.

3. 

   26 Nov 2025

   NERD_0390 Self Active Play for the Grown Ups with Carly Bedard

   Carly Bedard, a play facilitator for adult early educators, joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to discuss the ways that self active play can transform early childhood practitioners’ practice with young children. Listen in as Heather shares the ways participating in one of Carly’s workshops at a recent teacher retreat reminded her of the importance of being an adult who plays in order to provide spaces and programming where children can play. Have you ordered Heather’s book Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood yet? It’s available now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/) or you can order directly from the publisher on the Teachers College Press website Thanks for listening! Save 10% on professional development from Explorations Early Learning (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/product-category/live-on-line-trainings/) and support the show with the coupon code NERD. Like the show? Consider supporting our work by becoming a Patron (https://patreon.com/playvolutionhq), shopping our Amazon Link (https://amzn.to/2RFrIRR), or sharing it with someone who might enjoy it. You can leave a comment or ask a question here (https://playvolutionhq.com/podcasts/nerd/). Click here for more Heather (https://thatearlychildhoodnerd.com). For a small fee we can issue self-study certificates (https://explorationsearlylearning.com/podcast-self-study-certificate-portal/) for listening to podcasts.

Who has been a guest on That Early Childhood Nerd

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Nikki Darling-Kuria
• Dan Wuori
• Mike Huber
• Amy Chiu
• Amanda Morgan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.6 / 5

89 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

95

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

67

Contact That Early Childhood Nerd

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about That Early Childhood Nerd