The era of overwhelm is here and here to stay. If you or your team are leading learning this leaderships calls for a new way forward. Join Dr. William DeJean and his guests to explore leadership in the era of overwhelm. To find out more, go to www.unleash-learning.com or contact us at hello@unleash-learning.com
What the best early childhood leaders are doing differently.
Leadership in early childhood education has always been demanding. But something has shifted. Many leaders are describing a weight that's hard to name - more expectations, less space, and a growing sense that no matter how much they give, there's always more being asked. If that resonates, this episode is worth your time.
In this episode of Unleash Learning TV and Radio, Dr. William DeJean is joined by Jacqui Ward, host of the Early Years Learning Hub podcast. Through in-depth conversations with leaders across the early childhood sector, Jacqui has developed a clear picture of what's really happening on the ground - and what distinguishes leaders who are navigating complexity well from those who are struggling. Together, William and Jacqui explore the forces driving leadership overwhelm, the patterns emerging across the profession, and practical ways to lead with greater clarity, confidence and impact.
Here's what you'll learn:
✅ What's driving the current overwhelm in early childhood leadership
✅ The patterns Jacqui is seeing across her conversations with sector leaders
✅ How the strongest leaders are responding differently to pressure and complexity
✅ Practical strategies to lead with more clarity, confidence and calm
✅ Why sustainable leadership starts with how you lead yourself
Who it's for
This episode is for early childhood directors, centre leaders, educational leaders and anyone navigating the pressures of leading in the education and care sector right now. If leadership has been feeling heavier than it used to, this conversation will help.
About Your Host
Dr William DeJean is the founder and CEO of Unleash Learning and the host of Unleash Learning TV and Radio. With more than 25 years in education, a doctorate in education, and three published books, William works with schools and leadership teams to turn complexity into clarity and help learning stick across organisations.
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://unleash-learning.com (https://unleash-learning.com)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unleashlearning/ (https://www.facebook.com/unleashlearning/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unleash.learning/ (https://www.instagram.com/unleash.learning/)
X: https://x.com/unleash_learning (https://x.com/unleash_learning)
FREE RESOURCES
Complimentary info kit: https://unleash-learning.com (https://unleash-learning.com)
Free Early Childhood Leadership Assessment: https://unleash-learning.com/free-early-childhood-leadership-assessment/ (https://unleash-learning.com/free-early-childhood-leadership-assessment/)
If this episode resonated with you, we'd love it if you shared it with a colleague or left a review - it helps more leaders find conversations that matter.
31 Aug 2026
How to prevent leadership burnout before it starts
Burnout rarely announces itself — but by the time most school leaders notice it, they're already running on empty.
In this episode of Unleash Learning TV, Dr William DeJean sits down with Brad Gaylord for an honest conversation about one of the most pressing challenges facing education leaders today: how to recognise the early warning signs of burnout and take action before it takes hold.
This isn't about doing less - it's about leading sustainably.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ Why burnout is not a sign of weakness or personal failure
✅ How overwhelm has become normalised in school leadership - and why that's a problem
✅ The early warning signs most leaders miss
✅ Practical strategies to prevent burnout before it escalates
✅ How to support your team's wellbeing, not just your own
WANT MORE? Grab your complimentary info kit on the Unleash Learning transformational change model here: https://unleash-learning.com (https://unleash-learning.com)
30 Mar 2026
Leading learning doesn’t have to feel this hard [Episode 4/4]
Early career leaders are often asked to carry more than ever — without losing sight of learning.
Leadership in today’s schools and organisations can feel scattered and relentless, particularly for those early in their leadership journey. Competing priorities, rising expectations, and limited support can make it hard to stay focused on what matters most.
In this final episode of the four-part series How to Thrive as an Early Career Leader in the Era of Overwhelm, Dr William DeJean and Steven Trotter bring the conversation together, focusing on how early career leaders can lead learning with clarity and intention.
The discussion centres on narrowing focus, building the right support around you, and reducing collective overwhelm so leadership remains connected to teaching and learning — not consumed by constant pressure.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ How to keep learning at the centre of your leadership role
✅ Why effective leadership relies on the right people, not everyone
✅ Who those people are and how they support sustainable leadership
✅ How to lower stress across teams and systems
✅ What leading learning well looks like in the era of overwhelm
Who it’s for: Early career leaders, aspiring leaders, and leadership teams supporting those in their first years of leadership — particularly in education settings focused on learning improvement.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Dr William DeJean is the founder and CEO of Unleash Learning and the host of Unleash Learning TV and radio. With more than 25 years in education, a doctorate in education, and three published books, William works with schools and leadership teams to turn complexity into clarity and help learning stick across organisations.
CONNECT WITH US
Website: https://unleash-learning.com (https://unleash-learning.com)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unleashlearning/ (https://www.facebook.com/unleashlearning/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unleash.learning/ (https://www.instagram.com/unleash.learning/)
X: https://x.com/unleash_learning (https://x.com/unleash_learning)
FREE RESOURCES
Complimentary info kit: https://unleash-learning.com (https://unleash-learning.com)
If this episode helped connect the dots for you, consider sharing it with a colleague or leaving a review to support other early-career leaders.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
141,127
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
67
Social presence
91
YouTube
86
Engagement
27
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Questions about Unleash Learning Radio
Who hosts Unleash Learning Radio?
Dr William DeJean host the show. Published by Unleash Learning.
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