That Early Childhood Nerd

If you love thinking deeply about childhood, early childhood education, caring for children, and supporting children’s right to play, this is the podcast for you! Each week, host and self-proclaimed early childhood nerd Heather Bernt-Santy invites practitioners, writers, and thinkers who share her commitment to doing the very best we can for children, their caregivers and teachers, and their families to discuss big ideas, real life practices, and cool research. Let’s get nerdy!

Episodes

Jun 4, 2025

46 min

San Francisco Transitional KG Teacher Aaron Neimark joins host Heather Bernt-Santy to talk about being a teacher researcher and challenging yourself to survive and thrive! 
For more of Aaron's work: 
1) Do You Want to See Something Goofy? Peer Culture in the Preschool Yard  2) Learning from Children's Humor: Peer Culture as a Teaching Tool(book chapter on peer culture and humor in this book):Educating Toddlers to Teachers: Learning to See and Influence the School and Peer Cultures of the Classroom
3) The Chairs are Theirs: Conflict Resolution in a Kindergarten Classroom(book chapter about problem solving in kindergarten in this book):Teaching Kindergarten: Learner Centered Classrooms for the 21st Century
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

May 28, 2025

54 min

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood.
In this episode: Denisha Jones shares how the work of bell hooks has influenced her and informed her work. Krystina Tapia talks about her life changing experience visiting the Anji schools founded by Cheng Xueqin, and how Ms Cheng's work informed her as an early educator and now as a parent.
I love doing this series! Hope you love it too.
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

May 21, 2025

53 min

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood.
In this episode: Stephanie Goloway shares the accomplishments and contributions of Constance Kamii and Rhonda DeVries. Suzanne Axelsson brings two Swedish women to the conversation: Ellen Key and Alva Myrdal.
I love doing this series! Hope you love it to.
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

May 14, 2025

45 min

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood.
In this episode: Lizz Nolasco blows Heather's mind with her discussion of play advocate Dr Millie Almy. Gemma Medina expands our understanding of Caroline Pratt and her work beyond the wooden unit blocks we often associate with her. Bethany Corrie brings Magda Gerber's life and career changing work to the conversation.
I love doing this series! Hope you love it too.
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

May 7, 2025

53 min

Welcome to Early Childhood MAYtriarchy 2025, where we celebrate the contributions of women to the work of early childhood.
In this episode: Mike Huber shares about how he has been influenced by Eve Trook and her ideas on having power on, power for, and power with children. Stacy Benge shares about Dr Marianne Gibbs, and occupational therapist who has informed Stacy's work around literacy. Richard Cohen shares about our beloved and brilliant Bev Bos and her ideas around what we all need for healthy human growth.
I love doing this series! Hope you love it to.
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

Apr 30, 2025

38 min

It's spring break 2025 and host Heather Bernt-Santy has invited some of the TECN nerds to Indianapolis for a four day sleepover!
In this episode, Heather and some of her favorite people discuss how to navigate the idea of "consent" with young children. 
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

Apr 23, 2025

38 min

It's spring break 2025, which means the Nerds are descending on Indianapolis for four days of nerdy fun!
In this episode, host Heather Bernt-Santy and nerds Lizz Nolasco, Mike Huber, Kisa Marx, and Bethany Corrie wonder about what happens when we lose ourselves in our caring work.Want
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

Apr 16, 2025

32 min

It's spring break 2025, and that means it's time for the second Nerd Sleepover! This episode comes to you from an Airbnb in beautiful Indianapolis, where host Heather Bernt-Santy gathered with some of her very favorite nerds.
In this episode, we discuss challenges to "DEI"--what if we said the words every time instead of hiding behind the acronym? What's the "other side" of diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

Apr 9, 2025

42 min

It's spring break 2025, which means it's time for the second Nerd Sleepover in beautiful Indianapolis! In this episode, Mike Huber invites us to consider whether "data" and "evidence" are the same thing, and as you might have guessed from the title, we decided it's not! Listen in as host Heather Bernt-Santy and some of her favorite nerds hash out claims of evidence based curriculums and other interventions with young children.
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

Apr 2, 2025

51 min

In February 2025, occupational therapist Kelsie Olds, who hosts a facebook page called The Occuplaytional Therapist, published a post that struck a nerve--leading to almost 4000 reactions to date, and almost 2000 shares.
The post is a powerful statement on the political nature of play, of respecting children, of supporting families, and taking care of each other. Listen in as she talks us through it.
For more of Kelsie's work, find her on Facebook as The Occuplaytional Therapist, or follow her substack here: https://occuplaytionaltherapist.substack.com/
Want to support the show and help keep it ad free? You can make a one time donation or become a member to get access to more TECN content at "Buy Me a Coffee:"
buymeacoffee.com/heatherf
Another way to support the show is to leave a review/rating on iTunes or Spotify, and to share on your social media networks!

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