Not Just Cute, the Podcast: Intentional Whole Child Development for Parents and Teachers of Young Children

Joy is one of those concepts that everyone understands until you try to define it.  And yet, the research is remarkably clear about what it does. In this episode, we explore what joy actually is, why it matters so profoundly for young children, and what it looks like in the early childhood classroom. From the neuroscience of how joy changes the brain's chemistry and learning capacity, to the relational dimension of shared delight between children and the adults who care for them, this episode grounds joy firmly in both science and practice.
If you work with young children or advocate for play-based learning, this episode will give you the research and the language to protect joy in your program — and a compelling reminder of why that work matters. Part two of a two-episode series with Episode 84 on agency.
Because Play = Agency + Joy
Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode85

Agency — the ability to make choices, act on them, and feel that those actions matter — is key to play and learning. In this episode, we dig into what agency really means for young children, tracing it through the work of foundational developmental theorists and grounding it in current research on how play, agency, and learning work together as a powerful, reinforcing system. Along the way, we name what's getting in the way — a cultural pattern I call pervasive passivity — and explore what it looks like when children lose access to the agency they need to thrive.
If you work with young children or advocate for play-based learning, this episode will give you both the research and the practical language to protect what matters most — including a surprising look at what current AI advances reveal about what we actually want for our young children.
Find shownotes at https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode84

Professor and early childhood advocate Heather Bernt-Santy is widely known from her podcast as That Early Childhood Nerd.  In this episode, Heather talks about her new book, Using Schema Play Theory to Advocate for Free Play in Early Childhood.
Heather shares her journey through the early childhood profession and how writing her first book was a full-circle moment. She breaks down what schema play really is and why it matters so much for child development, as well as how schema play connects to major developmental and educational philosophies. If you love geeking out about how children think, learn, and grow through play, this conversation is full of moments you'll love.
Show Notes: 
https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode83
Powerful Play Foundations:
https://notjustcute.com/powerfulplay

In this episode, we revisit one of the most-read pieces published on Not Just Cute: "There's Good in the World. And It's Worth Fighting For." Written nearly a decade ago (and based on quotes from movies released TWO decades ago, which were based on books written NINE decades ago.....) yet increasingly relevant today, this reflection explores the role of educators, parents, and everyday helpers in creating light during dark times.

You'll hear why the message hits even harder for me now, what it means to "fight for good" through the work we do with children, and why the small, ordinary acts of love in early childhood education might just be the most powerful force for a brighter future.
Show notes:
https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode82

Is play the missing piece in today's educational puzzle? That's the question we wrestled with during a three-part book study I hosted this summer with early educators from across North America. Together, we unpacked key themes from my new book, Not Just Cute: How Powerful Play Drives Development in Early Childhood—and now I've pulled the highlights into this one-hour recap just for you.
In this episode, you'll hear why I wrote the book, the research that shows how play fuels learning and brain development, and the very real risks when we push play aside. You'll also catch some of the "aha" moments and practical takeaways that came straight from our discussions.
Whether you're a teacher, leader, or parent, this episode is a reminder of just how powerful play can be—and why it's worth protecting in every classroom and every childhood.
Find Show Notes: https://notjustcute.com/podcast/episode81