Welcome to Motivational May on The Inspiring ECE Podcast a month-long series created to uplift, recharge, and re-energize early childhood educators just like you.

May can be a whirlwind full of evaluations, transitions, celebrations, and big to-do lists that leave you running on empty. But this year, we’re shifting the energy. This is your invitation to pause, reflect, and refill your cup because you matter, and the work you do is nothing short of extraordinary.

Each week, Marcia Nicole brings you a joyful, real, and motivational pep talk to help you feel seen, supported, and inspired because you deserve it.

In this kickoff episode, Marcia dives into the unseen and uncelebrated moments the invisible victories that often go unnoticed in your day-to-day work. From wiping spills and calming tears, to observing growth and helping children through emotional challenges, these small wins are the heartbeat of early childhood education.

She reminds us that these tiny but powerful moments help build resiliency, confidence, and joy not just in the children you support, but in you as an educator. You won’t find trophies or applause for every one of them, but they are just as important maybe even more.

So today, take a deep breath. Celebrate the wins that no one sees. And remember you’re making magic in the everyday moments, and your impact is massive.

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Join me, Marcia Nicole, on this heartfelt episode of Ispyr to Educate as we dive deep into the real impact of mentorship from a veteran educator’s perspective. In today’s conversation, I share my journey of mentoring over the years the ups, the challenges, and the transformative moments that remind us why taking on a student is not just another responsibility, but a legacy-building act. We explore how mentoring enriches our practice, reawakens our passion, and ultimately builds a stronger future for early childhood education. If you’re a seasoned educator grappling with the question, “Do I have the energy to mentor right now?” or wondering how to find balance in an ever-demanding profession, this episode is for you. Let’s reframe mentorship together as the essential, intentional practice that elevates us all.

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STEAM in early childhood education—what does it really look like? How can we move past the idea that STEAM is just about science experiments and tech gadgets and instead see it as a natural part of how children learn and explore the world?

In this episode of The Inspiring ECE Podcast, I sit down with Paula Walsh, an early childhood educator, lecturer, STEAM researcher, and author of Full STEAM Ahead. Paula is passionate about making STEAM practical, playful, and accessible for all educators—because let’s be real, we don’t need to be scientists or engineers to bring rich learning experiences to young children!

We’re talking about:

• The real difference between STEM and STEAM and why the Arts are a game-changer

• How STEAM fits naturally into play-based and inquiry-driven learning

• Simple, everyday ways to introduce STEAM—no expensive resources required

• Why “unplugged technology” is just as important as screen-based learning

• How educators can build confidence in STEAM (even if it feels intimidating)

• Paula’s book Full STEAM Ahead and how it helps educators bring STEAM into their classrooms with ease

This episode is all about breaking down barriers and empowering educators to embrace STEAM in a way that feels fun, engaging, and meaningful.

Paula's most recent book, entitled "Full STEAM Ahead" is a guide to implementing STEAM in the early years and is also available now from Boru Press here. You can contact Paula or learn more about her work here.

LinkedIn: Paula Walshe

Twitter: @‌walshe_paula

Instagram: @‌paulawalshe77

You can also email her: paula.walshe@setu.ie

Guest bio: Paula Walshe is a published author, Assistant Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at South East Technological University in Carlow, Ireland and a PhD candidate at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Her PhD research focuses on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths) in early childhood education and care (ECEC).