The Good Life in Early Life Podcast By Nebraska Extension Early Childhood Program Area with Emily Manning Dr. Holly Hatton Ingrid Lindal Erin Kampbell Linda Reddish Katie Krause & LaDonna Werth cover art

The Good Life in Early Life

The Good Life in Early Life

By: Nebraska Extension Early Childhood Program Area with Emily Manning Dr. Holly Hatton Ingrid Lindal Erin Kampbell Linda Reddish Katie Krause & LaDonna Werth
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Early childhood, ages birth to eight, is the most rapid period of development in a human’s life, which can leave those surrounding a young child sprinting to keep up. Our mission on The Good Life in Early Life podcast is to share the latest happenings in early care and education in Nebraska. We delve into early childhood topics, providing relevant and reliable information to keep you up to date. Each episode features interviews with academic experts, educators, providers, families, or informed community members. The Good Life in Early Life, a production of Nebraska Extension, releases episodes twice a month September through May.
Episodes
  • S3E11: From Goldfish to Goats: What Animals Teach Kids
    Mar 31 2026
    For many children, a pet isn’t just an animal, it’s a first friend, a quiet comfort, and a daily lesson in care and connection. In this episode, host Emily Manning sits down with veterinarian Dr. Kathleen Ritzmann of Madison County Veterinary Clinic to explore the powerful role companion animals can play in children’s lives. Together, they unpack the human–animal bond and how caring for pets can help children grow in empathy, emotional regulation, and responsibility. Dr. Ritzmann also shares practical guidance for families, from choosing the right pet for your household to safely introducing a new animal and helping children become confident, compassionate caregivers. And don’t miss the end of the episode, where Dr. Ritzmann shares some fun and surprising animal trivia you won’t want to miss! The following music was used for this media project: Music: Afterparty Review by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2962-afterparty-review License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license "Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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  • S3E10: Early Childhood Policy: Why Your Voice Does Make a Difference
    Mar 17 2026
    Host Emily Manning welcomes Elizabeth Everett, Vice President of Early Futures Partnership and leader of First Five Nebraska’s policy work, for a conversation about how early childhood policy is shaped in Nebraska. Everett explains Nebraska’s unicameral legislative process and highlights major priorities affecting children, birth to age eight, especially childcare affordability, capacity, and workforce retention. First Five Nebraska: https://www.earlyfutures.org/first-five-nebraska The following music was used for this media project: Music: Afterparty Review by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2962-afterparty-review License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license "Wholesome" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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    Less than 1 minute
  • S3E9: Building Childcare Pathways – Childcare Champions of Central Nebraska
    Feb 24 2026
    Starting a childcare business takes vision, commitment, and the right community of support. In this episode, Emily is joined by Dena Beck from 6 Regions One Nebraska, Central Region, to spotlight the Childcare Champions initiative and how it is strengthening child care across Central Nebraska. Together, they explore how Childcare Champions walk alongside current and prospective providers, offering mentorship, connection, and practical resources to help new programs grow and thrive. The following music was used for this media project:  Music: Afterparty Review by Sascha Ende  Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2962-afterparty-review  License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license 
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    Less than 1 minute
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