Learn Smarter Podcast

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore what’s really happening when support starts to feel like nagging. They discuss why it happens, how it affects both parents and learners, and share practical ways to shift from constant reminders to strategies that build independence and strengthen connection. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast  ...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome back Dr. Ellen Braaten, clinical psychologist and professor, to discuss her latest publication Motivation Mindset Workbook . In this super fun interview, Dr. Braaten talks about motivation as a skillset, how it’s a part of executive functioning and how executive functioning and motivation are two sides of the same coin. She shares...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET dig into the differences, similarities, and overlap between procrastination and perfectionism. They dig into the motivations of both and discuss how to decipher what’s going on and some strategies of what to do next. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rache...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how there is no perfect time of year to start educational therapy support. They discuss the benefit of “just getting started” and all the emotional benefits of beginning to address learner challenges. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss the hot topic of executive functioning skills in sports. They talk about the benefit of sports in general and how executive functioning skills are strengthened as a result of sports. They also chat about some potential pitfalls of executive functioning skills and sports.  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterp...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how hard and stressful it can be for parents of learners in educational therapy to figure out what the next best school for the child is. They are often asked, “Should I tell the school what’s going on with my kid?” and “What questions should we ask?” In this episode, Rachel and Stephanie go over things to think about and questions...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss a few important strategies that a lot of learners employ: study buddies and body doubling. In this episode, Rachel and Steph discuss the virtues (and pitfalls) of body doubling and study buddies.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Ka...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how important educational therapy is when learners have a busy schedule. As educational therapists, Rachel and Steph are constantly supporting busy learners who want to accomplish and engage with all the things–and look at educational therapy as a “waste” of their very valuable time. In this episode, Rachel and Steph dig into how v...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss metacognition, which is the idea of “thinking about thinking”. The ability to reflect back and compassionately examine one’s own thinking is an important skill developed in educational therapy. Rachel and Steph talk through how to develop this with learners.  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share a behind the scenes episode on Steph’s executive functioning experience (nightmare?) of moving homes. She shares the challenges, overwhelm, and curveballs that occurred during her recent move and how it has helped her empathize with executive functioning skills challenges. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpo...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET reair episode 50 of Learn Smarter: the Educational Therapy podcast to remember their guest, Dr. Thomas Brown.  To contribute to his memorial fund, click here.  To read his obituary, click here.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educati...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss a major parent, learner, and educational therapist frustration today–which is why strategies don’t stick. In this episode they dig into the plethora of reasons why strategies don’t stick or rather become “generalized skills”.  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome back Diane Dempster, co-founder of Impact Parents . She discusses the different flavors of parent roles in the educational therapy process (“you handle it,” “micromanager,” and “in-betweeners”). She shares about the importance of creating a relationship with parents and personalizing the relationship. She also shares a tool, AC-E (...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss the complex nature of disclosing diagnoses to learners. They discuss parents’ fear of disclosing diagnoses versus the reality of what it actually means to share diagnostic information.  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational The...

In this re-air of episode 186,  Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore the concept of the “all or nothing brain” and how it impacts learning, school, and daily life. Rachel and Steph break down what it means, how it commonly shows up, and why recognizing this pattern is so important. Through real-world examples, they highlight the ways an all-or-nothing mindset can infl...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Brennan Chandler, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University, for the second half of their conversation. Dr. Chandler shares what works: effective instruction and support can lead to skilled, confident readers. He discusses his role of breaking down the research and talks about the benefit of targeted, direct, explicit ins...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Brennan Chandler, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University for the first part of our conversation. He defines dyslexia for us in 3 different ways (legal, medical, IDA/practical) and discusses myths of dyslexia. He discusses risk factors and protective or resilience factors which impact risk for dyslexia. He talks about h...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, discuss their favorite word: studenting. They explain the concept, why it’s important to understand and how to use it as an effective tool to understand how time is best spent for learners.  Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Ther...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Rachel’s client, Luke, to the podcast. Luke initially started working with Rachel to support his ability to organize, study, and learn how to be less reliant on his memory. Luke shares how simplifying his systems, learning to keep everything in one place and learning HOW to study was a gamechanger for him. Support us on Patreon: ht...

In this re-air episode, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, sit down with Diane Gould to explore Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Diane shares how she became interested in PDA, her role in raising awareness in the United States, and why traditional behavioral strategies often fall short for individuals with PDA. She explains the “can’t, not won’t” perspective, offering...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Johan Wiklund, a Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University. He chats with Rachel and Stephanie about how ADHD can be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs with ADHD. He discusses benefits of the high adaptability of individuals with ADHD and their ability to outsource tasks for which they’re not well-suited....

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore the connection between ADHD and executive functioning in this re-air of episode 10. The discussion includes practical strategies to support skill development in reading, writing, and math, as well as methods for strengthening executive functioning. This episode highlights effective ways to build collaboration and promote academic g...

In this re-air of episode 141, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Donna Henderson to explore how our understanding of autism has evolved over time. Dr. Henderson shares the benefits of receiving a diagnosis, when it can be most useful, and why autism is often misunderstood—especially in girls. She offers expert insight into the nuance...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET chat about a familiar story–“This year is going to be different.” Students start off the school year optimistic, energized, and determined to stay on top of their assignments, keep their binders neat, and avoid procrastination. Rachel and Steph unpack why students are so certain each new year will be different, typical executive functionin...

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share all the ways strengthening executive functioning skills are layered into all the traditional summer things: beaches, camps and vacations. In this episode they break down all the executive functioning skills that learners can and do acquire over the course of their summers and some simple, non-demanding ways the adults in their lives...