The Executive Function Podcast

Team, If you or your loved one is someone who feels everything at level 11, you're not alone, and this episode is for you! The cross over between having executive function needs and having high sensory or emotional sensitivities is huge--and an area we need to talk about more often. Dr. Judith Orloff, author of The Empath's Survival Guide (and more!), walks us through perspectives and stra...

Hey Team! Whether we realize it or not, we spend a lot of our communication in negotiations: asking for what we need, helping family members do chores or homework, simply working with other humans, we're negotiating a lot. But, as it turns out, we're not so great at negotiating, as it's about more than just "communicating better." Co-author of "Never Settle," John R...

Hey Team, I remember reading a sentence that changed my brain forever: childhood is the only time we're expected to be good at everything. Think about it. As an adult, you likely engineer your life (at least work life) to avoid things that are more difficult or boring. Don't like chem? Don't become a chemist! But in childhood, we ask students to be competent in every subject and skill....

Hi, Team! We're backwards this week, but not in the "hidden message when you play the track backwards" way. Dr Blaise Aguirre, a guest from episode 63, interviews me! After reading my book, Growing Executive Function, the doctor and author of many impactful books explores what he found interesting in my writing. I'm excited to share this side of my life with you, team! And many t...

Hello my team, Stress, am I right? It's ever-present, sometimes overwhelming, and something we just can't avoid...but what if we're framing it wrong? This week's guest, Amy Leneker, tells us about her three step framework for functioning differently with stress. She's not here to gaslight us or tell us that stressors are no biggie; instead, she offers accessible ideas to test o...

Team, Have you ever tried to think clearly with super loud, distracting sounds going on? That's a good analogy for using executive function when your anxiety is high. It's just plain harder. Our guest this week, Kristen Stuppy, is a pediatrician and ADHD advocate. She shares simple tips for managing anxiety in ways that are brain-friendly and doable. I really enjoyed my time with Kristen,...

Team, Sometimes I pretend I'm psychic and guess what students are thinking, experiencing, and struggling with based on the time of year. I wish these moments came from ESP, but they come from knowing the predictable patterns of the year. Our energies and the demands on us ebb and flow, and many of the patterns of the context can be predicted. But, what do we do when the situation demands more of u...

Hey, team! Your executive function relies on being well-rested and getting good sleep. Our brains do their clean up and solidify new learning when we're asleep, and being too tired can mean we struggle with emotional regulation and attention, both of which will impact our executive function! To make it more complicated, it takes some executive function to manage sleep routines and bedtimes. An...

Team, Our brains are, like, kind of a big deal. Since they don't come with owner's manuals, we may need a little help keeping them healthy and functioning well. That's where Dr Fotuhi comes in . He's spent decades learning about the brain, helping others change their brain health and, in turn, their lives. In this episode, we dive into easy(ish) ways to adjust your habits for a hea...

Hello my team! I can't wait for you to hear from Debbie Reber! She lives and breathes strategies for parenting neurodivergent kids, based on her life and her experience supporting families for decades. She is brave, smart, and hopeful, sharing her stories and hard-won perspectives. I loved hearing her talk about the milestones we fret about, giving us permission to honor all of the paces of develo...

Hello, Team! If you'd only known then what you know now, right? Dave Delaney, creator of the Wise Squirrels Podcast, knows the sentiment well. When he was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, he realized how much his patterns of strengths and struggles made sense. And, he realized, becoming aware of his brain also meant matching up strategies to help him thrive. On the show, he shares about his jo...

Hey, Team! Hope. It's a delicate friend. During our darkest times, it can feel so tiny and fragile. And when you're working on building executive function, hope is what carries you through testing out and adjusting strategies until you find the right fit. Dr Julia Garcia joins us this week to teach us the Five Habits of Hope. My favorite hope-building strategy is to add "maybe" to my thoughts. "Ma...

Hey, Team! Most of the time, we tend to avoid what we fear, and this works okay...until it doesn't. Kris Jennings, author and change leader, teaches us how to both manage and grow from fear. Having struggles with executive function can mean feeling stressed by and possibly fearful of heavy cognitive tasks or life transitions. On the flipside, when fear takes over our brains, it can be hard to...

Team, Autism is on the news, tv, and social media a lot, and much of the conversation is aimed at helping people understand autism. Sol Smith helps fill in a missing piece: helping autistic people understand themselves. We talk on the show all the time about how executive dysfunction and being neurodivergent are not a character flaws, but people often feel as if they are. Sol's conversation on...

Hey Team! Dr. Ari Tuckman is a real-life hero to me. His latest book, The ADHD Productivity Manual, is like a pep talk meets a strategy session. He gets ADHD, and he gets human brains. You'll love this episode, where we talk perspectives and tools to make life smoother. All my love to you, Sarah Ari Tuckman's ⁠website⁠ and to ⁠order his books⁠ Learn about the CHADD/ International ADHD conf...

Hi team, You might call it an "ADHD" or "Executive Dysfunction tax." The very real experience of executive function challenges costing money is frustrating. Late fees, forgotten payments, impulse buys...these might even be topics you don't want to approach because they're overwhelming and possibly shameful. That's where   registered investment advisor, wealth manage...

Hi, Team! You know when you feel overwhelmed or lost and you have (or want) that one friend who can hear you and help you sort things out? That's Debra Levy. In our conversation, we explore self-advocacy, adult ADHD, and why our minds might be like messy closets. (Real talk: we definitely have some chaotic spaces in our household and sometimes in our brains around here, and I'm eager to te...

Hey Team! By now you've probably come to realize that being different isn't wrong, and that's certainly true for our students! Sometimes the traditional school model is out of synch with what our students need,--a challenge we meet with accommodations, learning plans, and sometimes changing schools. Today on the show, we'll hear from one model of schooling, Fusion Academy. Administrator Samantha L...

Team, Meet my new friend, Allison Robertson, who you may know her from The Accountant 2 . What you might not know is that Allison's journey is one to celebrate and learn from. Allison reminds us that what you see on the outside, in this moment--a successful actor, filmmaker, singer, and model-- may reflect years of messy growth and self-discovery. I know that her perspectives and strategies will h...

Team, When I met Steve at the TACA convention, I realized that Love on the Spectrum captured his awesomeness well--but not in its entirety. Steve is thoughtful, upbeat, and, well, full of Love! On our show, Steve and explore the experience of being different, how we can look to artists for examples of being true to their "weird" selves, and our shared distain for competition. (Yes, I lose the ball...

Team, Elaine Hall is a force of nature, whose story will inspire you! On the show, Elaine talks about her experiences with her son, Neil, and the creation of the Miracle Project , an inclusive theater program for autistic youth and young adults. You may know her from Love on the Spectrum, Autism the Musical, or through her books (did I mention how amazing she is?) She shares the executive function...

Team, My new friend Jami Shapiro had me at the title of her podcast, "Grandma Has ADHD." And, while it's funny and memorable, it's also an important perspective to consider: how do we address executive function needs, as seniors or those who love and support them? How do we ensure seniors are included in the neurodiversity conversations? Jami shares her story and some great strategies that help al...

Hey team! There are so many options for college, and many are designed to support bright students with executive dysfunction! Listen to my conversation with college consultant, Jordan Burstein, as we talk about his non-linear path to success! He takes what he's learned and helps others find their way! Even if you're not prepping for college for yourself or your teen, this episode is full of hope a...

Team, This was a tough episode to title! Dr Aguirre and I talk about tricky things like self-hatred but also keep a bright light on hope. He shares many examples and analogies that will make you feel seen and heard, possibly taking away some of the internal friction you feel in facing the complexities of life. Dr. Aguirre's new book, "  I Hate Myself: Overcome Self-Hatred and Realize Why You’re Wr...

Hey, Team! Our guest, theater director Jocelyn Greene has good news for all of us: PLAY can develop executive function! Jocelyn has great strategies on how to make play part of your every day, encouraging flexible thinking, problem-solving, and promoting self-regulation. You will love these uplifting ideas! All my love, Sarah More about Jocelyn: Jocelyn Greene is the founder and executive director...