The Executive Function Podcast

Hey team, JD Barker is an incredibly talented and prolific author who has uncovered great strengths in his autism. We talk about self-perception, strategies for writing (and managing many projects at once), and the hope for ALL of us who struggle with executive function. You don't want to miss it! All my love, Sarah More about JD:J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is a New York Times and internat...

Hey Team! Join us to explore the experience of children (and adults) with ADHD, with author Fabian Grolimund. His book, Charlie Are You Daydreaming Again?, gently teaches children strategies for managing attention and shares the very relatable experiences of Charlotte, or Charlie. The warmth and hope of this episode will fill your bucket, I promise! All my love, Sarah To order Charlie Are You Dayd...

Hey Team,  Eating consistently and healthy-ish, cooking meals, remembering to bring lunch and snacks…it all takes executive function . Nearly every one of the amazing humans I work with struggles in some way with eating. My friend and Dietitian-Nutritionist Dana Monsees shares perspectives and strategies for making eating easier and more consistent. You’re not alone if feeding yourself is harder t...

Hey Team, Whether you love or hate math, this episode with author and educator Ben Orlin is for you! We talk about problem solving, the purpose and process for getting stuck, and how to support yourself when faced with challenges. You will love Ben's humor and outlook! All my love to you, team, Sarah Get Ben's Book Additional article links: What It Feels Like to Be Bad at Math , The Math Ceiling:...

Hey team! You know how sometimes it takes about 1000 steps before you actually start on the intended task? That's work to do work! On this week's show, learn how to recognize and reduce work to do work. It will be a game changer! Pep talk at 15:52 All my love, Sarah Read my Psychology Today articles ! Join us in Brain Tools School

Team, You know that excited feeling you get when you get new tools or make a new plan that you hope will make things all easy? Yeah, I do, too. And then, sometimes that excitement goes away and we kind of lose steam for doing the plan? Join me today to learn how to plan for and overcome the challenges that stop us from using strategies. You're sure to find something that really helps! All my love,...

Team, 1 in 4 college students has a disability! This episode teachers you how to maximize success as a student with a physical or learning challenge. Guest Elizabeth C Hamblet has done the leg work and knows how to empower young adults to thrive on campus! All my love, Sarah Learn more about Elizabeth! Buy her book here . Use code RLEGEN20 for 20% off! Learn more about Brain Tools School's Lif...

Hi, Team! Join us to explore the process of planning and paying for college--there are some surprises and lots of hope in this episode! As with any process, getting ready to manage college tuition involves a lot of executive function, and my guest, college funding specialist Brad Baldridge and I share concrete ways to lower stress--and possibly even lower the cost! All my love, Sarah Join us at Br...

Hi team! Executive function is tricky enough, and some of us accidentally make it harder by doing (or not doing) things that challenge our brains in unnecessary ways. This week, let's uncover some easy wins so you're not accidentally making life more challenging! Brain Tools School: Life After High School program opens summer 2024! Here's the link to secure your invitation! There are m...

Join my friends Kim and Amy, of Talk Yoga, in learning and laughing together. We'll explore how tools for self-regulation, play, and language can boost anyone's executive function and performance. For more on Talk Yoga: https://www.talkyogaslp.com/ And on Instagram Brain Tools School: Life After High School program opens in just a few weeks! Here's the ⁠link ⁠ to secure your invitation...

Time management might be one of the most requested executive function areas I support, and yet it still is misunderstood! Join me today to hear strategies for adults and kids who are working on better using--and planning--their time. No 5 am club required! We're celebrating brain-friendly ways to feel more efficient with your efforts! New: Hey Human pep talk (for all ages) is at 16:30. Updates...

How many of us have told ourselves (or heard from others), "You need to get organized?" Yet the HOW piece is still confusing! What "organized" means to different people varies widely, and there's the big challenge of maintaining any system you create! (Because, hello? It's FUN to get going with all of the new tools and gadgets, but continuing after the newness fades? Eh...

Team, Our kids can seem glued to their phones and display what looks like physical pain when their technology is taken away. Are they addicted? Is it problematic use? This episode explores tech's hold on our brains, how to discuss it with your teens and tweens, and what we can all do to call upon technology companies to do better by our kids. Guest Gaia Bernstein will inspire and empower you!...

Team, Today on the show we "go there," we talk about teen suicide with A Brighter Day Charity founder Elliot Kallen. We explore some of the signs and ways to approach suicide, with many tools for kids and parents. It's a tough and important conversation, and we invite you to join us! Find A Brighter Day online Teen survival guide Charity golf event 2023: All my love, Sarah Audience:...

Hey team!  Listen in to our webinar about building routines to make life easier! We will explore:  Student hack #1: teachers love routines Student hack #2: routines to save you time  Student hack #3: routines to save you brain space Workshop time: Plan some up level and very brain-friendly routines to get started right away! Join future webinars: sign up here Resources available here .  Audience:...

Team, Listen in on a very geeky conversation with my colleague and friend, Brandon Tessers. Brandon's company, Effective Artistry, provides support to humans with unique brains and does so with a science-based, compassionate, and innovative approach! You can find Brandon here and on Instagram at @ef_artistry.   Audience: all ages and contexts Brain Tools School opens summer 2024, with our Life...

Team! We've got an accommodations and assistive technology expert, Crystal Rose Hill-Farrell, who will share some super helpful insights for identifying and using accommodations for learning! Even if your child is not yet college-aged, you'll want to hear Crystal Rose's ideas and perspectives!  Mentioned in the show:  BeeLine Reader Voice Typing (Here's my how-to Doc ) Natural Read...

Having a brain with executive function needs is tricky; it also connects us with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) movement. The perspective shifts associated with DEI-- inclusion and celebration of differences--benefit all of us.  Author and speaker Deanna Singh shares her actionable and positive strategies for talking with your kids and teens about DEI. She takes away the political and...

Sleep. It can feel so wonderful and at times, so unattainable, especially for our teens. Yet we intuitively know--and science proves--sleep matters immensely as a brain vitamin for growing and using executive function. So, how do we get our teens (and ourselves) more sleep? Experts and authors Julie Wright and Heather Turgeon share their best tips on today's show. You'll learn so many easy...

Team, You listen to this podcast because your life is impacted by executive function needs. And, while many of our examples are for studenting, we also know that executive function needs show up...everywhere! Even on vacations!  On today's show, we talk with author and travel expert Dawn Barclay, whose book, Traveling Different, will empower you to travel stress-free this summer! Her hope is t...

Sometimes the right help at the right time makes all the difference! On today's show, Mel, a parent to an amazing college student, shares her journey of understanding and supporting her son! Mel shares how a deeper understanding led to her giving her son encouragement and space to change. Her son went from some failing grades and frustrating moments (including driving and safety) to an empower...

Hi Team!   On today's show, you'll hear from a college student, Zach, who shares how small-but-powerful strategies and perspective changes made all the difference for his college experience! He dives into some important insights for anyone who's struggling in an area of life which they think "should" be easier and gets down to some great tips about how to make schedules work...

Hi Team! If college, trade school, or tech school is around the corner for your teen, you're probably beginning to list the to-do's and what if's! I hear you there! Lots of the families I coach are peeking their heads out of the "just get to graduation" space, to take a look at the "get ready for college" section of the journey.  On today's show, you'll hear...

Nearly 50% of college Freshman with ADHD (or other executive function challenges) fail at least one class, if not the whole semester. Only 40% go on to graduate. Preparing your high school junior or senior with college-ready strategies is the best way to beat the stats and empower future success! (Plus, save that tuition, too!) On today's quick show, you'll hear just some of the skills we&...

Team,  Executive Function needs are invisible, and our kids are often able to cope well enough that schools don't see the true struggle. So, how do we, as parents and educators, advocate so that our kids are supported and understood?  My friend and fellow executive function expert, Seth Perler, and I are teaming up for a 3-part series on Advocacy! Listen to part 1 here, where we talk about the...