The Executive Function Podcast

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 than you want it to be. Let’s team up and explore ideas!

All my love,

Sarah

About Dana: Dana Monsees is a Dietitian-Nutritionist (MS, CNS, LDN) and Bod...

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: Where’s Your Cognitive Breaking Point?, The State of Being Stuck

More ab...

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,

Sarah

Hey Human Pep Talk at 14:06

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 Life After High School coaching community!

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 Brain Tools School!

Visit Brad's website, Taming the High Cost of College, and find him...

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 many things that make EF extra tricky. Things to consider this week:

Hydration. One study showed that dehydrated participants made 12% more mistakes on a test of...

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! To have Sarah train your school staff or workplace on all things executive function, reach out! Sarahkesty.com or sarah@sarahkesty.com. Thanks!

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: I'm scheduling my school and workplace trainings for the year, and I would love to support you! Reach out to sarah@sarahkesty.com or go...

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? Ehh...) Our guest, Debra Levy, offers easy and brain-friendly ways to get and stay organized, including how to think about managing time as part of your system. This episode is great for grownups and kids alike! <...

If you're feeling a little wonky or exhausted, this is the quick audio love note, pep talk, perspective shakeup for you! On the show, I share a short keynote I recently gave before a charity walk, in which I celebrate the opportunity of adversity. And before you say "nope," because I understand why you might (hello...it's not always helpful to find the silver lining in all moments; sometimes it's okay to just feel bad about a challenge), this isn't that kind of pep talk. My words will allow your brain peace and perspective as you--and your children--navigate the...

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!

More about Gaia on her website

Order Gaia's new book, Unwired

Brain Tools School: Life After High...

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: all ages and contexts

More links to this important work:

...

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: Students and parents, school context Brain Tools School opens summer 2024, with our Life After High School program. To get on the VIP...

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 After High School program. To get on the VIP list, click ⁠here⁠.

Hey team! 

Off the bat: meds are tricky, and this episode will not push medications. What you will learn from hearing from Dr. Walt Karniski is some honest perspective and stories of other parents' journeys in exploring ADHD medications for their children. Walt personalizes the struggles and challenges perceptions as he reflects on his 40 years as a developmental pediatrician. I hadn't personally considered that what we call "Side effects" may actually be the "come down" from medications. There's lots to think about when deciding if ADHD medications are right for your family and your child. Join us i...

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 Reader

CaptiVoice

All my love,

Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

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 negative emotions to get down to the essence of why these conversations and strategies matter. For all of us with different brains, having a welcoming space in which we can shine (and use our strategies) is h...

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-to-implement strategies from their book, Generation Sleepless, including: what causes less sleep, how we can get our kids/teens on board, and how you can pass responsibility to your child. 

Learn more about their w...

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 to "open up the world" for families, and the tips she shares here (and in her book) will do just that! 

Preorder the book: http://www.travelingdifferent.com 

About our...

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 empowered young man with straight As and a transfer acceptance to his dream college! Let her story inspire you to embrace what's possible! All my love, Sarah 

Join our c...

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 for you (whatever schedule format you choose to try!) 

Zach's progress and ever-growing toolbox of strategies are kudos to his dedication and hard work in coaching! And, it's possible for anyone with executive fun...

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 from the brilliant and uplifting, Alec, who recently graduated with a BA in psychology. His tips and perspectives can help you begin to shift your thinking about college- or independent l...

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're developing in our college prep summer group and why this is the best way to spend your summer! Now's your chance to do something fun and meaningful with your time together over...

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 need for and possible impact of accommodations for executive function! 

And, check out Seth's work on his website and The Executive Function Online Summit, whi...

What do you use to regulate your energy? Maybe you fidget with your clothes or jewelry or get up and move? Michael Malkin and Luce Fuller from Calm Strips developed a super cool way to manage your energy, and they share the Calm Strips story, their own executive function strategies, and a lot of laughs on this week's show! 

Learn more about Calm Strips or watch them on Shark Tank. 

All  my love, Sarah 

Audience: all ages and contexts

Navigating the Special Ed World is tough! On the IEP OMG Show, I share insider tips on how to secure and maintain the best supports for your child with special needs. These bite-sized shows will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to rock any SST, 504, or IEP. (PS this show is still for you if you don’t yet know what those are!)

Let me guide you through what is often confusing and overwhelming. Team up with me on IEP OMG!

Making goals can be exhilarating! Keeping the momentum, however, is not as much fun. It takes real work and the right mix of baseline strategies. In this episode, we uncover the two non-negotiables that need to be in place in order to create lasting change, and we explore practical ways to get them! (It's not extra work, but, instead, small changes to what you already do!) 

Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 11:45

sarahkesty.com

IEPOMG.com 

All my love, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

Team,

You'll love hearing from Jeff Snyder, an autistic adult who speaks nationally in support of neurodiversity. Jeff shares his personal strategies and an incredible story about how he realized he had autism! In the show, Jeff also shares and recommends others in the neurodiverse community, including: Jeff Snyder's Going the Distance Blog and Speaking; Equally Fit; Uniquely Human. 

Thanks for listening and all my love,

Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

Hey Kid,

Did you know that I can predict your grades, your energy, and your schedule based on the month? And no, I'm not psychic! School terms follow a pattern, and those patterns of demands, interest, and energy levels can be predicted--and supported with strategies! When you listen, let the feelings simmer for a bit: you're not alone, and there's lots of hope! Because for every challenge (predicted or not), there's a strategy to support your brain and get you through! 

All my love, you school rollercoaster rider, you! 

Sarah 

Audience: all...

Team,

This week we get to hear from the brilliant Emily Kircher-Morris who specializes in supporting kids with Twice Exceptional brains---meaning they are highly intelligent and also needing support with executive function! Sound familiar? She shares some great strategies and perspectives with us, all the while letting her love for our innovative kids shine! You will love her insights and her personal story (she challenged her teacher about the utility of rewriting spelling words after she'd mastered them! Sounds familiar again, right?)

You can find Emily's Neurodiversity Podcast here, and order her book, "Teaching Twice...

No one would be cool with shaming someone who had a visible disability, yet the assuming, blaming, and shaming is loaded onto people with executive function challenges. Jump on this ride as we explore how to rethink our approach to invisible struggles. This week's pep talk is one of my BEST, and it starts at 13:25. 

All my love, Sarah

sarahkesty.com/groups 

Audience: all ages and contexts

Are the kids (and schools) alright? Things stink in schools everywhere. But, maybe they only stink differently? And, of course, we can strategize the school struggles! In this episode, we'll explore why studenting (and teaching) is so darn hard right now by taking an empathy walk. We'll think about all of the changing executive function demands on all of us right now, and you'll learn the 2 best strategies for helping your student, no matter what they are struggling with. There's hope. There's humor. And a ton of strategies for you to try now! Pep talk for kids is at 20:30. 

Team, Meet Wonder Woman II, Getrude Matshe. This international speaker uses loads of executive function to stay organized, collaborative, effective, and inspired. She's helping the world and our community with her message of hope and triumph. Learn how she manages worldwide events, speaks globally, and runs a publishing business, all in the name of raising funds for others! 

Mentioned in today's show are: HerStory Circle

Donate to send a child to school ($15 a year!) 

Getrude's Story 

My interview on the Power of Education

Back to school blues, anxiety, and excitement are very real (for our kids and for us!) How do you approach preparing when you're not even sure what to expect? How do you explain to a new teacher (or several) what your kid needs, how they learn best, and where is that copy of the IEP or 504 anyway? Listen, we hear you. This episode has quick and effective ways to prepare yourself and your kid for the return to physical school! 

And, if you're looking for the BEST resource to get ready for the year, with a deeper u...

Let's make your home executive function-friendly! If your brain just kind of organizes itself, it may be tricky to understand the types of supports your child needs for their executive function growth. Conversely, if your brain is naturally disorganized, you may know what to do but have difficulty doing it. Either way, there's a strategy for that struggle too, my Tribe! Seth Perler is our honored guest on the show today, where we dive into his top recommendations for making your home executive function-friendly. 

Want more of this awesomeness? Join us at the Executive Function Online Summit A...

Lacking motivation to finish the school? Maybe not! Let's massage your perspective a bit with exploring why you and your child may be feeling low "motivation" these days---and what to do about it! There's a strategy for every struggle! All my love, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

Hi Tribe, 

Working hard on improving your missing skills can be, well, hard work. But, what if we added a twist of fun? Learn with me and our guest, Amy Baez, from Playapy! She shares some tips on how to make therapy feel less burdensome and more engaging! Find more about Amy at playapy.com or her YouTube Channel! She has some great resources and themed games for developing executive function skills, too! All my love, Sarah 

Team, I want you to meet and learn from my friend Darius Namdaran. He's brilliant, and his simple-but-profound method of brain organizing will empower you today! Hear his thoughts on dyslexia, executive dysfunction, and a brilliant kid whose brilliance was allllmost overlooked, for poor handwriting! Darius has his own podcast, Dyslexia Explored, and a program called Bullet Map Academy. He's also offering our tribe a free session with him, just to share the love! I'm still learning with Darius, and we have some exciting collaborations in the works! In the meantime, enjoy a listen to the calm brilliance of...

Turn that frown upside down! Fix your attitude! Stop crying! We do a lot to prompt our kids to feel better, and it makes sense: we don't want our loved ones to hurt. But, could it be that when we try to "fix" what we think of as negative emotions, we make them more intense and long-lasting? This Pep Talk is for any kid who's had a rough day, week, or school experience. It's for parents and teachers who feel like they are never good enough. It's a pep talk for humans, and it starts with this truth: Kid...

Hey Team, 

Kids are frustratingly human all the time. They do the thing you said not to do not two seconds after you told them not to do it. Oh, these tiny humans. Today's show will teach you how to embrace a "Detective Perspective" so that you can approach patterns and problems with a problem-solving lens, making yelling a tool you just don't need any more. The paradox of being perfect and super-flawed can really get you thinking, so jump in this episode with us! Pep talk is at 11:38. All my love to you, Sarah

P...

Have you ever read something, only to realize your focus had floated away? Or, have you lost your spot when switching lines of text? This week we talk to Nick Lum, founder of BeeLine Reader, an assistive technology designed to make reading easier.  It is proven to help alleviate some of the mental tasks of reading, improving comprehension, and extending focus (when our brains use less juice on just reading, we are free to think about what we are reading!) Nick will tell us how BeeLine came to be, why he quit his day job for it, and how h...

If you had a dollar for every time someone told you or your child to "just study" or "study harder," you'd be rich, right? But, what does that even mean? And how can you study harder if you never learned how to study anyway? This episode has study tips AND how to coach your child to actually USE them, now, to improve their grades on last-minute work and final exams. Disclaimer: grades are not who your child is. While this episode explores ways to improve grades, take grades in general as one measure of the 1,000 things your kid is...

Tribe, 

This interview will rock your brain! Geralyn is an Occupational Therapist, writer, and mom who challenges the medical and educational systems to do better for everyone. You will love her story and unique perspective. She writes on Medium and is the founder of the Down Syndrome Action Plan. Listen to show to find out why Geralyn says, "we have to leave space for our kids to reach their full potentials" and why she passionately proclaims, "your genes are not your destiny." All my love, Sarah 

Audience: Students and parents, school context

Hey Tribe, 

If you're feeling weird going into this Pandemic-Clouded Holiday Season, you are not alone. Flexible thinking is an executive function that is in high demand right now, and the holidays are going to call upon it loads. Plus, you might be managing disappointment, anxiety, and social pressures...all while staying safe from a mostly invisible (but so very real) health threat. Not to worry, though, this episode teaches you how to flew that brain's flexible thinking and mine your expectations for the real gold---what you seek to feel this year! We strategize the Thanksgiving struggle t...

Tribe, take a break and have some fun with this week's interview! Dr. Kirsten Milliken is the author of the book PlayDHD, which teaches us the science behind using PLAY to support our brains! She will explain, using science and experience, why fun is necessary, especially today, and how taking time to play can help you be more successful! She also talks about her awesome new project, WorldofADHD.com, which celebrates the art, lives, and creativity of people with ADHD! Links mentioned in the show are in the blog at: sarahkesty.com/blog/episode37. All my love to you...

Tribe, 

I was honored to hear from a listener who wanted to share his story after making it through the school system as a kid with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Floyd shares what he found worked, what only worked a little, and how to frame your thinking about your own ADHD brain. His tips will resonate with you! (And, spoiler alert: He made it. He works and is going to school to become an advocate for justice! Floyd's story will give you hope!) 

PS A learning moment for me: I sent Floyd some qu...

Tribe, try-o-meters are not a thing. We cannot assume we know how hard others, especially our kids, are trying. I challenge you to replace your assumptions with only one: Kids do their best. Please listen and share. (This episode is in response to some emails my students and clients received from teachers this week, including, "You need to actually try," and "I won't help you anymore unless you do your part." We can't afford to lose our kids by assuming they aren't trying.) Listen in for some strategies and an empathetic walk in kids' shoes right now. Pep talk...

Team, This episode may go against the grain a bit. We all are fighting so hard right now. Fighting to stay safe. Fighting to stay positive. Fighting to stay on top of whatever "school" may look like. We are trying to be in action all the time because we think action is the solution to stress. Today's episode won't ask you to stop acting, but it will empower you to make FUN part of your plan and activities. It is FUN that will keep our brains healthy and able to access strategies and learning. It is FUN that will...

One of the most common concerns I’ve heard from our Tribe is that of keeping our kids organized and on track for distance learning or hybrid models. This concern touches deep into layers of Executive Function, and I’m going to share some great hacks today. Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:10. All my love! Sarah

Tribe, today you'll hear from Ashley Daugherty, who created a planner with embedded executive function supports! I'm so excited for her planner and its potential impact on kids' lives. Check out her website for more information and to order: https://www.studentplannerplus.com/ All my love, Sarah

It's official: no matter how you "school" this fall, you will be overwhelmed at some point. Today's show teaches you how to re-frame overwhelm (for instant relief) and how to deal with the overwhelm that sneaks up and takes over our brains. Tons of strategies for kids and their grown ups in this show! Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:45. All my love, Sarah

Hey Tribe, This might be one of my favorite hacks. If you can track your energy levels and then match them with high- and low- demand activities, you and your child will save SO much time and effort fighting against your brains! Using this strategy has helped me get more done, in less time, and I feel less frustrated with myself. (Yes, even coaches need strategies!) Let me know how it goes for you, especially as you prep for distance learning or blended learning (or really even just homework times). All my love, Sarah

What can you do to prepare when you don't know what you're preparing for? In this week's show, we uncover the strategy of dump-and-ask (which probably needs to be renamed) to process anxieties about the unknown. We talk about what to ask teachers so you can mentally prepare and start thinking of strategies to support your and your child's success this fall. We got this! Join our tribe on email by going to Sarahkesty.com/toptips. Hey Kid pep talk is at 17 mins. All my love, Sarah 

Whether or not your child will return to a physical classroom, they will need a system to maintain their school-related belongings and space at home. Without the demands of school right now, you have a great opportunity to think about, test out, and create a space and systems to maintain it. This episode teaches you how to: make a special "workspace" for free or very cheap, get your kid to buy in to organizing, and how to organize the digital space. Pep Talk is at 15:54. All my love, Sarah

Disappointment is a pandemic's middle name. Today I want to teach you how to use disappointment as a way to develop self-regulation and flexible thinking in yourself and your kids. The thought framework is available at sarahkesty.com/blog/episode26. All my love to you, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

We’re going to talk about some of our executive functions and their implications for fighting racism. When we intentionally grow our abilities to think critically and act according to our actual values, we can make significant steps against racism. Flexible thinking and emotional regulation are two skill sets we can hone to help us address and unhinge racism.  Hey Kid pep talk is at 17:00. All my love and please be kind to one another, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

I don’t think we’ll soon forget the 2020 school year, most likely for its spectacularly strange ending with distance learning. At every transition in time, it’s important to take a little while to reflect on what went wonky, what went right, and what we learned. This week on the podcast, we’re doing a review of the 2019-2020 school year and its indications for executive function. All my love, Sarah

Have you ever wondered where students who can't *yet* function in regular public school settings go? Who helps them? What makes those programs a better fit for their needs? Listen, I'm  not going to pretend that all programs for students with "extreme" needs are quality. It's just not true. But, there are some that are top notch and have amazing people leading them! This episode interviews one of these amazing people, Mike Laharty. In our talk, we explore:  A "School to World" transition philosophy Why SEL and Executive Function skills being taught and practiced early could end the need fo...

"Brain stealers" are designed to capture your attention and keep it. Things like video games, apps, and platforms can hijack our kids' brains and create a struggle at home. Instead of fighting against brain stealers (you will lose!), you can own their power by allowing them at certain times. This episode is just as much for adults as kids! Jump in and strategize this week's struggle! All my love, Sarah 

Audience: Students and parents, school context

If you and your children are feeling bored and blue while sheltering in place, this episode is for you. Learn two things you can do right now to help improve your child's focus and attention! You know what you won't learn because they don't work long term? Yelling and punishing! What does work is a little bit of detective work, reflecting on what goes right, and...fun. Yup, fun matters. There's brain science to back it up. Get out of your rut and join our tribe for this week's quick episode! Hey kid pep talk is at 11:13. All my...

If I've grown over the 16 years I've been teaching, much of it is due to seeds planted by an inspiring, authentic, and upbeat expert named Patty Schetter. This interview with Patty explores her perspectives on supporting kids with executive function needs, what she's found to help them thrive, and a funny fail she will always remember. Links for more information on Patty's books and her work with CAPTAIN autism will be at sarahkesty.com/blog/episode20. All my love, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

Is helping your child with Distance Learning making you feel like you're back in school? You're not alone. The amount of work varies school to school, teacher to teacher.  Then there's the technology frustations. Links don't work. PDFs don't load. And what was this about finding assignments in one place, doign the work in another, and then turning it in in yet another spot onlne? This week's podcast has your back, with tried-and-true strategies to organize workload and make a plan for success. We got this, together! All my love, Sarah

Now that we are quite literally with our loved ones 24/7, the small annoyances we used to be able to ignore might just be too much to handle. On this week's show, we discover strategies to actually solve "annoying" or "bad" behaviors, rather than just putting them on pause. You'll learn what the behavior hole is and why just demanding that your kid (or partner) "stop it!" might be pushing them into the hole.

Can't wait to strategize the struggle with you! All my love, Sarah

Audience: Parents, teachers

Learn Executive Function strategies to create a home learning schedule that works for your family! We'll go over how much time your kid can work total and in small chunks, how social time is actually, like, totally necessary for the teen brain (eye roll), and how to get your kids to help create a schedule they will actually follow! This isn't the Instragram, perfect, every-minute-planned schedule. We're setting up routines to get your life back on track while your kids are schooling at home. This is a meaty episode, so there are lots of resources linked in the show...

Special guest episode: Two Education Technology experts on the best apps and supports for distance learning! Kristin Oropeza and Karyn Fillhart share strategies for teachers and students across all grade levels and abilities. All resources are linked at my blog: sarahkesty.com/blog/episode16. All my love, Sarah

As we navigate the distance learning world, we need to strategize how to best support our students with learning, attention, or executive function challenges. This episode lays out the Top 7 accommodations we use at school to help bridge learning gaps and ensure success. Reach out if you need me! sarah at sarahkesty dot com. All my love, Sarah

Tribe, Times are weird. We are home schooling kids during the Covid19 shelter in place. This episode helps parents understand how to set realistic expectations for themselves and their kids as distance learning gets off to an inevitability bumpy start. Learn how to support your child's learning needs and avoid some of the traps of being at home, with less structure. Hey Kid pep talk addresses a lot of the anxieties and reminds kids that we can strategize this struggle too (16:12). All my love, Sarah

We decide all day: what to eat, what to listen to (like your favorite podcast here). But how do we teach someone the process of making a decision? I've got a great hack for you this week. Hey Kid is at 20:56. All my love, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

When we ask kids to be good at pretty much everything (all academic areas, plus PE, plus social-emotional skills) without considering where they start or what challenges they face, we push them into one of two roads: 1) the frustrated and helpless, maybe take a chance and ask for help (and risk being seen as "dumb" by others road or 2) the act like I don't care and maybe even bad enough to get kicked out of this class because I hate it anyway road. Not great options. But, when we help kids embrace strategizing the struggle, we can present them...

Getting started on anything is tougher than we might think...The amount of brain processes that are involved in taking any first step will astound you. And, luckily, we can strategize to support many of them! Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:28. And PS my mouth said "deficit" when my brain meant "detriment," advanced apologies to my grammar peeps! All my love, Sarah 

Audience: all ages and contexts

If your kid seems genuinely baffled by the results of their actions...this episode is for you! Kids with EF needs often feel like life happens to them, and they need support to see that they indeed have more power than they think! Today I teach you how to "close the feedback loop," helping kids see that their choices create consequences (positive and negative!) This is a beefy episode, worth a few listens. Your challenge this week is to start pointing out what your child does right, specifically connecting their choice to the positive results they created, in the...

We’re talking about attention. Not the kind that comes naturally or you want to give freely, but the kind we ask kids to pay. Today I’m going to teach you quick strategies to improve your child’s attention and improve your understanding of your child’s brain! This episode celebrates our bright and misunderstood kids' success stories! Hey Kid pep talk is at 17:40. All my love, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

Which planner is best for my child with executive function needs? Digital or paper? Or, is it better to make one on our own? Where do you start? This episode explores all of these questions and more! Learn what is essential, optional, and customizable for a planner for students middle school through college! Downloadable planner pages to try out are at sarahkesty.com/episode7. All my love, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

New year, new semester...they often mean a fresh start. But, using the same methods to get the "fresh start" just won't work. Learn how to monitor and improve your reactions when your child or student "misbehaves," how to use reflective listening to get great reflections from  your child, and how to use in-the-moment feedback to support your child's resolutions or goals. New Year, here we come! For a list of the questions and talking points in this episode, visit SarahKesty.com. Pep talk is at 20:30. All my love and Happy New Year! Sarah 

Aud...

We tell our kids to "study" for tests...but we hardly tell them how. It could be because we don't actually know either! This episode shares the top strategies for studying anything, at any grade level. It also tells you what not to do (i.e. cram all night or reread the text) so that your efforts aren't going against your brain. Science taught me these tips. I tested them with my students. Now I'm sharing them with you! Pep talk is at 15:45 and will share the strategies in student-friendly language. We got this, my wonderful tribe! All my...

The semester's almost over, and you're likely feeling the pressure. It's important to know where to put your last-minute energy to get the most from  your efforts. Listen this week to learn top strategies for grade saving now and next semester. These methods work from middle school through college! Grades are not who your child is, but they do matter for their future. Hey kid Pep Talk is at 14:30. Our challenge this week is to just get through, and there are some great graphics (to use as visual prompts on your phone background etc) at facebook.com/executivefunctionpodcast. Sending a...

Do you worry that you help your kid too much? Maybe you stress that they'll never be independent but then still find yourself bailing them out in the 11th hour? Knowing how much and what type of help to give is tricky! This episode gets you out of old patterns and into new ways to help your child when you Strategize the Struggle!  Hey Kid! Pep talk is at 18:30  Visuals of the questions to ask are at: sarahkesty.com/episode3.  Thanks for listening! If you haven't already, please rate and review our show! It really does help!  All my love...

This episode asks you to challenge your assumption that the "behaviors" that drive you crazy are choices, not missing skills.  Our kid pep talk will reveal three teacher secrets that every kid needs to remember! And our example story may sound just like a kid you know and love!

 This week's challenge is available at sarahkesty.com/episode2 (a reflection to start wondering if it's behavior or a missing skill).  In this episode, you will hear: 1:06 Meet Aubrie--a brilliant student who lacks executive function; 7:30 2 important differences about Aubrie's success; 9:03 Why smart kids fail; 11:00 Are you making an assu...

Our first podcast will get you thinking, reflecting, and laughing! Learn what executive function is and why it's been the missing piece to your or your child's school, social, and home puzzles.  

Talk with you next week and sending all my love, Sarah

Audience: all ages and contexts

Is your child or student so smart but failing at school? Are you struggling with issues like organization, planning, and self-management? Listen to the executive function podcast, where you'll grow to understand your child as well as learn some ready-to-use tricks for success! Together, we will strategize the struggle! The Executive Function Podcast is coming soon, wherever you listen!