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The Executive Function Podcast

Sarah Kesty, Brain Tools School

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Helpful, fun, and effective strategies to support everyone's executive function! Learn how to coach yourself, your teen, or your child to manage attention, organize, and plan. We share inspiration for families and individuals with neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and more. We love what we do and are passionate about helping you thrive!
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Need Project is a non-profit dedicated to families with special needs children and adults. On our monthly podcast we interview non-profits organizations and professionals who are supporting individuals and families dealing with disabilities.
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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. …
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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% o…
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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 eve…
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Dennis Blaisdell is the pastor of Access Christian Church. It is a place where you can come as you are. We know going to Church can be intimidating. But rest assured, Access Christian Church is made up of imperfect people doing their best to serve God and serve others. We have a laid back atmosphere where you can feel comfortable and not have to wo…
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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 …
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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…
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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 Huma…
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Randy and Kesti Suggs are the founders of Reigning Hope. Their mission: To provide life changing therapies at our sensory-rich farm clinic. Their hope: Children with disabilities struggle to reach developmental milestones and to be independent. A combination of therapies and supportive community can help these children reach their goals. At Reignin…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Team Impact with Sarah Sapiro, Regional Executive Director, West Emily Burns, Matchup specialist Jackie Avila, Case Manager and Shikha Shah, Regional Director, Programs. Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college sports teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience for everyone involved. See more at http…
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Family Voices Colorado is a grassroots organization run by parents of children with special healthcare needs. The support you receive is free of charge and provided by someone who understands the many challenges of having a child with special health care needs in their life. Every day we give parents the information and knowledge they need to navig…
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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…
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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 T…
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Maranatha Charity Trust is an organization in Romania. It's about children who didn't have the chance to grow up in a family. Maybe it's because their parents left too soon to watch over them from above, or maybe it's because their parents - biologically speaking - didn't know how to receive and appreciate them as a blessing into their lives. Child…
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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 (Her…
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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 t…
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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 …
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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 …
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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 moment…
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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 h…
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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, yo…
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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 sho…
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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! Li…
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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 Str…
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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 yo…
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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…
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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 Spe…
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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…
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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 k…
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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…
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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 s…
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Kevan Chandler is the founder of We Carry Kevan and the author of the book of the same name. We discuss the beginning of We carry Kevan and how a big dream lead to the book, a documentary, and a non-profit. We carry Kevan works to connect families with backpack carriers which allow for up to 60 pounds, and they are about a lot more.…
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Marcia Nathai-Balkissoon is the author of a new book "Lighting the Path: Leaning into a Hopeful Future as a Special Needs Parent". Marcia is a storyteller and educator who believes that we each have a powerful purpose that should guide our lives. As one of her children is brain-injured and bedridden, Marcia and her family have traversed significant…
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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, an…
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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, …
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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 …
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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 exten…
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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 wor…
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