The Executive Function Podcast

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 function struggles to grow in this way, too! If you or your child are struggling with "studenting," join our Launch to College Group! Our 8 weeks of live coaching and activities will have you ready to independently rock college, trade, or tech school--prepared with perspectives and tools to handle any life-ing that comes your way! Our group starts June 9th, 2022...so grab your spot and get ready for an action-packed brain adventure! (All ages of high school and up are welcome! The skills will help with independence, whether in college or not yet)

 Learn more: https://sarahkesty.com/college/  and join: https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PrvVYjdTnxfBUB2aAbtGBKD42lkOAio

All my love,

Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context, college, high school

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 living-prep for your teen or young adult. (And...if your child isn't yet graduating, you'll still want to tune in to hear some of Alec's thoughts on balance, emotional regulation, and ways families can communicate! He shares so many easy-to-use strategies!)

And, if this kind of help is exactly what you're looking for right now, you've got to join our summer launch to college group. Imagine ending the summer feeling 100% confident in your teen's ability to handle independent life! That's what we're doing in our group! Learn more: https://sarahkesty.com/college/ and sign up: https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/PrvVYjdTnxfBUB2aAbtGBKD42lkOAio

All my love to you,

Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context, college, high school

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

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 ages and contexts

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

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

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, You're Gonna Fail!! All my love, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school

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

PS Remember to share the show! It's helping so many families! Who do you know who could use some executive function love? 

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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 and does. Grades matter a lot and grades don't matter at all. Intrigued? Jump in the episode! (Pep talk for your amazing kid is at 16:19) 

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 today, together! Pep talk is at 12:25. 

P.S. Sorry in advance: I sing on this episode. 

All my love,

Sarah 

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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 at 19:00 (but the whole episode is like a perspective pep talk this week!) All my love, Sarah 

Audience: all ages and contexts

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 regulate our brain chemicals to get us into a more productive, happy space. Fun is not a waste of time, and it doesn't have to be separate from what you're doing right now. All my love (and some fun) to you, Sarah 

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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

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 for "extreme behavior programs" What Mike would do if he had a time machine (and which skills he would make sure his students had) Even if your child is not presenting what we'd call "extreme needs," you'll love hearing Mike talk with simplicity and love about the true purpose of education. Our conversation felt like a hug and was certainly validating that there is hope for ALL students, even those who are blowing out of public school right now. Let me know what you think! I'll share the love with Mike! Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

"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 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

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

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 with a third road: 3) the this is hard but I'm going to try some strategies because everyone needs help and new approaches sometimes road. Listen in to learn how to get your child or class to see and travel this third road. Hey kid pep talk is at 12:58. All my love to my EF tribe, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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 moment. You'll start to see an empowered shift in your child or student! Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 11:55. All my love, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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

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 love, Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context

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, Sarah 

Audience: all ages and contexts

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 assumption that inhibits growth and peace?; 11:10 Oh Should!; 15:20 A reflection for a healthier dynamic; 20:00 Pep talk!

I can't wait to hear what you think! Let me know on social or at sarah @ sarahkesty.com. Have a great week and all my love,

Sarah

Audience: Students and parents, school context