Podcasts about Executive functions

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Jay Parikh, Executive Vice President of CoreAI at Microsoft. Before joining Microsoft, Jay spent over a decade as Facebook's global head of engineering, scaling the company from a few hundred engineers to billions of users, then ran the cybersecurity company Lacework as CEO through its acquisition by Fortinet. In this conversation, he breaks down the five ingredients of great engineering leadership, discusses why he'd rather run two competing bets in parallel than forecast a winner, and explains why company culture remains more important than ever for teams to get right. In today's episode, we discuss: The five ingredients that separate excellent engineering leadership from the rest How to protect your team from large shifts in public perception The mindset shift organizations need to maintain speed at scale How every layer of the organization needs to stay connected to the customer Why Jay runs "brain trusts" of senior ICs with zero managers in the room References Akamai: https://www.akamai.com/ AWS: https://aws.amazon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ George Conrades: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeconrades/ Mark Zuckerberg: https://x.com/finkd Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/ Paul Sagan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-sagan-59654a1/ Tom Leighton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tleighton/ Where to find Jay LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayparikh/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/jayparikh Where to find Brett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:36 How leadership changes through exponential growth 02:21 The five ingredients that define excellent engineering leadership 07:51 What actually drives culture at a company as it scales 12:05 The physics behind why everything slows down at scale 18:57 The fastest team of Jay's career, and why size mattered 22:44 Why every team should think like an FDE 26:20 Managing a team through wild swings in public perception 29:07 What's different about leading through the steepest S-curve moments 33:58 Why onboarding well means going slow to go fast 37:41 Is AI actually new, or is history just repeating? 41:35 What actually counts as a "big bet" worth taking 45:01 The concrete big bets that reshaped Facebook's entire technology stack 47:35 Why vertical integration keeps being the right call as companies scale 51:46 How being a startup CEO reshaped Jay as a leader 1:01:26 Why Jay overruled Zuckerberg's instinct to skip efficiency

If you're a woman ready to redesign your life, step into your next best self, and finish 2026 strong, you are going to love the coaches I'm introducing you to today. They're our speakers from the Design, Live, Thrive Summit, and each one gives you a real taste of what she'll be teaching live.⭐️ Grab your spot at the September 2026 Design, Live, Thrive Summit here: https://www.designlivethrive.com/If you're new to my channel, my name is Debbie Shadid. I'm a Business Growth and Life Coach and the founder of the Business Building Boutique. For over two decades, I've helped women learn how to become coaches, get clients, grow their businesses, and create meaningful income doing work they love.The Design, Live, Thrive Summit for Women runs twice per year, and in this video you'll hear from the speakers who will be speaking on in our upcoming September 2026 Summit on Septmber 9-11. Here's who you'll meet in this episode:• Emily Terry, Mile High Money Mama. Her talk, "The Money Mindset Reset," helps high-earning women stop wondering where their money went and start making it work for them, without restrictive budgets.• Sol Garcia, executive function consultant. She helps high performers who feel foggy and forgetful tell the glass priorities from the plastic ones, and finally bridge the gap between knowing what to do and getting it done.• Dr. Michelle Alden, parent coach. Her talk, "Stop Reassuring Your Anxious Child and Build the Confidence They Need," helps parents recognize anxiety hiding behind big behaviors and respond in a way that actually calms everyone.• Victoria Herczek, body-mind wellbeing coach. Her talk, "What Your Nervous System Has to Do With the Pain You're Suffering," helps women who've tried everything finally understand and release chronic pain.• Thais Glenn, co-host and speaker at the Design, Live, Thrive Summit for Women. She teaches how to use your future self as a point of reference, so your frustrations become a compass toward what you actually value.When you save your seat, you get instant access to the Design Live Thrive toolkit, a gift from each speaker with a strategy you can start using right away: https://designlivethrive.comConnect with the coaches:• Emily Terry: https://milehighmoneymomma.com• Dr. Michelle Alden: https://www.parentingchallengingkids.com• Victoria Herczek: https://www.victoriaherczek.comAre you a coach, or thinking about becoming one? Book a call with me here:https://debbieshadid.com/scheduleConnect with me, Debbie Shadid:Website: https://www.debbieshadid.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbieshadid/Chapters: 0:00 Redesigning Your Life for 20260:45 Mastering Your Personal Finances1:27 Executive Function for Busy Professionals1:39 Supporting Children Through Big Emotions2:04 Living in a Pain-Free Body3:03 Using Your Future Self as a GPS30:59 The Reality of Building a Coaching Business42:15 Data-Driven Growth and IterationTired of spinning in indecision about what to post, how to sell your coaching, or explain what you do? This is your moment!Join me for a live edition of Fast Track + VIP coaching experiences where you'll get real-time feedback on your niche, offers, and marketing, plus the clarity and support you've been looking for.Spots are limited and enrollment closes soon.Let's connect → DebbieShadid.com/schedule

Over 6 million students in the United States present with ADHD. Breaking down misconceptions, relevant brain regions, and realistic classroom applications.

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to lose their hearing gradually while insisting they hear just fine? It turns out this isn't simply denial or stubbornness. The way hearing fades can fool the brain into believing everything is normal—often delaying treatment until significant hearing has already been lost. Listen as I explain what's really happening and why recognizing the signs isn't nearly as easy as you might think. Source: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/age-related-hearing-loss Few things are more painful—or more confusing—than discovering a partner has been unfaithful. Why do people risk everything for an affair? Is it simply a lack of self-control, or is something much deeper happening beneath the surface? And if infidelity comes to light, is the relationship automatically doomed, or can couples actually recover? Glenn Hutchinson, a clinical psychologist and behavioral researcher, joins me to separate myth from science and reveal what decades of research tells us about why people cheat, what their behavior really means, and what happens next. He is author of the new book Unfaithful Minds: The Science and Psychology of Infidelity (https://amzn.to/3UedjS8). Why do smart, capable people forget appointments, lose their train of thought, make impulsive decisions, or struggle to stay focused—even when they know better? The answer lies in something called executive function, the remarkable system in your brain that quietly manages attention, planning, memory, emotional control, and decision-making. When it works well, life feels easier. When it doesn't, the consequences can show up everywhere. Adrian Owen, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the University of Western Ontario, explains how executive function shapes nearly everything you do—and, more importantly, what you can do to strengthen it. He is author of the new book Think Before You Think: Understanding and Mastering Executive Function (https://amzn.to/4fGvlFd). Why do so many projects seem to fly along at first... only to crawl painfully toward the finish line? Whether you're remodeling a house, writing a report, or tackling a long to-do list, there's a surprising psychological reason the last stretch often feels endless. Once you understand what's happening, you'll have a much better chance of finishing on time instead of wondering where all the extra time disappeared. Source: https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/planning-fallacy PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AIR DOCTOR: Head to ⁠https://AirDoctorPro.com⁠ and use promo code SYSK to get $250 off select AirDoctor air purifiers, including the 3500, 4000, and 5500 models. Plus, you'll receive a free 3year warranty, an $84 value, and AirDoctor's 30-day money back guarantee WAYFAIR: Ready to upgrade your home for way less? Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Wayfair.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right now to shop all things home and get your space ready for less.  QUINCE: Elevate your everyday. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Quince.com/sysk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! SHOPIFY: It's time to turn those "what ifs" into CHA CHING with Shopify Today! Sign up for your $1 per month trail and start selling today at ⁠https://Shopify.com/realm⁠ INDEED: Get a $75 Sponsored Job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://Indeed.com/PODCAST⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ADHD symptom that affects every relationship, every workplace moment, every day — and almost never makes it into the mainstream conversation. Emotional dysregulation is not being "too sensitive." It's a neurological reality: a brain with compromised emotional brakes, flooding with intensity and staying flooded.In this episode, DrB explains the science, introduces rejection sensitive dysphoria (one of the most impactful and least discussed ADHD experiences), and walks through the specific skills that build real emotional regulation over time.Key Points Covered• What emotional dysregulation actually is — neurologically, not judgmentally• The difference between feeling strongly and being dysregulated• Rejection sensitive dysphoria: what it is, how it sounds, what it costs• 4 skill-building approaches: naming, nervous system regulation, the pause, processing• The gift on the other side: intensity as depth, empathy, and passionLinks Mentioneddrbarbaracohen.com — All episodes + show resourcesIt Was Never You Masterclass – More Than ADHD Coaching, August 25, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm pacific time + VIP hour:  https://itwasneveryoumasterclass.com/ Get Sh*t Done (GSD) Program Information – 9-month program https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogramGrant assistance page for help with funding for GSD program:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function Follow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and moreFollow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resourcesTo Help The Show:Subscribe at your favorite listening spot, and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes. The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information. Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this! 

California Almond Board-funded research finds potential benefits for adults with prediabetes

Ever look at your ADHD kid and think, "I know they want to do well — so why can't they just get started?" This week, cognitive engineer and ADHD coach Jeff Copper joins Elaine to break down a completely new way of understanding motivation and executive function. You'll learn why "unmotivated" is almost always the wrong word, why extra time isn't the accommodation you think it is, and why talking things through with your kid might be one of the most powerful tools you have. This one's dense — you may want to listen twice. Tap in for a total shift in how you see effort, motivation, and what your ADHD kid is actually up against.What to expect in this episode:A new way to understand ADHD motivation using Dr. Russell Barkley's two-brain modelWhy calling executive function an "impairment" can actually reduce shame, not increase itWhy rewards and willpower fall short as long-term motivation strategiesWhy extra time isn't the relief parents assume it isWhy talking things through with your kid is a real, research-backed accommodationAbout Jeff CopperJeff Copper is a cognitive engineer and ADHD coach. He is founder of DIG Coaching Practice, Attention Talk Radio, and Attention Talk Video. He holds professional designations from ICF and PAAC and certifications from ADD Coach Academy and Coaches Training Institute. A member of ADDA, CHADD, ACO, PAAC, and ICF, Jeff developed Cognitive Ergonomics From the Inside Out®, a radical departure from the current ADHD intervention paradigm. In recognition of his contributions, he received the ACO's 2022 Professional Excellence Award. Jeff continues to innovate in attention coaching, helping individuals understand and manage their ADHD challenges.​Connect with JeffFacebook (optional):  https://www.facebook.com/adultaddcoachX Handle (optional)   https://twitter.com/digcoachingLinkedin (optional)   https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-copper  Instagram (optional)   https://instagram.com/dig.coaching ​Connect with Impact Parents:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactparentsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImpactParentsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impactparents

Send us Fan MailMost women who feel like they are dropping the ball assume they have a time management problem. Suzie Cabray says the problem usually sits one level lower than that.In this episode, we get into what executive function actually is, because the term gets used constantly and almost nobody defines it. Suzie breaks it down as the self-management skills that let you start things, organize your thoughts, regulate your emotions, and finish what you began. Then she makes the case that all of it rests on a foundation of sleep, food, movement, and real downtime. Fix the base and the thinking improves on its own.We also talk about why so many women are getting diagnosed with ADHD in their thirties, forties, and fifties, what the early warning signs look like when self-care starts slipping, and a simple way to name your priority areas so nothing gets ignored until it becomes an emergency.About Suzie. Suzie Cabray works virtually with busy and disorganized adults to improve the communication and thinking skills that affect their productivity and goal completion. Her clients are professionals, parents, and college students who want to get better at communication, time management, mental organization, and follow-through. She uses a brain-based approach and walks her clients through proven steps to take action and get things done.Connect with Suzie. https://suzycarbrey.com/If this is your first time listening, subscribe so you catch the rest of the self-care conversations. And if something Suzie said landed, leave a review. In the meantime, have an abundant day.Support the showConnect with Wendy Manganaro:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendymanganaro1/

Who told you who you are? For most adults with ADHD, the answer is: other people. Teachers, parents, partners, report cards, diagnoses. In this deeply personal episode, DrB examines how ADHD identity gets constructed from negative reflections, what living inside a broken identity actually costs you, and a practical four-step framework for building a new one.This is not positive thinking. This is identity work — one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in ADHD transformation.Key Points Covered• How ADHD identity is formed from other people's limited perceptions• The shift from "I struggled" to "I am a struggler" — and why it matters• What a shame-based identity costs you: ceiling, energy, relationships• 4-step framework: audit, trace origins, find counter-evidence, act first• Why identity shifts through action, not through waiting to feel differentlyLinks Mentioneddrbarbaracohen.com — All episodes + show resourcesIt Was Never You Masterclass – More Than ADHD Coaching, August 25, 2026, 10 am – 2 pm pacific time + VIP hour:  https://itwasneveryoumasterclass.com/ Get Sh*t Done (GSD) Program Information – 9-month program https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogramGrant assistance page for help with funding for GSD program:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance The Transformation Club (TTC) – if time or money commitments have been holding you back - the affordable membership program for Executive Function skills development:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-FunctionFollow me on Dr B Facebook Page and enjoy live videos and moreFollow me on Instagram and enjoy relevant resourcesTo Help The Show:Subscribe at your favorite listening spot and my podcast player has social media links (icons) in the episode player so you can share episodes you love with others!Please rate the show and leave a thoughtful review on iTunes so I know you're benefiting from the episodes. The greater the number of reviews, the higher the ranking, and the easier it will be for others to find the show; people who also need this information. Let's put an end to the worldwide needless suffering together! We can do this! 

On this episode of the State of Mind Mental Health Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Bryan Gastelle, a clinical psychologist and the founder of Empower Psychotherapy, a fully remote practice serving clients across multiple states. Bryan works primarily with neurodivergence — ADHD and autism — along with couples, trauma, anxiety, and depression. We get into the stuff that usually gets skipped. Why autism flies under the radar for decades, and how masking actually forms. Whether people on the spectrum really lack empathy (the answer is more interesting than you'd think). What sensory overload feels like, and the small adjustments that take the edge off. Where ADHD and autism overlap around executive function, and what AuDHD means. Why ADHD gets missed in girls so often. And whether the rise in diagnoses is a real increase or just better recognition. Then we go practical. Exercise and the neurotransmitter cocktail it releases. Meditation as attention training — treating focus like a muscle that starts out weak. The do-it-now rule for short tasks. Building SMART goals so a vague plan stops feeling impossible. And how ADHD shows up in relationships through forgotten texts and undone dishes, plus how both partners can meet in the middle without it becoming an excuse. We close on shame — the self-blame that piles up after years of being told you're lazy — and how Bryan dismantles that in CBT. Live with courage, clarity, and compassion. Practice inner strength, and develop within. Chapters: [00:00:00] Cold Open: When ADHD Looks Like "You Don't Care" [00:01:04] Welcome and Meet Dr. Bryan Gastelle [00:05:11] Obvious Cases vs. Flying Under the Radar: How Autism Gets Missed [00:09:50] Do People on the Spectrum Lack Empathy? And How Therapy Actually Helps [00:14:31] Sensory Overload: Eye Contact, Crowds, and What Takes the Edge Off [00:19:12] AuDHD, Executive Function, and Why Diagnoses Are Rising [00:23:21] Why ADHD Looks Different in Boys and Girls [00:27:44] Exercise, Meditation, and Training Attention Like a Muscle [00:32:00] ADHD in Relationships: Texting, Chores, and Real Compromise [00:36:05] Do It Now: SMART Goals and Offloading Working Memory [00:40:12] Shame, Self-Blame, and Why It's Not a Character Flaw [00:44:31] Final Advice and Where to Find Bryan Learn more about Bryan's work: https://www.empowermytherapy.com/ Free 1-month of the Meditation App - Waking Up https://dynamic.wakingup.com/guestpass/SC58BD912 Please Subscribe to my YouTube - YouTube Subscription Link Disclaimer Professional medical care and psychotherapeutic services are not offered on this Youtube channel. It is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such condition. Seeking professional support is encouraged if you think you have an issue and that you want help.

What if sound is more than just a background track to our lives, but a fundamental tool for building brain function and human connection? Join us for an immersive conversation with Emmy-winning composer, jazz saxophonist, and educator Hayes Greenfield. With a career spanning over 70 film scores and decades of live performance, Hayes explores the "Human Premium"—the raw, tactile power of sound that transcends language barriers.  Beyond the stage, Hayes is transforming early childhood education and neurocognitive care through his Creative Sound Play initiative. Supported by leaders in neuroscience, his work demonstrates how intentional listening and sound-making bridge the educational gap by developing critical executive function skills. He shares how a teacher was able to calm down a 3 y.o. girl with a clucking sound, and how a non-verbal student spoke for the first time during one of the sessions held by Hayes, bringing the teachers to tears. Hayes reminds us that tuning into our sonic environment is a play-based pathway to a kinder, more mindful world. What will you do to incorporate sound into your skillset and daily habits? Topics Covered Sound, Music, Neuroscience, Executive Function, Early Childhood Education, Human Connection, Creative Sound Play, Community Building, Mindfulness, Neurodiversity, sound builds brain function, sound for connection.   Watch this interview here: https://youtu.be/wTI2cAzXRXA   Who is Hayes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_Greenfield Find Hayes here: https://www.hayesgreenfield.com

Kids (and adults) with ADHD don't actually have a deficit of attention. Today, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is more properly understood as a deficit of executive function— and as this week's guest ⁠Michael McLeod⁠, founder of GrowNOW ADHD and author of ⁠THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PLAYBOOK⁠, explains, executive function means a whole lot more than a messy backpack. To help kids with ADHD succeed, Michael argues, parents need to help children strengthen the internal skills that lead to lifelong independence. In this interview, drawing from his decades of experience working with families whose kids are growing up with ADHD, Michael explains his four-pillar framework for developing executive functioning skills: self-awareness, self-regulation, self-motivation, and self-evaluation. In this episode, you'll learn: How self-awareness and "time blindness" can affect daily life when you have ADHD Why novel experiences are crucial opportunities for kids with ADHD How exposure to screens intensifies ADHD symptoms Why negative attention feels great to the ADHD brain How to support ADHD kids without lowering expectations for their capability Here's where you can find Michael: www. grownowadhd.com @grownowADHD on IG, FB, and YouTube Buy THE EXECUTIVE FUNCTION PLAYBOOK: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781394309153 Buy the accompanying workbook: https://bookshop.org/a/12099/9781394364589 What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on our website: ⁠⁠https://www.whatfreshhellpodcast.com/p/promo-codes/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Lindsey Scrase, COO of Checkr. Before joining Checkr as CRO and later stepping into the COO seat, Lindsey spent nearly a decade at Google Cloud as global managing director for SMB, mid-market, and startups. In this conversation, she breaks down why moving upmarket into enterprise trips up so many startups looking to scale, how Checkr rebuilt its sales compensation model to keep pace with growth, and where AI is already reshaping her operations and go-to-market teams. In today's episode, we discuss: Why operators who thrive at massive-scale companies often struggle when they join a startup The hard-won lessons from Checkr's early enterprise push that nearly failed Why Checkr's C-suite meets every morning with no specific agenda The surprising challenges moving from CRO to COO How Checkr turned AI experiments into operating systems References Amazon: https://www.amazon.com Checkr: https://checkr.com Claude: https://claude.com Daniel Yanisse: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yanisse/ DoorDash: https://www.doordash.com Google: https://www.google.com Lovable: https://lovable.dev Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com Where to find Lindsey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-scrase-0702442/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Lscrase Where to find Brett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:06 Why big-company executives often struggle in startups 02:18 What Checkr's first CRO needed to accomplish 03:33 How to take on an entrenched category leader 06:58 Why leaders underestimate how hard the jump to enterprise really is 10:23 Separating a true deal-blocker from a customer's nice-to-have request 18:30 Why Lindsey hired enterprise-scarred sales leader over a market leader's résumé 22:08 The biggest challenges of moving from CRO to COO 28:03 Why Checkr names a single decision-maker for every major decision 34:42 Why Checkr rebuilt their sales compensation model 40:39 What actually separates a team's best seller from everyone else 45:03 Inside Checkr's daily, no-agenda, c-suite meeting 50:23 How following data can sometimes lead you in the wrong direction 57:27 Why hitting 130% of a goal isn't always a good thing 58:57 Where AI has changed how Checkr's teams operate day to day 1:04:33 Advice for all aspiring COOs

You've tried the systems recommended for helping complex kids—reward charts, planners, new morning routines—and they're just not sticking for your kid. It isn't that you're using bad systems, it's that often we're starting with the solution before we understand the problem. In this episode, Elaine and Diane unpack why systems and structures are the last piece of the parenting puzzle, not the first, and walk you through a practical, personalized approach to building routines that actually hold up for neurodiverse kids. Ready to stop guessing and start problem solving? This one's for you.What to expect in this episode:Why systems and structures come last in the ImpactParents model.The real reason reward charts and planners only work some of the time.How to problem-solve before you pick a system using real world scenarios and practical examples.Why buy-in and ownership are essential for complex kids and how to get them on board without a power struggle.The concept of "flexible structure": how to build routines that are solid enough to hold, but have enough give to survive a hard day.Download free guide: Top 12 Tips To Help Your Complex KidsConnect with ImpactParents: InstagramFacebookLinkedInSubstack

Why can you care deeply about a task, fully understand what needs to be done, and still feel physically unable to begin? In this episode of Authentically ADHD, Carmen explores the AuDHD freeze response—the frustrating gap between intention and action shaped by task-initiation struggles, autistic inertia, cognitive disengagement, transition friction, overwhelm, and nervous-system protection.We break down why this is not laziness, defiance, or a lack of discipline, and why shame often makes the freeze even worse. You'll learn how to identify what kind of “stuck” you are experiencing, reduce invisible steps, create gentler transition ramps, use body doubling and external cues, and choose a first step small enough to actually access.Because sometimes your brain is not refusing to cross the bridge. The bridge simply has no ramp, no lighting, no signs, and one deeply unqualified raccoon in a hard hat yelling, “Figure it out.”This episode is for every AuDHDer who has ever spent an hour thinking about standing up—and then blamed themselves for still sitting.Research and Show-Notes References* Buckle, K. L., Leadbitter, K., Poliakoff, E., & Gowen, E. First-Hand Accounts of Autistic Inertia. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021.* Rapaport, H. et al. “I live in extremes”: A qualitative investigation of autistic adults' experiences of inertia. Autism, 2023/2024.* Lage, C., Smith, E. S., & Lawson, R. P. A meta-analysis of cognitive flexibility in autism spectrum disorder. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2024.* Hoofs, V. et al. Task switching in autism: An EEG study on intentions and actions. Neuropsychologia, 2018.* Willcutt, E. G. et al. Validity of the executive function theory of ADHD: A meta-analytic review. Biological Psychiatry, 2005.* Diamond, A. Executive Functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 2013.* Becker, S. P. et al. Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome–Clinical Interview. 2024.* Yücens, B. et al. Examining cognitive disengagement syndrome in an adult ADHD evaluation sample. 2024.* Roelofs, K. Freeze for action: Neurobiological mechanisms in animal and human freezing. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 2017.* Arnsten, A. F. T. Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2009. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carmenauthenticallyadhd.substack.com/subscribe

In this week's episode of the podcast, the conversation focused on the critical role of home environment and systems in supporting executive function—especially for neurodivergent families. It's not about Pinterest-perfect organization, but about designing spaces and routines that work with your brain, not against it. Key Takeaways Design Over Discipline: Many executive function challenges are solved through smart environment design, not just motivation or checklists. Moving decisions from the brain into the environment can reduce overwhelm and increase independence. Zones Make Life Easier: Creating dedicated zones—like reading nooks, creative spaces, launch zones near exits, and recharge corners—helps reduce cognitive load and makes daily transitions smoother. Visible, Forgiving Systems Win: The discussion explored the power of visual cues (checklists, labels, color coding) over constant verbal reminders. Systems should be simple, obvious, and evolve as your family's needs change. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling outside-the-box learners! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Why Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead Homeschool Planning For Kids: Helping Your Child Get Organized Organizing Your Homeschool in a Tiny House Executive Function Struggles in Homeschooling: Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do About It) How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins Strengthen Executive Function Skills The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills 7 Executive Functioning Activities for Small Children RLL #84: Exploring Education and Executive Function with Seth PerlerThe Unmeasured Executive Functioning Issue RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question RLL LIVE | Improving Executive Functions Helping Kids Who Resist: Low-Demand Homeschooling for Autonomy and Skill-Building Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish Line Why Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead  

On this episode of Mind the Gap, Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner are joined by Dr. Sarah Oberle, primary teacher, cognitive science advocate and co-author of Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom, for a rich and highly practical conversation about what the science of learning means for younger children. Sarah explains why executive functions - especially working memory, inhibition and cognitive flexibility - are not just specialist or SEND concerns, but fundamental cognitive processes that shape how all pupils attend, transition, regulate themselves, follow instructions and engage with learning. The discussion explores how teachers can design classrooms, routines and tasks that respect children's developmental stage, reduce unnecessary interference, and increase automaticity so pupils can focus more of their limited cognitive bandwidth on the learning itself. Through examples such as “Betty and the Bats,” they unpack the hidden demands behind apparently simple classroom tasks, showing how small adjustments to resources, instructions and expectations can make a big difference.Sarah Oberle is an educator, author, speaker, and professional learning designer with 18 years of experience as a primary classroom teacher. Her work centres on helping educators understand how learning happens and how that understanding shapes daily instructional decisions. Sarah designs and facilitates evidence-informed professional learning for teachers and school leaders, both in person and virtually. She works with national and international organizations to ensure professional learning is research-informed, practical, and responsive to the realities of teaching. Her most recent book is Executive Functions for Every K–3 Classroom. Find out more at https://sarahoberle.com/Tom Sherrington has worked in schools as a teacher and leader for 30 years and is now a consultant specialising in teacher development and curriculum & assessment planning. He regularly contributes to conferences and CPD sessions locally and nationally and is busy working in schools and colleges across the UK and around the world. Follow Tom on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@teacherhead⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Emma Turner FCCT is a school improvement advisor, education consultant, trainer and author. She has almost three decades of primary teaching, headship and leadership experience across the sector, working and leading in both MATs and LAs. She works nationally and internationally on school improvement including at single school level and at scale. She has a particular interest in research informed practice in the primary phase, early career development, and CPD design. Follow Emma on X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emma_turner75⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This podcast is sponsored by Teaching WalkThrus and produced in association with Haringey Education Partnership. Find out more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://walkthrus.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://haringeyeducationpartnership.co.uk/⁠⁠

Running an elementary school in rural British Columbia hasn't stopped this Ruckus Maker from building an indoor worm farm, growing hydroponic lettuce, and taking a self-funded year off to reset — proof that a principal's personality is not a distraction from the job. Dan Watt is a Mastermind Coach inside the Ruckus Maker community and a recurring co-host of the Ruckuscast, known for turning "pay yourself first" into a leadership philosophy that's kept him energized four years into the role. Joining him is Mitch Weathers, CEO and author of Executive Functions for Every Classroom, whose work on entry plans and executive functioning has become required reading for school leaders trying to build systems that actually stick. Find them both at betterleadersbetterschools.com. Principal burnout doesn't start with too many emails — it starts the moment you decide the job requires you to leave your actual personality at the door. This episode is an Adorable Red Hats reunion where two veteran school leaders make the case that worm farms, hydroponics, and paying yourself first aren't distractions from leadership — they're the thing that makes it sustainable.

Are you holding your complex kid to expectations that weren't built for their brain? In this episode, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster dig into one of the most misunderstood concepts in parenting neurodiverse kids: shifting expectations—not lowering or eliminating them. You'll learn why the gap between expectation and reality is the root of most conflicts, the reasons why your complex kid might be struggling to meet the bar you set, and what it means to meet your kid where they are. If you're raising a kid with ADHD or executive function challenges, this one's an essential listen. Tune in, then head to ImpactParents.com to find out how you can keep learning with Sanity School® for Parents.What to expect in this episode:The 30% rule explained: Kids with executive function challenges are often 30% behind peers developmentally, which translates to 3–5 years for younger kids and 8–10 years for young adults. Shifting vs. lowering—they're not the same thing: Understand the difference between abandoning your expectations and moving them to where your kid can actually reach them, then growing from there.Every trigger starts with a gap: The space between what you expect and what your kid delivers is the root cause of most conflicts at home.Process over outcome: Holding neurodiverse kids accountable to how they approach tasks (rather than just whether they finish them) is what really builds long-term capability and self-worth.The collaborative piece: Setting expectations isn't something you do to your kid, it's something you do with them, and buy-in from your child is what makes the whole thing stick.Download free guide: Top 12 Tips To Help Your Complex KidsConnect with ImpactParents: InstagramFacebookLinkedInSubstack

In this episode of the Executive Function Braintrainer Podcast, host Darius Namdaran and Dr. Erica Warren explore how AI is beginning to transform executive functioning by reducing cognitive overload and helping people manage everyday tasks more effectively. They discuss the difference between AI chatbots and AI agents, and share practical examples of how these tools can support students, professionals, and anyone struggling with distraction, procrastination, or digital clutter. The episode highlights the growing potential of AI to act as a trusted digital co-worker, offering greater focus, organization, and peace of mind.Links:Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ Claude cowork: https://claude.com/product/cowork Chat GPT: https://chatgpt.com/ Open Claw: https://openclaw.ai/ EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠Executive Function Products and Tools: https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-trainingivvi notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠Brought to you by:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What if excessive gaming isn't the problem...What if it's the symptom?Mark Talaga, founder of the Center for Identity Potential and host of the Hopelessly Gifted podcast, joins EEG pioneer Jay Gunkelman, who has interpreted more than 500,000 brain scans, Dr. Mari Swingle, author of i-Minds: How Cell Phones, Computers, Gaming, and Social Media Are Changing Our Brains, Our Behavior, and the Evolution of Our Species, and host Pete Jansons for a fascinating discussion about giftedness, twice-exceptionality (2e), executive function, anxiety, parenting, education, and why so many bright kids struggle in traditional systems.Drawing from his own journey from the video game industry to becoming a therapist specializing in gifted and neurodivergent individuals, Mark explains why gaming is often a symptom of deeper developmental challenges rather than the root cause itself."If you really want to resolve gaming, don't make it the focus of what you're trying to solve."

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Eric Sager, COO of Plaid, following stints as CRO of Bluevine and Head of Sales at Square. During his seven-year tenure at Plaid, Eric has helped lead the business through a pandemic, Visa's collapsed acquisition, a fintech downturn, and the AI boom. In today's conversation, he unpacks how he kept teams focused during turbulent times, why he refuses to run at 100% capacity, and how he re-architected the go-to-market function as Plaid scaled. In today's episode, we discuss: How Plaid stayed focused after the Visa acquisition fell through and then raised at nearly 3x the price Why great COOs deliberately make themselves obsolete Why Eric treats speed, risk, and cost as a three-way trade-off, and why sometimes going slower wins How refusing to run at 100% capacity helped Plaid win OpenAI, Perplexity, and Replit Why Eric personally cold-calls brand-new employees References Bain & Company: https://www.bain.com Bluevine: https://www.bluevine.com Chase: https://www.chase.com Citibank: https://www.citi.com Eyal Lifshitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyallifshitz/ Françoise Brougher: https://x.com/FrancoiseBr Gokul Rajaram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gokulrajaram1/ Jack Dorsey: https://x.com/jack Michael Mankins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcmankins OpenAI: https://openai.com Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai Plaid: https://plaid.com Replit: https://replit.com Sarah Friar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-friar/ Square: https://squareup.com Visa: https://www.visa.com William Hockey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-hockey-04536710 Zach Perret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zperret/ Where to find Eric Sager LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sager-a529516 Where to find Brett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Leading a company through turbulent times 04:24 How to build a resilient team culture 08:33 How Plaid avoids bureaucracy, while operating at scale 10:58 The speed-quality tradeoff: Going faster isn't always better 15:32 When to move from generalists to specialized customer segments 20:14 Why Plaid has one owner for entire customer relationships 22:06 The "quarterback" model: one owner, experts on call 24:08 Why you should never run your org at 100% capacity 29:47 "Always available, never needed": the support mantra 36:49 Eric's unusual "hit by a bus" test to measure job success 43:57 Why Eric cold calls brand-new employees 52:14 Eric's week: 25% ecosystem, 50% business, 25% team 55:15 How to spot fake mission alignment in interviews 59:04 The one thing a founder has that no hire can replicate

Dr. Alissa Ellis is a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher, and the founder and director of Ellis Effect Psychological Group, a practice dedicated to evidence-based assessment and treatment for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing mood, anxiety, and attention difficulties. As the creator of the thinkSMART® program, she developed the first transdiagnostic group intervention for teens and their parents specifically designed to strengthen executive functioning skills. This innovative, research-based program helps families build practical strategies for organization, time management, planning, and goal setting—skills that support academic success and emotional well-being across diagnoses. A true scientist-practitioner, she bridges cutting-edge research and clinical innovation to create groundbreaking interventions that empower youth and families toward lasting change. #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #autism #disabilities #podcast #podcasts #executivefunction #communication #routines #education #attentiondisorders #anxiety #organization #timemanagement #goalsetting www.autismresourceproject.org/podcast

Your brilliant kid can't get out the door in the morning, falls apart over homework, and goes from fine to completely overwhelmed in seconds. You want to help them out, but it feels like you've tried everything and nothing sticks. In this episode of Parenting with Impact, Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster break down what's actually happening in your child's brain, and why executive function, emotional regulation, and motivation are the three most important things every parent of a neurodiverse kid needs to understand. This is part one of a four-episode series built on the framework ImpactParents has been teaching with their Sanity School® program for 15 years. If you're tired of jumping from strategy to strategy without meaningful progress, this episode gives you a powerful place to start. Hit follow so you don't miss what's coming next.What to expect in this episode:Why "activating the brain" is the foundation for everything else you'll do as a parent of a complex or neurodiverse kid—and what it actually means day-to-dayThe real reason your brilliant child struggles to organize, plan, or follow through (it has nothing to do with how smart they are, it just requires a completely different part of the brain)What executive function looks like in daily life, and how Dr. Thomas E. Brown's six-area model helps you pinpoint exactly where your child needs supportWhy your child probably isn't really going from "zero to a hundred"—and what's actually happening in their nervous system before the meltdownWhy your child isn't unmotivated — they're differently wired, and understanding that changes everything about how you show up for themDownload free guide: Top 12 Tips To Help Your Complex Kids Connect with ImpactParents: InstagramFacebookLinkedInSubstack

Okay, okay...maybe that title is a bit dramatic. But seriously: rescheduling your day sounds simple enough until you're actually in it. In this episode, I'm breaking down why a “hijacked day” (sick kid, unexpected meetings, constant interruptions) doesn't just create a scheduling problem -- it can send our executive functioning skills into overload. Using Dawson & Guare's Executive Functioning Skills framework, you'll learn what's actually happening in your brain when plans change and why it can feel so hard, especially if you have ADHD. This isn't about excuses. It's about understanding the real problem so that you can get to real solutions. In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why rescheduling is more than “moving things around”The executive functioning skills being used all at once (and where the breakdowns tend to happen)The power of the pause: creating space between trigger and reactionWhy emotional regulation is the gateway to better decision-makingHow working memory + time constraints + interruptions create the perfect stormCognitive flexibility: getting out of all-or-nothing thinking when the plan changes Mentioned In This Episode:Dawson, P., Guare, R., & Guare, C. (2024). Smart but scattered: The revolutionary “executive skills” approach to helping kids reach their potential (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press. Ep. 157: Scheduling Curveballs (Without the Mom Guilt)Episodes Coming Soon:AI tools I'm using to reduce the mental loadWhy email wording/tone becomes its own executive function rabbit hole To find out how I can help you improve your work-life balance, click here. Come join Work-Life Balance for Speech Pathologists on Facebook for more tips and tricks!Learn more about Theresa Harp Coaching here.

Nearly every child on your caseload is at greater risk for executive function challenges. What do you do about it? In this episode, I'm sharing the 5 powerhouse strategies I use every single day to build executive function directly into speech and language therapy. No extra sessions, no separate goals — just smarter treatment that changes lives. You'll learn: The Problem, Plan, Action, Check process that teaches children to identify a problem, make a plan, take action, and finish the job How multi-step, task-oriented movement activities build working memory, sustained attention, and cognitive flexibility. Why first, next, then, lastly, and because are billion-dollar words for verbal working memory and emotional regulation How to move children from scaffolded scripts to spontaneous complex sentences How complex speech targets in paragraph form improve speech, language, and executive function all at once Ready to put these strategies to work in your next session? Join the SIS Membership at www.kellyvess.com/sis and receive powerful speech and language treatment targets aimed at improving executive function plus ready-to-use activities delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Join today at www.kellyvess.com/sis

“Accommodation” is a loaded word. On one hand, we want to provide reasonable accommodations in K-12 so kids can access their education.But determining what is “reasonable” accommodation or modification can be messy.Both parents and educators can unintentionally “overaccommodate” in the moment without realizing it, which over time can impede a child's ability to work through daily challenges and solve problems on their own. This can be in the context of adding too many “cookie-cutter” accommodations on a 504 Plan or IEP, or it can be unofficial accommodations in the way we interact with kids. My colleagues who work on college campuses are seeing the impact of this “overhelping” in K-12. And it's not just kids with neurodevelopmental disorders. It's the neurotypical kids too. That's why I invited my colleague, Jill Fahy, back to De Facto Leaders to talk about the state of college readiness, the upstream impacts of what's happening in K-12 on success both during and after college. Jill Fahy, Professor in the Department of Communication Disorders & Sciences, serves as the Director of STEP, a transitional education program for EIU students with autism. STEP programming supports the development of executive functions, social communication, self-appraisal, and self-regulatory skills to facilitate students' management of their academic and university living demands. Ms. Fahy specializes in the assessment of executive dysfunction, particularly as it is associated with concomitant disorders of language, cognition, or social/pragmatics. She is a widely-known lecturer in the area of executive functions, speaking nationally and internationally on aspects of evaluation and treatment of executive dysfunction, and the role of language in executive functions. Ms. Fahy is co-author of The Source for Development of Executive Functions, 2nd edition, and various articles on self-talk and executive functions.  Ms. Fahy teaches graduate courses in Aphasia/Right Hemisphere Dysfunction,  Cognitive-Communication and Executive Function Disorders, and Medical Grand Rounds. She previously taught undergraduate courses in Neurology and Advanced Clinical Practicum and Diagnostics. Prior to teaching at EIU, Ms. Fahy worked for several years as a medical SLP providing services for patients with acquired neurological deficits resulting from stroke and TBI, including those in acute care, inpatient and day rehabilitation, and home health. In this conversation, we discuss:✅ The difference between accommodations and modifications, what “overhelping” looks like, and why it impedes development of important metacognitive skills.✅ The state of college student mental health, and how it relates to the opportunities students have to practice self-regulation and experiencing failure.✅ Skills many college students are lacking, including managing due dates, extended writing assignments, study skills, working through conflict, and managing their daily life.✅ How and when to start fading supports, and how to recognize if you've been “overaccommodating” for a studentYou can connect with Jill at jkfahy@eiu.edu or on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-fahy-250478b/Learn more about the Students with Autism Transitional Education Program (STEP) Program at Eastern Illinois University here: https://www.eiu.edu/step/Be sure to listen to my first interview with Jill on De Facto Leaders here: Executive Functioning for College Students: Beyond Checklists and Planners (with Jill Fahy)Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-122-executive-functioning-for-college-students-beyond-checklists-and-planners-with-jill-fahy/You can also listen to my commentary on her first interview in this episode: Balancing Language, Academic Content Areas, and Executive Functioning (featuring Jill Fahy)Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-232-balancing-language-academic-content-areas-and-executive-functioning-featuring-jill-fahy/In this episode, I mentioned Language Therapy Advance Foundations, my program that gives speech pathologists a scalable framework for building language skills needed to thrive in school, social situations, and daily life. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarenspeech.com/languagetherapyI also mentioned School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers design scalable executive functioning interventions to ensure students get the scaffolding they need across the school day. You can learn more about the program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with JT Mestdagh about his extraordinary journey of living with complex medical challenges and dyslexia. He shares how early health struggles shaped his life, how his learning differences were hidden for years, and how he eventually discovered his strengths. The conversation explores resilience, faith, community, and practical tools such as mind mapping and dyslexic-friendly fonts that support visual thinkers. JT also reflects on overcoming adversity through adventure, demonstrating how challenges can become a path to growth and achievement.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/Links: Ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/ what is dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexiaJT's website: jtmestdaghfoundation.org Unteathered: https://a.co/d/0gq4OvVS No Bad Days: https://a.co/d/02L9PLOn JT's Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/JT__Mestdagh Tattum Reading Program: https://www.tattumreading.com/ Linda Mood Bell: https://lindamoodbell.com/ Hooked On Phonics: https://www.hookedonphonics.com/ Dragon Dictation: https://dragon.nuance.com/en-us/dragon Dyslexic Font: https://dyslexiefont.com/en/ Executive Function podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/executive-function-brain-trainer-podcast/id1588400094 What is Executive Function: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/executive-functioningWhat is Working Memory: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/working-memory BETT Show: https://www.bettshow.com/ British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.ukInterested in being a guest? Email us at jo@ivvi.app

If you think executive function challenges only affect your ADHD and autism clients, this episode will change how you see your entire caseload. In this episode, we break down the latest 2025 research, revealing that executive function difficulties are far more widespread than previously recognized, including in populations SLPs have historically underestimated. You'll learn: Adele Diamond's 3-part framework for understanding executive function (attention and inhibitory control, verbal working memory, and cognitive flexibility) Why do children with developmental language disorder almost universally show verbal working memory deficits across all ages and native languages The surprising finding that even children with mild articulation errors, like distorted R's and S's, show statistically significant executive function risk New 2025 data linking stuttering to verbal and visual working memory difficulties How Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles can help you build one powerful, inclusive activity that targets executive function across your whole caseload The bottom line: We need to stop treating a mouth and start treating the whole child. Next week: Part 2 covers what the research says actually works to improve executive function and how to bring it into your sessions starting Monday. References: Afshar, M., Zarifian, T., Khorrami Banaraki, A., & Noroozi, M. (2022). Executive functions in Persian-speaking preschool children with speech sound disorders and comparison with their typically developing peers. Applied Neuropsychology: Child, 11(4), 702–712. https://doi.org/10.1080/21622965.2021.1937169 Kakuta, K., et al. (2025). Executive function in preschool children who stutter: A behavioral assessment study. Scientific Reports, 15(1), Article 16159. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00981-9 Lee, D., Boulton, K. A., Sun, C., Phillips, N. L., Munro, M., Kumfor, F., Demetriou, E. A., & Guastella, A. J. (2024). Attention and executive delays in early childhood: A meta-analysis of neurodevelopmental conditions. Molecular Psychiatry. Advance online publication. Niu, T., Wang, S., Ma, J., Zeng, X., & Xue, R. (2024). Executive functions in children with developmental language disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 18, Article 1390987. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2024.1390987 Keywords: executive function, speech language pathology, developmental language disorder, speech sound disorders, apraxia of speech, stuttering, verbal working memory, UDL, SLP caseload, 2025 research

"Executive function" gets thrown around constantly in ADHD conversations — but rarely explained. In this episode, DrB breaks down exactly what executive function is, walks through every core skill (working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, planning, task initiation, emotional regulation, and time management), and delivers the most important reframe in ADHD education: these are skills, not fixed traits. They can be learned, built, and integrated for life.Key Points Covered• Executive function explained plainly: your brain's management system• The 7 core executive function skills and what they look like in ADHD adults• Why "executive function disorder" is a misleading framing• The difference between a deficit and a skill gap• A preview of pre-skills — the foundation that makes everything else possibleLinks MentionedRegister for the June 23 Masterclass for free with optional VIP upgrade:   https://itwasneveryoumasterclass.com/ Learn about GSD: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/gsdprogram Learn about the Gifted Underachiever: https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/blog?tag=gifted+underachiever 

How to stop procrastinating starts with knowing that procrastination isn't a character flaw. It's a signal pointing toward misalignment, fear, or lack of support. It's hard to find or sustain solutions when you're beating yourself up. In this episode you'll learn practical, compassionate ways to get curious about what and why you're avoiding doing something, recalibrate to what actually matters, and create small, supported steps forward. If you're tired of motivating through shame and ready to take action in a way that works, this episode is for you.Some of what I explore in this episode includes:How procrastination, avoidance, “shoulds,” shame, and time management pressures fit togetherHow to tell if you're procrastinating from fear, perfectionism, overwhelm, or true misalignmentPractical tools for overcoming procrastination: breaking tasks down, using deadlines, accountability, and body doublingHow to work with your real energy and neurodivergent brain using curiosity, values, and self-compassion Download the Procrastination Support Checklist!Have thoughts or questions about this episode? Share them with me!Send me a voice memo: https://www.speakpipe.com/MindsetUnlimited RELATED MINDSET UNLIMITED EPISODES:What's Killing My MotivationIt's Simple So Why Am I Not Doing It Coaching What To Do When You've Fallen Behind Unlocking Your Leadership Energy CONNECT WITH VALERIE:Schedule an exploration callAsk Valerie (anonymous form)Sign up for Valerie's newsletterApply to be coached on the podcast This podcast was produced by Valerie Friedlander CoachingProud member of the Feminist Podcasters CollectiveSend us Fan MailSupport the show

For women navigating midlife - and anyone dealing with burnout, overwhelm, or that nagging sense that your brain just isn't firing the way it used to — this episode is for you. Host Marianne Wisenthal sits down with Erin Wong, certified executive function coach and founder of Thriving Minds at Work, to unpack why focus, productivity, and energy can suddenly feel out of reach. Erin breaks down what the invisible mental load is really costing us, why traditional productivity advice so often stops working, and shares her own burnout story along with practical strategies for reducing cognitive overload. If you've ever wondered why everything feels so much harder than it used to, this conversation will help you understand why and what you can do about it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lisa Woodruff is the founder and CEO of Organize 365 and host of the Organize 365 podcast (24M+ downloads). A former teacher with a PhD in applied psychology, she's the author of six books, including her newest release, Escaping Quicksand. Key Discussion Themes Why cleaning up isn't the same as organizing — and what "Swiss cheese organizing" quietly costs you The declutter → organize → productivity cycle, and why analog comes before digital Perfectionism vs. excellence, grace, and the internal shifts behind staying organized Self-funding a PhD to research whether organizing systems improve executive function Listener Takeaway Organization is a learnable skill, and the most durable changes are internal. Aim for excellence instead of perfection, focus on the spaces that stay organized, and just start. Guest Website organize365.com Connect with Lisa Instagram: instagram.com/organize365 Book (Escaping Quicksand): escapingquicksand.com

Why do unfinished to-dos keep you stressed, even when doing them would only take a few minutes?Whether it's scheduling an appointment, signing up for a class, returning an item, or sending an email you've been avoiding, unfinished tasks can create mental clutter and drain your energy. These "open loops" follow you around, taking up valuable brain space and making it harder to feel calm and in control.In this episode, you'll learn:Why unfinished tasks create so much stress and overwhelmHow ADHD brains are especially vulnerable to open loopsThe role perfectionism plays in keeping tasks unfinishedHow to use my GEMS system to start closing the loop on lingering to-do list itemsIf you've been struggling with procrastination, mental load, ADHD overwhelm, or a never-ending to-do list, this episode will help you take small, practical steps toward getting things done without creating more stress.Ready to stop scrambling? Book your complimentary Chaos to Calm session.Free Resources:

Many entrepreneurs believe their biggest challenge is strategy.But what if the real challenge is focus?In this episode of Casa De Confidence, Julie DeLucca-Collins sits down with ADHD strategist, coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Unconventional Organisation, Skye Waterson.Diagnosed with ADHD while pursuing her PhD, Skye shares how she transformed her personal struggles with focus, overwhelm, time blindness, and burnout into a thriving business helping ADHD entrepreneurs and executives scale sustainably.Together, Julie and Skye explore how ADHD impacts business growth, why traditional productivity advice often fails neurodivergent entrepreneurs, and how systems, structure, and self-awareness can help entrepreneurs create consistent revenue without sacrificing their well-being.Whether you've been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you may have it, or simply find yourself overwhelmed, distracted, and struggling to prioritize, this conversation offers practical strategies and hope.In This Episode:What ADHD looks like in high-achieving entrepreneursHow Skye discovered her ADHD during her PhD programThe concept of time blindness and why it impacts productivityWhy traditional planning systems often fail ADHD entrepreneursThe connection between dopamine and focusHow to identify the 20% of activities driving 80% of resultsBuilding systems that work with your brainScaling a business without burning outManaging teams and creating structure as an ADHD entrepreneurLessons learned from leaving academia to build a successful businessConnect with Skye:Website: https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unconventionalorganisation/?hl=enLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/skye-waterson-026286204Free Offer:The 2-Minute Focus Formula https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-focus-filterI want to hear your thoughts about the show and this episode. Text us here...Support the showCasa De Confidence is a podcast for women navigating midlife reinvention, entrepreneurship, leadership, and personal growth. Hosted by Julie DeLucca-Collins, the show explores confidence, sustainable business success, visibility, authority building, and aligned growth for women entrepreneurs ready to lead boldly and live intentionally. Through real conversations and practical insights, listeners gain clarity, strengthen confidence, and develop strategies to expand their impact, voice, and opportunities.Liked this episode? Share it with your midlife woman, entrepreneur friends!Love this show? Let us know how we helped you increase your confidence by leaving a review.For more about me and what I do, check out my website.If you're looking for support to grow your business faster, be positioned as an authority in your industry, and impact the masses, schedule a call to explore if you'd be a good fit for one of my coaching programs.Follow Julie DeLucca-Collins on Instagram at @julie_deluccacollins

Welcome back to Progressively Incorrect. I'm your host, Zach Groshell. Executive functioning has become one of the most frequently discussed topics in education, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood. Teachers are increasingly expected to help students manage attention, organization, memory, planning, and self-regulation, but questions remain about what these skills actually are, how…

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with dyslexia specialist tutor and consultant Glynda Cullen about a parent's long journey raising two daughters with dyslexia and ADHD, including the guilt and emotional impact of late diagnoses. Glynda shares early signs in nursery and primary school, her daughter's growing anxiety and emotionally based school avoidance, and how limited teacher training and systemic pressures affected support, with accommodations only appearing at GCSEs. The conversation explores current SEND changes in England, inclusion expectations, and how tools like ivvi Notes can scaffold executive function in classrooms. Glynda describes her daughter's path after school, finding confidence and “her tribe” through training protection dogs and building a dog training business, highlighting the importance of cultivating strengths beyond academics.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/Links: ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/ what is dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexiaGlynda's Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glynda1270  Website: www.guidingstardyslexia.co.uk Tutor: www.SENsationalTutors.co.ukDo you want to pilot ivvi at your school?: https://www.ivvi.app/pilot-waiting-list Jennie Guise- DARA: https://dysguise.com/dara/ Executive Function podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/executive-function-brain-trainer-podcast/id1588400094 What is Executive Function: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/executive-functioningWhat is Working Memory: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/working-memory BETT Show: https://www.bettshow.com/ British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.ukInterested in being a guest? Email us at jo@ivvi.app

Hi Parents! Why do some teens stay focused and push through challenges while others seem completely unmotivated? In this episode, I sit down with executive functioning coach, teacher, and championship-winning athletic coach Tom Mandile to explore what is really going on when teens struggle with motivation, focus, and follow-through. With more than 20 years of experience working with students, athletes, and families, Tom shares how the same mental systems that help athletes perform under pressure can also help teens succeed in school, relationships, and everyday life. We talk about why what looks like a motivation problem is often actually a systems problem, and how developing executive functioning skills like time management, impulse control, and goal alignment can dramatically improve a teen's ability to stay focused and build confidence. In this conversation, you'll learn why structure often works better than willpower, how parents can support teens after setbacks, and simple strategies families can use to help teens build resilience, discipline, and independence. If you've ever wondered how to motivate your teen or help them stay focused when life feels overwhelming, this episode offers practical insights and tools you can start using right away.

Why do kids struggle so much with time management — and why does it often turn into stress, meltdowns, and constant reminders for moms?In this episode, Lori sits down with Mindy Hudon, a speech-language pathologist with more than 30 years of experience helping children with communication and executive function challenges. Mindy is the co-owner of Achieve Speech & Language Services, the creator of the Bee A Time Keeper® clock, and the award-winning author of Kodi's Adventures: How I Learned to Defeat the Time Snatcher.Together, they discuss: Why many children are “time blind”  How executive function impacts planning, transitions, and routines  Why kids may not actually be ignoring you  How visual tools can reduce anxiety and help children self-manage  The connection between ADHD and time management struggles  Practical ways moms can teach kids independence without constant nagging  Simple strategies to make mornings, transitions, and routines easier If you've ever felt frustrated trying to get everyone out the door on time, this episode will help you better understand what's really happening — and give you practical tools you can start using right away.

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Graham Moreno, Head of GTM at Parallel Web Systems. Before Parallel, Graham scaled Windsurf's GTM organization from three sellers to seventy-five in under a year, served as President through the Cognition acquisition, and earlier built and led enterprise sales teams at Grafana Labs and MongoDB. In this conversation, he unpacks why the AI-era backlash against structured enterprise sales misreads the data, how to design a process that raises the floor for ordinary reps without capping the ceiling for stars, and why selling to AI-native customers compresses an eight-week cycle into five business days. In today's episode, we discuss: Why in-person enterprise rollouts still beat product-led motions Building a robust sales process that still leaves room for unscripted moments Why the three highest-leverage early sales hires aren't sellers at all The case for outsized commission accelerators for star sellers — and the kind of person they attract Why most AI companies are skipping the in-person sales work that enterprise customers actually want References: Ahead: https://www.ahead.com Amazon: https://www.amazon.com Anthropic: https://www.anthropic.com Attio: https://www.attio.com Augment Code: https://www.augmentcode.com/ Cognition: https://cognition.ai Cursor: https://cursor.com Dani McCabe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mccabe/ Datadog: https://www.datadoghq.com GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com Jeremy Powers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremypowers/ JPMorgan: https://www.jpmorgan.com Matt McClernan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmcclernan/ MongoDB: https://www.mongodb.com Nicole Rettinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-rettinger-23b20465/ Notion: https://www.notion.com OpenAI: https://openai.com Parag Agrawal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paragagr/ Parallel: https://parallel.ai Snowflake: https://www.snowflake.com University of Chicago: https://www.uchicago.edu Windsurf: https://windsurf.com Where to find Graham: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahammoreno/ Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Has the sales playbook changed in the AI era? 02:13 Why "showing up" beats letting the marketplace decide 06:50 Why great salespeople sell to engineers and executives in one motion 11:37 Selling to AI-native buyers who grew up on ChatGPT 13:49 Same seller, different tempo: 8 weeks vs. 8 business days 15:57 How AI-native buyers handle build vs. buy decisions 17:48 The rep who taught a champion's son guitar over Zoom 19:03 Raising the floor without capping the ceiling 22:09 Why too much process narrows the kind of seller you attract 25:46 The three pillars of GTM excellence 31:00 Building peers who are 80% aligned, not 100% 38:03 Whether AI is changing what good enablement looks like 41:35 Selling against direct and implied competitors at once 42:45 Instrumenting the funnel from stage zero to close 45:57 Why post-sales should always roll up to the revenue leader 48:19 The case for outsized commissions 52:02 The 96 hours of panic before Cognition acquired Windsurf 53:04 How far out should a GTM leader be planning? 57:53 What a normal week looks like in hypergrowth

This week, we're diving into a challenge many homeschooling families face—especially those parenting gifted, twice-exceptional, or otherwise neurodivergent kids: boredom. If you've ever heard, "I'm bored!" and wondered how to respond, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you beat boredom without resorting to endless busy work. Key Takeaways Novelty doesn't require elaborate setups. Simple tweaks—like changing writing tools, switching locations, or adding a movement element—can wake up the brain. Choice and autonomy matter. Let your child decide between two options or how they'll demonstrate what they've learned. Find the "just right" challenge. Work that's too easy leads to boredom; too hard brings overwhelm. Learn how to dial up (or down) the challenge for each unique learner.   Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling outside-the-box learners! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Executive Function Struggles in Homeschooling: Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do About It) How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins Strengthen Executive Function Skills The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills 7 Executive Functioning Activities for Small Children RLL #84: Exploring Education and Executive Function with Seth PerlerThe Unmeasured Executive Functioning Issue RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question RLL LIVE | Improving Executive Functions Helping Kids Who Resist: Low-Demand Homeschooling for Autonomy and Skill-Building Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish Line Why Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead  

In this episode, we dive deeper into the topic of motivating our kids, especially when traditional schoolwork leads to resistance or meltdowns. Building on last week's discussion about motivation versus executive dysfunction, this week's episode explores the power of project-based and interest-led learning—especially for neurodivergent kids. From transforming a love of Minecraft or Pokémon into meaningful educational experiences, to finding the right balance between leveraging special interests and avoiding burnout, we unpack practical strategies to engage children in their education. Find out why interests are often the doorway to deep learning, discover the four-step project pathway framework, and gain confidence to embrace creative, child-focused educational approaches—while addressing common parental concerns about gaps, screens, and specialization. Whether you're homeschooling or simply looking to inspire lifelong learning in your child, this episode is packed with encouragement and actionable tips to help every learner thrive. Key Takeaways Harness Special Interests: Use your child's passions—like Minecraft, Pokémon, or theater—as the starting point for deeper learning and engagement. Build Sideways, Not Away: Expand on what excites your child by connecting related skills and subjects, rather than forcing a hard turn to traditional academics. Project Power: Anchor learning in real-life projects, from creating Minecraft cities to designing bug field guides, making skills and knowledge truly stick. Honor Depth and Autonomy: Let your child dive deep into what they love and give them a say in how they learn; this fosters motivation, connection, and persistence. Gaps Are OK: Every learning path has gaps—focus on teaching kids how to find answers, build confidence, and adapt to an ever-changing world. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling outside-the-box learners! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Executive Function Struggles in Homeschooling: Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do About It) How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins Strengthen Executive Function Skills The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills 7 Executive Functioning Activities for Small Children RLL #84: Exploring Education and Executive Function with Seth PerlerThe Unmeasured Executive Functioning Issue RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question RLL LIVE | Improving Executive Functions Helping Kids Who Resist: Low-Demand Homeschooling for Autonomy and Skill-Building Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish LineWhy Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead  

In this latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Praveer Melwani, CFO at Figma. Praveer joined Figma in 2017 as the company's first business operations and finance hire—when the team was around 30 people and not yet charging for the product—and stepped into the CFO seat in 2022, helping to lead the company's IPO in 2025. In today's conversation, Praveer breaks down the step functions that took him from IC to CFO, why Figma started acting like a public company three years before IPO, and how AI is rewriting capital allocation and the CFO job itself. In today's episode, we discuss: What separates a world-class finance leader from a traffic-cop CFO How Praveer went from Figma's first biz ops hire to CFO of a public company in nine years Why Figma started acting like a public company three years before its IPO What Praveer has learned working alongside Dylan Field for nine years Why Figma intentionally cut its 90% gross margin to invest in AI References: Adobe: https://www.adobe.com Brendan Mulligan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanmulligan Cloudflare: https://www.cloudflare.com Dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com Dylan Field: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanfield/ Fidelity: https://www.fidelity.com Figma: https://www.figma.com GIC: https://www.gic.com.sg NerdWallet: https://www.nerdwallet.com Shaunt Voskanian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauntvoskanian/ Where to find Praveer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveer-melwani Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 02:13 From banking to Dropbox to Figma 04:14 The phase shift when Figma's COO left 05:36 Hiring leaders in functions you don't understand 07:18 Selling the exec team on AI consumption pricing 09:48 Using Claude Code to learn new things as CFO 11:36 Building an internal board of peer CFOs 13:52 Inside Figma's CFO job description 16:38 What separates good CFOs from world-class CFOs 18:42 Capital allocation and risk in a post-ChatGPT world 21:45 Why Praveer wants to take more bets 24:32 How AI is materially changing the CFO role 25:36 The nine-year working relationship with Dylan Field 29:12 How deeply in the details should a CFO be? 31:47 What Dropbox taught Praveer about building strong teams 33:24 Praveer's first-principles test for hiring VPs 38:47 Why Figma acted like a public company in 2022

You cannot teach executive function by controlling a child harder. Executive function is not just about planners, homework, and getting organized. It is about self-awareness, self-regulation, and being able to take the next step toward a goal, even when something feels hard. In this episode, I talk with Sean McCormick, founder of Executive Function Specialists, about what actually helps kids build executive function skills. We unpack why avoidance is often a sign that something feels too hard, why motivation works better when it connects to a child's own goals, and why adults need to stop trying to control kids and start getting more curious about what is getting in the way. Sean shares practical ways to break big goals into doable steps, explains why support should be done with kids instead of for them, and makes a strong case for modeling executive function in our own lives too. Key Takeaways Executive function is bigger than school skills. It includes planning, organization, self-awareness, time awareness, inhibition, emotional regulation, and the ability to evaluate priorities and move toward a future goal. Emotional regulation is part of executive function. Kids cannot plan, prioritize, or get started well when they are overwhelmed and not aware of what they are feeling. Avoidance usually tells us something important. When a child keeps avoiding homework or a task, it often means the task feels too hard, too big, too unclear, or too emotionally loaded. Real growth happens at the point of performance. Executive function skills are built in the moment a child is facing the actual challenge, not only through lessons about skills in the abstract. Kids need the next right step, not the whole staircase. A big goal becomes more manageable when adults help break it down into a challenge that feels just doable enough. Motivation works better when it belongs to the child. Kids are more likely to engage when they can connect daily tasks to something they want for themselves, not just something adults want from them. Adults have to notice the nonverbal signs. Body language, shutdown, avoidance, and tone often tell us more than a child's words about when something feels too hard. Support works best when it is done with a child, not for them. Co-regulating, helping them get started, and gradually releasing responsibility builds skill without taking away agency. Failure is not the end of the process. Failure gives feedback. Natural consequences can help kids learn, especially when an adult helps them reflect and recover instead of shaming them. Adults need to model executive function too. Kids learn from how we manage our own energy, limits, priorities, and stress. Burned-out adults cannot effectively teach sustainable regulation. About Sean McCormick Sean McCormick is a former public school special education teacher and the founder of Executive Function Specialists, an online coaching company that supports students with ADHD and autism in building executive function skills. He also founded the Executive Function Coaching Academy to train educators and professionals in executive function coaching, and co-founded UpSkill Specialists to support neurodivergent adults. Sean is passionate about helping students and families understand the practical skills that make everyday life more manageable and meaningful. About Your Host, Gabriele Nicolet I'm Gabriele Nicolet, toddler whisperer, speech therapist, parenting life coach, and host of Complicated Kids. Each week, I share practical, relationship-based strategies for raising kids with big feelings, big needs, and beautifully different brains. My goal is to help families move from surviving to thriving by building connection, confidence, and clarity at home. Complicated Kids Resources & Links

Do you ever wonder why your child, who can spend hours building or creating something they love, just can't seem to get started on a simple task? Does it seem like they're just not motivated—even though you know they do care? This week's episode of the podcast dives deep into one of the most misunderstood challenges in homeschooling neurodivergent kids: motivation vs. executive dysfunction. Key Takeaways Motivation isn't a character trait—it depends on fragile conditions, especially in neurodivergent kids. Kids aren't refusing tasks out of laziness; they're often stuck somewhere along the executive function path. Scaffold your child's success: break tasks down, work alongside them, and focus on small wins. Motivation grows from success, autonomy, and a regulated nervous system—not from pressure or shame. Links and Resources from Today's Episode Thank you to our sponsors: CTC Math – Flexible, affordable math for the whole family! Curiosity Post – A Snail Mail Club for kids – Real mail; Real life! The Learner's Lab – Online community for families homeschooling gifted/2e & neurodivergent kiddos! The Lab: An Online Community for Families Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kiddos The Homeschool Advantage: A Child-Focused Approach to Raising Lifelong Learners Raising Resilient Sons: A Boy Mom's Guide to Building a Strong, Confident, and Emotionally Intelligent Family The Anxiety Toolkit Sensory Strategy Toolkit | Quick Regulation Activities for Home Affirmation Cards for Anxious Kids Executive Function Struggles in Homeschooling: Why Smart Kids Can't Find Their Shoes (and What to Do About It) How Adventuring Together Grows Confidence, Curiosity, and Executive Function Understanding Executive Function Skills in Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Children Strengthening Executive Function Skills: A Conversation with Sarah Collins Strengthen Executive Function Skills The Best Books for Teaching About Executive Functions Skills 7 Executive Functioning Activities for Small Children RLL #84: Exploring Education and Executive Function with Seth PerlerThe Unmeasured Executive Functioning Issue RLL 20: Helping Your Kiddo with Executive Function Skills Struggles | A Listener Question RLL LIVE | Improving Executive Functions Helping Kids Who Resist: Low-Demand Homeschooling for Autonomy and Skill-Building Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish LineWhy Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead  

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett is joined by Diya Jolly, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Xero. Before Xero, Diya was CPT at Okta and led YouTube's advertising monetization products at Google. In this conversation, she unpacks her three-bucket framework for delegating decisions, why the most important part of a CPO's role is to drive team-wide ambition, and why the best executives need to spend half their time thinking, not doing. In today's episode, we discuss: Why a CPO's number one job is raising their team's ambition, not shipping features How to demand the best from your team without creating a fear-based culture Why organizational politics is actually an incentives problem How Diya is “militant” with her calendar to carve out dedicated thinking time Why you should avoid chasing titles in your career - and what to chase instead References: Google: https://www.google.com Melio: https://meliopayments.com Okta: https://www.okta.com Sukhinder Singh Cassidy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhinders/ Xero: https://www.xero.com Where to find Diya: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diyajolly Where to find Brett: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital: Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps: 00:12 How an excellent CPO makes an impact on the business 02:01 How the CPO role shifts under founders vs hired CEOs 03:38 Influencing a founder without going deferential 07:37 How adding value to customers is always a net positive 08:45 Why roadmaps need more risk in the AI era 12:30 How to shelter innovation teams from the existing system 15:12 What's different about being a great CPO in 2026 17:34 How AI has changed the concept of an app 18:28 It's essential for CPOs to fly at a low altitude 20:34 How misaligned incentives cause organizational politics 25:13 Being demanding without creating a fear-based culture 28:10 Why raising ambition is a CPO's number one job 31:39 The boss who taught Diya to keep raising the bar 32:43 The hardest part of being a CPO 35:28 The three buckets Diya uses to delegate 36:30 How Diya protects deep-work time on her calendar 42:45 Xero's game-changing early bet on AI insights 44:58 How far into the future should CPOs plan for? 47:14 What it takes to be an excellent C-suite member 48:53 Why ambitious PMs should chase impact, not titles 50:28 The four bottlenecks that stall career growth

Why does homework and school in general turn into a battle in so many homes?In this insightful conversation, Dr. Matthew Housson breaks down what's really going on when kids struggle with homework—and why it's often not a discipline issue at all. Instead, many challenges come down to executive function skills—things like planning, focus, emotional regulation, and the ability to start and finish tasks.We talk about how brain development impacts motivation, why some kids struggle to shift into “low dopamine” tasks like homework, and what parents can do to support their child without taking over.If you've ever felt frustrated, confused, or even discouraged trying to help your child succeed academically, this episode will give you clarity, practical tools, and encouragement—you're not alone, and there is a better way forward. In this episode we talk about:  When behavior is developmentally normal vs. when to seek help The key signs of depression in teens (including irritability) Why a full profile is often more helpful than a diagnosis Practical tools to make homework time smoother Executive function skills are learned and developed over time You can't rush development—but you can support it Connect with Dr. Matthew Housson:  Website: Home - The Housson Center Facebook: The Housson Center Instagram: The Housson Center (@thehoussoncenter) Links Mentioned:  Resources from The Housson Center (books & websites) Definitions of different childhood challenges (parent resource) Related Episodes: How to Stay Calm with School Stress :: Kirk Martin {Ep 88} School Choice Series: Public School Options with Emily Fenlaw:: [Ep 561] Grace Based Discipline for Kids with Unique Needs :: Karis Murray [Ep 237] Featured Sponsors:  Hiya: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/DMA (not available on regular website). Get your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults.  In The Special Needs Parent: A Guide to the Life You Never Expected, Dr. Joe and Cindi Ferrini share more than 40 years of lived experience raising a son with profound disabilities. With honesty and faith, they speak to the strain on marriage, the weight of finances, the sting of unkind comments, and the grief of a journey you didn't choose, but also the joy you didn't expect. If you're walking this road—or love someone who is—this book offers steady encouragement for the long journey ahead. To learn more about The Special Needs Parent: A Guide to the Life You Never Expected, visit moodypublishers.com or find it wherever books are sold. Branch Basics: And here's the good news — Branch Basics is now available everywhere you shop: at Target, Target.com, Amazon, and of course, BranchBasics.com. Tossing the toxins has never been more convenient! And for anyone grabbing the Premium Starter Kit, you can still get 15% off at BranchBasics.com with our code DMA. 

Here's something nobody tells you about aging with ADHD: the part that feels like decline might not be decline at all. It might be retirement. Or perimenopause. Or just the fact that the external structure that quietly managed your symptoms for thirty years finally disappeared — and nobody warned you it was doing that much work. The question isn't whether your brain is changing. It is. The question is whether you understand why, and what the research actually says about where it leads.Dr. Brandy Callahan is a clinical neuropsychologist, Canada Research Chair in Adult Clinical Neuropsychology, and the founder of the LiBra Lab — the Lifespan Brain Health Lab at the University of Calgary. Her research sits at the intersection most researchers haven't bothered to explore: what happens to the ADHD brain across decades, and specifically, what connects ADHD to elevated dementia risk. What she's finding — about allostatic burden, about the gap between how people perform in a lab versus how they function in a grocery store on a Sunday afternoon, about what a lifetime of navigating a neurotypical world may actually cost the brain biologically — is the conversation this series has been building toward. There is hard news in here. There is also, genuinely, a lot of hope.Guest SpotlightDr. Brandy Callahan, PhD, RPsych is a clinical neuropsychologist, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Calgary, and a Canada Research Chair in Adult Clinical Neuropsychology. She is the founder and principal investigator of the LiBra Lab — the Lifespan Brain Health Lab — which focuses specifically on ADHD in women and in older adulthood, and she came to ADHD research not through personal experience but through a memory clinic, where she kept meeting older adults being evaluated for dementia who turned out to have lived their whole lives with undiagnosed ADHD. Her current research is investigating what may drive elevated dementia risk in adults with ADHD — including allostatic burden, cerebral small vessel disease, and the biological cost of decades of chronic stress. She is also currently running ADHD Her, an online study about girls and women with ADHD across the lifespan, open to participants from age 8 to 87. Learn more at libralab.ca, and find the ADHD Her study by searching "ADHD Her" online.Links & NotesLiBra LabADHD Her Study (online, open to participants ages 8-87LiBra Lab participant registry (RADAR)Support the Show on PatreonDig into the podcast Shownotes Database (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast (05:56) - What does a research neuropsychologist actually do? (08:34) - How does EF Age? (15:01) - Charting the Decades (22:22) - The Shame Cycle... Missing in the Lab (23:39) - Alostatic Burden (37:06) - So... where's the hope? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The most effective way to support your child's executive function development may be to strengthen your own skills first. Tamar Kahane, Psy.D., explains how ADHD affects executive functioning and shares a practical framework for modeling executive function skills. Resources: Executive Function Training Free Download: Could You Have an Executive Function Disorder? Read: What Is Executive Function? 7 Deficits Tied to ADHD Read: You Can't Train Away ADHD Executive Dysfunction Read: Your Executive Functions Are Weak. Here's Why. Access the video and slides for podcast episode #599 here: https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/parent-child-executive-function-training/ This episode is sponsored by the podcast Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson. Search for "Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson" in your podcast app or find links to listen at https://lnk.to/hyperfocusPS!adhdexperts. Thank you for listening to ADDitude's ADHD Experts podcast. Please consider subscribing to the magazine (additu.de/subscribe) to support our mission of providing ADHD education and support.