Podcasts about learner

When raising or teaching gifted, twice-exceptional, and differently wired children, adults often face the emotional whiplash of asynchronous development. A child might engage in deep, high-level discussions one moment, only to struggle with basic emotional regulation, task initiation, or practical organization the next. Colleen Kessler, an educator, gifted specialist, author of The Homeschool Advantage, and host of the Raising Lifelong Learners podcast, joins Emily to discuss why supporting neurodivergent kids requires shifting away from one-size-fits-all expectations and becoming an active student of the individual child. TAKEAWAYS Asynchronous development is a natural hallmark of neurodivergence where intellectual, emotional, and physical capacities develop at markedly different rates. Becoming a student of the child allows adults to separate neurological wiring differences from behavioral choices, leading to more effective scaffolding. Authentic strengths-based learning uses a student's high-interest areas to build the confidence and resilience to tackle difficult academic tasks. Testing critical thinking or scientific understanding can be separated from writing output by utilizing speech-to-text tools and alternative dictation methods. Highly capable learners often mask executive functioning deficits until cumulative demands outpace their early compensatory strategies. Being an effective advocate requires ongoing, collaborative communication between home and school rather than relying solely on formal annual meetings. Mental health clinicians: Telling a child about a new diagnosis can feel like navigating a minefield, but it doesn't have to. We're hosting a training with Dr. Liz Angoff, called Explaining a Diagnosis to Kids in a Neurodiversity-Affirming Way, on Friday, September 11th from 2:00 to 3:30 Eastern. The course is worth 1.5 continuing education hours, and is approved through both the APA and NBCC. You'll learn how to replace pathologizing jargon with empowering, neurodiversity-affirming language that builds self-advocacy and resilience. Register for this course today. Colleen Kessler is an author, educator, educational consultant, and international speaker specializing in gifted, twice-exceptional, and other neurodivergent learners. With degrees in elementary education and gifted studies, she helps parents, educators, and clinicians better understand and support the social, emotional, and executive functioning needs of neurodivergent children through a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach. Colleen is the founder of Raising Lifelong Learners and the host of the Raising Lifelong Learners podcast. Through her books, executive function resources, educational consulting, coaching programs, and The Learner's Lab membership community, she equips families with practical strategies to foster confidence, resilience, meaningful relationships, and a lifelong love of learning. Combining professional expertise with lived experience, Colleen empowers families to recognize and celebrate each child's unique strengths. BACKGROUND READING Colleen's website, Raising Lifelong Learners podcast, Learner's Lab, books, classes, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

This week I'm bringing you another one from the Molly Invites the Boys to the Podcast series, and this one is personal. Nick Kleitsch has been my coaching client for the past two years, and I have watched him take everything he has learned in that season and turn it into his own coaching practice. That's not a small thing to witness. Nick lives in Marion, works at Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, hosts his own show called Life with Nick, and just launched his coaching business, Kleitsch's Coaching Collective, through a program he calls The Modern Warrior. In our conversation we get into his CliftonStrengths (Learner and Activator, and yes, you'll hear exactly why that combination makes him who he is), the moment that ended his baseball career and cracked his identity wide open, and the difference between a major failure and a minor one. We also talk about why nobody stays coached past college, the value of a 90-day sprint, and why a one-song dance party in your kitchen might be the most productive thing you do all week. This one is funny, it's honest, and it will make you rethink who's allowed to be your coach. What You'll Hear Why Nick doesn't define his ideal client by age or industry, but by willingness His CliftonStrengths of Learner and Activator, and how they show up (for better and worse) in his coaching What baseball taught him about daily motivation, mental toughness, and the difference between a major and a minor failure The moment that ended his baseball career and the identity crisis that followed Why he believes everyone should have a coach, and what neuroplasticity has to do with it The one-song dance party habit that unlocks his best ideas What he's learned building the Kleitsch's Coaching Collective and The Modern Warrior from scratch His go-to reading list for anyone who wants to understand how their brain and habits actually work Resources & Links Mentioned The Five Major Pieces of the Life Puzzle by Jim Rohn The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg Emotional Agility by Susan David Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza Connect with Nick Life with Nick Life with Nick Podcast Email: kleitschn60@gmail.com Listen and Subscribe Spotify Apple Podcasts If this one hit home, send it to the person in your life who needs to hear that willingness matters more than having it all figured out. And if you've got 30 seconds, leave us a review. It helps more than you know.  

The CRL Rights Commission says it is investigating a case involving a learner allegedly refused access to school after undergoing customary initiation. Deputy Chairperson Prince George Matlangu says the commission is concerned, stressing that education is a basic constitutional right. The commission will engage the school principal, governing body and Basic Education Department. Matlangu says the investigation will balance the learner’s rights with sensitivities surrounding cultural initiation practices, seeking a swift resolution.Deputy Chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission Prince George Mahlangu explains

What if everything we know about teaching reading is upside down? In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with tech entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and innovator David Chalk to unpack a remarkable story of literacy, neurodiversity, trauma, and redemption. Key Highlights & Discussion Points:

Are you searching for the "perfect" curriculum for your neurodivergent or twice exceptional child? This week's episode of the podcast dives into why the magical curriculum doesn't exist—and what really matters instead. The conversation focused on practical strategies for adapting curriculum to fit your unique learner, why flexibility is more valuable than aesthetics, and the importance of serving your child—not the other way around. If you've ever felt frustrated by programs that didn't work for your family, this episode is for you! Key Takeaways Curriculum Must Bend: Prioritize flexibility over perfection—choose resources that can adapt to your child's needs, pace, and interests. Serve the Child, Not the Curriculum: The best curriculum is the one you'll actually use and that fits the learner right in front of you—not just what looks good online. Beware of Sunk Costs: Don't stick with something that isn't working just because you spent money on it—adjust, adapt, or move on guilt-free. Support Strengths and Challenges: Aim for tools that nourish your child's gifts while scaffolding their areas of difficulty, instead of sacrificing one for the other. Embrace Rabbit Trails: Value curiosity—let your child follow their interests, knowing that real learning often happens off the prescribed path. 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 Homeschool Curriculum for Your Asynchronous Gifted Learner Our Gifted Homeschool Curriculum For Multiple Grade Levels: 2021-2022 Homeschooling Middle School Using Your Own Interest-Based Curriculum Building Our Own Curriculum – Why it's Easier Than Buying Boxed Our Gifted Homeschool | Curriculum for Pre-K, 1st, 4th, and 8th Grades Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 2015-2016 Homeschool Curriculum Choices Creating Your Own Interest-Based Middle School Curriculum A Family-Friendly Homeschool Art Curriculum Our Homeschool Curriculum Our Curriculum Choices for 2012-2013  

Jared and John discuss the frustrations faced by a learner who came to John for help—particularly with pinyin and distinguishing similar sounds in Chinese. They explore why learners often misapply English pronunciation rules to pinyin and how comprehensible input can help ease the learning curve.This episode serves as both a deep dive into the phonetic and perceptual challenges of learning Chinese and a reassuring reminder that, while the path to fluency can be frustrating, personalized strategies and persistent effort can lead to real progress.Links from the episode:Mandarin Companion graded readers

The purpose of anxiety is to prepare us to do something. Too little or too much causes problems. How do we turn this arousal into something that we can use and makes us better. 

Send us Fan MailElectricity meters which have been fitted backwards are causing chaos on the network, say grid chiefs……an electrician suffers a serious leg injury after a fall at a nuclear power plant……and the government warns the trade about an exploding hammer drill that's hit the market…Welcome to Electrical News Weekly in association with Shelly, helping electricians offer smarter buildings and better energy management======================Show Notes:Catch all the stories, links, and product info from this episode - it's all waiting for you in the show notes at

If you lead with the CliftonStrengths talent theme of Learner, (or you know someone who does), this is the episode for you!     Today's Strength Snapshot is Learner The Learner talent theme is fueled by curiosity, growth, and discovery. People with this strength are naturally inquisitive, studious, open-minded, and passionate about learning. At its core, Learner is about the process. These individuals instinctively enjoy gaining knowledge, exploring new ideas, and improving their understanding. They aren't just motivated by outcomes. They're energized by learning itself. They want to learn about all the things! People who lead with Learner often describe themselves as curious, interested, and growth-oriented. What motivates them most is the opportunity to learn something new. They love exposure to fresh information, new experiences, and chances to immediately apply what they've discovered. Repetition or stagnation tends to drain their energy.     When This Strength Is Thriving When Learner is operating at its best, it brings curiosity, progress, and continuous improvement to any environment. This strength creates excitement for growth and encourages others to keep developing their skills and understanding. Learner talent often shows up through team roles like interviewer, expert, trail-blazer, or continuous improver. These individuals shine when growth is possible. While others may feel satisfied with what they already know, Learner keeps asking what else can be discovered, understood, or mastered.   Here's a simple experiment to try in the next 24 hours…   Pick a topic you know little about but find interesting. Spend five minutes learning one new thing about it. Then share what you learned with someone else. Notice how energy increases when curiosity is fed.     Well, that's a wrap for today's episode. What small action can you take to show up at your best, given where you're starting today?

Episode 101. Indicating Incorrectly! Why do so many drivers act like indicators are an optional extra? In this episode of The Art of Confident Driving, Liz and Sonia have a laugh discussing , when, how and why drivers should use their indicators. They take a myth‑busting look at the humble indicator/blinker/turn signal — the lever that could prevent chaos but somehow doesn't. From everyday Aussie road moments to the psychology behind “non‑indicators,” this episode blends humour, advocacy, and practical advice for learners and supervisors alike. Fully licenced drivers, tradies and professional drivers will be smart to listen to this episode. Supervising drivers: Master Driver Trainer Liz has recorded all of her lessons; from the basics of car controls, pedal control, steering techniques, cornering, roundabouts, all of your manouvers through to Motorway and open road driving. Subscribe to have her teach your Learner driver the correct techniques and procedures that will not only have them pass the test easily, but be safe drivers for life! Full driving lessons and instructional videos are available here: https://theartofconfidentdriving.com/

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change.  where we explore the thinking that shapes how change really happens. What happens to human learning when answers are suddenly abundant and change keeps accelerating?In this episode of The Inner Game of Change, I welcome back Tracy Defoe, Kata coach and adult learning expert, to explore the Coaching Kata and its growing relevance in the age of artificial intelligence.We explore a simple idea: when we cannot know exactly where change will take us, we need to learn our way forward.Tracy shares how the Coaching Kata helps people navigate uncertainty through small experiments, reflection and deliberate learning. We discuss productive struggle, psychological safety, the temptation to jump to solutions, and the importance of human judgement.We also ask whether artificial intelligence is helping us become better thinkers, or simply faster answer seekers, and where it can genuinely strengthen coaching and learning.A conversation about change without certainty, coaching without giving people the answers, and learning our way forward.About TracyAims to make you smarter about learning.Adult Education professional specializing in learning at work. Interested in culture change, supporting peer-leadership, informal learning, multiple literacies and communication in diverse settings. Experienced in designing and implementing innovative learning at work programs. Humble Lean Practitioner interested in combining my interests in Lean with Adult Learning and Culture Change. Student of the Kata, Coach and Learner.  Improvement and Coaching Kata learner and coach.  Volunteer Host of the Cascadia Kata Dojo Community Call - a 30 minute weekly zoom meeting for Kata Coaches From British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California.Specialties: Customized solutions, embedding lean or essential skills in content training, facilitation of improvements or supporting leaders in improving their facilitation, communicating with the workforce, re-framing change as learning challenge, training design and delivery, implementation and evaluation. Facilitating meetings and retreats for clients, strategic planning, realizing a mission and vision to a Challenge, and a daily improvement plan. Plain Language and Clear Design.Contact TracyTracy's profilelinkedin.com/in/tracydefoeWebsitethelearningfactor.ca (Company)Emailtd@thelearningfactor.caSend us Fan MailSupport the showAli Juma @The Inner Game of Change podcastFollow me on LinkedIn

Do you ever walk away from a family gathering or an online conversation feeling worn out from defending your choice to homeschool—especially if your family is neurodivergent? You're not alone. This week's episode of the podcast dives into how to stay confident and calm when faced with criticism about your educational choices. Key Takeaways Trust Your Instincts: You know your child best—filter outside opinions and make decisions that fit your unique family. Confidence Over Approval: Calm, concise responses to critics protect your peace; you don't need everyone's agreement to be the right parent. Embrace Flexibility: There's no single "right" way to educate—mix, match, and adapt resources and approaches for your child. Respond, Don't Defend: Explanations rooted in confidence go further than seeking approval—brief, kind answers are enough. Protect Your Peace: Know when to disengage from debates and focus on the everyday growth and joy you see in your own child. 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 Responding to Homeschool Critics Answering the Critics: Homeschooling Gifted Kids Busting the Biggest Myths About Homeschooling Neurodivergent Kids RLL #83: [Audioblog] Socialization and Your Gifted or Intense Child Socialization and Your Gifted or Intense Child  

If you've ever heard someone say “I'm a visual learner,” you've seen how quickly learning style labels can shape training decisions. In this episode, Jackie unpacks a persistent instructional design myth: that learning styles should drive how we build courses, lessons, and eLearning. Learner preferences are real, but treating them like fixed categories can pull us away from what actually improves performance and understanding.Jackie explores why the myth sticks around, from how personal it feels to how neatly it simplifies something messy. Then I make the key design shift: stop asking what style a learner “is” and start asking what the learner needs to do. When the goal is understanding a process, visuals like diagrams may be the best support. When the goal is sound recognition, audio examples become essential. When the goal is decision-making, scenarios plus feedback often beat more content every time. The format serves the outcome.We also separate accessibility from learning styles. Captions, transcripts, alt text, clear headings, readable documents, and keyboard-friendly navigation are not extras for a certain “type” of learner. They're inclusive, responsible design choices that remove barriers for more people. To wrap up, Jackie closes the episode with a practical myth reset challenge you can use to audit one learning experience this week and make one improvement that better aligns with goals, practice, feedback, and evidence-based strategies.If this helped you rethink how you design, subscribe, share the episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators and instructional designers can find the series.

Today we're exploring a more holistic, humane approach to supporting neurodivergent learners — one that starts with understanding the nervous system and builds from there. My guest is Dr. Emily King, a child psychologist who has spent more than 20 years working with neurodivergent youth in both school settings and private practice. She's the creator of The Neurodiverse Classroom®, a professional development curriculum for educators, and the author of her new book The Neurodivergent Learner, which we'll be talking about today. In our conversation, Emily and I talk about why safety and regulation are foundational for learning, how relationships at school can shape outcomes in powerful ways, and what it means to redefine success for kids who don't fit traditional models. We also explore practical ways parents can partner with schools to better support their children, and how shifting our lens can open up new possibilities for growth, connection, and well-being. About Dr. Emily King  Dr. Emily King is a child psychologist who has worked with neurodivergent learners for over 20 years. She received a Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and began her career in Houston, Texas, specializing in school-based mental health in K-12 public schools. She has since worked in private practice in North Carolina supporting the mental health, executive functioning, and social needs of neurodivergent youth. Dr. Emily hosts the Learn with Dr. Emily Substack, where she provides parent workshops, is the creator of The Neurodiverse Classroom®, a professional development curriculum for educators, and her first book, The Neurodivergent Learner, was released in August 2026. Things you'll learn from this episode  How mental health, education, and neurodivergence are deeply interconnected in shaping a child's experience Why building felt safety and a true sense of community at school is foundational for learning How navigating IEPs, homework, and behavior systems benefits from a flexible, relationship-centered approach Why prioritizing social satisfaction over social achievement supports authentic connection and well-being How parents can assess and choose school environments that truly fit their neurodivergent child Why leading with relationships and adaptability strengthens both parenting and advocacy Resources mentioned  Dr. Emily King's website Learn with Dr. Emily (Emily's Substack) Learn with Dr. Emily Podcast Dr. Emily on Instagram Dr. Emily on Facebook Free downloads on Emily's website Redefining Success for Neurodivergent Children, with Dr. Emily (Tilt Parenting Podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Davida Lindsay-Bell, Chief People Officer at Hanna Andersson, joined us on The Modern People Leader. We talked about why AI transformation needs to start with people, how Hanna Andersson operationalized psychological safety, and why trust, learning, and intelligent failure are the foundation for lasting change.----  Sponsor Links:

Anxiety has a different signature in each of us. And understanding our own signature, our own pattern and being able to name it gives us the power to begin to change it.

discover effective strategies and tips for learning Urdu

Topics covered in this episode: Some more things about Django I've been enjoying Who cleans up after the vibe-coding party? Where Did All Your AI Tokens Go? AgentsView to the rescue! Careful with phishing all Extras Joke Watch on YouTube About the show Sponsored by us! Support our work through: Our courses at Talk Python Consulting from Six Feet Up Connect with the hosts Michael: Mastodon / BlueSky / X / LinkedIn Calvin: Mastodon / BlueSky / X / LinkedIn Show: Mastodon / BlueSky / X Join us on YouTube at pythonbytes.fm/live to be part of the audience. Usually Tuesday at 7am PT. Older video versions available there too. Finally, if you want an artisanal, hand-crafted digest of every week of the show notes in email form? Add your name and email to our friends of the show list, we'll never share it. Calvin #1: Some more things about Django I've been enjoying Julia Evans is learning "2010-style" web dev (Django + SQL + server-rendered HTML) after years of Go backends and JS-heavy frontends Query builders: likes defining custom QuerySet classes with chainable filter methods (.approved().future().with_tags()) — more readable than raw SQL Template filters: highlights urlize, linebreaksbr, json_script, and especially querystring for building/modifying query-string links in templates Migrations: still loves Django's auto-generated migrations — 19 and counting on her project Skips inheritance for class-based views; prefers function-based views for sharing code, though fine using Django's own mixins/interfaces Performance surprise: CPU profiling (via py-spy) — not slow DB queries — revealed the culprit; she'd accidentally disabled the cached template loader, and re-enabling it took throughput from ~2-3 req/s to ~12 req/s on a $10/mo VM Michael #2: Who cleans up after the vibe-coding party? FT Magazine piece by Sam Learner (July 11) on AI coding tools overwhelming open source maintainers - sent in by listener Dylan McConnell, whose main point was that this ran in the Financial Times, not a dev blog. cURL as the case study - Daniel Stenberg has been the only full-time person on it for years; libcurl has been installed an estimated 20+ billion times with 3,000+ listed contributors. Bug bounty killed - cURL ended its paid security bounty program in January, citing an "explosion of AI slop reports" that take real time to debunk and drain morale. Extractive contributions - authoring a PR is now nearly free, reviewing one still costs a human; tldraw's Steve Ruiz closed outside contributions entirely, asking why he'd want someone else writing the easy part. Guido weighs in - van Rossum says projects are holding emergency meetings over the slop flow, and notes LLM patches tend to touch unrelated parts of a file, making review more tedious. "Vibe Coding Kills Open Source" - paper from Miklós Koren's group: packages frequently recommended by coding models saw big download jumps with no matching engagement, breaking the reputation loop that sustains maintainers. Stack Overflow flatlined - over 100,000 questions a month before ChatGPT, under 1,500 last month, with the response rate cut roughly in half; the public archive is now stale training data. The course-creator angle - Josh Comeau's newest web dev course launched at about a third of prior enrollment, and he worries about devs who never learn which questions to ask. But the most interesting portion is what was omitted. Focused on: The end of the curl bug-bounty Omitted: High-Quality Chaos Why the omission is interesting It fits a narrative. The FT piece is a maintenance-and-decline story, and January-Stenberg is a perfect witness for it. April-Stenberg complicates it - same person, same project, better data, opposite direction on the specific claim being used. The tell is already in the article. Learner quotes Stenberg saying AI tools are much better at finding problems than fixing them. That's the April thesis in one line, and it goes undeveloped. Reason for the shift is process, not vibes. Killing the bounty removed the cash incentive and the venue change filtered the rest. Worth saying out loud, because "AI reports got better" isn't quite it - "no bounty plus a real triage platform" is closer. Joke too: Sarah O'Connor wrote a related piece (is this just before skynet launches?) Calvin #3: Where Did All Your AI Tokens Go? AgentsView to the rescue! Local-first desktop/web app for browsing, searching, and analyzing your past AI coding agent sessions (Claude Code, Codex, Copilot, Cursor, Gemini, Aider, and dozens more) Auto-discovers session files on your machine — no config needed; everything stored locally in SQLite, no cloud/accounts agentsview usage is a drop-in ccusage alternative — reads from pre-indexed SQLite, reports run 80–220× faster on large histories New Activity dashboard shows peak concurrency, active vs. idle time, agent-minutes, and cost — filterable by project/agent/machine, with a -json CLI report too Full-text + optional semantic search across every session; also imports Claude.ai/ChatGPT chat exports Install via pip install agentsview, uvx agentsview, brew install --cask agentsview, or download desktop binaries from GitHub Releases Michael #4: Careful with phishing all The situation I pass this along because it was a pretty sneaky bit of targeted phishing, and happened to play off an old interaction in bandit's repo. As usual with phishing scams there are a bunch of tells that this isn't legitimate, but just enough plausibility that I could see falling for it in a weak moment. Relative nobodies like me haven't historically been worth the effort to hit with scams this specific. Agents change the game though :-/. Be careful out there folks! Original message From: "Patrick (Blacktrace)" [HTML_REMOVED] To: LISTENER EMAIL Subject: Your Bandit #1350 (B105 NextToken false positive) -- just fixed that exact case Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 12:02 AM Hi AJ, Saw your Bandit issue #1350 -- the B105 hardcoded-password false positive on the string NextToken. I build a deterministic gate that filters that class of Bandit noise, and #1350 was literally the case I just fixed: NextToken / next_token / page_token / nextPageToken now stay quiet, while a genuine hardcoded token like api_token="sk-live-..." still fires. Verified against your exact case. 30-second paste: https://blacktrace.co/noise-eraser Where it still trips, published: https://blacktrace.co/kruc Curious whether it clears what you hit -- and if it trips on something of yours, that's the more useful reply. Patrick, Blacktrace I asked Claude for some analysis too. It was pretty good at finding them. The message name-drops enough real detail to feel legit, but the structure is pure phishing - everything in it exists to get AJ onto blacktrace.co. The strongest ones: Freemail sender, corporate signoff. Signs as "Patrick, Blacktrace" but sends from emailpjv@gmail.com. Real company outreach comes from the company domain, not a personal Gmail - and there's no last name. Over-specific targeting. It mirrors AJ's exact public activity - issue #1350, the B105 rule, the NextToken false positive, even the token variants. That's the "just enough plausibility" AJ flagged, and it's exactly what agents make cheap: scrape a GitHub issue, auto-generate tailored bait. Legit cold outreach rarely reads your history back to you this precisely. The entire payload is two links. Strip the technical flattery and the message is just "paste here" plus "see results here." When the whole point of an email is the click, that's the tell. "30-second paste." Low-friction urgency, and "paste" most likely means paste your source into their tool - handing your code to a stranger's site. Exfiltration dressed as convenience. Brand-new, no-reputation domain. blacktrace.co has no track record, and the name is doing some ominous work. The /kruc slug is random noise, not how real product pages get named. Precise-sounding jargon that's actually vague. "Deterministic gate," "noise-eraser" - impressive, empty. Bolted onto correct real details (B105 is the Bandit hardcoded-password test, sk-live- is a Stripe live-key prefix) to borrow credibility. The disarming close. "if it trips on something of yours, that's the more useful reply" - engineered humility that flatters your expertise and baits a response. Makes engaging feel like you're doing them a favor, which drops your guard. Extras Calvin: DjangoCon US 2026 is rapidly approaching, August 24-28, Chicago Ruff v0.16.0 massively expands its default rule set Ruff now enables 413 rules by default, up from 59 https://astral.sh/blog/ruff-v0.16.0 Michael: Completely redesigned the home page. Try /insights in Claude Code (terminal) Joke: We're Safe

Anxiety is an invisible tax on almost everything we do. We have a limited amount of working memory and cognitive function in any given moment. Anxiety taxes that and diminishes our capacity. We Begin exploring how this works and how to overcome it.

A sharp Slack message.  A public channel.  One stressed moment. Eight months later, a six-figure client relationship gone. When George finally asked why nobody on his team said anything, the answer stopped him cold: "I didn't want to be the one to bring you bad news." That wasn't a team problem. It was a psychological safety problem. And he had created it, in five seconds, without even realizing it. Your team isn't being lazy. Your clients aren't disengaging. They're protecting themselves from your reaction. In this solo episode, George breaks down psychological safety, what it actually is, why it matters in every relationship you have, and how to rebuild it one response at a time. This is part one of a two-part series. Part two covers the five factors of trust. What You'll Learn In This Episode: What psychological safety actually is and what it's not Timothy Clark's four stages: inclusion, learner, contributor, and challenger safety Why going quiet is a learned behavior, not disengagement The silent ways we accidentally teach people it's not safe to tell us the truth Why you can't rebuild psychological safety with an all-hands meeting How to rebuild it one micro-moment at a time Why this applies equally to teams, clients, partnerships, kids, and yourself Key Takeaways: ✔️Psychological safety is not about being nice. It's a culture of rewarded vulnerability, where people can speak up, admit mistakes, push back, and not get punished for it. ✔️In that Slack channel, George taught his entire team a lesson in five seconds that took eight months to even notice they'd learned. ✔️People going quiet are not lazy or disengaged. They are successfully protecting themselves from your reaction. ✔️The four stages must build in order. You cannot have challenger safety without inclusion, learner, and contributor safety already in place. ✔️Every time you reward honesty, you add one brick. Every time you punish it, even accidentally with a sigh, a look, or picking up your phone, you tear off three. ✔️You cannot give someone something you've never given yourself. Psychological safety with your team starts with how you handle your own mistakes. ✔️This doesn't get fixed with a speech, a policy, or an all-hands meeting. It gets rebuilt in the next response. ✔️Pressure doesn't create what's inside you, it reveals it. If anger comes out when you get squeezed, that's not on the person who squeezed you. Timestamps & Highlights: [00:00] — The Slack message, the six-figure loss, and "I didn't want to bring you bad news" [01:19] — Why people going quiet is not the problem, it's the symptom [04:00] — What psychological safety actually is: a culture of rewarded vulnerability [07:00] — Timothy Clark's four stages explained [08:30] — Stage 1: Inclusion safety, do people feel like they belong? [11:00] — Stage 2: Learner safety, can they admit they don't know or made a mistake? [14:00] — Stage 3: Contributor safety, can they offer a real idea without fear? [17:00] — Stage 4: Challenger safety, the one George destroyed, and how [21:00] — Where this shows up beyond your team: clients, JVs, partnerships, kids, yourself [25:00] — How to audit where it's broken down right now [28:00] — The only way to rebuild it: one response at a time [31:00] — Why you can't give it to others if you haven't given it to yourself [33:30] — What's coming next: the five factors of trust Your Challenge This Week: Think of one relationship that's gone quieter than it used to be. Ask yourself honestly: what did I do, even by accident, that taught this person it wasn't safe to bring me the truth? Then make it safe. One response at a time. If this landed, leave a review. George reads every single one. Follow George: @itsgeorgebryant Work with George: The Alliance — Community for entrepreneurs building teams and relationships that can handle the truth.  1:1 Coaching — Limited spots. Apply at mindofgeorge.com/coaching-consulting/   Live Retreats — In-person experiences where psychological safety gets modeled, not just talked about.

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 today's episode of the Illumination by Modern Campus podcast, podcast host Shauna Cox was joined by Heather Pritchard to discuss how institutions can build more flexible, learner-centered pathways through technology, streamlined curriculum processes, and cross-campus collaboration.

What anxiety actually is and what it is not and why is it that your brain isn't actually broken if you have anxiety. We get to the heart of all this.

In this episode, Aurora Dreger sits down with Dr. Khara Schonfeld, Partner of Research at Education Reimagined, to discuss the transformative power of learner-centered education. Khara shares insights from her unique perspective as a researcher, former K-12 teacher, and parent  as she unpacks what sets learner-centered environments apart from traditional schooling.  We dive into Education Reimagined's multi-case study exploring how these innovative models support youth with learning differences and the incredible "ripple effect" they create. We also outline the practical first steps educators and families can take to shift the focus to the unique strengths of every learner. For more resources, visit education-reimagined.org Access the full transcript at tinyurl.com/5MinWEducationReimagined

"Get out of the way woman!" - Luttsy Listen live on the Nova Player. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram & TikTokSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world where opinions are loud and knowledge is abundant, it's easy to get caught up in the noise and forget the importance of being a learner. This episode of the podcast explores the value of humility and the dangers of being a "know-it-all." The speaker delves into the story of Elijah, a powerful prophet who became complacent in his knowledge and lost sight of the truth.As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it's tempting to think we have all the answers. But the truth is, we're often stuck in our own perspectives, unwilling to listen to others or consider alternative viewpoints. The speaker shares the Fineman technique, a four-step process for demystifying complex topics and gaining a deeper understanding. This approach involves selecting a concept, mapping your knowledge, teaching it to a twelve-year-old, reviewing and refining, and testing your understanding.The conversation also touches on the importance of humility in learning, citing the Bible's emphasis on seeking wisdom and understanding. The speaker encourages listeners to be like the Bereans, who searched the scriptures daily to see if what they were being taught was true. By embracing a learner's mindset, we can avoid the pitfalls of being a know-it-all and instead cultivate a deeper understanding of the world around us.In this episode, the speaker is joined by Eric McClanahan, who shares his insights on the importance of being a learner in today's complex world. Together, they explore the challenges of navigating information overload and the need to seek out multiple sources of knowledge. If you're ready to shift your perspective and become a lifelong learner, tune in to this episode to discover the value of humility and the benefits of seeking wisdom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this replay episode, literacy experts Dr. Jana Echevarría and Dr. Jeannette Mancilla-Martinez share research-backed insights and practical strategies for supporting multilingual learners in upper elementary classrooms.You'll learn why the term multilingual learner matters, the difference between conversational and academic language, and how teachers can provide grade-level instruction while supporting language development. Our guests also share actionable ways to integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing into everyday lessons so multilingual learners can thrive.If you're looking for simple, effective ways to better support multilingual learners, this conversation is full of valuable takeaways you can use right away.

AEM E&T Podcast host Resa E. Lewiss, MD, interviews lead author Michael Gottlieb, MD.

Feeling exhausted in a way that sleep can't fix? You're not alone. This week on the podcast, the conversation focused on the unique burnout parents face when homeschooling neurodivergent kids—and why compassion fatigue is so real in our community. Key Takeaways Burnout Is More Than Tired: The exhaustion from parenting neurodivergent kids goes deeper—rest alone doesn't fix it. Micro Rest Counts: Slip in short, intentional moments of downtime throughout the day—they add up and make a difference. Delegate & Let Go: Release some control by assigning tasks, even if they aren't done perfectly. Set Boundaries for Survival: Protect your time and energy by saying "no" and establishing clear limits with family and commitments. Release the Guilt: Prioritizing your own care isn't selfish—your kids need a parent who's healthy, not perfect. 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 Finding Wonder and Joy in Everyday Homeschooling and Parenting Relationships Matter More Than Anything Parenting Gifted Kids with Gail Post Ph.D. Self-Care and Co-Regulation | Balancing Parenting and Sensory Needs Comparison: A Toxic Parenting Trap Parenting in the Moment with Your Child RLL #105: Parenting ADHD and Autism with Penny Williams Parenting and Teaching a Twice Exceptional Child Creative Summer Activities to Strengthen Family Connection and Boost Learning Why Family Connection Matters Most as Kids Grow Up Building Strong Family Bonds | A Conversation with Andee Martineau Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals Building Strong Family Teams | Tips for Connection and Collaboration Homeschooling Success | The Role of Strong Family Connections Activities to Strengthen Your Family Team Create the Best Homeschool for Your Family  

In this podcast, Greg Voisen sits down with Marilee Adams, Ph.D., the bestselling author and founder of the Inquiry Institute, to deep dive into the fifth edition of her life-altering book, Change Your Questions, Change Your Life: 14 Powerful Tools for Leadership, Coaching, and Results. Have you ever considered that the quiet, unnoticed questions running through your mind are completely shaping your career, your relationships, and your entire reality? Dr. Adams reveals how a single, devastating moment in her advisor's office unlocked a universal breakthrough: the choice between the reactive "Judger" mindset and the open "Learner" mindset. If you want to discover how to catch yourself before falling into the "Judger Pit," how to utilize a visual "Choice Map," and how to radically transform your communication style using uniquely human critical thinking in the age of AI, this conversation holds the master key.

Ever fancied teaching dental students part time… but no real idea how you'd actually get in? Are you the kind of person teaching would energise — or quietly drain? Is a PGCert in dental education actually worth it, or just wishy-washy theory? And the honest question nobody asks out loud: does it pay anything? This is an Interference Cast — the non-clinical arm of the podcast — with Dr Rima Hussain, a general dentist who teaches restorative dentistry to undergraduates at King's a couple of days a week. It's a candid look at what a career in dental education actually involves: how to get in, who thrives and who burns out, what the work is really like, and the honest truth about the pay and the rewards. The bigger theme: dentistry is a career you can mould in endless directions — and for the right person, teaching is one of the most energising of them. https://youtu.be/DzmcM-SbD68 Watch IC076 on YouTube What You'll Take From This Episode The full self-assessment and the step-by-step route into a teaching role are in the Premium Notes. Here's the shape of what we cover: Are you built for the classroom? — the two-camp self-check (energised vs drained) that predicts whether teaching will recharge you or wear you down. How to actually land a role — the ‘BDJ Jobs' plus pick-up-the-phone route, and why “who you know” so often cuts through the application process. Relatability as a strength — why being closer to a student's level can beat decades of experience for an absolute beginner. Back to basics — the “monkey see, monkey do” risk from YouTube and AI, and what the tutor's real job becomes. The honest pay-and-balance picture — why you don't do it for the money, what you do get, and how teaching and practice keep each other fresh. Highlights of This Episode 00:00  Teaser 01:08  Should You Teach Dentistry? How to Know If It's for You 04:39  How a General Dentist Gets Into Dental Education 06:15  Signs You're Suited to Teaching Dentistry 08:52  Is a PGCert in Dental Education Worth It? 12:07  How to Land a Clinical Teaching Post at a Dental School 14:38  Why a Relatable Tutor Beats Decades of Experience 16:52  How Dental Students Have Changed Since COVID 19:20  Is Social Media and AI Helping or Hurting Dental Students? 21:55  Midroll 26:43  Why “Back to Basics” Beats Chasing Advanced Techniques 29:20  How to Get a Teaching (or Associate) Job: Pick Up the Phone 31:50  Why Dental Tutors Quit After Six Months 36:29  The Most Rewarding Part of Teaching Dentistry 38:46  Teaching, Practice and Pay: How to Avoid Burnout 44:39  Outro From the Guest Dr Rima Hussain is a general dentist who also teaches restorative (conservative) dentistry to undergraduates at King's College London — a route she fell into via tutoring as a teenager and has been in since 2019. Her advice for anyone curious: you're probably already teaching in some form, so try it; the worst case is you find it isn't for you.

Ever fancied teaching dental students part time… but no real idea how you'd actually get in? Are you the kind of person teaching would energise — or quietly drain? Is a PGCert in dental education actually worth it, or just wishy-washy theory? And the honest question nobody asks out loud: does it pay anything? This is an Interference Cast — the non-clinical arm of the podcast — with Dr Rima Hussain, a general dentist who teaches restorative dentistry to undergraduates at King's a couple of days a week. It's a candid look at what a career in dental education actually involves: how to get in, who thrives and who burns out, what the work is really like, and the honest truth about the pay and the rewards. The bigger theme: dentistry is a career you can mould in endless directions — and for the right person, teaching is one of the most energising of them. https://youtu.be/DzmcM-SbD68 Watch IC076 on YouTube What You'll Take From This Episode The full self-assessment and the step-by-step route into a teaching role are in the Premium Notes. Here's the shape of what we cover: Are you built for the classroom? — the two-camp self-check (energised vs drained) that predicts whether teaching will recharge you or wear you down. How to actually land a role — the ‘BDJ Jobs’ plus pick-up-the-phone route, and why “who you know” so often cuts through the application process. Relatability as a strength — why being closer to a student's level can beat decades of experience for an absolute beginner. Back to basics — the “monkey see, monkey do” risk from YouTube and AI, and what the tutor's real job becomes. The honest pay-and-balance picture — why you don't do it for the money, what you do get, and how teaching and practice keep each other fresh. Highlights of This Episode 00:00  Teaser 01:08  Should You Teach Dentistry? How to Know If It’s for You 04:39  How a General Dentist Gets Into Dental Education 06:15  Signs You’re Suited to Teaching Dentistry 08:52  Is a PGCert in Dental Education Worth It? 12:07  How to Land a Clinical Teaching Post at a Dental School 14:38  Why a Relatable Tutor Beats Decades of Experience 16:52  How Dental Students Have Changed Since COVID 19:20  Is Social Media and AI Helping or Hurting Dental Students? 21:55  Midroll 26:43  Why “Back to Basics” Beats Chasing Advanced Techniques 29:20  How to Get a Teaching (or Associate) Job: Pick Up the Phone 31:50  Why Dental Tutors Quit After Six Months 36:29  The Most Rewarding Part of Teaching Dentistry 38:46  Teaching, Practice and Pay: How to Avoid Burnout 44:39  Outro From the Guest Dr Rima Hussain is a general dentist who also teaches restorative (conservative) dentistry to undergraduates at King's College London — a route she fell into via tutoring as a teenager and has been in since 2019. Her advice for anyone curious: you're probably already teaching in some form, so try it; the worst case is you find it isn't for you.

Some competent learner drivers should be allowed to drive unaccompanied. That's the call in a petition set to be considered in the Oireachtas today. Anton was joined by, Conor Faughnan, Transport Commentator and Independent Motoring Expert for Carzone to see if this is a workable solution.

Have you ever heard the words, "That's not fair!" echoing through your home? If you're raising neurodivergent kids (or any kids at all!), chances are this is a familiar refrain. This week on the podcast, the conversation focused on the messy, ongoing topic of sibling conflict and the real meaning of fairness in our families.   Key Takeaways Fair Isn't Equal: True fairness means meeting each child's unique needs, not treating everyone the same. Validate Feelings First: Acknowledge and empathize with your child's sense of injustice—then help them understand differences. Use Simple Scripts: Keep quick, calm responses ready for "that's not fair" moments—don't default to courtroom battles. Normalize Accommodations: Talk openly about why siblings might have different supports, tools, or expectations. Shift to Problem Solving: Encourage kids to express what they need and help brainstorm solutions together instead of focusing on comparison. 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 The Powerful Relationship Between Confidence And Learning In Our Homeschools Relationships Matter More Than Anything Social Energy, Recovery Plans, and Connection for Neurodivergent Families "I Don't Want Friends": When Your Homeschooler Prefers Solitude When Homeschool Co-Ops Don't Work: Friendship Strategies for Neurodivergent Kids Creative Summer Activities to Strengthen Family Connection and Boost Learning Why Family Connection Matters Most as Kids Grow Up Building Strong Family Bonds | A Conversation with Andee Martineau Strengthening Bonds | Building Family Routines and Rituals Building Strong Family Teams | Tips for Connection and Collaboration Homeschooling Success | The Role of Strong Family Connections Activities to Strengthen Your Family Team Create the Best Homeschool for Your Family  

Caleb interviews leadership expert Eric Termuende and the discussion centers on the intentional construction of company culture, specifically focusing on how small business owners can foster trust and open communication within their teams. Termuende emphasizes that leaders do not need to possess all the answers but should instead empower their employees to help navigate uncertainty. He highlights the importance of genuine personal relationships and clarity of vision over transactional management styles.  Key Takeaways: Deepen the sense of trust within your team and actively work to remove friction to better handle future uncertainty. Clearly define and communicate your company's end goal so every team member understands exactly what they are working toward. Foster stronger team connectivity by getting to know your colleagues on a personal level and building genuine relationships beyond work tasks. Embrace a leadership style that prioritizes asking insightful questions and learning over always feeling the need to have the right answers. Empower your team to contribute their unique perspectives by crowdsourcing the best practices for reaching your established goals. Connect with Eric: https://erictermuende.com/?shem=isphe%2C Connect with Auman Landscape

In a world that keeps telling you to learn faster, what if slowing down was actually the smarter move? In this Squiggly Shortcut, Sarah makes the case for slow learning, and shares three questions and three actions to help you get started.

In this week's episode of the podcast, Colleen gets honest about what it's really like to homeschool multiple neurotypes at once—and how you can stop trying to make one-size-fits-all solutions work for wildly different brains. She talks about building flexible rhythms that respect your children's unique needs (and your sanity!), why chasing the "perfect" curriculum isn't the answer, and practical ways you can manage energy instead of just managing lesson plans. Key Takeaways Ditch One-Size-Fits-All: Stop trying to teach every child the same way—build flexible rhythms that honor each brain's unique needs. Focus on Energy, Not Just Curriculum: Prioritize managing everyone's energy and support needs over finding the "perfect" curriculum. Rotate, Station, Solo: Structure your day with rotating support, creative stations, and independent solo work to keep kids engaged and supported. Fair Isn't Equal: Remember that fairness means giving each child what they need, not making everything the same for everyone. Adapt as You Go: Stay flexible—needs change daily and seasonally, so keep mixing, matching, and pulling from your toolbox of strategies 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 Beating Boredom Without Busy Work: Motivating Neurodivergent Learners at Home When Passions Turn Into Pathways | Rethinking Motivation and Learning for Neurodivergent Kids Understanding Executive Function vs Motivation in Neurodivergent Learners Meltdowns vs. Shutdowns: Understanding and Responding to Big Feelings in Neurodivergent Kids Building a Sensory Diet Toolbox for Neurodivergent Kids at Home Why Is Finishing So Hard? Helping Neurodivergent Kids Cross the Finish Line Why Typical Organization Systems Fail Neurodivergent Homeschoolers and What Works Instead Understanding Task Initiation in Neurodivergent Homeschoolers Morning Routines That Work: Flexible Approaches for Gifted and Neurodivergent Kids Why Decision Making Feels Overwhelming for Neurodivergent Kids and How to Help  

In this Leading With Strengths interview, Penny Pennington, Managing Director of Edward Jones, discusses how she's built Edward Jones into a firm serving 9 million families. Guided by her top CliftonStrengths — Intellection®, Futuristic®, Input®, Learner® and Belief® — Pennington centers her work on relationships. Hear how she uses her Belief and Futuristic strengths to help inspire hope for the 55,000 employees at Edward Jones — and why listening, learning and leading with strengths changes everything. The world needs great leaders who know their strengths and use them to create lasting impact. Leading With Strengths, Gallup's global leadership study, explores how the world's most influential leaders use their strengths to change the world. Subscribe to receive new Leading With Strengths interviews and learn more at www.gallup.com/leading-with-strengths. #leadingwithstrengths #leadershipdevelopment #strengthsbasedleadership #cliftonstrengths #leadership #leadershipskills 

The most important part of your surgery isn't plugged in, mounted, or calibrated. It's the person standing beside you. Have you ever dreaded walking into a beautiful practice with lovely patients — purely because of who you share the surgery with? What do you actually do, in the moment, when your assistant rolls their eyes at a request for rubber dam? And should you be friends with your assistant at all — or does that cross a line you'll regret? This is an Interference Cast — a non-clinical but deeply practical episode — with Dr. Sarah Braun, a dentist in Australia and a fellow Protrusive Guidance member who DM'd to suggest this very topic. No course, no book, nothing to sell: just two clinicians comparing notes (and the odd scar) on the one relationship that quietly shapes your whole working life. It sits inside this month's theme of the relationships that support your career. https://youtu.be/OyztRyPpcHM Watch IC075 on YouTube What You'll Take From This Episode The full breakdown is in the Premium Notes; here's the shape of the thinking that runs through the episode: Engagement is the whole game — the assistant relationship sets the mood of the room, the patient's experience, and whether good people stay. Speak their language — appreciation only lands if it's delivered in the form that particular person actually values. Appreciation is a verb — specific, named praise lands far harder than a vague “good job.” Let them, let me — you don't control how someone reacts in the moment; you only control your response to it. Lead the room — dentistry is a performance, and the room takes its emotional cue from whoever is leading it. Highlights of this episode: 00:00 TEASER01:13 Why This One Relationship Can Make or Break You03:49 A Non-Clinical Interference Cast: What to Expect04:47 Meet the Guest: Nine Years In, City to Country07:01 A Week in Private Practice09:15 How Much Does the Dentist–Assistant Relationship Matter?11:01 Engagement at Work: The Gallup Lens12:30 People Remember How You Made Them Feel14:21 When the Relationship Turns Toxic15:23 The Power Imbalance You Might Not See18:11 The First-Day Conversation20:52 Keeping Your Assistant Engaged22:23 Specific Praise Beats a Vague “Good Job”23:55 Midroll27:37 You Can Only Control Yourself29:34 The Eye-Roll Moment: Let Them, Let Me31:23 Off Days vs Patterns32:12 Appreciation, Gifting & Speaking Their Language35:32 Run the Relationship Like It Matters36:48 Friends With Your Assistant, or Keep Your Distance?39:08 A Best Friend at Work: The Engagement Link41:15 Advice for New Grads: Start With Time Management44:26 Teaching as a Tool: Show Your Working Out48:05 Wrap-Up & a Healthy Debate48:37 CPD Outro & the Protrusive Vault References & Further Reading: Sources and further reading from this episode: Chapman G. The Five Love Languages. Northfield Publishing, 1992. The five ways people give and receive appreciation — words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts, and physical touch — applied here to the dentist–assistant relationship. Robbins M, Robbins S. The Let Them Theory. Hay House, 2024. The “let them / let me” reframe for releasing what you can't control and owning your own response. Rath T. StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press, 2007. The CliftonStrengths assessment; “Learner” is one of its talent themes, referenced in the discussion of teaching as a way to engage your assistant. Gallup employee-engagement research. The Gallup Q12 engagement survey (including the validated “I have a best friend at work” item) and Gallup's State of the Global Workplace reports. Source of the workforce-engagement framing in this episode. Exact figures vary by year — see Reviewer Note. Want more? If you enjoyed this episode, check out: How to Find a Mentor in 5 Seconds Flat! – IC058.  #InterferenceCast #CareerDevelopment #Communication #BeyondDentistry Listen, Subscribe, Earn CPD: This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and B AGD Subject Code: 550 Practice Management and Human Relations Aim & Learning Outcomes: Aim: To help dental practitioners understand and strengthen the working relationship between dentist and dental assistant — recognising its impact on team engagement, patient experience and personal job satisfaction, and building practical habits to improve it. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Explain how the working relationship between a dentist and a dental assistant affects team engagement, the patient experience, and clinician wellbeing. Identify practical strategies for communicating appreciation and recognition in ways suited to the individual, and for involving an assistant according to their preferences. Apply self-management and emotional-regulation approaches to leading the surgery and responding constructively to interpersonal friction.

The most important part of your surgery isn't plugged in, mounted, or calibrated. It's the person standing beside you. Have you ever dreaded walking into a beautiful practice with lovely patients — purely because of who you share the surgery with? What do you actually do, in the moment, when your assistant rolls their eyes at a request for rubber dam? And should you be friends with your assistant at all — or does that cross a line you'll regret? This is an Interference Cast — a non-clinical but deeply practical episode — with Dr. Sarah Braun, a dentist in Australia and a fellow Protrusive Guidance member who DM'd to suggest this very topic. No course, no book, nothing to sell: just two clinicians comparing notes (and the odd scar) on the one relationship that quietly shapes your whole working life. It sits inside this month's theme of the relationships that support your career. https://youtu.be/OyztRyPpcHM Watch IC075 on YouTube What You'll Take From This Episode The full breakdown is in the Premium Notes; here's the shape of the thinking that runs through the episode: Engagement is the whole game — the assistant relationship sets the mood of the room, the patient's experience, and whether good people stay. Speak their language — appreciation only lands if it's delivered in the form that particular person actually values. Appreciation is a verb — specific, named praise lands far harder than a vague “good job.” Let them, let me — you don't control how someone reacts in the moment; you only control your response to it. Lead the room — dentistry is a performance, and the room takes its emotional cue from whoever is leading it. Highlights of this episode: 00:00 TEASER01:13 Why This One Relationship Can Make or Break You03:49 A Non-Clinical Interference Cast: What to Expect04:47 Meet the Guest: Nine Years In, City to Country07:01 A Week in Private Practice09:15 How Much Does the Dentist–Assistant Relationship Matter?11:01 Engagement at Work: The Gallup Lens12:30 People Remember How You Made Them Feel14:21 When the Relationship Turns Toxic15:23 The Power Imbalance You Might Not See18:11 The First-Day Conversation20:52 Keeping Your Assistant Engaged22:23 Specific Praise Beats a Vague “Good Job”23:55 Midroll27:37 You Can Only Control Yourself29:34 The Eye-Roll Moment: Let Them, Let Me31:23 Off Days vs Patterns32:12 Appreciation, Gifting & Speaking Their Language35:32 Run the Relationship Like It Matters36:48 Friends With Your Assistant, or Keep Your Distance?39:08 A Best Friend at Work: The Engagement Link41:15 Advice for New Grads: Start With Time Management44:26 Teaching as a Tool: Show Your Working Out48:05 Wrap-Up & a Healthy Debate48:37 CPD Outro & the Protrusive Vault References & Further Reading: Sources and further reading from this episode: Chapman G. The Five Love Languages. Northfield Publishing, 1992. The five ways people give and receive appreciation — words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts, and physical touch — applied here to the dentist–assistant relationship. Robbins M, Robbins S. The Let Them Theory. Hay House, 2024. The “let them / let me” reframe for releasing what you can't control and owning your own response. Rath T. StrengthsFinder 2.0. Gallup Press, 2007. The CliftonStrengths assessment; “Learner” is one of its talent themes, referenced in the discussion of teaching as a way to engage your assistant. Gallup employee-engagement research. The Gallup Q12 engagement survey (including the validated “I have a best friend at work” item) and Gallup's State of the Global Workplace reports. Source of the workforce-engagement framing in this episode. Exact figures vary by year — see Reviewer Note. Want more? If you enjoyed this episode, check out: How to Find a Mentor in 5 Seconds Flat! – IC058.  #InterferenceCast #CareerDevelopment #Communication #BeyondDentistry Listen, Subscribe, Earn CPD: This episode is eligible for 0.75 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance. This episode meets GDC Outcomes A and B AGD Subject Code: 550 Practice Management and Human Relations Aim & Learning Outcomes: Aim: To help dental practitioners understand and strengthen the working relationship between dentist and dental assistant — recognising its impact on team engagement, patient experience and personal job satisfaction, and building practical habits to improve it. Learning Outcomes — by the end of this episode, dentists will be able to: Explain how the working relationship between a dentist and a dental assistant affects team engagement, the patient experience, and clinician wellbeing. Identify practical strategies for communicating appreciation and recognition in ways suited to the individual, and for involving an assistant according to their preferences. Apply self-management and emotional-regulation approaches to leading the surgery and responding constructively to interpersonal friction.

On this week's episode of the Faculty Factory Podcast, Donna J. Adams, EdD, discusses the noticeable rise in learner concerns over the past five years. Now that we are more than half a decade removed from the peak of the pandemic, managing these issues has become a top priority. With UTMB in Galveston, Texas, Dr. Adams serves as Program Director, Translational Research Education, in the Institute for Translational Sciences Office of Educational Programs. We're excited to welcome Dr. Adams for her first appearance on the show as we explore how faculty leadership can actively step in and help address these challenges. "I always tell students you need to look long term. You need to think about what skills can I pick up now that could be transferable to a postdoc to get into where I really want to go? Sometimes you have to play the long game instead of the short game," Dr. Adams said. Learning about unexpected career paths, opening new doors, and playing the "long game" (since some of the skills you gain will stay with you throughout your career) are all explored in this episode through the lens of Dr. Adams's robust experience. Transferable skills, a sense of curiosity, and relationship building are also covered. As the discussion wraps up, Dr. Adams also addresses getting comfortable with change, one of the few constants in academia, and why providing psychological safety is essential.

This week's episode dives into one of the most powerful tools for motivating and engaging neurodivergent learners: project-based learning—but not the Pinterest-perfect kind! The conversation focused on how project-based approaches can be tailored specifically for kids with asynchronous development, executive function challenges, creative passions, and unique learning needs. Key Takeaways Projects should have visible finish lines and clear scopes—defining what "done" looks like helps neurodivergent learners experience success and confidence. Flexible timelines and checkpoints—rather than setting large, rigid deadlines, breaking projects into small chunks helps maintain motivation and accommodate fluctuating energy levels. Documentation can be creative—photos, voice notes, and video walkthroughs can serve as evidence of learning, supporting reflection without interrupting the learning process.   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 Project Based Learning And Your Gifted Child: A Guide For Parents RLL #101: Project-Based Learning with Cindy West When Passions Turn Into Pathways | Rethinking Motivation and Learning for Neurodivergent Kids Interest-Led Homeschooling and Your Gifted Child Embracing Interest-Led Homeschooling with Lydia Rosado Homeschooling High School With Interest-Led Learning Interest-Led Learning In The Early Years: Preschool and Beyond Interest Led Homeschooling: Helping Your Child Find Their Interests Homeschooling Your Gifted Child With Interest-Led Learning Homeschooling Middle School Using Your Own Interest-Based Curriculum What's The Difference Between Interest-Led and Strength Based Learning? RLL 12: What About Relaxed and Interest-Led Homeschooling for Gifted Kids? | A Listener Question RLL 02 Caitlin Curley: Diving Down Rabbit Holes and Following Kids' Interests Creating Your Own Interest-Based Middle School Curriculum Why LEGO STEM Challenges Belong in Your Homeschool – Especially If You're Raising Neurodivergent Kids Beating Boredom Without Busy Work: Motivating Neurodivergent Learners at Home  

Running a successful business doesn't automatically translate into success at home. In fact, many ambitious entrepreneurs and high performers slowly drift away from the people they care about most without even realizing it. And by the time they realize their ambition has come at the expense of their family, the resentment that's been building can take years to heal.That's why I'm excited to introduce you to my friend Jeff Zaugg. Jeff is the founder of DadAwesome and host of the DadAwesome podcast, and has spent the last eight years helping fathers become more intentional leaders at home while raising four daughters of his own.Through conversations, live events, and his new book DadAwesome, Jeff has become a powerful voice for dads who want to build deeper relationships, stronger families, and a meaningful legacy that extends far beyond financial success.In this conversation, Jeff and I unpack the hidden “riptides” that pull high-performing fathers away from connection, presence, and intentional living. We discuss why so many driven men default to prioritizing business over relationships, how to create family values that last for generations, and the practical habits that help ambitious parents stay emotionally connected while still pursuing big goals.In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How Justin's wake-up call after coming home late and seeing his wife crying on the porch revealed the hidden cost of always saying yes to more business events and opportunities.✅ How Jeff's framework of “Loved, Learner, Leader” can help shape your family culture and legacy for generations.✅ Jeff's simple system to create intentional conversations that can help you become more emotionally present as a husband and father.Show Notes: LifestyleInvestor.com/293Tax Strategy MasterclassIf you're interested in learning more about Tax Strategy and how YOU can apply 28 of the best, most effective strategies right away, check out our BRAND NEW Tax Strategy Masterclass: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/taxStrategy Session For a limited time, my team is hosting free, personalized consultation calls to learn more about your goals and determine which of our courses or masterminds will get you to the next level. To book your free session, visit LifestyleInvestor.com/consultationThe Lifestyle Investor InsiderJoin The Lifestyle Investor Insider, our brand new AI - curated newsletter - FREE for all podcast listeners for a limited time: www.lifestyleinvestor.com/insiderRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed today's episode of The Lifestyle Investor, hit the subscribe button on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen, so future episodes are automatically downloaded directly to your device. You can also help by providing an honest rating & review.Connect with Justin DonaldFacebookYouTubeInstagramLinkedInTwitterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From Evidence to Action: Incorporating Disability Inclusion in Medical Training and Practice (ICAM 2026) Session Description The ICAM Series | Recorded Live at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) What does it take to move disability inclusion from research and policy into everyday medical training and practice? Recorded live at the International Congress on Academic Medicine (ICAM) in Ottawa, Canada, this special episode of the Docs With Disabilities Podcast brings together an extraordinary panel of physician leaders, educators, and advocates working to transform disability inclusion across undergraduate medical education, residency training, and clinical practice. Together, the panel explores how institutions can move beyond awareness and compliance toward meaningful, sustainable change. Drawing from scholarship, systems leadership, and lived experience, they discuss the realities of accommodation implementation, the importance of centralized and trusted systems, faculty training, universal design, and the role of culture in shaping whether disability inclusion succeeds or stalls. This conversation asks difficult—but necessary—questions: How do we create systems that are consistent and humane? How do we support learners and physicians across transitions and career stages? And how do we build medical environments where disability is expected, planned for, and valued? Rich with practical insight and grounded in real-world experience, this live ICAM session highlights a field at an important turning point—one where we increasingly have the evidence, the tools, and the responsibility to act. Whether you are a learner, educator, physician, administrator, or institutional leader, this episode offers concrete ideas and inspiration for advancing disability inclusion within your own environment. Keywords: UGME, PGME, Disability, Learner, Trainee, Medical Education, Policies, Processes, Ableism, Culture, ICAM, AFMC, Docs With Disabilities. Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18hNrBcylnDfSuT6hJB-RwFMpIBVzEPY21Qf4y0mU0WY/edit?usp=sharing Co-Moderators Lisa Meeks, PhD, MA  Dr. Meeks is a Professor of Medical Education at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago, IL and holds an appt as an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine in Ann Arbor, MI. She is the founder of the Docs with Disabilities Initiative and host of the DWDI Podcast. Lynn Ashdown, MD, MMEd   Lynn Ashdown is a patient experience expert who advocates for patients to be included as stakeholders in all levels of healthcare. She has a medical degree, and was close to finishing her residency in family medicine when she began, and continues to navigate, a complex journey as a full-time patient. She has a masters degree in medical education, and presents, participates in research, and is a senior patient partner consulting with various organizations like the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada. She's involved in curriculum reform focusing on patient partnerships and is a disability educator within medicine. Lynn is a disability advocate, drawing from her experiences as a patient and person living with multiple disabilities. She's a board member of the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities and is involved with policy and legislative changes to combat ableism and inequities for people living with disabilities. She co-authored Canada's first position statement on the importance of disability inclusion in medical education, and received the 2024 CMA Dr. Ashok Muzumdar Memorial Award for Physicians with Disabilities. Pam Liao, MD, MEd, FRCPC Dr. Liao is the Inaugural Interim Associate Dean Accessibility and Disability Health at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine. Here, she previously served as the Disability Health Lead and Special Advisor to the Dean at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine. In her work, she leads efforts to embed critical disability perspectives and anti-ableist practices into medical education. Drawing from her personal experience navigating medical training with a disability, she has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in medicine. Her work includes groundbreaking research—such as the first analysis of accommodations policies in Canadian undergraduate medical programs—and advocacy efforts like the widely recognized "#docswithdisabilities" social media campaign, which brings attention to the underrepresentation of disabled individuals in healthcare and drives meaningful change. She advocated for the establishment of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Disability Inclusion Network and currently serves as its inaugural Co-Chair. Her advocacy earned her a place on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Physicians with Disabilities, where she continues to serve. Dr. Liao earned her medical degree from the University of British Columbia and completed her residency in Family and Community Medicine and a fellowship in Palliative Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto and practices clinically in long-term care and rehabilitation settings. Her contributions have been recognized with several honors, including the OMA Section of Palliative Medicine – Award of Excellence. Jill Rudkowski, MD, FRCPC  Dr. Jill Rudkowski is an Associate Professor of Medicine in Department of Medicine (Critical Care) at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  She has practised as a critical care physician for over 20 years and is an educator, researcher, and educational leader.  She obtained her MD from the University of Calgary. She trained in Internal Medicine, Respirology, and Critical Care at McGill University after which she completed a Post-doctoral Fellowship with Dr. Barrett Rollins at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University. She served as Head of Service for the Medical Stepdown Unit and then the Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton for over 10 years.  Dr. Rudkowski has been involved as a co-investigator on numerous patient-focused clinical studies, and these collaborations focus on improving outcomes for survivors of critical illness and the impact on their caregivers. She has designed and delivered curriculum through sessions and workshops on the concept of team compassion in critical care and its role in effective communication.      Dr. Rudkowski has held several educational leadership roles within the McMaster University DeGroote School of Medicine including the Chair of Clerkship and the Director of Student Advising. She is currently the Postgraduate Medicine (PGME) Accommodation Advisor within Resident Affairs and the PGME Resident Assessment Faculty Lead. Dr. Rudkowski has been involved in writing and implementing policy and guidelines around accessing accommodations as well as designing and delivering curriculum aimed at faculty, learners, and administrators through virtual and in person sessions and workshops. Dr. Rudkowski has had the privilege of collaborating nationally and internationally around disability policy in medical education.  She was a member of the Disability Policy Toolkit Committee, Multimedia Resource Hub for Disability Inclusion in Graduate Medical Education on "Learn at ACGME" supported by the 2024 Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation Catalyst Award for Transformation in Graduate Medical Education.  Dr. Rudkowski is currently a member of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Disability Inclusion and Accessibility Network.  She lives with a chronic disability and is passionate about ensuring that all medical learners and practitioners with disability experience belonging and accessibility in the clinical learning and practice environments.   Camille Munro MD CCFP (PC) Dr. Camille Munro is a palliative medicine physician in the Department of Medicine at the Ottawa Hospital and an Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa. Originally from Chester, Nova Scotia, she received her Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in 1991 and completed her rotating internship at Royal Columbian Hospital, University of British Columbia. After practicing family medicine in Ottawa for 18 years while raising her children, she returned to the academic setting, driven by a longstanding commitment to compassionate, whole patient-centred care for those facing a serious illness.  In 2018, Dr. Munro was appointed Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine where she led initiatives to foster a more inclusive and equitable academic and clinical environment. Her work included the development and implementation of the first formal accommodations policy for physicians with disabilities at a Canadian academic hospital. She remains a strong advocate for physicians with disabilities and for creating environments free from discrimination and inequity. Here work is grounded in compassion, advocacy, and representation; values she brings to her clinical care, teaching, mentorship and leadership. In recognition of her contributions, she received the 2022 Faculty Member Award of Excellence for Leadership in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine.  Samantha Lavitt, MD Dr. Samantha Lavitt (she/her) is the first Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Curricular Lead in undergraduate medical education at the University of Ottawa, which sits on the traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin people. In this role, she designs educational content including topics such as gender equity, sexual orientation and gender diversity, language rights, and disability, integrating these topics throughout the clinical curriculum in a format that connects students with community teachers with lived experience. Trained as a family physician and dedicated to resilience through sustainable practice development, Dr. Lavitt also offers coaching and peer support to family physicians on advocacy, disability, and well-being through the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP). She established the first peer support group for physicians with chronic illness and/or disabilities at the OCFP in 2024 and continues to co-lead this group monthly.  While she finds working with individual physicians and small groups deeply rewarding, this intervention is not enough to dismantle the system of barriers that disabled physicians face in our medical culture, so Dr. Lavitt brings her professional and lived experience as a disabled physician to advocacy initiatives at her academic institution, provincial, and national levels with involvement in peer support projects, webinars, and conference appearances. Produced by: Dr. Lisa Meeks.  Audio editor: Next Day Podcast Digital Media: Lisa Meeks Resources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EXw4F1pt5J-O6Y0k-WksDC71RCA6aTFSCOkz-lqJiyc/edit?usp=sharing  

Have you ever watched your child melt down before a project even begins, refuse to try unless they're sure they'll succeed, or abandon something halfway through? If so, you're not alone—and it's not laziness or stubbornness. This week on the podcast, we're unpacking the hidden side of perfectionism in our neurodivergent kids, especially when it shows up as avoidance.   Key Takeaways Normalize Beginnerhood: Let your child see you start new things and make mistakes—show them it's okay not to be perfect right away. Shrink the Entry Point: Break projects into tiny, manageable steps so getting started feels less intimidating. Praise Effort, Not Perfection: Celebrate risk-taking, persistence, and trying—mistakes are experiences, not identity. Model Emotional Safety: Remind your child that progress matters, mistakes are allowed, and their worth isn't tied to performance. Collaborate & Scaffold: Offer body-doubling, share in tasks, and provide extra support when needed—support is not failure.   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 Tackling Perfectionism | A Conversation with Lisa Van Gemert Managing Perfectionism | Strategies for Parents Anxiety vs. Stress vs. Perfectionism: Helping Our Children Cope Perfectionism And Gifted Children: What You Need To Know Managing Perfectionism: 10 Tips for Helping Your Gifted Child RLL #81: [Audioblog] Managing Perfectionism: 10 Tips for Helping Your Child RLL #55: Helping Your Child Manage Perfectionism RLL #52: Overcoming Perfectionism and Finding Joy in Homeschooling Homeschool Testing | Helping Your Perfectionist Do Hard Things  

Most of us think of questions as something we ask other people. Dr. Marilee Adams has spent years showing the opposite: the most consequential questions we ask are the ones we ask ourselves. Adams, founder of the Inquiry Institute and author of the half-million-copy bestseller Change Your Questions, Change Your Life, (a new 5th edition has just been published) joins us to make us smarter about our internal questioning. She introduces us to two mindsets that live inside all of us  — Judger and Learner — and the Choice Map™ that helps you notice which one is driving the bus. The conversation takes her work directly into the world of retirement, where Judger questions (What do I regret?, What do I resent?) can quietly shape our moods, relationships, and the texture of later life. But Learner questions (What would be meaningful next?, What does my heart want me to do?, What can I contribute?) open up possibilities for a different future. Along the way, Adams explains the physiology underpinning the two mindsets, and a single powerful question: Who do I choose to be in this moment? that she returns to again and again. She also introduces us to the five-to-seven-second “Stop, Breathe, Be” practice that can shift your nervous system anytime (from The 5 Resets: Rewire Your Brain and Body for Less Stress and More Resilience by Aditi Nerurkar, MD). If you’re thinking about designing the non-financial side of your next chapter, or looking to enhance your life in retirement, this is an episode worth re-listening to with a notebook in hand. _________________________ For More on Marilee Adams, PhD Change Your Questions, Change Your Life, 5th Edition Take the Survey & Download The Choice Map™ The Inquiry Institute __________________________ Bio  Dr. Marilee Adams is an award-winning author, executive coach, and leadership consultant whose work has shaped how leaders think, communicate, and make decisions for more than four decades. She is Founder and CEO of the Inquiry Institute, a leadership development and organizational consulting firm dedicated to building inquiry-based cultures that accelerate results and deepen engagement. Its executive coaching, training, keynotes, and eLearning programs — all grounded in Question Thinking™ — are used by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, healthcare systems, and universities worldwide. Her book Change Your Questions, Change Your Life has sold more than half a million copies worldwide and been translated into 26 languages. Now in its 5th edition, it remains one of the most enduring frameworks for mindset shift, leadership development, and human performance — and its newest edition addresses one of the defining challenges of our moment: how to lead and think with wisdom, curiosity, and connection in an age of artificial intelligence. At the heart of Dr. Adams’ work is a deceptively simple insight: the questions we ask — of ourselves and others — shape everything. They determine the quality of our thinking, our relationships, our decisions, and our cultures. In a world increasingly mediated by technology, the human capacity for inquiry is not just a leadership skill. It’s a competitive advantage — and an essential one. Dr. Adams has coached senior leaders and advised organizations internationally and is a recognized pioneer in inquiry-based coaching and organizational transformation. She speaks and teaches worldwide, helping leaders use Question Thinking™ everywhere it matters most. __________________________ Wise Quotes On the Two Mindsets “We’re always asking ourselves questions that affect our moods, that help with our decisions, and also make a difference in whether we have a positive quality mindset or the opposite. All of us human beings have two mindsets. We always will have them — which means they are normal…The more we accept our Judger, the more acceptance and forgiveness and empathy come online. That helps you open your heart to yourself and to others.” On Questions  “Typical Judger questions in later life are: How can I just fill up my time? What would keep me from being bored? What do I regret or resent about the past? Learner questions sound different: What would be meaningful and satisfying for me going forward? What does my heart want me to do next? What can I contribute? What would be fulfilling? People who are more in Learner mindset literally live longer and have better quality lives. People who are past-oriented, regretful, resentful, live not as long and not as fulfilling. On Retirement “When you think about retirement, what’s exciting is to be open to the future and not get stuck in the past. Now you’re talking about creating a future that is intentional, and fulfilling, and healing.” _________________________ Retirement Podcast Conversations You’ll Also Love The Second Fifty – Debra Whitman Thinking Better to Live Better – Dr. Woo-kyoung Ahn The Mindful Body – Ellen Langer ________________________ About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You'll get smarter about the investment decisions you'll make about the most important asset you'll have in retirement: your time. About Retirement Wisdom I help people who are retiring, but aren't quite done yet, discover what's next and build their custom version of their next life. A meaningful retirement doesn't just happen by accident. Schedule a call today to discuss how the Designing Your Life process created by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans can help you make your life in retirement a great one — on your own terms. About Your Podcast Host Joe Casey is an executive coach who helps people design their next life after their primary career and create their version of The Multipurpose Retirement.™ He created his own next chapter after a 26-year career at Merrill Lynch, where he was Senior Vice President and Head of HR for Global Markets & Investment Banking. Joe has earned Master's degrees from the University of Southern California in Gerontology (at age 60), the University of Pennsylvania, and Middlesex University (UK), a BA in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and his coaching certification from Columbia University. In addition to his work with clients, Joe hosts The Retirement Wisdom Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally in popularity by Listen Notes, with over 2 million downloads. Business Insider recognized Joe as one of 23 innovative coaches who are making a difference. He's the author of Win the Retirement Game: How to Outsmart the 9 Forces Trying to Steal Your Joy.    

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