

Cultivating Excellence Podcast
Dr. Rebecca Resnik
Cultivating Excellence is the podcast for professional parents who are passionate about their children's education, success, and happiness. Your host, Dr. Rebecca Resnik, Licensed Psychologist, brings you some of the 'best and brightest' experts from psychology and education for lively conversations about raising kids in an age that is increasingly complex and competitive.
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Dec 17, 2025 • 57min
EP 28: Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
Steve's books on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/s?k=steven+feifer+books&hvadid=776839258289&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9007767&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=8788978197982880536--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8788978197982880536&hvtargid=kwd-1651058349565&hydadcr=2289_13793056&mcid=db2df93a69713d45a2b559c10525e614&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_7s4l19r0od_eContinuing education courses by Steve https://partalks.parinc.com/b/sp/steven-feifer-20Great things we mentioned:The International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/Learning Disabilities Association https://ldaamerica.org/Henry Winkler talks dyslexia and about his children's book series https://www.readingrockets.org/people-and-organizations/henry-winkler https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/henry-winkler-interview-2023/Decoding Dyslexia's guide to Starting a Grassroots Movement for universal dyslexia screenings chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.decodingdyslexia.net/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Guide-to-Start-Grassroots-Movement-for-Dyslexia.pdfThe Lab School https://www.labschool.org/The Siena School https://www.thesienaschool.org/Landmark College https://www.landmark.edu/

Dec 3, 2025 • 46min
EP 27: Mindset Matters - How to Train the Mental Game
In this engaging discussion, Alex Berthé, a psychotherapist and sports psychology specialist, shares invaluable insights for young athletes. He highlights the crucial role of consistency and mindful reflection in sports performance. Alex emphasizes the importance of teaching resilience and how parents can foster a supportive environment. He introduces the Locker Ready app, designed to mentally prepare athletes for training and competition, while stressing the need for kids to embrace discomfort and learn from setbacks.

Nov 19, 2025 • 1h
EP 26: The insider's guide to college accommodations
Elizabeth's book, Seven Steps to Success: A Pathway for College Students with Disabilities https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Steps-College-Success-Disabilities/dp/1475864442Elizabeth's website, chock full of webinars, articles and videos https://ldadvisory.com/The Learning Disability of America's definition of learning disabilities (and why it is important not to say learning differences when you're seeking accommodations!) https://ldaamerica.org/advocacy/lda-position-papers/what-are-learning-disabilities/The K and W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Differences https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/college-college-prep/books/kw-guide-colleges-students-learning-differences

Nov 5, 2025 • 46min
EP 25 : Understanding and celebrating neurodiversity
Nicola Rose, writer and director of the film *Magnetosphere*, discusses her inspiring journey in portraying neurodiversity through a young girl's discovery of synesthesia. She shares insights on the unique manifestation of synesthesia and the authentic representation of neurodivergent characters, drawing from her own research and creative process. Nicola highlights the film's aim to reach audiences who feel different, emphasizing the importance of representation for neurodivergent youth and the emotional impact of seeing relatable stories on screen.

Oct 29, 2025 • 47min
EP 24: How Bright Students With Learning Differences Can Truly Flourish
In this engaging discussion, Barry Davis, Head of the McLean School of Maryland, and Cathy Patterson, Director of Enrollment, explore the power of a strengths-based education for bright students with learning differences. They highlight the importance of small class sizes and strong teacher-student relationships that foster confidence. The guests discuss evidence-based literacy approaches and mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety. Enrichment in arts and sports, along with a supportive school culture, are emphasized as key factors in unlocking student potential.

Oct 22, 2025 • 50min
EP 23: Parenting 'Big Reactors' with Loving Limits
Claire's Website https://www.lernerchilddevelopment.com/Follow Claire's blog: A library of over 130 articles that address the range of challenging behaviors—relevant to kids birth to 10 years. https://www.lernerchilddevelopment.com/mainblogLCD Newsletter: Free bi-monthly email that includes my most current blog and links to additional resources. This is the best way to keep abreast of Claire's content. https://www.lernerchilddevelopment.com/lcd-membershipClaire's Upcoming Book: Big Reactors: Practical Strategies for Supporting Highly Sensitive Children (available for preorder; pub date- 10/2/2025) and her first book: Why Is My Child In Charge? A Roadmap to End Power Struggles and Increase Cooperation.Follow Claire on Instagram for tips and encouragement! https://www.instagram.com/lernerchilddevelopment/?hl=en

Oct 15, 2025 • 14min
EP 22: Private School Admissions Testing: Tips from a Psychologist
Explore the urgency behind private school admissions and the importance of testing timelines. Learn about different testing options and how to choose the right one for your child. Dr. Resnik discusses the distinction between school-administered tests and those given by psychologists. Discover essential tips for creating a supportive test environment and the ethics of test preparation. She also emphasizes the need for clarity on school-specific test requirements and reassures families about opportunities that can arise even after initial admissions decisions.

4 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 43min
EP 21: College Admissions Mythbusting
Lee Norwood, founder of Annapolis College Consulting, shares his wealth of college admissions expertise. He myth-busts common misconceptions like the importance of authenticity in major declarations. Lee emphasizes rigor over GPA gaming and the necessity of compelling storytelling in essays. He advocates for genuine extracurricular involvement rather than chasing trends. Discussing the Varsity Blues scandal, he highlights its negative effects. Finally, he advises on the risks of applying to too many schools and the importance of aligning college choices with long-term goals.

Sep 24, 2025 • 50min
EP 20: Parent Like a Coach
● Website: https://www.launchpadforlife.org/● LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janesingleton/● Instagram: @launchpadforlife● TikTok: @launchpadforlife

Sep 10, 2025 • 47min
EP 19: Finding Your Dream School
Jeff Selingo's website, https://jeffselingo.com/, is full of resources for parents and professionals alike https://jeffselingo.com/resources as well as a page to sign up for his Next newsletter https://jeffselingo.com/next-newsletterBe sure to get a copy of Jeff's new book, Dream School: Finding the College that's Right for You https://www.amazon.com/dp/1668056208/?bestFormat=true&k=dream%20school%20jeff%20selingo&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_17_de&crid=16TQ9SC9PY55D&sprefix=dream%20school%20jeffAnd I highly recommend his 2020 best seller, Who Gets in and Why: A Year Inside College Admissionshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z43V2RY/?bestFormat=true&k=who%20gets%20in%20and%20why%20a%20year%20inside%20college%20admissions&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd-bk-d_k0_1_16_de&crid=1826NP62BTFVB&sprefix=who%20gets%20in%20and%20


