Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function

Send us a textVincent van Gogh once wrote, “If I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it – keep going, keep going come what may.” Of course, this kind of striving and searching van Gogh is referring to is likely to guarantee one thing and that one thing is – encountering unsurmountable challenges. Sometimes we don’t even go looking, but still face unsurmountable challenges like right now, during this pandemic. Everyone can benefit from successful ways to cope with and rise above challenges. Group of peoples together can handle challenging and extraordinary times.On this episode, our host Sucheta Kamath, talks about one such particular group – families! She answers questions such as, how do families ride the wave of crisis, challenges and come to the other side with integrity and resilience? Tune in today to discover the characteristics of a resilient family unit which survives and emerges safe, sane, and even skilled.About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textChildren are an enigma! Full of surprises and full of promise. However, one can be easily baffled when their boisterous high energy turns into an unmanageable rambunctiousness disrupting the household and relationships. Until recently, it was unconceivable for kids to have a mental disorder which made it hard to navigate the impact of various conditions on overall behaviors; particularly, maladaptive dysregulation.On this episode, our guest, developmental and behavioral pediatrician and author, Dr. Raun D. Melmed, discusses the overlap and distinctions between the two most common and co-occurring developmental disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Every child deserves the experts to use their discerning eye to evaluate critical factors in the child’s history and then arrive at the right diagnosis to formulate a plan that is likely to work.About Dr. Raun MelmedRaun D. Melmed, MD, FAAP, developmental and behavioral pediatrician, is director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and co-founder and medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center in Phoenix. He is Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arizona and on faculty at Arizona State University.Dr. Melmed is an investigator of novel therapeutic agents in the treatment of autism, Fragile X, Angelman’s disorder and ADHD and collaborates on studies of tools used in the early diagnosis of developmental disorders.He is the author of Autism: Early Intervention; Autism and the Extended Family; and the ST4 Mindfulness Book for Kids series including Marvin’s Monster Diary – ADHD Attacks, Timmy’s Monster Diary: Screen Time Attacks!, Harriet’s Monster Diary – Awfully Anxious, Marvin’s Monster Diary 2 (+ Lyssa): ADHD Emotion Explosion (But I Triumph, Big Time), and soon to be released, Marvin’s Monster Diary 3: Trouble with Friends (But I Get By, Big Time!). )Website:www.MelmedCenter.comBooks:Autism: Early InterventionAutism and the Extended FamilyST4 Mindfulness Book for Kids series includingMarvin’s Monster Diary – ADHD AttacksTimmy’s Monster Diary: Screen Time Attacks!Harriet’s Monster Diary – Awfully AnxiousMarvin’s Monster Diary 2 (+ Lyssa): ADHD Emotion Explosion (But I Triumph, Big Time)Marvin’s Monster Diary 3: Trouble with Friends (But I Get By, Big Time!)About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategicSupport the show

Send us a textThe struggles of kids with ADHD are unmistakably unique and undoubtedly complex, but their lack of mental readiness to accept help is equally confusing. Nothing is more discouraging or draining for educators and parents than kids who resist direction instead of leaning into the help they receive. Since disrupted executive function in ADHD kids often interferes with their ability to accomplish tasks and manage personal success, their transition into young adulthood does not resemble that of the pre-teens and teens without ADHD and hence they need the help to work for them.On this episode, Margaret Sibley, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and a licensed clinical psychologist, shares her insights into the motivational and executive function difficulties in adolescents and young adults with ADHD. She discusses how best to develop both the skills to manage ADHD symptoms and the skills essential for transitioning into young adulthood.About Professor Margaret Sibley, Ph.D.Margaret Sibley is a licensed clinical psychologist and researcher on executive function and motivation difficulties in adolescents and young adults. She directs programs of research in Miami (Florida International University) and Seattle (Seattle Children’s Hospital). Dr. Sibley is the author of Parent-Teen Therapy for Executive Function Deficits and ADHD: Building Skills and Motivation. She has published over 75 scientific articles on ADHD and related disorders. Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Education, and the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation. Dr. Sibley is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and an expert on parent-teen collaborative and peer-delivered treatments for adolescents with ADHD.Website:www.margaretsibley.comBook:Parent-Teen Therapy for Executive Function Deficits and ADHD: Building Skills and MotivationAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textThe brain’s prefrontal cortex is often described as the “work in progress” intimating that there exists a continuum of neural development shaped by an interplay between biology and behavior; each influencing the other. Naturally, Executive Function, a set of skills controlled by the prefrontal cortex, emerges slowly allowing humans to form future goals and gain independence in order to become more and more self-possessed. Based on the past few decades of research, educational and cognitive scientists have confirmed that every aspect of modern life requires strong executive function including daily planning, workplace productivity, ability to make and keep friends, marital harmony, abiding by law, and warding of social and legal troubles. This understanding has created an urgency to address the disruptions in executive function as they interfere with students succeeding in school, employees at work, and individuals in their social circle.On this episode, cognitive neuroscientist, Professor Adele Diamond, discusses how inhibition, self-control, mental flexibility, and many other Executive Function skills are valuable for everyday success. Her work suggests that “if we want children to do well in school and in life, we need to help them develop healthy executive functions.”About Professor Adele Diamond, PhD, FRSC, FAPA, FAPSAdele Diamond is the Canada Research Chair Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at UBC in Vancouver.  She was educated at Swarthmore, Harvard, and Yale. Her specialty is “executive functions” (e.g., self-control, problem-solving, mentally playing with ideas, flexibly adjust to change, thinking outside the box) which depend on the brain’s prefrontal cortex and interrelated neural regions.  Her work has emphasized that executive functions can be improved even in the very young and very old, and anywhere in-between.  Dr. Diamond’s work on the unusual properties of the dopamine system in prefrontal cortex have improved medical treatment for ADHD and PKU, improving millions of children’s lives.Dr. Diamond offers a markedly different perspective from mainstream education in hypothesizing that focusing exclusively on training cognitive skills is less efficient, and ultimately less successful, than also addressing emotional, social, spiritual, and physical needs. Dr. Diamond also offers a perspective markedly different from traditional medical practice in hypothesizing that treating physical health, without also addressing social and emotional health is less efficient or effective.Recently, Dr. Diamond has turned her attention to the possible roles of music, dance, storytelling, martial arts, sports, and play in improving executive functions and academic and mental health outcomes.Website:http://www.devcogneuro.com/AdeleDiamond.htmlAdditional Resources:TEDx Talk – Turning some ideas on their head About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textNothing about the COVID-19 pandemic is business as usual. In fact, the social and economic stressors are taking a toll on every single person’s sense of well-being. Those taking care of children and those in frail health have the added burden of creating a safe home environment while providing critical support with patience, compassion, and positivity; in spite of feeling the opposite. The good news is that decades of research has shown that while being in home confinement and socially distancing, those who will successfully figure out ways and forge a path towards anchored sanity are likely to bounce back like a skilled ninja.On this episode, guest Dr. Linda Graham, an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, shares her expertise about how the mind, body, emotions, heart, and spirit react to threats, losses, and rejections. She discusses how individuals, families, and communities can work together while building protective factors to react to the world of challenge with abundant resilience.About Linda Graham, MFTLinda Graham, MFT is an experienced psychotherapist and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She is the author of Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster, and Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being. Her weekly Resources for Recovering Resilience are archived at www.lindagraham-mft.net.Websites:www.lindagraham-mft.netBooks:Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even DisasterBouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-BeingHelpful Books:Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest ChallengesSelf-Compassion: the Proven Power of Being Kind to YourselfThe Body Keeps the ScoreAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textWhat do extinct dinosaurs, shrinking planet Mercury, pygmies from Africa, Mesopotamian pottery, Roman bath houses, and the COVID-19 virus have in common? These are topics that once children know about, can build their knowledge of the world and expand their world view. Considering that in modern America, education is the best hope in minimizing the effects of inequity, we are better off exposing children to expansive topics, stories, ideas, and concepts that can frame successfully their innate curiosity and build early childhood learning readiness.On this episode, Natalie Wexler, journalist and author of the book, The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It, shares why a comprehension problem in reality is a knowledge problem. Even though it’s well intended, she believes that the universal approach of focusing on comprehension to improve reading skills may fail to form essential knowledge. Her research emphasizes that the surprise benefit of a content rich curriculum is such that it provides an opportunity to all learners to discover something they didn’t know they were even interested in and shape them into engaged and self-driven students.About Natalie WexlerNatalie Wexler is the author of The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—and How to Fix It, and the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and other publications, and she is a senior contributor on education to Forbes.com.Websites:www.nataliewexler.comBooks:The Knowledge GapThe Writing RevolutionHelpful Articles:Elementary Education Has Gone Terribly WrongHow to Get Your Mind to ReadThe Achievement Gap Hasn’t Budged In 50 Years. Now What?About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textThere is a widespread acknowledgement that experts are made and not born and those who investigate how experts become experts that have studied the fields like surgery, computer programming, chess, ballet, music, or even firefighting agree that excellent training, deliberate practice, and exposure to masterful mentors are some key ingredients that seem to matter. So those who teach could benefit from the evidence that in order to put forth the best teaching teachers need to witness and interact with the best practitioners. That way, we might be able to rethink the concepts of the best students or the best classrooms by focusing on creating the best teacher experts.On this episode, co-founder, executive director, and language arts teacher, Kim Bearden from the Ron Clark Academy, will share ideas on inspired teaching and awesome student engagement. She will discuss teaching methods that bring the students’ desire to learn into focus and inspire them to work hard on their challenges.About Kim BeardenKim Bearden is the cofounder, executive director, and language arts teacher at the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy, an innovative middle school and educator-training facility in Atlanta. Over 62,000 educators from around the world have visited Kim’s classroom and have attended her workshops to learn better ways to promote success in their own schools.In 2016, Kim was honored at the White House by President Obama for being inducted into to the National Teachers Hall of Fame. She was selected from 70,000 nominations as the Disney American Teacher Awards Outstanding Humanities Teacher, and the Milken Family Foundation selected her for the Award for Excellence in Education. She is the winner of the InfluencHer Award, the UGA Outstanding Educator Award, and the Turknett Character Award for Servant Leadership. Mercedes-Benz recognized her in their Greatness Lives Here campaign, and Women Works Media Group has named her one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Women. Over the past thirty-three years, she has been a teacher, instructional lead teacher, curriculum director, school-board member, staff-development trainer, and middle-school principal. Kim is a bestselling author of two books. Her newest book is Talk to Me: Find the Right Words to Inspire, Encourage, and Get Things Done.Websites:KimBearden.comhttps://premierespeakers.com/kim_beardenRonClarkAcademy.comAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textThe classroom neurodiversity happens to pose a challenge to educators not because we have a surge in the neurodiverse student body but more likely that we have acquired newer insights into how to differentiate different learners. The question remains however, what do we know about ways in which to impart knowledge and teach skills needed for their future? Since Executive Function challenges are insidious in nature, it is often hard for educators to distinguish the motives behind “can’t do” over “won’t do” behaviors. The art of teaching comes down to adjusting expectations without offering a free pass or lowering accountability while supporting skill building.On today’s podcast, guest and head of the AIM Academy, Chris Herman, discusses how creating school-wide beliefs, principles, and approaches which include teaching and reinforcing growth in executive skills can promote strong outcomes for all students.About Chris Herman, M.EdChris Herman is Head of School at AIM Academy in Philadelphia where he has been for 14 years. There, he remains devoted to bringing school to life for children with learning differences every day. He is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and Long Island University. He is an adjunct professor of Education at St. Joseph’s University.Websites:http://www.aimpa.org/About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textAll parents want their children to grow up, be independent, and find happiness. Their conventional wisdom says, let me push my child to do well in school, work hard on stuff, and take part in various activities to “find” themselves. Because to a parent, the path to success has a formula “Education + Passion + Excellent Performance = Career” which equals to a life of bliss! And well-meaning parents want their children to find a career and then through that connect to their passion. But what if the formula runs into a glitch?On this episode, guest Clinical Neuropsychologist and co-author of The Self-Driven Child, William Stixrud, Ph.D., discusses effective psychological approaches that are likely help parents reset their “reality”, help teachers adjust their task specific support, and help learners understand and accept that reinventing one’s self is a lifelong process.About Dr. William StixrudWilliam R. Stixrud, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist and founder of The Stixrud Group, a lifespan neuropsychology practice. He is also a member of the Adjunct Faculty of the Children’s National Medical Center, and he holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the George Washington School of Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Stixrud is a frequent lecturer, and he has authored scientific articles on Transcendental Meditation and book chapters on meditation and the integration of the arts into education. Dr. Stixrud has been quoted often in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Times of London, Scientific American, Time.com, NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Barron’s, and Vogue.Dr. Stixrud holds a doctorate degree in School Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He did his training in neuropsychology at the Children’s Hospital of Boston (as a fellow of the Harvard Medical School) and Tufts New England Medical Center. Dr. Stixrud is also a rock and roll musician and plays in the band Close Enough.Websites:http://www.theselfdrivenchild.com/BooksThe Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their LivesAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show

Send us a textUncertainly, unceasing demands, and all around unrest can provoke the feelings of restlessness, a state of irritability, and intense worrying and general dissatisfaction. But clinically speaking, these feelings of being on the edge are the signs of anxiety and often when they exceed the threshold of bearability a sense of unending despair can follow.On today’s podcast, psychiatrist, author of the book “The Moment of Insight”, educator, and celebrated speaker, Dr. Suvrat Bhargave from the Center for Family Psychiatry, discusses the true nature of the “growing pains” of children for whom the world is a large mass of unknown. He says anxiety is within the range of human experience and human emotion and by cultivating inner awareness, one can bring about important and meaningful changes and remind children that “HOPE is the possibility of something good”.About Suvrat Bhargave, MDSuvrat Bhargave, M.D. is a renowned and respected educator, author, speaker, and board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. His uncanny ability to relate to a multi-demographic audience has allowed his practice to reach an unparalleled level of success based on empathy, education, and empowerment. His book, A Moment of Insight: Universal Lessons Learned from a Psychiatrist’s Couch, offers practical strategies and thought provoking narratives to not only understand and persevere through challenging dilemmas, but to see greater purpose during these times. He demonstrates this through poignant patient stories and personal accounts.Affectionately known for his “relatable expertise”, Dr. Bhargave is highly sought after to lecture locally and nationally on a broad range of topics pertaining to personal growth, effective parenting, relationship satisfaction, and mental health conditions. After completing his residency training and specialty fellowship from Duke University, Dr. B (as he is lovingly called by his patients) continued his practice in hospitals, community health, and private practice settings. Throughout the years, he has been most inspired by the impact his caring nature, education, and treatment have had on others to facilitate change and to experience fulfillment through gradual but dynamic moments of “insight and awareness”. A passionate advocate for healing and empowerment, Dr. B is compelled to bring a world of change to each person one moment at a time. To learn more about Dr. B and invite him to speak at your next event, visit.Websites:www.DrBhargave.comwww.AMomentOfInsight.comBooksA Moment of Insight : Universal Lessons Learned from a Psychiatrist’s CouchAbout Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated community leader, and the founder and CEO of ExQ®. As an EdTech entrepreneur, Sucheta has designed ExQ's personalized digital learning curriculum/tool that empowers middle and high school students to develop self-awareness and strategic thinking skills through the mastery of Executive Function and social-emotional competence.Support the show