Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function
Sucheta Kamath
Welcome to the podcast, Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function hosted by Sucheta Kamath. Executive Function is a core set of cognitive skills that allow humans to focus attention, block out distractions, plan ahead, stay engaged, temper emotions, and think flexibly while creatively solving problems to fulfill personal and social goals. The prefrontal cortex region of the brain, which governs Executive Function, is often compared to an air traffic control system at a busy airport. Much like an air traffic controller guides planes on different flight paths in the direction that each needs to go, the prefrontal cortex intercepts thoughts and impulses in order to direct them towards situationally appropriate and productive outcomes that serve the need of the future self. Significant research in the field suggests that developing strong Executive Function is critical for school-aged children and remains one of the most reliable predictors of overall success, shown to have profound life-long implications beyond the formal years of learning. On this podcast, host Sucheta Kamath will converse with neuroscientists, social psychologists, learning experts, and thought leaders who will illustrate how Executive Function is inextricably linked with mental health, physical health, school readiness, job success, marital relationships, and much more. On the path of self-development, we all experience a constant struggle between trying to optimize our talent and effort while still facing difficulty in mobilizing the inner tools and strategies that can lead us in the right direction. Tune in to Full PreFrontal to figure out how best to manage your thoughts, habits, and attitudes to enhance your self-awareness and future thinking and to achieve your best self.Sucheta 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 a personalized digital learning curriculum/tool (ExQ®) 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. Outside of her business, Sucheta previously served as President of the Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association, where she started a free Social-Communication and Executive Function Training program for inner-city men afflicted with addiction and homelessness—a program she continues to oversee as a coach and a trainer today. She is also a long-time meditator and is currently working on her Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification. A firm believer in the “Pause, Reflect, and then Respond” philosophy, Sucheta hopes to spread the word on how every person can reach higher levels of self-awareness and achieve lasting growth of their Executive Function.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 28, 2017 • 34min
Ep. 10: Dr. Bonnie Singer - The Right Way to Write
Send us a textSince I read about Jeff Bezos’ email from June 9, 2004, I have concluded that my clients need my training to survive at Amazon!” Why?” you ask. Well, Bezos is demanding that his team use their Executive Function when making a pitch for a new idea. He wants everyone to move away from the simplistic bullet-point lists in PowerPoint presentations. Rather, he wants his employees to submit a 4-6 page "narrative" that he calls memos. Executive Function lets you orchestrate ideas into a complex sequence and then expand them into a cohesive form that we collectively call “impressive writing.” In her second podcast appearance, my guest, Dr. Bonnie Singer, who is an expert in this and also happens to be a brilliant fellow Speech-Language Pathologist, will talk about teaching writing. Please give it a listen and share with all the parents you know.* This is Bonnie’s second podcast episode that discusses important techniques to improve the writing process with the lens of Executive Function.About Bonnie Singer, Ph.D.Bonnie Singer, Ph.D. is the Founder/CEO of Architects For Learning, where she trains educators and consults with schools world-wide and she directs a staff in the Boston area that provides academic intervention, assessment, and consultation services. With expertise in language, literacy, and learning, she is passionate about working with students who struggle academically, especially with written expression. In her 30 years of clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist, she has worked with students of all ages, developing practical approaches to instruction that foster the development of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and executive function skills. In partnership with Dr. Anthony Bashir, she developed EmPOWER™, a method for teaching expository writing, and Brain Frames®, graphic scaffolds for language, literacy, teaching, and learning. Her research and publications focus on the relationship between spoken and written language, cognition, spatial processing, and self-regulated learning.WebsiteArchitectsForLearning.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
Aug 25, 2017 • 39min
Ep. 9: ExFiles - My Career
Send us a textWe love stories because they change our perspective. They give us a window into the lives of many through which we get to witness extraordinary evidence of human resilience. Noam Chomsky once said, “It is quite possible, overwhelmingly probable, one might guess – that we will always learn more about human life and personality from novels than from scientific psychology”. What do novels do after all? They tell stories of people. They unlock our imagination to help us see that people’s narratives are strangely similar to ours or uniquely different from anyone we know. Introducing the Special Edition of my Podcast, Full PreFrontal, I am calling “ExFiles: Stories That Matter”. Come along with me and listen to the first episode as one of my clients, Lynn Seaward, shares the true challenges of Executive Function and how she has managed to rise above it!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
Aug 21, 2017 • 37min
Ep. 8: Dr. Bonnie Singer - Write to Finish!
Send us a text“For sale. Baby Shoes. Never worn.” These 6 words capture your attention, hook your emotions, and unleash your imagination. Apparently, legend has it that during an afternoon lunch with friends, Hemingway bet that he could write the shortest novel in six words. And he did. Whether Hemingway really wrote that or not, the hardest thing you’ll ever learn to do is write! As a successful author, Hemingway certainly had all the support he needed from his brain’s air-traffic controller, his Executive Function. Join me in listening to expert, Dr. Bonnie Singer, present a compelling perspective on writing as the highest form of Executive Function proficiency.About Bonnie Singer, Ph.D.Bonnie Singer, Ph.D. is the Founder/CEO of Architects For Learning, where she trains educators and consults with schools world-wide and she directs a staff in the Boston area that provides academic intervention, assessment, and consultation services. With expertise in language, literacy, and learning, she is passionate about working with students who struggle academically, especially with written expression. In her 30 years of clinical practice as a speech-language pathologist, she has worked with students of all ages, developing practical approaches to instruction that foster the development of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and executive function skills. In partnership with Dr. Anthony Bashir, she developed EmPOWER™, a method for teaching expository writing, and Brain Frames®, graphic scaffolds for language, literacy, teaching, and learning. Her research and publications focus on the relationship between spoken and written language, cognition, spatial processing, and self-regulated learning.WebsiteArchitectsForLearning.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
Aug 14, 2017 • 42min
Ep. 7: Nancy Beane - How to Prepare for College Success
Send us a textIt might be a little late in the game if you are just beginning to formulate a parenting strategy for your college-bound student so that they will communicate, collaborate, or reciprocate to parental guidance. Recently at a parent coffee meeting, a few folks came up to me to ask how ‘hands-on’ or ‘hands-free’ they should be with their high school kids. On this episode, my dear friend and esteemed colleague Nancy Beane will explain how the parenting work for “college-readiness” begins in high school or even in younger grades. She will discuss what students themselves can do to prepare themselves for the realities of a multifaceted college life where you and only you are in charge of your success.About Nancy BeaneNancy Beane grew up in Tennessee. She graduated with honors with a B.A. in History from Agnes Scott College, has an M.A.T. in History from UNC-Chapel Hill, and has an Ed.S. in Social Studies from Georgia State University. Counting her student teaching, she spent fifteen years in public schools at every grade level but eighth before moving to The Westminster Schools in 1989. There she taught history until 2015 and has done college counseling since 1992. Her fervent belief is that every person has the potential for a positive future, and she has always encouraged her students to take advantage of opportunities for growth and development while believing in themselves.She has been actively involved in various professional organizations and is currently the President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). She also served as President of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) from 2004 to 2005, was a member of the Board of Directors of NACAC from 2008-2011, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) from 2012-2015. She has been actively involved with College Board and the Georgia Independent Colleges Association. She is an Associate Member of the Georgia Independent Counselors Association (GSCA) and an Affiliate Member of ASCA.WebsiteNACACnet.orgAbout 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
Aug 7, 2017 • 36min
Ep. 6: Nancy Beane - The Starter Key to “Adulthood”
Send us a textAs parents, we pride ourselves on getting our teenagers ready to take off and succeed on their own. We have placed them into schools with a similar hope that they will leave prepared with skills to make good choices and to adjust to new challenges. But is thatenough? There is no disagreement among experts that it takes more than just raw talent to succeed in school, a job, or in life. So what does it take? On today’s podcast, my dear friend, esteemed colleague, and college counseling expert Nancy Beane will discuss the nature of the relationship between the ‘noncognitive factors,’ often referred to as soft skills, and college readiness. She believes that the key to a solid start to adulthood is well-developed Executive Function.About Nancy BeaneNancy Beane grew up in Tennessee. She graduated with honors with a B.A. in History from Agnes Scott College, has an M.A.T. in History from UNC-Chapel Hill, and has an Ed.S. in Social Studies from Georgia State University. Counting her student teaching, she spent fifteen years in public schools at every grade level but eighth before moving to The Westminster Schools in 1989. There she taught history until 2015 and has done college counseling since 1992. Her fervent belief is that every person has the potential for a positive future, and she has always encouraged her students to take advantage of opportunities for growth and development while believing in themselves.She has been actively involved in various professional organizations and is currently the President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). She also served as President of the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) from 2004 to 2005, was a member of the Board of Directors of NACAC from 2008-2011, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS) from 2012-2015. She has been actively involved with College Board and the Georgia Independent Colleges Association. She is an Associate Member of the Georgia Independent Counselors Association (GSCA) and an Affiliate Member of ASCA.WebsiteNACACnet.orgAbout 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
Jul 31, 2017 • 30min
Ep. 5: Peg Dawson, Ed.D. - Executive Function Skills Can Be Explicitly Taught
Send us a textIt’s hard to sympathize with a kid who never finishes his classwork on time, doesn't put away his toys without a reminder, or cannot seem to carryover that love and focus for video games into school work. Strong Executive Function skills are required to stay engaged, get organized, control impulsive actions, and rein in inappropriate emotional reactions. On this podcast, our guest Dr. Peg Dawson, co-author of “Smart but Scattered,” will share how these crucial ‘habits of mind’ can be taught explicitly.About Peg Dawson, Ed.D.Peg Dawson, Ed.D., received her doctorate in school/child clinical psychology from the University of Virginia. She worked as a school psychologist for 16 years in Maine and New Hampshire, and for over 25 years has worked at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she specializes in the assessment of children and adults with learning and attention disorders. Along with her colleague, Dr. Richard Guare, she has authored several books, including a book for professionals, Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention and two books for parents, Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens. Their book, Coaching Students with Executive Skills Deficits has been recently augmented with a planner (Work Smart Academic Planner). Their most recent book, The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success is written for adults. Dr. Dawson is a past president of both the National Association of School Psychologists and the International School Psychology Association. She is also the 2006 recipient of NASP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2010 recipient of the International School Psychology Association Distinguished Services Award.BooksSmart but ScatteredSmart but Scattered TeensWebsitesSmartButScatteredKids.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
Jul 24, 2017 • 33min
Ep. 4: Peg Dawson, Ed.D. - The Untold Story of “Failure to Launch”
Send us a textIn recent years, Hollywood has glorified and glamorized the stories of “epic failures to launch” with great humor and light-heartedness. The untold story behind each failure is an utter lack of discipline, no impulse control, and zero goal planning. The brain’s executive function skills interfere with all the ingredients for a launch: one’s persistence, planning, prioritizing, and execution. On this podcast, Dr. Peg Dawson will discuss what is Executive Function and how it helps us to “launch” ourselves.About Peg Dawson, Ed.D.Peg Dawson, Ed.D., received her doctorate in school/child clinical psychology from the University of Virginia. She worked as a school psychologist for 16 years in Maine and New Hampshire, and for over 25 years has worked at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she specializes in the assessment of children and adults with learning and attention disorders. Along with her colleague, Dr. Richard Guare, she has authored several books, including a book for professionals, Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention and two books for parents, Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens. Their book, Coaching Students with Executive Skills Deficits has been recently augmented with a planner (Work Smart Academic Planner). Their most recent book, The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success is written for adults. Dr. Dawson is a past president of both the National Association of School Psychologists and the International School Psychology Association. She is also the 2006 recipient of NASP’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a 2010 recipient of the International School Psychology Association Distinguished Services Award.BooksSmart but ScatteredSmart but Scattered TeensWebsitesSmartButScatteredKids.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
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Jul 17, 2017 • 42min
Ep. 3: Russell Barkley, Ph.D. - Training, Learning, & the ADHD Brain
Send us a textNo doubt that the child who is late, disorganized and scattered needs help. But are you lecturing, punishing or giving zeros to that child in hopes that he will stop messing around and just get over it? On this Podcast, Dr. Russell Barkley will discuss how to train the brain’s Executive Function skills so that children can succeed in learning and life.About Russell Barkley, Ph.D.Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a Diplomate (board certified) in three specialties, Clinical Psychology (ABPP), Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN,ABPP). Dr. Barkley is a clinical scientist, educator, and practitioner who has published 23 books, rating scales, and clinical manuals numbering 41 editions. He has also published more than 270 scientific articles and book chapters related to the nature, assessment, and treatment of ADHD and related disorders. He is the founder and Editor of the bimonthly clinical newsletter, The ADHD Report, now in its 25th year of publication. Dr. Barkley has presented more than 800 invited addresses internationally and appeared on nationally televised programs such as 60 Minutes, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and many other programs on behalf of those with ADHD. He has received awards from the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Board of Professional Psychology, Association for the Advancement of Applied and Preventive Psychology, American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders, New England Educational Institute, the Wisconsin Psychological Association, and Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) for his career accomplishments, contributions to research in ADHD, to clinical practice, and for the dissemination of science.BooksWhen an Adult You Love Has ADHD: Professional Advice for Parents, Partners, and SiblingsExecutive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They EvolvedWebsitesRussellBarkley.orgADHDLectures.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
Jul 11, 2017 • 40min
Ep 2: Russell Barkley, Ph.D. - Unraveling Human Self-Regulation
Send us a textAnyone struggling with inattention or distractibility, general impulsivity and poor motivation is going struggle with learning. However, conventional wisdom trivializes underachievement related to these struggles and there’s a risk that the sufferers may not get proper help they need. On this Podcast, Dr. Russell Barkley will discuss how the brain’s Executive Function brings behaviors under its control and directs actions towards successful learning.About Russell Barkley, Ph.D.Russell A. Barkley, Ph.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. He is a Diplomate (board certified) in three specialties, Clinical Psychology (ABPP), Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN,ABPP). Dr. Barkley is a clinical scientist, educator, and practitioner who has published 23 books, rating scales, and clinical manuals numbering 41 editions. He has also published more than 270 scientific articles and book chapters related to the nature, assessment, and treatment of ADHD and related disorders. He is the founder and Editor of the bimonthly clinical newsletter, The ADHD Report, now in its 25th year of publication. Dr. Barkley has presented more than 800 invited addresses internationally and appeared on nationally televised programs such as 60 Minutes, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and many other programs on behalf of those with ADHD. He has received awards from the American Psychological Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Board of Professional Psychology, Association for the Advancement of Applied and Preventive Psychology, American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders, New England Educational Institute, the Wisconsin Psychological Association, and Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) for his career accomplishments, contributions to research in ADHD, to clinical practice, and for the dissemination of science.BooksWhen an Adult You Love Has ADHD: Professional Advice for Parents, Partners, and SiblingsExecutive Functions: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They EvolvedWebsitesRussellBarkley.orgADHDLectures.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
Jul 6, 2017 • 49min
Episode 1: Introduction to the Full PreFrontal Podcast
Send us a textI am excited to announce that the Full PreFrontal Podcast has officially launched! Each episode will be a conversation between me and a top researcher, neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, educator, learning expert, or thought leader about the inner workings of the brain. These are not just theoretical discussions or academic conversations – each episode is focused on translatable ideas and applicable strategies that you can use right away to become more self-aware in order to guide and mentor yourself or others to facilitate an inner change.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
