Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Focus Forward is a comprehensive guide to improving Executive Functions - the mental skills like time-management, task-initiation, organization, and emotional regulation that allow us to be successful. Whether you're a parent looking to better support your child, or are simply looking to improve your own Executive Function (EF) skills, this podcast is for you. We'll be having guests of all kinds on, including parents who've had success in improving their child's EF challenges, adults who have navigated executive dysfunction, and experts who specialize in treating these types of issues. Focus Forward is an Executive Function Podcast sponsored by Beyond BookSmart.

Latest episodes

May 21, 2025 • 47min

Ep 66: From Overwhelmed to Empowered: 4 Essential Coping Skills Every Teen Needs to Thrive (ft. Dr. Jackie Wolfman)

This week, we’re revisiting a topic & conversion that I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I had the opportunity to speak to the public at our local library about Executive Function skills for four different age groups, ranging from early elementary students to adults. In all four groups, we talked a lot about the importance of self-regulation and coping skills to get through challenging times. As we learned from Megan McClelland in the last episode, our ability to persist through challenges is hugely important, even as early as age four. This episode brings our attention specifically to our upper high school students, college students, and young adults. The challenges that teens and young adults face during those years bring all kinds of emotional and logistical hurdles, and having a set of reliable coping tools can make a huge difference in how successful and grounded young people feel during that time.To explore this further, I spoke with Dr. Jackie Wolfman, a therapist based in the Boston area. She teaches her clients coping strategies through DBT—or dialectical behavior therapy. If you’re familiar with CBT, or cognitive behavior therapy, DBT is a related approach that also focuses on how our thoughts and behaviors interact. CBT helps people notice and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, while DBT adds tools specifically for managing intense emotions and building practical coping skills. The tools and strategies Jackie shares from DBT are for everyone, regardless of age or mental health needs, so I know that this episode will truly be useful to anyone. I even use these strategies myself!Thank you for listening! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Learn More About Dr. Jackie Wolfman and DBThttps://villagepsych.com/DBT® Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition, by Marsha Linehanhttps://www.guilford.com/books/DBT-Skills-Training-Handouts-and-Worksheets/Marsha-Linehan/9781572307810Dialectical Behavior Therapyhttps://dialecticalbehaviortherapy.com/What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Adolescents - A helpful YouTube videohttps://youtu.be/Stz--d17ID4Other Resources MentionedAnd Then They Stopped Talking to Me: Making Sense of Middle School by Judith Warnerhttps://www.amazon.com/Then-They-Stopped-Talking-Me/dp/1101905883Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkemanhttps://www.oliverburkeman.com/meditationsformortalsLearn More About Our MAP Programhttps://map.worksmartcoaching.comLearn More About 1:1 Coachinghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-worksGet in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoachingwww.beyondbooksmart.com

May 7, 2025 • 37min

Ep 65: Migraines & ADHD: How to Cope with the Overlap (ft. Dr. Sarah Cheyette)

Have you heard the saying “research is me-search”? It means people often explore topics they personally need or want to understand better. Well, that’s exactly what today’s episode is for me. I’ve had migraines since I was a teenager, and after being diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago, I started noticing how closely the two seem to be connected. Conversations with clients, colleagues, and other people I know showed me that I’m not alone. It seems like many people who have ADHD also deal with migraines. I started researching to find out if there is a connection between migraines and ADHD, and it turns out, there is! I connected with Dr. Sarah Cheyette to learn more. Dr. Cheyette is a pediatric neurologist who specializes in both ADHD and migraines. Dr. Cheyette graduated from Princeton University and received her medical degree at UCLA. Following specialty training in pediatrics at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and in pediatric neurology at Seattle Children’s Hospital, she practiced at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. She now owns a private practice in northern California. Today, she brings her insight into how these two conditions overlap. In our conversation, we talk about what migraines are, why migraines happen, how they’re triggered, and—most importantly—what we can actually do about them - both to prevent and treat. Dr. Cheyette shares strategies for tracking headaches, making small but meaningful lifestyle changes, how to make sure you’re doing the right things and taking the right meds to manage these debilitating headaches. Whether you live with both ADHD and migraines, or you’re supporting someone who does, I hope you’ll find this episode informative and validating. I have shared some articles and research studies in the show Show notes:Learn More About Dr. Sarah Cheyettehttps://sarahcheyette.com/Migraines and ADHDThe Connection Between Migraine and ADHDhttps://www.migrainedisorders.org/migraine-and-adhd/Migraines and ADHD: The Overlooked Connection to Headacheshttps://www.additudemag.com/migraines-and-adhd-headaches-symptoms-treatmentsThe Connection Between ADHD and Migraineshttps://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/the-connection-between-adhd-and-migraines/Comorbidity of migraine with ADHD in adultshttps://bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-018-1149-6ADHD Is Comorbid to Migraine in Childhood: A Population-Based Studyhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28587507/Learn More About Our MAP Programhttps://map.worksmartcoaching.comLearn More About 1:1 Coachinghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works

Apr 23, 2025 • 54min

Ep 64: Minds in the Making: How Early Executive Function Development Shapes Childhood and Adult Success (ft. Ellen Galinsky & Megan McClelland)

Today’s episode is one I’m especially excited to share with you. Whether you’re an Executive Function expert or you’re just starting out learning about these essential life skills, you’ll want to listen because we have not one but *two* Executive Function leaders featured.First up, I’m so happy to have been joined once again by the OG of Executive Function awareness, Ellen Galinsky, who sat down with me on Focus Forward in March of 2024 when her book, The Breakthrough Years, came out. Ellen is the President of the Families and Work Institute and the elected President of the Work and Family Researchers Network (WFRN). She also serves as senior research advisor to AASA, the School Superintendent Organization. Previously, she was the Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation and faculty at Bank Street College. Her research has focused on the impact of work-life on families, child and adolescent development, youth voice, child-care, parent-professional relationship, and parental development. Ellen’s work has contributed deeply to how we understand children’s learning and development - and how we, as adults, can nurture it. Our second Executive Function leader is Dr. Megan McClelland, an internationally recognized expert on school readiness and self-regulation in very young children. She is the Katherine E. Smith Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at Oregon State University, where she also directs the Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families. Megan’s research focuses on optimizing children's development, especially as it relates to children’s self-regulation, early learning, and school success. Her recent work has examined links between self-regulation and long-term outcomes from early childhood to adulthood and intervention efforts to improve these skills in young children. She is currently involved with multiple national and international projects to develop measures of self-regulation and improve school success in young children. Megan is also the co-author of Stop, Think, Act, a book all about how we as educators and parents can help our kids strengthen their EF skills through play.Today, you’ll hear us talk about why executive function skills matter and how we can help kids strengthen them through everyday activities - Megan and Ellen help parents and educators see that we learn when we play! Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just someone who cares about kids' success in the long run, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss.I hope you enjoy listening! Here are the show notes from the episode: Learn More About Ellen GalinskyEllen Galinsky’s Websitewww.ellengalinsky.comThe Breakthrough Yearshttps://ellengalinsky.com/the-breakthrough-years/Mind in the Makinghttps://www.mindinthemaking.org/Families and Work Institutehttps://www.familiesandwork.org/Learn More About Megan McClelland, PhD.https://health.oregonstate.edu/directory/megan-mcclellandStop, Think, Act by Megan McClelland and Shauna Tomineyhttps://www.amazon.com/Stop-Think-Act-Integrating-Self-Regulation/dp/0415745233Executive Function ResourcesVroomwww.vroom.orgInstitute for Education Sciences: "Preparing Young Children for School" - A research-based guide with specific tips and activities for educators.https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/practiceguide/30Focus Forward Ep 23: Parenting for Success: How to Nurture Executive Function Development in Early Childhoodhttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=rgbq6nrrvfFocus Forward Ep 26: Navigating Stress, Parenting, and the Brain: A Conversation with Dr. Alison Royhttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=oygnbqkqqq

Apr 9, 2025 • 17min

Ep 63: Big Tasks, Tiny Steps: A Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Stuff Done

Mar 19, 2025 • 50min

Ep 62: Lighthouse Parenting: How to Communicate, Connect, and Guide with Confidence (ft. Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg)

Today, I am so excited to share this conversation I had with Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg. If you are a parent, a caregiver, an educator, a coach, a therapist, a human who interacts with children, young and old, this episode is for you. We all have something to learn from Dr. Ginsburg’s insightful and engaging interpretation of these decades of research on what works in parenting. Dr. Ginsburg practices adolescent medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and is a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania, a founding director of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, the Director of Health Services at Covenant House Pennsylvania, an agency that serves Philadelphia’s youth enduring homelessness and a father of two young adults. This vast experience and deep passion for supporting children of all ages and their families, in my opinion, makes him the perfect lighthouse for us as we navigate the sometimes murky or stormy waters of raising our own children and supporting the children of others around us.You’ll hear Dr. Ginsburg and I speak highly of Ellen Galinsky who was a guest on Focus Forward and who wrote the highly acclaimed books Mind in the Making and The Breakthrough Years, all about EF skills in children and adolescents. If you’re interested in learning more about Ellen’s work, check out the show notes and Focus Forward episode #40, which coincidentally dropped exactly a year ago this week. Ellen will be joining me again in a few weeks to talk more about Executive Function skills with early childhood development researcher, Megan McClelland. In the meantime, thank you for listening! Show Notes: Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-worksLearn More About Dr. Ginsburghttps://www.fosteringresilience.comCenter for Parent and Teen Communicationhttps://parentandteen.com/Ellen Galinsky’s bookshttps://ellengalinsky.com/

Mar 5, 2025 • 42min

Ep 61: Self Advocacy for Adults: How to Be a Zebra in a World of Horses

As a person with ADHD or Executive Function challenges it can often feel like society - you know, people at work, in our homes, anyone we encounter during our day, expects you to think, work, and communicate the same way as everyone else. It can be exhausting and can often require that you advocate for yourself and your needs more than you would like! And the first step of advocacy is figuring out what exactly it even is that you need! In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Llewellyn Snider and Brianna Morton, ADHD coaches and co-hosts of The Hypercast ADHD Podcast.Together, we explored the power of self-acceptance because, as they say, it is truly the foundation for building strong and effective self-advocacy skills. We discussed the challenges of setting boundaries, navigating dynamics at work and in our personal lives, and learning to communicate our needs—without guilt or apology. We talked about the importance of having people around you who GET YOU. And, most importantly, we’ll talk about embracing our differences rather than masking them, because, as Brianna shared, you’re not a weird horse—you’re a perfectly normal zebra.Show notes: Learn More About Our Guests:Hypercast: An ADHD Podcastwww.hypercastpod.comMelissa Llewellyn Snyderhttps://www.likemindcoaching.com/Brianna Mortonhttps://www.understandingadhd.ca/More about Self-Advocacy: Read & ListenEp. 39: Speaking Up: How to Empower Our Kids to Advocate for Themselves (ft. Dr. Nerissa Bauer)https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=j5rz3vnbkpFrom Failing to Thriving: ADHD Strategies Every College Student Needshttps://hypercastpod.buzzsprout.com/2328723/episodes/16524660-from-failing-to-thriving-adhd-strategies-every-college-student-needsTalking to Teachers: Building Self-Advocacy in College Students - Beyond BookSmart Bloghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/talking-to-teachers-building-self-advocacy-in-college-studentsSelf-Advocacy Can Improve Your Lifehttps://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/self-advocacy-can-improve-your-life/

Feb 19, 2025 • 53min

Ep 60: The Hidden Impact of Eating Disorders on Brain Health and Executive Function (ft. Dr. Emily Gordon)

In this discussion, Dr. Emily Gordon, a licensed clinical psychologist and expert in eating disorders, sheds light on the complex relationship between eating habits and emotional well-being. She discusses how eating disorders disrupt brain function and executive skills like impulse control and decision-making. Dr. Gordon shares insights on recognizing early warning signs and the significance of parental awareness. Moreover, she emphasizes the detrimental effects of diet culture on self-esteem and the critical need for open dialogue and supportive environments for adolescents.

Feb 5, 2025 • 47min

Ep 59: The Science of Staying Sharp: Simple Habits to Nurture Your Mind at Any Age (ft. Dr. John Randolph)

In today’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. John Randolph - a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, brain health consultant, and Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine. He’s the past president of both the National Academy of Neuropsychology and the New Hampshire Psychological Association, and his research focuses on cognitive health, executive functioning, and resilience. He’s also the author of The Brain Health Book: Using the Power of Neuroscience to Improve Your Life.In our conversation, Dr. Randolph breaks down the CAPE model—a simple and powerful way to think about and take care of our brain health. We talked about cognitive strategies, activity engagement, preventing cognitive problems, and education about our brains. And, how small, consistent actions can make a big difference in our long-term brain health. We also discuss the impact of sleep, exercise, and social connections, which was validating for me as this is what I always like to ask my clients about. Dr. Randolph also shares a little about the research he’s doing with people with multiple sclerosis to figure out how to improve cognitive resilience. Our brains are fascinating, so listen today to learn how we can extend and enrich our lives by taking care of them!Show NotesLearn More About Dr. John Randolphhttps://www.randolphnp.com/about-dr-john-randolphThe Brain Health Book: Using the Power of Neuroscience to Improve Your Lifehttps://wwnorton.com/books/978039371287212 ways to keep your brain younghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/12-ways-to-keep-your-brain-youngBuild Better Work Habits: How Your Brain Changes with Practicehttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/build-better-work-habits-how-your-brain-changes-with-practiceThe Quiz My Colleague Used With Her Clienthttps://www.viacharacter.org/account/registerLearn More About 1:1 Coachinghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-worksLearn More about BrainTracks Teacher Professional Developmentwww.braintracks.comGet in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoachingwww.beyondbooksmart.com

Jan 22, 2025 • 18min

Ep 58: Routines Without Rigidity: Your Guide to Building & Sustaining Healthier Habits

In this week’s episode, we’re talking all about routines. If you’ve ever tried to make a lasting change in your life, then you know how hard sustaining new habits can actually be. However, there are proven strategies that you can use to solidify habits into routines. In this short episode, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite practical strategies for building and sustaining routines.Thorugh the science of behavior change, you’ll discover new ways to build healthier habits through small changes that snowball into bigger transformations over time. Most importantly, my hope is that you find some practical approaches to build routines that work for you (even when life changes or gets stressful!) Have thoughts or questions? Feel free to send me an email at podcast@beyondbooksmart.comI hope you enjoy listening! Here are the show notes for today’s episode: Show notes:Ep 12: How to Maintain Progress Through Times of Changehttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=p9nb11s6hxEp 57: Decluttering Your Life: How to Make Space for What Matters (ft. Tidy Dad, Tyler Moore)https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=pcr8a1lkgbAtomic Habitswww.jamesclear.com/books11 Personal Hygiene Tips for People With ADHDhttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/11-personal-hygiene-tips-for-people-with-adhdTime for Bed! Why Sleep is Essential for Executive Functioninghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/time-for-bed-why-sleep-is-essential-for-executive-functioningOn-Demand Webinar on Building Healthy Routineshttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/building-healthy-routines-webinar-on-demand-recordingTips from Calm.comhttps://www.calm.com/blog/daily-routineGet in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoachingwww.beyondbooksmart.com

Jan 8, 2025 • 49min

Ep 57: Decluttering Your Life: How to Make Space for What Matters (ft. Tidy Dad, Tyler Moore)

Today, I’m joined by the one and only Tyler Moore, AKA “Tidy Dad.” Tyler is a New York City Public School teacher, a husband, and a father of three. He creates content based on his own experience with tidying that he hopes will help others find joy and order in what he calls, “the beautiful mess of life”. Tyler came on to Focus Forward to share his new book, Tidy Up Your Life, which was just released this month! The book is a deep dive into the connection between physical and mental clutter and how our ability to organize, prioritize, and adapt can shape the way we live. Tyler and I also explored how embracing uncertainty and the “messy middle” of change, pivoting when necessary, and experimenting with routines can lead to powerful shifts in both mindset and priorities. He also explained the thinking behind his step-by-step approach to maintaining our homes —starting with organizing, followed by tidying, and then cleaning. In his book, he expands his ideas on this by offering cleaning and tidying options that are thoughtful, simple, and accessible for each area of the house.Tyler was fun to talk with and I hope you enjoy our conversation and learn a lot from him! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Learn More About TylerWebsitewww.thetidydad.comInstagramwww.instagram.com/tidydadTidy Up Your Lifehttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/751698/tidy-up-your-life-by-tyler-moore/From the Beyond BookSmart BlogGetting Organized: Minimizing Clutter In 4 Easy Steps - Beyond BookSmart Bloghttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/getting-organized-minimizing-clutter-in-4-easy-stepsGaining Calm by Organizing: How to Clear Your Space & Mindhttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/meditation-in-organization-how-to-clear-your-space-mind7 Tips for Organizing With ADHD: How to Organize Betterhttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/7-tips-for-organizing-with-adhd-how-to-organize-betterGet in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoachingwww.beyondbooksmart.com

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