Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Long time no see! Welcome back to season 4 of Focus Forward AND our 50th episode of the podcast. We’re so happy you’re here with us as we begin the best season yet. Today’s episode topic was chosen based on research we’ve gathered about people interested in coaching. According to our questionnaire, planning & prioritizing is the #1 Executive Function skill that students and adults alike are currently struggling with. In this episode, I’ll be sharing some of our favorite tools and strategies to help you or someone you love buiild this critical skill. Show notes: Executive Functioning and Positive Outcomes for ChildrenExecutive Function & Self-Regulationhttps://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/executive-function/Executive Function Skills Predict Children's Success in Life and in Schoolhttps://www.mindinthemaking.org/stories/executive-function-skills-predict-childrens-success-in-life-and-in-schoolEllen Galinsky’s books on EF and children and adolescentsThe Breakthrough Yearshttps://ellengalinsky.com/the-breakthrough-years/Mind in the Makinghttps://www.mindinthemaking.org/Focus Forward Episodes MentionedEp. 40: The Breakthrough Years: Raising Thriving Teens Through Executive Function (ft. Ellen Galinsky)https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=fhebx5zqflEp. 14: 4 Steps to Build Time Management Strategies You'll Use for Lifehttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=2hd9mmw2wiEp. 25: Laziness vs. Executive Dysfunction: Expert Tips to Help Motivate Your Kidshttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=e5k6nv0wteExecutive Function for Teachers and Classroomswww.braintracks.com7 Classroom Management Strategies That Teach Students Executive Function Skillshttps://www.braintracks.com/blog-posts/7-classroom-management-strategies-that-teach-students-executive-function-skillsLearn more about Beyond BookSmart: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/Get in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching

Today’s episode is just for us parents during this back to school time. As you already know, supporting the people we love comes more easily when we feel good about ourselves. However, when things get busy and our energy drains, it’s easy to forget about taking care of ourselves. With the return to school providing plenty of chaos for us parents, now is the perfect time to prepare and make sure you’re ready to not only support your kids, but also yourself. So today, we’re exploring five key Executive Function areas that will really support you during this time and give you some tips and strategies in each area. Even if you can’t realistically do all of the things I cover, pick one - just one - that you’re going to commit to doing. Make observations over the next few weeks - what was hard? What was easy? Did it make a difference? Is there something else you can add? (This reflection is an Executive Function exercise in and of itself!) Show Notes:Register for our Back-to-School Webinar on August 14https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/back-to-school-relief-2024Watch Our Past Webinarshttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/workshops-and-eventsFocus Forward Episodes MentionedEp 44: Ask the Coaches: Answering Your Top Questions about Summer, Motivation, Transitions, and more!https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=z1tfw9hl2aEp 11: Procrastination: Why We Wait & What to Do About Ithttps://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=n2bmc91r6dEp 42: Insomnia, ADHD, and Sleep Hygiene: How to Transform Your Life Through Better Sleep (ft. Marlee Boyle)https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=rpuckdh0f5Other ResourcesCovey Quadrants/Eisenhower Matrix (Hannah’s version)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bzg9nObT0HbK5EjK2s7bBW3deSRzstAVA_v_VEX71zY/edit?usp=sharingClutterBugwww.clutterbug.meLearn more about Beyond BookSmart: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/Get in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching

Dr. Deborah Korn, a licensed clinical psychologist with over 30 years in EMDR therapy, shares fascinating insights into healing trauma. She explains how EMDR works, emphasizing that it's beneficial even for those without significant traumatic experiences. Dr. Korn discusses the lasting changes clients experience, including desensitization and reduced distress. She highlights stories of transformation and emphasizes that EMDR is suitable for all ages. Additionally, she clarifies the difference between big-T and little-t traumas, enriching the understanding of trauma's impact.

Dr. Anthony Bram, a clinical psychologist specializing in OCD, discusses debunking misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He explains the roots of OCD, the shame associated with obsessions, and the significance of flexible therapeutic approaches. The podcast also explores the impact of OCD on executive functioning, productivity, and decision-making, offering strategies for managing perfectionism and seeking professional help.

Okay, so this week is a tasty episode! I invited Becca King, a registered dietitian and social media influencer with nearly 200k followers, to join me on Focus Forward to talk about food, ADHD, and Executive Function as the three are more interconnected than you might think. We talk about many aspects of food and cooking - how to lower or get rid of barriers that may prevent us from cooking or eating nourishing food, meal planning and how to make it work for you and how it may change as your life situation changes. We also talked about the importance of crunch (haha!), finding satisfaction in the food we eat, and how to remove the guilt or shame we might feel when we don’t cook or eat how we feel like we “should”. Becca follows an “all foods fit” approach to nutrition and really helps people get to a place where they can nourish themselves with nutrient-dense foods and eat the fun stuff, too. Thanks for listening and be sure to check out Becca’s instagram and resources in the show notes below!Show NotesLearn more about Becca KingInstagram: www.instagram.com/adhd.nutritionistBecca’s Tips for Remembering to Eat: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Os3jH51Y-7BwNQdn7zSntTzj1b2FBswP/view?usp=drive_linkBecca’s Sensory Descriptors to help understand your sensory preferences with food: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gjbDnVhwDIvYbodCGtu7tGB0vbWS60aU/view?usp=drive_linkADHD and FoodExecutive Dysfunction 101: How to Treat ADHD's Most Difficult Symptom: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/executive-functioning-strategies-blog/executive-dysfunction-101-how-to-treat-adhds-most-difficult-symptom#howtotreatEDADHD Diet For Adults: Foods To Eat And Avoid:https://add.org/adhd-diet/Nutrition in the Management of ADHD: A Review of Recent Research:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10444659/Nutrition and ADHD: https://chadd.org/about-adhd/nutrition-and-adhd/Learn more about Beyond BookSmart: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/Get in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching

As Executive Function coaches, we often talk about how working on Executive Function skills is really an act of building self-confidence. Learning to be confident in yourself and believing you can get through the hard stuff is the key to trying new things, reaching your goals, and truly making a lasting difference in all areas of life. We work hard to build this confidence in our clients, just as my guest today does with his college students. James Sanders the third is a professor of public speaking and interpersonal communication at Fayetteville Technical Community College in North Carolina. He joined me to share how teaching public speaking has shown him how students can truly blossom when they step outside of their comfort zone. I’ll let him tell you more about the work he does, but this man is making positive change happen wherever he goes. We talked about the importance of community, of trusting yourself, and saying yes to the scary things that are a stepping stone towards reaching your goals. In addition to being interesting to talk to and an inspiring ray of sunshine,

Vin Kachurik, Cass Estey, and Maria Ares from Beyond BookSmart answer top questions on summer support, motivation, and transitions. They discuss balancing structure and downtime, resource management using the spoon theory, and maximizing task efficiency with the Eisenhower Matrix. Practical tips for students transitioning to college and enhancing productivity are shared.

This podcast explores the symbiotic relationship between creativity and Executive Function skills. Benefits of creative hobbies, understanding the Window of Tolerance, and managing perfectionism are discussed. Practical strategies for embracing imperfections, enhancing creativity through emotional regulation, effective planning, and time management in creative projects are also covered.

Respiratory therapist and sleep specialist Marlee Boyle discusses the importance of sleep for individuals with ADHD, addressing topics such as sleep apnea, circadian rhythms, insomnia therapy, and supporting children's sleep. Strategies like CBT-I, CPAP machines, light therapy, and meditation apps are explored to empower better sleep quality and manage ADHD symptoms.

Today’s conversation explores a really important topic - the occurrence of ADHD with other diagnoses, also known as comorbidities. If you aren’t sure if this topic applies to you, I encourage you to listen anyway because you might end up learning something that could truly, truly help yourself or someone you love in ways you never expected. I learned so much from my guest, Dr. Roberto Olivardia, who is a clinical psychologist and lecturer at Harvard Medical School. I met Roberto at the ADHD conference in Baltimore last year and was excited to get him on Focus Forward. He’s just a wealth of knowledge and super interesting to talk to. Roberto and I started out exploring the comorbidities that can occur with ADHD, such as OCD, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Our conversation led us to sleep and sleep apnea and eating disorders in boys and men and the connection to ADHD here, too. This important connection is not talked about or studied as much as it needs to be. Thank you for listening and I hope our conversation resonates with you or someone you love.Show NotesLearn More About Dr. Roberto OlivardiaRoberto Olivardia’s profile: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/roberto-olivardiaMcLean Hospital’s Free Mental Health Webinars: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video-series/mental-health-webinarsFacing Insecurities With Body Dysmorphic Disorder - webinar hosted by Roberto: https://www.mcleanhospital.org/video/facing-insecurities-body-dysmorphic-disorderThe Adonis Complex: How to Identify, Treat and Prevent Body Obsession in Men and Boys: https://www.amazon.com/Adonis-Complex-Identify-Prevent-Obsession/dp/068486911X/Roberto Olivardia on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=roberto+olivardiaLearn More about the Connection between ADHD and Other DiagnosesWhat Is Complex ADHD? Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment by Theresa Cerulli, MD:https://www.additudemag.com/complex-adhd-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment/Not Just ADHD? Helping Children with Multiple Concerns: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/features/not-just-adhd.htmlAre Eating Disorders Related to Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4777329/Is obstructive sleep apnea associated with ADHD? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21808754/Learn more about Beyond BookSmart: https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/Get in Touchpodcast@beyondbooksmart.comInstagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching