The Executive Function Podcast for Student Success | Untapped Learning

Untapped Learning

The Executive Function Podcast for Student Success helps parents and educators better understand the skills behind how students learn, manage responsibilities, and become more independent. Hosted by Untapped Learning, the podcast explores executive function through practical strategies, expert conversations, and real-world experiences. We cover planning, organization, time management, task initiation, focus, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and the other skills students rely on every day. Many of our conversations focus on ADHD, neurodivergence, and learning differences, but executive function skills matter for every student. We look beyond grades to understand why capable students get stuck, what actually helps, and how adults can support students without doing everything for them. The goal isn't just success in school. It's helping students build the confidence, skills, and independence they can carry into college, work, and life. New episodes feature educators, clinicians, researchers, and others whose expertise and experiences can help us better understand what students need to succeed in school and life. Let's untap your students potential together. Learn more about Untapped Learning and executive function coaching at untappedlearning.com

  1. Oct 5

    Creating a Stronger Mind with Cognitive Flexibility | Natalie Wilcox

    As education becomes more “frictionless”, students are often less challenged, leaving them to struggle when challenges arrive in education, especially at the college level. This discomfort, though, is a learning experience that helps stimulate cognitive flexibility. In this podcast, Natalie Wilcox, Neuroimmunology PhD student at the University of Toronto, and Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning, discuss the strength that comes with cognitive flexibility, including stronger self-reflection and the ability to navigate high-stress situations with ease. Learn how you can use cognitive flexibility in your own work to stay ahead and adapt to any situation that comes your way. At Untapped Learning, we help students find their stride by helping them get ahead of the curve by teaching them developmental skills to plan forward, rather than catching up. Teaching students long-term independence and success lets our students learn better and helps the parents focus on being there for their children. Want to learn more about how we help students build executive function skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and explore our 1-on-1 mentoring, workshops, and free resources at: untappedlearning.com 📥 Free Downloads: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/untappedlearning #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #Neurodivergent #ExecutiveFunctionCoaching #College #StudentSupport Chapters: 0:00 - Why Students Stick With Routines That Stop Working 0:16 - What Cognitive Flexibility Actually Means 3:12 - Why We Keep Using Strategies That Aren’t Working 5:34 - The Difference Between Routines and Rigid Thinking 8:02 - How to Help Students Try One Small Change 11:05 Why Students Don’t Ask for the Help They Need 14:33 How Fear of Failure Stops Students From Trying 19:49 Why Progress Matters Before the Problem Is Solved 22:18 How Adults Can Practice Cognitive Flexibility 27:02 ADHD, Negative Feedback, and Reflecting Without Shame

    Creating a Stronger Mind with Cognitive Flexibility | Natalie Wilcox
  2. Sep 11

    Why High-Achieving Students Struggle in College | David Rabiner, Ph.D.

    Why do some highly successful students begin struggling as soon as they reach college? David Rabiner, Ph.D., a recently retired Duke University professor, psychologist, and former director of Duke’s Academic Advising Center, joins Brandon Slade to explain why academic success in high school does not always translate into college readiness. They discuss what happens when students lose the structure and accountability built into high school, why high achievers may resist seeking academic support, and how ADHD can affect time management, task initiation, motivation, and long-term planning. David also shares how parents can gradually pull back before college, allowing students to practice independence while the stakes are still relatively low. The conversation also explores why procrastination is not simply laziness or a lack of willpower—and how consistent external accountability can help students follow through on the goals they already have. David Rabiner is Research Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. His work has focused extensively on ADHD, attention difficulties, academic performance, and improving the quality of care children with ADHD receive. Learn about David’s free ADHD Monitoring System and subscribe to his Attention Research Update: helpforadd.com. The system helps families gather regular teacher feedback and monitor how effectively a child’s ADHD treatment is working at school. Want to learn more about how we help students build executive function skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and explore our 1-on-1 mentoring, workshops, and free resources at untappedlearning.com 📥 Free Downloads: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/untappedlearning Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - Why High-Achieving Students Struggle in College 06:14 - Helping College Students Manage Their Time 09:14 - Preparing High School Students for Independence 12:00 - Low-Stakes Ways Parents Can Pull Back 15:44 - ADHD and High Achievement 17:33 - Executive Function Challenges Beyond Time Management 20:07 - Why Procrastination Is More Than Willpower 23:15 - David Rabiner’s Free ADHD Monitoring Tool 26:46 - Conclusion #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #CollegeReadiness #HighAchievingStudents #DukeUniversity

    Why High-Achieving Students Struggle in College | David Rabiner, Ph.D.
  3. Aug 26

    The Balance Between Transitions, Expectations, and Executive Function | David Baker

    Why can a bright, capable child manage well for years and then suddenly struggle in middle school, high school, or college? Executive function challenges rarely appear out of nowhere. As academic demands increase and outside structure decreases, weaknesses in planning, organization, task initiation, time management, working memory, and emotional regulation can become much more visible. In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon Slade speaks with Dr. David Baker, a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist and founder of Baker Neuropsychology and Learning Center. Dr. Baker explains why school transitions can reveal executive function challenges that were previously difficult to see and how parents can support independence without taking over. They also discuss: • Why bright kids can have uneven skill development • How ADHD can affect brain development • How frustration and unstructured play build self-regulation • What college students need when external structure falls away • How parents can model healthy responses to stress • What families should know about neuropsychological evaluations At Untapped Learning, we help middle school, high school, and college students build practical executive function skills through personalized coaching focused on planning, organization, task initiation, time management, and long-term independence. Learn more about Dr. Baker: https://bakernlc.com/ Want to learn more about how we support students? 🌐 https://untappedlearning.com/ 📥 https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 https://instagram.com/untappedlearning #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #ADHDParenting #ExecutiveFunctionCoaching #StudentSupport Chapters: 0:37 – Do Executive Function Challenges Appear Out of Nowhere? 3:18 – Building Executive Function in Elementary School 4:34 – Screens, Emotional Regulation, and Executive Function 6:20 – Building Executive Function in Middle and High School 8:41 – The “Should” Mentality: Intelligence vs. Executive Function 10:12 – ADHD Brain Development: Is It Years Behind? 13:11 – Supporting Executive Function in College 14:14 – Why Overscheduling Hurts College Readiness 18:59 – The Neuroscience of Unstructured Play 22:06 - IS ADHD Hereditary? 22:55 – Advice for Overwhelmed Parents 24:31 – Teens Watch How Parents Handle Stress 26:39 – Scaffolding Executive Function at Home 27:45 – Why “Clean Your Room” Is Too Vague 30:53 – What to Know Before a Neuropsychological Evaluation 34:28 – Connect With Dr. David Baker

    The Balance Between Transitions, Expectations, and Executive Function | David Baker
  4. Jul 22

    How to Start Your College Journey | Jack DuFauchard

    Starting college is a journey like no other; however, it’s often difficult to figure out what that “first step” is going to be, especially for some kids with executive function challenges. Through self-awareness, active learning, prioritization, and organizing a schedule, students can overcome these challenges and achieve ambitious goals. In this podcast, Jack DuFauchard, an incoming student at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, goes into greater detail about the struggles upon entering college, and how saying yes to too many things can lead to a procrastination trap. Together, we go into greater detail about the idea of essentialism, organizational systems, and the importance of balancing a schedule, even with all the freedom the university provides to the students. At Untapped Learning, we help students find their stride by helping them get ahead of the curve by teaching them developmental skills to plan forward, rather than catching up. Teaching the students long-term independence and success lets our students learn better and helps the parents focus on being there for their children. Want to learn more about how we help students build executive function skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and explore our 1-on-1 mentoring, workshops, and free resources at untappedlearning.com. 📥 Free Downloads: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/untappedlearning #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #Neurodivergent #ExecutiveFunctionCoaching #College #StudentSupport

    How to Start Your College Journey | Jack DuFauchard
  5. Jul 8

    How Parents Can Support Teens with ADHD Without Constant Conflict | Gabe Casher, Ph.D.

    When discussing homework, why does it suddenly become a fight between students and parents? When discussing a child’s success, it can be anxiety-inducing for both the child and the parent. For parents, it’s much more difficult to identify/resonate with their children when there isn't any proof to back up a child’s progress, while for children, it's difficult when parents get too involved. It creates a cycle of fear, shame, and anxiety through a family's relationship. In today’s podcast, Dr. Gabe Casher, Founder of Panorama Psychology, dives deeper into the relationship between a child with Executive Dysfunction and parents and how a lack of clear results or communication can lead to distancing between parents and students. Together, we discuss ADHD, executive functioning, emotional regulation, parenting strategies, teen mental health, and how families can break cycles of conflict. Learn why strengthening your relationship with your child often produces better long-term benefits than focusing directly on results. At Untapped Learning, we help students find their stride by helping them learn and developing the skills necessary to succeed. Teaching the students long-term independence and success lets our students learn better and helps the parents to focus on parenting. Want to learn more about how we help students build executive function skills? Subscribe to our YouTube channel and explore our 1-on-1 mentoring, workshops, and free resources at untappedlearning.com. 📥 Free Downloads: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/ 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/untappedlearning Learn more about Gabe Casher and Panorama Psychology here: (https://www.panoramapsychology.com/) #ExecutiveFunction #ADHD #Neurodivergent #ExecutiveFunctionCoaching #Family #StudentSupport

    How Parents Can Support Teens with ADHD Without Constant Conflict | Gabe Casher, Ph.D.

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

The Executive Function Podcast for Student Success helps parents and educators better understand the skills behind how students learn, manage responsibilities, and become more independent. Hosted by Untapped Learning, the podcast explores executive function through practical strategies, expert conversations, and real-world experiences. We cover planning, organization, time management, task initiation, focus, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and the other skills students rely on every day. Many of our conversations focus on ADHD, neurodivergence, and learning differences, but executive function skills matter for every student. We look beyond grades to understand why capable students get stuck, what actually helps, and how adults can support students without doing everything for them. The goal isn't just success in school. It's helping students build the confidence, skills, and independence they can carry into college, work, and life. New episodes feature educators, clinicians, researchers, and others whose expertise and experiences can help us better understand what students need to succeed in school and life. Let's untap your students potential together. Learn more about Untapped Learning and executive function coaching at untappedlearning.com

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