207 episodes
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive Function Sucheta Kamath
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- Science
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4.7 • 46 Ratings
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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.
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Ep. 207: Dr. Gene Kerns - Literacy, Background Knowledge, and Executive Function
Send us a Text Message.If an American 10th grader is assigned to read the autobiography "Virat Kohli: Legend of a Great Player," about the world-famous Indian cricketer known as the best limited-overs batsman in history, they might read the pages, but would they truly grasp the meaning of Kohli’s remarkable accomplishments on the global sports platform? Americans who don’t play cricket, let alone know much about its rules, may struggle to comprehend due more to unfamiliarity with the context ...
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Ep. 206: Dr. Gene Kerns - Unlocking Student Talent
Send us a Text Message.Indian-American author and wellness expert, Deepak Chopra, says, “Find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible.” The big challenge for educators and parents alike is how do developing brains become all that they have the possibility of becoming? Is this simply a mindset or is reaching one’s own full potential a story of building skills with practice? What are sure-fire ways for each and every child to tap into their own human potential and stretch themself...
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Ep. 205: Dr. William Stixrud - How to Talk With Kids and Build Their Motivation
Send us a Text Message.It’s human to crave connections. If there’s a silver bullet that comes closest to protecting kids, it’s the art of making meaningful connections with adults in their lives. This provides children with a sense of closeness and belonging ,which in return, contributes positively to their physical, social, psychological, and emotional health. Effective communication is the key ingredient to forming deep connections and parents, teachers and mentors need insights and tools t...
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Ep. 204: Kelly B. Cartwright, Ph.D. - The Science of Reading & Executive Function
Send us a Text Message.Reading comprehension is unequivocally the foundation of all other learning, not just during the formal years of education, but in creating socially engaged communities and an inclusive world. The ‘Active View of Reading’ framework suggests that complex executive function skills such as goal setting, planning, organizing, and sequencing information critically supports goal completion, mental flexibility, and learning how to learn underneath the reading and writing proce...
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Ep. 203: Maggie Jackson - Gift of Uncertainty
Send us a Text Message.Modern living means living with uncertainty. We are surrounded by progress, yet the things we are unsure of keeps growing, needing us to skillfully cope; hence, making hard decisions without all the answers requires skill and courage. On the other hand, the world measures certainty as the mark of expertise and celebrates those who exude the attitude of invincibility through a firm disposition of ”be fast, be right, and be without a doubt.” So, how do we widen our person...
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Ep. 202: Ayelet Fishbach - The Science of Motivation
Send us a Text Message.The start of the New Year always rings in new possibilities. However, setting and achieving goals for yourself and by yourself is harder than it seems. There are a multitude of obstacles including questions like knowing which tasks and ambitions to prioritize, where exactly to start, and how best to carry on when facing roadblocks and distractions. One truth remains though, we are likely to follow through with goals and pursuits that we are highly motivated about.On thi...
Customer Reviews
Bay Area listener
Excellent podcast regarding executive function and I have learned much to improve mine. The discussions are informative and very easy to follow. The host is not only technically knowledgeable about executive function but also has a warm and engaging approach in interviewing her guests which greatly helps to absorb all the information. I highly recommend this podcast!
A podcast for EVERYONE!! I mean it!
If you are a person who often feels that you are swamped by the number of things you still need to do, that somehow there is never enough time, that deadlines often show up out of nowhere, or that you are just living day to day– not really having a plan for the future – doing whatever is right under your nose, then this podcast is for you! It is an eye-opener for people who are frequently late, distracted, unmotivated, struggling to plan for the future, loosing sight of the big picture, or taking impulsive decisions. As a parent of a senior, I found the tips for college-bound students on managing time and coming up with a system to meet the expectations of schools very helpful. I can say from my personal experience talking with Sucheta about my son, that she was amazing in how quickly she zoomed in on the difficulties my son was facing and the recommendations she gave for solving the problems he was having in school. Fortunately for us, his difficulties were related to his concussion and resolved in some time, but the tips she gave would be really helpful even for someone who was having any of the difficulties mentioned above. The experts Sucheta has brought on the podcast also bring new information and insight on the topic of executive (dys)function. Sucheta manages to ask just the right questions that bring important considerations into focus. I highly recommend this podcast for EVERYONE. Why? Because we can all use some help organizing and managing our life better. We can all use some help being proactive and deliberate in planning for our future and managing our present in this era of multitasking while being inundated by distractions. So tune into this podcast on your way to work or at home going about your daily routines - you won’t regret it!
Invaluable Resource for Understanding Executive Function Issues
If you have ever looked at a loved one, a friend, coworker, student, or even yourself in the mirror, and thought, “I know they are bright, how can they not succeed? Why don’t they just try harder/ plan more effectively/follow advice …? “, you will benefit greatly from Sucheta Kamath’s Full PreFrontal podcasts. Sucheta’s podcasts offer invaluable information to help anyone better understand, and thus better interact with individuals who have poor executive function skills. I have learned so much from listening to Sucheta’s interviews with various other experts who have also worked for many years in this field. The ExFiles, talks with individuals who have executive function issues, are enlightening. They also offer hope. I hope that this will allow me to be more accepting of my own executive function shortcomings, as well as those of others, and to use this knowledge to effect positive change. Thank you so much Sucheta for your podcasts. I hope to continue to learn!