The Executive Function Podcast

Sarah Kesty, Brain Tools School
  • 4.8 (55)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Helpful, fun, and effective strategies to support everyone's executive function! Learn how to coach yourself, your teen, or your child to manage attention, organize, and plan. We share inspiration for families and individuals with neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and more. We love what we do and are passionate about helping you thrive!

  1. 4D AGO

    Inspired By Fear: Kris Jennings Ep 75

    Hey, Team! Most of the time, we tend to avoid what we fear, and this works okay...until it doesn't. Kris Jennings, author and change leader, teaches us how to both manage and grow from fear. Having struggles with executive function can mean feeling stressed by and possibly fearful of heavy cognitive tasks or life transitions. On the flipside, when fear takes over our brains, it can be hard to use our executive function! Fear is an important consideration when we're growing executive function. Living with PTSD, Kris knows fear well and has developed tools and perspectives to use her fear as fuel for growth and living a meaningful life. On the show, Kris shares practical ways to befriend your fear as well as her executive function hacks for writing. I think you'll love our conversation! Let me know what you think. All my love, Sarah Find Kris: Website Buy "Inspired By Fear" About Kris: I help change agents and leaders learn how to make organizational change faster and easier by growing their influence. I pursue my passions for health and creativity by exploring new places several times a year. My recent trips include swimming the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia with my oldest son, making encaustic art in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, yoga in the jungle of Costa Rica, and beautiful southern France with my husband. Wherever we go, we eat well! (Food is art + love.)  Writing will always be a core part of how I share my expertise. Read about making change easier in my book, subscribe to receive articles, or connect on social media. Join me in making change in our world more positive for humans. 🧡 Mentioned in the show: Box breath video Calm Strips Connect with Sarah! My book is out in the wild, and it's changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at ⁠Solution Tree ⁠or on ⁠Amazon⁠. I'm also training educators across this beautiful globe, and we're finding improving students' executive function is game-changing! Improved behaviors, attendance, learning...big, surprising impacts (even to me, who loves this stuff!) If that sounds like what your school or child's school needs, ⁠reach out⁠! Sarah at sarahkesty.com. #executiveFunction, #change, #fear, #leader, #adhd, #neurodivergent, #inspiration, #neurodiversity

    35 min

  2. JAN 23

    The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery with Sol Smith Ep 74

    Team, Autism is on the news, tv, and social media a lot, and much of the conversation is aimed at helping people understand autism. Sol Smith helps fill in a missing piece: helping autistic people understand themselves. We talk on the show all the time about how executive dysfunction and being neurodivergent are not a character flaws, but people often feel as if they are. Sol's conversation on the show and his book, The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery, help untangle and identify the self-perceptions that are untrue and unhelpful, replacing them with self-acceptance and tools that actually work. There are some funny moments that you might find very relatable, too! All my love, Sarah PS My book is out in the wild, and it's changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at ⁠Solution Tree ⁠or on ⁠Amazon⁠. I'm also training organizations and educators across this beautiful globe, and we're finding improving executive function is game-changing! Improved student behaviors, attendance, learning...big, surprising impacts (even to me, who loves this stuff!) If that sounds like what your school, organization, or child's school needs, ⁠reach out⁠! Sarah at sarahkesty.com. Connect with Sol: TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@bettersol   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprofessorsol  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solsmith   YouTube: https://youtube.com/@professor_sol   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sol-smith-mfa-eds-ms-cas-7955364  Sol Smith is the author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery and of the manager of the Neurospicy Community, which is the largest support network for autistics and ADHDers in the world.  A certified autism specialist who is autistic, dyslexic, and living with ADHD. He spent more than two decades as a college professor before shifting his professional focus to coaching other autistic and ADHD people to gain autonomy in their lives. Sol’s speaking skills have earned him a following of hundreds of thousands on TikTok and led to educational seminars about neurodiversity with corporations around the world. He lives in Southern California with his wife and four children and you can find him online at http://www.ProfessorSol.com. Here’s a link to his book on Amazon:  https://a.co/d/dO0dUh6 #autism, #ExecutiveFunction, #AdultAutism, #AuDHD, #college, #NeuroSpicy, #Neurodiversity

    55 min

  3. JAN 16

    The ADHD Productivity Manual: Learning from Ari Tuckman Ep 73

    Hey Team! Dr. Ari Tuckman is a real-life hero to me. His latest book, The ADHD Productivity Manual, is like a pep talk meets a strategy session. He gets ADHD, and he gets human brains. You'll love this episode, where we talk perspectives and tools to make life smoother. All my love to you, Sarah Ari Tuckman's ⁠website⁠ and to ⁠order his books⁠Learn about the CHADD/ International ADHD conference here Connect with me! My book is out, in the wild, and it's changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at ⁠Solution Tree ⁠or on ⁠Amazon⁠. I'm also training educators across this beautiful globe, and we're finding improving students' executive function is game-changing! Improved behaviors, attendance, learning...big, surprising impacts (even to me, who loves this stuff!) If that sounds like what your school or child's school needs, ⁠reach out⁠! Sarah at sarahkesty.com. More about Ari: I love doing therapy, presenting, writing, and volunteering. And I’m really lucky to have such great people to do it with—my clients who do the hard work, the friends I present with, the podcast hosts who create fascinating conversations, and the fellow volunteers who help organize one of the biggest ADHD conferences of the year. It’s important work that’s easy to motivate for. I say that ADHD doesn’t create new problems; it just exacerbates the universal ones. We all sometimes get distracted, procrastinate, misplace our keys, feel misunderstood, and doubt ourselves. Targeted strategies can make all the difference, whether about managing your time or navigating a difficult negotiation with your partner. And also, none of us need to be perfect in order to live a meaningful life and feel good about ourselves, so we also work on being OK with the parts of ourself or our situation that won’t change. A brave life means being willing to take risks (but only wise ones) and also having the courage to accept the imperfections in ourselves and others. --Ari Tuckman #ADHD, #executivefunction, #autism, #productivity, #timemanagement, #therapy, #CHADD, #ADD

    49 min

  4. JAN 7

    Give Yourself a Mistakes Budget: Wealth, EF, and Elizabeth Husserl Ep 71

    Hi team, You might call it an "ADHD" or "Executive Dysfunction tax." The very real experience of executive function challenges costing money is frustrating. Late fees, forgotten payments, impulse buys...these might even be topics you don't want to approach because they're overwhelming and possibly shameful. That's where   registered investment advisor, wealth manager, and thought leader Elizabeth Husserl comes in. We talk about the tough stuff, the money stuff, and give you new perspectives and tools. Her book, The Power of Enough: Finding Joy in Your Relationship with Money, is full of resources, stories, and gentle support, to help you heal your approach to money and celebrate the areas in life where you have SO much wealth. All my love to you, team, Sarah More about Elizabeth: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.husserl/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethhusserl/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethhusserlVisit her online at http://www.elizabethhusserl.com. Get her book here or at your favorite book store. Connect with me! My book is out, in the wild, and it's changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at ⁠Solution Tree ⁠or on ⁠Amazon⁠. I'm also training educators across this beautiful globe, and we're finding improving students' executive function is game-changing! Improved behaviors, attendance, learning...big, surprising impacts (even to me, who loves this stuff!) If that sounds like what your school or child's school needs, ⁠reach out⁠! Sarah at sarahkesty.com. More about the amazing Elizabeth:Elizabeth Husserl is a registered investment advisor representative, financial advisor, and cofounder of Peak360 Wealth Management, a boutique wealth planning firm. She holds a BS in economics from Tulane University and an MA in East-West psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies, where she has also taught as an adjunct professor. Her experience spans nonprofit work throughout the Americas, and she is a highly sought-after speaker, having led workshops at major tech companies, including Airbnb, Unity, and Google. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and daughter.#executivefunction #wealth #financialadvising #autism #adhd #autismo #neurodivergent #parenting #wealth

    45 min

  5. 12/12/2025

    Creating a Life That Fits: a conversation with ADHD coach Debra Levy, Ep 70

    Hi, Team! You know when you feel overwhelmed or lost and you have (or want) that one friend who can hear you and help you sort things out? That's Debra Levy. In our conversation, we explore self-advocacy, adult ADHD, and why our minds might be like messy closets. (Real talk: we definitely have some chaotic spaces in our household and sometimes in our brains around here, and I'm eager to test out new ideas!) Debra shares some of her favorite strategies and client wins. I left our conversation with new perspectives, analogies, and most importantly, hope! All my love, Sarah From the show: Debra's original episode with us was #49 on Spotify and Apple JAN Job Accommodation Network: askjan.org Find Debra at: www.alifethatfits.comdebralevy@alifethatfits.com732-688-3060https://twitter.com/alifethatfitshttps://www.instagram.com/alifethatfitscoaching/https://www.linkedin.com/in/debraslevy/https://www.facebook.com/alifethatfitscoaching/Connect with me! My book is out, in the wild, and it's changing lives! Order Growing Executive Function at Solution Tree or on Amazon. I'm also training educators across this beautiful globe, and we're finding improving students' executive function is game-changing! Improved behaviors, attendance, learning...big, surprising impacts (even to me, who loves this stuff!) If that sounds like what your school or child's school needs, reach out: Sarah at sarahkesty.com.

    39 min

  6. 07/30/2025

    Exploring Different Models of School, for all kinds of brains Ep 69

    Hey Team! By now you've probably come to realize that being different isn't wrong, and that's certainly true for our students! Sometimes the traditional school model is out of synch with what our students need,--a challenge we meet with accommodations, learning plans, and sometimes changing schools. Today on the show, we'll hear from one model of schooling, Fusion Academy. Administrator Samantha Lettin explores her strengths and struggles as a leader and celebrates the different ways students can learn. Sending you all my love, Sarah Audience: everyone, particularly parents of neurodivergent kids

    29 min

  7. 07/24/2025

    Allison Robertson, actor and filmmaker, shares her experience of being neurodivergent in Hollywood...and in life! Ep 68

    Team, Meet my new friend, Allison Robertson, who you may know her from The Accountant 2 . What you might not know is that Allison's journey is one to celebrate and learn from. Allison reminds us that what you see on the outside, in this moment--a successful actor, filmmaker, singer, and model-- may reflect years of messy growth and self-discovery. I know that her perspectives and strategies will help each of you! Allison's short film, Love Transparent, is linked below :) All my love to you, team, Sarah The film: https://youtu.be/YJUEDL4VZSA Interview with director: https://youtu.be/aw4OV7Ft1a4 About Allison: IMBD Audience: all ages and brains :)

    43 min

  8. 07/17/2025

    Steve Spitz (Love on the Spectrum) shares his perspectives on being different, connecting with others, and enjoying life! Ep 67

    Team, When I met Steve at the TACA convention, I realized that Love on the Spectrum captured his awesomeness well--but not in its entirety. Steve is thoughtful, upbeat, and, well, full of Love! On our show, Steve and explore the experience of being different, how we can look to artists for examples of being true to their "weird" selves, and our shared distain for competition. (Yes, I lose the ball in pickleball because I'm watching other players' faces.) Get ready to fill your heart with Steve's message to all of us! All my love, Sarah TACA: The Autism Community in Action. Learn more here Netflix's Love on the Spectrum (Steve is featured in seasons one and two)

    1h 17m
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4.8
out of 5
55 Ratings

About

Helpful, fun, and effective strategies to support everyone's executive function! Learn how to coach yourself, your teen, or your child to manage attention, organize, and plan. We share inspiration for families and individuals with neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and more. We love what we do and are passionate about helping you thrive!

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Kesty, Brain Tools School
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Kesty, Brain Tools School
  • Show Website
    The Executive Function Podcast

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