Learn and Work Smarter

Katie Azevedo

Whether you're a student or a working professional, the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast delivers the clarity, strategies, and encouragement you need to stay focused, organized, and on top of your tasks.  Hosted by Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.—a private executive function coach with 20 years of teaching experience and a deep background in ADHD and cognitive science—this show is your practical guide to building the real-life skills that school and work demand but rarely teach. Episodes cover a range of topics, including time management, productivity, studying smarter, focus strategies, task initiation, and executive function habits. Each topic is approached through a lens of neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and deep compassion. You’ll learn systems that are teachable, sustainable, and immediately actionable. No fluff. No hype. Just real strategies for getting things done, reducing stress, and showing up as the most capable version of yourself.

  1. 128. ADHD and the Hidden Shame of Falling Off Track – And How to Start Again

    3d ago

    128. ADHD and the Hidden Shame of Falling Off Track – And How to Start Again

    Send me a message!🤓 People with ADHD know this situation all too well: they start a project with enthusiasm, then lose motivation and stop halfway through, and then struggle to ever restart because of the shame and embarrassment they feel about abandoning their work.  Stopping projects halfway through is hard enough. But then not knowing how to get back on track and drowning in shame is a whole other experience. That’s what we’re covering in this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast. We talk about why people with ADHD start strong but fade fast, and what to do about it. What You'll Learn: Why people with ADHD tend to start new projects with high motivationThe role of dopamine in task initiation and task completionHow to hack your dopamine to keep going when you want to quitThe surprising connection between ADHD and shameThe one question you need to ask yourself when you fall off the bandwagonA whole boatload of strategies to help you restart what you abandoned – without shame 🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/128)Submit a question to the showEpisode 72: How to Finish What You Start Episode 93: The 10-Minute Habit that Makes Every Day Less Stressful (Status Notes)Free weekly planner (FREE DOWNLOAD)Google Calendar Tutorial for Students ❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    33 min
  2. 127. 5 Invisible Forces That Make You Always Feel Behind

    May 21

    127. 5 Invisible Forces That Make You Always Feel Behind

    Send me a message!🤓 You know that feeling when you’re super busy, you have a million things to do … but you still feel behind and like you got nothing done at the end of the day? It’s not your imagination.  In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I reveal the 5 secret (and oh so sneaky!) invisible forces that destroy productivity and keep you running on a to-do-list treadmill to nowhere. What You'll Learn: How most people approach productivity (and get it wrong)The sneaky thing you do all day that takes WAY more time than you think it doesHow your brain is lying to you about what it can doHow planning optimism (sure! I can do that!) is a productivity predatorExactly how to tame these 5 invisible forces and take back your day 🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/127)Submit a question to the showEpisode 03: The Admin Block Strategy Episode 95: Time Estimation StrategiesEpisode 68: The Time Management Trap Nobody Talks About  Free weekly planner (FREE DOWNLOAD)Google Calendar Tutorial for Students ❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTubeGot your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    19 min
  3. 126. Top 5 Secret Skills of Adulting (At Any Age)

    May 14

    126. Top 5 Secret Skills of Adulting (At Any Age)

    Send me a message!🤓 “Adulting” has nothing to do with age. Instead, it has to do with the ability to operate independently and function in a way that supports your goals.  In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I reveal the top 5 secret skills of adulting that, when they’re mastered, make everything else about school and work (and life) so much easier and less dramatic. This episode is for all ages … even if you’re already a 100-year-old adult 😉 What You'll Learn: 5 secret adulting skills that will make your entire life easier and less dramaticThe number one secret adulting skill that makes all the other ones possible What to do if you suspect you could use a boost in any of the adulting skillsThe negative impact that lacking these skills can have on your life, even in ways you’d never suspect🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/126)Submit a question to the showEpisode 07: How to Learn Things Episode 05: How to Build a Task Management SystemEpisode 25: 5 Time Management Mistakes You’re MakingEpisode 38: How to Be ResourcefulEpisode 46: How to Be ProfessionalEpisode 48: Task Management TipsEpisode 68: The Time Management Trap Nobody Talks About    Free weekly planner (FREE DOWNLOAD)❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscri Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    33 min
  4. 125. Making Your Commute Productive and Leading When You're Unmotivated (Q&A)

    May 7

    125. Making Your Commute Productive and Leading When You're Unmotivated (Q&A)

    Send me a message!🤓 In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. Question 1: How can I make my commute to and from work more productive? Question 2: How can I be an effective leader when I’m burned out and unmotivated? What You'll Learn: A unique commute strategy that can clear your head, increase your clarity, and improve your productivityA counterintuitive way to use your drive time to get ahead on work or school without touching your phoneWhy curating your commute playlist isn't just "listening to music" — and how to do it with intentionThe real reason your team loses motivation (hint: it has nothing to do with your own motivation level)What effective leadership requires on low-motivation days — and what’s not a factor at all (most people mix up these two) 🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/125)Submit a question to the showEpisode 4: What to Do When You're Overwhelmed Episode 110: How to ThinkFree weekly planner (FREE DOWNLOAD) ❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    32 min
  5. 124. How to Meet Tight Deadlines (Without Losing Your Mind)

    Apr 30

    124. How to Meet Tight Deadlines (Without Losing Your Mind)

    Send me a message!🤓 Deadlines don't care how overwhelmed you feel. Tight deadlines? Those require a completely different approach — more urgency, more intensity, and a clear plan for execution. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast, I break down six strategies for meeting tight deadlines without losing your mind. Part one covers three pre-work strategies that take maybe 10 minutes total. Part two covers three execution strategies to actually get the dang thing done. What You'll Learn: Why clarity on your deliverable is the most critical first step — and what happens when you skip itHow to make time visible (time is math, not a feeling) and schedule work into real, specific slotsThe three options when the math doesn't math and you don't have enough time to meet your deadlineWhy setup and starting are one combined step, and what that looks like in practiceHow to work in contained chunks with specificity so you're not wasting precious minutes deciding what to do5 micro strategies for locking in🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/124)Episode 80: How to Do a Work SprintPomodoro Technique Alternatives (video)Free weekly planner (FREE DOWNLOAD)❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    28 min
  6. 123. 5 Steps for Applying for Scholarships – with Expert Dave Peterson

    Apr 23

    123. 5 Steps for Applying for Scholarships – with Expert Dave Peterson

    Send me a message!🤓 ⭐Get the Scholarship Summer Camp + Note-Taking Power System Bundle right here: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/katie (you get my whole note-taking course for free!) It’s a common misunderstanding that scholarships are only for graduating students headed right to college. In fact, students of all ages can and should apply for scholarship money as soon as possible. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast, I talk with Dave Peterson of Scholarship GPS. Dave is a scholarship expert who shares with us his awesome 5-step process for simplifying the scholarship application process and getting students the money they deserve. Plus, Dave and I team up to offer students the coolest bundle ever: enroll in his Scholarship Summer Camp (6-week program starting in June) and get my Note-Taking Power System for free! Grab that here. (https://www.scholarshipgps.com/katie) What You'll Learn: Why summer is actually the best time to apply for scholarships (and it's not just for seniors)The 5-step process that makes applying for scholarships (and winning them!) easier than you can imagineWhat happens to scholarship money if your kid wins before they're ready for collegeThe #1 reason most scholarship applications get rejected before anyone even reads the essayWhy a strong GPA is not a requirement for winning — and what matters more🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/123)Episode 75: How to Pay for College with Scholarships - with Dave Peterson⭐Get the Scholarship Summer Camp + Note-Taking Power System Bundle right here: https://www.scholarshipgps.com/katie (you get my whole note-taking course for free!)Dave’s free list of scholarship websites: Download for free❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    34 min
  7. 122. The Biggest Lie We Tell Struggling Students: Why Studying MORE Isn't the Answer

    Apr 16

    122. The Biggest Lie We Tell Struggling Students: Why Studying MORE Isn't the Answer

    Send me a message!🤓 ⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a Pro Most struggling students are in the situation they’re in because no one ever taught them how to actually DO school. We expect them to learn, but nobody ever teaches them HOW. Therefore, the "just study more" might be the most well-meaning, unhelpful advice we keep giving them. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I break down exactly why the study harder message misses the mark, what's actually going on for students who are working hard and still not seeing results, and what the real solution looks like. What You'll Learn: Why more effort applied to the wrong approach doesn't produce better results — and what it produces insteadThe real reason high-achieving high schoolers often completely fall apart their first semester of college (it's not what you think)Why the scaffolds schools provide (study guides, teacher slides, pre-made flashcards) can work against students in the long runWhat most students are actually doing when they think they're studying, and why it doesn't workThe house-building metaphor that reframes everything about how we talk to struggling studentsThe six specific, teachable skills that make up the real foundation of academic successThe one question parents should ask before ever telling their student to try harder🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)Episode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/122)❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    28 min
  8. 121. Frustration Tolerance: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Build It

    Apr 9

    121. Frustration Tolerance: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Build It

    Send me a message!🤓 Frustration tolerance is one's ability to sustain attention, endurance and emotional composure during frustrating tasks. While we all get frustrated from time to time, having a low frustration tolerance can have a serious impact on our work, school and personal lives. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I dive deep into frustration tolerance, its connection to ADHD, and how to improve your own frustration tolerance level so you can achieve your goals with less drama. What You Learn: What frustration tolerance is and why it matters a tonThe connection between frustration tolerance and ADHD (we get a little science-y here)The roles that emotional regulation, past experiences and personal narrative play in our ability to handle hard tasksHow to make tasks less frustrating in the first place (so you don't hit your max capacity so soon)What to do when you do hit your maximum frustration tolerance and you still have work to doThe ultimate mega strategy for improving your frustration tolerance so you can learn and work more peacefully and with way less drama🔗 Resources Mentioned: ⭐SchoolHabits University (SchoolHabitsUniversity.com)⭐Note-Taking Power System (NoteTakingSystem.com)⭐Assignment Management Power System (AssignmentManagementSystem.com)⭐FREE Parent Training: How to Help Your Teen Handle School Like a ProEpisode website (https://www.learnandworksmarter.com/podcast/121)Episode 38: How to Be ResourcefulEpisode 55: How to Use Body Doubling to Improve Your FocusEpisode 64: How to Do Hard ThingsEpisode 84: How to Fail SmarterEpisode 118: The Real Reason You Have Test Anxiety ❤️ Connect: InstagramFacebookPinterestSubscribe on YouTube Got your own burning question you'd like me to answer on a future episode? AWESOME! You can submit your questions via the form on my homepage right here. Please follow the show and leave a review if what you hear is helpful. Doing so helps me more than you'll ever know. Thank you!! LET'S CONNECT Sign up for my (pretty darn good) newsletter that I very craftily named ReportCard. For hundreds of tutorials featuring tips on studying, productivity, organization, learning, time management and more, head to my blog: SchoolHabits.com.

    37 min
See All (128)

Trailer

5
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22 Ratings

About

Whether you're a student or a working professional, the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast delivers the clarity, strategies, and encouragement you need to stay focused, organized, and on top of your tasks.  Hosted by Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.—a private executive function coach with 20 years of teaching experience and a deep background in ADHD and cognitive science—this show is your practical guide to building the real-life skills that school and work demand but rarely teach. Episodes cover a range of topics, including time management, productivity, studying smarter, focus strategies, task initiation, and executive function habits. Each topic is approached through a lens of neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and deep compassion. You’ll learn systems that are teachable, sustainable, and immediately actionable. No fluff. No hype. Just real strategies for getting things done, reducing stress, and showing up as the most capable version of yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Katie Azevedo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Learn and Work Smarter
  • Show Website
    Learn and Work Smarter

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