Shows
Learn and Work Smarter84. How to Fail Smarter: The Secret Skill of Bouncing BackFailing hurts. But the better we can extract meaning from our failures, the faster we can bounce back from them. In this (slightly vulnerable) episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share my personal experiences with failing and the strategies I use to now view those “failures” as some of the best things that have ever happened to me.What You'll Learn:Why failure hurts so much and how to make it hurt lessHow to determine if something is really a failure or something elseWhat to do immediately after you fail3...2025-07-2425 min
Learn and Work Smarter83. Anxiety’s Hidden Cost in School and Work (And What to Do About It) - with Dr. Jackie ParkeIn this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I interview Dr. Jackie Parke, founder of Through the Waters and a psychologist who specializes in helping teens and college students cope with anxiety. In this value-packed and emotional episode, Dr. Parke shares important insights that can help both students and professionals suffering from anxiety at school or work. The key takeaway? You don’t have to suffer.What You'll LearnThe difference between stress, overwhelm, and clinical anxietySigns of anxiety and 4 factors that suggest it’s time to seek supportHow anxiety impac...2025-07-1754 min
Learn and Work Smarter82. Post-Grad Gap Years + Should You Check Email in the Morning? (Q&A)In this monthly Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners of the show. Question One: A college student asks whether taking a year after graduation to travel will impact their hiring prospects. My answer might surprise you!Question Two: A professional asks me to weigh in on some common productivity advice about email. I'll bet you've heard this advice before, too ... and I issue some words of caution if it's something you follow.What You'll LearnWhy taking a gap year after college doesn’t have to der...2025-07-1021 min
The Scholarship GPS Podcast: Your Directions to a Debt-Free College DegreeStudy Skills for High School and College + 6 Scholarship OpportunitiesI recently spoke with Katie Azevedo of School Habits. Having taught in both public and private school systems, Katie has seen firsthand how our students are expected to learn, but they are rarely given the tools or strategies to do so.
Since 2006, she has personally coached thousands of students, one-on-one, on standardized tests (SAT/ACT, SSAT, GRE), application essays, study skills, executive functions, and writing and reading instruction.
Katie works with students in grade 6 through graduate school, as well as adults looking to further their work productivity habits.
In our conversation, Katie explains...2025-07-0735 min
Learn and Work Smarter81. Is Grad School Worth It? How to Decide If It's Right for YouGrad school can be a terrific way to gain industry knowledge, career advancement and a financial bump. But it’s also expensive, time-consuming, and not always necessary.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share a unique framework (the WNC Framework) for deciding whether graduate school is the right option for you. We also discuss alternatives to grad school that might still get you exactly what you want.What You'll LearnThe benefits of graduate programsThe drawbacks of graduate programsWhat the WNC Framework is and how to use it...2025-07-0328 min
Learn and Work Smarter80. How to Do a Work Sprint (And Make Massive Progress Fast)Got a big project you’ve been avoiding? Or one you just need to make massive progress on, fast? In this episode, I walk you through one of my favorite strategies for intense productivity: the work sprint.I’ll define what a work sprint is, walk you through exactly how to set one up (logistics, mindset, and all), and share real-life examples of using this method to get massive things done.What You'll Learn▶ What makes a task right (or wrong) for a work sprint▶ How to plan meals, logistics, and mater...2025-06-2629 min
Learn and Work Smarter79. Rejection Sensitivity and The Missing Piece in ADHD Productivity Advice — with Lindsay RobertsMost ADHD productivity advice skips something essential: the internal dialogue, the fear of being judged, and the deep self-doubt. In this episode, I’m joined by ADHD thought leader and creator of ADHDKlub Lindsay Roberts to talk about what happens beneath the surface of an ambitious ADHD mind. We have a raw and honest conversation about rejection sensitivity, identity wounds, and the emotional resistance that sabotages so many people with ADHD before they even begin. We unpack rejection sensitivity, including what it is, how it shows up in daily life, and why it's one of the...2025-06-1947 min
Learn and Work Smarter78. Weekend Work: Smart Move or Bad Habit? And How to Regain Weekday Focus (Q&A)Is it okay to work on weekends? And what’s going on when you sit down to work during the week but just… can’t? In this Q&A episode, I’m answering two listener-submitted questions that get at the heart of time, focus, and burnout.We’ll talk about when weekend work can actually serve you, and when it’s just masking deeper problems. I’ll also walk you through the most common reasons people lose weekday focus (hint: it’s not laziness), and how to restructure your systems to make your workday more manageable.2025-06-1218 min
Learn and Work Smarter77. How to Use Time-Blocking for Better Focus and ProductivityIf you’re overwhelmed, distracted, or constantly wondering where your day went, time-blocking can help. And if you've tried time blocking before and thought it “didn’t work”, I invite you to try it again using the strategies I teach in this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast.Listen in as I break down how to use time-blocking to improve focus and productivity without cramming more into your schedule. Whether you're a student juggling coursework or a professional managing multiple projects, you'll learn how to use this flexible structure to plan your day around wh...2025-06-0522 min
Learn and Work Smarter76. 10 Digital Calendar Power Moves for Students and ProfessionalsMost of us have a digital calendar… but few of us are using it to its full potential. In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I’m walking you through 10 practical ways to turn your digital calendar into a true productivity tool.Part 1 covers 6 calendar power moves. These are simple but game-changing ways to make your calendar work for you instead of against you.Part 2 is all about building a reliable calendar habit so you can actually stick with it and trust it to guide your day.Whether you'r...2025-05-2931 min
Learn and Work Smarter75. How to Pay for College with Scholarships — with Expert Dave PetersonWhat if your college education could cost just $1,500? Seem too good to be true?In this expert interview episode, I chat with Dave Peterson of Scholarship GPS about how he helped his own son do exactly that. Now, he now helps other families across the country find and win scholarships to pay for school without student loans.What You’ll Learn:✅The actual best time to start applying for scholarships✅Common myths that stop students from applying (and how to bust them)✅What students should include in their sc...2025-05-2238 min
Learn and Work Smarter74. Should You Change Jobs or Change Companies? And Protecting Your Time at Work (Q&A)Should you change jobs or change companies? And how do you protect your time at work without feeling guilty? In this Q&A episode, I answer two powerful questions submitted by listeners. The first question dives into a major career decision: whether to change jobs within your current company or look for new opportunities elsewhere. I share practical steps for making this decision, including how to assess your skills, talk to your manager, and prepare for a new role.The second question is all about saying no at work — without guilt. I share strategies for clea...2025-05-1520 min
Learn and Work Smarter73. How to Get Better at Something: A 2-Pronged Approach that WorksWant to get better at something, but not sure how? Do you read more about it? Practice more? Ask someone for help? Close your eyes and wing it?In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share a two-pronged strategy for improving at anything, whether it’s a skill for school, a work task, or a personal goal.You’ll learn why most people only use one side of the strategy (and stay stuck), and how you can use both sides to make faster, more reliable progress on whatever it is you want...2025-05-0819 min
Learn and Work Smarter72. How to Finish Unfinished Projects (Or Let Them Go Without Guilt)In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we tackle one of the biggest energy drains no one talks about: unfinished projects.You’ll learn how to get clarity on your half-done tasks, make intentional decisions about what to finish (and what to release without guilt), and reignite your momentum for what matters most.Whether you’re a working professional with unfinished work projects, or a student with unfinished academic projects, this episode will give you a clear map forward.What You’ll Learn:✅ How unfinished projects silently...2025-05-0121 min
Learn and Work Smarter71. Task Management Gaps and Grad School Overload (Q&A)Why do you still forget tasks even though you write everything down? And how are you supposed to keep up with grad school reading when there’s more than you could ever finish — and you’re already behind?In this Q&A episode, I answer two listener questions that hit close to home for so many of us. The first question comes from a professional who says his system feels “full of holes” — he’s writing things down but still missing the little stuff. I walk through how to fix your capture and review process, what’s going on...2025-04-2429 min
Learn and Work Smarter70. Managing People and Projects: Real-World Leadership Lessons from Richard RegitanoWhat makes someone a strong leader? How do you manage people without micromanaging? And how do systems help you lead with clarity and calm?In this expert interview, I talk with Richard Regitano, Managing Director of Engineering and Operations, about the real-world habits and mindsets that support effective leadership. We talk about emotional intelligence, team trust, recurring one-on-ones, and why every leader should know how to manage their own information before managing other people.Whether you're a seasoned professional or a student thinking about leadership down the road, this episode offers...2025-04-1742 min
Learn and Work Smarter69. Top 10 Executive Function Skills You Need in the Real World (And How to Build Them If You Don't Have Them)Ever feel like you're smart and trying—but still constantly behind?You might be missing the one set of skills that makes everything else possible: executive function.In this episode, I break down the 10 executive function skills you actually need in the real world—skills like starting tasks, managing your time, organizing your space, regulating emotions, and following through on long-term goals.These aren’t just school skills. They’re life skills. And if no one ever taught them to you, you’re not alone.I’ll show you what these skills look...2025-04-1049 min
Disability Daily PodcastApril 8: Serge Kovaleski, José Álvares de Azevedo & Gallaudet University's Charter DayTranscript
Today we celebrate Pulitzer-prize winning journalist with arthrogryposis, Serge Kovaleski, blind teacher José Álvares de Azevedo, and the founding of Gallaudet University for the Deaf and hard of hearing in 1864.
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Hello and welcome to the Disability Daily Podcast! I’m your host, Katie, and over the past couple years, I’ve worked on a 365-day calendar that recognizes different folks and key moments in disability history each day of the year. I’m turning this into a quick daily podcast, and I’m excited to share this with you!
If you’re...2025-04-0806 min
Learn and Work Smarter68. The Time Management Trap No One Talks AboutEver feel like your calendar should be manageable—but you’re still totally maxed out? In this episode, I unpack one of the most frustrating time traps we all fall into: the invisible overhead that comes with saying yes.I’m not talking about classic time management tricks today. Instead, I’m digging into why your schedule feels heavier than it looks, and how all the “invisible” tasks—like prep, logistics, and mental energy—add up fast.I share examples from my own life (including a funny full-circle moment about a committee I joined) and give you two too...2025-04-0331 min
Learn and Work Smarter67. Why Critical Thinking Matters for School & Work – with Professor Mark MassaroWhat does it really mean to “think critically”? In this episode, I chat with college professor Mark Massaro about how students can build critical thinking skills through reading and writing—and why these skills matter way beyond the classroom. We talk about everything from resume writing and job interviews to recognizing bias and reading the room in high-stakes situations. If you’ve ever wondered how analyzing a short story could help your future career, this episode will make it clear.Never stop learning.What You’ll Learn:What critical thinking actually is...2025-03-2743 min
Learn and Work Smarter66. How to Stop Wasting Time at Work & Between College Classes (Q&A)Do you ever find yourself wasting time at work or between college classes, even though you want to be productive? Despite your best intentions, you’re just NOT getting done what needs to get done?In this Q&A episode, I answer two listener questions — one from a remote marketing professional and one from a college sophomore — about how to actually get work done instead of spinning their wheels.What You’ll Learn:Why an admin block can help you stop getting sucked into non-importantHow a lack of clarity leads to procrastinationWays to struc...2025-03-2023 min
Learn and Work Smarter65. The Sunday Reset: The Secret to a Less Stressful WeekWe all know that feeling — Monday morning hits, and suddenly we’re overwhelmed, scrambling to figure out what’s due, what meetings we have, and where the weekend even went. But what if we could prevent that Sunday night dread with a simple reset routine?In this episode, I walk through five core elements of a solid Sunday Reset — plus ten optional add-ons—to help us start the week with clarity and confidence. A Sunday Reset doesn’t have to take long (just 45 minutes!), but it can make all the difference in how the rest of the week p...2025-03-1328 min
Learn and Work Smarter64. How to Do Hard Things: 7 Strategies to Move You ForwardWe all know that feeling: you sit down to start something challenging, and suddenly, everything else feels more appealing. Your phone, a snack, even cleaning out your sock drawer. Anything to avoid the hard thing in front of you.But here’s the truth: being able to do hard things is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.In this episode, I’m sharing seven practical strategies to help you move forward when something feels impossible. These aren’t vague “push through it” tips—they’re real, actionable techniques that help you break tasks down, sh...2025-03-0633 min
Learn and Work Smarter63. How to Have a Productive Day: My 3-Bucket System for Getting It Done and Staying BalancedYou know how satisfying it is to have a good, solid productive day — a day where we accomplish what we set out to accomplish and make progress on our goals. We feel balanced, rested and like it was a day well spent.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share my personal strategy for having a productive day. I’ve been using this method for years (can I call it a method? I’m going to) and I figured if sharing it on the show helps just one person, it’s worth it...2025-02-2722 min
Learn and Work Smarter62. Managing Email Inbox Chaos and Email ParalysisIn this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I tackle two questions submitted by listeners – both about email overwhelm and procrastination. If your inbox feels like a chaotic mess or you find yourself avoiding certain emails, you're not alone!📩 Question 1: Where do I start when my entire email inbox is a mess? The unread emails are out of control and I'm tempted to delete everything and start fresh.📩 Question 2: Why do I feel paralyzed when I get an email that I need to respond to? I have no trouble writing...2025-02-2030 min
Learn and Work Smarter61. How to Prepare for Meetings (So You Look Good to Your Boss)Preparing for meetings isn't just about avoiding embarrassment. (Although it's certainly about that too!) Preparing adequately for meetings not only makes it easier to do our job, but doing so also gives the impression that we take our jobs seriously.Plus, being unprepared is unprofessional -- and that's not a look we're going for, is it?In this week's episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share 7 strategies for how to prepare for meetings. The tips are for you if you're new to the workforce AND if you've been to a t...2025-02-1327 min
Learn and Work Smarter60. How to Handle Workplace Conflict: Tips from an HR Expert -- with Jessica AlvarezWorkplace conflict is inevitable. That's because relationships with our colleagues are just like any relationship: they require communication, compromise and compassion.In this interview with international HR expert Jessica Alvarez (think JetBlue and HubSpot!), we have a strategy-packed conversation about how to handle workplace conflict productively and effectively -- while using it as an opportunity for growth.New professionals and long-time professionals: this is for you.🎙️Other Episodes + Resources Mentioned⭐Episode Website ⭐(with the transcript and all the helpful things)Enroll in SchoolHabits UniversityGet my free parent training...2025-02-0643 min
Learn and Work Smarter59. 7 ADHD Organization Tips for Students and ProfessionalsGetting and staying organized can be challenging for people with ADHD. While intricate systems and high-tech tools might seem appealing at first, they often don’t align with how the ADHD brain works.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share seven practical organization strategies designed specifically for students and professionals with ADHD. These approaches are simple, effective, and rooted in executive function principles.Listen in to discover seven ADHD-friendly organization tips that can help you manage school, work, and home life — without the overwhelm.🎙️Other Episodes + Resources Mentioned...2025-01-3037 min
College and Career ClarityStudy Strategies to Beat Your Teen's Mid-Year Slump with Katie AzevedoIn this episode, Lisa and Katie Azevedo discuss:The mid-year academic slump and its impactThe role of task and time management systems in student successShifting from passive to active learningGuiding teens to take ownership through the right questions and toolsKey Takeaways: Students often face three interconnected struggles mid-year: increased stress and overwhelm, poor academic performance, and low motivation. Addressing these issues requires concrete strategies.Effective study habits rely on using active recall techniques (e.g...2025-01-2832 min
Learn and Work Smarter58. In-Person vs. Online Classes, and Jobs vs. Internships (Q&A)In this week's Q&A episode, I answer two questions submitted by listeners.Question 1: A working professional headed to graduate school asks about choosing online grad programs vs. in-person grad programs.Question 2: A college student asks whether they should explore internships or go back to their standard summer job this summer.🎙️Other Episodes + Resources MentionedEpisode 22: Tips for Student Internships and Working with ADHD⭐Enroll in SchoolHabits University⭐Episode Website (with the transcript and all the helpful things)Get my free parent training! How to He...2025-01-2316 min
Learn and Work Smarter57. 20 Tips for Balancing School and a Part-Time JobAdding a part-time job to your student resume has many benefits: skill building and college applications just to name a few.But working while going to school is also very demanding, which is something that many students don't consider beforehand.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, I share 20 practical strategies that can help students balance school and a part-time job -- without going bananas or sacrificing their grades.🎙️Other Episodes + Resources Mentioned:Episode 20: How to Use Active RecallEpisode 33: Resume Tips for StudentsEpisode 36: How to Stop Procrastinating: Tips...2025-01-1634 min
Learn and Work Smarter56. Choosing a College Major: What Every Student & Parent Should Know -- with Lisa Marker RobbinsIt’s the first interview episode on the Learn and Work Smarter podcast!I have an enlightening conversation with college and career expert Lisa Marker Robbins of Flourish Coaching. Lisa sheds light on the importance of choosing a college major with intention and clarity — and shares a valuable resource for high school students (and their parents) to ensure they’re fully informed of their college major options.We Cover:→ When to start planning for your college major (hint: it’s sooner than you think!)→ When or when not to declar...2025-01-0930 min
Learn and Work Smarter55. How to Use Body Doubling to Boost Focus (with or without ADHD)Ever heard of body doubling? If not, you’re SO in the right place. In this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, I talk about the power of body doubling to improve focus and productivity.Body doubling is fairly well-known in the ADHD community, but the cool thing about this strategy is that it can be effective for people without ADHD too.We cover:→ What body doubling is→ Why body doubling works (the psychology)→ How to choose the ideal body double→ When to use body do...2025-01-0218 min
Learn and Work Smarter54. The Secret Ingredient Behind Every Accomplishment EverWe watch as people around us get the promotion, pass the exam, reach the goal...and we wonder what they have that we don’t have. The truth? It’s not what they have, it’s what they do.In this episode of the Learn and Work Smarter podcast, we shed light on the number one secret ingredient behind every accomplishment ever, whether big or small, public or private, yours or someone else’s. Tune in to find out the closest thing we have to magic.🎙️Other Episodes + Resources MentionedEpisode...2024-12-2619 min
Learn and Work Smarter53. Facing Time Management Reality and Setting Work Boundaries (Q&A)In this monthly Q&A episode of the Learn and Work Smarter Podcast, we’re answering two questions submitted by listeners.Question One: A working professional asks for strategies for completing tasks when time management isn’t the real issue, even though at first glance it sure looks that way.Question Two: A working professional asks for advice about setting boundaries between work and home, but in a way that doesn’t make him look uncommitted to his job.⭐Episode Website ⭐(with the transcript and all the helpful things)🎙️...2024-12-1930 min
Learn and Work Smarter52. SOPs and Workflows: How to Create & Use them to Increase ProductivityIn this episode of Learn and Work Smarter, we’re diving into the world of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) and workflows. We cover what they are, why they matter, and how to create and use them effectively. Whether you’re a student looking to streamline your study routine or a professional aiming to boost productivity, these tools can help you save time, reduce stress, and get consistent results day after day. Tune in to learn practical strategies for building your own SOPs and workflows to simplify your school and work life.🎧 Never stop learnin...2024-12-1233 min