Shows
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 203: Maggie Jackson - Gift of UncertaintySend us a textModern 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 personal cognitive horizons and become more open and curious in spite of internal and exte...
2024-01-161h 05
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 200: All Things Executive Function ~ 200th EpisodeSend us a text200 episodes! The Full PreFrontal Podcast has reached a significant milestone, and what does that mean to us? We’re “in it for the long haul!” We find inspiration from Japanese artist, On Kawara, known for his work that illustrates the beauty, structure, and discipline in doing something over a long period of time with persistence and care. A milestone often not only marks the start of a new chapter, but also serves as a reward for past accomplishments, both big and small. Achievements are precious and timeless, and what better way to comm...
2023-07-141h 04
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 150: Big Picture 8 – “MacGyvering” Your Way to Human IngenuitySend us a textA ticking bomb, an empty room with a hanger from the dry-cleaners, a radiator, two in captivity with their hands tied behind their backs, and that’s it. With less than 60 seconds left on the clock, only MacGyver can stay focused and optimistic, get himself untied, get his companion freed and flip the trick back on the assailant at the speed of lightening. That takes incredible problem solving and grace under fire that only a character on a TV show has. Or is it?In celebration of the 150th episode of th...
2021-05-2842 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 141: Maggie Jackson - The Attention RenaissanceSend us a textWhat is limited, valuable, and scarce? Attention. As society as a whole tries to navigate the new terrain where attention is the commodity supporting a large part of the economy, it is imperative that humans understand that attention is the gateway to information processing and “knowing what to pay attention to” is probably far more important than simply paying attention.Since the act of paying attention presents itself in more than one form such as listening, loving, cooperating, collaborating or even being generous and altruistic, we need to build brains that know...
2021-03-0452 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 126: Leah Kuypers - Get in the Zone!Send us a textEvery Halloween, when the late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel invites parents to video tape lying to their children having eaten all of their Halloween candy, it never fails to produce funny, hilarious, and some heart-wrenching videos of kids having officially lost their mind over the prank. However, it’s truly astonishing to find a kid or two who mange to stay calm and collected in the face of candy-distress. It is reasonable to ask how children regulate themselves during a conflict or disappointments of everyday life and bring themselves in the zone of...
2020-10-0750 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 121: Dr. James Danckert - Nothing Humdrum About BoredomSend us a textNone of us are fans of being bored; a state often marked by restlessness and mild forms of agitation. That’s why we all try and avoid the angst that seems to be associated with boredom. But surprisingly, scientists who study the brain, suggest that boredom isn’t too bad for us, but rather the brain’s nudge to get out of that state, take action, and bring about change. On this episode, neuroscientist, trained Clinical Neuropsychologist, and co-author of “Out of My Skull”, professor James Danckert discusses the neural correlates of boredom...
2020-08-2949 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 120: Dr. David Burns - Feeling Good Yet?Send us a textEmotions are the heartbeat of human existence and the human drama that is full of anxiety, sadness, anger, fury, joy, or love feels like we are either riding a roller-coaster or floating gently in a boat that’s in a calm and placid lake. Emotions that disrupt our relationship with the world require regulation, but conventional wisdom approaches might get us off track as we might train ourselves to either not feel the feelings or not react to them. On this podcast episode, father of the CBT-TEAM approach, author of the bes...
2020-08-2054 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 119: Dr. Laura Markham - Your Influence is Your RelationshipSend us a textThe parents’ job is to protect their children, offer safety and security, and above all, love them unconditionally. But there are visible and invisible barriers and everyone struggles. In order to raise children with strong executive function, parents need to help cultivate a strong foundation where the brain knows not to go into overdrive or over-react. By activating their own strong executive function, parents can build a nurturing relationship with their children.On this episode, author, parenting expert, and the founder of AhaParenting.com, Dr. Laura Markham, explains how the most ef...
2020-08-1141 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 118: Dr. Lyn S. Turkstra - Renewing the License to Get AlongSend us a textPopularized by the business community, the term "soft skills" might imply that these skills are neither nuanced nor hard to obtain. But scientists and researchers who study these skills refer to them as pragmatics, the way one uses language and communication to achieve social and interpersonal goals and believe that soft skills are critical to conveying intent, working harmoniously in situations of conflict and help us moving ahead in the world collaboratively. When disrupted or impaired however, the subpar soft skills rake in unimaginable hardship causing disruption of trust, joy, and social harmony.
2020-08-0657 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 117: Cheryl Rice - Meet Where They AreSend us a textWe are often astonished to read or hear in the news about a kid who grabs a classmate’s hair, or snatches food from their tray, or even kicks their teacher. The average person might focus on the obvious disrespectful and unacceptable in-school behaviors. However, we will be missing point if we think that kids should come to school already fully knowing how to behave “properly”. Instead, we need to receive them with open arms, find out what they can do, and provide them with the necessary help to teach them what they don’t...
2020-07-2242 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 116: Dr. Tim Elmore - Beyond FOMU (Fear of Messing Up)Send us a textThere is no generation like Gen Z whose stressors have been quadrupled by the times they have grown up in - the economic dotcom burst, highly skilled stressed out parents always in-between jobs, anxiety of a flattening world, and a technology/social-media enabled personal life. Naturally, the question emerges as to how do we help this generation of kids master their executive function and help them strive for personal self-sufficiency in spite of all the things considered.On this episode, Founder & CEO of Growing Leaders and prolific author of more than 30...
2020-07-1550 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 115: Barbara Oakley, Ph.D. - Learning as a Gift, Skill, and ChoiceSend us a textNothing is more invigorating than watching a young mind at work. Fascinated by curiosity and deeply enthralled in untangling its pieces, learning brings joy and satisfaction to both the teacher and the learner. But how does one make sure that the learner falls in love with learning? How much of that is the responsibility of an educator versus a parent versus a student himself? And what are the ways to lay out a blueprint for increasing learner autonomy and locus of control so that it directly influences a student’s personal achievement?
2020-07-0943 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 113: Doug Fisher, Ph.D. – Shifting from Surface Learning to Deep LearningSend us a textWhen talking about independence and self-sufficiency in their students, educators often use the term “Personal Responsibility” which refers to the set of mental skills that neuroscience describes to be Executive Function. Teachers recognize that in order to develop a level of independence and agency, educators must have a plan to transfer the “process tools” from the teacher to the students just as a relay-race runner passes his baton to the athlete that follows him. The question is, how do teachers create and foster a learning environment that centers around facilitating a sense of personal...
2020-06-1745 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 112: Sharon Saline – Counterbalancing Patterns of FailureSend us a textHaving difficulties can be discouraging and counterproductive. Children with ADHD experience far more defeats and discouragements compared to their counterparts. It’s no surprise that promote thriving in struggling learners depends on the right support, the right tools, but above all, the right environment that conveys a message of acceptance and hope.On this episode, our guest, Sharon Saline, Psy.D., an author and a clinical psychologist, discusses the unique needs created by the dopamine deficient ADHD brain and how best to coach, train, and support these brains to summon extra do...
2020-05-2847 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 111: Daniel Willingham – Cognitive Advantages to Teaching the Right WaySend us a textWhat do cooking, fishing, putting together a bookshelf, and a fixing a wall mount in the garage for your bike have in common? They are far easier to do by yourself than to teach it to someone. Those who teach recognize the challenge in going beyond learner engagement and external rewards or punishment; instead setting learners’ intrinsic motivation on fire by making them curious and engaged children.On this episode cognitive psychologist, prolific author, columnist for American Educator magazine, and professor of psychology, Daniel Willingham highlights the applicability of the fundamental pr...
2020-05-2246 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 110: Big Picture 7 – Age of the Resilient FamilySend us a textVincent van Gogh once wrote, “If I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it – keep going, keep going come what may.” Of course, this kind of striving and searching van Gogh is referring to is likely to guarantee one thing and that one thing is – encountering unsurmountable challenges. Sometimes we don’t even go looking, but still face unsurmountable challenges like right now, during this pandemic. Everyone can benefit from successful ways to cope with and rise above challenges. Group of peoples together can handle cha...
2020-05-1441 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 109: Dr. Raun Melmed – A Prescription by DescriptionSend us a textChildren are an enigma! Full of surprises and full of promise. However, one can be easily baffled when their boisterous high energy turns into an unmanageable rambunctiousness disrupting the household and relationships. Until recently, it was unconceivable for kids to have a mental disorder which made it hard to navigate the impact of various conditions on overall behaviors; particularly, maladaptive dysregulation.On this episode, our guest, developmental and behavioral pediatrician and author, Dr. Raun D. Melmed, discusses the overlap and distinctions between the two most common and co-occurring developmental disabilities: Autism...
2020-05-0545 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 108: Margaret Sibley, Ph.D. – A Field Guide to Engaging the Inner RebelSend us a textThe struggles of kids with ADHD are unmistakably unique and undoubtedly complex, but their lack of mental readiness to accept help is equally confusing. Nothing is more discouraging or draining for educators and parents than kids who resist direction instead of leaning into the help they receive. Since disrupted executive function in ADHD kids often interferes with their ability to accomplish tasks and manage personal success, their transition into young adulthood does not resemble that of the pre-teens and teens without ADHD and hence they need the help to work for them.
2020-04-2443 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 107: Adele Diamond – Becoming More Self-PossessedSend us a textThe brain’s prefrontal cortex is often described as the “work in progress” intimating that there exists a continuum of neural development shaped by an interplay between biology and behavior; each influencing the other. Naturally, Executive Function, a set of skills controlled by the prefrontal cortex, emerges slowly allowing humans to form future goals and gain independence in order to become more and more self-possessed. Based on the past few decades of research, educational and cognitive scientists have confirmed that every aspect of modern life requires strong executive function including daily planning, workplace produc...
2020-04-1646 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 106: Linda Graham – Bouncing Back Like a Skilled NinjaSend us a textNothing about the COVID-19 pandemic is business as usual. In fact, the social and economic stressors are taking a toll on every single person’s sense of well-being. Those taking care of children and those in frail health have the added burden of creating a safe home environment while providing critical support with patience, compassion, and positivity; in spite of feeling the opposite. The good news is that decades of research has shown that while being in home confinement and socially distancing, those who will successfully figure out ways and forge a path to...
2020-04-1045 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 105: Natalie Wexler – The Knowledge Gap KidsSend us a textWhat do extinct dinosaurs, shrinking planet Mercury, pygmies from Africa, Mesopotamian pottery, Roman bath houses, and the COVID-19 virus have in common? These are topics that once children know about, can build their knowledge of the world and expand their world view. Considering that in modern America, education is the best hope in minimizing the effects of inequity, we are better off exposing children to expansive topics, stories, ideas, and concepts that can frame successfully their innate curiosity and build early childhood learning readiness.On this episode, Natalie Wexler, journalist and...
2020-04-0150 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 104: Kim Bearden – The Teacher ArtisanSend us a textThere is a widespread acknowledgement that experts are made and not born and those who investigate how experts become experts that have studied the fields like surgery, computer programming, chess, ballet, music, or even firefighting agree that excellent training, deliberate practice, and exposure to masterful mentors are some key ingredients that seem to matter. So those who teach could benefit from the evidence that in order to put forth the best teaching teachers need to witness and interact with the best practitioners. That way, we might be able to rethink the concepts of...
2020-03-2346 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 103: Chris Herman, M.Ed – The Opposite of a “Won’t Do” MindsetSend us a textThe classroom neurodiversity happens to pose a challenge to educators not because we have a surge in the neurodiverse student body but more likely that we have acquired newer insights into how to differentiate different learners. The question remains however, what do we know about ways in which to impart knowledge and teach skills needed for their future? Since Executive Function challenges are insidious in nature, it is often hard for educators to distinguish the motives behind “can’t do” over “won’t do” behaviors. The art of teaching comes down to adjusting expectations...
2020-03-1238 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 102: Dr. William Stixrud – Recreating the Personal 2.0 SelfSend us a textAll parents want their children to grow up, be independent, and find happiness. Their conventional wisdom says, let me push my child to do well in school, work hard on stuff, and take part in various activities to “find” themselves. Because to a parent, the path to success has a formula “Education + Passion + Excellent Performance = Career” which equals to a life of bliss! And well-meaning parents want their children to find a career and then through that connect to their passion. But what if the formula runs into a glitch?On this epi...
2020-03-0544 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 101: Suvrat Bhargave, MD – You’re More Than What You FeelSend us a textUncertainly, unceasing demands, and all around unrest can provoke the feelings of restlessness, a state of irritability, and intense worrying and general dissatisfaction. But clinically speaking, these feelings of being on the edge are the signs of anxiety and often when they exceed the threshold of bearability a sense of unending despair can follow.On today’s podcast, psychiatrist, author of the book “The Moment of Insight”, educator, and celebrated speaker, Dr. Suvrat Bhargave from the Center for Family Psychiatry, discusses the true nature of the “growing pains” of children for whom the w...
2020-02-2549 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 99: Thomas Brown, Ph.D. - Ready. Fire. Aim!Send us a textWhen you shoot before you aim you get bad results. But that’s what everyday impulsiveness looks like for someone with ADHD. Pencil tapping, restless legs, inability to sit too long, distracted mind, interrupting others, and getting bored too quickly are some additional commonplace behaviors that highlight the habits and symptoms of those with ADHD. But beneath the surface the mismanagement of the goals, missing the forest for the trees, shooting from the hip, or regretting bad decisions is invisible to the naked eye.On today’s podcast, clinical psychologist, celebrated auth...
2019-12-2148 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 98: Louisa Moats, Ed.D. - The Truth About ReadingSend us a textThe answer to the question “What percentage of 16 million children living below the poverty line have a book in their home?” is 33%. While that is devastating, the real question is, does this query truly capture the complexities of developing reading skills in children living in these disadvantaged circumstances and would the exposure to more books promote the development of reading. The first truth about reading is that it is a skill; a skill that needs to be learned and taught. It takes systematic instructional effort to create access to the treasures that are under...
2019-12-1146 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 97: ExFiles – No More Square Peg in the Round HoleSend us a textViolet is the first to admit that people like her, who themselves have ADHD, suffer from “foot in mouth disease”. Getting herself in a jam by blurting out things, starting things but not finishing, procrastinating, and allowing chaos to continue without intercepting it with some remedy were a few things that made Violet’s life with ADHD harder than it needed to be. Becoming a parent to two kids with ADHD at a time when neither she or husband were diagnosed yet was brutal. But this a story of Violet finding her footing in cha...
2019-12-0941 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 96: Dr. Mary Ann Mulcahey, Eldrich Carr, and Carmen Mendoza - Pro-EF School CultureSend us a textThomas Wolfe said it best, “Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs”. A school culture and a home culture can have a profound impact on children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Executive Function engages the brain’s self-guiding system that takes us from challenges to mastery, from self-blindness to self-awareness, and from indifference to self-compassion. And that’s why it is important that growing brains and young learners from kindergarten through high school receive specific guidance to develop these skills with a strong cultural guardrail that sets the stage for future...
2019-12-0750 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 95: ExFiles – Rise Like a PhoenixSend us a textWell-cultivated attentional processes help orient us to the right information in the environment which in return, presents us with the greatest opportunities for learning and success. But research shows that those diagnosed with ADHD possess far less interest in tasks and particularly, those tasks that present with delayed rewards. The entire academic experience – working hard on something that builds knowledge over time even though momentarily it appears to serve no purpose in the immediate life – creates an insurmountable challenge for those who are bright, but have ADHD.On this ExFiles episode I in...
2019-11-1537 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 94: Christopher Chabris, Ph.D. - The Clash of the TitansSend us a textAncient wisdom has rightfully identified problems with the human mind which is ill-fitted to deal with the perceptual ambiguity that includes frequent gaps between one’s perceptions and reality. This creates a tussle between the intuitive system of the brain versus the reflective one, which often results in a “self-blind” mind that doesn’t know itself. As a result, the human mind and brain ends up spending a lifetime untangling the clash of the titans, or the intuitive and reflective systems.On today’s podcast our guest, Christopher Chabris, Ph. D., a cognitiv...
2019-11-0748 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 92: Hanna Bogen Novak - Stuck in the Middle No MoreSend us a textIn their song “Stuck in the Middle With You,” Scottish folk rock band Stealers Wheel’s lyrics go something like this –”Yes I’m stuck in the middle with you, And I’m wondering what it is I should do, It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face. Losing control, yeah, I’m all over the place.” These words capture the plight of a young and developing brain that often gets stuck in black and white thinking when caught in the throws of daily challenges, emotional setbacks, and unexpected wrenches. Simple redirection an...
2019-10-2248 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 91: Big Picture 6 - No Ordinary PlaySend us a textAccording to Dr. Stuart Brown, “divinely superfluous neurons” orchestrate a seemingly purposeless voluntary act that we call play. But let’s not underestimate the necessity and impact of play on the developing mind and overall human flourishing. Even though play is natural to babies, exciting to children, and helpful to even adults, not everyone gets equal opportunity to play and those who grow up with play deficits are known to either behave inflexibly or experience mild chronic depression.In this big-picture episode, Sucheta will discuss the value of the everyday human experi...
2019-10-1542 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 90: Prof. Suniya Luthar - When Having It All Doesn’t Translate Into Having It EasySend us a textAmericans were never that concerned about the issues of educating children until it dawned on everybody that children are in fact “economically useless, but emotionally priceless” as described by Viviana A. Zelizer. Since then, being over-consumed by current competition and future career success, well-educated upper-middle class affluent families, schools and communities are caught up in ensuring their children’s success, rather than preparing them for life.On today’s podcast, our guest Suniya S. Luthar, Foundation Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and Professor Emerita at Columbia University’s Teachers College re...
2019-10-0746 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 89: Prof. Suniya Luthar - The Affluenza TradeoffSend us a textNo one is spared from the drama and trauma of growing up, not even affluent kids. However, as hard as it is to imagine, the children of highly-educated parents with abundant material comforts and lifestyles of privilege have their own set of challenges, which surface in their own unique ways. They are growing up in highly-competitive environments with an immense pressure to excel, are frequently exposed to social comparisons, and have highly-driven and extremely busy parents who are not always available to relieve psychological distress or offer help.On this episode...
2019-10-0154 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 88: Michael Delman, M.Ed. - Beyond Just Semicolons & FractionsSend us a textSeeing an under-producing, under-performing, or generally disengaged kid is quite painful. They often struggle to connect with purpose and persevere when school activities get challenging. Sometimes educators attempt to engage children with fear or praise or even by trying to entertain them, which too doesn’t always yield self-driven motivation. The world comes at these kids with a great deal of ideas and suggestions to engage them. So what’s the right way to coach children and adolescents that will lead to intrinsic and self-sustaining effort which ultimately drives student success beyond academics?...
2019-09-2547 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 87: Dr. Christopher Willard - Working Out Your HeartSend us a textWhat’s common between a soccer mom who has a flat tire on the way to her son’s game, a Wall Street dad who just got told to stay in the office for the markets in the East to open, and a middle school girl who just got her new smart phone? They are all struggling to cope with feeling either anxious, lonely, stressed out, or tired. A dysregulated frontal lobe system often causes our executive function to crash and burn. Through mindfulness, one can cultivate a form of awareness that can brin...
2019-09-1641 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 86: Big Picture 5 - ADHD MattersSend us a textPsychologist and author Alexandra Horowitz says “Attention is an intentional, unapologetic discriminator. It asks what is relevant right now, and gears us up to notice only that.” It’s a gift to have such attentional acumen, but not everyone is lucky to have such a natural capacity for discrimination. In fact, in a neurogenetic and neuropsychiatric disorder like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the brain isn’t wired to successfully ignore things once they get noticed.In this big-picture episode, Sucheta discusses how and why ADHD is more like a disorder of Execu...
2019-09-0338 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 85: Ari Tuckman, Psy.D. - Twinning with Your Future SelfSend us a textIf you are taking a stroll on the beach while you have parked your car at a meter, you have to set aside some mental resources to think about the time and to make decisions to either return to your car to add money to the meter or take a chance or bear the pain of having to pay a fine later. But the human struggle of balancing the desire to be in the moment while also considering the future is exacerbated by conditions such as ADHD and that’s why many people st...
2019-08-2841 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 84: Dr. Ann Glang - The Forgotten InjurySend us a textIf an athlete on the high school varsity football, lacrosse, or soccer team happens to be more than typically distracted, taking too long, has become inconsistent with routines or happens to frequently doze off in history class, the teacher’s first assumption might be to question the student’s motivation and him hitting his head three weeks ago might be long forgotten. But the data shows that 12% of those children with a mild brain injury continue to have persistent symptoms beyond 1 year and it is vital that all those involved educating such children be i...
2019-08-1438 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 83: William Damon, Ph.D. - Purpose or PerishSend us a textThe greatest philosophical writings over the centuries have often examined the idea of the meaning of life. After the World War II, Viktor Frankl’s writing often explored the idea of the existential vacuum, which plagued those who entered the concentration camps giving them no reason to fight for life. What we realize now is that a sense of purpose and meaning plays a vital role as it offers protection from life’s undeniable hardships and discovering that purpose for oneself can be the meaningful journey in and of itself.On this...
2019-08-0842 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 81: Big Picture 4 - Organized Mind = Organized LifeSend us a textOur lives have become so complex that surviving without shopping lists, calendars, scheduling apps, timers and alarms is nearly impossible. On top of that, sometimes, the information overload gets so out of hand that there’s no time left to pick our scattered selves up to set helpful systems up in the first place. In order to help raise organized and independent school-ready children it is important that parents do their bit that goes beyond just the neat and tidy homes.Tune in to today’s Big Picture episode as I disc...
2019-07-2334 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 79: Dr. Michele Gelfand - The Invisible GiantSend us a textOther than air, what is invisible, omnipresent, affects every single human being and yet is taken for granted? The answer is the cultural norms. They are the unspoken rules of social behaviors and shared conventions that everyone is expected follow, but may be doing so without really connecting it to the WHY.On this episode, our guest, distinguished university professor and professor of psychology at the University of Maryland, Michele Gelfand, Ph.D., discusses the concept of looser or tighter cultures and how our deep cultural programming shapes our views and...
2019-07-0946 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 78: Kathleen Kryza - Examining the StruggleSend us a textOne shouldn’t be discouraged by the fact that learning is full of struggles as these struggles are inherent to the process of gathering facts, acquiring new knowledge, and gaining vivid insights. However, the struggles that go beyond a certain threshold built into learning should be examined and responded to. On this episode, author, life-long learner, and experienced educator, Kathleen Kryza, discusses the relationship between student struggles and the incorporation of brain-based differentiated instruction and cooperative learning to elevate the learner experience.About Kathleen KryzaKathleen Kryza is a...
2019-07-0241 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 77: Dr. Mark Bertin - From Flux to FlowSend us a textLife is complicated and we all are doing the best we can to manage its inherently challenging nature and predictably unpredictable flow. Developmental disorders like ADHD, and mental disorders like anxiety and depression, further exaggerate this uncertainty and creates a permanent state of flux.On this episode, our guest, Dr. Mark Bertin, a developmental pediatrician and an author of multiple books, talks about best ways to understand ADHD and augment care through the lens of mindfulness. Such approach allows children and parents with ADHD to see things as they are; just...
2019-06-2541 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 76: Big Picture 3 - Those Who Think Together, Stay Strong TogetherSend us a textYou might be great at problem solving but the true test of executive function proficiency is not just helping someone get their car out of a ditch, but applying those same skills and principles to help yourself and get your own car out of a ditch. The process of self-directed learning is gradual and insidious where the individual gathers knowledge through experiential learning and subconsciously assimilates and integrates ideas to bounce back.In this big-picture episode, Sucheta discusses how parents can guide children to develop the self-directed thinking, which has a...
2019-06-1833 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 74: Mark McDaniel, Ph.D. - Do You Have a Learning Strategy?Send us a textWhen learning, why is it that people often use the most exactly ill-fitted strategies or fail to appreciate the ones that do work? An educator who assumes the role of parting knowledge without much attention to imparting the wisdom of learning HOW to learn is churning our unenlightened students who could never take charge of their learning and self-knowledge.On this episode, Professor Mark McDaniel returns to discuss the idea of gaining more durable knowledge through effort, problem solving, and rehearsal. Tune in to find out why such processes create life-long...
2019-05-3147 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 73: Mary Kennedy, Ph.D. - A Bridge to the Real WorldSend us a textThe charm of entering college camouflages the real invitation to become responsible for yourself by figuring out what you want while taking care of the mundane, yet obligatory tasks of daily student life. The dread of “adulting” is further muddled by having to navigate the world with the unseen layers of executive function challenges that compromise attention, new learning, slower thinking, and goal management, pushing away the dream of joining the workforce and transitioning into successfully adult life.On this episode, Mary R.T. Kennedy, Ph.D., Professor and Chair at the...
2019-05-2344 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 72: Dr. Courtney Stevens - Attention, A Force MultiplierSend us a textWe have all done it; followed the GPS blindly and reached the international terminal instead of the domestic one or forgotten to turn off the car lights, leaving them on overnight. The only solution is to pay attention to attention and see how to get it under our conscious control.On this episode, Courtney Stevens, PhD, a developmental cognitive neuroscientist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Willamette University in Portland discusses selective attention and the bearing it has on learning, thinking, and behavior throughout your lifespan. Attention is a gateway to...
2019-05-1839 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 71: Daniel Pink - When is the right time!Send us a textWell-built Executive Function lends itself to thoughtful decision making and on-point problem solving, advantageous to meeting personal goals. However, the shifting nature of cognitive resources warrants keen attention to making crafty adjustments to our daily schedules to actualize the best results. William James was onto something when he wrote, “The great thing, then, in all education, is to make automatic and habitual, as early as possible, as many useful actions as we can, and to guard against the growing into ways that are likely to be disadvantageous to us, as we should guard ag...
2019-05-0940 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 70: Big Picture 2 - Executive Function in EducationSend us a textGoals may not change but circumstances do. Executive Function means to accomplish the goals by changing gears, repurposing solutions, and shifting perspectives by successfully adapting to the changed conditions And doing it without losing focus, waning interest or destabilizing emotions. Tune in to this Big Picture episode as I discuss the brain finest ability to orchestrate actions when put to good use yields outcomes that are emotionally desirable, appropriate, and future centered.About Host, Sucheta KamathSucheta Kamath, is an award-winning speech-language pathologist, a TEDx speaker, a celebrated...
2019-05-0551 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 69: Professor Anders Ericsson - Experts Are Made, Not BornSend us a textIn 2018, John Legend became the 13th and the youngest winner of "EGOT" which stands for the big-four possible outstanding awards in the entertainment industry: Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony. An awe worthy accomplishment certainly points out the talent in John Legend, but is it cultivated? There are those who do things, those who do it well, and those who do it exceptionally well. An expert performer produces superior or exceptional performance without an exception. The journey to gain expertise however, is far from simply being effortful.On today’s podcast, Professor An...
2019-04-2839 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 67: Rick Parente, Ph.D. - The Art and Science of Unlocking the Brain That RelearnsSend us a textThe name Shepherd Ivory Franz won’t ring a bell for many, but he is a notable individual in the arena that is now known as neuropsychiatry and neuropsychology. Close to 100 years ago, he was testing the ability to relearn after performing an ablative brain surgery on cats that he had initially “taught”. This type of work and eventual application to the veterans who survived brain trauma provided Franz with early insights into neuroplasticity, which is the foundation of the current approach to cognitive retraining.On this episode, Rick Parente, Emeritus Profes...
2019-04-1345 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp 66: Big Picture 1 - From a Bird’s-Eye ViewSend us a text“Executive Function refers to your choreographed ability to make yourself DO and take actions using the capacity and vision for self to yield outcomes that are socially-emotionally desirable, future centered and appropriate for personal advancement.” - Sucheta KamathAfter a year and half interviewing the world’s leading authorities, researchers and educators Sucheta brings her own expertise in helping people master their own Executive Function to the table as she launches her special series “The Big Picture”. In this episode, she breaks down the key ingredients of Self-Optimization. Tune in to find out w...
2019-04-0542 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 65: Dr. Julie Haarbauer-Krupa - Bridge to a Life of HopeSend us a textOver the last several decades, the public’s understanding of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the cognitive, behavioral, and emotional sequelae of the same has undergone radical transformation. There is ample evidence that supports the fact that rehabilitation is a critical part of the road to recovery and making treatment functional can be done successfully by a bridge into the community where the TBI survivor hopes to thrive. However, what’s still missing is the society’s lack of awareness of the needs of those who have sustained a TBI and are experi...
2019-03-3139 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 64: Dr. Julie Haabauer-Krupa - Traumatic Brain InjurySend us a textWhat hazard could really be posed by daily activities like driving, biking, climbing, or walking? They don’t, until they do. An awkward step, a sudden turn, an unanticipated slip or a fall can alter the direction in which one’s life is going. The Brain Injury Association of America reports that at least 2.5 million people encounter a traumatic brain injury each year. For some, the recovery may be quick and simple, while for others, it may be a life that has no semblance of normalcy.Since one in every 60 people in th...
2019-03-1848 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 63: Dan Habib - Next to NormalSend us a textAbility, inability, and disability rest on a continuum where the human story comes to life. Living with a disability; whether it is a physical, mental, or a learning disability is life-long work and having able partners can make the journey pleasant. But, the able partner is not just someone without a disability, but one who is willing to embrace the unique human experience with authenticity and inclusivity.On this episode, our guest Dan Habib, an award-winning documentary film maker, an activist/advocate, a past-member of the Committee for People with Intellectual...
2019-02-1845 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 62: Professor William Klemm - A Blueprint for Learning SuccessSend us a textGerald Belcher once said, “The best education is not given to students; it is drawn out of them.” It captures the notion that learning and teaching are intertwined and this relationship deepens when educators keep inventing new ways to inspire kids, help make creative connections, and allow their passion to come through.In these moments, there’s nothing higher than the human spirit as a child succeeds in learning.On this episode, our guest a neuroscientist, author, blogger, and a frequent contributor to Psychology Today, William Klemm, Ph.D. returns to speak...
2019-02-0434 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 61: Professor William Klemm - Memory MattersSend us a textRajveer Meena from India successfully recalled 70,000 decimal places of pi (π) and broke the previous Guinness World Record of reciting 67,890 digits of pi held by Lu Chao of China since 2005. By reading about such a feat of accomplishment, you can easily see the giant rift between "memory athletes" and ordinary citizens. However, memory is more of a skill than a gift which means everyone is capable of such an "athletic" feat.On this episode, our guest, a neuroscientist, author, blogger, and a frequent contributor to Psychology Today, William Klemm, Ph.D., speaks o...
2019-01-1841 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 60: Dr. Kenneth Kosik - Build a Better Brain–Now!Send us a textThe hopeful expectation of living into old age is often marred by the fear of the irreversible decline in one’s abilities and mental faculties. When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, the scientific community, professionals and society in general is dedicated to pursuing a three-pronged approach: find ways to irradiate the disease, delay the onset of the disease, and finally, figure out the most effective and comfort-centered approach to care-giving.Since brain imaging studies reveal that the damage to the brain begins decades prior to the symptoms ever starting to inte...
2019-01-0551 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 59: Dr. Kenneth Kosik - The Aging Brain’s DestinySend us a textEven while leading a healthy mental and physical life, no one can be certain about the aging brain’s destiny. The stage of life marked by walkers, hearing aids, and memory lapses is averted by a few, but dreaded by all. Since Alzheimer’s Disease is one of the three leading causes of death in the elderly population, how to keep performing at the top of one’s game, even in old age, is of interest to many.On this episode, our guest, a Harriman Professor and Co-Director of the Neuroscience Resear...
2018-12-2600 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 58: Dr. Tim Pychyl - Off the Scale and Onto a TreadmillSend us a textThere’s no guarantee you will step on a treadmill right after stepping off a scale with disappointing number. Goals clash with fears and anxieties resulting in procrastination, which is a common place phenomenon. But by connecting to values and committing to actions, we can treat daily tasks like a workout rather than a race to finish.On this episode, our guest a professor of psychology, award winning teacher, successful author and a prolific podcaster, Dr. Tim Pychyl, returns to explore strategies for overcoming procrastination and manage emotional reluctance to take on...
2018-12-0852 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 57: Dr. Tim Pychyl - No More ProcrastinationSend us a textNo one has been spared from the strong impulse to put things off for later. You might find yourself cleaning out the refrigerator when you should really be working on your taxes. Dilly-dallying and lallygagging are a few ways one’s aversion for impending tasks manifests itself. In the Netflix series, The Kominsky Method, Alan Arkin’s character loses his wife of nearly 50 years to cancer and at the funeral, his daughter who never visits her ailing mother during her illness shows up. The upset father asks why and to which she replies, “Because...
2018-11-2650 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 56: Dr. Robert Brooks - Goodness of FitSend us a textWhen talking about his sad mess of a childhood, author Augustine Boroughs’ fantasy of normalcy resembled to that of "fabric-softener, tuna-salad-on-white, PTA-meeting normal". In his autobiography, Running with Scissors, Boroughs writes about his guardian conjuring a mental health excuse by giving him the directive to pop pills, drink liquor and fake his own suicide so that he could get out of going school. As a reader you can’t help but think in what ways these childhood experiences shaped Boroughs’ life views. Being prepared to respond to life’s events as you know best and...
2018-11-0840 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 55: Dr. Robert Brooks - Calling For A Charismatic AdultSend us a textRoberto Benigni’s critically acclaimed role in the movie Life is Beautiful, which earned him an Oscar, poignantly illustrates what a caring, charismatic adult does to shield a young boy from the horrors of captivity in a concentration camp as they were thrown into the atrocities of war. With his resilient ways, Guido Orefice, the father in this movie, interacts reassuringly with his son and helps him gain a sense of control over his life in the midst of chaos. The question then arises: Are all adults inherently equipped to cast a positive in...
2018-11-0156 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 54: Dr. Judy Wolman - There’s No Silver BulletSend us a textAs a youngster growing up in 70s, if I had struggled to retain facts, or to learn a second (more like third) language or did not grasp advance math or failed to finish the exam on time, I would have been lectured or yelled at. In that era, I would been reprehended for not trying hard enough or for not caring enough about my learning. Thankfully, the development in neuroscience and the deeper understanding of psychology of learning has opened our eyes to the possibilities that student’s learning difficulties may not stem fr...
2018-10-1544 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 52: MaryAnn Brittingham - A Garden for Sutter KeelySend us a textSutter Keely is a smart, goofy, sensitive, troubled, unserious, and lost teenager who doesn't have the best Executive Function skills. Sutter is the main character in the movie ‘The Spectacular Now’ whose life choices are not that off the mark for a teenager but do certainly stand out from his sweet, focused, ambitious, and future-centered ex-girlfriend or the studious, hard-working, curious, engaged, and caring new girlfriend. This movie beautifully captures the angst of a young man who hasn't yet discovered the purpose of learning, the value of good habits, nor has he tamed the...
2018-09-1839 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 51: MaryAnn Brittingham - iMotivateSend us a textA child opens a fun little children’s book and comes across two words ‘trogglehumper’ and ‘frothbuggling’. He’s immediately drawn in. You can hear him wonder, “what’s that?” What a way to capture a kid's interest and tickle their imagination! Celebrated children’s author, Roald Dahl, had knack of doing that. He once said, “If you want to remember what it’s like to live in a child’s world, you’ve got to get down on your hands and knees and live like that for a week.” Roald Dahl recognized that inspired kids take their...
2018-09-1141 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 50: Dr. Nancy Rappaport - A Misbehaving Child is a Discouraged ChildSend us a textA recent headline read, “Demonic child on flight” that described a passenger who filmed his horrific experience while traveling with a screaming 3-year-old on a long flight from Germany to the USA. The video stirred up a Facebook controversy where many empathized with the mother while the rest blamed her for failing to control the child. Misbehavior implies the intention to misbehave. Dealing with a screaming 3-year-old on an 8-hour international flight or handling a student with challenging behaviors is a daunting task. While most would be tempted to punish the child or writ...
2018-08-1346 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 49: Dr. Nancy Rappaport - Hold Back the SlapSend us a textRecently, during a baptism ceremony, an 89-year old French priest lost his cool and slapped a 2-year old toddler in the face, who wouldn't stop crying. The whole incident was caught on camera and went viral as one can imagine. The priest later said. “It was something between a caress and a little slap. I was trying to calm him down, I didn’t really know what to do.” Somewhere, the switch in the priest’s brain flipped where he felt compelled to react with anger towards a baby, which he certainly knew was wron...
2018-08-0253 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 48: Dr. Kathy Perez - Ladder to the SkySend us a textFor a west Philadelphia high school dropout, Troy Carter has had an incredibly impressive career where as a talent scout, manager, and producer he has launched artists like Lady Gaga to fame. However, his creative entrepreneurship transcended industry silos as he has become first of his kind to be an angel investor in more that 100 Silicon Valley startups including Spotify. But as a child, Troy was so tiny that he would always be in the front and center in all school pictures while class giants would tower over him in the back. While...
2018-07-1537 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 47: Dr. Kathy Perez - The Engagement ConsultantSend us a textEach day, more than 7 million children in the United States are left to their own devices for at least some period of time after the school day ends. And research shows that children who are deprived of a supervised environment by a supportive adult are likely to develop a gamut of academic and behavioral problems. Sometimes the only nurturing adult in a child’s life is a teacher who encourages them to take academic and social initiatives, crafts opportunities for inner growth, and bonds emotionally to provide the loving care needed for the de...
2018-07-0944 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 46: Dr. Julie Ann Washington - A Mistake Stick Sounds BetterSend us a textWhen Office Depot® sells a pencil on their website the description says, “Brand Basic Wood Pencils, #2 Medium Soft Lead, Pack Of 36”. Now take a look at Nick Offerman’s website and see how he sells a pencil. He’s the actor who famously brought the character of Ron Swanson, a colorful crank, to life in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. First of all, Offerman Wood Shop (OWS) calls it a Mistake Stick and the description says, “Keep an OWS pencil in your beard/bun at all times because you never know when you’ll need to jo...
2018-06-2240 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 45: Dr. Julie Ann Washington - Meet Me at the MarginsSend us a textOn April 11, 1734, a tiny notice appeared in the small corner of the Pennsylvania Gazette owned by Benjamin Franklin that read, “Ready money for old rags”. People poured in just as expected. Franklin, the entrepreneur extraordinaire, who also held a license to print paper currency, began to send these rags to the mill he owned to convert it into paper money; thus popularizing the notion, rags to riches. Since then, the American psyche has been steeped into the belief that everyone who has the will and the self-control to influence their life can rise abov...
2018-06-1551 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 44: Dr. Roy Baumeister - A Blueprint for SuccessSend us a textEvery day we go to bed knowing we have left many things unfinished, allowed intrusive thoughts about unfinished business interrupt the work flow, and wasted a lot of time. Even though, the productivity guru Stephen Covey has famously said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing” many of us can’t decide fast enough or well enough what that main thing is. The researchers agree that having to make decisions, small or big, every step of the way depletes the mental resource available to each person on a daily...
2018-05-2135 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 43: Dr. Roy Baumeister - Self-Control–Antidote for Self-Sabotage and ImprudenceSend us a textA secret ingredient in the life of an easy-going, popular kid with lots of friends and good grades is self-control. Eventually, this kid grows up into a focused, accomplished, and well-adjusted adult who lives a physically well-disciplined and financially secure life without ever brushing against the law or criminal justice. On the other hand, those who fail to deploy self-restraint bear the brunt of an onslaught of bad decisions and a life of discontent. On this episode, the world-renowned psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller Willpower: Rediscovering the...
2018-05-1454 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 42: Dr. Carol Westby - Seeing Eye Dog for the Mind-BlindSend us a textWired magazine once challenged 39 sci-fi writers and creative types to put their artistry to test by writing a 6-word story. Author of beloved Wicked series, Gregory Maguire came back with a clever riposte, “From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings.” These simple string of words sets the brain’s into motion. It wonders, what are the men are thinking, what are they feeling, what was the author thinking, and what do the other readers make of this. While a good writer tickles the reader’s imagination, a good reader imagines the mind and the inner wo...
2018-05-0446 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 41: Dr. Carol Westby - M is for MindreadingSend us a textIn the world of limitless possibilities, there is a limit as to how much one can know about the minds of others. Take an example: Have you ever been in your head so much that your insecurities catch up with you and you fail to gauge what others are thinking and feeling? It all simply begins when a friend doesn't return your call; or at least not right away. You begin to guess what her reasons are to not call and from there on, it escalates into this drama inside where you end...
2018-04-2745 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 40: ExFiles – Prison IndeedSend us a textFrank Darabont’s most prudent decision came when he spent just a $1 for one of Stephen King’s 1982 short stories Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption only to write a mind-blowing screenplay based on the story. Eventually, he directed it into the critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, Shawshank Redemption, which depicts how a wrongfully accused and imprisoned for life Andy Dufresne gets a new lease on life after breaking free from the indestructible shackles. No one needs to go to prison to know being in prison sucks. This episode, my guest, Paul...
2018-04-1345 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 39: Dr. Christine Carter - Beating Down the Ho-humSend us a textWhat war can you win with a deck of cards, a bible, a dictionary, and a bottle of sherry? A war against the drudgery of daily mundane. To bring a semblance of normalcy, to push against her personal limits and to invoke her creative genius, for many years, Maya Angelou rented a hotel room where she placed these four simple objects and did her best work. Known for her prolific writing career, Maya Angelou could not have accomplished her success if it weren’t for a complete surrender and a deal of great re...
2018-04-0934 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 38: Dr. Christine Carter - Models vs. CriticsSend us a textHave you ever wondered if you’re doing it right, particularly when it comes to parenting? Have your good intentions to push your kids failed you? Have you reacted in an unflattering way when dealing with your kids’ distractibility, stubbornness, or argumentativeness or have your children pointed out that your reactions of frustration and anger are very unbecoming of you? It turns out that just because you're a talented, successful, and good person doesn’t mean that you will automatically be an effective parent. Everybody needs a little help in raising well-adjusted kids.
2018-04-0248 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 35: Jerry Hoepner, Ph.D. - Brain Reconstruction Ahead – Expect DelaysSend us a textWould you be willing to head-butt a ram for an icy cold bottle of Mountain Dew? That’s the kind of lighthearted foolery that got a lot of laughs during a Super Bowl commercial one year. At the end, we see the young man sipping from the winning drink, but you’re not quite sure if he is okay because you can hear a stutter in his speech as he staggers away in a disoriented haze. Even though our precious brain comes in a special protective casing, not everyone is lucky enough to keep...
2018-02-2743 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 34: Jerry Hoepner, Ph.D. - Peeling the Layers of a MeltdownSend us a textIn NBC’s award winning series, This is Us, Mandy Moore’s character Becca, a new mother of three, leaves the house for the first time after the childbirth to buy groceries so that she can make something special for her husband, Jack. Ordinarily, Becca plays by the book and goes with the flow but an encounter where another shopper grabs the last bag of yellow onions that Becca wanted for herself leads to a massive meltdown. One can clearly see what happens when the demands on a capable and caring person like Rebe...
2018-02-2041 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 33: ExFiles – No Comic ReliefSend us a textWhat’s the difference between blowing bubbles in the yard, watching a drunk shovel snow in a shopping cart, and listening to Rodney Dangerfield deliver a monologue? The first one is fun, the second one is funny, but only Rodney Dangerfield’s one-liners makes you laugh every time. It takes Executive Function skills such as adapting off-stage comedic talent to the stand-up comedy environment, restructuring the jokes, and adjusting your timing to succeed in the business of entertainment. But talented individuals with ADHD experience everyday chaos as their lives are riddled with a lot...
2018-02-1237 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 32: Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. - Educrystal BallSend us a textTaking care of children by feeding them, protecting them, and loving them is not the same as preparing them for their future. American education has been through an evolutionary process; which is just a few centuries old and the quest is yet to be fulfilled. We forget, a century ago, attending school past age 12 was not mandatory, the classrooms were often filled with 50-60 kids of varying ages and demanding kids to recite and regurgitate facts was a standard practice. Forecasting the needs of tomorrow continues to be an enigma in spite of...
2018-02-0530 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 31: Sam Goldstein, Ph.D. - Let’s Not Give Them Something to Talk AboutSend us a textIf you’re trying to bum a cigarette from someone outside a bar after midnight be prepared for them to say no. Talented actor, Shia Lebeouf, wasn’t prepared. Ironically, he who has painstakingly portrayed Tennis’ tempestuous bad-boy, John McEnroe, in “Borg vs McEnroe,” himself has been arrested one time too many for emotional volatility, impulsivity, and disorderly conduct. Not everyone has strong executive function to circumvent life’s obstacles with grace. Today, my guest, Dr. Sam Goldstein, a clinical neuropsychologist, will discuss how Executive Function helps us negotiate everyday bumps and insulates us from bad...
2018-02-0237 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 28: Phil Zelazo, Ph.D. - Know ThyselfSend us a textThe end of the year inventory often reveals a track record of failed diets, disorganization, and an ever-so thinning bank balance which is why a recent poll suggested that "lose weight," "get organized," and "spend less money" are the top 3 New Year’s resolutions. To change your ways upon self-reflection you need strong Executive Function skills. It’s the self-aware people who create attainable and reasonable New Year’s resolutions, but better yet, it is the self-regulated people who see them through. Striving to better oneself means developing a better relationship with yourself and cu...
2018-01-0343 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 27: Phil Zelazo, Ph.D. - The Power to ResistSend us a text“In order to avoid buying those unnecessary items, don't go shopping at those stores.” Says a financial adviser Michael Markey. But anyone who is not a stranger to temptations knows that it takes a lot to resist the holiday shopping season, starting with Black Friday to Cyber Monday and until the day-before Christmas eve, the online as well as brick and mortar retailers craft seductive deals to trap every eager consumer and last-minute shopper. For every ad, e-blast, and coupon that goes out into the cyber space, the self-help realm bulges with tips and...
2017-12-2640 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 26: Randall Engle, Ph.D. - Spotlight on the Wrong TargetSend us a textWhat does a fatal plane crash by a veteran pilot and a patient death from a wrongful dosage by an expert nurse have in common? They both might have been interrupted in the middle of critical procedures and may not have remembered to come back to where they left off. While processing information in working memory, your attention acts like a 360° searchlight and whatever it happens to illuminate is what gets attended. Even though we cannot multitask or ‘multi-attend,’ our mind foolishly persuades us that we can. Today, my guest, world-renowned working memory exper...
2017-12-1139 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 25: Randall Engle, Ph.D. - Fine China of CognitionSend us a textIf life was a play, some activities would be the star of show and others would be just ‘extras’. The mind is often full of thoughts about the upcoming main act while plowing through the mundane, such as unloading the dishwasher, taking out the garbage or rescheduling a doctor’s appointment. But no matter what the task is we are always deploying Working Memory. Working Memory is the fine-china of cognition on which you either serve an ordinary burger and fries or a rib-eye steak. On today’s podcast, Dr. Randy Engle will talk abo...
2017-12-0536 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 21: Fred Morrison, Ph.D. - Diamond Dust & Self-RegulationSend us a textIn 1885, William Bentley placed a snowflake under his camera lens and took a first-of-its-kind photo only to then spend the next 50 years of his life capturing snowflakes with these incredible, vibrant designs. Apparently, the crystal of a snowflake starts as a tiny spec of dust or even pollen that attracts water vapor to form a preliminary hexagon called "diamond dust." After that, it’s sheer randomness how all the rest of the shape expands to form a beautiful and yet unique structure. The scientists know that factors such as temperature and humidity have so...
2017-11-1435 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 20: Fred Morrison, Ph.D. - Shoelaces to Self-ControlSend us a textThe Google search for “how to teach a child to tie shoes” comes up with approximately 7.5 million hits. Obviously, parents and adults in general have recognized that folding over the shoelaces, crossing the bunny ears, and looping them to tie a knot needs to be taught with great care. However, you walk into any hallway in elementary, middle, or high school and two distinct trends appear. The shoes with laces are completely replaced with Velcro and many of those who ARE wearing shoes have their laces untied. Developing self-assessment to know when the shoe...
2017-11-0136 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 19: ExFiles - Staging SuccessSend us a textPeople like Dr. Mae C. Jemison live by the dictum, “if you're bored, you are not paying attention.” That philosophy has served her well as she is a former NASA astronaut and the first woman of color in the world to go to space. She could pay attention and direct her curiosity in whichever direction she wanted. Dr. Jemison got work done and kept on achieving. This was not the case for my client, "Scott Joplin," whose learning struggles began as a child when he was diagnosed with not one, not two, but mult...
2017-10-2739 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 18: Carol Tavris - I’m Not My MistakesSend us a textHave you ever tried to point out mistakes in someone – maybe in your child, spouse, employee, or even your boss? And what do you get? A sharp rebuttal or a strong push back. Peace comes to those whose self-concept and behaviors are in harmony with each other. If not, the result is cognitive dissonance. When you do something wrong, your brain is wired to try and relieve the tension it feels by immediately making up excuses for you. On this show, our guest, Dr. Carol Tavris, will give us some tips to handle th...
2017-10-2432 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 17: Carol Tavris - The Sharp Sting of DissonanceSend us a textYour 20-something-year-old son decides to buy a car without your help and you come to find out that he got ripped off. He tells you the story of what happened and you cannot believe it. Apparently, your son agreed to buy a car off Craigslist, gave your home address to a stranger, and thought nothing of the request to pay in cash, even when the seller showed up with a car that looked nothing like the one in the online ad. When you point out these red flags to your son, all he...
2017-10-1637 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 16: Frans de Waal - Demystifying the Bi-Polar ApeSend us a textOn a daily basis we direct our attention, guide our instincts, and move from making micro to macro decisions feeling that we are fully in control of our inner machinery called the brain. While exploring the nature and development of Executive Function skills and its impact on learning and self-awareness, one can’t help but notice that many of us are unaware of ‘why we do what we do’. On the podcast, a world-renowned primatologist and celebrated author, Professor Fran de Waal, brings a perspective that we are not so different from the animal...
2017-10-1038 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 15: Lynn Meltzer, Ph.D. - From Pimples to Projects: Taking Charge of HOW to LearnSend us a textPre-teen years are a breeding ground for pimples, mood swings, eye-rolls, and social awkwardness. But that’s not the only stuff these kids have to adjust to. There is a remarkable shift in academic demands that’s far out and equally daunting. During the Middle School years, kids have to actually learn how to study for tests, independently write papers by elaborating on ideas, and manage their priorities to put together projects. The system assumes that somehow these kids will learn to swim just because we have thrown them into the water of self...
2017-10-0347 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 14: Lynn Meltzer, Ph.D. - Project “Run-Away”Send us a textIf not properly handled, some projects can spiral out of control like a runaway train. Assignments involving project-based learning professes that children learn best when they experience the real-world problems and solve them on their own. In one of the elementary schools I had worked with, students were spotted to rush in with awkwardly large homemade robots as part of their 4th grade project. The teacher’s conditions were such that each student had to design the robot without spending more than $5, assemble it without parents’ help, put together an operating manual, and fina...
2017-09-2643 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 13: Prof. Mark McDaniel - Don’t Forget You’ll Forget–How To Improve Prospective MemorySend us a textWhat do a sponge, a needle, or a drill bit fragment have in common?Well these are the most common but harmful things that a surgeon can leave inside you that don't belong there. Remembering to retrieve things out of patient’s cavity before suturing the patient up requires prospective memory – remembering to remember. It's the most critical Executive Function process essential in managing life’s goals. Our guest Professor Mark McDaniel, will be talking about ways to help carry out our future intentions and prevent dire consequences of our forgetfulness. *This is Profes...
2017-09-1840 min
Full PreFrontal: Exposing the Mysteries of Executive FunctionEp. 12: Prof. Mark McDaniel - Prospective Memory–Your Memory For The FutureSend us a textElephants never forget! But I guess we do. Forgetting to drop off dry cleaning, book a hotel or register for a class on time can cause disruption if not devastation. Everyday we make plans to do things in the future. We have great intentions and a confident mental state that makes us believe that all of our plans will materialize; however, often our failed memories surprise us. Listen to my guest Professor Mark McDaniel talk about what prospective memory is all about and why we have trouble remembering to remember....
2017-09-1137 min