Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Hi everyone! I announced it in the last episode, but in case you didn’t catch it, this will be my last Focus Forward episode so I thought we could dive a little into the experience of doing a podcast and share some of what we’ve learned. First, I want to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve come to understand after hosting this show for the past four years, and what I hope you carry with you from Focus Forward. Then, I’ll share a recording of a conversation Sean Potts, our editor and producer, and I had talking about the show and what it was like for us to build it from the ground up. There’s also a fun blooper reel at the end before our final outro. I truly hope that Focus Forward has helped you feel less alone, more informed, and more willing to ask for help when you need it. Learning about yourself is not a weakness. It’s one of the first steps toward meaningful change. Thank you so much for taking time out of your days to listen over the past four years - There aren’t really words that express the feelings I have about this experience. Just know that I’m grateful for every one of you. I also want to thank the staff and leadership at Beyond BookSmart for supporting me over the years. I’ve forged friendships that will last a lifetime. Here are some of the resources we have available for you if you’d like some additional support: Executive Function Coaching for Students; beyondbooksmart.com/students Executive Function Coaching for Adults: worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About Our MAP Program: map.worksmartcoaching.com Executive Function Workshops for Educators: braintracks.com Executive Function training for companies: worksmartcoaching.com/training I’d love to stay in touch, so feel free to reach out via email, which is [email protected] (I’ll still be coaching) still have my Beyond Booksmart email as I’m still coaching for them)

Hi everyone! I have something to tell you and I don’t really know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it like it is. I’ve decided to end my time as part of the marketing team at Beyond BookSmart and sadly, that means that I’ll no longer be hosting Focus Forward. Today’s episode is not our last, we’ll be dropping one more at the beginning of February, so I hope you come back to listen to that. I don’t know what the future is for the show, but I’m sure if Beyond BookSmart decides to keep it going, they’ll continue to provide great content for our listeners. I won’t say too much about our last episode, but it’ll be special and I do hope you come back to listen. And, the archive of the old episodes will still be available, so you can always go back for a listen there. This podcast has been an important part of my life for the past four years, and I’m really grateful for that. This was not an easy decision to make but I’m excited to see what the future holds. If you want to keep up with me, Please look me up on LinkedIn or Instagram. I’d love to hear from you. I’ll also still be doing some coaching for Beyond BookSmart, so you can email me there at [email protected]. But, let’s talk about today’s episode: it’s all about dyslexia, and I’m really excited to share this conversation with you. I’m joined by Ben Powers and Jeff Ruggiero from the Southport School, and we had the opportunity to record this interview in person at the Fairfield Public Library. Huge thank you to Philip Bahr for once again letting us use the space and equipment and for helping get everything set up. Recording in person is always such a treat and brings a different kind of energy to the conversation. Since this is the first focus forward episode on dyslexia, we really focused on the basics. Ben and Jeff help break down what dyslexia actually is, what it is not, and why it’s so much more complex than just reversing letters or struggling to read. We talk about early signs of dyslexia, the importance of early identification and screening, and what happens in the brain when a child is learning to read. We also spend time talking about the overlap between dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function skills, and why so many students who struggle with reading also struggle with things like organization, working memory, task initiation, and confidence. Ben and Jeff do a great job of explaining why instruction matters so much, including the role of structured literacy and the science of reading, and why certain approaches work better for dyslexic learners, actually, they work better for all learners. Show Notes: Learn More About Ben, Jeff, and Southport School Southport School https://www.southportschool.org/ https://www.southportschool.org/about/leadership Southport CoLAB https://www.southportcolab.org/ https://www.southportcolab.org/aboutus/our-team CoLAB Calendar of Events and Offerings https://www.southportcolab.org/calendar-and-events The Executive Function Blueprint: A Practical Framework for the Classroom https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Function-Blueprint-Practical-Framework/dp/B0DV4J41DQ Learn More about Dyslexia and Reading Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars (documentary) https://www.hopevilleadvocacy.com/home International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/ Early Bird Reader Study & App https://www.gaablab.com/early-literacy-screener-study-1 https://earlybirdeducation.com/ Learn More About Our Corporate Executive Function Training https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/training Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch [email protected] Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com

I’m so glad you’re here for this conversation, because today we’re diving into a topic that is personally very close to home for me and I’m guessing many of you: the intersection of ADHD, womanhood, and self-love. My guest today, Kristen Baird-Goldman, is a licensed mental health therapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent women, especially those over 40. She brings such clarity and compassion to this whole messy thing of hormones, ADHD, and mental health. We talk about why so many women go undiagnosed until midlife, how perimenopause can amplify ADHD symptoms in ways that feel terrifying, what’s actually happening in the brain and body during this time, and how we can advocate for ourselves in a medical system that still has a long way to go. I’m so relieved to see this topic finally getting more attention in the news, in research, and all over social media. The conversations are growing and the awareness is catching up! I’m so glad you’re here today with me to be a part of it all - especially the men out there listening. Truly, I mean it. Your willingness to understand these experiences makes a real difference in the lives of your partners, friends, colleagues, and family members. Thanks for tuning in! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Show Notes: Learn More about Kristen https://bairdintegratedtherapy.com/ The CBT Workbook for Adult ADHD: Evidence-Based Exercises to Improve Your Focus, Productivity, and Wellbeing https://www.amazon.com/CBT-Workbook-Adult-ADHD-Evidence-Based/dp/1685394876 Let’s Talk About Perimenopause and ADHD https://www.additudemag.com/perimenopause-treatment-low-estrogen-symptoms-adhd/ Does Menopause Cause ADHD? https://chadd.org/attention-article/does-menopause-cause-adhd/ Learn More About Our Corporate Executive Function Training https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/training Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch [email protected] Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com

In today’s episode, we’re revisiting obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. If you’ve been listening a while, you may remember that in episode 47, I interviewed Dr. Anthony Bram about OCD. wanted to return to this topic because OCD is both more common and more misunderstood than most people realize. And even though awareness has grown in recent years, stigma and shame still keep so many people from getting the help they need. My guest today is Dr. Kim Glazer-Leonte, a psychologist who specializes in OCD, anxiety, and perfectionism. She shares such valuable insight into what OCD is, the way our brains get “stuck” on certain thoughts, and how this can look very different from the stereotypes we often see. We also talk about the incredible variety of OCD themes, how shame can make it hard to open up about symptoms, and what effective treatment looks like. And something that surprised me - how important a role loved ones play in the lives of people with OCD. This episode is all about understanding OCD more deeply and breaking down the stigma that surrounds it. Whether you’re supporting someone with OCD, working with clients, or just curious about how our minds work and how thoughts can get stuck, I think you’ll find this conversation engaging, eye-opening, and shared through a very compassionate lens. Thanks for tuning in! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Learn More about Kim https://www.cvhorizons.com/about/kimberly-glazier-leonte OCD Resources https://www.letsbreakthecycle.com/ OCD Awareness Scale https://www.letsbreakthecycle.com/ocd-awareness-scale Focus Forward Ep 47: Redefining OCD: Debunking the Misconceptions about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ft. Dr. Anthony Bram https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/podcast?wchannelid=y1lzulxlcs&wmediaid=4wt4ip9ozv Learn More About Our Corporate Executive Function Training https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/training Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch [email protected] Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com

Today’s episode is a fascinating look at the connection between our guts and our brains. This powerful two-way communication between our digestive system and our mind influences everything from mood and sleep to focus and decision-making. My guest is Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos, is a developmental psychologist and parent coach who is passionate about teaching people about how our gut health shapes our mental health and executive functioning. Anastasia’s interest in this field began with her own health struggles - experiences that led her to connect the dots between nutrition, stress, and brain function in both children and adults. In our conversation, we talk about the science of the gut-brain connection (I have to admit, it sounds pretty unbelievable to me but it’s a thing people, it’s a thing), how to recognize signs that your microbiome might be out of balance, and what kinds of foods and daily habits can help restore it - including fermented foods, plant-rich meals, and stress management. Thanks for tuning in! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Learn More about Dr. Anastasia Galanopoulos https://www.getnewperspective.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/galanopouloseducationtraining/ Learn More about the Gut-Brain Connection Resource Sheet Shared by Dr. Galanopoulos https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EUUvgjhycHuwyRoG_qNKWtJccz3hpSnV/view?usp=sharing Gut-Brain Connection: Microbiome, Gut Barrier, and Environmental Sensors https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8263213/ The gut-brain connection: What the science says https://med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2025/03/gut-brain-connection-long-covid-anxiety-parkinsons.html Recipes Easy-to-make kimchi by Maangchi https://www.maangchi.com/recipe/easy-kimchi Fermented Hot Sauce https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/fermented-hot-sauce/ The Simple Guide to Kickass Kombucha https://www.liveeatlearn.com/the-simple-guide-to-kickass-kombucha/ Fermented Pickles https://www.feastingathome.com/fermented-pickles/ Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch [email protected] Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com