Full PreFrontal

We love stories because they change our perspective. They give us a window into the lives of many through which we get to witness extraordinary evidence of human resilience. Noam Chomsky once said, “It is quite possible, overwhelmingly probable, one might guess – that we will always learn more about human life and personality from … Read More Read More

“For sale. Baby Shoes. Never worn.” These 6 words capture your attention, hook your emotions, and unleash your imagination. Apparently, legend has it that during an afternoon lunch with friends, Hemingway bet that he could write the shortest novel in six words. And he did. Whether Hemingway really wrote that or not, the hardest thing you’ll ever learn to do is write! As a successful author, Hemingway certainly had all the support he needed from his brain’s air-traffic controller, his Executive Function. Join me in listening to expert, Dr. Bonnie Singer, present a compelling perspective on writing as the highest form of Executive Function proficiency. * This is Bonnie’s first Podcast that provides an overview of the relationship between the writing process and Executive Function.

It might be a little late in the game if you are just beginning to formulate a parenting strategy for your college-bound student so that they will communicate, collaborate, or reciprocate to parental guidance. Recently at a parent coffee meeting, a few folks came up to me to ask how ‘hands-on’ or ‘hands-free’ they should be with their high school kids. On today’s podcast, my dear friend and esteemed colleague Nancy Beane will explain how the parenting work for “college-readiness” begins in high school or even in younger grades. She will discuss what students themselves can do to prepare themselves for the realities of a multifaceted college life where you and only you are in charge of your success.

As parents, we pride ourselves on getting our teenagers ready to take off and succeed on their own. We have placed them into schools with a similar hope that they will leave prepared with skills to make good choices and to adjust to new challenges. But is that enough? There is no disagreement among experts that it takes more than just raw talent to succeed in school, a job, or in life. So what does it take? On today’s podcast, my dear friend, esteemed colleague, and college counseling expert Nancy Beane will discuss the nature of the relationship between the ‘noncognitive factors,’ often referred to as soft skills, and college readiness. She believes that the key to a solid start to adulthood is well-developed Executive Function.

It’s hard to sympathize with a kid who never finishes his classwork on time, doesn't put away his toys without a reminder, or cannot seem to carryover that love and focus for video games into school work. Strong Executive Function skills are required to stay engaged, get organized, control impulsive actions, and rein in inappropriate emotional reactions. On today’s podcast, our guest Dr. Peg Dawson, co-author of “Smart but Scattered,” will share how these crucial ‘habits of mind’ can be taught explicitly.

In recent years, Hollywood has glorified and glamorized the stories of “epic failures to launch” with great humor and light-heartedness. The untold story behind each failure is an utter lack of discipline, no impulse control, and zero goal planning. The brain’s executive function skills interfere with all the ingredients for a launch: one’s persistence, planning, prioritizing, and execution. On today’s podcast, Dr. Peg Dawson will discuss what is Executive Function and how it helps us to “launch” ourselves.

No doubt that the child who is late, disorganized and scattered needs help. But are you lecturing, punishing or giving zeros to that child in hopes that he will stop messing around and just get over it? On today’s Podcast, Dr. Russell Barkley will discuss how to train the brain’s Executive Function skills so that children can succeed in learning and life.

Anyone struggling with inattention or distractibility, general impulsivity and poor motivation is going struggle with learning. However, conventional wisdom trivializes underachievement related to these struggles and there’s a risk that the sufferers may not get proper help they need. On today’s Podcast, Dr. Russell Barkley will discuss how the brain’s Executive Function brings behaviors under its control and directs actions towards successful learning.

I talk about my vision for the Full PreFrontal Podcast and why you should tune in.