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Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Whether you're a parent looking to better support your child or are simply looking to improve your own Executive Function skills, this podcast is for you. Focus Forward is a comprehensive guide to improving Executive Functions - the mental skills like time management, task initiation, organization, and emotional regulation that allow us to be successful. Our guests come from a variety of backgrounds and expertise and will be sharing their insights on Executive Function improvement and the inevitable ups and downs that await those of us who are bold enough to try and change our habits and behaviors for the better.

Ep 13: How to Unlock the Superpowers of ADHD

Ep 14: 4-Steps to Build Time Management Strategies You'll Use for Life

In today’s episode, we're exploring the Fxecutive function skill of time management. Peg Dawson, my favorite executive function guru and a former guest on Focus Forward, defines the skill of time management as “the capacity to estimate how much time one has, how to allocate it, and how to stay within time limits and deadlines”. She continues by arguing that this process starts with one simple insight: understanding that time is important in the first place!

Ep 13: How to Unlock the Superpowers of ADHD

October is ADHD awareness month, and given that half of our clients have ADHD, I knew there was something important we could offer the ADHD community this month with the podcast.

Ep 12: How to Maintain Progress Through Times of Change

We’re back! Didya miss me? I missed you all and it's so great to be back with new episodes of the podcast. As this new season of Focus Forward begins, I’m diving right in to tackle the difficult subject of transitions, its impact on personal growth, and what can be done to better cope. To inform this conversation, I invited Rachel Hulstein-Lowe, a licensed independent clinical social worker in the Boston area. Rachel and I talked about supporting ourselves and our kids through challenging transitions, especially back to school. If you are listening to this episode months after school has started or you are not even a parent or caregiver of children, don’t worry because the ideas that Rachel shared can be used at any time, by anyone, in any transition. We also talked about mindfulness and some easy ways to introduce mindfulness into your life. While the topics are heavy, this conversation is full of good ideas and hope.

Ep 11: Procrastination: Why We Wait & What to Do About It

People often think of procrastination as a time management problem, but studies show that it's actually about something much different - avoiding uncomfortable emotions. In 2013, procrastination researchers found that people procrastinate to regulate their emotions in the short term and let their “future selves” deal with the consequences, somehow believing that their future selves will be able to handle it better. Despite the fact that putting things off may protect us from discomfort temporarily, it’s rarely the best idea to pass unfinished things on to the future versions of ourselves. The potential consequences are endless and it can become a habit that holds us back form reaching our potential. That's why in this week's episode, I'm going to share a few pieces of critical information about procrastination and explore some coach-approved strategies that will hopefully help you combat this common issue. Throughout the episode, I also talk to a number of people in my life about their procrastination habits to help provide first person context to our exploration. I'm sure you'll be able to relate to many of their experiences with procrastination!

Ep 10: Living with Hidden ADHD: How to Transform Your Life After a Late Diagnosis

Despite being a common diagnosis, many people with ADHD may go most of their lives without ever officially being diagnosed. Although there are a number of challenges that this presents, one of the most frustrating is that the longer ADHD is left untreated, the more difficult it becomes to change our habits. Even so, that doesn't mean it's impossible - and our guest today proves it!

Ep 9: Teen Coping Skills: A Therapist's Guide to Conquering Stress & Anxiety

In today’s episode, we’re looking at another set of helpful skills - especially for teens and young adults - and those are coping skills. The transition to college or work from high school has its own special set of challenges and practicing some coping skills can really help feel more successful during this time. The executive function skill of emotional regulation, which is also called self-regulation, plays a really big part in coping with challenging situations. Emotional regulation is all about recognizing, managing, and responding to our emotions. I think this is one of the most challenging EF skills for us to learn and also one of the most important because it directly affects all areas of our lives. From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep, emotions influence our…well, everything! And learning to develop our emotional regulation from a young age will have a hugely positive impact on our lives.

Ep 8: Social Skills & Resilience: Expert Insights to Build a Confident Future

Something we've wanted to explore more deeply on the show is how much of an impact Executive Function skills can have on our social lives. All of those EF challenges that can make aspects of school or home life hard can also really affect how easily we can make friends and our ability to maintain those friendships. To learn more, I sat down with Nadine Briggs a social skills expert. CEO of Simply Social Kids, and mother of an adult son with ADHD. Nadine joined me to talk about how social skills and executive function skills are connected and how working on them can make a huge difference in our happiness and ability to function in the world. We also dive into the importance of building resilience and explore some practical strategies to develop a mindset that allows us to overcome the inevitable challenges and roadblocks we face in life.

Ep 7: Can You Actually Improve Your Executive Function Skills? ft. Peg Dawson

Support based around Executive Function improvement promises a lot, but is there any evidence that you can actually improve your Executive Function skills? And if you can, what does the process look like and how can you truly measure you or your child's Executive Function improvement? In today's episode, we explore these questions and more with thought-leader Peg Dawson - an esteemed psychologist, expert in Executive Functions, and the co-author of the acclaimed book "Smart But Scattered" which she wrote with her colleague. Richard Guare, and has since become essential readings for ADHD and Executive Function skill development.

Ep 6: What Does Life Changing Executive Function Support (Really) Look Like?

When we look to a professional for support, we may be looking to improve our mental health or confidence, but at a fundamental level, we're really hoping to change our lives. So what does that mean when it comes to Executive Function support? In past episodes, I spoke with parents of kiddos who are in coaching now and have made great progress in their own executive function journeys. If you’ve listened to those episodes already, you’ll have heard them share that while it hasn’t been an easy or quick journey, the rewards for both their children and themselves have been tremendously life-changing. I really wanted to explore another perspective on the coaching journey, so I reached out to Fran Havard, who is a mom of four kids, two of whom have executive function challenges. Fran knows a lot about EF coaching because she’s one of Beyond BookSmart’s EF coaches and she also shares her knowledge with families in the role of coaching coordinator or, as you’ll hear her call it “CC”, by providing support by answering questions and sharing additional information about the process of change to help families and clients navigate their way through coaching. Fran and I sat down to talk about what she’s learned and how she manages all of this.

Ep 5: Rebuilding Confidence: How to Navigate the Mental Health Risks of ADHD & Executive Dysfunction

When we talk about Executive Function, we also need to talk about mental health. Taking care of our mental health is important for everyone and studies show that there is a connection between Executive Function challenges and mental health diagnoses like depression and anxiety. There are many, many ways that executive function challenges affect mental health. In today’s episode, I’ll explore just two of these: emotional regulation for kids and the impact that ADHD can have on kids’ mental health. I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with two guests to talk about these interesting topics. Sherry Fleydervish joined me from Chicago and Sean Potts joined me from Brooklyn, NY.

Ep 4: Transformations Through Love: How to Inspire Resistant Kids to Change

Supporting kids with Executive Function challenges is hard enough, but what happens when they're feeling resistance towards changing their habits? How can parents and key support systems work together to inspire real change - even in those who may not see the value in it just yet? On this week's episode, I sat down with one of my favorite people, Kim - the mom of one of my long-time coaching clients, Skyla. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, our first session together four years ago was just one step within a long and challenging journey that has blossomed into a truly amazing story about the transformational power of love, consistency, support, and trust. I have always wanted to share my experience as Skyla’s coach and I can’t quite believe that I finally have the opportunity. So listen in to hear her mom Kim and I tell our story of Skyla’s success. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed the journey and that you leave feeling inspired in your own Executive Function journey.

Ep 3: How to Transform Habits - Strategies for Tracking & Accountability

Changing habits is at the core of all personal transformations. However, as we all know, it can be really difficult to stay consistent and disciplined when trying to build new habits. Why is it so hard and how can you actually follow through on new habit goals?

Ep 2: Parenting a Teen with Executive Dysfunction & the Growing Pains of Change

Building on the theme of failure from episode one, I sat down with Jodi for this week's episode - the mom of a young adult who had serious Executive Functioning challenges during his transition to college that impacted his grades, mental health, and overall quality of life. He has since made an inspiring transformation working with an EF coach over this past year and is now doing remarkably well. This episode explores what that tumultuous process looked like (in all its glorious imperfection) from Jodi's perspective.

Ep 1: Overcoming Failure in the Executive Function Journey

Failure is one of the most challenging obstacles we face in life - especially when trying to make big changes to our habits. It shakes our confidence, planting seeds of doubt that may ultimately lead to giving up on our self-improvement goals entirely. But if I told you failure was actually one of the best things that could happen in your journey, would you believe me? It sounds crazy, but the truth is failure gives us the insights we need to do better next time. In this week's episode, I'll be exploring how to reframe perceived failures as a critical part of reaching any goal, but particularly those that relate to improving Executive Function skills. You'll leave with practical tips, insightful strategies, and hopefully a renewed confidence to achieve the goals that are important to you or someone you're supporting.

Welcome to Focus Forward!

Welcome to Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast! This is our intro about what the podcast is all about so you can decide if it's worth your time (spoiler alert - it is!) We'll be having incredible guests on, as well as exploring topics around Executive Function that I guarantee are relevant to your life. Subscribe to get notified when new episodes release.

Meet the Host: Hannah Choi

Hannah Choi, MA is an Executive Function Coach who lives in Fairfield, CT with her husband and two teenage kids. She has over 20 years of experience working with students of all ages, from preschool to college students, as well as adults. Hannah is a graduate of The University of Rochester where she earned a BA in Psychology, and The University of California at Santa Barbara, where she earned an MA in Education. Outside of Beyond BookSmart, she owns a small business making items for babies and young children. When she's not taking care of her kids or coaching students, you'll find her kickboxing and checking her bullet journal to make sure she didn't forget anything.

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Our Podcast

Ep 14: 4-Steps to Build Time Management Strategies You'll Use for Life

Ep 13: How to Unlock the Superpowers of ADHD

October is ADHD awareness month, and given that half of our clients have ADHD, I knew there was something important we could offer the ADHD community this month with the podcast.

Ep 12: How to Maintain Progress Through Times of Change

Ep 11: Procrastination: Why We Wait & What to Do About It

Ep 10: Living with Hidden ADHD: How to Transform Your Life After a Late Diagnosis

Ep 9: Teen Coping Skills: A Therapist's Guide to Conquering Stress & Anxiety

Ep 8: Social Skills & Resilience: Expert Insights to Build a Confident Future

Ep 7: Can You Actually Improve Your Executive Function Skills? ft. Peg Dawson

Ep 6: What Does Life Changing Executive Function Support (Really) Look Like?

Ep 5: Rebuilding Confidence: How to Navigate the Mental Health Risks of ADHD & Executive Dysfunction

Ep 4: Transformations Through Love: How to Inspire Resistant Kids to Change

Ep 3: How to Transform Habits - Strategies for Tracking & Accountability

Changing habits is at the core of all personal transformations. However, as we all know, it can be really difficult to stay consistent and disciplined when trying to build new habits. Why is it so hard and how can you actually follow through on new habit goals?

Ep 2: Parenting a Teen with Executive Dysfunction & the Growing Pains of Change

Ep 1: Overcoming Failure in the Executive Function Journey

Welcome to Focus Forward!

Enter your email to get notified when new episodes are released.

Meet the Host: Hannah Choi

Subscribe to Get Notified When New Episodes Release

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Our Podcast

Ep 14: 4-Steps to Build Time Management Strategies You'll Use for Life

Ep 13: How to Unlock the Superpowers of ADHD

October is ADHD awareness month, and given that half of our clients have ADHD, I knew there was something important we could offer the ADHD community this month with the podcast.

Ep 12: How to Maintain Progress Through Times of Change

Ep 11: Procrastination: Why We Wait & What to Do About It

Ep 10: Living with Hidden ADHD: How to Transform Your Life After a Late Diagnosis

Ep 9: Teen Coping Skills: A Therapist's Guide to Conquering Stress & Anxiety

Ep 8: Social Skills & Resilience: Expert Insights to Build a Confident Future

Ep 7: Can You Actually Improve Your Executive Function Skills? ft. Peg Dawson

Ep 6: What Does Life Changing Executive Function Support (Really) Look Like?

Ep 5: Rebuilding Confidence: How to Navigate the Mental Health Risks of ADHD & Executive Dysfunction

Ep 4: Transformations Through Love: How to Inspire Resistant Kids to Change

Ep 3: How to Transform Habits - Strategies for Tracking & Accountability

Changing habits is at the core of all personal transformations. However, as we all know, it can be really difficult to stay consistent and disciplined when trying to build new habits. Why is it so hard and how can you actually follow through on new habit goals?

Ep 2: Parenting a Teen with Executive Dysfunction & the Growing Pains of Change

Ep 1: Overcoming Failure in the Executive Function Journey

Welcome to Focus Forward!

Enter your email to get notified when new episodes are released.

Meet the Host: Hannah Choi

Subscribe to Get Notified When New Episodes Release

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Corporate Headquarters:

About Us

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