Executive Function Brain Trainer Podcast

In this episode of the Executive Function Brain Trainer Podcast, Dr. Erica Warren welcomes her business partner, executive functioning coach, and educational therapist, Nancy Platt Dawud, for a discussion geared toward parents on building executive functioning skills over the summer. They contrast the risks of too little structure with the benefits of involving kids in planning, time management, and organization, while also emphasizing the value of unstructured time, boredom, creativity, and frustration tolerance. They suggest practical, playful strategies including outdoor activities (obstacle courses, scavenger hunts, sports), family games (card and board games that support working memory, inhibition, flexibility, logic, and spatial skills), reading supports (graphic novels, audiobooks paired with text, finger tracking, apps), and real-life skill builders like cooking, travel prep and packing lists, map reading, memorizing key information, visual schedules, and small “chunked” routines like the three-thing rule, while cautioning against overscheduling and overhelping.
Links:
EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
Executive Function Products and Tools: https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training
ivvi notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠
Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
Erica and Nancy’s Private Practice: https://learningtolearn.biz/ 
Drinking from a hose short: https://www.instagram.com/reels/CsXhIgQsTUw/ 
Quitch: Look for a used one on eBay
Rat-A-Tat Cat
Blink
Deducto
Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza
Dog Crimes
Cat Crimes
Scattergories
Pictionary
Mastermind
Guess the Color (online version of Mastermind) 
Genius Square
Blockus
QBits
Logic Links
Rush Hour
Clue
Skylight
Dry Erase Calendars
Picture Schedules

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https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Executive Function Brain Trainer Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Dr. Erica Warren explore how AI can support cognitive flexibility as one of the three core components of executive functioning, alongside working memory and inhibitory control. Using metaphors like golf and GPS, they describe cognitive flexibility as adapting goals and perspectives when circumstances change, including managing transitions, emotional regulation, and breaking out of rigid thinking loops. They discuss practical ways to use AI as a process tool and thinking partner; role-playing different perspectives, generating better questions, and refining communication, while warning against overreliance that can weaken skills. They also highlight pitfalls like context window limits and AI sycophancy, plus strategies such as summarizing, restarting threads, and capturing key principles in notes and templates to preserve intent and improve future AI use.
Links:
Executive Function Products and Tools: https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training
Obsidian: https://obsidian.md/ 
Claude cowork: https://claude.com/product/cowork 
Chat GPT: https://chatgpt.com/ 
ivvi notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠
Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brought to you by:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of the Executive Function Braintrainer Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Dr. Erica Warren discuss a growing executive functioning crisis among teens, driven by post-COVID challenges and the shift to inconsistent, multi-platform digital school systems. They describe how varied teacher workflows across tools like Canvas and Google Classroom increase cognitive load, leading students to lose assignments, forget to submit work, and be mislabeled as lazy or careless. The hosts compare this offloading of administrative burden to customer service systems that push work onto users, noting similar stressors for adults and older people. They explore coping strategies such as keeping passwords and step-by-step processes in one place, explicit note-taking, and hand-holding support, while also considering how AI tools could eventually reduce procedural overload, though many students are not allowed to use AI.
Links:
Executive Function Products and Tools: https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training
Executive Function Coaching and Certification Course: https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies 
Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠
Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brought to you by:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment

In this episode of the Executive Function Braintrainer Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Dr. Erica Warren explore the relationship between AI and executive functioning, arguing that as AI becomes more capable, human value will increasingly center on agency and executive skills, setting goals, choosing missions, and directing resources like a conductor leading an orchestra. Darius shares how his tool ivvi (IVVI.app) uses AI to turn meeting audio into live, interactive mind maps for visual thinkers, and the hosts discuss why explicit instruction in executive function skills is becoming essential for students and workers. They examine practical classroom use of AI through a case example of a student who resists AI but benefits from using NotebookLM to study more efficiently by compiling answers from slides, generating podcasts, mind maps, flashcards, and practice tests, while still learning content. The conversation also considers how future AI agents could support complex real-world tasks, such as parents advocating for children with dyslexia, by tracking education plans, drafting communications, tutoring homework, and supporting routines, and emphasizes that benevolent outcomes depend on how people choose to use these tools. The episode closes with a call for cognitive flexibility and “fatalistic optimism,” framing AI’s growth as inevitable and encouraging listeners to build executive function to navigate and shape what comes next.

Links:
Optimus: https://www.tesla.com/en_eu/AI
AI Agents: https://cloud.google.com/discover/what-are-ai-agents   
Elon Musk on AGI Timeline, US vs China, Job Markets, Clean Energy & Humanoid Robots | 220:  https://youtu.be/RSNuB9pj9P8
Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠
Executive Functioning Resources: https://goodsensorylearning.com/pages/executive-functioning-resources
Executive Functioning Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
Brought to you by:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment

In this episode of the Executive Function Brain Trainer Podcast, host Dr. Erica Warren is joined by Diane Randall, an executive functioning coach with extensive experience in pediatric occupational therapy. The discussion delves into the significant benefits of executive functioning training for occupational therapists (OTs), offering unique insights and strategies for integrating cognitive and motor skills. Diane shares her journey through an executive functioning course and highlights the creativity and holistic approach essential in occupational therapy. The conversation underscores the importance of intrinsic motivation, kinesthetic learning, and play in developing executive functioning skills, both in children and adults. The episode is a treasure trove of strategies, tools, and compelling stories, designed to help educators, therapists, and parents better support their clients and students.
Links:
Executive Functioning Coaching Course: ⁠https://www.learningspecialistcourses.com/courses/teaching-EF-and-study-strategies⁠
Executive Functioning Resources: ⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/pages/executive-functioning-resources ⁠
Executive Functioning Products: ⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/collections/executive-functioning-skills-training⁠⁠⁠
Executive Functioning Assessments:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?type=product&q=EFCA⁠⁠⁠⁠
Continuing Education for Mental Health, Rehab and Healthcare Professionals: www.pesi.com
Sensational Brain -Executive Functions Consultant Micro Credential (School-based): www.sensationalbrain.com
CEU Courses for OT’s: www.occupationaltherapy.com
How to Teach Executive Functions in Grades 1-6: ⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/how-to-teach-executive-functioning-to-elementary-and-middle-school-students-and-make-it-fun⁠⁠
Inner Voice:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/inner-voice-app⁠⁠
EF Student Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://learningtolearn.biz/⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Adult Coaching with Erica:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://dropintoyourbestself.com/coaching⁠⁠⁠⁠
EF Coaching with Diane: diane.randall.efcoaching@gmail.comEF
Student Processing Inventory (SPI): https://goodsensorylearning.com/search?q=Student+Processing+Inventory 
Spot it: https://amzn.to/45uZEcl 
Mini Luk: https://amzn.to/4qDZaZR 
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: https://amzn.to/4abJyqJ 
Blokus: https://amzn.to/45SoGCz 

Brought to you by:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ivvi.app⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
https://goodsensorylearning.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://learningspecialistcourses.com⁠⁠
⁠⁠https://goodsensorylearning.com/products/executive-functioning-coaching-assessment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠