In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon Slade talks with Licensed Professional Counselor Howard Baumgarten about the emotional side of executive function that often gets overlooked, especially for adults and men with ADHD.

Howard explains how suppression, anxiety, and past experiences show up as procrastination, distraction, and burnout. Instead of pushing harder, real change comes from slowing down, building self-compassion, and learning how to respond rather than react. When the nervous system calms, thinking gets easier, and follow-through becomes possible.

This episode is for adults who feel stuck, parents supporting overwhelmed students, and anyone who has tried routines and strategies without addressing what lies underneath.

🎧 Listen now to learn how compassion unlocks executive function.

Learn More about Howard's practice at: https://howardbaumgarten.com/

What if improving student mental health didn’t require more time, more programs, or more pressure?

In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon Slade sits down with Tessa Zimmerman, founder of Upstream Education, TEDx speaker, and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, to explore how short, intentional practices can reduce student stress and strengthen executive function.

Tessa shares how her own experience with severe anxiety shaped her work, why mental health tools belong in every classroom, and how just five minutes a day can help students build self-regulation, focus, and emotional awareness.

From calm being contagious, to simple classroom and home strategies like breathing, movement, and micro-wins, this conversation offers practical, brain-based tools for parents, educators, and school leaders who want to support students before burnout sets in.

Learn more about Tessa work here: https://www.upstreamedu.org/our-team

Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, MCC, SCAC, BCC, joins us for a powerful conversation about how ADHD and executive function coaching have transformed over the past three decades. As the founder of JST Coaching & Training and the creator of the first ICF-accredited student coach training focused on coaching students with ADHD, executive function, and learning challenges, Jodi brings deep expertise and a compassionate approach to helping students thrive.

In this episode, we explore how coaching students with ADHD and executive function challenges requires empathy, collaboration, and a shift in mindset for both adults and kids. Jodi shares what she’s learned from training thousands of coaches worldwide and what it truly means to support the whole child.

We talk about

• Why coaching works when other interventions fall short

• How to move from compliance to connection

• The difference between enabling and empowering

• What parents and teachers often miss about executive function

• How student voice and agency are key to long-term growth

Jodi’s insights will challenge and inspire anyone working with young people. Whether you're a parent, educator, or coach, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about what support can look like.

Learn more about Jodi’s work at jstcoachtraining.com

Want to learn more about how Untapped Learning helps students (and their families) build executive function skills?

Explore our 1-on-1 mentoring, workshops, and free resources at

🌐 Website: https://untappedlearning.com

📥 Free Downloads: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/

📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/untappedlearning