Episode 12: Celebrating Season One - A Reflective Summary

In this special episode of Conscious Curiosity, the last before we take a break for a little while, Franck and Matt reflect on the key themes explored throughout Season One, offering personal insights and takeaways from their journey together.

From motivation to executive functions, they revisit the importance of context, self-awareness, and intrinsic value in shaping how we approach challenges and thrive. With the understanding that everyone’s brain operates differently, they highlight the need for compassion, flexibility, and celebration of neurodiversity in both personal and professional life.

🧠 Stay curious. Stay kind. 

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Ps. Like the podcast? You'll LOVE Franck's Masterclass sessions, aimed at coaches, educators, consultants and neurodiversity team leads. Sign up to one of his upcoming Neurodiversity Masterclasses below and use the coupon code PODCASTLEGEND for an exclusive £75 off - hurry though, offer valid only until 31st May!

Episode 11: Executive Functions... With A Little Help From Our Friends

Mixing it up this week, Franck & Matt continued onto the final part of their 3-part episode run-down on Executive Functions, calling in a few favours from friends to share their own thoughts & interpretations on the subject.

A HUGE THANK YOU to all the coaches & peers that helped us piece this episode together. You can find them all here, in the order they were played:

🧠 Stay curious. Stay kind. 

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www.consciousclarity.co.uk/curiosity

🤝 Connect with Franck on LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown/

Ps. Like the podcast? You'll LOVE Franck's Masterclass sessions. Sign up to one of his upcoming Neurodiversity Masterclasses below and use the coupon code PODCASTLEGEND for an exclusive £75 off - hurry though, offer valid only until 31st May!

Episode 10: Further Expanding on Executive Functions

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt dive deep once more into the role of executive functions, how they shape our behaviour, and the critical importance of context in understanding and improving them.

Drawing from Phineas Gage’s story and real-life experiences, they explore how changes to the brain, whether through injury, illness, or lifestyle, impact our cognitive control and emotional regulation.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 Why executive functions are not static, but rather context-dependent abilities we use to achieve goals.

🔹 The link between brain injury and behaviour changes, illustrated by Phineas Gage’s case, and how this reshapes our understanding of cognition.

🔹 The importance of looking after your brain and body to create an environment conducive to executive function – it’s about more than just training, it’s about broad, holistic care.

🔹 The interplay of societal influences, values, and personal experiences in shaping how our brains manage higher-order tasks.

🔹 A mindset shift: improving executive function isn’t about "fixing" yourself, it’s about managing the right context for growth and development.

This episode is a powerful reminder that context, not just effort, can make or break our cognitive performance and that it only takes small shifts to make significant improvements in our daily lives.

🧠 Stay curious. Stay kind. 

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🤝 Connect with Franck on LinkedIn:
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📺 Today’s Source Material: Sabine Doebel’s paper, Rethinking Executive Function and Its Development

Episode 9: Exploring Executive Functions

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt take a step back to examine what executive functions really are and why context, not character, is so often the missing piece in making lasting change.

Building on Sabine Doebel’s TED Talk and real-life coaching experiences, they explore how stress, environment, and support systems influence the “conductor” in our brains – and why improving executive function is less about fixing yourself and more about designing better conditions.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 Why executive functions aren’t fixed traits – and how context quietly drives our ability to regulate, plan and focus.

🔹 How factors like sleep, food, and emotional safety play an important role in cognitive performance – often more than strategy or willpower.

🔹 The role of therapy, coaching and CBT – and what these approaches get right (and sometimes miss) when addressing executive dysfunction.

🔹 Why social context and trusted relationships can be catalysts for change – especially for those who feel isolated or misunderstood.

🔹 How burnout, anxiety and inconsistency show up in everyday behaviours – and what small “ladders” can help us climb back to a clearer mind.

🔹 A powerful mindset shift: You don’t need to be fixed – you might just need better scaffolding.

This episode is a grounding reminder that we’re all a work in progress – and that the tools for growth are often simpler, and closer, than we think.

🧠 Stay curious. Stay kind. 

📩 Conscious Curiosity: The Newsletter – Stay updated on upcoming episodes and insights from the podcast. Sign up below!
www.consciousclarity.co.uk/curiosity

🤝 Connect with Franck on LinkedIn:
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📺 Today’s Source Material: Sabine Doebel’s TED Talk – "How your brain's executive function works - and how to improve it."

Episode 8: Turning Attention Inside Out

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt dive deep into the neuroscience of attention, using a recent academic paper to explore what actually triggers our focus and how context shapes what we notice.

From Formula 1 drivers visualising corners to the subtle cues that shape everyday decisions, they break down the complex mechanisms that drive our attention - and why it matters for both neurodivergent and neurotypical minds alike.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 The four key sources of attention triggers – and how to distinguish between internal and external influences.

🔹 Why most attention shifts are context-driven, not conscious, and how that changes the way we understand behaviour.

🔹 The difference between reactive and proactive attention, and how this plays out in real-life decision-making.

🔹 How internal states like anticipation and emotional readiness shape what we focus on, especially in high-stakes moments.

🔹 Why this understanding matters for ADHD and neurodiversity... and how it opens the door to empathy and smarter support.

🔹 A practical framework for coaching and life: Using a two-by-two matrix to visualise the attention landscape.

Stay curious, stay kind. 

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📃 Today’s Source Material: Van Ede & Nobre's "Turning Attention Inside Out: How Working Memory Serves Behaviour" (2023) 

Episode 7: The Relationship Between Attention and Memory

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck & Matt dive deep into one of the most foundational - and misunderstood - relationships in cognitive science: the dance between attention and memory.

From fleeting thoughts in working memory to lasting life lessons in long-term memory, it turns out that attention isn’t just about what we notice... it's also about what we remember.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 Revisiting definitions of words we often take for granted, including "memory" and "attention"

🔹 How memories shape the way we direct our attention

🔹 The link between alertness, capability to attend and intensity

🔹 The different types of memory (as interpreted by Franck!)

🔹 The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve and how learning "little and often" is more effective than last-minute cramming or intensive bursts of learning

🔹 Neuroplasticity and our brain's ability to adapt over time
... and a whole lot more!

Whether you're a coach, a curious mind, or someone trying to optimise your mental performance, this conversation offers an insight into important concepts for your everyday life.

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📃 Today’s Source Material: "The Relation Between Attention and Memory" by Cowan et al. (2024).

Episode 6: Paying Attention to Attention

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck & Matt unpack the groundbreaking work of Michael Posner and Mary Rothbart on the neuroscience of attention.

Far from being a single skill, attention is revealed to be a set of three distinct systems, each with a vital role in how we engage with the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 The three core attention systems – alerting, orienting, and executive control - and how each is fuelled by different neurotransmitters.
🔹 Why some people struggle more with focus, especially under stress or in conditions like ADHD.
🔹 The difference between focusing and filtering – and why great attention is often about what you don’t pay attention to.
... and a whole lot more!

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📃 Today’s Source Material: "Fifty years integrating neurobiology and psychology to study attention" by Posner & Rothbart (2023).

Episode 5: Why We're All Designed To Chase Rewards

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt explore a fascinating neuroscience paper by Aviv Weinstein titled “The Role of the Reward System in the Regulation of Motivation”.

Together, they unpack what the latest brain research reveals about how motivation really works – and why we sometimes feel energised to act (or not). We'll look at the brain's reward systems and explore how dopamine, anticipation, and our unique neurobiology shape our drive to act.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

🔹 How the brain drives motivation: The role of key brain areas like the prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, and the dopamine system in regulating how we respond to potential rewards.

🔹 The science behind reward: Why anticipating a reward often motivates us more than the reward itself – and how to use that insight in real life.

🔹 What this means for getting ourselves going and neurodivergent minds: How understanding motivation from a neuroscience perspective can lead to more compassionate, effective strategies for ourselves and others.

🔹 Daniel Pink's Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose framework for motivation - and how understanding and leveraging these three things can make a difference.

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🤝Connect with Franck on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown/

📃 Today’s Source Material: “The Role of the Reward System in the Regulation of Motivation" by Aviv Weinstein

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt dive into the thought-provoking paper "Distractibility and Impulsivity in ADHD as an Evolutionary Mismatch" by Anne-Laure Le Cunff.

Together, they explore how ADHD traits, such as impulsivity and distractibility, might have been beneficial in our ancestral past but now present challenges in the modern world.

The aim of this episode is to challenge the common view of ADHD as simply a disorder by proposing that these traits could actually be useful evolutionary adaptations that are misaligned with today's structured and predictable environments

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

ADHD traits as evolutionary advantages: How traits like impulsivity and distractibility helped our ancestors thrive in unpredictable environments.

The evolutionary mismatch: Why ADHD traits that once served us well are now a challenge in a structured, distraction-heavy world.

Reframing ADHD: What happens when we stop seeing ADHD as a "disorder" and start viewing it as an adaptation that doesn’t quite fit modern-day living.

Key insights from the research: What this evolutionary perspective means for supporting neurodivergent individuals in the workplace, schools, and beyond.

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📃 Today’s Source Material: Distractibility and Impulsivity in ADHD as an Evolutionary Mismatch by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-024-00400-8

In today’s episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Matt dive into a deep topic—thinking about their own thinking. That’s right, things start to get deep! 🧠

Together, they explore the paper "Individuals with High Metacognitive Ability Are Better at Divergent and Convergent Thinking" by Jiang et al (2023). This fascinating study explores the link between metacognition (thinking about thinking) and its impact on creative problem-solving.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

What is metacognition?: Understanding how thinking about your own thought processes can enhance creativity.

The power of divergent and convergent thinking: Breaking down the concepts and how they apply to both personal and professional growth.

Metacognition’s role in creative problem-solving: How awareness of your thinking patterns can improve both innovation and decision-making.

Real-life applications: Practical examples of how metacognitive ability can impact creativity in daily life, work, and personal projects.

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📃 Today’s Source Material: Jiang et al - 2023 - Individuals with High Metacognitive Ability Are Better at Divergent and Convergent Thinking