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

What if the college application process didn’t have to feel like a crisis?

In this episode, Brandon talks with Nita June, Founder of June College Counseling — an independent educational consultant who brings joy, intention, and humanity back into college admissions. With a background in theater and film, Nita helps students with ADHD and other learning differences find their voice, manage overwhelm, and approach the application process as a rite of passage, not a test of worth.

They discuss practical strategies for breaking writer’s block, balancing structure and creativity, and helping students advocate for themselves before they ever step foot on campus. Whether your teen is anxious, perfectionistic, or just stuck, this episode reframes the process as an opportunity to build executive function, resilience, and self-knowledge—skills that last long after the acceptance letter arrives.

🎧 Tune in for insight, laughter, and a much-needed reminder: this process can (and should) be joyful.

#ExecutiveFunction #CollegeAdmissions #Neurodiversity #ParentingTeens #UntappedLearning

In this episode, we sit down with Isaac Green, former University of Washington Track & Field All-Pac-12 runner and current Untapped Executive Function Coach. Isaac opens up about his own academic struggles, like failing statistics (twice), and the skills that helped him bounce back.

Together, Brandon and Isaac explore practical strategies for:

✅ Time management and planning routines

✅ Building study systems that actually work

✅ Developing self-advocacy with teachers and professors

✅ Learning from failure and building resilience

✅ Balancing athletics, academics, and personal growth

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

In this episode, Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning, sits down with Jill Michaud, Head of School at Hillside School & Center for Dyslexia in Boulder, Colorado. Together they unpack what dyslexia is (and isn’t), the connection between phonological processing and reading, and how early intervention can completely change a student’s confidence and self-esteem.

Jill explains Hillside’s structured, evidence-based approach to literacy and how small class sizes, expert instruction, and relational teaching rebuild both skills and belief in learning. The conversation also explores how dyslexia and executive function challenges often overlap, highlighting strategies that strengthen working memory, attention, and motivation.

This episode celebrates the new Untapped x Hillside partnership, uniting two student-centered programs that help learners build the academic and personal skills they need to thrive.

Why is it that student-athletes can show incredible discipline in sports, but struggle to stay organized or focused in school?

In this episode, Brandon talks with John Gassner, ADHD coach and academic strategist with Order Out of Chaos. A former Division I swimmer and ESPN sports marketing exec, John brings both personal experience and professional insight into the unique challenges student-athletes face with executive function.

Together, they unpack why time and energy management—not just motivation—are the key skills for balance. From sleep and nutrition to planning and self-advocacy, John shares proven strategies to help students build structure, close EF gaps, and perform at their best—both in the classroom and on the field.

Tune in to learn how to translate athletic discipline into lifelong success.

Learn more about John's work at: https://www.orderoochaos.com/adhd-athlete-coaching-academy

When kids struggle with executive function, procrastination and anxiety often collide—creating a frustrating loop that impacts the whole family. In this episode, Brandon Slade sits down with Danielle Svingos, Associate Director of the Berkeley Clinic, longtime clinician, and parent of neurodiverse young adults, to explore the deep connection between executive function challenges, anxiety, and avoidance behaviors.

Danielle introduces her “green brain, yellow brain, red brain” framework, showing parents how to recognize escalation early and use co-regulation to reset. She shares how creating a self-regulation menu of personalized calming strategies empowers kids to take ownership of their emotions.

The conversation digs into why procrastination is not laziness but often an emotional self-protection response to overwhelming tasks. Danielle and Brandon unpack the power of positive reinforcement, why parents need to zoom out to long-term goals, and how reframing success around well-being (not just Ivy League outcomes) can transform family dynamics.

Whether you’re a parent navigating homework battles, a teacher wondering if procrastination signals anxiety, or someone working on your own executive function, this episode is full of compassionate insights and practical strategies.

Learn more about Danielle's work at https://www.albani.group/

If you or your student are interested in learning more about what Untapped Learning has to offer, visit us at:

Website: https://untappedlearning.com/

FREE downloadable resources: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/

This podcast is hosted by Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning.

What does it take to go from struggling to read in elementary school to earning an MBA? In this inspiring episode, Brandon Slade sits down with Gabe Corradino, a former student athlete who grew up with dyslexia and executive function challenges.

Gabe shares his journey of resilience—from reading at a first-grade level in fifth grade to finding success in both athletics and academics. He talks candidly about what it was like to play hockey and other sports while struggling with comprehension, how harsh coaching environments affected his confidence, and why empathy and clear expectations are essential for athletes who learn differently.

The conversation dives into the power of acceptance—from family, schools, and self—in unlocking accommodations and creating space for growth. Gabe reflects on his time at Western Colorado University, the support systems that helped him thrive, and how he discovered his own way of learning by embracing flexibility and personalization.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or coach, Gabe’s story is a reminder that learning differences don’t define limits—they can become strengths when paired with the right support and mindset.

If you or your student are interested in learning more about what Untapped Learning has to offer, visit us at:

Website: https://untappedlearning.com/

FREE downloadable resources: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/

This podcast is hosted by Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning.

Parenting an anxious or resistant child can feel like walking a tightrope between supporting them and fighting daily battles over homework, phones, and responsibilities. In this episode, Brandon Slade sits down with Bryna Cunningham, clinical social worker, school counselor, and private practice therapist, to talk about the connection between executive function deficits and anxiety—and what parents can do to help.

Bryna shares practical strategies for creating a “soft landing” after school, recognizing overstimulation, and approaching resistance with curiosity rather than control. She explains why defensiveness often masks anxiety, how body doubling and modeling can reduce stress, and why letting kids experience natural consequences is sometimes the best teacher.

They also dig into timely challenges like phone use and overstimulation, the importance of clear expectations, and the danger of sacrificing long-term relationships over short-term academic battles. Bryna emphasizes wholehearted parenting—showing kids they’re valued as people, not just for performance—and reminds us that building trust, modeling balance, and prioritizing connection are what truly help kids thrive.

If you’re a parent navigating homework resistance, teen defensiveness, or the ever-present phone battles, this episode will leave you with concrete tools and reassurance that you’re not alone.

Visit Bryna's Website: https://www.brynacunningham.com/

If you or your student are interested in learning more about what Untapped Learning has to offer, visit us at:

Website: https://untappedlearning.com/

FREE downloadable resources: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/

This podcast is hosted by Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning.

Why is the transition to adulthood so hard for young people today? In this episode, Brandon Slade sits down with Roxanne Turner, Founder and CEO of RBT Coaching, Certified ADHD Professional, and Board Certified Coach, to unpack the realities of “adulting” and how families can better support independence.

Roxanne shares why developmental lags make launching more complex for students with ADHD, and how misunderstandings about executive function often fuel conflict at home. From laundry battles and messy rooms to money management and self-care routines, she offers practical strategies for teaching real-world skills without creating learned helplessness.

The conversation explores the delicate balance of giving autonomy, setting clear expectations, and resisting the urge to swoop in too quickly. Roxanne emphasizes the importance of getting curious, modeling skills, and trusting the process, even when progress feels messy. She also addresses the rising concerns around “failure to launch,” offering guidance on when outside support might be necessary.

Whether you’re a parent concerned about your teenager, a college student navigating independence, or a professional supporting neurodiverse learners, this episode offers clear and compassionate insight into helping young adults confidently transition into the next stage of life.

Learn more about Roxanne's work at www.rbtcoaching.com

If you or your student are interested in learning more about what Untapped Learning has to offer, visit us at:

Website: https://untappedlearning.com/

FREE downloadable resources: https://untappedlearning.com/resource-type/downloads/

This podcast is hosted by Brandon Slade, Founder of Untapped Learning.