Have you ever read something, only to realize your focus had floated away? Or, have you lost your spot when switching lines of text? This week we talk to Nick Lum, founder of BeeLine Reader, an assistive technology designed to make reading easier.  It is proven to help alleviate some of the mental tasks of reading, improving comprehension, and extending focus (when our brains use less juice on just reading, we are free to think about what we are reading!) Nick will tell us how BeeLine came to be, why he quit his day job for it, and how he uses executive function to manage his business. Learn more about BeeLine with the links below. All my love, Sarah

BeeLine Reader website

BeeLine Reader on iOS

BeeLine Reader on Chrome

BeeLine Reader for PDF

Insight Browser Beta (will be launching in January 2021 with BeeLine capability)

Audience: all ages and contexts

If you had a dollar for every time someone told you or your child to "just study" or "study harder," you'd be rich, right? But, what does that even mean? And how can you study harder if you never learned how to study anyway? This episode has study tips AND how to coach your child to actually USE them, now, to improve their grades on last-minute work and final exams. Disclaimer: grades are not who your child is. While this episode explores ways to improve grades, take grades in general as one measure of the 1,000 things your kid is and does. Grades matter a lot and grades don't matter at all. Intrigued? Jump in the episode! (Pep talk for your amazing kid is at 16:19) 

All my love, Sarah

Tribe, 

This interview will rock your brain! Geralyn is an Occupational Therapist, writer, and mom who challenges the medical and educational systems to do better for everyone. You will love her story and unique perspective. She writes on Medium and is the founder of the Down Syndrome Action Plan. Listen to show to find out why Geralyn says, "we have to leave space for our kids to reach their full potentials" and why she passionately proclaims, "your genes are not your destiny." All my love, Sarah 

Hey Tribe, 

If you're feeling weird going into this Pandemic-Clouded Holiday Season, you are not alone. Flexible thinking is an executive function that is in high demand right now, and the holidays are going to call upon it loads. Plus, you might be managing disappointment, anxiety, and social pressures...all while staying safe from a mostly invisible (but so very real) health threat. Not to worry, though, this episode teaches you how to flew that brain's flexible thinking and mine your expectations for the real gold---what you seek to feel this year! We strategize the Thanksgiving struggle today, together! Pep talk is at 12:25. 

P.S. Sorry in advance: I sing on this episode. 

All my love,

Sarah 

Tribe, take a break and have some fun with this week's interview! Dr. Kirsten Milliken is the author of the book PlayDHD, which teaches us the science behind using PLAY to support our brains! She will explain, using science and experience, why fun is necessary, especially today, and how taking time to play can help you be more successful! She also talks about her awesome new project, WorldofADHD.com, which celebrates the art, lives, and creativity of people with ADHD! Links mentioned in the show are in the blog at: sarahkesty.com/blog/episode37. All my love to you, Tribe! Sarah

Tribe, 

I was honored to hear from a listener who wanted to share his story after making it through the school system as a kid with ADHD and ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Floyd shares what he found worked, what only worked a little, and how to frame your thinking about your own ADHD brain. His tips will resonate with you! (And, spoiler alert: He made it. He works and is going to school to become an advocate for justice! Floyd's story will give you hope!) 

PS A learning moment for me: I sent Floyd some questions to think about before we talked on the show. Then, I went a little out of order when we recorded. Please forgive his pauses or "ums." Those are my fault, for going out of order. It was just too much great information to not post his thoughts! 

All my love, 

Sarah

Tribe, try-o-meters are not a thing. We cannot assume we know how hard others, especially our kids, are trying. I challenge you to replace your assumptions with only one: Kids do their best. Please listen and share. (This episode is in response to some emails my students and clients received from teachers this week, including, "You need to actually try," and "I won't help you anymore unless you do your part." We can't afford to lose our kids by assuming they aren't trying.) Listen in for some strategies and an empathetic walk in kids' shoes right now. Pep talk at 19:00 (but the whole episode is like a perspective pep talk this week!) All my love, Sarah 

Team, This episode may go against the grain a bit. We all are fighting so hard right now. Fighting to stay safe. Fighting to stay positive. Fighting to stay on top of whatever "school" may look like. We are trying to be in action all the time because we think action is the solution to stress. Today's episode won't ask you to stop acting, but it will empower you to make FUN part of your plan and activities. It is FUN that will keep our brains healthy and able to access strategies and learning. It is FUN that will regulate our brain chemicals to get us into a more productive, happy space. Fun is not a waste of time, and it doesn't have to be separate from what you're doing right now. All my love (and some fun) to you, Sarah 

One of the most common concerns I’ve heard from our Tribe is that of keeping our kids organized and on track for distance learning or hybrid models. This concern touches deep into layers of Executive Function, and I’m going to share some great hacks today. Hey Kid Pep Talk is at 20:10. All my love! Sarah

Tribe, today you'll hear from Ashley Daugherty, who created a planner with embedded executive function supports! I'm so excited for her planner and its potential impact on kids' lives. Check out her website for more information and to order: https://www.studentplannerplus.com/ All my love, Sarah