Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

About Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Focus Forward is a comprehensive guide to improving Executive Functions - the mental skills like time-management, task-initiation, organization, and emotional regulation that allow us to be successful. Whether you're a parent looking to better support your child, or are simply looking to improve your own Executive Function (EF) skills, this podcast is for you. We'll be having guests of all kinds on, including parents who've had success in improving their child's EF challenges, adults who have navigated executive dysfunction, and experts who specialize in treating these types of issues. Focus Forward is an Executive Function Podcast sponsored by Beyond BookSmart.

Publisher

Beyond BookSmart

Category

education · health & fitness · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

15 Mar 2022

Latest episode

5 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

8 of 81 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   5 Feb 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Ep 80: Focus Forward: Lessons from Four Years of Curiosity and Connection (ft. Sean Potts)

   Host, Hae-Seung Choi, reflects on four years of hosting the Focus Forward podcast and shares lessons learned about building the show with editor and producer Sean Potts in this interview episode.

2. 

   14 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Ep 79: Dyslexia Explained: Reading, Executive Function, and the Right Kind of Help (ft. Ben Powers and Jeff Ruggiero)

   Hi everyone! I have something to tell you and I don’t really know how to say it, so I’m just going to say it like it is. I’ve decided to end my time as part of the marketing team at Beyond BookSmart and sadly, that means that I’ll no longer be hosting Focus Forward. Today’s episode is not our last, we’ll be dropping one more at the beginning of February, so I hope you come back to listen to that. I don’t know what the future is for the show, but I’m sure if Beyond BookSmart decides to keep it going, they’ll continue to provide great content for our listeners. I won’t say too much about our last episode, but it’ll be special and I do hope you come back to listen. And, the archive of the old episodes will still be available, so you can always go back for a listen there. This podcast has been an important part of my life for the past four years, and I’m really grateful for that. This was not an easy decision to make but I’m excited to see what the future holds. If you want to keep up with me, Please look me up on LinkedIn or Instagram. I’d love to hear from you. I’ll also still be doing some coaching for Beyond BookSmart, so you can email me there at hchoi@beyondbooksmart.com. But, let’s talk about today’s episode: it’s all about dyslexia, and I’m really excited to share this conversation with you. I’m joined by Ben Powers and Jeff Ruggiero from the Southport School, and we had the opportunity to record this interview in person at the Fairfield Public Library. Huge thank you to Philip Bahr for once again letting us use the space and equipment and for helping get everything set up. Recording in person is always such a treat and brings a different kind of energy to the conversation. Since this is the first focus forward episode on dyslexia, we really focused on the basics. Ben and Jeff help break down what dyslexia actually is, what it is not, and why it’s so much more complex than just reversing letters or struggling to read. We talk about early signs of dyslexia, the importance of early identification and screening, and what happens in the brain when a child is learning to read. We also spend time talking about the overlap between dyslexia, ADHD, and executive function skills, and why so many students who struggle with reading also struggle with things like organization, working memory, task initiation, and confidence. Ben and Jeff do a great job of explaining why instruction matters so much, including the role of structured literacy and the science of reading, and why certain approaches work better for dyslexic learners, actually, they work better for all learners. Show Notes: Learn More About Ben, Jeff, and Southport School Southport School https://www.southportschool.org/ https://www.southportschool.org/about/leadership Southport CoLAB https://www.southportcolab.org/ https://www.southportcolab.org/aboutus/our-team CoLAB Calendar of Events and Offerings https://www.southportcolab.org/calendar-and-events The Executive Function Blueprint: A Practical Framework for the Classroom https://www.amazon.com/Executive-Function-Blueprint-Practical-Framework/dp/B0DV4J41DQ Learn More about Dyslexia and Reading Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars (documentary) https://www.hopevilleadvocacy.com/home International Dyslexia Association https://dyslexiaida.org/ Early Bird Reader Study & App https://www.gaablab.com/early-literacy-screener-study-1 https://earlybirdeducation.com/ Learn More About Our Corporate Executive Function Training https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/training Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch podcast@beyondbooksmart.com Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com

3. 

   10 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Ep 78: Misdiagnosed & Misunderstood: How Women with ADHD Can Reclaim Their Story (ft: Kristen Baird-Goldman)

   I’m so glad you’re here for this conversation, because today we’re diving into a topic that is personally very close to home for me and I’m guessing many of you: the intersection of ADHD, womanhood, and self-love. My guest today, Kristen Baird-Goldman, is a licensed mental health therapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent women, especially those over 40. She brings such clarity and compassion to this whole messy thing of hormones, ADHD, and mental health. We talk about why so many women go undiagnosed until midlife, how perimenopause can amplify ADHD symptoms in ways that feel terrifying, what’s actually happening in the brain and body during this time, and how we can advocate for ourselves in a medical system that still has a long way to go. I’m so relieved to see this topic finally getting more attention in the news, in research, and all over social media. The conversations are growing and the awareness is catching up! I’m so glad you’re here today with me to be a part of it all - especially the men out there listening. Truly, I mean it. Your willingness to understand these experiences makes a real difference in the lives of your partners, friends, colleagues, and family members. Thanks for tuning in! Here are the show notes from today’s episode: Show Notes: Learn More about Kristen https://bairdintegratedtherapy.com/ The CBT Workbook for Adult ADHD: Evidence-Based Exercises to Improve Your Focus, Productivity, and Wellbeing https://www.amazon.com/CBT-Workbook-Adult-ADHD-Evidence-Based/dp/1685394876 Let’s Talk About Perimenopause and ADHD https://www.additudemag.com/perimenopause-treatment-low-estrogen-symptoms-adhd/ Does Menopause Cause ADHD? https://chadd.org/attention-article/does-menopause-cause-adhd/ Learn More About Our Corporate Executive Function Training https://www.worksmartcoaching.com/training Learn More About Our MAP Program https://map.worksmartcoaching.com Learn More About 1:1 Coaching https://www.beyondbooksmart.com/how-it-works Get in Touch podcast@beyondbooksmart.com Instagram/Facebook/Tiktok: @beyondbooksmartcoaching www.beyondbooksmart.com

Who has been a guest on Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sean Potts
• Tyler Mitchell
• Eliza
• Mark
• Sam

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

49 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

22 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

69

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

85

Contact Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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Questions about Focus Forward: An Executive Function Podcast