Learn Smarter Podcast

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore one of the most common questions families express when starting educational therapy: the desire for quick results. They discuss why this is such a universal question, what parents are actually asking for, and how professionals can guide families toward a clearer, calmer understanding of the educational therapy process.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 109: Learning About Learning with Dr. Rishi Sriram Ep 115: Learning About Learning with Dr Rishi Part 2 (Author Series) Ep 130: The 5 M’s of Talent with Dr. Rishi Sriram (Author Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET break down one of the most persistent myths in school, work, and home life: the idea that multitasking is a skill. The science is clear — the brain cannot actually multitask. What the brain does is rapidly switch between tasks, and that switching is far more costly than most people realize. Rachel and Stephanie discuss what is really happening in the brain when learners try to “do it all,” why multitasking leads to more mistakes and slower progress, and what strategies support executive functioning and stronger learning habits. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 186: All or Nothing Brain (Executive Function Series) Ep 346: All About Body Doubling (Executive Functioning Series)  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss the role of the educational therapist as a middleman. We dig into the middleman role educational therapists often end up playing — between parents, teachers, clinicians, tutors, and everyone else on a child’s support team. They discuss the benefits and challenges of this role and how to keep boundaries that are in alignment with your values.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Claudia, a former parent from My Ed Therapist, to the podcast. Claudia shares her journey with her daughter, Emma, who is autistic, has ADHD, and has Pathological Demand Avoidance (or “Persistent Demand for Autonomy”). Claudia shares about the impact of these diagnoses on her relationship with Emma and the family. She shares about how Stephanie’s rapport had a tremendous impact on Emma’s ability to be more flexible. She shares about the difficult decision to transition schools and the importance sports had for Emma. They chat about the role of perfectionism, how they approached the college decision, the importance of prioritizing the relationship with your child, and examining Claudia’s role as the parent. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 309: Pathological Demand Avoidance with Diane Gould (Professionals Series)

In this re-air of episode 169 (originally aired August of 2021), Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET talk with Dr. Sharon Saline, author of What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life. Dr. Saline discusses her goal of improving the connection between parents and learners with ADHD through improving conversation. She walks them through her 5C’s of parenting, which are self-control, compassion, collaboration, consistency, and celebration. They also dive into a conversation about medication. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET are back to chat about commitment overwhelm. Families often say things like “We’re too busy right now” or “Let’s wait until next semester.” But sometimes those words aren’t about scheduling — they’re about commitment overwhelm and that heavy feeling that starting something new, even something helpful, might just be too much to handle. In this episode, Rachel and Steph unpack what commitment overwhelm really is, why it shows up for both learners and families, and how to meet it with empathy and structure instead of pressure.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist Other episodes mentioned: Ep 07: Educational Therapy vs Tutoring

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET celebrate 400 episodes of Learn Smarter! In this special milestone episode, they reflect on what they’ve learned over the years—from their learners, their guests, their listeners, and each other. Rachel and Steph share their biggest takeaways about growth, executive functioning, and the parenting journey, and they look back on some of their favorite moments and funniest behind-the-scenes stories. They also take time to thank the Learn Smarter community for showing up week after week to learn, reflect, and grow together. This episode is part celebration, part reflection, and part love letter to everyone who’s been part of the Learn Smarter journey.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 38: How to set S.M.A.R.T. Goals Ep 201: Executive Functioning Skills Master Class with Dr. Peg Dawson (Executive Functioning Series) Ep 109: Learning About Learning with Dr. Rishi Sriram Ep 115: Learning About Learning with Dr Rishi Part 2 (Author Series) Ep 130: The 5 M’s of Talent with Dr. Rishi Sriram (Author Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome back Dr. Karen Wilson, a pediatric neuropsychologist, founder of ChildNexus, and podcaster of Diverse Thinking, Different Learning. She teaches Rachel and Steph about early indicators that could impact learners. She shares how the early signs are used as information and early signs should be observed in relationship to their peers. She talks about the importance of listening to parent/teacher gut and intuition and they have a quick discussion about the true impact of COVID. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 61: The Assessment Process with Dr. Karen Wilson Ep 325: Neuropsych vs. Psycho Ed Assessments with Dr. Karen Wilson (Local Professionals)  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET talk about the lost art of boredom and why it’s so essential for developing executive functioning skills. It’s well documented that kids, learners, and adults are really overscheduled and overstructured (and we really do not like and have a problem tolerating being bored). Rachel and Steph explore what boredom actually does for the brain, how it supports creativity, problem-solving, and self-reflection, and why tolerating “nothing to do” is an important life skill. They share practical strategies for helping learners relearn how to rest, think, and just be, even when it feels uncomfortable for parents and learners at first. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how tricky the decision to start educational therapy when parents receive mixed feedback from the other adults in their learner’s life. They chat about why a lack of consensus can easily emerge and the questions you can ask yourself to help you determine if you should start educational therapy.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET Dr. Jessica Broitman and Dr. Jack Davis for part 2 of their conversation about Non-verbal Learning Disorders (Developmental Visual Spatial Disorder). They share what to do once you know that your learner has NVLD. They talk about the importance of passion, giving your learner permission to talk about whatever their learner is upset about with you, not pretending that NVLD is easy and taking complete advantage of their verbal strengths. They also share how educational therapists can be supportive in this dynamic.   Dr. Davis: [email protected] Dr. Broitman: Doctorjess.org NVLD Project Psychology Today Article Mentioned Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 395: Non-Verbal Learning Disorders Part 1 with Dr. Jessica Broitman and Dr. Jack Davis (Local Professional Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Jessica Broitman a psychoanalyst, child psychologist, and researcher and Dr. Jack Davis, school psychologist and neuropsychologist for this conversation about non-verbal learning disorders. They share the history of NVLD and discuss the process of renaming NVLD to be classified as Developmental Visual Spatial Disorder. They also talk about what NVLD is and the developmental signs of NVLD at ages and stages. Connect with Dr. Davis: [email protected] Connect with Dr. Broitman: Doctorjess.org NVLD Project   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET dive into all the ways learners unintentionally overcomplicate their foundational systems. From color-coding everything to creating elaborate planners they never use, Rachel and Steph unpack how learners often make organization and productivity harder than they need to be. They discuss why this happens and what parents and educators can do to help learners simplify. You’ll hear practical strategies to help learners build systems that are clear, sustainable, and actually work in real life. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET talk about one of the most common concerns they hear from parents: “My learner doesn’t want extra work.” In this episode, they explore what’s really behind learner resistance and how to tell when a learner is truly ready for support. They share how resistance is often a form of self-protection, not defiance. Rachel and Steph break down practical ways to build readiness through trust, curiosity, and small wins—so support feels empowered instead of overwhelmed. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 310: Learners Who Don’t Want Educational Therapy (Educational Therapy Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore what’s really happening when support starts to feel like nagging. They discuss why it happens, how it affects both parents and learners, and share practical ways to shift from constant reminders to strategies that build independence and strengthen connection. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 62: Manager vs. Consultant (Parenting Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome back Dr. Ellen Braaten, clinical psychologist and professor, to discuss her latest publication Motivation Mindset Workbook. In this super fun interview, Dr. Braaten talks about motivation as a skillset, how it’s a part of executive functioning and how executive functioning and motivation are two sides of the same coin. She shares how we can operationalize motivation and talks about the differences between motivation and effort. We also spontaneously played a fun game where we all felt super validated and heard.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 63: Slow Processing Speed with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Author Series) Ep 166: How Time Perception Impacts Learners with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Author Series) Ep 167: How Processing Speed Impacts Social Skills with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Author Series) Ep 168: Processing Speed vs. Sluggish Cognitive Tempo with Dr. Ellen Braaten (Author Series) Ep 252: “Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less” with Dr. Ellen Braaten Part 1 (Author Series) Ep 253: “Bright Kids Who Couldn’t Care Less” with Dr. Ellen Braaten Part 2 (Author Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET dig into the differences, similarities, and overlap between procrastination and perfectionism. They dig into the motivations of both and discuss how to decipher what’s going on and some strategies of what to do next. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how there is no perfect time of year to start educational therapy support. They discuss the benefit of “just getting started” and all the emotional benefits of beginning to address learner challenges. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss the hot topic of executive functioning skills in sports. They talk about the benefit of sports in general and how executive functioning skills are strengthened as a result of sports. They also chat about some potential pitfalls of executive functioning skills and sports. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 384: Metacognition Formula Ep 385: “I’m too busy for Educational Therapy” (Educational Therapy Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how hard and stressful it can be for parents of learners in educational therapy to figure out what the next best school for the child is. They are often asked, “Should I tell the school what’s going on with my kid?” and “What questions should we ask?” In this episode, Rachel and Stephanie go over things to think about and questions to consider asking as parents make critical decisions. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss a few important strategies that a lot of learners employ: study buddies and body doubling. In this episode, Rachel and Steph discuss the virtues (and pitfalls) of body doubling and study buddies.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 346: All About Body Doubling (Executive Functioning Series) Ep 03: The Do’s and Don’ts of Studying Ep 04: Creating a Study Plan Ep 140: The Secret to “Studying Harder” (Educational Therapy Series) Ep 160: Our #1 Study Hack (Tricks of the Trade Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss how important educational therapy is when learners have a busy schedule. As educational therapists, Rachel and Steph are constantly supporting busy learners who want to accomplish and engage with all the things–and look at educational therapy as a “waste” of their very valuable time. In this episode, Rachel and Steph dig into how vital it is for a busy learner to have strong executive functioning skills and that busy-ness is often a critical sign that educational therapy is necessary. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 297: Time Blindness (Educational Therapy Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss metacognition, which is the idea of “thinking about thinking”. The ability to reflect back and compassionately examine one’s own thinking is an important skill developed in educational therapy. Rachel and Steph talk through how to develop this with learners. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share a behind the scenes episode on Steph’s executive functioning experience (nightmare?) of moving homes. She shares the challenges, overwhelm, and curveballs that occurred during her recent move and how it has helped her empathize with executive functioning skills challenges. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 03: The Do’s and Don’ts of Studying Ep 04: Creating a Study Plan Ep 126: How to Study for a Math Test Ep 140: The Secret to “Studying Harder” (Educational Therapy Series) Ep 160: Our #1 Study Hack (Tricks of the Trade Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET reair episode 50 of Learn Smarter: the Educational Therapy podcast to remember their guest, Dr. Thomas Brown. To contribute to his memorial fund, click here. To read his obituary, click here.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss a major parent, learner, and educational therapist frustration today–which is why strategies don’t stick. In this episode they dig into the plethora of reasons why strategies don’t stick or rather become “generalized skills”. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 87: Why Every Learner Needs a Living Strategies Document (Educational Therapy Series) Ep 79: The 4 excuses kids have for not calendaring (Executive Function Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome back Diane Dempster, co-founder of Impact Parents. She discusses the different flavors of parent roles in the educational therapy process (“you handle it,” “micromanager,” and “in-betweeners”). She shares about the importance of creating a relationship with parents and personalizing the relationship. She also shares a tool, AC-E (acknowledge, show compassion, wait and explore) that can help diffuse upregulated situations. They once again discuss the differences between boundaries and agreements as well as discussions about recalibration of collaborative agreements.   Connect with Diane: Parenting with Impact impactparenting.com/podcast Homework Without Headaches Workshop: https://impactparents.securechkout.com/HomeworkWorkshopSpecial?orid=23056&opid=255 10 Parenting Tips for School Success: https://impactparents.pages.ontraport.net/homework-headaches-freebie?utm_campaign=imp-freebie&utm_source=learn-smarter-podcast&utm_medium=event&utm_content=hh   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 135: Parenting your Complex Kid with Elaine Taylor-Klaus (Author Series) Ep 149: How to Prioritize while Parenting with Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster (Author Series) Ep 157: Anatomy of the Trigger with Diane Dempster (Parenting Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET discuss the complex nature of disclosing diagnoses to learners. They discuss parents’ fear of disclosing diagnoses versus the reality of what it actually means to share diagnostic information. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist  

In this re-air of episode 186, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore the concept of the “all or nothing brain” and how it impacts learning, school, and daily life. Rachel and Steph break down what it means, how it commonly shows up, and why recognizing this pattern is so important. Through real-world examples, they highlight the ways an all-or-nothing mindset can influence decision-making and share insights into supporting learners who think this way. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Brennan Chandler, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University, for the second half of their conversation. Dr. Chandler shares what works: effective instruction and support can lead to skilled, confident readers. He discusses his role of breaking down the research and talks about the benefit of targeted, direct, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, spelling and reading fluency support. He discusses our job as interventionists is to “crack the code” coupled with a lot of feedback. He also shares practical routines and advice and emphasizes different instructional routines to meet a child’s needs. He even shares free, evidence-based researched interventions that work! He also talks about the importance of generalizing sounds to words to connected text. Sound Partners –https://www.voyagersopris.com/products/reading/sound-partners Maryanne Wolf–RAVO–https://www.maryannewolf.com/raveo-intervention Word Connections–Free online https://www.jessicatoste.com/wordconnections Rewords–Anita Archer https://www.voyagersopris.com/products/reading/rewards Connect with Dr. Chandler: BrennanChandler.com   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Brennan Chandler, Assistant Professor at Georgia State University for the first part of our conversation. He defines dyslexia for us in 3 different ways (legal, medical, IDA/practical) and discusses myths of dyslexia. He discusses risk factors and protective or resilience factors which impact risk for dyslexia. He talks about how intervention needs to be maintained throughout education, not just in K-2. He shares how overaccommodation with older learners should not take the place of individualized intervention. He also shares how dyslexia impacts other domains beyond just reading. Connect with Dr. Chandler: BrennanChandler.com   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, discuss their favorite word: studenting. They explain the concept, why it’s important to understand and how to use it as an effective tool to understand how time is best spent for learners. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 109: Learning About Learning with Dr. Rishi Sriram Ep 115: Learning About Learning with Dr Rishi Part 2 (Author Series) Ep 130: The 5 M’s of Talent with Dr. Rishi Sriram (Author Series) Ep 48: Success Stories with Kathryn Schnabel AKA Milkshake Girl’s Mom

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Rachel’s client, Luke, to the podcast. Luke initially started working with Rachel to support his ability to organize, study, and learn how to be less reliant on his memory. Luke shares how simplifying his systems, learning to keep everything in one place and learning HOW to study was a gamechanger for him. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

In this re-air episode, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, sit down with Diane Gould to explore Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Diane shares how she became interested in PDA, her role in raising awareness in the United States, and why traditional behavioral strategies often fall short for individuals with PDA. She explains the “can’t, not won’t” perspective, offering practical ways to provide support—such as building trust, prioritizing connection, fostering collaboration, and sharing demands. This conversation offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to better understand and work alongside individuals with PDA. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Johan Wiklund, a Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University. He chats with Rachel and Stephanie about how ADHD can be a huge benefit for entrepreneurs with ADHD. He discusses benefits of the high adaptability of individuals with ADHD and their ability to outsource tasks for which they’re not well-suited. He highlights that individuals with ADHD are more driven to take steps forward without worrying about consequences and how passion is a driving force for their high engagement and extreme focus. He also discusses how gender differences for individuals with ADHD are displayed in entrepreneurship.   Learn more about Dr. Wiklund   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore the connection between ADHD and executive functioning in this re-air of episode 10. The discussion includes practical strategies to support skill development in reading, writing, and math, as well as methods for strengthening executive functioning. This episode highlights effective ways to build collaboration and promote academic growth in learners both in and out of the classroom. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist      

In this re-air of episode 141, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Donna Henderson to explore how our understanding of autism has evolved over time. Dr. Henderson shares the benefits of receiving a diagnosis, when it can be most useful, and why autism is often misunderstood—especially in girls. She offers expert insight into the nuanced ways autism presents differently across genders, helping listeners better understand why so many girls are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 142: Understanding Autism in Girls with Dr. Donna Henderson Part 2 (Professionals Series)

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET chat about a familiar story–“This year is going to be different.” Students start off the school year optimistic, energized, and determined to stay on top of their assignments, keep their binders neat, and avoid procrastination. Rachel and Steph unpack why students are so certain each new year will be different, typical executive functioning traps and what can be done to support systemic and sustainable change. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share all the ways strengthening executive functioning skills are layered into all the traditional summer things: beaches, camps and vacations. In this episode they break down all the executive functioning skills that learners can and do acquire over the course of their summers and some simple, non-demanding ways the adults in their lives can reinforce their growth. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET are excited to share this much requested episode about independent games that learners can play. Steph, the resident Game Guru, shares some of her favorite games and why they strengthen skills in an independent, fun, engaging way that mitigates learner resistance. Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Integrative Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Sara Langley. She talks about what integrative psychiatric nurse practitioners do, how nutrition works in tandem with medication, and why it’s beneficial to look at the whole picture of a learner. She also makes some simple recommendations that are easy to implement and can have a tremendous impact.   Connect with Sara Langley: www.childkindpsychiatry.com www.mommiesinmind.com   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist  

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET are thrilled to welcome Anya Kamenetz to the podcast to discuss her book, The Stolen Year: How COVID Changed Children’s Lives, and Where We Go Now. This is an incredibly rich discussion about how remote learning was a force multiplier for inequity, what it revealed about our values in the United States, and so much more.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome parent educator, coach, former elementary school administrator and former special education teacher, Sari Goodman. She talks about the importance of empathy, being a resource for parents who don’t know what to do and need help, and how critical a village is. We talk about how important it is to demystify educational jargon and some simple tricks to helping parents and lay people to understand their learner. She talks about prioritizing story telling in our communication with parents.   Connect with Sari: www.theparentaledge.com, IG: @theparentaledge   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome LCSW Debbie Murad. She shares how digital addiction is akin to other addictions and the consequences. She shares the differences between heavy screen use and digital addiction. She discusses risk factors and discusses how relationship issues are often evident in digital addiction. She shares suggestions for reestablishing connection and prioritizing the relationship to begin addressing the digital addiction. She shares how to set up the relationship with the digital world initially and then what to do if digital addiction is already present.   Connect with Debbie: beachcitiesgateway.com [email protected]   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast   How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET talk about one of the hidden and often overlooked elements of educational therapy–bandwidth. Bandwidth is the mental energy one has to devote to a task and understanding bandwidth in relation to school, learning and studenting is critical in the educational therapy process. In this episode, Rachel and Stephanie explore the impact of bandwidth.   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/learnsmarterpodcast How to connect with us: Join our e-mail list Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website Steph’s My Ed Therapist website @learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist   Other episodes mentioned: Ep 354: When Session Progress Feels Slow (Educational Therapy Series)