Learn Smarter Podcast

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@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Nov 3, 2026 31 min

430: What is Self-Regulation with Leah Kuypers, Creator of The Zones of Regulation (Professionals Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, welcome Leah Kuypers, occupational therapist and creator and founder of The Zones of Regulation. Leah shares how the Zones give us a common language to communicate about our emotions and understand what is happening on the inside. Together, they unpack what being “regulated” actually means and why it looks different depending on the person, the environment, and the demands of the moment. They also discuss how we are all working on regulation throughout the day and why building these skills requires an individualized approach. There is no predetermined set of strategies that works for everyone.

Connect with Leah/Zones of Regulation:

https://www.zonesofregulation.com/

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Oct 27, 2026 30 min

429: Nutrition for Neurodivergent Learners with Registered Dietician Jackie Silver (Professionals Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome registered dietician Jackie Silver, who specializes in nutrition for neurodivergent people. She talks about executive functioning systems for food, making the mealtime environment fun, and how to introduce new foods. Jackie also addresses how to find opportunities to explore foods outside mealtime and what she wants parents with neurodivergent kids to know about food and eating.

Connect with Jackie Silver: http://www.jackiesilvernutrition.com

Email: Jackie@jackiesilvernutrition.com

IG: @ accessiblewellness

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Oct 20, 2026 32 min

428: Agency and Control with Pediatric Neuropsychologist Oren Boxer (Professionals Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Oren Boxer, pediatric neuropsychologist, to discuss agency. They chat about how learners feel control and how agency is a bioeducational necessity. He shares prediction for movement IS executive functioning. They talk about the role of the parent in providing scaffolding and agency. Dr. Boxer shares that kids who have chores have less anxiety and depression (because it’s giving them agency). He shares the link between chores, contribution to the home, and agency that leads to predictable, productive and successful adult outcomes.

http://orenboxerphd.com

http://insightcollective.com

626-765-4482 (free consults)

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Oct 13, 2026 36 min

427: What Parents Say vs. What We Hear (Parenting Series)

Show notes

Last week, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, discussed what learners say versus what educational therapists hear. This week, they flip the conversation and talk about what parents say—and what educational therapists hear underneath those words.

Rachel and Stephanie share some of the phrases they hear from parents all the time. They discuss how these statements can give educational therapists and teachers important information about a family’s frustration, exhaustion, expectations, and worries about the future.

They also explore the difference between what a learner “should” be able to do and what they can actually do independently, why good grades don’t always mean everything is fine, and how parents can get stuck between providing necessary support and worrying that they are enabling their learner.

Rachel and Stephanie emphasize that, just like with learners, the goal isn’t to judge or overanalyze what parents say. It’s to get curious about what might be underneath the words. Sometimes educational therapy involves translating the learner to the parent, the parent to the learner, and helping everyone better understand what is actually happening in between.

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Other episodes mentioned:

Ep 426: What Kids Say vs. What We Hear (Parenting Series)

Oct 6, 2026 17 min

426: What Kids Say vs. What We Hear (Parenting Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, discuss the things learners say all the time—and what educational therapists hear underneath those words. From “I don’t care” and “I forgot” to “I’ll do it later” and “I already studied,” Rachel and Stephanie explain why these statements often tell us much more about a learner’s executive functioning, anxiety, overwhelm, avoidance, or skill gaps than we might initially think.

They share how adults can easily interpret these statements as laziness, defiance, dishonesty, or a lack of motivation when the learner may actually be communicating that they don’t know how to start, don’t know what to do, have lost track of time, are protecting themselves from failure, or simply don’t have a system that works.

Rachel and Stephanie also discuss the importance of getting curious instead of immediately correcting or challenging what a learner says. They explain why educational therapists listen for the information underneath the words and how asking a different question can help uncover what is really getting in the learner’s way.

They also remind listeners that not every statement needs to be analyzed—sometimes “I forgot” really does mean “I forgot.” The goal is to notice patterns, understand what a learner may be communicating, and respond in a way that builds skills and independence rather than focusing only on compliance.

Next week, Rachel and Stephanie are going to share things parents say all the time–and what educational therapists hear when they say it.

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Other episodes mentioned:

Ep 424: What Educational Therapists Notice Every September (That Parents Usually Miss)

Sep 29, 2026 13 min

425: Reair 90 Academic Emergencies (Educational Therapy Series)

Show notes

Newsflash: there is no such thing as an academic emergency. In this re-air of episode 90, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share what an academic emergency is, how parents can respond to a perceived emergency, and what some strategies are for preventing them. They also dig into how to keep long term goals in mind when these situations arise.

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Sep 22, 2026 21 min

424: What Educational Therapists Notice Every September (That Parents Usually Miss)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share that September can feel like a fresh start—or an early warning sign. In this episode, we share what educational therapists consistently notice during the first month of school that parents often overlook. From hidden executive functioning breakdowns to emotional overload disguised as “behavior,” we explain what’s actually happening beneath the surface—and how families can respond without panic or power struggles.

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Other episodes mentioned:

Ep 417: Life is Life-ing

Sep 15, 2026 25 min

423: Dr. Ranjani Iyer – Neurodivergent Learners Math Tips

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET welcome Dr. Ranjani Iyer to the podcast to discuss neurodivergence and math. Dr. Iyer is an educator, researcher, curriculum developer, heartfulness leader, and parent. She talks about the importance of preparing learners and the importance of breaking down the problem. She talks about thoughtfulness in how we approach teaching math and the difference between memorization and application of learning. Frankly, we fell in love with Dr. Iyer and be sure to listen to Patreon to hear more about her ideas about her eastern and western background and how it has impacted her classroom and philosophy.

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Sep 8, 2026 34 min

422: EFing the Business (Business Practices Series)

Show notes

Running a business requires executive functioning just as much as school or work does. In this episode, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, share the systems, automations, and workflows they’ve implemented to make running their businesses more efficient. They discuss ways to reduce decision fatigue, eliminate repetitive tasks, and create processes that save time and mental energy. Whether you’re an educational therapist, entrepreneur, or simply looking to streamline your day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can implement. Small changes to your systems can make a big difference in how your business—and your brain—functions.

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Sep 1, 2026 14 min

421: Objections: Cost

Show notes

Cost is one of the most common concerns families have when considering educational therapy. In this episode, Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET, explore how to think about the cost of educational therapy through the lens of value rather than price alone. They discuss what families are truly investing in, the potential cost of waiting, and why educational therapy is designed to build long-term independence. They also share alternative ways to support learners when educational therapy isn’t the right fit. This conversation offers practical guidance to help families make an informed decision based on their goals and resources.

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@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Aug 25, 2026 16 min

420: Reair – Plagued by the Burden of Potential Ep 92 (Parenting Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET re-air an important episode from early days. Educational therapy can be magical in that it allows students to tap into their potential. Yet oftentimes, the potential parents and teachers see in a learner is a heavy burden and source of conflict in family homes. In today’s episode, Rachel & Steph talk about potential from the perspective of parents, students and educational therapists.

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How to connect with us:

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Other episodes mentioned:

Ep 62: Manager vs. Consultant (Parenting Series)

Ep 88: Pick Progress over Perfection (Parenting Series)

Aug 18, 2026 16 min

419: Why Learners Don’t Revise Their Writing (Writing Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore one of the most common—and misunderstood—academic struggles: why learners resist revising their writing.

They break down the real reasons revision feels so hard, including executive functioning overload, emotional attachment to first drafts, vague feedback, and the belief that revision means starting over. Rather than framing revision as a motivation problem, the episode reframes it as a skills and systems issue. They share ideas that can make revision more approachable, more concrete, and far less overwhelming for learners of all ages. This episode is especially helpful for parents, educators, and learning specialists working with reluctant writers, perfectionists, or learners who shut down when asked to “make it better.”

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How to connect with us:

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Other episodes mentioned:

Writing Series

Aug 11, 2026 11 min

418: Why Learners Rush Through Everything (Educational Therapy Serires)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore why so many learners rush through their work—and why it’s rarely about laziness or apathy. They unpack how executive functioning challenges, anxiety, time blindness, and cognitive load contribute to rushing, and explain why telling learners to “slow down” often doesn’t work. The episode reframes rushing as a skills-based issue and shares practical, supportive strategies that help learners build accuracy, awareness, and confidence without increasing pressure or shame.

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Join our e-mail list

Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website

Steph’s My Ed Therapist website

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Aug 4, 2026 16 min

417: Life is Life-ing

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET share some life updates on this episode! They also chat about systems versus tools and how both are required to symbiotically work together.

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Join our e-mail list

Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website

Steph’s My Ed Therapist website

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Jun 23, 2026 19 min

416: When Consequences “Don’t Work” (And What To Do Instead) (Parenting Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore why traditional consequences often fail for kids with learning differences and/or executive functioning skills challenges—and what actually helps instead. They unpack the critical idea that consequences only work when a child already has the underlying skills, and explain how repeated punishment can increase stress, shutdown, and avoidance rather than learning. They reframe “misbehavior” as a skills gap and offer practical alternatives rooted in curiosity, explicit skill-building, and collaborative problem-solving.

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Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website

Steph’s My Ed Therapist website

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Jun 16, 2026 20 min

415: Re-air: Using the Summer to Plan for Failures (Educational Therapy Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET revisit a previous episode to discuss the concept of failing forward. They talk about why summer is the perfect chance to prioritize this idea, how to involve parents in the process when appropriate, and the importance of planning for “failing”. They share the transformation that can occur with prioritizing this conversation and plan and for what type of learners benefit from this goal. Make sure to listen to the end as they share a simple framework to help learners plan to fail forward.

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Join our e-mail list

Rachel’s Kapp Educational Therapy Group website

Steph’s My Ed Therapist website

@learnsmarterpodcast, @kappedtherapy, @myedtherapist

Jun 9, 2026 19 min

414: “Is it too soon for Educational Therapy? Shouldn’t We Wait and See?” (Educational Therapy Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore a common parent belief that they should “try everything else first” before seeking outside support. They explore why this hesitation shows up, including fears of overreacting, and the pressure to solve challenges independently. Rachel & Stephanie also explain the hidden costs of waiting—academically, emotionally, financially, and relationally—and why time is a critical factor in building executive functioning skills. They emphasize that educational therapy isn’t a last resort but an effective parallel path that helps learners thrive sooner.

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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

Jun 2, 2026 14 min

413: Music and Focus: What Really Works?

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET explore whether music helps or hurts a learner’s ability to focus. They break down why some students work better with background sound, why others become more distracted, and how the type of task—and the type of music—matters. The episode includes simple strategies families can use to help learners identify what supports their focus best and when silence, sound, or music is the right choice.

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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

May 26, 2026 12 min

412: Rethinking Executive Functioning Skills: It is NOT about Following Directions (Executive Functioning Series)

Show notes

Rachel Kapp, M.Ed., BCET, and Stephanie Pitts, M.Ed., BCET unpack why executive functioning work is about increasing a learner’s capacity—not enforcing compliance. They break down the difference between behavior that comes from pressure and behavior that comes from internal skills, and they explain why real progress happens only when learners develop planning, regulation, and flexible thinking. This episode helps Smarties understand how shifting from “Do it because I said so” to “Let’s build the skills you need” leads to independence and long-term success.

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