053: Brain Power for Better Learning with Samantha Woods

Are you curious about how understanding your brain can transform learning, teaching, and everyday life? In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I sit down with Samantha Woods, the founder of Kaizen Education Services and a self-proclaimed "brain nerd," who has spent over 20 years exploring neuroscience and its practical applications. Together, we discuss how executive functioning skills are the key to thriving in today’s fast-paced world. Samantha shares her journey from classroom teacher to trailblazer in executive skills coaching through the innovative Brain Hub Academy. Whether you're an educator, parent, or simply curious about optimizing your brain’s potential, this conversation is packed with actionable strategies to unlock your full potential.   Listen in as we talk about: 02:42 Unlocking learning potential 06:44 The brain’s CEO - executive functioning skills 09:59 ADHD and Executive Functioning 17:50 Practical tools for executive functioning 24:40 The brain’s response to anxiety 28:09 The future of education 33:04 The Brain Hub Academy 38:30 A teacher who inspired growth 41:00 Hope and resilience in teaching   Connect with Samantha: Website: https://kaizeneduc.com/ LinkedIn: Samantha Woods Instagram: @kaizeneduc Facebook: @KaizenEducationServices Facebook Group: Know Better, Do Better! Understanding ADHD Kids YouTube: Kaizen Education Services   Connect with Tiana: Website: https://tianafech.com LinkedIn: Tiana Fech Instagram: @tianafech  Facebook: @tianafech  Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course    UNLOCKING LEARNING POTENTIAL Samantha’s fascination with the brain and executive functioning started with what she calls “the four boys” who changed everything for her. As a teacher assigned to support struggling students, she was handed assessments and reports that didn’t explain why these bright kids weren’t thriving. Determined to find answers, she stumbled into a seminar by Dr. Peg Dawson—completely by accident—and discovered the missing piece: executive functioning. It wasn’t about behavior or intelligence; it was about how these students were being taught. That realization ignited an 80% passion-fueled journey into neuroscience, forever shaping how she approached learning and success. Learning isn’t just about what we teach—it’s about how we support the brain’s ability to process, organize, and thrive.   THE BRAIN’S CEO - EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS Executive functioning skills are like the brain’s management system—often called the "CEO" or "conductor" of the brain. Found in the prefrontal cortex, these skills help us plan, organize, start tasks, stay focused, and regulate emotions. The catch? They’re the last part of the brain to fully develop! Samantha first learned about executive functioning at a workshop, and it completely changed how she saw learning struggles—not as a lack of intelligence, but as a challenge in brain development. Understanding executive functioning can be life-changing—once we recognize these skills, we can find better ways to support ourselves and others.   ADHD AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING  ”Attention deficit disorder isn't actually a deficit of attention at all. It's misdirected attention.” ADHD and executive functioning challenges go hand in hand, yet many people don’t realize they’re deeply connected. Executive functioning skills—like focus, impulse control, and organization—are often delayed by up to 30% in ADHD brains, making an 18-year-old function more like a 14-year-old in these areas. Unlike the common stereotype, ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity; many people, especially girls, fly under the radar because their struggles manifest as inattention or anxiety rather than disruptive behavior. The key to supporting individuals with ADHD isn’t just managing behavior—it’s addressing the underlying executive functioning delays that make everyday tasks harder. ADHD isn’t about intelligence or bad behavior—it’s ...