🎙️S5 E14

Why do intelligent kids forget homework, struggle with time management, panic under pressure, or fall apart in real-world situations like driving or work? In this episode of 𝘗𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, we break down 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀—the most misunderstood (and overlooked) part of learning.

From driving, hygiene, and homework to workplace readiness, relationships, and independence, this conversation reveals why executive function—not intelligence—is often the missing link for neurodivergent students and overwhelmed families. Parents will learn how executive functioning develops, why schools often miss it, and how to start building these life-critical skills at home 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲.

If your child struggles with organization, independence, emotional regulation, or follow-through, this episode will change how you see learning forever.

---------

⏱️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀

00:00 – What Executive Function Really Is (And Why It’s Not Academics)

00:54 – Forgetful, Disorganized, Overwhelmed? This Isn’t Laziness

02:28 – Executive Function as the “Auto-Drive” of the Brain

03:38 – Driving as the Ultimate Executive Function Example

05:54 – Why Teens Are Delaying Independence

07:08 – What Happens When Stress Hijacks Executive Function

08:19 – A Neurodivergent Teen Gets Pulled Over: What Could’ve Gone Wrong

10:38 – Executive Function in Emergencies & Real-World Safety

13:17 – Why Neurodivergent Kids Are More Vulnerable to Being Taken Advantage Of

16:22 – Why Schools Aren’t Teaching Executive Function Early Enough

18:09 – Helicopter Parenting & the Hidden Cost to Independence

23:42 – Signs Your Child Is Struggling With Executive Function (And What to Do)

---------

📅 Don’t miss an episode—𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 and hit the bell so you never miss another Purple Couch conversation.

#PamAndThePurpleCouch #NeurodivergentParenting #Neurodiversity #ParentingTips #SpecialNeedsParenting #MindsetShift

🎙️S5 E13

Standardized tests don’t measure intelligence—and for many kids, they cause lasting harm. In this powerful episode of 𝘗𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, two experienced teachers and a school founder unpack the real impact of standardized testing in the U.S., especially in Florida.

From third-grade retention laws to high-school graduation trauma, this conversation explores how one test can overshadow years of hard work, disproportionately affect neurodivergent students, and create lifelong emotional scars. Parents will learn how to advocate for their children, understand testing alternatives, and build portfolios that reflect real learning—not just bubble sheets.

If your child struggles with test anxiety, ADHD, dyslexia, or learning differences, this episode is a must-watch.

---------

⏱️ 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀

00:00 – Almost Not Graduating: A Teacher’s Personal Story With Standardized Testing

00:50 – Why This Episode Matters: Breaking the “Test Score = Intelligence” Myth

01:14 – Florida’s Third-Grade Retention Laws Explained

02:21 – Meet the Teachers: Blended Classrooms & Real Learning

03:23 – “I Was an A-B Honor Student… and Almost Didn’t Graduate”

05:11 – The Emotional Trauma Standardized Tests Create

06:38 – Academic Anxiety Starts in Kindergarten

08:44 – Suffering in Silence: Why Kids Don’t Tell Their Parents

11:56 – How Parents Can Legally Push Back on Standardized Testing (Florida)

13:19 – Why Portfolios Matter More Than Test Scores

18:50 – When 75% of a Class Fails: Student Problem or System Failure?

23:05 – What Parents Should Say to Teachers to Advocate for Their Child

---------

📅 Don’t miss an episode—𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 and hit the bell so you never miss another Purple Couch conversation.

#PamAndThePurpleCouch #NeurodivergentParenting #Neurodiversity #ParentingTips #SpecialNeedsParenting #MindsetShift

🎙️S5 E12

Parents, it’s time to flip the script. 💜

In this powerful episode of 𝘗𝘢𝘮 & 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩, Pam and Manny explore how our culture—and even our classrooms—still treat neurodivergent individuals as “less than.” But what if we’re looking at it all wrong? What if their so-called “differences” are actually 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴?

From stories of misunderstood brilliance to why some people fear what they don’t understand, this episode challenges us to 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹—not as a deficit, but as a different kind of strength.

You’ll learn:

✅ Why “superpower” isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a mindset shift

✅ How labeling can help or harm depending on how it’s used

✅ The dangers of blanket diagnoses and missed comorbidities

✅ Why early intervention and perspective are game-changers

✅ How neurodiversity benefits classrooms, workplaces, and communities

💬 What’s one 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 you’ve seen in your child (or yourself)? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to celebrate it with you!

📅 Don’t miss an episode—𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 and hit the bell so you never miss another Purple Couch conversation.

#PamAndThePurpleCouch #NeurodivergentParenting #Neurodiversity #ParentingTips #SpecialNeedsParenting #MindsetShift