Problem Solving and How to Not Hate Math, with Ben Orlin Ep 58

Problem Solving and How to Not Hate Math, with Ben Orlin Ep 58

Author: Sarah Kesty, Brain Tools School August 29, 2024 Duration: 48:27

Hey Team,

Whether you love or hate math, this episode with author and educator Ben Orlin is for you! We talk about problem solving, the purpose and process for getting stuck, and how to support yourself when faced with challenges. You will love Ben's humor and outlook!

All my love to you, team,

Sarah

Get Ben's Book

Additional article links: What It Feels Like to Be Bad at Math, The Math Ceiling: Where’s Your Cognitive Breaking Point?, The State of Being Stuck


More about our guest: Ben Orlin is a math teacher who can't draw. His books include Math with Bad Drawings (2018), Change is the Only Constant (2019), Math Games with Bad Drawings (2022), and most recently, Math for English Majors (Sept 2024). His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Popular Science, Slate, Vox, and The Los Angeles Times; he himself has appeared in the lines to ice cream stores everywhere. BBC star and leading mathematician Hannah Fry once described him as "terribly bad at drawing" before kindly adding “he’s also fantastically clever and charming.”


Join us at Brain Tools School


Ever feel like your brain's filing system is in a state of permanent chaos, or that getting from an idea to action feels like an impossible maze? That's where executive function comes in-it's the mental toolkit we all use to manage our attention, organize our tasks, and plan our days. On The Executive Function Podcast, host Sarah Kesty from Brain Tools School moves beyond dry theory to offer genuinely helpful, fun, and effective strategies. Each episode feels like a practical conversation, whether you're looking to coach yourself through a project, support a teen struggling with organization, or help a child learn to manage their time. Sarah brings a palpable passion to the topic, sharing inspiration drawn from real-world experience with neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. This isn't about fixing what's broken; it's about building on strengths and discovering new ways to thrive in daily life. Tune in for a down-to-earth mix of brain science and actionable tips that make the challenges of executive function feel a bit less daunting and a lot more manageable. You'll find this podcast is a supportive resource for families and individuals alike, all delivered with a sense of warmth and understanding that makes complex concepts accessible.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 87

The Executive Function Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Inspired By Fear: Kris Jennings Ep 75 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
Hey, Team!Most of the time, we tend to avoid what we fear, and this works okay...until it doesn't. Kris Jennings, author and change leader, teaches us how to both manage and grow from fear. Having struggles with executiv…
The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery with Sol Smith Ep 74 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
Team,Autism is on the news, tv, and social media a lot, and much of the conversation is aimed at helping people understand autism. Sol Smith helps fill in a missing piece: helping autistic people understand themselves. W…
The ADHD Productivity Manual: Learning from Ari Tuckman Ep 73 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:46
Hey Team! Dr. Ari Tuckman is a real-life hero to me. His latest book, The ADHD Productivity Manual, is like a pep talk meets a strategy session. He gets ADHD, and he gets human brains. You'll love this episode, where we…
Exploring Different Models of School, for all kinds of brains Ep 69 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:53
Hey Team! By now you've probably come to realize that being different isn't wrong, and that's certainly true for our students! Sometimes the traditional school model is out of synch with what our students need,--a challe…