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
Autism on Stage: Elaine Hall shares her journey and insights. Ep 66 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:39
Team,Elaine Hall is a force of nature, whose story will inspire you! On the show, Elaine talks about her experiences with her son, Neil, and the creation of the Miracle Project, an inclusive theater program for autistic…
Choosing the right college for your brain, with Jordan Burstein Ep 64 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:17
Hey team! There are so many options for college, and many are designed to support bright students with executive dysfunction! Listen to my conversation with college consultant, Jordan Burstein, as we talk about his non-l…
Ep 57 Hidden Hazard: Work to do Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:35
Hey team! You know how sometimes it takes about 1000 steps before you actually start on the intended task? That's work to do work! On this week's show, learn how to recognize and reduce work to do work. It will be a game…
Mindset Tricks for Actually Using Executive Function Strategies Ep 56 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:05
Team,You know that excited feeling you get when you get new tools or make a new plan that you hope will make things all easy? Yeah, I do, too. And then, sometimes that excitement goes away and we kind of lose steam for d…