Making the Grade Podcast
Making the Grade is a podcast about executive function—how we manage time, energy, emotions, and goals in real life. Hosted by former educators turned executive function coaches, we explore the brain-based skills that drive success both personally and professionally.
Each episode features real stories from entrepreneurs, overwhelmed professionals, parents, and experts in executive function. We dive into the habits, challenges, and strategies that help people build (or rebuild) motivation, focus, organization, and emotional regulation.
Why do so many of us feel stuck, even when we’re trying our best? What does success really look like—and how do we get there on our own terms?
The pressures of modern life are real, but so are the solutions. Making the Grade offers honest conversations, practical tools, and a reminder that success isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up for yourself every day.
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https://makingthegradeproject.com/executive-function-for-educators/
Making the Grade Podcast
Rocks First: Executive Function Advice with Dr. Curt Merlau
S3 EP 40 | Season 3 Episode 40: Rocks First: Executive Function Advice with Dr. Curt Merlau
Have you ever felt like you're constantly juggling priorities - but the most important things always seem to slip through the cracks?
On this next episode of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine sit down with Dr. Curt M., an educator turned education consultant who now leads a national team at Resultant - a data and technology firm that helps schools and agencies use the right data, at the right time, for the right people.
As a first-generation college student and longtime problem-solver, Curt shares how he carved a path from the classroom into systems-level leadership, all while navigating the internal work of managing his own executive function. Curt explores the role of emotional regulation in the workplace and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has helped him better understand his own emotional responses. He also shares how his team uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and the “Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand” method to manage competing priorities and stay focused on what matters most. Together, these practices offer an honest look at what it takes to stay grounded and effective in a fast-paced, high-stakes world.
They also talk about daily rhythms, why being the smartest in the room isn’t the goal, and how to find structure when everything feels urgent.
💡 Want a framework for building better habits at work and at home? Curt also breaks down the Daily Drumbeat - a practice his team uses to stay aligned and grounded every day.
🔗 Learn more about Curt’s work at https://resultant.com
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