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
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 i
