Episode Details

Few things are more frustrating than feeling like your brain just won’t hold onto information.

You try to follow directions.

You lose track halfway through.

You ask a question that was just answered.

And eventually, you start wondering if something is wrong with you.

In this episode of Executive Function for All, Brandon sits down with Andrew Watson — former high school teacher, Harvard M.Ed. in Mind, Brain, and Education, and author of Learning Begins — to unpack the science of working memory.

Here’s the hard truth:

Working memory capacity is limited for everyone. And despite what some programs claim, research does not strongly support that we can artificially increase it.

But here’s the hopeful part:

We can design systems that reduce overload and make learning more manageable.

Andrew shares:

• What working memory actually is

• Why it feels so frustrating

• Why low scores are not an academic death sentence

• The 3-question framework: Anticipate. Identify. Solve.

• Signs of overload that look like “not listening.”

• How dual coding (visual + verbal instruction) increases usable capacity

• Why emotional safety matters for cognitive performance

This episode reframes memory struggles from character flaws to capacity constraints.

Learn more about Andrew’s work at: https://translatethebrain.com/

Explore Untapped Learning’s mentoring and free resources: https://untappedlearning.com/

#WorkingMemory #ExecutiveFunction #ADHDSupport #EducationPodcast #UntappedLearning