EP. 376: Rethinking How We Learn (Because It’s Not Working) with Deena Kara Shaffer

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: _____ What if the problem was never that you were bad at learning, but that no one ever taught you how to learn in a way that fits your brain? Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer is the founder of Awakened Learning , bestselling author of Feel Good Learning and Raising Well Learners , and a learning strategist who helps students, families, educators, and leaders build systems that work in real life. Her work began with bright students who were struggling, not because they lacked ability, but because they lacked the right support. Over time, she realized that study skills alone were too narrow. What people really need are learning strategies that take attention, memory, time, well-being, and emotional capacity into account. In this episode, Tracy and Deena talk about why sleep matters for learning, how chunking tasks can reduce overwhelm, why learning styles are a myth, and how tools like NotebookLM, Magic To Do, and ChatGPT’s study mode can support ADHD brains. If learning has ever felt harder than it should, this conversation is a reminder that struggling does not mean you are not smart. It may simply mean you have not been taught in a way that fits your brain. Resources: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: YouTube: Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉 Learn more here : Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram , Facebook , LinkedIn , Pinterest , or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com . Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: Visit our website:

You can listen to EP. 376: Rethinking How We Learn (Because It’s Not Working) with Deena Kara Shaffer online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

EP. 376: Rethinking How We Learn (Because It’s Not Working) with Deena Kara Shaffer is an episode from ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka by Tracy Otsuka.

This episode is 75:53 long.

This episode was published on Mar 18, 2026.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.