Episodes

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it really takes to build a business while balancing family life, leadership, and your own well-being? On this episode of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia sits down with her husband, entrepreneur and deVINE Naturals co-founder Sergey Kuperman, to discuss his journey from sales to entrepreneurship, growing deVINE Naturals from a single storefront into multiple retail locations, and how systems, habits, and self-care have shaped both his business an...

Send us Fan Mail Making the Grade PodcastSeason 4, Episode 52 Brendan Nixon In this episode of the Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine sit down with Brendan Nixon, founder of Homes by Brendan Nixon and a top-producing Boston-based realtor with over $50 million in sales. Known for building his business through authentic relationships, creative content, and community-driven events, Brendan shares his journey from a cubicle SEO job he hated, to a sales role at Toast, through a pandem...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia sits down with Tammy Golson Fallon, founder of Tammy Golson Events and the Boston Planners Dining Club. Known for creating elevated weddings, corporate events, and curated industry experiences across New York City and New England, Tammy shares her journey from working in hospitality and at The New York Times to building a respected event planning business rooted in genuine connection, creativity, and thoughtful guest ex...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia sits down with Abel Castaneda, owner of APEX Advantage Bookkeeping, who brings over 20 years of experience in the financial industry. Based in Nebraska, Abel shares his journey from working in corporate finance to building his own bookkeeping business, driven by his passion for helping others understand and take control of their finances. This episode is part of Season 4, where MTG Frameworks highlight clients who trans...

Send a text In this episode of the Making the Grade Podcast, Christine and Georgia sit down with Maryanne Betso, a Certified Global Luxury Specialist with over 24 years of experience in real estate. Based in Connecticut, Maryanne shares her journey from corporate finance to becoming a successful real estate professional while raising three young children and building a long-term career in a highly competitive industry. This episode is part of Season 4, where we highlight clients, we’ve worked...

Send a text In Season 4, Episode 48 of the Making the Grade Podcast, Christine sits down with Will, a financial planning and wealth management professional who helps individuals and families approach retirement with clarity and confidence. Will began working with MTG Frameworks through executive function coaching and has since extended the support to a team member, integrating EF systems more fully into his business. Will shares how he simplifies complex financial decisions, minimizes t...

Send us a text In the Season 4 premiere of the Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia sits down with Catherine, a luxury travel advisor specializing in honeymoons, destination weddings, and thoughtfully designed leisure travel. Catherine shares how she transitioned from mental health therapy into luxury travel, what really happens behind the scenes of travel planning, and why executive function skills like organization, flexibility, and emotional regulation are essential in high-demand, client-fac...

Send us a text Rewiring Routines, Expanding Impact: Executive Function in Real Life & Season 3 Finale As MTG wraps up Season 3 of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine reflect on just how much has grown, shifted, and expanded over the past year as they enter their 4th season of the show. This season explored practical executive function skills including time management, motivation, emotional regulation, planning, and follow-through. One core takeaway emerged again and again: mos...

Send us a text S3 EP 45 | Season 3 Episode 45: Unleashing Curiosity in Classrooms with Olivia Odileke How do you spark curiosity, inspire engagement, and create those unforgettable “aha!” moments in learning? On this episode of Making the Grade, Georgia sits down with Olivia Odileke, CEO of Kampus Insights, curiosity coach, professional development designer, and author of Unleashing Curiosity: Empowering Fearless Educators to Engage and Inspire. Olivia believes that wonder is the secret sauce...

Send us a text S3 EP 44 | Season 3 Episode 44: The Executive Function Guide to Teaching Multilingual Students: Trauma, Communication, and Brain-Based Learning What does it really take to reach, teach, and connect with English Language Learners and their families? On this next episode of Making the Grade, Georgia sits down with Andrea Bitner - EL Teacher, Author, Professor, and PD Partner - who has dedicated 25 years to helping educators and multilingual learners build bridges...

Send us a text 🎙️ S3 EP 43 | Season 3 Episode 43: Why Multilingual Learners Struggle with Executive Function: A Conversation with Dr. Dana Goodier In this episode of Making the Grade, hosts Christine and Georgia sit down with Dr. Dana Goodier, an accomplished educator, author, and podcast host with over 25 years of experience in the field. Dr. Goodier has taught World Languages and English, served as an administrator at both the middle and elementary levels, and completed her Doctorate in ...

Send us a text S3 EP 42 | Season 3 Episode 42: Honoring Our Brains: Iris Wong on Executive Function, Neurodivergence, and Growth What does it mean to honor your brain, your body, and your story while raising a family and supporting others? For Iris Wong, it means blending her work as a bilingual SLP, executive function coach, and author with the lived experience of being a neurodivergent adult and parent. On this episode of Making the Grade, Georgia sits down with Iris Wong, a bilingual Speec...

Send us a text S3 EP 41 | Season 3 Episode 41: Executive Function Skills for College Success: Howard Freedman on Planning, Organization & Financial Aid Have you ever felt like the stress of planning and paying for college is too much to organize, prioritize, and manage - leaving you wondering if higher education can ever feel affordable and achievable? On this episode, Georgia & Christine sit down with Howard Freedman, financial aid consultant, author of Making College Happen, and lon...

Send us a text 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,...

Send us a text MAKING THE GRADE S3 EP 39 | Season 3 Episode 39: Teachers Deserve It: a Conversation with Rae Hughart Have you ever felt like your to-do list is never-ending—or that your inbox has gotten past the point of no return? On this next episode of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine chat with Rae Hughart, a classroom teacher turned national speaker, professional development designer, and founder of Teachers Deserve It (TDI)—a professional learning company built by educators, for...

Send us a text MAKING THE GRADE S3 EP 38 | Season 3 Episode 38: a Conversation with Hosts Georgia & Christine Making the Grade is celebrating two incredible years of podcasting with a fresh new chapter. As the show evolves, listeners can look forward to a deeper dive into the executive function skills that help people thrive—for educators and beyond. This season, each episode will spotlight a specific skill such as time management, motivation, or emotion regulation, and the highligh...

MAKING THE GRADE S3 EP 37 | Season 3 Preview + Executive Function Updates: a Conversation with Hosts Georgia & Christine Making the Grade Podcast is kicking off Season 3 with a heartfelt update from the hosts! In this special episode, they reflect on nearly 2 amazing years of podcasting, sharing a behind-the-scenes look at their process and celebrating the journey. Along the way, they share exciting personal and professional updates—Georgia is expecting a baby next month, and the Making the Grad...

S2 EP 036 | Mental Health Support & Open Parachutes: a Conversation with Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Hayley Watson In this next episode, a Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist shares how she has dedicated her career to supporting student mental health through innovative programs and resources. Hayley’s journey from globetrotting psychologist to mental health advocate and program developer is a testament to her passion for empowering both students and educators to thrive i...

S2 EP 035 | Educator Forever: a Conversation with Teacher Career Coach, Lily In this next episode of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine chat with Lily Jones, founder of Educator Forever. Lily, a former classroom teacher, created Educator Forever to empower educators to explore fulfilling careers outside the traditional classroom setting. With a passion for helping teachers redefine their careers, Lily has guided countless educators on a path to discovering flexible, impactful roles that lever...

S2 EP 34 | Challenging the Status Quo of Leadership Practices: a Conversation with Principal & Podcast Host, Tyler Have you ever felt disconnected from your day to day life: in the classroom, at home, or even just “off”? On this next episode of Making the Grade podcast, Georgia & Christine chat with Canadian principal, Tyler, about how his how his journey into the education field led him to becoming a principal, obtaining a doctorate degree in educational leadership, and creating the Elemental E...

S2 EP 33 | Balance Your Teacher Life: a Conversation with Author & Teacher Coach, Grace Stevens Making the Grade Podcast is kicking off the school year with a well-timed conversation with author, Grace Stevens. After 20 years as an elementary school teacher, Grace realized that she needed to take an active role in her mindset, habits & approach to continue to enjoy teaching. Grace combines her signature mantra, "Your energy teaches more than your lesson plans," with two decades of study in behav...

S2 EP 032 | Failure Free Reading: A Conversation with Dr. Joe Lockavitch On the 32nd episode of Making the Grade Podcast, Georgia and Christine connect with Dr. Joe Lockavitch, a former classroom teacher, school psychologist, university professor, special education director, and applied reading researcher who is the author and developer of The Failure Free Reading Program. Failure Free Reading is a nationally recognized, proven non-phonic first reading intervention that accelerates the vocabular...

S2 EP 031 | Slow Living & Productivity: a conversation with Productivity Coach & Consultant, Dr. Kate Henry In Episode 31 of Making the Grade, Georgia & Christine chat with Dr. Kate Henry, a former academic turned independent scholar and productivity coach. A local colleague of Christine’s, Kate shares her account of shifting her career goals once completing her PhD & adjusting to living with chronic illness. She explores how the philosophy of slow living changed her life, highlighting its core...

S2 EP 030 | Student Advocacy & Activism: a Conversation with Advocate & Consultant, Kristen For the 30th episode, a local MA teacher shares how she successfully fulfilled her dream of becoming a business owner. Kristen, a fellow MA teacher, transitioned from special education teacher to building an advocacy and consulting company focusing on student well-being. An avid activist for students with disabilities and education reform, Kristen has worked mostly with middle and high school students sin...