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De Facto Leaders

Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan
Executive Functioning
Language Therapy
Education
Edtech
Speech-Language Pathology
Literacy
Self-Talk
Time Perception
Dyslexia
Educational Leadership
Special Education
Speech Language Pathology
Vocabulary Development
Episodic Memory
Language Therapy Advance Foundations
ADHD
Better Speech
Literacy Skills
Middle Management
Social Skills

On the De Facto Leaders podcast, host Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan helps pediatric therapists and educators become better leaders, so they can make a bigger impact with their services. With over 15 years of experience supporting school-age kids with diverse learning needs, Dr. Karen shares up-to-date evidence-based practices, her own experiences and guest interviews designed to help clinicians, teacher... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes270Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducation

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Artwork for De Facto Leaders

Latest Episodes

Have you ever had a student spend 45 minutes avoiding an assignment that would have taken them five minutes to finish?

They argue about why they shouldn’t have to do it, negotiate over how much they need to complete, ask to go to the bathroom, or de... more

YouTube

We tend to think about math, literacy, language, and executive functioning as separate areas of development.

But the research shows they’re much more connected than we might think.

Early math skills are associated with later academic outcomes, and ... more

YouTube

People often say to me, “I get why executive functioning is important, but when are you going to tell me how to work on it”?

I wish I could jump right to the lesson plans and “here’s what you do in a perfect hierarchy to work on these skills”. But b... more

YouTube

Many people think they’re working on executive functioning, but aren’t ACTUALLY working on executive functioning.

If you have students who have access to planners, visuals, lists, and other organizing tools, but still seem unorganized, this may be t... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Clarence Ames
Early Childhood Researcher
Clarence Ames/Associated Projects
Episode: Using Math Play to Build Language and Executive Functioning (with Clarence Ames)
Dr. Gene Kearns
Representative from Renaissance
Renaissance (Renaissance Intelligence)
Episode: Executive Functioning Defined, Beyond Just "Being Organized"
Jethro Jones
Founder of the Bee Podcast Network
Bee Podcast Network
Episode: Executive Functioning Defined, Beyond Just "Being Organized"
Jill Fahy
Licensed speech-language pathologist and professor; Director of STEP program at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Episode: The Impact of Overaccommodation in K–12 on Independence in College and Beyond (with Jill Fahy)
Lori Josephson
Dyslexia and education consultant; author; Orton-Gillingham Academy fellow
Florida, Author; Orton-Gillingham Academy fellow
Episode: Helping Kids and the Adults Supporting Them Understand How the Brain Learns to Read (with Lori Josephson)
Kim Jenkins
Private practice speech-language pathologist; Empowering Speech Services
Empowering Speech Services
Episode: AAC, Gestalts, and Literacy: Case Studies for Using the “Essential 5” (with Kimberly Jenkins)
Kurtis Hewson
Founder of Jigsaw Learning, author of Collaborative Response book,
Jigsaw Learning
Episode: How to Go From “Talking About Students” to Changing School Systems (with Kurtis Hewson)
Lauren Porosoff
Educational consultant from The Teacher Nerd
The Teacher Nerd
Episode: Student Wellness Is a Design Decision, Not a Siloed Activity (with Lauren Porosoff)
Seth Fleischauer
President of Banyan Global Learning, he focuses on global learning and cultural competencies.
Banyan Global Learning
Episode: A Case for Well-Designed Virtual Field Trips (with Seth Fleischauer)

Host

Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan
Host of the show, focuses on evidence-based practices, leadership in education and pediatric therapy.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 81 ratings
  • Very informative!

    I really appreciate the way Dr. Karen bridges her wealth of knowledge and research with practical application to real life. As an SLP, I’ve found her perspective thoughtful, relevant and evidence based, and definitely worth listening to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AK-SLP
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent

    This podcast is so informative!! I love listening to Dr. Karen! She’s helped me so much in my speech therapy sessions!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sean34514
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    Karen is so knowledgeable! I recommend this podcast to other educators frequently. There are so many great conversations that benefit many educators.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barb22222
    United States3 years ago
  • Excellent Podcast!

    As a Special Education teacher one of my life rules is - when you need help ask the SLP. From executive functioning, language concerns and navigating the complex school world with a complex kid- you get it! Love your guests and your well articulated insights. Thanks for opening your mind and raising your voice so that we can learn more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ReadingTeachersLounge
    United States3 years ago
  • Mom review

    I really enjoy the podcast, she articulates very well. Not all topics directly relate to my kids yet but it’s so great to hear her insight. She’s fantastic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *momof6*
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate actionable frameworks for scaling impact in schools.
Many reviews highlight the host's clear, actionable approach and leadership focus.
Audiences value guest expertise across education tech, literacy, and therapy.
Listeners praise practical, bite-sized guidance for clinicians and teachers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#136
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#139
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#95
New Zealand/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#157
Chile/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Impact of Overaccommodation in K–12 on Independence in College and Beyond (with Jill Fahy)
Q: How do accommodations and modifications differ in college preparation, and what should families know?
They explained that postsecondary settings rarely offer the same kinds of modifications found in K–12; instead, students rely on universal supports like tutoring and writing centers, and there needs to be explicit communication about what supports will transfer and what will change.
The Impact of Overaccommodation in K–12 on Independence in College and Beyond (with Jill Fahy)
Q: What was your experience of transitioning from high school to college for students, particularly around executive functioning and independence?
The guest described how the shift from highly scaffolded high school supports to the relatively autonomous college environment creates a demanding transition, with increased expectations for independent problem-solving, planning, and self-regulation, and emphasized the need for deliberate practice and gradual fading of prompts.
Helping Kids and the Adults Supporting Them Understand How the Brain Learns to Read (with Lori Josephson)
Q: What other myths have you heard about reading and how have you shifted beliefs?
There are many myths, including the idea that dyslexics have gifts and that intelligence determines reading ability; the consensus now is that dyslexia is not about intelligence and that most people can learn to read with the right instruction, with emphasis on explicit, integrated approaches.
Helping Kids and the Adults Supporting Them Understand How the Brain Learns to Read (with Lori Josephson)
Q: What is the last book you read?
The Digital Delusion by Jared Horvath.
Student Wellness Is a Design Decision, Not a Siloed Activity (with Lauren Porosoff)
Q: How does compensatory programming fit into daily classroom design?
Compensatory programming should align with a school's stated values and be embedded in everyday instruction rather than serving as stand-alone wellness kits, ensuring students experience wellness through the design of interactions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About De Facto Leaders

What is De Facto Leaders about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical show focused on helping clinicians, educators, and school leaders build stronger programs for language, literacy, and executive functioning within schools. Episodes emphasize scalable systems, evidence-based practices, collaboration with families and IEP teams, and leadership development for clinicians who want broader impact. Noteworthy beyond-the-episode elements include discussions of AI in education, sponsor-supported tech tools, and frameworks for turning clinical expertise into repeatable, day-long solutions that integrate across classrooms and daily routines. The format blends case examples, actionable strategies, and field-tested frameworks to help listeners implement lasting improvements in schools and therapy practices... more

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Which podcasts are similar to De Facto Leaders?

These podcasts share a similar audience with De Facto Leaders:

1. The Mel Robbins Podcast
2. We Can Do Hard Things
3. ADHD Experts Podcast
4. On Purpose with Jay Shetty
5. Neurodiversity Podcast

How many episodes of De Facto Leaders are there?

De Facto Leaders launched 6 years ago and published 270 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on De Facto Leaders?

Recent guests on De Facto Leaders include:

1. Clarence Ames
2. Dr. Gene Kearns
3. Jethro Jones
4. Jill Fahy
5. Lori Josephson
6. Kim Jenkins
7. Kurtis Hewson
8. Lauren Porosoff

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