ABA Business Leaders

Ever wondered why handbooks are so crucial to ABA business success? A strong employee handbook helps create consistency, protects your business, and gives your team confidence in how your organization operates. In this episode, Stephen and April Smith continue their discussion on building the operational foundations of a successful ABA practice by breaking down five essential policies every employ...

A Special Podcast Swap with Allyson's In the Field Podcast   This week, April and Stephen Smith of 3 Pie Squared and the ABA Business Leaders Podcast joined Allyson's In the Field: The ABA Podcast for a special podcast swap episode.  April and Stephen share the story behind building and operating their ABA practice for 12 years before transitioning into full-time consulting. The conversation explo...

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith sit down with Dr. Brian Lopez, PhD, BCBA, licensed clinical psychologist, behavior analyst, and Director of Psychological Services and Research at JumpStart Autism Collective. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in autism services, diagnostics, and healthcare leadership, Dr. Lopez explains why better outcomes for...

What happens when a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) becomes a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)? In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April and Stephen sit down with Rose Griffin, MA, CCC-SLP, BCBA, founder of ABA Speech, to discuss the intersection of speech therapy and applied behavior analysis. The conversation explores common misconceptions between disciplines, how ABA...

What happens when behavior analysts shift from compliance to connection? In this episode of ABA Business Leaders, Stephen and April Smith talk with Sarah Moore, CEO of The Jai Institute for Parenting, founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting, and author of Peaceful Discipline. They explore nervous system regulation, emotional safety, authenticity, and what it means to show up as a human being...

How do we define quality ABA services with Bryant Silbaugh  What is quality assurance in ABA, and how can behavior analysts measure service quality more effectively?  In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith speak with Dr. Bryant Silbaugh, behavior analyst, researcher, author, and Founder of the National ABA Service Quality Network (NASQN), about the systems, pr...

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith speaks with Melanie Thurston and Amanda Williamson, BCBA, about one of the most important factors in successful ABA therapy: strong parent-provider relationships.  The conversation explores how ABA providers can communicate more effectively with families, build trust with parents navigating an autism diagnosis, and better understand...

What does a parent-led approach to ABA therapy look like? In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith speak with Zandra Santella about how ABA providers can create more collaborative, sustainable, and family-centered care.  Zandra Santella is a BCBA and founder of Beauty in Behavior, a platform focused on ethical, collaborative, and parent-led ABA pract...

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith are joined by Dr. Becca Tagg, to dive into one of the most important conversations for ABA business owners: burnout, self-care, and building sustainable systems that support leadership instead of draining it.  They explore why burnout is often less about personal failure and more about broken systems, and how...

Starting and scaling an ABA business can feel straightforward at first, but the hidden mistakes can cost you time, money, and long-term growth.  In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith break down 7 of the biggest mistakes ABA business owners make when starting their practice, and how to avoid them before they become expensive problems.  Drawing from...

What does it really look like to lead an ABA business while also navigating motherhood?  In this special panel episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith is joined by Tiffany Remy, Amarilys Morales, Corinne Mercer, and Jess Marken for an honest conversation about the realities of being both a mom and the CEO of an ABA Business.  From unexpected challenges and the constant mental load...

ABA Business Leaders Rewind: Red Flags in ABA Service Providers   This throwback episode, Stephen and April break down the biggest warning signs to watch for when working with service providers who support ABA businesses. From vendors operating without clinician input to those charging fees that don’t align with value, this episode sharpens your ability to vet partners effectively. They also cover...

In this episode, hosts Stephen Smith and April Smith celebrate the release of Stephen’s new book, ABA Business Leaders Guide: How To Start, Grow, and Sustain an ABA Practice Without Losing Your Soul. Stephen shares candid reflections on the writing process, the anxiety that comes with putting your ideas into the world, and why having a clear vision is non-negotiable if you want to build something...

Coming Soon: Stephen Smith’s New Book Stephen’s upcoming book is almost here packed with practical insights for ABA business owners looking to grow with clarity, integrity, and strong operational foundations. Pre-order your copy now: Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-aba-business-leaders-guide/id6755113017 Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hgLukNm Release Date: May 12, 2026 If you're serious about...

In this April Fool’s–themed episode, Stephen and April Smith are joined by a panel of ABA owners – Chris, Jennifer, Alecia Barrett, & Mallory Stinger - sharing their most unbelievable (but very real) stories from running an ABA business.   From insurance nightmares to staff issues and difficult audits, the conversation balances humour with practical takeaways. At its core, it’s about staying g...

In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Alex Veach, founder of Agenda Health, to break down what it looks like to buy or sell an ABA business. From understanding valuations to navigating the emotional and operational challenges of a sale, this conversation gives a practical look at a process many owners think about, but few fully understand.  Alex shares insights from the transaction side...

In this episode, Stephen and April Smith sit down with Josh Levine , co-founder of Momentum, for a conversation about burnout, leadership, and the role of self-awareness in the ABA field. Josh shares how a simple habit of daily reflection helped him grow as a clinician and develop a mindset focused on continuous improvement rather than perfection.  The discussion explores the emotional side of beh...

Audit anxiety is one of the most common — and least talked about — pressures facing ABA business owners.   Hosts Stephen and April, joined by Alecia Barrett from A. Barrett Academy LLC, share candid stories about the audits they personally went through, including moments when accusations of fraud and recoupment demands threatened their stability. These stories highlight an important truth for ABA...

In this solo episode, April Smith takes a direct and nuanced look at burnout in the ABA industry, and challenges the way we talk about it.  Rather than accepting burnout as an inevitable byproduct of leadership, April explores the illusion of burnout and how it shows up specifically for ABA business owners. She unpacks the subtle ways leaders can feel trapped: by their standards of excellence, by...

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April and Stephen discuss the evolving landscape of prior authorizations in ABA with Jeff Morelli from Silna Health. SILNA handles prior-authorizations using the power of AI, all designed specifically for ABA Businesses and their workflows.  They explore the challenges faced by clinicians due to administrative burdens and how technology, particu...

In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Dr. David J. Cox, a uniquely cross-disciplinary thinker whose work spans behavior analysis, bioethics, behavioral economics, and data science. With formal training from Union Graduate College, a PhD from the University of Florida, and post-doctoral work at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Insight Data Science Fellowship, David...

ABA Business Leaders Podcast   Stephen and April Smith are seasoned ABA entrepreneurs who built, scaled, and successfully exited a seven-figure ABA practice. Now, through 3 Pie Squared, they help other ABA business owners grow sustainable, values-driven companies without burning out or losing sight of what matters most.  In this Valetines Day special episode, Stephen and April explore what really...

In this episode, Stephen and April Smith of 3 Pie Squared explore how values shape decisions, culture, and growth in ABA businesses. Drawing from their experience building and exiting a seven-figure practice, they discuss aligning goals with values, learning from mistakes, and turning abstract principles into actionable business practices.  Stephen and April also highlight the role of teams in uph...

ABA Practice Management Software: Why You Need It and What to Look For   Running an ABA practice and delivering great clinical care go hand in hand with efficient systems and reliable software.  In this episode of ABA Business Leaders , Stephen and April Smith sit down with Charlene Kurth , Chief Operating Officer at Office Puzzle , and Hailu Jardines , CEO of Office Puzzle, to unpack why practice...

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast , April Smith , co-founder of 3 Pie Squared , hosts an expert panel discussion featuring:   Alecia Barrett BCBA, COBA, LSW and owner of A. Barrett Academy, LLC located in Holland Ohio  Brooke Schneider, M.S.Ed., BCBA, LBA is the Founder and Clinical Director of Orange Pediatric Therapy, which she opened in 2015  Mallory Stinger , BCBA, CEU Coordi...