Behavior Bitches

Can you really read people by their faces? Brian Galke, The Decoding Detective (and skeptic), thinks so, and he’s here to prove it. Liat and Brian dish on first impressions, wild face-reading fails, and awkward truths about people skills…plus a totally ridiculous celeb Face Off you won’t stop laughing at. Behavior Concepts Covered: Repeatability Stimulus Discrimination Individualization Learning H...

Bedtime shouldn’t feel like a hostage negotiation, but for most parents, it does. Sleep expert and BCBA Emily Varon (founder of Ready, Set, Sleep) is back to drop real, science-backed strategies for ditching bedtime chaos. We’re talking screens before bed, blue light myths, teeth grinding, night terrors, and whether handing your kid an iPad is the end of the world (spoiler: you’re fine). Emily kee...

Step inside one of Europe’s largest legal brothels with Catherine DeNoire—a PhD student in organizational psychology and the manager behind the business side of the sex industry. From HR to marketing to worker safety, Catherine shares what it’s really like to run a brothel that operates more like a corporation than a cliché. We dive into the realities of customer behavior, how legality shapes safe...

In this episode, we hang out with Ryan O’Donnell and get real about everything from making behavior analysis interesting to the outside world, to echo chambers, incels, and even why the APBA tables look like the ’90s threw up. We dive into self-management, reinforcement, punishment, and philosophical doubt while swapping stories, laughs, and some hard truths about how our field is seen. Behavior C...

Liat’s back on the mic with Jennifer Stracquadanio and Meghan Stenziano from Moms Managing Behavior. These two badass BCBAs/moms keep it real about everything from culty ABA vibes and lorazepam White Lotus moments to the wild story of Jen and her husband taking the BCBA exam at the same time. Between the laughs, they drop gems on why parents are the true change-makers, how empathy grows when you w...

You’ve got the degrees, the clients, and the full-blown spreadsheet panic. Now what? Megan Richardson, BCBA and founder of The Organized Analyst, joins us to talk about how she ditched clinic burnout, built a systems-based biz, and now helps 1,000+ BCBAs stop crying into their clipboards. From color-coded workflows to ADHD-friendly hacks, Megan breaks down how to stop being a squirrel-brained hot...

You know that moment when you realize your kid’s tantrum is running your whole house? Jenna Mazzillo (aka @ABANaturally) joins us to break down why behavior happens, how to proactively set expectations, and why you might actually be the problem… and the solution. We dive into sibling rivalry, the 95/5 rule, and why function-based parenting is a total game-changer. From sibling drama to extinction...

This week, Eric Chessen, founder of Autism Fitness, joins Liat to talk all things fitness, behavior, and creating programs that actually work for the neurodivergent population. From ju-jitsu to bullsh*t detectors and bucket-lists, this episode is full of science, sarcasm, and sweaty truths.  Behavior Concepts Covered: 7 Dimensions of ABA Pairing Shaping Chaining Modeling Imitation Generalization...

In this episode, Liat sits down with Kara Shepherd, BCBA & SNABA’s social media manager, Collective instructor, and all-around bada$$ human. Kara gets real about her journey living with Crohn’s disease and how it all shaped her perspective as a behavior analyst and educator. Don’t miss the end of this episode for a special interview with the team from Beyond Distilling, one of our amazing spon...

Alison Fragale, author of Likeable Badass, joins Liat to break down what it really takes to be powerful, respected, and still totally likeable at work and in life. Also along for the ride? Liat’s sister Talia, Alison’s biggest fangirl, who may or may not misuse the term “preference assessment” on air. From spotting unlikeable behavior in yourself to mastering reciprocity and owning your voice, thi...

Why are we so obsessed with reality TV? In this episode, Liat sits down with cultural sociologist and Bachelor Nation expert Dr. Danielle Lindemann to break down the behavioral science behind our favorite trainwrecks. From parasocial relationships and unconditioned reinforcers to casting archetypes and cult-like manipulation, we dive into what keeps us watching — and what it says about us. Turns o...

Get ready for round two as Presley dives even deeper into the dark and twisted world of Jeffrey Dahmer—but this time, through the behavior analytic lens you didn’t know you needed. In Part 2, we dissect Dahmer’s behavior chain step by step, breaking down the environmental variables, reinforcement histories, and learned behaviors that shaped one of the most infamous serial killers in history. It’s...

What do you get when you mix true crime obsession with behavioral science? A badass criminologist BCBA like Presley Wanner. In Part 1 of this two-part banger, Liat sits down with Presley to hear how her love of crime and behavior led her to blend criminology with ABA (yes, it’s as cool as it sounds). Presley shares her journey into the world of criminal behavior analysis, how she uses behavior-ana...

In part two of this wild 2-part convo, Liat chats with comedian and cult survivor Davey Jackson. In this second half, things get even deeper—and somehow even funnier. Davey opens up about the psychological fallout of leaving a cult, the behavioral patterns that kept him stuck, and how comedy became his unexpected lifeline. Liat and Davey break down cult dynamics through a behavioral lens, sprinkle...

In part one of this wild 2-part convo, Liat chats with comedian and cult survivor Davey Jackson. From escaping a high-control group to crushing it on stage, Davey’s story is raw, real, and ridiculously funny. You’ll laugh, gasp, and maybe even have a new crush. Behavior Concepts Covered: Pairing Behavior Contract Stimulus Discrimination Modeling Operational Definition Dead Man’s Test Positive &amp...

This week, Liat sits down with Jeron Trotman—a badass BCBA who's redefining what it means to show up authentically in the field of behavior analysis. From his Bronx roots to making waves in boardrooms, Jeron shares how environment shapes behavior, why representation matters, and how he’s breaking barriers in a field that desperately needs it. Expect truth bombs, real talk, and plenty of laughs. Be...

Get ready to rumble! This week, we’re body-slamming into the world of pro wrestling with Damo McCullough—professional wrestler, gym owner, family guy, and Liat’s personal burpee dictator. Damo’s spilling all the secrets on how wrestlers use behavioral science to pump up the crowd, master insane moves, and keep the drama flowing like pyro on a championship night. Whether you’re here for the wrestli...

Ever wondered what it’s really like to be on The Bachelor? Well, today we’ve got the inside scoop from none other than Parisa Shifteh, BCBA and contestant from Season 29! Parisa may have left in week 4, but she’s here to spill all the behind-the-scenes tea—like how she landed on the boldest first convo of the season (yes, the PowerPoint was 100% her idea), why she literally breaks out in hives whe...

In this episode, Liat sits down with Sean Inderbitzen, author of Autism in Polyvagal Terms, to break down the science behind neuroception, how the nervous system shapes behavior, and what the Polyvagal Theory means for understanding autism. They also dive into the heated world of ABA criticism—how to handle the haters, what the field gets right (and wrong), and how we can do better. This conversat...

On this week's episode, we sit down with Bill Petrich, a cancer survivor whose own experience opened his eyes to the shocking world of cancer fakers. We discuss the real Belle Gibson from Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar, Real Housewives of Orange County’s Brooks Ayers, Scamanda’s Amanda C. Riley, Anatomy of a Lie’s Elizabeth Finch, and more fakers and frauds that haven’t gotten their own documentari...

This week on Behavior Bitches, we’re talking all things neurofeedback with Julie Bucalos! Ever wish you could just train your brain to chill out or focus better? Neurofeedback might be the game-changer you didn’t know you needed. Julie breaks down how it works and how it can seriously improve your mental game. It’s science meets self-care, and it’s way cooler than you think. Listen in for a raw, r...

This week, Liat sits down with the hilarious Jiaoying Summers to talk comedy, culture, and everything in between—unfiltered. Jiaoying shares childhood experiences, her thoughts on cancel culture, and swaps stories you won’t want to miss. If you’re here for raw truths, laughs, and a bit of chaos, this episode will have you thinking and laughing all at once! Behavior Concepts Covered: Reinforcement&...

This week Liat hangs with Brianna Sims, an amazing BCBA making waves at Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa. They talk about nonprofit work, training parents, and juggling it all as a mom. Brianna spills on moving from clinical work to group programs, working with homeless families, and why trauma-informed care is a must. It’s real, relatable, and full of tips to level up your ABA game—don’t miss it!...

It’s a bonus episode, b*tches! Liat and Danielle are spilling the tea on The Live Collective—aka the ultimate BCBA test prep experience. They’re shooting the shit, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, and giving you a peek into the lives of the fabulous ladies behind Study Notes ABA. If you’re studying for the BCBA exam (or just here for the laughs), grab your coffee, wine, or whatever fuels your st...

In this episode, we chat with Sasha Long, M.A., BCBA, and founder of The Autism Helper. Sasha shares her journey from teacher to BCBA and how her teaching background shapes her practice today. We discuss the "icks" she sees in Special Ed classrooms, ways to improve teacher-BCBA collaboration, and how behavioral knowledge could transform classrooms. This episode is packed with insights, laughs, and...