Behavior Bites

What’s more important— the ethics guidelines or being culturally sensitive? Are you still worried about being reported over that snack you accepted 5 years ago? During today’s meal— I speak with a Brazilian behavior analyst about cultural considerations, the growing neurodiversity affirming movement, and truly listening to the population we serve. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - What are the m...

Have you ever heard that behavior analysis can save the world? Do you ever feel like that kind of thinking might create BCBA-holes? During today’s meal— I talk with a well-known behavior analyst about opening yourself up to collaborating with other fields, the start of the neurodiversity affirming movement, and finding glimmers of joy in everyday life. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - What does...

Do you wish you knew more about precision teaching and standard celeration? Do you have the heart to chart?  During today’s meal— I speak with a phenomenal BCBA who is making precision teaching and the SCC exciting, digestible, and ultimately more accessible. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - What have been your favorite successes as a Black man in both ABA and academia? - What barriers have you...

Are you your worst critic? Do you doubt your abilities, or ask “Who am I to do [insert big event here]?” During today’s meal— I talk to a business owner, a multiple test taker, and someone who decided to feel the fear and do it anyway. We also discuss the universe gently nudging her on her current path. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - Are you looking forward to Fall or are you holding onto Sum...

Do you find carving out time for self care difficult? Are you fascinated by the human experience and why we do what we do? During today’s meal, we wrap up our discussion with Lauryn Elder. We discuss how she practices self-care, why she loves what she does, and what her dream project is and how she’s “manifesting” it. — TODAY'S MENU   Entree - If there were no barriers or constraints, what wou...

Have you ever heard a behavior analyst discuss relationship based treatment? Have you ever wondered how behavior analysis can be used outside of ABA? During today’s meal, I talk to a behavior analyst and certified trauma practitioner about what a “typical” day looks like for her, how she uses our science in different ways, and what she wishes she knew when she was entering the field. — TODAY'S...

Have you ever noticed how most visuals in our field don’t match the clients we serve? Have you ever spent hours scrolling through google images to find more diverse and inclusive materials? During today’s meal— I speak to a behavior analyst who decided to take matters into her own hands and create high quality, detailed images and educational materials of Black & brown kids & adults for ma...

Have you ever complained that parents are the hardest part of your job? What if you looked at the competing contingencies that have maintained the parents’ behaviors? During today’s meal— I talk to fellow behavior analyst, Jenny Owens, who believes we need to stop treating parents like a burden and instead treat them like a key member of the treatment team. We also discuss how to contact reinforce...

How much do you really love yourself? Do you tend to always help others without helping yourself first? During today’s meal— I talk to the wonderful Cammie Williams about her dream projects, what people tend to misunderstand about her, and how she practices self love and self care. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - You recently got 3 cats, how is that going? Appetizers - How did you get into Beh...

Do you ever wonder how people perceive you? Do you wish you could create an anonymous survey to see what people really think about you? Today’s guest did just that! During today’s meal—Dr. Shelby Dorsey and I discuss her self-concept project, learning from failures, and the start of AI in behavior analysis. — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - What was the favorite thing you ate or drank today? App...

A quick bite about the 2023 BABA Conference, June 17-19 in Detroit, Michigan and virtually! I have some special guests sharing tasty morsels about the conference. Also, this will be the first conference that I’m presenting at, as part of a panel with four other amazing practitioners! BABA (Black Applied Behavior Analysts) is a nonprofit organization created to promote diversity in the field of App...

Does your mind ever wander while listening to a podcast? Do you ever wish you could ask a podcast host a question? During today’s meal, it’s an all out buffet while I answer listener submitted questions. — TODAY'S MENU   First Plate - Has behavior analysis changed you as a pet owner? - What are your future goals and how are you planning for them? Second Plate - How do you stay positive when th...

Do you ever feel unsupported and like you don’t belong because you’re different from the people around you? During today’s meal, I chat with President and Founder of Black Men in Behavior Analysis, Jeron Trotman, MS, BCBA, about the challenges Black male BCBAs face—and the vision for the field’s future.  — TODAY'S MENU   Amuse-Bouche - How do you practice self-care? Appetizers - How did you ge...

Do you ever feel like you have to save everyone? Do you feel like you're burning the candle at both ends trying to support clients, families, staff, colleagues, and maybe even fixing a broken system? During today’s meal, I talk to Jasmine Yepez about her start in behavior analysis, being a compassionate BCBA, and her journey through burnout. — Jasmine has been a BCBA since 2019. She has experi...

Do you ever feel like the only way to keep up with everyone else is to stay up late, wake up early, and work until the point of exhaustion? In today’s episode I talk with a Holistic ADHD coach who uses behavior analysis to help adults with ADHD. As a late diagnosed woman herself, Lilly Engelke, understands the ins and outs of working with ADHD. We discuss advocating for your needs, and not compari...

Dig into a second-helping with Dr. Mari! If you missed Part 1 make sure to listen to Episode 10, "A Hound That Won’t Tree" (with Dr. Mari-Luci Cerda). TODAY'S MENU (for our 2-part feast) Entree - If you could remove all barriers and constraints what project would you do and would you want to be known only by that project? - The lack of nuance around the anti-ABA movement? Dessert - W...

Have you ever been crushed under the weight of not only your ambitious dream, but the grinding realization that others might be actively working against you? Mari-Luci Cerda, PhD, BCBA, LBA is a Mesoamerican Indigenous woman, wife, mom, Autist, and board-certified behavior analyst with over 13 years experience working with Neurodivergent individuals and their families. A former special education te...

Have you ever seen a doctor for an issue, only for your concerns to be dismissed? Have you ever tried to fit in so hard that you lost who you actually are? In today’s episode, I talk to Maggie Haraburda M.S., LBS, BCBA about her path to becoming a neurodiverse affirming business owner and her own recent autism diagnosis. Maggie is a neurodivergent BCBA who runs a small private practice in Philadel...

Don’t you want your Continuing Education to be fun and relatable? Today’s guest, Jordan Litt, is the Co-Founder of CEUs by Study Notes ABA. We discuss flexibility, how you can actually learn a lot from fellow colleagues, and also, what’s her beef with those talking-dog buttons? Jordan is a BCBA, LBA-NYS and the ACE Coordinator and Co-Founder of CEUs by Study Notes ABA. Her start in behavior analys...

What do you think of when you hear OCD? Do you imagine someone washing their hands or flipping a light switch on and off repeatedly? Today, I share a meal with a BCBA who lives with obsessive compulsive disorder. We also discuss if using ACT as a treatment for OCD is effective. Carissa Crabtree was born and raised in Kennesaw, GA. Growing up with a brother on the Autism Spectrum gave her true insi...

What does aggressively neutral mean? How can you incorporate psychological flexibility in all aspects of your life? Also, what does yucky stuff mean to you? Find out these answers and more in today’s episode with Tina Long, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA, IBA. Tina Long is an instructional designer, behaviorist, coach, and crisis manager. She has been in the education field for over 20 years - even longer if you...

What’s it like to unmask? How can being yourself ultimately lead you to your goals? Find out how today’s guest, Layla Touchet, did just that! Layla Touchet, M.S., LPC, NCC, ADHD-CCSP, CASDCS, Professional School Counselor, Doctoral Student is a school counselor and licensed mental health counselor with certifications in ADHD & Autism along with working on her PHD in Counseling. She also has AD...

Why should we work from a trauma-assumed lens? Today I talk to dr. danyelle s. goitia beal, Psy. D., BCBA about compassionate care, self care, and being an SD for crying. You’re going to want to tune in! Dr. danyelle s. goitia beal earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her dissertation; Trauma and Resiliency in Black American Women be...

What does it mean to be compassionately blunt? What's it like to go to school at a zoo? Also can you get good sushi in Alabama? All these questions and more will be answered in today's episode with Rachel Peters, MS, BCBA! Rachel is a board certified behavior analyst from California transplanted to the heart of Dixie. She’s a dog mom, reality tv connoisseur, sweatpants enthusiast, and podcast host...

Who really has their sh!t together? Today we discuss not having all the answers, but not being afraid to stand up, be yourself, and ask the hard questions. This episode's guest will have you questioning how to better incorporate clients and families into programming. Alyssa Barrera Lansford is a Texas based BCBA and PhD student who is passionate about culturally responsive therapy and supervision,...