Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

When Mafer Chang Espinoza returned to Ecuador after completing her education in the United States, she found a country where autism was poorly understood, ABA was virtually nonexistent, and many families had nowhere to turn. Rather than accepting the status quo, she began building something entirely new. Starting with just a few children, ethical supervision from international mentors, and a visio...

What if severe behaviour isn't something to eliminate—but evidence that important skills or opportunities are missing? Katie Gibson joins Behaviour Speak to explore the Constructional Approach, an increasingly influential framework developed from Israel Goldiamond's work and expanded through Nonlinear Contingency Analysis. Rather than asking how to stop behaviour, Katie explains how clinicians can...

Leadership isn't something we inherit—it’s something we model. In this powerful multi-generational conversation, Ben Reiman welcomes Quatiba Davis, along with her daughters, Keniyah Rowe and Kennedy Rowe, for an honest discussion about leadership, resilience, representation, disability, family, and the future of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Quatiba shares the remarkable journey that took her from s...

What happens when the very strategies behaviour analysts are taught to rely on become part of the problem? In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman welcomes BCBA Michelle Karren for a thoughtful discussion about PDA (commonly known as Pathological Demand Avoidance), autonomy-focused learners, and the challenges families face when traditional intervention approaches aren't working. Drawing on...

What does it take to build and advance a profession while simultaneously running a busy clinical practice, leading a national organization, and completing a PhD? In this episode, Ben Reiman welcomes Niesha Illingworth for a wide-ranging conversation about the current state—and future—of behaviour analysis in Australia. Drawing on nearly twenty years of clinical experience, Niesha reflects on how t...

Aida nos comparte su experiencia aplicando los principios del análisis aplicado de la conducta (ABA) en contextos clínicos y hospitalarios, trabajando con personas que presentan afasia, lesiones cerebrales adquiridas y esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Exploramos cómo el ABA puede integrarse con otras disciplinas de la salud para apoyar la rehabilitación, la comunicación y la calidad de vida d...

How do neurodivergent youth experience schools, juvenile justice systems, and the adults responsible for supporting them? In this episode, Ben Reiman is joined by Dr. Larome Myrick, Executive Director of Youth Justice for the State of Rhode Island, and Anthony Bronaugh Sr., BCBA, educator, and former school principal. Drawing on decades of experience in corrections, education, and behaviour analys...

In this powerful and deeply reflective conversation, Dr. Tibetha Kemble challenges us to rethink what we believe about colonization, reconciliation, and responsibility. Together, we explore how settler colonialism isn’t just history—it’s an ongoing system that shapes institutions, relationships, and everyday life in ways many of us struggle to see. This episode invites you to move beyond performat...

In episode 273 of Behaviour Speak, we’re joined by Mikala Chee of the Diné (Navajo) Nation, Sanoe Rapozo, a Native Hawaiian,  and Abbey Woldt of the Ho-Chunk Nation—three Indigenous undergraduate scholars whose work spans nursing, psychology, and neuroscience. Together, they share their journeys into higher education, the challenges of navigating predominantly Western academic systems, and their c...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Jewel Parham and Dr. Danielle Jeudy to explore representation, mentorship, and systemic change in behaviour analysis. Grounded in their work ACTing for Change, we unpack how values-driven action and organizational accountability can move the field beyond awareness into meaningful change. We discuss the realities behind the statistic that only ~5.83% of BCBAs iden...

What if the biggest problem in ABA isn’t the client—but the system? In this episode, Ben sits down with Michael Conteh to unpack the hidden forces shaping burnout, turnover, and growth in ABA organizations. Drawing from decades of experience scaling a company and consulting across the field, Michael breaks down why traditional clinical thinking alone isn’t enough—and how leaders can evolve to meet...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman is joined by Dianna Yip, behaviour analyst and practitioner with over a decade of experience building services in Hong Kong. Dianna shares her journey from Vancouver to Hong Kong and what it was like entering a system with limited services, minimal regulation, and little awareness of ABA or PBS. Over time, she helped grow access, build community, and...

What does truly culturally responsive autism support look like—and who should lead it? In this episode, Ben speaks with Dr. Davis Henderson, Dr. Candi Running Bear, and Dr. Olivia Lindly about their work adapting the Parents Taking Action program for Diné (Navajo) families. Together, they unpack how geography, language, family structure, and cultural values shape access to autism services—and how...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben Reiman sits down with Dr. Anna Kawennison Fetter, Indigenous licensed psychologist (enrolled member of the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe), Assistant Professor at Duke School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences. They explore how Indigenous mental health is shaped by history, invisibility, and academic systems that were never desi...

Today on Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Dr. Ammara Khalid for a powerful conversation on the intergenerational impact of the 1947 Partition of South Asia. Together, they explore one of the largest mass migrations in human history and the trauma, displacement, silence, and resilience that continue to shape generations across the South Asian diaspora. Drawing from her clinical work, research, a...

Recorded live at the 2025 Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis conference, this episode brings together three conversations highlighting innovation across clinical practice, staff training, and systems-level change. From parent-friendly frameworks to improving treatment integrity in group homes to advancing assent-based care through skill-based treatment—this episode captures where the field...

What does it take to grow a profession in real time? In this episode, Reema Jubran shares an inside look at the development of behaviour analysis in Jordan—from career pathways to regional collaboration. We explore why many practitioners are committing to ABA long-term, how supervision and credentialing pathways are evolving, and the role informal networks play in connecting clinicians across the...

In this powerful episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Oliver Roschke and John Wooderson of Constructional Solutions to explore how the constructional approach can transform positive behaviour support. Together, they unpack how many PBS systems—particularly within highly regulated environments—have drifted toward risk management, compliance, and behaviour reduction, often losing sight of...

In this episode, Ben speaks with Rahma Farah, Ikram Buralle, Suaad Jama, and Nasteya Mahamoud of the Somali Behaviour Analysis Association, a growing, community-led initiative focused on expanding autism awareness and behaviour analytic services for Somali populations. Drawing from their experiences across Somalia and the diaspora, the group shares the realities of introducing ABA in a region wher...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Ben sits down with Dr. Setareh (Star) Moslemi, an Iranian behaviour analyst whose journey into the field of ABA was shaped by displacement, loss, and a profound sense of responsibility. Growing up in Iran as a member of the Baháʼí Faith, Star experienced systemic barriers to education and opportunity. At 16, her family made the difficult decision to le...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Dr. Monica Gilbert to unpack what’s often missing in behaviour analysis: true engagement. While clinicians are trained in evidence-based interventions, many still struggle with caregiver buy-in, staff engagement, and sustained change. Dr. Gilbert argues the issue isn’t the science—it’s the conversation. Drawing from her work in clinical psycho...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Hong Chun Tan and Alexa Goh to explore the rapid development of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Malaysia. What began as parent-led initiatives has evolved into a coordinated national effort—complete with certification pathways, university programs, and a growing professional community. Hong and Alexa share the behind-the-scenes story of fo...

What happens when there are no autism services in your country? In this episode, Ben speaks with Maxcia Williams, a parent, advocate, and behaviour technician in the Turks & Caicos Islands, about her journey raising a son with autism in a system that didn’t yet exist—and how she helped build one. From navigating stigma and cultural myths to founding the Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness, Ma...

In this special role-reversal episode, Dr. Asmahan Saleh Khalil returns—this time as host—to interview Behaviour Speak’s own Ben Reiman. Marking five years and close to 300 conversations, Ben reflects on the unexpected evolution of the podcast—from a simple networking idea to a global platform amplifying diverse voices in behaviour analysis. Together, they explore: The origins and evolution of Beh...

In this episode, Ben sits down with Danielle Cohen to explore Constructional Exposure Therapy (CET)—an emerging, compassionate approach grounded in the constructional framework of behaviour analysis. Rather than focusing on eliminating fear or escape behaviour, CET identifies the behaviour the person needs to access meaningful outcomes—and systematically teaches it in a way that maintains choice,...