The NDBI Navigator

In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Ohud Alhaqbani, BCBA, ESDM Certified Trainer, PhD researcher, and founder of ABA Blue Light, to discuss the power of parent-mediated intervention, cultural adaptation, and increasing access to evidence-based autism supports across the globe Originally from Saudi Arabia and now based in the United Kingdom, Ohud shares her journe...

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Ana Maria Hernandez Villalobos, a medical doctor, psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, and certified ESDM and JASPER therapist and trainer based in Monterrey, Mexico. Dr. Ana Maria shares her inspiring journey into NDBI and her passion for bridging science, culture, and family connection to ensure that high-quality e...

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jamie is joined by Natalia Santamaría, a psychoeducator and expert in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), who shares her powerful journey into NDBI practice and her work to bring parent-mediated, evidence-based interventions to families across Latin America. Natalia describes how her early work in Montreal led to a deep appreciation for Pivot...

In this episode, we’re joined by Christine Gomez, an NDBI mentor at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) in Phoenix, Arizona. Christine shares her journey into the field of autism intervention, how she discovered Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and how her work in inclusive preschool classrooms has shaped her views on child development, play, and...

In this episode—Dr. Jamie welcomes international guest Enron Seiti from Tirana, Albania. Enron shares the incredible work being done at the Help the Life Association, a nonprofit parent-founded organization dedicated to providing services and support to children with developmental disabilities and their families. He’s been deeply involved with the association for nearly 15 years. Together with the...

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie welcomes Dr. Grace Gengoux, a nationally recognized expert in evidence-based autism intervention, clinical psychologist, BCBA-D, and faculty member at Stanford University. Together, they explore the power of motivation, flexibility, and collaboration in supporting autistic children through Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jessica Brian, psychologist, senior clinician scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and associate professor at the University of Toronto. A long-time champion of caregiver-mediated interventions, Dr. Brian shares her journey into Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and her leadership in developing the Social ABCs p...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Raulston, Assistant Professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Texas State University. She shares her journey from classroom teaching to doctoral research, and how her passion for developmental science, early intervention, and child-led learning shaped her commitment to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). With over 20 y...

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast , host Dr. Jamie sits down with Ania Petrova, BCBA and founder of Comprehensive ABA, to explore her professional evolution from traditional ABA to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI). Ania shares what led to her “aha moment” with neurodiversity-affirming care, the systemic barriers that make this work challenging, and...

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast , host Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Bonnie McBride, a Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus and the Director of the Oklahoma Autism Center. The conversation covers Dr. McBride's extensive background, her perspective on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI),...

In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Deanna Swain, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado. Dr. Swain shares how her work spans clinical practice, informatics, and research — all with a shared goal of improving access to meaningful, evidence-based support for autistic children and...

In this episode, we’re joined by Teresa McFarland, M.Ed., BCBA, Director and Senior Consultant for Thrive Collaborative , to explore her 22-year journey from traditional behavior therapy to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) that prioritize relationships, motivation, and joy. Teresa shares how Thrive uses models like the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and Enhanced Milieu...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Ilene Schwartz, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington and founding developer of the Project DATA model. With more than four decades of experience, Dr. Schwartz reflects on the evolution of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the rise of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and what it really means to support children with autis...

In this episode, we welcome Janet Harder and Michaela Jelen of JHMJ Consulting, two highly experienced ESDM therapists and trainers who have worked extensively in early intervention, Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and parent coaching. Together, they share the story behind their innovative Relationship and Strength‑Based Coaching (RSB) framework — a model designed to p...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sophia D’Agostino, Assistant Professor at Utah State University in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. Her research and teaching focus on early childhood special education with a mission to improve preschool inclusion for children with disabilities. Dr. D’Agostino’s work centers on Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventio...

In this episode, we’re joined by Renee Hoffman, BCBA, LPC, and Melissa Looney, BCBA‑student, to explore Pathways Early Autism Intervention— a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) parent‑training program designed to help families nurture early social communication skills in young children with, or suspected of having, autism. Pathways blends ABA principles with child developmen...

In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Pamela Rollins, professor at UT Dallas and a leading voice in developmental language research, for a powerful conversation on the social foundations of language development . Drawing on over 40 years of research and clinical experience, Dr. Rollins reminds us that language cannot develop in isolation—it must be built on soc...

In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Tamara Kasper, a dual-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, to talk about what happens when speech science, behavior analysis, and play-based motivation truly come together.

In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Ariana Boutain, BCBA-D and Chief Clinical Officer at the Atlanta Autism Center. With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Bane shares her inspiring professional journey — from starting in traditional, compliance‑driven ABA to becoming a passionate champion of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). She opens up about what sparked...

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Melanie Pelichia, clinical psychologist and implementation scientist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Mental Health, where she leads groundbreaking efforts to embed high‑quality, evidence‑based autism interventions in public service systems. With over 25 years of experience, Melanie shares her evolution from traditional ABA to Naturalistic Develop...

In this episode, we’re joined by Janice Chan, lecturer in the Department of Special Education at San Diego State University and long-time trainer in Classroom Pivotal Response Teaching (CPRT). Janice shares her two-decade journey through autism research, classroom teaching, and implementation coaching—and how her lived experience as a special education teacher shapes her approach to scaling NDBIs...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Rebecca Thompson, a clinical psychologist and doctoral‑level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over two decades of experience supporting autistic individuals and their families. Dr. Becky shares her professional journey, beginning with her early work at the Wisconsin Early Autism Project (WEAP) — inspired by her mother, WEAP’s first administrative employee —...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, a child clinical and developmental psychologist whose career bridges early autism diagnosis, evidence-based early intervention, and inclusive early education. Initially trained in early autism diagnostic profiles. She later retrained in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) and now specializes in the Group Early Start Denver Model (GESDM). Based...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Giacomo Vivanti, Associate Professor and Program Leader in the Early Detection and Intervention Program at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. His work focuses on improving the well‑being and outcomes of autistic children by delivering effective early intervention to as many children as possible — and by conducting research to understand which interventions work be...

In this episode, I’m joined by Will Martin, BCBA, ESDM‑certified therapist, and apprentice trainer, who leads Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) implementation at SOAR Autism Center. With over a decade of experience in behavior analysis, Will shares how SOAR is weaving Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) into the fabric of their community‑based autism centers in Colorado and A...