ABA on Tap

Send us Fan Mail ABA is proud to present Michelle Burr (Part 2 of 2): A diagnosis can open doors, but it can also be withheld in ways that quietly shut families out. Mike and Dan continue the brew with Michelle Burr, to talk about what it looks like when autism diagnostic practices miss the mark, especially for families of color, and how those delays ripple into access to services, school support, and day-to-day quality of life. From there, we get honest about labels. We’ve all seen how a label can bring relief, community, and clarity, and we’ve also seen how it can narrow expectations until every moment gets filtered through a diagnosis. We unpack the strange new reality of self-diagnosis trends, the growing understanding of autism in girls and women, and why “normal” is a wide statistical range, not a social pass or fail. Then we go deep on assent-based ABA. Michelle lays out what assent actually looks like in behavior you can observe, why pausing matters, and how “assent-based” can get twisted into permissive, chaotic center-based services that do not teach functional skills. We talk functional communication, individualized programming, generalization beyond the clinic, and a hopeful model for ethical center-based care that starts with pairing, builds communication, and creates calm structure kids can succeed inside. If you want ABA that feels humane and still works in the real world, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a colleague or parent, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Michelle Burr (Part 1 of 2): The fastest way to lose what makes ABA powerful is to turn it into a checklist. Mike and Dan sit down with Michelle Burr, a veteran clinician with decades in autism services, to talk about what happens when real teaching gets buried under perfect data sheets, rigid protocols, and insurance-driven “progress” that doesn’t generalize. Michelle walks us through her origin story, the early in-home era, and the Wisconsin initiatives that expanded access through Medicaid while also creating new bottlenecks like long waitlists and unrealistic parent-presence requirements. We also get honest about the complicated legacy of Ivar Lovaas, what the old structure got right, and what modern training often misses: the why behind prerequisite skills, the purpose of imitation, and the point of manding beyond scripted trials. From there, we zoom out to the field today: BCBA credentialing pressures, private equity in ABA, and the push to standardize services until they feel like fast food. Michelle shares why Montessori education became a turning point in her work, and how developmental, individualized environments can strengthen ABA rather than weaken it. We also unpack “assent-based” practice, HRE (happy, relaxed, engaged), and why skill-based treatment (SBT) gets risky when teams stop progressing demands and accidentally reinforce escape. If you care about ethical ABA therapy, practical autism intervention, and training clinicians to have both technical skill and real feel, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Jennifer Kraft (Part 2 of 2): A single line in the wrong plan can change a child’s whole trajectory: “increase compliance.” We dig into what it looks like to replace that mindset with support that actually removes barriers, starting with augmentative and alternative communication and the broader world of assistive technology. We talk with Jennifer Kraft about why you are never too young or too old to start AAC, and why it is devastating when someone only gets the right device and the right team in adulthood. We walk through the practical reality of access, including the IEP process, insurance requirements, and how SLPs and physicians often become the documentation gatekeepers for prescriptions and funding. If you have ever searched “how to get an AAC device,” “assistive technology evaluation,” or “AAC through Medicaid,” you will leave with a clearer picture of what to ask for and where to look. Then we zoom out past speech devices into everyday assistive technology that changes lives: weighted bowls and spoons, pencil grips and slant boards, hearing supports, magnification tools, adapted computer mice, and the creative problem solving mindset behind it all. From there, we get real about school-based ABA consultation: building rapport with teachers, setting boundaries, observing the whole classroom system, picking targets that can actually work in a busy environment, and navigating the hard truth that sometimes school politics override good data. If you care about neuro-affirming ABA, assent and safety, and helping clients become who they are, not who someone else thinks they should be, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest AAC or school collaboration question. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Jennifer Kraft (Part 1 of 2): AAC is everywhere right now, but too many people still treat it like a gadget instead of a voice. Mike and Dan sit down with Jennifer Kraft, a longtime special educator, assistive technology specialist, and BCBA, about what actually makes augmentative and alternative communication work in the real world and what goes wrong when devices get handed out without true assessment, training, or follow-through. Jennifer shares a career journey that spans early intervention, life skills classrooms, ed tech facilitation, and behavioral health leadership in Pennsylvania’s evolving system (BHRS to IBHS). Along the way, she gets candid about the ethical pressure points in agency life, what it feels like to walk into a broken organization, and why protecting clients and clinicians sometimes means refusing to play along. That path ultimately leads her to launch her own practice, Krafted Care, and push through licensing and Medicaid barriers that can delay autism services for months. Then we dig into practical AAC best practices: why AAC does not take away speech, how it can serve as a backup during stress or motor planning challenges, and why modeling matters more than “handing over the device.” We also cover device fit, customizing pages for real routines, separating entertainment screen time from the AAC system, and the nonnegotiable need for constant access and a charged battery. If you care about ethical ABA, assistive technology, or helping kids and adults communicate with dignity, hit play. Subscribe, share this with your team, and leave a review with your biggest AAC question. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Kristyn Peterson (Part 2 of 2): The hardest part of behavior analysis isn’t the data sheet, it’s the human side: how you show up, how you lead, and how you make change feel doable. ABA on Tap is back with Dr. Kristyn Peterson for a candid, practical conversation that connects behavioral artistry to the real-world pressures BCBAs face when business models clash with clinical values. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “making humans do the thing” without believing in the system behind it, you’ll recognize yourself here. We talk through Kristen’s path from clinical work into OBM-informed consulting, including how she and her team help organizations survive big technology changes by balancing people, process, and technology. You’ll hear concrete ways behavior analysts add value outside autism services: defining what success actually looks like, choosing measurable metrics, and using organizational change management to reduce stress, resistance, and turnover instead of bulldozing people with “because leadership said so.” Then we go deeper on leadership and sustainability: what it’s like to run a small company, document recommendations when clients won’t follow them, and protect your energy when your job becomes finance, sales calls, and crisis cleanup. Kristyn also breaks down Lean Six Sigma (including Master Black Belt training) and why its maintenance planning can be a model for better fade-out, parent training, and operational systems in ABA. We close with hot takes on culture (stop pretending pizza parties are an intervention), gatekeeping, and how to help BCBAs feel less trapped in a changing field shaped by private equity and regulation. If this resonates, subscribe, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review so more behavior analysts can find the conversation. Tune In. Drink Up. And ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Kristyn Peterson (Part 1 of 2): A BCBA passes the exam, gets promoted fast, and suddenly has to lead teams, train new RBTs, manage payer demands, and still protect the client’s care. That jump can feel like getting handed the keys to a moving car, especially in underserved markets where there is no mentorship bench and no clean roadmap for what a clinical director should actually do. Kristen Peterson joins ABA on Tap to tell the truth about early-career leadership in applied behavior analysis, from building scalable supervision systems to navigating rural ABA service delivery across long distances. We dig into cultural competence in autism services, including how providers earn trust in communities with different religious norms, different parenting styles, and real skepticism toward “outside experts.” We also talk ethics in plain language, what happens when you see harmful punishment practices, and how to balance reporting obligations with compassionate parent support. Then we get into the hard part: private equity buyouts, policy shifts that squeeze training opportunities, and the moral injury that hits when leaders are asked to defend decisions they believe will hurt staff or families. We unpack how algorithmic hours tools and templated programming can quietly replace clinical judgment, and why the art of individualized ABA still matters when research meets the living room. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review if it resonates. Where have you felt the strongest pressure between efficiency and ethics? Tune In, Drink Up and ALWAYS Analyze Responsibly. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Mark Malady (Part 2 of 2): If you have ever felt pressured to list “behaviors for reduction” even when you know the real need is skill building, this conversation will hit home. ABA on Tap continues our sit down with Mark Malady, to talk about constructional ABA, where the aim is not to stop behavior for everyone else’s comfort but to build the repertoires that let a learner get their needs met with more freedom, safety, and dignity. We get into why procedure-heavy programming can create rigid learning that looks great on paper but does not generalize in real life. From joint attention and enriched environments to response classes and functional outcomes, we explore how to stop obsessing over response form and start focusing on what the behavior does. That includes a candid take on eye contact goals, developmental milestone traps, and why “critical periods” matter less than building the component skills that support informed choice. We also unpack process-based practice and measurement. Mark shares how process can still be measurable and accountable, why clinicians may need to make many small adjustments in a single session, and how low-dose models can outperform massive hour prescriptions when targets are chosen well. You will also hear about the 'GenArete' skill-based assessment, milestone benchmarking, and a powerful example of “dignity of risk” where opportunity, not skill deficit, is the real barrier. If this episode sharpens your thinking, subscribe for more conversations that challenge default ABA habits, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more clinicians and families can find the show. What would you stop targeting tomorrow if you shifted fully to function and quality of life? Tune In, Drink Up, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Mark Malady (Part 1 of 2): A piece of duct tape on the floor becomes a turning point for how we think about safety, reinforcement, and basic human connection. Mike and Dan sit down with Mark Malady to trace the long arc from an IEP and constant school changes to building programs for adults with severe aggression and minimal communication. Along the way, Mark shares the moment he stopped accepting the “he doesn’t like people” assumption and started asking a better behavioral question: what history built this repertoire, and what would it take to build a new one? ABA on Tap and Mark give a full pour of the ideas that shape real clinical work. Mark connects early experience in adult disability services to big-picture themes in applied behavior analysis: functional communication, humane reinforcement, and why our field too often mistakes procedural compliance for effective intervention. He breaks down process versus procedure orientation in plain language, ties it to ACT and relational frame theory, and explains why relationship quality often predicts outcomes better than which “manual” you follow. Finally, we get honest about the hard parts of ABA in autism services and school settings: power dynamics, “firefighting” models that wait for crisis, and resource decisions that prioritize deceleration over skill acquisition. If you care about ethical ABA, assent and consent, better assessment practices, and building meaningful skills across the lifespan, this conversation will challenge you in the right ways. Subscribe for Part 2, share this with a colleague, and leave a review with the biggest question you want our field to answer next. Tune in, drink up and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to sit down with Lupe Castañeda (Part 2 of 2): You can have the best behavior plan in the world and still fail if the classroom doesn’t trust you. Mike and Dan pick up part two with Lupe Castaneda, and get practical about school-based ABA, BCBA leadership in schools, and the messy middle where collaboration meets real-world constraints. We talk through what it looks like when we’re “not the experts” in the family system or the classroom environment, yet we’re brought in because something is already going wrong, and the people in the room may not want change. From there, we get into the hard stuff most people won’t say out loud: school politics, predetermined placement decisions, and how to protect your staff when they’re doing great work but still getting nitpicked. Lupe shares how he approaches teacher buy-in by building rapport, talking with paraprofessionals, and living the principle of “show me, don’t tell me” rather than being the BCBA in the corner with a laptop. We also explore supervision and mentorship strategies that improve retention, including bi-directional feedback, coaching, and shaping performance instead of punishing mistakes. We then zoom into tactics for bridging 1:1 ABA into group instruction: small-group DTT, instructional pacing, short learning sprints, contextual fit, and preparing students for natural environments. Along the way we unpack clinical judgment, crisis prevention, and why it matters to teach teams how to think on the fly, especially when the difference between an extinction burst and failed treatment is not obvious to educators. We wrap with burnout prevention, skill diversification, and why staying curious might be the most underrated career strategy in behavior analysis. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a school-based BCBA or teacher, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the biggest obstacle you hit when trying to collaborate in schools? Tune in, drink up and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to sit down with Lupe Castañeda (Part 1 of 2): If you’ve ever walked into a school confident in your assessment, your data, and your “best practice” plan, and still watched it fall apart by week two, you’re not alone. Mike and Dan sit down with Lupe Castaneda, a longtime school-based BCBA and consultant, to talk about what actually makes ABA in schools work, and what quietly makes it fail even when everyone has good intentions. We start with Lupe’s path into the field, from early exposure to children with disabilities to adapted physical education, autism support, and becoming one of the earliest full-time BCBAs employed by a Texas school district. Along the way, he shares the moments that reshaped his practice, including a hard lesson about making changes without family input and a blunt IEP meeting reminder that experience means nothing if you cannot explain what you will do for this specific child. From there, we dig into the practical heart of school-based behavior support: family-centered programming, meaningful long-term goals, parent education, and the legal and team-driven reality of the IEP process. We also break down two essentials for any behavior intervention plan or functional behavior assessment in a school setting: collaboration and contextual fit. A plan is only “evidence-based” if it can be implemented by real educators in real classrooms with real constraints, and if it respects the priorities of the student and family. This is Part 1 of our conversation with Lupe. Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2, and if this resonates, share it with a BCBA, teacher, or parent navigating school services. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve seen when ABA meets the classroom? Tune in, drink up and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Asia Johnson (Part 2 of 2): A kid can learn their colors and still be worse off if they’ve been trained to silence “no.” That tension drives our candid conversation with Asia Johnson as we wrestle with what ethical, modern ABA therapy should look like when the goal is a real life, not perfect compliance. We talk honestly about how many clinicians are shaped by a single supervisor, a single company, and a single packaged system, and how that funnel can turn good people into one-track practitioners without meaning to. From VB-MAPP popularity to PEAK’s assessment structure, we dig into “teaching to the test” and why assessment scores can’t be the finish line. We compare naturalistic teaching with discrete trial training as a tool, then zoom out to the bigger issue: assent-based practice, withdrawal of assent, and the fine line between instruction and coercion. We also unpack a hard but necessary question for client outcomes: what did it cost to get that progress, and did it create masking, trauma, or reduced self-advocacy? Then we shift into cultural competency in ABA and autism services in Black communities, where programming details matter, like hair care routines, barber shop versus salon experiences, and language goals that erase AAVE. Asia breaks down how competency, referral decisions, Medicaid access, and limited provider pools collide in the real world, plus why research diversity and historical medical mistrust shape family engagement. If you care about trauma-informed care, ethical ABA, and culturally responsive autism support, this conversation will stretch your thinking. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave us a review with the biggest “success metric” you think ABA should be judged by. Enjoy the second pour with Asia Johnson, share this with a parent or clinician who needs it, subscribe and leave a review with your take. Tell us---what should ethical ABA protect first? Tune in, drink up and ALWAYS analyze responsibly. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Asia Johnson (Part 1 of 2): A two-pound baby in the NICU. A young mom in a demanding academic track. Years of sleepless nights, confusing behaviors, and a system full of waitlists and half-answers. Asia Johnson joins us to share the throughline that connects all of it-- learning how to advocate for her daughter, and then bringing that same urgency and empathy into the ABA field as an RBT and later a BCBA. In this pour of ABA on Tap, Mike, Dan and Asia get real about what families feel after an autism diagnosis, especially when the people around them do not understand ASD, and when community stigma makes support harder to access. Asia breaks down why the five stages of grief are not just theory, but a practical tool for parent support and for clinicians who want to teach skills without ignoring the emotional load caregivers carry. We also talk about acceptance as a daily practice: redefining happiness, building structure, and choosing goals that protect dignity and independence. From masking and stimming to school accommodations and powerful self-advocacy, Asia gives vivid examples of what growing up autistic can look like for a level one pre-teen. Then we dig into culturally responsive ABA: dialect, identity, and why therapy must meet a child where they are rather than sanding down culture to fit a narrow idea of “proper.” Finally, Asia shares what she has seen when ABA goes wrong and why ethical leadership has to interrupt harmful clinic cultures before they reproduce. Enjoy this first pour, return for part 2, share this with a parent or clinician who needs it, subscribe and leave a review with your take. Tell us---what should ethical ABA protect first? Tune in, drink up and ALWAYS analyze responsibly. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Holli Beth Clauser (Part 2 of 2): Grab a comfortable seat and get ready for your second pour of truth telling and good hiring. "They’re just RBTs” might be the most expensive sentence an ABA organization can say. We sit down with Holli Beth Clauser to talk about truth telling, good hiring, and what happens when companies optimize for speed and margin while ignoring training, retention, and the human reality of autism services delivered in a family’s home. We dig into the hidden costs of turnover in applied behavior analysis: paid onboarding time, unstaffed cases, added BCBA supervision load, inconsistent sessions, and the reputational damage that follows. From there we get into the messy “soup” leaders actually face, balancing living wages, competitive market pay, and insurance reimbursement rates, plus the pressure to keep profit margins high. We also challenge the industry’s obsession with blanket hour recommendations and talk about what it means to “prescribe” ABA therapy with real clinical reasoning and empirical humility. Then we shift into what to do about it. Holli breaks down how to reduce silos between clinical leadership and talent teams through visibility, feedback loops, and accountability, and why “vibe check” interviews quietly bake bias into your hiring. You’ll hear a practical interview question you can steal, simple ways to create belonging through specific reinforcement, and a powerful reminder that protocols are for people, not the other way around. We also cover BCBA burnout and realistic career pivots, plus Holli’s personal diagnostic journey and what it taught her about communication, systems, and support. If you care about ethical ABA, RBT retention, sustainable growth, and better outcomes for kids and families, hit subscribe, share this with a leader on your team, and leave a review so more clinicians can find the conversation. Tune in, drink up AND ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Holli Beth Clauser (Part 1 of 2): Grab a comfortable seat and a tasty libation. There is a lot of introspection to be had in this pour. Your turnover number might look like a business problem, but it’s really a human systems problem. We sit down with Holly Beth Clauser to unpack why ABA organizations keep bleeding great RBTs, why families lose trust when staffing churn never stops, and what changes actually improve recruitment, onboarding, and retention without burning people out. We start with Holli’s origin story and how her frontline experience shaped the way she thinks about the workforce. From there, we get practical about the gaps between clinical work, scheduling, HR, and executives. We talk about SOPs and metrics as a shared language, but we keep coming back to the part most dashboards miss: the context behind the number. Cancellations, inconsistent hours, and “culture” issues rarely come from one person being lazy. They’re usually signals that the environment isn’t reinforcing the right behaviors. Then we go straight at the hiring process. Overselling roles, overpromising hours, and avoiding hard conversations about aggression, travel, cancellations, and documentation creates the exact churn everyone complains about later. Holly shares how she interviews for boundaries and triggers, why function should guide HR responses, and why practical de-escalation and self-regulation training often matters more in the first 60 days than jargon-heavy onboarding. If you care about treatment continuity, staff wellbeing, and sustainable ABA services, hit play, share this with a leader in your orbit, and subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2. After you listen, what’s one change you’d make to improve RBT retention at your organization? Holli Beth Clauser will guide you in this episode. Tune In, Drink Up, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Dr. Yev Veverka (Part 2 of 2): Grab a tasty libation, a comfy seat and sip slowly. In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike and Dan are pouring out a fresh perspective on the evolution of behavior science. We are thrilled to welcome a powerhouse, Dr. Yev Veverka, PhD, BCBA-D --a world-class researcher, and educator from the University of Washington. Yev is also well versed as a parent of neurodivergence. We are tackling the flaws in traditional ABA delivery and diving straight into how we can reform the field without abandoning the proven science. Dr. Veverka breaks down the concept of compassionate care as the "Eighth Dimension" of ABA , exploring how practitioners can move from being rigid experts to collaborative partners who actively center client autonomy and well-being. Plus, as a leading feeding specialist, she serves up some highly actionable strategies from her work on making mealtimes positive and manageable for families. On the Menu Tonight: The Compassion Reform : Why the current application of ABA can feel flawed to families, and how shifting toward person-centered, empathetic care can reshape the future of our field. The Dual Perspective : What happens when a BCBA is also an autism parent navigating the daily realities of therapy. Meaningful Mealtimes : Dr. Veverka’s practical, evidence-based tips to prevent and handle common mealtime challenges without the battle of wills. Client Autonomy & Assent : Shifting the focus toward meaningful participation, social justice, and asking the critical question: Whose lives are we actually improving? Whether you are a seasoned BCBA, an RBT in the trenches, or a parent looking for real-world support, this episode delivers high-impact behavior science with absolutely zero boring jargon. Tune in, Drink up, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Dr. Yev Veverka (Part 1 of 2): Grab a tasty libation, a comfy seat and sip slowly. In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike and Dan are pouring out a fresh perspective on the evolution of behavior science. We are thrilled to welcome a powerhouse, Dr. Yev Veverka, PhD, BCBA-D --a world-class researcher, and educator from the University of Washington. Yev is also well versed as a parent of neurodivergence. We are tackling the flaws in traditional ABA delivery and diving straight into how we can reform the field without abandoning the proven science. Dr. Veverka breaks down the concept of compassionate care as the "Eighth Dimension" of ABA , exploring how practitioners can move from being rigid experts to collaborative partners who actively center client autonomy and well-being. Plus, as a leading feeding specialist, she serves up some highly actionable strategies from her work on making mealtimes positive and manageable for families. On the Menu Tonight: The Compassion Reform : Why the current application of ABA can feel flawed to families, and how shifting toward person-centered, empathetic care can reshape the future of our field. The Dual Perspective : What happens when a BCBA is also an autism parent navigating the daily realities of therapy. Meaningful Mealtimes : Dr. Veverka’s practical, evidence-based tips to prevent and handle common mealtime challenges without the battle of wills. Client Autonomy & Assent : Shifting the focus toward meaningful participation, social justice, and asking the critical question: Whose lives are we actually improving? Whether you are a seasoned BCBA, an RBT in the trenches, or a parent looking for real-world support, this episode delivers high-impact behavior science with absolutely zero boring jargon. Tune in, Drink up, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY. Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail *FOR PART I of this interview, please go to the Reinforcing Conversations Podcast Grab a cold one and pull up a chair! In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by a powerhouse duo shaking up the behavior analysis space: Nicole Stewart and Christina Torres , creators of the Reinforcing Conversations podcast. This is a pod-swap, so part I of this convo starts on the Reinforcing Conversations platform. Please do check it out. Nicole and Christina are known for their honest, unfiltered dialogue and deep reflection on the ethics of real-world practice. In this "pour," the crew moves past the rigid, compliance-based textbook jargon to focus on what it truly means to center humanity while still honoring the science. They dive into the realities of modern clinical practice, the nuances of trauma-assumed care, and how to build an authentic professional brand without losing your mind. In this pour, we are serving up: Textbook vs. Reality: Why standard "one-size-fits-all" behavior protocols fail in the field, and how to individualize affirming care. Trauma-Assumed Practices: Shifting the focus from strict behavioral compliance to fostering true safety, assent, and belonging. Building an Authentic Brand: Christina shares her journey as a self-made entrepreneur and how she uses social media to make ABA accessible. Navigating Field Burnout: Honest talk on setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, and upholding ethical supervision standards. Whether you are a seasoned BCBA, an RBT in the trenches, or a business owner trying to steer the future of therapy, this episode delivers the straight talk you need—minus the boring jargon. Tune in, drink up, and always analyze responsibly! Connect with the Guests: Listen to their podcast: Reinforcing Conversations on Spotify Follow on Instagram: @reinforcing.conversations Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Nicholas Maio-Aether (Part 2 of 2): Find the most comfortable seat in the house, pour yourself a cold one, maybe two! In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by the "Sex Analyst" himself, Nicholas Maio-Aether. Nicholas is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), and a certified sexuality counselor who specializes in Sexual Behavior Analysis (SBA) —a subfield he pioneered at his agency, Empowered: A Center for Sexuality LLC. In this "pour," we’re serving up: The Intersection of Sexology and ABA: Why Nicholas saw a desperate need for competency in addressing sexual behavior within behavior analysis and how he bridges that gap. Humanistic & Affirming Care: Moving away from traditional "mitigation" or "extinction" of sexuality toward approaches focused on self-determination, sexual access, and gender affirmation. Navigating Taboos: Real talk on the "good, the bad, and the ugly" history of ABA and sexuality, and how to ethically teach consent and education to neurodivergent populations. Sensate Focus & Practical Tools: A look at how behavior analysts can use clinical rigor to help clients achieve meaningful relational outcomes. Whether you’re a BCBA looking to expand your scope of practice or just curious about how behavior science applies to the most human of narratives, this episode delivers science-backed insights with the signature ABA on Tap humor and practicality. *This episode is marked 'Explicit' simply due to the topic and themes discussed. TUNE IN, DRINK UP, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY! Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to present Nicholas Maio-Aether (Part 1 of 2): Find the most comfortable seat in the house, pour yourself a cold one, maybe two! In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by the "Sex Analyst" himself, Nicholas Maio-Aether. Nicholas is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), Licensed Behavior Analyst (LBA), and a certified sexuality counselor who specializes in Sexual Behavior Analysis (SBA) —a subfield he pioneered at his agency, Empowered: A Center for Sexuality LLC. In this "pour," we’re serving up: The Intersection of Sexology and ABA: Why Nicholas saw a desperate need for competency in addressing sexual behavior within behavior analysis and how he bridges that gap. Humanistic & Affirming Care: Moving away from traditional "mitigation" or "extinction" of sexuality toward approaches focused on self-determination, sexual access, and gender affirmation. Navigating Taboos: Real talk on the "good, the bad, and the ugly" history of ABA and sexuality, and how to ethically teach consent and education to neurodivergent populations. Sensate Focus & Practical Tools: A look at how behavior analysts can use clinical rigor to help clients achieve meaningful relational outcomes. Whether you’re a BCBA looking to expand your scope of practice or just curious about how behavior science applies to the most human of narratives, this episode delivers science-backed insights with the signature ABA on Tap humor and practicality. *This episode is marked 'Explicit' simply due to the topic and themes discussed. TUNE IN, DRINK UP, and ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY! Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

Send us Fan Mail ABA on Tap is proud to spend some time with Shouberte Abreu (Part 2 of 2): Grab a seat and pour yourself a cold one! In this episode of ABA on Tap , hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by Shouberte Abreu, a powerhouse in clinical ABA and Founder of Behaviour Lifestyle. In addition, the crew is pleasantly surprised by a bonus guest, Dr. Scott O'Donnell . Shouberte takes us beyond the laboratory, sharing her journey from navigating tough supervision to becoming a leading mentor, author, and Infant Toddler Developmental Specialist. We are tackling the real-world applications of ABA, focusing on compassionate care, family training, and how to teach "the art of you" to our learners. In this "pour," we’re serving up: The Path from RBT to BCBA: Real talk on field challenges, the importance of supportive supervision, and navigating the independent field work route. Family Guidance & Training: How to educate and support parents to implement effective strategies in the home. Compassionate Care: Blending clinical rigor with empathy to create meaningful, individualized programming. Whether you are a new RBT looking for mentorship or a BCBA refining your clinical approach, this episode is filled with practical insights to help you grow. Tune in, drink up, and always analyze responsibly! Support the show 🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform! 📢 Connect with Us: 🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com 🎧 TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/ 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap 💡 Support the Show: ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap 🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us 🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content. 🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻