ABA Ultimate Showdown!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "The goal of a functional assessment is to identify a function that will inform treatment." Debaters  ⁠Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami⁠ and ⁠Dr. Jeffrey Tiger⁠ share insight from their influential research and clinical experience, examining how different approaches to functional assessment shape intervention, ethics, and outcomes in practice.

We present well-supported arguments on both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced look at what functional assessments should aim to accomplish for individuals and their support teams.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "ABA is inherently trauma informed." Debaters Rosalie Prendergast and Saundra Bishop bring their extensive experience disseminating trauma-informed practices worldwide to examine how ABA procedures can align with, support, or fall short of trauma-informed care.

We construct defenses of both sides to provide a comprehensive, balanced view of what it means for ABA to be trauma informed in concept and in day-to-day practice.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "Higher education is ideally delivered in a traditional format." Debaters Dr. Katie Croce and Dr. Joe Novak draw on their experience teaching in both traditional and online programs to compare access, engagement, instructional quality, and student outcomes across formats.

We construct defenses of both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced look at what the future of higher education might hold for behavior analysts and beyond.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "Using behavior-specific praise to reinforce learners' behavior is best practice." Debaters Ashley Kemmerer and Jacqueline Koppa examine the strengths, limitations, and potential unintended effects of this widely used strategy so you can more thoughtfully shape your own practice.

We construct defenses of both sides to provide a comprehensive, balanced view of behavior-specific praise within behavior analysis.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this candid follow-up to Round 10, we sit down with debaters Amy Gravino, Angela DiPoce, Ashley Callahan, and Executive Director Cara Graham to reflect on the motion “Stereotypy as a symptom of autism does not need to be treated.” Together, they unpack the preparation process, discuss what shifted in their thinking, and respond to questions and feedback about the episode.

We also highlight the extensive resource list that supports this conversation, carefully compiled in APA 7 format so listeners can keep learning.

For a full list of references used in this series, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this follow-up and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this conversation helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "Stereotypy as a symptom of autism does not need to be treated." We welcome our first guest debater, Amy Gravino, who joins Angela DiPoce in debating Ashley Callahan on the ethical, clinical, and lived-experience dimensions of treating stereotypy.

Across the round, we construct defenses of both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced view of when, whether, and how stereotypy should be addressed in practice. We draw on research, ethics, and autistic self-advocate perspectives to help behavior analysts reflect critically on their own decision-making.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "It is possible to ethically and effectively market ABA businesses within the guidelines." We discuss challenges faced by both BCBA-owned and privately owned ABA companies and explore what ethical, effective marketing can look like in practice.

Informed by feedback from social media and the ABA community, we share concrete tips for marketing your services while honoring professional and ethical standards. We also recorded this round with everyone together, so you can enjoy more interactive banter and watch the full discussion on our YouTube channel.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “BCBAs have enough resources to ethically and effectively manage their caseload.” We examine how workload, support systems, and organizational structures impact both client outcomes and clinician well-being.

The discussion covers Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), burnout, organizational behavior management (OBM), and ethics, and highlights a wide range of resources in multiple formats to support behavior analysts’ mental health and job performance. As always, we present research-informed arguments on both sides to offer a comprehensive and balanced view of this critical topic.

For a list of references used in this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: "Physical prompts should be avoided." We focus on whether it is appropriate for professionals to use physical prompts, and under what conditions, while also considering their potential risks and benefits.

The discussion expands to alternative prompting strategies, including other prompt types, video modeling, and how trauma-informed care should shape prompt selection and implementation. Our goal is to provide a balanced, research-informed look at when physical prompts may or may not align with best practice.

Please note: As of July 1, 2026, this episode is no longer eligible for CEUs.

For a list of references used in this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!

Welcome to ABA Ultimate Showdown, a podcast created to promote constructive, respectful, and professional discourse that advances the field of behavior analysis.

In March 2020, amid stay-at-home recommendations across the US, we were invited to participate in a forum for stressed professionals to take a break and connect with others. We jumped at the chance to bring some levity to an incredibly difficult time. It turned out to be a great day of collaboration and a welcome distraction from everything happening in the world. We hope this finds you and your loved ones well, and we send our warmest wishes to all of you.

Thank you to Ryan and Salena for the invitation, and to everyone who participated in the meetup!

For the full video of this episode, visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast. For videos from the entire event, visit The Daily BA's website and social media platforms.

Have ideas for future debates, feedback, or interest in being a guest debater? Email us at [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and check out our YouTube channel for new episode alerts. We also appreciate a thoughtful review on your listening platform!

Thanks for tuning in. We hope this episode gave you some #GrAhamMoments!