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In this episode, Christina Torres and Nicole Stewart reflect on their year, discuss ABA data analysis, reinforcement strategies, and navigating professional growth with ADHD. They share insights on effective data graphing, the importance of self-pride, and strategies for business and personal development. In this episode, hosts discuss the challenges of saying no, boundaries, the evolution of the ABA field, niche specialization, and upcoming conferences and projects. They share personal insights and future plans to grow their practices and community engagement.
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Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Keywords: ABA, data analysis, reinforcement, ADHD, professional growth, graphing data, behavior management, self-pride, business development, education ABA, boundaries, niche specialization, conferences, ABA field evolution, mentorship, community building, ADHD, merch, professional development
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In this episode, Dani Galvez-Moreno shares her journey from behavior analysis to wellness advocacy, emphasizing the importance of self-care, managing overwhelm, and integrating personal well-being into professional practice. Discover practical strategies and inspiring stories to enhance your personal and professional life. In this episode, Nicole, Christina, and Dani discuss the future of behavior analysis, the importance of collaboration, and how to expand the field beyond traditional boundaries. They share insights on conferences, professional growth, and creating a supportive community.
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About Daniela Galvez-Moreno: Daniela Galvez Moreno, BCBA, is the co-founder of Invivo CE, a continuing education company focused on creating practical, experience-driven virtual conferences for behavior analysts. At Invivo CE, Daniela leads the development and planning of conferences including Self-Set-Go Conference, Assessment in Practice, Supervision Only Summit, and Generalizing AI, while also collaborating with subject matter experts across the field to co-produce additional events focused on topics such as OBM, school-based ABA, parent training, technician support, and clinician well-being, and other areas of professional practice. These collaborations include conferences such as The OBM Experience, Inside the IEP, Hablando ABA, Parent Training 101, School Day ABA, The ABA Technician Meetup, and Behavior & Body Conference. Across her clinical, teaching, and continuing education work, Dani is especially interested in creating learning experiences that connect behavioral science with the practical challenges behavior analysts encounter in their professional and personal lives.
Find Dani & InvivoCE:
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Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org. keywords: self-care, overwhelm, behavior analysis, wellness, burnout, personal growth, conference, mental health, professional well-being behavior analysis, conferences, professional development, collaboration, burnout, BCBA, InVivo, CEUs, autism, mental health, ABA, applied behavior analysis, RBTs
ABA training breaks down when it treats fieldwork like a checkbox instead of a skill-building system. Allyson Wharam, founder and CEO of Sidekick Learning, shares a smarter way to design supervision and competency development so learners actually build confidence and skill.
With Ally, Christina Torres and Nicole Stewart dig into why so many supervisees struggle through ABA fieldwork, what gets lost when training focuses on the exam, and h
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About Allyson Wharam:Allyson Wharam, Ed.D., BCBA, is the Founder and CEO of Sidekick Learning, an integrated learning platform focused on improving training, supervision, and competency development in ABA organizations.She earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on instructional design and technology from the University of Virginia and has over a decade of experience in the field. Her work centers on helping organizations move beyond seat time to real skill development, drawing on both behavior analysis and learning science to support clinicians and supervisors in building more effective, practical, competency-based training systems.She also hosts In the Field: The ABA Podcast, where she explores supervision, training, and leadership in behavior analysis.
Find Allyson and Sidekick Learning:
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Keywords: BCBA supervision, ABA fieldwork, instructional design, ABA training, competency development, supervisee support, RBT training, clinical supervision, learning science, retrieval practice, graph review, behavior analysis
Nicole and Christina welcome BCBA Ryan Baker-Barrett, who specializes in ADHD and executive functioning, for a conversation that hits close to home for all three hosts. Ryan shares the winding path to his own diagnosis at 37, the misconceptions that let him fly under the radar for years, and how building an ADHD household with his husband and two neurodivergent kids has shaped his approach to accommodations. The three dig into late diagnosis in adulthood (especially for women), the role of medication, time blindness, hyperfocus, and why so many of our systems, from school planners to token boards, are built for brains that don't work like this. Ryan also talks about the gamified trainings he's created to help other BCBAs actually understand ADHD instead of just working around it. It's a candid, funny, and honestly overdue conversation about what happens when the field designed for one population starts serving many more.
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About Ryan Baker-Barrett:
Ryan Baker-Barrett, MS, BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who brings an uncommon combination of perspectives to ADHD intervention: 10+ years as a BCBA, parent of two children with ADHD, and someone diagnosed with ADHD himself at age 37.
That diagnosis changed everything. Ryan realized the field's training hadn't prepared him to recognize ADHD in himself or to truly help his clients. He saw how behavior analysis had become synonymous with autism intervention, leaving the ADHD population underserved and approached with compliance-focused methods that missed the underlying executive function deficits.
Now, Ryan specializes in ADHD support through his San Diego-based company Applied Behavioral Health Practice. He trains behavior analysts through Breakthrough ADHD Training for Behavior Analysts. His approach asks a simple but transformative question: "How would I want someone to approach me in this situation?" The results are interventions that build capability instead of compliance, honor neurodiversity, and address what's actually happening in ADHD brains.
Find Ryan and his work:
Client-facing: getadhd.care
BCBA training: appliedbehavioral.health
Instagram: @adhd_by_abhp
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryan-baker-barrett
YouTube: @appliedbhp
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Keywords: ADHD, executive functioning, BCBA, ABA therapy, applied behavior analysis, autism, neurodivergent, late diagnosis ADHD, adult ADHD, ADHD in women, time blindness, hyperfocus, ADHD medication, ADHD accommodations, ADHD parenting, behavior analyst training, rejection sensitive dysphoria, scope of practice, New England Center for Children
In this episode, Jamie Pagliaro shares his inspiring journey from art history to leading innovative autism diagnosis technology at EarliPoint. Discover how cutting-edge eye tracking technology is transforming early autism detection, the importance of early intervention, and the future of tech in autism care. In this insightful interview, Jamie Pagliaro shares his journey in healthcare technology, focusing on early diagnosis of autism, the importance of objective testing, and innovative approaches like music therapy. Discover how technology is transforming access to care, reducing wait times, and empowering families and practitioners.
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About Jamie Pagliaro: Jamie is the President and CEO of EarliPoint Health, where he focuses on expanding access to earlier and more objective approaches to autism diagnosis and assessment using FDA-cleared eye-tracking technology. He has spent his career building and leading healthcare and education technology organizations, with experience spanning strategy, growth, and operations. Jamie is particularly passionate about reducing barriers for families and providers, and about translating innovative science into practical tools that can make a meaningful real-world impact.
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Keywords:
autism diagnosis, early intervention, eye tracking technology, autism research, healthcare innovation, EarlyPoint, ABA, neuroplasticity, FDA clearance, autism support autism diagnosis, healthcare technology, early intervention, objective testing, music therapy, access to care, FDA standards, behavioral health, innovation in healthcare
What do you do when your daughter needs therapy, the system has a six-month waitlist, and you happen to have 20 years of experience in tech and HR? If you are Tiffney Vivo, you build the thing that should have already existed.
In this episode, Nicole and Christina sit down with Tiffney Vivo, Co-Founder and CEO of Therapprove, a platform that connects families of children with special needs to pediatric therapists — quickly, transparently, and without the chaos of navigating the current system alone. Tiffney's daughter Avanelle was born with Down syndrome in 2020, and the experience of fighting through waitlists, mismatched providers, and a fragmented referral system lit a fire that became Therapprove.
This episode is equal parts entrepreneurship story, parent testimony, and honest look at a broken system. Whether you are a clinician working inside it, a parent navigating it, or someone who has ever wondered why getting a child into therapy takes so long, this conversation is for you.
Tiffney Vivo is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership experience in HR staffing, sales management, and technology. As Co-Founder and CEO of Therapprove, she leads a platform dedicated to connecting caregivers with pediatric therapists, providing timely and trustworthy therapy solutions. Inspired by her own journey as a mother to her daughter Avanelle, who was born with Down syndrome in March 2020, Tiffney created Therapprove to help families access the care their children need without unnecessary delays.
Before founding Therapprove, Tiffney launched Connect4.io, a platform that connected software engineers with companies, and held leadership roles in tech consulting, education, and staffing. Therapprove won the Spring 2024 Crossroads Pitch Competition and received a $10,000 investment from Flywheel Fund. The platform operates similarly to OpenTable — families upload their information, and clinics with openings that match their child's needs reach out directly, placing children on a single shared waitlist across multiple clinics.
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Not everyone who ends up in ABA planned to be here: and Demi Fragale is proof that the most unexpected paths can lead to the most meaningful careers. In this episode, Christina & Nicole sits down with Nicole’s friend and colleague Demi, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and NY State Licensed Behavior Analyst who came to the field by way of a Bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre and a life chapter that took some beautiful, unplanned turns.
Demi's journey raises questions every BCBA and aspiring practitioner will recognize: What do you do when your personal and professional worlds overlap? How do you navigate the ethics of relationships that exist before a clinical role begins? And what does it mean to bring your whole self, your art, your history, your humanity, into a field that is sometimes more comfortable with data than with depth?
This is a conversation about career pivoting, the ethics of multiple and dual relationships, and what happens when the person who inspired your career becomes part of it.
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
What happens when two ABA podcasts walk into the same recording space and just start talking? In this special crossover episode, Nicole and Christina sit down with Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery, the longtime co-hosts and co-owners behind ABA on Tap, for a conversation so packed with good stuff that you'll have to catch Part 2 on their feed.
Mike and Dan have been in the ABA world together for nearly 20 years, starting from the kind of first-day-on-the-job story that nobody forgets. They built their company, Ascend Behavior Partners, two years ago after watching corporate buyouts quietly chip away at their clinical values, and they have been putting their money where their mouths are ever since. Seven seasons and counting, and they show up every Sunday like clockwork. The four of them have more in common than you might expect, and this episode is proof that the best conversations happen when you stop talking at people and just start talking with them.
Why You Can't Miss This Episode:
🎙️ Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build and sustain an ABA podcast across multiple seasons, and why Mike and Dan keep showing up.
💼 Explore what it means to go out on your own in this field, including the real costs, the growing pains, and the surprising rewards of betting on yourself.
🏫 Dig into one of the field's most honest debates: center-based services versus inclusive settings, and how clinical recommendations can get tangled up with billing incentives.
🌎 Learn how BCBAs are expanding outside the medical model through dissemination, digital products, independent evaluations, community consulting, and even specialized transportation.
⚖️ Hear about Christina's push to get BCBAs recognized as Guardian ad Litems in Connecticut family court, and why BCBA licensure is way overdue.
Connect with ABA on Tap:
ABA on Tap on Instagram
ABA on Tap on Spotify
ABA on Tap on Apple Podcasts
Listen Now: Part 1 is right here. Part 2 drops May 10th on the ABA on Tap feed, so make sure you follow them wherever you get your podcasts. This one is too good to leave half-finished.
Like, subscribe, and share. It's the best way to support the work we're doing:
📸 @reinforcing.conversations
📘 Facebook
🎥 YouTube
Season 3 is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children, the worldwide leader in autism education and research for over 50 years.
Most ABA providers and entrepreneurs overlook critical legal nuances, until a compliance slip or legal inspection hits. Ellesha LeCluyse, a healthcare law expert with a decade of experience, exposes the hidden legal pitfalls in ABA practice ownership and offers practical strategies to safeguard your practice today.
You’ll discover:
This episode is perfect for BCBA practice owners, entrepreneurs, and aspiring ABA business founders who want to understand the legal landscape that impacts their license, reputation, and future success. If you’re serious about building a compliant, ethical, and thriving practice, Ellesha’s insights will arm you with the knowledge to do just that—minus the legal nightmares.Why stay in the dark? The cost of ignorance can be ownership loss, hefty fines, or service disruptions. But with the right legal foundations, you can focus on what truly matters—delivering impactful care and growing your business confidently.Tune in to uncover the legal secrets every ABA practice owner must know—and how you can proactively protect your practice today.
About Ellesha LeCluyse, J.D.: Ellesha combines deep experience navigating healthcare compliance with creative, transaction-focused problem-solving. She has earned a stellar reputation for providing strategic counsel to innovative clients across the healthcare sector, including ABA clinics, BCBAs, and management companies navigating complex state and federal regulations.
At Garbacz Zlotowitz, Ellesha leads the firm's ABA Legal Services practice, providing end-to-end legal, compliance, and structural guidance for ABA providers, helping practices form, scale, and stay audit-ready across every state. Her work spans LLC/PLLC formation, HIPAA and Corporate Compliance Manuals, employment and contractor agreements, payercontracting, and change of ownership transactions.
Find Ellesha:
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing:
Season 3 of Reinforcing Conversations is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — for over 50 years, the worldwide leader in autism education and research. Through their schools, clinics, consulting services, and the ACE ABA Software System, they are shaping a more inclusive future for all. Learn more at necc.org.
Our Season 2 Finale!!
If you could go back and give your younger self advice about working in ABA, what would you say? In this episode, Nicole and Christina (ABA Made Ez) get real about what they wish they'd known when they first entered the field — from navigating different settings and choosing the right population, to the BCBA credential, supervision, and the growing pains of a field still finding its footing. Whether you're brand new, an RBT figuring out your next step, or a seasoned BCBA who forgets what it felt like to start, this one's for you.
Is ABA the right field for you?It takes patience, flexibility, and genuine connection with the people you serve — plus the ability to handle the messy, unpredictable reality of the job. Nicole and Christina get honest about what that actually looks like.
ABA settings: home, clinic, school — and how to chooseChristina walks through her journey across all three environments and explains why getting exposure to multiple settings is one of the most valuable things new practitioners can do.
ABA vs. speech therapy, OT, and teachingNicole and Christina break down the real differences — caseload sizes, degree requirements, and why ABA is one of the most accessible entry points into human services.
The BCBA credential: what it is, how to get it, and what's changingFrom the RBT pathway all the way to BCBA, plus the 2032 master's degree requirement and why keeping your CEUs current is non-negotiable. You do NOT want to retake that exam.
RBTs: what's new in 2027 and questions to ask employersStarting in 2027, RBTs maintain credentials just like BCBAs. Nicole and Christina share smart interview questions that go beyond the rehearsed answers — and how to hold your employer accountable.
The BCBA's limitations — and where the field is headedNicole gets honest about insurance funding largely tied to autism, the barriers to research and publishing, and the debate over who counts as an "expert." Christina shares her policy work, including amending Connecticut's State Practice Book to include behavior analysts in family law.
Like, subscribe, and share — it's the best way to support the work we're doing.
Season 2 is made possible with support from the New England Center for Children — the worldwide leader in autism education and research for over 50 years.
From the publisher's feed