The EveryDay ABA Podcast

This week, the hosts examine why labeling people as difficult often obscures what is actually happening behaviorally and how applied behavior analysis (ABA) provides a clearer, more functional framework. Using behavior science, the episode explores how to operationally define difficult behavior, identify early behavioral red flags in professional and personal relationships, and determine when boundary setting or disengagement is the most effective response. The discussion spans workplace conflict, consulting relationships, family dynamics, and emotional labor, highlighting how reinforcement, emotional regulation, urgency, and miscommunication can unintentionally maintain ineffective interaction patterns. The hosts also address how cultural context, identity-related stressors, and lived experiences can influence behavior without resorting to diagnoses, excuses, or personality-based labels. This episode offers a behavior-based approach for professionals who feel emotionally drained, stuck in cycles of over-explaining, or uncertain about whether continued engagement in a relationship is productive. Listeners are provided with practical tools grounded in ABA to support clearer decision-making, healthier boundaries, and reduced burnout.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase 

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

1. Operationally define “difficult behavior” in adults by identifying observable, measurable behaviors rather than using mentalistic or trait-based labels.
2. Apply core ABA principles to analyze challenging interpersonal interactions in professional, family, and consulting contexts.
3. Identify early behavioral red flags in professional relationships and evaluate when disengagement is appropriate.
4. Demonstrate how ABA-informed boundary setting can reduce reinforcement of ineffective or aversive interaction patterns.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, hosts Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie discuss communication styles, listening behaviors, and why even good intentions can lead to misunderstandings, especially in professional and personal relationships. The hosts unpack real-life communication failures, exploring how tone, clarity, and delivery shape how messages are received. Brittanny shares her journey of self-awareness, reflecting on how her direct communication style can sometimes come across as aggressive, while Paola highlights gender biases in communication, explaining how women are often labeled “too direct” or “difficult” in the workplace for behaviors that are reinforced in others. Grounding the conversation in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the episode reframes communication as a behavior with a function, emphasizing a key ABA principle: communication isn’t effective unless it produces the intended response from the listener. Rather than focusing solely on what we say, the hosts examine how listener behavior, reinforcement history, context, and environment influence whether communication truly works, offering actionable insights for improving clarity, understanding, and connection in everyday interactions.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate -> HERE  

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

This week, Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny break down how a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) can be used far beyond business strategy and applied to personal growth, career planning, and professional sustainability.

Using an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and psychology lens, the conversation explores how strengths reflect reinforced behaviors, weaknesses often signal skill or system gaps, and how environmental opportunities and threats influence decision-making, burnout, and follow-through. The hosts model the process by sharing their own podcast SWOT analysis, offering a real-world example of reflective practice and values-aligned planning.

This episode emphasizes that reflection without action isn’t enough. Listeners are guided on how to turn insight into behaviorally defined next steps, reduce reliance on willpower, and make intentional choices that support long-term alignment—especially for clinicians, educators, and helping professionals navigating complex work-life demands.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, approaching a transition, or reassessing your next professional move, this episode shows how behavioral science can help you reflect honestly, reset intentionally, and plan your next stage without burnout.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!  

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Define the 4 components of a SWOT analysis 
• Describe how each SWOT component maps onto core ABA concepts
• Identify at least 3 environmental variables that function as opportunities or threats when conducting a SWOT analysis through a behavioral lens. 
• Develop at least one behaviorally defined action step derived from a completed SWOT analysis 

References: 

Frederick, D. E., & VanderWeele, T. J. (2020). Longitudinal meta-analysis of job crafting shows positive association with work engagement. Cogent Psychology, 7(1), 1746733.

Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans. American Psychologist, 54(7), 493–503.

Latvia-Ibanez , O. , China-Martin , A. , Batista-Foguet , JM , & Arias-Salazar , A. (2021). Job crafting and work engagement: The mediating role of work meaning. PLoS O(4), e0248888.

Locke, E. A., & Latham, G. P. (1990). A theory of goal setting and task performance. Prentice Hall.

Slowiak, J. M., & DeLongchamp, A. C. (2021). Self-care strategies and job-crafting practices among behavior analysts: Predictors of work–life balance, work engagement, and burnout. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(2), 414–432.

We all think we’re good listeners… until we’re in conflict.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, hosts Paola, Brittany, and Leslie break down listening styles. Not how we talk, but how we hear; and, why listening is often the real reason communication falls apart. Using applied behavior analysis (ABA), psychology, and real-life examples from their own dynamic, they explore five common communication styles: listening to respond, listening to agree, listening to disagree, listening to understand, and listening to win.

Paola unpacks what it means to listen for solutions. Leslie explores validation and people-oriented listening. Brittany dives into critical listening and why disagreement isn’t always rejection. Together, they explain how different listening styles are reinforced, how mismatched listening leads to conflict at work and in relationships, and how to adjust your communication based on what the conversation actually needs.

Whether you’re navigating workplace communication, leadership conversations, relationships, or parenting, this episode will help you identify your own listening style, understand others better, and communicate more effectively. If you’ve ever felt unheard, misunderstood, or frustrated during conversations, this episode will change how you listen.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE!  

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and define at least five distinct listening styles as described in interpersonal communication and listening research. 
2. Describe the function of listening behavior using an ABA framework, including how different listening styles are maintained by distinct reinforcement contingencies.
3. Differentiate between evaluative and reflective listening and explain how each style impacts emotional validation and problem-solving outcomes in professional and interpersonal contexts. 
4. Apply evidence-based communication strategies to modify one’s own listening behavior by explicitly matching listening responses to the function of a conversation thereby improving interpersonal effectiveness. 

What do timeshares, ABA, and selling your services have in common? More than you think.

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie are joined by Graham Lukas, one of the top sales performers for Hyatt Vacation Club, to explore sales through a behavioral science lens. This is not a pitch about timeshares. It is a deep dive into influence, motivation, and persuasion using real-world sales examples.

Graham explains why everything in life is a form of sales, from building trust with families, leading teams, to convincing someone or yourself to change behavior. The conversation highlights how Applied Behavior Analysis principles used by BCBAs every day can drive effective business, leadership, and personal decision-making.

Whether you are a BCBA, clinician, consultant, or business owner who struggles with selling without feeling salesy, this episode reframes sales as relationship-building, problem-solving, and value alignment rather than manipulation. Learn practical strategies from behavioral science to influence and grow your impact.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!  

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Describe how emotional variables influence decision-making and why logic follows emotion.
• Identify parallels between effective sales practices and ABA principles (assessment, rapport, reinforcement).
• Differentiate feature-based selling from motivation-based selling and explain resistance.
• Explain how targeted questioning functions as informal assessment of motivating operations.

👩🏽‍🏫 Guest Expert: 

Follow Graham Lucas on Instagram

In this episode of Everyday ABA, Paola, Brittanny, and Leslie are joined by Northwestern Mutual financial advisor, Tommy Smith, to break down retirement planning through a behavioral lens. Using principles from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the conversation demystifies 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth vs. traditional accounts, employer matches, and target date funds in a way that feels practical rather than overwhelming. The group explores the psychology of money, including why saving feels restrictive for some people and empowering for others, and how automation, habit formation, and reducing response effort can make long-term financial behavior more sustainable.

The episode also covers common barriers that prevent people from investing, such as fear of market fluctuations, lack of early financial education, and decision paralysis. Listeners learn how concepts like delayed reinforcement, shaping, and antecedent strategies apply directly to saving for retirement. Additional topics include pensions versus defined contribution plans, spousal IRAs, risk tolerance, working with a financial advisor, and why women—especially working mothers and stay-at-home parents—need to think differently about retirement and life insurance. This episode is ideal for clinicians, professionals, and families who want to understand retirement planning without jargon and learn how small, consistent behavioral changes can lead to long-term financial security.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!    

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

👤Guest Expert:

Tommy Smith ChFC, CLU, CLTC is a Wealth Management advisor with Northwestern Mutual. For over 21 years he has helped individuals and their families create financial plans that protect their future and grow their wealth.

Contact Tommy to get personalized guidance and start planning your financial future. 

Follow on LinkedIn

E-mail: [email protected]

In this episode of Everyday ABA, Brittanny, Paola, and Leslie move past vague resolutions and break down how Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can help you set 2026 goals that actually stick. From light-hearted stories about the week to deeper conversations about self-belief, accountability, and behavior change, this episode blends real life with behavioral science in a relatable, practical way.

Rather than relying on motivation alone, the hosts explore how behavioral systems, reinforcement, and self-management strategies turn intentions into action. They discuss why goals must be observable, measurable, and aligned with personal values, and how breaking down big goals into manageable steps increases follow-through, regardless of what your personal goals are.

If you’re tired of New Year’s resolutions that fade by February, this episode offers a behaviorally sound, realistic approach to goal setting that you can use all year long.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!

Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using discount code PAOLA

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Explain why control is a critical component of effective behavior change.
• Explain the role of reinforcement versus punishment in maintaining long-term behavior change for both adults and children.
• Analyze the role of values as motivating operations, and explain how values-aligned goals increase persistence and follow-through.
• Recognize the importance of practice and rehearsal in developing and maintaining fluent professional and life skills, even at advanced levels of expertise.

References:

Daniels, A. C., & Bailey, J. S. (2014). Performance management: Changing behavior that drives organizational effectiveness (5th ed.). Aubrey Daniels International.

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

Nevin, J. A., & Grace, R. C. (2000). Behavioral momentum and the law of effect. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23, 73–130.

In this episode of EveryDay ABA, Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny continue their conversation on The 5-Second Rule and break down how this popular productivity tool can be understood through an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) lens.

This episode moves beyond theory and into real-life application, exploring how the 5-4-3-2-1 countdown can help with task initiation, emotional regulation, communication, parenting, fitness, and everyday decision-making. From getting out of bed and going to the gym to managing reactive behavior with partners and toddlers, the hosts share honest stories, practical examples, and behavioral insights you can start using immediately. 

If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination, avoidance, emotional reactivity, or “knowing what to do but not doing it,” this episode shows how small antecedent strategies can lead to meaningful behavior change.

Start with Part 1 to hear the background, origin, and foundational concepts before jumping into this episode.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review! 

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3

📖 Get your CEU certificate HERE!      

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

1. Describe how habit formation can be shaped through small approximations and consistent use of the Five Second Rule to build new, adaptive behavioral patterns.
2. Apply ABA strategies to real-life challenges (e.g., difficult conversations, morning routines, task initiation, mental load management) using the Five Second Rule as a behavior change tool.
3. Evaluate how modifying antecedent conditions and response effort supports long-term behavior change, including generalization of the Five Second Rule across settings (home, work, relationships).

References: 

• Oussedik, E., Foy, C. G., Masicampo, E. J., Kammrath, L. K., Anderson, R. E., & Feldman, S. R. (2017). Accountability: A missing construct in models of adherence behavior and in clinical practice. Patient preference and adherence, 11, 1285-1294. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
• Robbins, M. (2017). The 5 second rule: Transform your life, work, and confidence with everyday courage. Savio Republic.

This week, Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny dive into Mel Robbins’ Five Second Rule and break down why it works through the lens of Applied Behavior Analysis. If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination, low motivation, decision fatigue, or the mental load of everyday life, this episode gives you actionable strategies you can start using today.

The hosts show how a simple countdown can interrupt hesitation, stop avoidance behaviors, and help you follow through on what matters most. They connect the 5-Second Rule to key ABA concepts like antecedent interventions, behavioral momentum, habit formation, self-management, and shaping small, achievable steps over time.

☕ Support your favorite podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA 

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten   

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]  

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

1. Identify how the 5-Second Rule functions as an antecedent intervention & describe its role in interrupting hesitation, avoidance, and rumination.
2. Explain the behavioral principles involved in the 5-Second Rule, including behavioral momentum, self-management, response initiation, and the role of private events.
3. Analyze how procrastination and avoidance behaviors are maintained by reinforcement and how the 5-Second Rule disrupts these contingencies.
   

References: 

• Monti, C., & Nevin, J. A. (1988). Operant schedule transformations and human behavioral momentum. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 49(3), 285–299.
• Nevin, J. A., & Grace, R. C. (2000). Behavioral momentum and the law of effect. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 23(1), 73–130.
• Robbins, M. (2017). The 5 second rule: Transform your life, work, and confidence with everyday courage. Savio Republic.
• Schieltz, K. M., Wacker, D. P., Ringdahl, J. E., & Berg, W. K. (2017). Basing assessment and treatment of problem behavior on behavioral momentum theory: Analyses of behavioral persistence. Behavioural Processes, 141, 75–84.
• Wilder,D.A., Ertel,H.M., & Cymbal, D.J. (2020). A review of recent research on the manipulation of response effort in applied behavior analysis. Behavior Modification, 45(1), 101-118.

In this episode of Everyday ABA, hosts Paola, Leslie, and Brittanny discuss Lean Six Sigma, particularly the White Belt, and its application in various fields. They delve into the DMAIC framework, emphasizing its relevance in problem-solving and process improvement. The hosts share practical examples and discuss the role of third parties in identifying inefficiencies. The episode concludes with an interactive game that encourages listeners to apply the DMAIC framework to real-life scenarios. In this conversation, the participants explore the dynamics of household chores, particularly laundry, and how to optimize these tasks using Lean Six Sigma principles. The conversation also delves into the application of Lean Six Sigma in various career paths and everyday life, emphasizing the need for clear processes and problem-solving techniques. The participants share personal anecdotes and insights, making the discussion relatable and practical for listeners.

☕ Support your favorite ABA podcast hosts by showing them love at buymeacoffee.com/everydayaba

⭐ Help EveryDay ABA reach more people by following the show + , turning on automatic downloads, and leaving a 5-star review!

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @EverydayABA.3 for daily ABA insights and behind-the-scenes podcast updates.

📖 Get your CEU certificate here!

👟  Get a 10% Discount at Tiny Explorings Shoes using code PAOLA

🎁 Earn Rewards every time you shop by using Shopkick 

🤑 Earn $50 cash back by using Rakuten

📊   Earn 125,000 bonus points by opening a new Sapphire Reserve® account or 75,000 bonus points for opening a new Sapphire Preferred® account using EveryDayABA's code at Chase

🎙️ This podcast is hosted on Podbean get one FREE month of podcast hosting using code ‘EveryDayABA’ 

The LSS White Belt Course that Brittanny took

📢 To advertise on this podcast please e-mail: [email protected]

After listening to the episode, participants will be able to:

• Define and describe the DMAIC framework (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) and explain how it parallels functional behavior assessment (FBA) and treatment planning in ABA.
• Identify at least three examples of how Lean Six Sigma is applied to improve system efficiency.
• Develop a process improvement plan by mapping out steps to streamline a referral, intake, or staff training process, ensuring alignment with both Lean Six Sigma and ABA best practices.
• Evaluate a case example and outline how the DMAIC process could lead to measurable and sustainable improvement.