As we wrap up the year, we wanted to pause and reflect on what 2025 has looked like for us personally and professionally. From family milestones and personal growth to travel, learning, and finding better balance, we start by sharing some of the moments that shaped our year behind the scenes.

We then zoom out and reflect on everything that happened at How to ABA. We talk about new collaborations, incredible guests who joined us on the podcast, conferences we attended and sponsored, and the growth of our community. Hitting over 150,000 podcast downloads this year truly blew our minds, and we cannot thank you enough for being here and listening.

We also review updates to our resources, staff training bundles, CEU offerings, and free community events, along with how your feedback continues to guide what we create. We wrap up by sharing our goals for 2026 and wisdom from past podcast guests for new and seasoned BCBAs alike.

What’s Inside:

• Personal highlights from our year
• Podcast milestones and community growth
• What’s coming next for How to ABA

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 184: The Role of Trauma and Behavior in ABA with Dr. Camille Kolu
Episode 186: How to Create a Sensitive Sleep Program with Emily Varon
Episode 195: Empowering Educators with Amanda Wilson
Episode 198: Parenting, ABA, & Emotional Regulation with Leanne Page
Episode 212: The Multicultural Classroom with Lorena and Roberto Germán
Episode 218: Creating Meaningful Outcomes in ABA with Dr. Anika Hoybjerg
Episode 229: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Real-World Practice with Dr. Adam Ventura
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When you start your first BCBA caseload, it is easy to wonder what should actually be in your toolkit. We have both been there, and over the years we have learned which materials truly make sessions smoother, teaching more engaging, and data collection manageable. In this conversation, we walk through the essentials we rely on every day, from assessments to data tools to reinforcers to those simple visual supports that can make all the difference.

We share why beginner assessments like the ABLLS-R, VB-MAPP, and our own How to ABA Initial Assessment help you build a solid foundation. We also talk about keeping data collection simple so you can stay present with your learner. Think tally counters, notebooks, clipboards, and color-coded sticky notes. Then we get into our favorite reinforcers and flashcard sets from Different Roads to Learning, plus the visuals, timers, and token boards that support motivation and independence.

What’s Inside:

• Assessments that give you a clear baseline
• Simple data tools that keep you present with your learner
• Reinforcers and flashcards we use in real sessions
• Visual supports that make expectations predictable

Mentioned in This Episode:
Build Your Own BCBA Starter Kit at Different Roads to Learning
Episode 065: How to Use Reinforcement Properly
Episode 106: ABA Assessments
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Burnout is not only exhaustion. It is that sinking feeling of being out of alignment with what matters most. In this episode, we open up about the real challenges BCBAs and therapists face: overwhelming caseloads, lack of follow-through, and situations we cannot control. Instead of pushing through the pressure, we explore how ACT helps us acknowledge our feelings, name what is really happening, and reconnect with our values.

We talk about psychological flexibility, common thought traps, and why fixing burnout is not the goal. The goal is learning to tolerate discomfort while taking committed, values-driven action. You will hear how we use the ACT Values Matrix to shift from frustration to clarity and how compassion for ourselves and others can change the way we show up at work.

What’s Inside:

• What burnout really looks like for BCBAs and therapists
• How ACT helps us accept what we cannot control
• Using values-based action to reduce overwhelm
• Practical strategies for building psychological flexibility

Mentioned in This Episode:
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Starting your career as a BCBA can be exciting, but it’s easy to stumble if you don’t know the common pitfalls. In this conversation, we unpack the biggest mistakes new BCBAs make and how to avoid them so you can build confidence, create meaningful programs, and set yourself and your clients up for success.

We talk about why skipping a thorough assessment can derail your programming, how to choose the right assessment tool for each learner, and why focusing on compassion over compliance makes all the difference. You’ll also hear why building relationships with families and caregivers is just as important as data collection and how slowing down to connect can make your sessions more effective.

If you’re new to the field or mentoring someone who is, this episode is packed with real-world advice to help you avoid common traps and focus on what truly matters—creating lasting impact through thoughtful, compassionate practice.

What’s Inside:

• The most common BCBA mistakes (and how to prevent them)
• How to choose assessments that truly fit your learner’s needs
• Why compassion and relationship-building are key to success

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 219: Choosing the Right Assessment: Practical Tips for BCBAs
Flexible Application of ACT in Parent Training, Staff Supervision, and Client Support
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Are behaviorism and ACT really two different worlds, or have we been separating concepts that naturally belong together? In this episode, we dig into how Acceptance and Commitment Training actually grew out of behaviorism, and why understanding that relationship can make our work more compassionate, flexible, and effective.

We talk about what compassion looks like in ABA beyond troubleshooting and problem-solving. Sometimes the most powerful intervention is simply acknowledging a child’s frustration, naming the feeling, and sitting with it for a moment before moving into action. We share how ACT brings psychological flexibility, mindfulness, and values-based action into our sessions—without losing the observable, measurable, data-driven foundation we rely on as behavior analysts.

You’ll hear practical examples with learners, families, and supervisees, plus how values work can guide everything from social skills goals to professional resilience. If you’ve been looking for a way to honor both science and humanity in your practice, this conversation bridges that gap beautifully.

What’s Inside:

• How ACT fits within behaviorism and strengthens ABA practice
• Using empathy and emotional validation to build psychological flexibility
• Applying values-based action with clients, staff, and yourself

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 123: How to Teach Social Skills Using ACT
Acceptance and Commitment Training Within the Scope of Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis
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When it comes to BCBA supervision, are we just checking boxes or shaping confident, ethical clinicians? In this episode, we unpack how to move beyond paperwork to create meaningful, individualized supervision that actually prepares our trainees for real-world practice.

We talk about the parallels between supervision and parenting—knowing when to let go, when to guide, and how to build independence with purpose. You’ll hear why the task list is an essential foundation but not the whole picture and how to embed soft skills like collaboration, communication, and clinical judgment into every supervision plan.

We also share strategies for feedback that sticks, from in-the-moment coaching to structured reflection sessions, and ways to make data-driven decisions about your supervisee’s growth. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn the supervision process into something more human, this episode is for you.

What’s Inside:

• Turning task list items into real-life competence
• Strategies for feedback, reflection, and growth
• Balancing structure with individualized supervision

Mentioned in This Episode:
Supervision Resource Bundle
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As BCBAs, we all know how challenging it can be to keep up with the latest research while managing the demands of daily practice. In this conversation with Dr. Adam Ventura, CEO of Intraverbal AI, we explore how technology can make evidence-based care more accessible for behavior analysts everywhere.

We talk about “the big binder problem,” how AI can help replace piles of research papers with instant, research-backed answers, and what it really means to practice augmented intelligence—not artificial intelligence. Adam shares how Intraverbal AI is designed to enhance, not replace, human judgment by supporting BCBAs in focusing more on client care and less on paperwork.

If you’ve ever wished for more time to focus on what matters most—your learners and your team—this episode will inspire you to see how technology can actually make your job more human. You can also join us on our upcoming CEU, AI in Supervision: Time-Saving Tools for Busy BCBAs, led by Dr. Adam Ventura himself.

What’s Inside:

• How Intraverbal AI bridges the gap between research and practice
• The difference between artificial and augmented intelligence
• Ways technology can support, not replace, clinical judgment

Mentioned in This Episode:

AI in Supervision: Time-Saving Tools for Busy BCBAs
Intraverbal AI
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Great supervision is the foundation of great ABA, but it often feels like one more thing on an already full plate. In this episode, we talk about why effective, compassionate supervision matters and how our Supervision Bundle can make it easier to manage.

We share why mentorship is so important for shaping confident, ethical BCBAs and how poor supervision can ripple through client outcomes. Good supervision isn’t just checking boxes—it’s balancing science and compassion, setting clear expectations, and helping supervisees practice safely while learning to think critically.

We know firsthand how tough it is to juggle clients, admin work, and training. That’s why we built tools to make supervision structured, efficient, and meaningful. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin, this conversation will help you reclaim your time while improving the quality of your mentorship.

What’s Inside:

• Why strong supervision matters
• How to blend compassion with accountability
• Tools to simplify and strengthen your supervision process

Mentioned in This Episode:
AI in Supervision: Time-Saving Tools for Busy BCBAs
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We’ve all written those “perfect” behavior plans that look great on paper but somehow never make it off the clipboard. In this conversation, we dig into the real reason plans succeed or fail: buy-in. Because even the most data-driven plan doesn’t matter if no one actually follows it.

We share practical strategies for turning technical documents into living, breathing plans that teachers, parents, and teams want to use. From simplifying language and creating one-page cheat sheets to setting just two or three actionable goals at a time, we talk about how usability beats perfection every time.

We also explore what collaboration really looks like in practice—inviting staff, caregivers, and even learners into the planning process so it becomes “our plan,” not just “the BCBA’s plan.” Plus, we talk about how to build trust through modeling, ongoing support, and celebrating early wins, because a plan that feels supported is a plan that lasts.

If you’ve ever struggled to bridge the gap between your beautifully written plan and the messy realities of implementation, this episode will help you rethink success, reframe your role, and create plans that truly get used.

Join us for our next CEU event, “AI in Supervision: Time-Saving Tools for Busy BCBAs,” on Thursday, November 20th at 12pm ET. Sign up below to save your seat!

What’s Inside:

• Why collaboration beats perfection in behavior planning
• How to make plans user-friendly and jargon-free
• Strategies for modeling, feedback, and ongoing support
• Tips for celebrating small wins and maintaining buy-in

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 133: The BST Model - Behavioral Skills Training
AI in Supervision: Time-Saving Tools for Busy BCBAs
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What happens when ABA meets developmental science? The Early Start Denver Model, or ESDM, reminds us that evidence-based practice can also be compassionate and deeply connected. In this conversation, we talk about how ESDM blends the science of ABA with developmental and play-based teaching for our youngest learners.

We explore what makes ESDM unique: its focus on joint attention, social reciprocity, and developmental milestones for toddlers and preschoolers. It is not separate from ABA; it is ABA applied through a natural, relationship-centered lens. For those early learners who are not yet ready for the ABLLS or VB-MAPP, ESDM fills that gap beautifully.

We also share how tuning in to a child’s frequency and seeing and connecting with them first creates a foundation for real learning. When we slow down, follow their lead, and build connection, everything else becomes easier.

Whether you are a BCBA, therapist, or parent, this episode will help you see how science and heart can work together to support meaningful growth.

What’s Inside:

• How ESDM complements ABA
• Developmental milestones as teaching guides
• Why connection comes before instruction

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 208: The Power of Sensory Social Routines
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