In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Noah Goldstein, Founder & CEO of House of Hearts ABA. Noah shares how hands-on experience in the special needs community inspired him to launch a fast-growing ABA organization built on compassion, urgency, and high-touch care.

They discuss what it means to create a white-glove family experience, why speed and communication matter in building trust, and how intentional hiring and culture can drive long-term growth. Noah also breaks down the referral partnerships that fueled early momentum and the recruitment strategies helping attract top talent today.

This is a practical conversation for ABA leaders focused on scaling with quality, heart, and operational discipline. 

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Dominique Shorter-Taylor, BCBA, founder of Shorter-Taylor Behavior Consulting, speaker, mentor, and creator known for her unique perspective as both a clinician and autism mom.

Dominique shares how that lived experience shaped the way she serves families, supervises clinicians, and approaches social validity in ABA. She also dives into why the field must break out of its bubble, improve representation, and meet communities where they are through outreach, education, and social media.

This conversation is packed with practical insight on leadership, trust-building, diversity, and growing your impact by leading with value first. 

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Ruel Dixon joins host Timothy A. Zercher to share his journey from case management to becoming a BCBA and business owner.

Ruel discusses the key differences between working in public school systems and private practice, the importance of ethical leadership, and what inspired him to launch his own company. He also breaks down how reputation, community trust, and word-of-mouth referrals continue to drive growth in behavioral health.

This conversation is packed with insight for BCBAs, clinic owners, and behavioral health leaders looking to grow the right way.

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Kelly Ferris, Owner and Clinical Services Supervisor at Organization for Research and Learning (O.R.L.). With nearly two decades of leadership experience, Kelly shares valuable insights on autism intervention, communication strategies, clinical operations, and building high-quality behavioral health services that create lasting impact.

They discuss what it takes to lead with both compassion and excellence, how organizations can scale without losing quality, and why innovation in behavioral health starts with strong systems and stronger people.

If you’re a provider, operator, or leader in ABA or behavioral health, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways.

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Jacqueline Lerma, a school psychologist, behavior specialist, and entrepreneur dedicated to helping children and families thrive.

Jacqueline shares how she built a continuum of care that bridges therapy, education, advocacy, and early intervention services for children with autism and developmental needs. She also discusses the growing need for family support, navigating special education systems, and what true advocacy looks like in today’s behavioral health landscape.

This conversation is packed with practical insights for providers, educators, and leaders looking to create real impact for the families they serve.

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t the market, your competition, or your circumstances… but your own mind?

On this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Dr. Ashley Smith to explore how high performers can break through fear, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs. Dr. Ashley shares how her personal journey with progressive vision loss shaped her mindset, leadership approach, and mission to help others unlock psychological strength.

They discuss anxiety as a signal of growth, why our brains focus on the negative, how leaders can challenge internal narratives, and why discomfort is often the price of real progress.

If you want to think bigger, lead better, and stop letting fear call the shots, this episode is for you.

What does great care actually look like in behavioral health today?

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Rachel Evans, CEO of Old Town ABA, to break down what it really takes to build a high-quality, sustainable organization in the ABA space.

Rachel shares how her personal connection to autism shaped her path into the field - and how that perspective influences the way she leads, hires, and delivers care today.

They dive into:

•  What separates good care from great care in modern ABA organizations 
•  Why hiring and developing the right people is the foundation of everything 
•  The real challenges of scaling while keeping clients, clinicians, and teams aligned 
•  Why organic, relationship-driven marketing is still winning in a world of automation 

Rachel’s approach is simple but powerful: prioritize people, lead by example, and build real relationships at every level of the business.

If you're building, leading, or scaling a behavioral health organization, this episode is a must-listen.

What does it really take to create impact in behavioral health beyond just growth?

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Zeeshan Ali, Deputy Executive Director at Apna Ghar, Inc., to unpack how behavioral analysis principles can shape not just individuals, but entire organizations and communities.

Zeeshan shares how his early experiences in immigrant communities led him into behavioral health, and how he now applies systems thinking to leadership, program design, and nonprofit growth. The conversation dives into balancing mission with scale, building trust in underserved communities, and why storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in violence prevention.

If you are leading a behavioral health organization or trying to grow with purpose, this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective on what actually works.

What does it really take to scale in behavioral health… without losing what makes you effective in the first place?

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Nicholas Stavros, CEO of Community Medical Services, to break down what sustainable growth actually looks like in the substance use treatment space.

Nick shares how CMS grew from just 6 clinics to over 80 locations across the U.S. - not by chasing growth, but by obsessing over quality, infrastructure, and patient outcomes first.

They dive into:

•  Why focusing inward can unlock external growth 
•  The balance between scaling and maintaining care quality 
•  How stigma continues to impact addiction treatment 
•  Why science — not ideology — should guide treatment decisions 
•  The real reason their marketing strategy avoids traditional advertising 
•  How community trust drives patient acquisition more than paid ads 

This is a candid, practical conversation for leaders navigating growth, operations, and impact in behavioral health.

Short. Tactical. No fluff.

What actually drives real change in behavioral health?

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Clint Hardy, Clinical Therapist and Owner of Hardy Behavioral Health, to unpack what truly helps clients move forward.

Clint shares how his personal journey into behavioral health shaped his career, and why lasting change is less about external pressure and more about intrinsic motivation. He breaks down the core elements required for transformation including motivation, knowledge, resources, and overcoming resistance.

The conversation also dives into working with trauma and suicidality, the importance of meeting clients where they are, and why building hope early in treatment is critical. On the business side, Clint shares how specialization and clarity in positioning have been his most effective “marketing strategy” and what he’s watching closely as AI and investor-backed therapy groups reshape the industry.

This is a practical, grounded conversation for clinicians, operators, and leaders who want to better understand both the human and business side of behavioral health.