We’re joined by Jordan Black, BCBA, co-host of Moms on Their Best Behavior, and co-owner of Best Behavior Solutions, for a meaningful conversation about making ABA strategies more accessible, practical, and relevant beyond the therapy room. Jordan shares her path into the field, including her background in special education and how becoming a parent shaped the way she approaches behavior support.

We talk about why ABA should not feel exclusive to autism services and how understanding the function of behavior, teaching replacement behaviors, and using reinforcement effectively can support all children across home, school, and community settings. Jordan also highlights the importance of helping parents understand why behaviors occur, rather than relying solely on consequence-based approaches.

Our conversation expands into schools and daycares, where staff often lack formal behavioral training but manage complex environments every day. We wrap up by discussing parent buy-in, collaboration, and Jordan’s advice for newly certified BCBAs who are still finding their footing in the field.

What’s Inside:

• Making ABA strategies practical for parents and everyday life
• Understanding behavior as communication and teaching replacement skills
• Supporting schools and educators with behavioral tools
• Advice for newly certified BCBAs

Mentioned in This Episode:
Moms on Their Best Behavior Podcast
Best Behavior Solutions
@momsontheirbestbehavior on Instagram
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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In this episode, we’re diving into one of our favorite and most meaningful topics in ABA: relationship-based motivation. We talk about why reinforcement doesn’t have to look like tokens, toys, or snacks and how you can become the most powerful reinforcer in the room. When learners enjoy being with us, motivation shifts from doing work for rewards to genuinely wanting to engage, connect, and participate.

We share real-life examples from our own clinical experiences, including moments when we realized we weren’t yet reinforcing enough and what changed when we leaned into play, connection, and authenticity. We also unpack common misconceptions around work versus play, breaks, and pairing, and explain why separating social interaction from reinforcement can unintentionally send the wrong message.

This conversation applies not only to young learners but also to older students, parents, teachers, supervisees, and even supervisors. Strong relationships increase the value of everything else we do in ABA. When connection comes first, behavior change is more sustainable, more meaningful, and honestly, more enjoyable for everyone involved.

What’s Inside:

• Why relationship-based reinforcement is more powerful than external rewards
• How to become a preferred person, not just the person delivering demands
• Rethinking breaks, play, and motivation in everyday sessions
• Why authentic connection matters across learners, families, and supervisees

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 221: ESDM in Action: Embedding Goals in Daily Routines and Play
The Science Behind ESDM: Why Relationship Matters as Much as Reinforcement
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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In this episode, we sat down with Mellanie Page, BCBA, MBA, and founder of The ABA Collective, to dive into the world of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) and how it can transform the way we experience our work. We talked about why so many BCBAs feel burnt out or stuck in leadership and supervisory roles and how OBM offers practical, behavior-analytic solutions that go far beyond surface-level self-care.

Mellanie shared how OBM can help us pinpoint high-impact problems, improve workplace culture, and increase job satisfaction—whether we’re clinicians, supervisors, or business owners. We explored why burnout isn’t just an individual issue, how small behavior changes can create meaningful ripple effects across teams, and why reinforcing the process matters just as much as reinforcing outcomes.

This conversation is full of practical insights, real-world examples, and a refreshing reminder that we can apply the science we already know to organizations, leadership, and even ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered how to use ABA to improve your work life, this episode is for you.

What’s Inside:

• What OBM is and why it matters for BCBAs
• Using behavior analysis to address burnout and job satisfaction
• Applying OBM to leadership, supervision, and workplace culture
• Practical examples of small changes with big organizational impact

Mentioned in This Episode:

The ABA Collective
The OBM Practitioner Program
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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One of the most common concerns we hear from parents, teachers, and even ABA professionals is, “Isn’t that just bribery?” In this episode, we dig into the long-standing confusion between bribery and reinforcement and explain why the difference truly matters. We walk through real-life examples, from grocery store meltdowns to classroom expectations, to show how timing, intent, and planning change everything.

We unpack why reinforcement is not about quick fixes or paying for behavior but about intentionally teaching skills, building motivation, and supporting long-term success. We also discuss how poorly planned reinforcement can unintentionally strengthen the very behaviors we are trying to reduce and why coercive “reminders” can feel just as uncomfortable as outright threats.

Along the way, we share practical strategies for using reinforcement ethically and compassionately, including how to individualize it, avoid power struggles, and reframe “if then” language into more supportive “when then” statements. If you have ever worried that reinforcement feels wrong or been told it is, this episode will help you feel confident, grounded, and aligned with both the science and your values.

What’s Inside:

• The real difference between bribery and reinforcement
• Why timing and intent matter more than the reward itself
• How reinforcement can accidentally backfire if misused
• Ethical, compassionate ways to use reinforcement effectively

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 127: Classroom Reinforcement
What is ACT in ABA? A Beginner’s Guide to Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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In this episode, we’re diving deep into something that sits at the heart of everything we do in ABA: reinforcement. Not just reinforcement that works today, but reinforcement that is sustainable, meaningful, and built to last. Too often, we see systems burn out learners and staff alike because they are too rigid, too sparse, or misunderstood altogether.

We walk through why reinforcement systems get such a bad rap, common mistakes we see in practice, and why “it doesn’t work” usually means the system was not set up to truly function as reinforcement. From dense, continuous schedules for new or challenging skills to gradually fading toward intermittent, natural, and relationship-based reinforcement, we break down how motivation should evolve alongside the learner.

We also talk about the power of pairing, rotating reinforcers, avoiding satiation, and ensuring reinforcement is not only available when behavior goes wrong. Ultimately, we explore how to move toward self-management and internal motivation without throwing reinforcement out altogether. If you are looking to build systems that support independence, persistence, and long-term success without burnout, this conversation is for you.

What's Inside:

• Why reinforcement systems often fail and how to fix them
• Moving from continuous to intermittent reinforcement effectively
• Common token system mistakes that drain motivation
• How to fade reinforcement while building independence and self-management

Mentioned in This Episode:
Reinforcer Checklist
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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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
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
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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:
HowToABA.com/join
How to ABA on YouTube
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram