What brings you joy?

It’s okay if you don’t immediately have an answer, but I’m going to challenge you to bring more joy into your life!

During today’s meal - I speak with a behavior analyst about what brings her joy, her journey with ABA (the positives and challenges), mentoring younger generations, and community service.

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About Salma Jaramillo, MA, BCBA, LBA

Salma received her Master’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education & Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of West Florida. Before becoming a behavior analyst, Salma was a Registered Behavior Technician® for 7 years and provided direct therapy to various children with different needs and strengths.

Ever since becoming an RBT®, Salma knew she wanted to one day have her own ethical agency to continue to help children and their families. The agency she is building from the ground up is It Takes A Village ABA and the organization's message is that together we can achieve more.

Salma is stepping into her 4th year as a BCBA® and is still learning and hanging in there! Salma was raised by two immigrant parents that came to the states when she was only 3 years old and is a strong believer in resilience, hard work, and dedication to doing what you love. In her free time she creates art such as digital art and drawings, and is also skipping the midlife crisis and going straight into bird feeders, plants, and cats.

Salma also loves to volunteer and has participated in organizations that help abused & unhoused women and their children get back on their feet as well as mentoring teens going into high school with the goal to help them graduate with their high school diploma.

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Follow Sal!

Instagram: ⁠@bcba_insight

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you ever been in a contentious IEP meeting?

Do you support families with their educational advocacy?

During today’s meal - I speak with a behavior analyst, IEP advocate, and mom of 3 about how she got into behavior analysis, the biggest barrier when helping families advocate at IEPs, and her favorite food experience while traveling.

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About Annie McLaughlin, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Dr. Annie McLaughlin is a board certified behavior analyst and IEP advocate who runs a thriving consulting practice supporting families as they navigate the special education process and leads a small but mighty team dedicated to making the IEP process clearer and more collaborative.

Dr. Annie is the creator of Pivot into IEP Advocacy®, a program that helps behavior analysts step confidently into advocacy work, whether as a new path or an addition to their current services.

She’s a mom of three, a former special education teacher, and passionate about helping special education and behavior analysis better each other.

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Follow Annie!

Instagram: @IEPadvocateAnnie

Websites: iepadvocacytraining.com

specialedguidance.com

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Do you find the BACB ethics process a little mysterious?

Have you ever wondered how behavior analysts move forward after a violation?

During today’s meal - I speak with a behavior analyst, CEO, and all around amazing individual about her advice if you want to pursue a PhD, being “unprofessional”, the BACB ethics department, and the rivalry between Red Vines and Twizzlers.

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*The Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA) has not reviewed or approved the content of this podcast. The APBA does not endorse or sponsor this podcast and is not otherwise affiliated with this podcast.

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About Tyra Sellers, JD, PhD, BCBA-D

Tyra Sellers is the CEO of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts and owner of TP Sellers, LLC. She earned a B.A. in Philosophy and M.A. in Special Education from San Francisco State University, a J.D. from the University of San Francisco, a Ph.D. from Utah State University, and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®.

Her professional and research interests focus on professional ethics, training and supervision, assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, and variability. Dr. Sellers has over 30 years of clinical experience working with individuals with disabilities in a wide variety of settings.

She has held positions as an Assistant Professor at Utah State University and as the Director of Ethics at the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. She has published several journal articles, four co-authored book chapters, co-authored books focused on supervision and mentorship and applied ethics for behavior analysis, and a workbook pair for consulting and new supervisors.

She's been a vegetarian for over 40 years, she loves flowers, she thinks Twizzlers should be uninvented, and she hopes you know how amazing you are!

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Follow Tyra!

Instagram: @sellerstyra

LinkedIn: Tyra Sellers

Facebook: Tyra Sellers

Resource: Dr. Ronnie Detrich

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Reserve your spot at Ethics CEU Brunch, Sunday 6/29!

"Blurred Boundaries: Navigating Multiple Relationships in ABA”

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When you hate something, do you push it away or try to learn more about it?

Have you ever been called difficult because you disagree or question feedback?

During today’s meal– I speak with a behavior analyst about his begrudging start to ABA, hate-reading authors he disagrees with, not chasing likes on social media, and you also get to hear us get really mad about substituting parsley for cilantro in pico de gallo.

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About Matios Berhe, M.S., BCBA

Raised in Chula Vista, California. Worked in marketing, first exposure to behavior science. Started working with ABA in group home settings (no formal training, just strategies). Worked in functional skills classrooms at charter schools under direction of a BCBA and introduced to the Cooper book. Transitioned to in-home. Currently working in home, clinic and telehealth settings.

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Follow Matios!

Instagram: @MatiosTV

Threads: @MatiosTV

X: @MatiosTV

LinkedIn: Matios Berhe

Website: matiosberhe.com

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How often do you slow down?

What would it be like to pause and connect before interacting?

During today’s meal- I speak with a phenomenal woman about career choices, getting into ABA, parenting neurodivergent children, learning and healing from generational trauma, and ADHD projects like making chili oil from scratch.

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About Jenny Lai, BCBA

Hi, I'm Jenny Lai. I'm a mom to 2 autistic children and also a BCBA. I've been in the field for 7 years. I'm also the co-host of a podcast called Not a Tiger Mom with my friend Bettina who is an SLP, where we talk about parenting, autism, and breaking old-school parenting habits in Asian families. I care a lot about helping families feel supported and seen. I currently work once a week for an ABA company and I own a private practice.

When I am not doing ABA things, I am spending time with my family and friends, working out, and getting into cooking (juicing, protein bars, chili oil).

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Follow Jenny!

Instagram: ⁠@msjennybx

@jennysunbehaviorconsultant

@notatigermompodcast

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

How often do you consider what your clients have taught you?

Do you think about the therapeutic relationships you build?

During today’s meal - I speak with a behavior analyst and business owner about working with the adult population, trusting your gut, and her favorite vegan seafood dish she found while traveling.

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About Aly Rogers, BCBA

Aly is a neurodivergent Clinical Behavior Analyst and the founder of Behavior Explained, where she blends behavior analysis with therapeutic approaches like ACT and ERP to help zillennial clients navigate life with clarity and confidence.

Known for her dark humor and no-BS approach, Aly specializes in working with ADHD, OCD, anxiety, and PTSD, creating a space where support feels both effective and relatable. She’s also passionate about fostering community-driven solutions—like a new speed dating initiative for neurodivergent folks.

When she’s not working, you’ll probably find her at a live show or festival embracing her love for all things music.

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Follow Aly!

Instagram: @behaviorexplained & @alythinks

Website: behaviorexplained.com

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Did you grapple with imposter syndrome when you first started out?

How often were you afraid to ask for help?

During today’s meal - I speak with a behavior analyst, business owner, and fellow PLC member about getting started in the field, the driving force behind starting a company, and the unique challenges for her Spanish-speaking families.

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About Yuri Rivera, M.A, BCBA, LBA-TX

I was born in El Salvador, and moved to the U.S. when I was 15 years old. After high school, I attended a community college and transferred to a university near home.

My dream was to become an occupational therapist, but I did not get into grad school. I started working in a TBI clinic, gained more experience in OT and PT, then left the job to work at Brain Balance. My coworkers there talked to me about ABA. Then I got a job as a behavior technician at the end of 2017, and I have been in the field since then.

I am the oldest of 4 siblings, I like to travel. I am a picky eater, but I am working on expanding my repertoire.

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Follow Yuri!

Instagram: @yuririvera & @compassionate_behavior_insight
Professional Learning Committee (where we met)

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you ever felt out of place like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole?

What if I told you that you have the power to create spaces where you and others could belong?

During today’s meal - I speak with a queer, neurodivergent entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in behavior analysis. We discuss what it means to be a leader, imbedding self care throughout the day, creating your own accommodations, and her favorite dishes from around the world.

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About Amanda “Mandy” Ralston, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA, IBA

Founder & CEO | Serial Entrepreneur | Neurodiversity & DEI Advocate | Visionary Speaker | Creative Problem-Solver

Amanda Ralston is a queer, neurodivergent serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in behavior analysis. Certified as a behavior analyst since 2002, Mandy has founded and scaled two clinics that delivered life-changing applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to hundreds of families, schools, and individuals with autism and other developmental or intellectual disabilities. Her successful exit in 2019 to the fourth-largest ABA provider in the U.S. marked a significant milestone in her career.

Mandy is recognized internationally as a thought leader in behavior analysis, ethics, outcomes, and practice. She has served as a Subject Matter Expert on global panels, sharing her expertise to shape the future of the field. As a dynamic and sought-after speaker, she addresses audiences worldwide on topics including autism spectrum issues and her acclaimed talk, “#ItsNotBinary: Avoiding Binary Thinking in Work, Life, and Social Media.”

Her accolades include being a two-time nominee for Small Businessperson of the Year (2015, 2017) and the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Autism Innovation Award at the Autism Investor Summit.

Mandy’s latest venture, NonBinary Solutions, pioneers cutting-edge data analytics and technology, developing Clinical Decision Support Systems to empower ABA providers and stakeholders within the neurodiversity ecosystem.

Mandy is deeply committed to reshaping how the world perceives autism and advancing the field of behavior analysis. Her work centers on fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, driven by the belief that diverse perspectives are essential to meaningful change.

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Follow Mandy!

Instagram: @amemeda_ralston & @nonbinary_solutions

Facebook: Amanda Mandy Ralston

LinkedIn: Amanda Ralston, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA - NonBinary Solutions

Websites: nonbinarysolutions.com & amandaralston.com

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Review our show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Apple Podcasts

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read excerpts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the episode on my website

Behavior Bites is hosted by Rosie Jeffers, MAT, BCBA, LABA

Chat with me on Instagram!— ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rosie.eats.bx⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠