Welcome back to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, brought to you by 3 Pie Squared.

In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Joseph Bolden, Head of Recruiting at 3 Pie Squared, to take a deep dive into one of the biggest challenges facing ABA business owners: finding, hiring, and retaining the right people.

The wrong hire can create operational problems, impact your existing team, increase turnover, and ultimately affect the families you serve. On the other hand, taking the time to identify the right person and build a strong hiring process can create a healthier culture and give owners more room to grow.

Stephen, April, and Joseph discuss everything from writing better job descriptions and using platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn to understanding what candidates want from their next opportunity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why hiring for an ABA company requires more than simply checking someone's credentials

• How Joseph's background in ABA operations shaped his approach to recruiting

• Why the needs of a startup can be very different from those of an established ABA practice

• The importance of understanding company culture before hiring

• Why a strong clinical background doesn't necessarily mean someone is ready to lead a team

Have a question for Stephen and April?

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Have a question, a story to share, or a recruiting nightmare you'd like Stephen and April to discuss on the podcast? Give them a call.

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24?utm_source=chatgpt.com

ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Schedule a Consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment?utm_source=chatgpt.com

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips?utm_source=chatgpt.com

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Podcast Production

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?

Get in touch with MKM Audio

https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Running an ABA business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. Between operational challenges, leadership responsibilities, staffing, and the constant needs of the people you serve, it can be easy to lose sight of what made you want to do this work in the first place.

In our final episode of National Wellness Month, April and Stephen explore what it means to rediscover and protect the joy of running an ABA business. They talk openly about the ways stress and routine can take over, and how intentional practices can help business owners reconnect with their purpose.

April and Stephen share personal experiences, mindset shifts, and practical strategies for finding more meaning in the everyday moments of business ownership. From paying attention to your energy and tracking what brings you joy to practicing mindfulness and gratitude, this conversation offers a reminder that building a successful ABA business doesn't have to mean losing the enjoyment that comes with it.

🔑 Key Topics & Insights

• Why joy can get lost in the day-to-day demands of running an ABA business

• How to reconnect with your purpose and remember your "why"

• Why joy doesn't always happen naturally and how to intentionally create space for it

• April's approach to tracking joy and identifying what brings energy into your life

• Stephen's perspective on finding meaning in the mundane parts of business ownership

  Have a question for Stephen and April?

  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

  Resources & Links

  Business Essentials List

  The Essential List for a Successful Business

  ABA Business Leaders Support Group

  Join the ABA Business Leaders Support Group

  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen

  Schedule a consultation with Stephen

  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

  Take the Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

  ABA Billing Tips Guide

  Get the ABA Billing Tips Guide

  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

  Learn More About ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

  This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

  Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?

  Get in touch with MKM Audio

As part of National Wellness month, we’re re-airing some classic older episodes which look at Mental Health, Burnout and more. In one of our most insightful episodes to date, we welcomed Chris, Liz, and Rebecca from AByay! to the ABA Business Leaders Podcast to talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: the real, day-to-day experience of being a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in the ABA field.

RBTs are often the unsung heroes of ABA. They’re the ones in homes, schools, and clinics, putting in the time, building the relationships, and helping clients make meaningful progress. And yet, they’re frequently left out of bigger-picture conversations, under-supported, and emotionally drained.

What Advocacy Looks Like for RBTs: What does it mean for an RBT to speak up in a field where power dynamics can be steep? The AByay! team shared strategies for setting boundaries, asking for feedback, and pushing for the support RBTs deserve without burning bridges or burning out.

The Role of Joy and Preferred Stimuli: April touched on how this is often overlooked, but also an important part of practice. Even though this varies from tech to tech, Rebecca shared helpful insight on how to motivate engagement.

The Emotional Weight of RBT Work: This episode dives into how RBTs can sustain themselves emotionally and how businesses can stop treating RBT turnover as a part of the process.

🎧 Final Thoughts

If you're an RBT: this episode is your permission to take up space and advocate for your needs. If you're a BCBA or business owner: this is your call to examine your systems, your culture, and your leadership style.

Have a question for Stephen and April?

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

ABA Business Leaders Support Group:

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Schedule a consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Mallory and Jennifer to discuss empathic leadership and the experience of RBTs and other frontline ABA professionals.

The conversation covers workplace culture, burnout, recognition, career development, professional growth, and the importance of applying the principles of reinforcement to your own team. They also discuss the emotional connection technicians develop with clients and how small acts of appreciation can make a meaningful difference.

In this episode:

• Supporting and valuing RBTs

• Workplace culture and burnout

• Recognition and positive reinforcement

• Career development and CEUs

• The idea of a "dead-end job"

• Supporting technicians through client transitions

• Building a culture of appreciation

Have a question for Stephen and April?

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Schedule a consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

Podcast Production

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?

https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

In this special National Wellness Month re-release, Stephen and April Smith revisit one of the most honest conversations they've had about burnout, workplace culture, and the realities of working in ABA. Inspired by real posts shared across Reddit, TikTok, Twitter, and other online communities, they react to the frustrations, challenges, and ethical dilemmas that many RBTs, BCBAs, and ABA professionals experience every day.

Drawing on their experience building, scaling, and exiting a seven-figure ABA company, Stephen and April discuss why so many clinicians feel unsupported, where business owners often go wrong, and how ethical leadership creates better outcomes for both staff and clients.

Whether you're a clinician, practice owner, or aspiring ABA entrepreneur, this episode offers an honest look at the issues affecting the industry, along with practical insights on building a healthier workplace.

In this episode:

• Why Stephen and April decided to react to real ABA workplace stories

• Common reasons ABA professionals say they "hate their job"

• The impact of burnout, poor leadership, and unrealistic expectations

• Ethical challenges facing RBTs and BCBAs

• How business owners can improve staff retention and workplace culture

• Why advocating for yourself and your clients matters

• Creating sustainable, values-driven ABA businesses

Have a question for Stephen and April?

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline:

📞 (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Schedule a consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand?

https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

How much training should an RBT receive before working with clients? Is online training as effective as in-person instruction? And why are so many talented clinicians leaving the ABA profession?

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith are joined by Allyson Wharam to discuss how effective staff training directly impacts clinical quality, employee retention, supervision, and long-term business success. Drawing on research, real-world experience, and lessons from working with ABA organisations across the industry, the conversation explores why organisations need to move beyond minimum compliance and instead build intentional learning systems that develop confident clinicians and stronger leaders.

Whether you're launching a new ABA practice or managing multiple locations, this episode offers practical insights into creating a culture where employees continue learning, supervisors are equipped to lead, and businesses retain great people for the long term.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How top ABA firms win with great training
• Why smart course design beats the format
• Must-know rules for staff training
• How growth keeps your best staff
• How to build high-performing RBTs, BCBAs, and leaders
• How coaching drives better results
• How to create a culture that keeps growing

Sponsored by MarginKeepers

This episode is proudly sponsored by MarginKeepers, the accounting firm built specifically for ABA businesses. From bookkeeping and payroll to financial reporting and strategic guidance, they helps practice owners understand their numbers, improve profitability, and make confident business decisions.

Learn more:https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers

Have a question for Stephen and April?

📞 ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links

MarginKeepers

https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

Schedule a consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact

Is ABA Canceled? What Every ABA Business Owner Needs to Know

With social media full of headlines asking whether ABA is "getting canceled" or if the industry is in crisis, it's easy for business owners to feel uncertain about the future. In this episode, Stephen and April tackle those concerns head-on.

Rather than focusing on fear, they explore what's really happening in the ABA industry, why increased scrutiny isn't necessarily a bad thing, and how ethical providers can position themselves for long-term success. From documentation and billing practices to clinical quality and leadership, this conversation is a practical reminder that strong businesses are built on strong foundations.

This episode is for ABA practice owners, clinical directors, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want to build an ethical, sustainable, and compliant business. Whether you're just starting your practice or leading an established organization, Stephen and April share practical insights to help you navigate industry changes with confidence while continuing to deliver high-quality care.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why increased oversight of ABA providers is happening.

• Whether the ABA industry is truly "in trouble."

• The difference between unethical providers and ethical business owners.

• Common compliance and documentation mistakes that create unnecessary risk.

• Why quality assurance should become part of your regular operations.

• How small operational improvements can protect your practice.

• Why business owners shouldn't make decisions based on fear or social media narratives.

• Free resources available to help strengthen your ABA business.

Have a question for Stephen and April?

📞 Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here: www.mkmaudio.com

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Schedule a Consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

Saving money sounds like good business. But what happens when being frugal starts costing you more in lost time, staff frustration, compliance risk, and burnout?

In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, Stephen and April Smith unpack the hidden cost of underinvesting in your ABA business. Drawing from their own experience of piecing together free and low-cost systems, they explore why the cheapest option is not always the most cost-effective one.

Have a Question for Stephen and April?

Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432

Resources & Links

Business Essentials List

https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24

ABA Business Leaders Support Group

https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC

Schedule a Consultation with Stephen

https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page

Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment

https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment

ABA Billing Tips Guide

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs

https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

This podcast was produced by Max McLellan of MKM Audio.

Want to start or grow a podcast for your business or brand? Reach out here:

https://www.mkmaudio.com/contact