Studying for the BCBA exam can feel overwhelming—but what if you could approach it with more confidence, better strategies, and a deeper understanding of the science instead of simply trying to memorize everything?

On this episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, hosts Allie Langan, BCBA, and Erica Mendes, RBT sit down with Nick Ostosh, MA, BCBA, founder of Understanding Behavior, to talk all things BCBA exam prep. Nick shares his journey in behavior analysis, his passion for teaching, and what he has learned from helping future BCBAs prepare for one of the biggest tests of their careers. Whether you're currently studying for the BCBA exam, working toward certification, supervising future BCBAs, or just love talking about the science of behavior analysis, you won't want to miss this conversation. 💬 QUESTION FOR YOU: If you're studying for the BCBA exam right now, what topic gives you the MOST trouble? Drop it in the comments! 👇 👨‍🏫 Learn more about Nick Ostosh & Understanding Behavior: https://understandingbehavior.shop/pages/meet-the-team 🎧 Subscribe to ABA MOM for conversations about ABA, becoming a BCBA, parenting, clinical practice, and the real-life side of behavior analysis. 👍 Like this episode 💬 Comment your toughest BCBA exam topic 📲 Share it with a future BCBA 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode! #BCBA #BCBAExam #BCBAExamPrep #BCBATestPrep #BehaviorAnalysis #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #FutureBCBA #BCBAStudent #BCBAStudy #BCBACandidate #ABACommunity #BehaviorAnalyst #ABAMOM #BCBAStudyTips

Social skills don’t stop being important when childhood ends. In this episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, Allie Langan, BCBA, talks about how we can adapt social-skills teaching to better support teenagers and adults in ways that are practical, age-appropriate, and meaningful to their everyday lives.

We explore what social skills can look like beyond traditional childhood goals—including navigating conversations, building friendships, handling disagreements, participating in group activities, advocating for yourself, and developing greater independence in the community.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Modifying social activities so they are age-appropriate ✨ Moving beyond traditional “play skills” for teens and adults ✨ Conversation and cooperative communication skills ✨ Waiting, turn-taking, and flexibility ✨ Self-advocacy and communicating wants and needs ✨ Practicing social skills during real-life activities ✨ Community participation and independence ✨ Choosing goals that are meaningful to the individual ✨ Using interests and preferred activities to make social learning more natural

The goal isn’t to make someone appear more “typical.” It’s to help individuals develop communication, self-advocacy, relationships, and independence in ways that improve their quality of life.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, RBT, BCBA, educator, or support professional, this episode offers practical ideas you can use when supporting teens and adults.

💬 Join the conversation: What social or independence skill do you think is most important for teens and adults to learn?

👍 Like this episode if you found it helpful 💬 Leave us a comment 🔔 Subscribe to the ABA MOM Podcast for more conversations about ABA, parenting, advocacy, and real-life support.

#ABAMOM #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #SocialSkills #Autism #AutismSupport #BCBA #RBT #TeensWithAutism #AdultsWithAutism #LifeSkills #IndependentLiving #SelfAdvocacy #SpecialNeedsParenting

🎙️ ABA MOM Podcast: Accountability & Problem Solving

In this episode of ABA MOM, we’re talking about what accountability really looks like—and why it shouldn’t be confused with blame, shame, or forced apologies.

Accountability is a skill. Just like communication, coping, and social skills, it may need to be taught, practiced, reinforced, and generalized.

We break down how to help children, clients, and even adults learn to recognize:

• What happened?
• What was the problem?
• What was my part in it?
• What can I do to repair the situation?
• What could I try differently next time?

We also discuss why problem solving shouldn’t only happen in the middle of a difficult moment, how role-playing can build flexible thinking, why “I don’t know” may actually mean a learner needs more support, and how reinforcing honesty can make accountability more likely in the future.

In this episode, we cover:

✨ Accountability vs. blame ✨ Teaching problem-solving skills ✨ Using choices, modeling, and role play ✨ Repairing mistakes instead of staying stuck in them ✨ Why forced apologies may miss the point ✨ Reinforcing honesty and accountability ✨ Teaching flexible responses instead of simple compliance ✨ How parents, teachers, RBTs, and BCBAs can model accountability too ✨ A simple five-question framework you can start using right away

One of the biggest takeaways:

Making a mistake isn’t the problem. The skill is learning what to do after the mistake happens.

Accountability isn’t about proving who was wrong. It’s about helping someone recognize what happened, understand their role, repair what they can, and move toward a better solution next time.

If this episode was helpful, share it with a parent, caregiver, teacher, RBT, BCBA, or anyone else who could use the reminder that accountability is something we teach—not something we shame someone into.

🎧 Subscribe to ABA MOM for more conversations about ABA, parenting, behavior, and what these concepts actually look like in everyday life.

#ABAMOM #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #ParentTraining #RBT #BCBA #BehaviorAnalysis #ProblemSolving #Accountability #Parenting #AutismSupport #BehaviorSupport #SocialSkills #LifeSkills

In Episode 68 of ABA MOM, Allie sits down with her husband, Dan/D for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to build a blended family while juggling marriage, older kids, a toddler, different personalities, different parenting styles, and a very busy household. They talk about becoming a stepparent, figuring out roles within a blended family, handling disagreements about parenting and discipline, and what changed when they added a child together. They also get into the funny reality of being married to a BCBA — including whether ABA strategies actually work at home when everyone is tired and real life takes over. From reinforcement and choices to meltdowns, communication, teamwork, boundaries, and knowing when to simply be a parent instead of analyzing behavior, this episode is an honest look at parenting when everyone under one roof has different needs. And of course, Allie and Dan wrap things up with some rapid-fire questions about who is stricter, who gives in first, who handles meltdowns better, and the parenting hills they’re absolutely willing to die on. If you’re part of a blended family, co-parenting, raising kids with different needs, or just trying to keep your marriage strong while parenting, this episode is for you. 💗 Different pieces. Perfect together. 🎙️ **ABA MOM — Episode 68** Blended, Busy & Building a Family: Parenting When Everyone Has Different Needs 👍 Like this episode if you enjoyed the conversation. 💬 Tell us in the comments: What is the hardest — or best — part of parenting in a blended family? 🔔 Subscribe to ABA MOM for more conversations about ABA, parenting, behavior, family life, and the reality behind making it all work. #ABAMOM #BlendedFamily #Parenting #Stepparenting #BlendedFamilyLife #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #ParentingPodcast #MarriageAndParenting #ToddlerParenting #BehaviorAnalysis #ParentingTips #FamilyLife

What if ABA doesn’t look like table work, flashcards, or structured trials? 💙 In this episode of ABA MOM, Allie explores how some of the most meaningful learning opportunities happen during real life—at the grocery store, at the park, playing with siblings, getting ready for the day, going out to eat, and transitioning between everyday activities. We talk about how natural routines can help build important skills including: ✨ Functional communication ⏰ Waiting and tolerating “no” 🔄 Transitions and flexibility 👫 Social skills and sibling play 🛡️ Safety and independence 💙 Coping and self-advocacy ABA doesn’t have to take over a child’s entire day to be effective. The goal isn’t to make children better at therapy—it’s to teach meaningful skills that help them navigate their actual lives. Whether you’re a parent, RBT, BCBA, teacher, or caregiver, this episode is a reminder to look beyond the therapy table and recognize the learning opportunities already happening around us. 🎙️ ABA MOM Podcast When ABA Doesn’t Look Like ABA: Teaching Skills in Real Life If you enjoyed this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with another parent or ABA professional! #ABAMom #ABA #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BCBA #RBT #Autism #Parenting #FunctionalCommunication #NaturalEnvironmentTeaching #NET #AutismParenting #BehaviorAnalysis

Join us for an unforgettable day of fossil shark tooth hunting at Venice Beach, Florida! In this special ABA Mom episode, our clients participated in Natural Environment Teaching (NET) while receiving ABA services in a fun, community-based setting. We were joined by staff from KT-ABA, who supported clients throughout the experience, and experts from Educational BioFacts Inc. (Dino Lab), who helped participants locate, identify, and learn about the incredible fossil shark teeth and other fossils they discovered in the water. This unique collaboration combined science, hands-on exploration, and individualized ABA strategies to promote communication, social interaction, flexibility, following directions, and learning in a natural environment. A huge thank you to KT-ABA and Educational BioFacts Inc. (Dino Lab) for helping make this educational experience possible! If you enjoy seeing ABA in action beyond the clinic, be sure to like this video, subscribe to ABA Mom, and follow along for more community outings, educational adventures, and practical ABA resources for families and professionals.

🎙️ Growing Up with ADHD | A Teen's Perspective on High School, Volunteering & Finding Confidence | ABA MOM Podcast

What is it really like growing up with ADHD?

In this special episode of the ABA MOM Podcast, we're joined by a very special guest—Natalie! As she prepares to begin high school, Natalie shares her personal experiences living with ADHD, the challenges she's faced, the strategies that help her succeed, and what she's looking forward to in this exciting new chapter.

Natalie also talks about volunteering with Next Chapter Workshop, where she helped individuals with developmental disabilities create visual schedules and build daily living skills. She reflects on what she learned from the experience, how it changed her perspective, and why she believes more teens should get involved in their communities.

Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or teen navigating ADHD, this episode offers an honest, encouraging conversation about embracing differences, building confidence, and discovering your strengths.

In this episode, we discuss: ✅ Growing up with ADHD ✅ Preparing for high school ✅ Organization and study strategies ✅ Common myths about ADHD ✅ Volunteering with individuals with developmental disabilities ✅ Creating visual schedules ✅ Building confidence through service ✅ Advice for other teens with ADHD

💙 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share to help us support more families and individuals in the neurodiversity community.

Follow the ABA MOM Podcast for more conversations about autism, ADHD, behavior analysis, parenting, and real-life experiences.

#ADHD #TeenMentalHealth #HighSchool #Neurodiversity #ABAMomPodcast #Autism #ABA #SpecialNeeds #ExecutiveFunctioning #Volunteer #NextChapterWorkshop #Parenting #ADHDAwareness

Episode 64: The Bearded Behaviorist – ACT Curriculum: Transforming ABA

In Episode 64 of the ABA Mom Podcast, Allie Langan, MA, BCBA, sits down with Brian Middleton, BCBA, better known as The Bearded Behaviorist, for an engaging conversation about how the ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Training/Therapy) Curriculum is transforming the way behavior analysts, educators, and caregivers approach ABA.

Together, they explore how ACT helps professionals move beyond simply changing behavior by fostering psychological flexibility, values-based decision-making, and meaningful relationships. Brian shares how integrating ACT principles into ABA can strengthen clinical practice, reduce burnout, improve parent collaboration, and create more compassionate, effective support for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Whether you're a BCBA, RBT, educator, student, or parent, this episode offers practical insights into blending evidence-based behavioral science with compassion, mindfulness, and values-driven care.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✔️ What the ACT Curriculum is and why it matters in ABA ✔️ How ACT can improve clinical decision-making and therapeutic relationships ✔️ Ways psychological flexibility benefits both professionals and families ✔️ Strategies for preventing burnout while maintaining high-quality care ✔️ Practical ways to begin incorporating ACT principles into everyday practice

Connect with Brian "The Bearded Behaviorist"

🌐 Website: Bearded Behaviorist

🔗 Linktree (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn & more): @beardedbehaviorist Linktree

🏢 Mindful Behavior LLC: Mindful Behavior LLC

💼 LinkedIn: Bearded Behaviorist on LinkedIn

🎙️ Be sure to check out Brian's educational content, including the Oh Behave! Podcast, ACT natural Podcast, and his ongoing work in neurodiversity-affirming behavior analysis.