Beyond The Science Podcast

🎙 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲? Shane T. Spiker, PhD, BCBA-D shared one of the most thoughtful answers we’ve heard yet. He believes our future lies in: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 of behavior analysis beyond traditional spaces 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 to all communities 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 of what it means to be a true scientist-practitioner Shane reminds us that progress isn’t just about innovation — it’s about reflection. When we hear criticism of our field, it’s not always an attack. It can be an invitation to look inward, to ask why, and to build stronger systems of collaboration. It’s that kind of humility and self-examination that can truly move the field forward. 🎧 Episode 36 with Dr. Shane Spiker is now live — part of our 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. Watch here 👉🏾 https://lnkd.in/ekBwnEBd #BeyondTheScience #BehaviorAnalysis #FABA2025 #LeadershipInABA #BehaviorAnalyst #ABACommunity #ProfessionalGrowth #Neurodiversity #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #BehavioralScience #Collaboration #FutureOfABA #ScientificIntegrity #EthicsInPractice

🎙 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘅 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Episode 36 with Shane T. Spiker, PhD, BCBA-D is now live — and it’s one of the most thought-provoking conversations we’ve had yet. Dr. Spiker shares how growing up in the punk-rock scene shaped his approach to science, ethics, and teaching. He believes that 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙧 is the foundation of real progress — in behavior analysis and beyond. He challenges his students (and all of us) to ask: 🧠 Why are we doing this? 🧠 Who decided this was the way? 🧠 What evidence makes this right or ethical? Behavior analysis was founded by those willing to challenge convention — and that same spirit belongs in every classroom, clinic, and conference today. 💡 Curiosity is the most radical form of professionalism. 🎧 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯𝟲 → https://lnkd.in/eKxzpY6b #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #FABASeries #BehaviorAnalysis #CriticalThinking #PunkRockScience #EthicsInABA #ProfessionalGrowth #AppliedBehaviorAnalysis #QuestionEverything #LeadershipInScience

🎙 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘅 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 Episode 36 launches tomorrow — and it’s a conversation our field needs to have. We sat down with Shane T. Spiker, PhD, BCBA-D, who explores one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed areas in Applied Behavior Analysis: 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. Despite its importance, research shows that 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟵𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. That gap doesn’t just limit knowledge — it creates confusion, stigma, and missed opportunities for meaningful education around consent, safety, and relationships. Dr. Spiker shares practical ways we can close this gap: ✅ Seek mentorship and specialized training. ✅ Challenge our own biases and discomfort around sexuality. ✅ Broaden our focus beyond “inappropriate sexual behavior” to understanding context and consent. He also highlights innovators in the space — Barbara Gross (porn literacy), Worner Leland (gender safety & harm reduction), and Landa Fox (pleasure-seeking assessments) — professionals reshaping how our field approaches sexuality and autonomy. 💡 If we claim to teach socially significant behavior, this is part of the work. 🎧 Episode 36 drops tomorrow — wherever you get your podcasts. #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #FABASeries #SexEducation #DisabilityAdvocacy #BehaviorAnalysis #AutismAwareness #InclusionMatters #ProfessionalDevelopment #CompassionateABA #EthicsInABA

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘅 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 🎙️ In our final highlight from 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹, she reminds us that when it comes to treating pediatric feeding disorders, 𝗴𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. It’s easy to focus solely on behavior — but what’s happening inside the body often drives what we see on the outside. Discomfort from reflux, constipation, allergies, or microbiome imbalances doesn’t just affect appetite — it impacts behavior, attention, and emotional regulation. Dr. Patel shared how her team integrates medical collaboration into behavioral treatment, ensuring each plan accounts for the whole child, not just the observable behavior. It’s a timely reminder that effective treatment requires 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 — ABA, medical, speech, nutrition, and family. 💡 The more we understand the body, the better we can support the behavior. 🎧 Episode 35 with Dr. Meeta Patel — live now! 📺 Watch here → https://lnkd.in/eTXCByxx #BeyondTheScience #BehaviorAnalysis #InterdisciplinaryCare #FeedingDisorders #GutHealth #ABACommunity #AutismSupport #FunctionalAssessment #EvidenceBasedPractice #FABASeries

🎙 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 | 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 In this clip, Dr. Meeta Patel underscores something every behavior analyst should remember — real change doesn’t happen to families, it happens with them. Caregiver participation is one of the most consistent predictors of long-term progress in both ABA and pediatric feeding programs. When families understand the principles, the “why” behind the strategies, and feel ownership in the process, outcomes last far beyond the clinic. As practitioners, how do we ensure parents are empowered partners, not passive participants? 💭 Let’s keep this conversation going — how do you bring families into your therapeutic process? 🎧 Episode 35 is live: 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eTXCByxx #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #ABACommunity #FamilyCenteredCare #BehaviorAnalysis #ParentCollaboration #CaregiverTraining #AutismSupport #FeedingDisorders #EvidenceBasedPractice #FABAConferenceSeries

🎙 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 | 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 In this clip, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 (Clinic 4 Kidz & Stanford University) challenges how we approach assessment and treatment for feeding problems. Instead of defaulting to traditional 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗲𝘀, her team focuses on identifying 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 and finding the right starting point for each learner’s treatment. When we choose the right starting point, she explains, we can often reduce emotional responding — and lower inappropriate behaviors — even when escape is the maintaining variable. She also reminds us: if you’re not trained in severe feeding challenges, don’t go it alone. Seek mentorship or collaborate with specialists. Ethical practice begins with recognizing your scope. 💭 How can we better train and support BCBAs working with complex feeding cases? 🎧 Watch the full episode: 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eTXCByxx #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #BehaviorAnalysis #FeedingDisorders #ScientistPractitioner #AppliedResearch #AntecedentInterventions #EthicalABA #AutismSupport #EvidenceBasedPractice #FABAConferenceSeries

🎙 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 | 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 In this highlight, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹 opens up about the evolving landscape of 𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. She shares that after leaving large institutions like Kennedy Krieger and Marcus Institute, her publication output slowed — not from lack of innovation, but because real-world research operates differently. Dr. Patel sheds light on what many practitioner-scientists experience: 📉 Limited experimental control in applied settings 📊 High reviewer standards built for academic labs 🧩 Fewer outlets that value practice-based evidence Her message is clear — the science is still happening, but the system isn’t always designed to publish it. 💭 How can we make research more accessible to clinicians working in community settings? 🎧 Full episode: 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eTXCByxx #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #ABACommunity #BehaviorAnalysis #ScientistPractitioner #AppliedResearch #PracticeBasedEvidence #EthicalABA #InterdisciplinaryCare

🎙 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝟯𝟱 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 | 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗔 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 This week’s episode features 𝗗𝗿. 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗮 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹, founder of Clinic 4 Kidz and faculty at Stanford University, diving deep into one of the most debated topics in our field — 𝗘𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗘.𝗘.) 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆. Dr. Patel challenges the idea that E.E. should never be used, reminding us that for medically complex children, avoidance isn’t always realistic. She emphasizes that when applied thoughtfully, with the right starting point and a compassionate framework, it can reduce both inappropriate behavior and emotional responding. Her take is simple yet powerful: the goal isn’t to remove structure — it’s to find 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 between autonomy, necessity, and safety. 💭 Where do you stand on balancing autonomy and safety in treatment? 🎧 Watch the full episode here: 👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/eTXCByxx #BeyondTheScience #FABA2025 #ABACommunity #BehaviorAnalysis #EthicalABA #FeedingDisorders #PediatricABA #FABAConferenceSeries #StanfordMedicine #ClinicalEthics #InterdisciplinaryCare