The World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we speak with Eyal Cohen, BCBA and World Behavior Analysis Day Ambassador for Israel, about his path into behavior analysis and his work expanding accessible, values-driven ABA across Israel. Eyal shares how his bi-cultural background informs his culturally responsive approach and discusses the structure of ABA services in Israel, including training programs, public and private systems, and ongoing challenges related to professional recognition.

The conversation explores compassionate, ethical practice; behavioral parent training rooted in empowerment and transparency; and the importance of humility when working across cultures. Eyal also highlights his work with adults with autism, emphasizing quality of life, inclusion, and meaningful community participation, including a structured community bowling group designed to foster belonging and engagement.

We close with a reflection on World Behavior Analysis Day as a celebration of the science, its humane values, and the global connections that strengthen our field.

Listeners will gain insight into:

Eyal’s path into ABA: He entered through work with adults with disabilities, discovered ABA training in Tel Aviv, and built a career as a clinician and educator in Israel.

Cultural responsiveness as a core value: His American–Israeli–Jewish identity shapes how he approaches families, schools, and communities with humility and respect.

ABA in Israel today: Services are widespread across schools, kindergartens, and adult centers, with multiple training programs—yet the field still lacks formal licensure/official recognition.

Training, supervision, and accessibility: Eyal emphasizes teaching ABA transparently (no “black box”), making practices understandable for parents and teachers, and building capacity through structured training.

Adults, quality of life, and inclusion: He highlights adulthood as an underserved area and focuses on meaningful engagement, environment design, community participation, and vocational opportunities.

WBAD meaning: For Eyal, World Behavior Analysis Day is about celebration and connection, building global collaboration and remembering the field’s humane roots.

Resources Mentioned:

Ethics for Behavior Analysts (Bailey & Burch)

Behavior LIVE: The Impact of Cultural Factors on Behavior Analysis Practice in a Multi-Cultural Society 

In this World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast episode, hosts Dr. Paulie Gavoni and Dr. Janet Sanchez Enriquez welcome David Roth, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst whose work is deeply informed by the writings of B.F. Skinner. For more than two decades, David has studied and reflected on Skinner’s ideas, extending them through his conceptual work on mindfulness, compassion, and culture. In his professional role, David also works directly with autistic support classrooms and children, bringing these principles into practice in educational settings.

 David shares his journey into behavior analysis, his intersectional work with mindfulness, meditation, and lovingkindness, and his continued role with the B.F. Skinner Foundation publication committee. The discussion highlights David’s origin story with Verbal Behavior (1957), his formative experiences navigating the Skinner-Chomsky debate, and his thoughtful conceptual writings on compassion, ethics, and culture.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• David’s introduction to Skinner through Verbal Behavior (1957) and impact.
• How early disagreements about Chomsky’s critique shaped his academic growth and commitment to Skinnerian analysis.
• His role in the B.F. Skinner Foundation publication committee, supplementing re-publications with Skinner’s notes.
• Why Skinner’s cultural commentaries in Reflections on Behaviorism and Society remain crucial today.
• Conceptual writings on meditation, mindfulness, and lovingkindness as scientifically grounded practices.
• How Walden Two and Skinner’s Notebooks continue to inspire ethical perspectives on helping and compassion.
• The development of the Dialogues on Verbal Behavior podcast with David Palmer as a resource for learners.
• Practical advice for applying the contingency view lens to our own lives for more compassionate, ethical action.
• BEHAVIORAL IMPLICATIONS OF “LOVING” ONE’S ENEMIES JESUS, BUDDHA, AND SKINNER AS PARTNERS ON THE PATH TO PEACE

Timestamps:

04:30 – David’s origin story: discovering Verbal Behavior (1957)

12:30 – Early challenges and the Skinner vs. Chomsky debate

23:00 – Entering academia and formative mentorship experiences

29:30 – Discovering Skinner’s Notebooks and its impact

34:00 – Reflections on Skinner’s cultural commentaries today

41:00 – Lovingkindness paper: bringing Skinner, Jesus, and Buddha into dialogue

Join us this week as we sit down with the eminent Dr. SungWoo Kahng, a leader in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Wearing multiple hats, from being the Behavior Analyst Certification Board President to his roles at Rutgers University as Chair of the Department of Applied Psychology, Director of Academic Programs in Autism and ABA, and Professor, Dr. Kahng offers invaluable insights from his years of experience. We delve deep into the essence of mentoring, its pivotal role in shaping upcoming professionals, and the pressing need for diversity and equity in ABA. But that's not all - we also discuss current trends and challenges in our profession, actionable steps to take, and explore his vision for the future of the field. 

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a newbie in the world of ABA, this episode promises a wealth of knowledge, perspective, and inspiration. Don't miss it!

Show Notes/Links:

Articles on the lack of representation of Asian Americans in leadership positions:

• Asian Americans Are the Least Likely Group in the U.S. to Be Promoted to Management
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Faculty and the Bamboo Ceiling: Barriers to Leadership and Implications for Leadership Development

Several, but certainly not an exhaustive, listing of articles on increasing cultural diversity and cultural responsiveness within behavior analysis:

• Beaulieu, L., Addington, J., & Almeida, D. (2019). Behavior analysts' training and practices regarding cultural diversity: The case for culturally competent care. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 557-575.
• Conners, B., Johnson, A., Duarte, J., Murriky, R., & Marks, K. (2019). Future directions of training and fieldwork in diversity issues in applied behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 767-776.
• Fong, E. H., Catagnus, R. M., Brodhead, M. T., Quigley, S., & Field, S. (2016). Developing the cultural awareness skills of behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9(1), 84-94.
• Jimenez‐Gomez, C., & Beaulieu, L. (2022). Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Research and practice. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(3), 650-673.

Articles on Mentoring and Influences in behavior analysis:

• LeBlanc, L. A. (2015). My mentors and their influences on my career. The Behavior Analyst, 38(2), 237-245.
• Favell, J. E. (2015). A career in behavior analysis: Notes from the journey. The Behavior Analyst, 38(2), 229-236
• Pétursdóttir, A. I. (2015). Influences on my early academic career. The Behavior Analyst, 38, 255-262..

Donate to World Behavior Analysis Day: https://behavioranalysisday.com/donate-to-wbada

World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance, LLC. (WBADA) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, established March 19, 2021. The World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance is the hub that promotes an international inclusive celebration of the science of behavior analysis and sparks growth in its awareness, acceptance, and use. During the weeklong celebration of behavior analysis, beginning March 14th and culminating on March 20th, behavior analysis is recognized worldwide.

The date, March 20th, was selected for World Behavior Analysis Day because it is the birthdate of B.F. Skinner, the founder of contemporary behavior analysis. Skinner's radical research on behaviorism laid the groundwork for applied behavior analysis. With the growth of the discipline, behavior analysis now has a strong field with theoretical, experimental, and applied branches and distinct research methods. This field has scientific journals, textbooks, scholarly and professional organizations, and university training programs.

In this interview, we learn about the inception, mission, and vision for the future of the World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance (WBADA) from its President, Elizabeth Drago. Elizabeth shares her ABA story, diverse background in the field, and exciting committees within WBADA, providing a platform for educating others about this burgeoning field. In addition, she offers ideas on how others can participate in the weeklong celebration, providing resources to get in touch with WBADA to join in efforts to disseminate science worldwide.

This World Behavior Analysis Day, let us recognize all the behavior analysts who commit themselves to improving the human condition one behavior at a time.

Show Notes/Links:

World Behavior Analysis Day Website:https://behavioranalysisday.com/

World Behavior Analysis Day Contact: https://behavioranalysisday.com/contact

World Behavior Analysis Day Ambassadors: https://behavioranalysisday.com/wbada-ambassadors

World Behavior Analysis Day YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@worldbehavioranalysisday5293

World Behavior Analysis Day Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/behaviorday/

World Behavior Analysis Day Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/WorldBehaviorAnalysisDay

Donate to World Behavior Analysis Day: https://behavioranalysisday.com/donate-to-wbada

Behavior analysts' jobs focus on improving lives through the science of behavior. Similarly, there is a responsibility to disseminate behavior analysis by making information about the science more accessible and engaging. However, it is often challenging to effectively translate our procedures and technical language into our unique communities to inspire and motivate change.

During this interview, accomplished authors and professors Jill C. Dardig and William L. Heward discuss their lives' work across the world and their pursuits in doing just that.  

Episode Description:

In this episode, we discuss their entry into the field of Behavior Analysis and Special Education, their thoughts on effective programming for individuals with disabilities, and their motivation to write their first book together titled, Sign Here: A Contracting Book for Children and their Parents. They share the success of its distribution and translation into multiple languages across the globe and discuss the need to provide an updated, inclusive version of the book today: Let's Make a Contract: a Positive Way to Change your Child's Behavior. 

In Let's Make a Contract, parents learn a research-based practice, behavioral contracting, that is easy to use and benefits all learners. The authors provide beautifully illustrated stories to show children how contracts address everyday challenges like completing chores, achieving goals, getting along, and becoming more independent. Each story ends with questions designed to spark age-appropriate discussion. The book and accompanying website provide sample contracting forms and supporting materials that can be found below. 

Show Notes

Let’s Make a Contract: A Positive Way to Change Your Child’s Behavior

• Companion website: https://contractingwithkids.com
• Review in Behavior Analysis in Practice “Parents will look at this book and think, ‘I would like to read that’.”  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-022-00723-7
• Review in Science in Autism Treatment “Dardig and Heward’s engaging storytelling highlights the numerous ways in which contracting can be used to create positive behavior change.” https://asatonline.org/research-treatment/book-reviews/review-of-lets-make-a-contract/

Caregivers

• Dardig, J. C. (2008). Involving Parents of Students with Special Needs: 25 Ready-to-Use Strategies. Corwin Press. https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/book/involving-parents-students-special-needs
• Heward, W. L. (2012). It’s OK to say I don’t know. Science in Autism Treatment, 9(4), 1-3. 
• Heward, W. L., Alber-Morgan, S. R., & Konrad, M. (2022). Ten Guidelines for Communicating with Parents. In Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (12th ed.) (p. 90). Pearson. 

 Educators 

• Dardig, J.C.  (1995).  I'd been doing it wrong for so long it looked like right to me: Using case method to teach introduction to ABA. The Behavior Analyst, 18(1), 161-166.  https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392702  
• Heward, W. L., Critchfield, T. S., Reed, D. D.,  Detrich, R., & Kimball, J. W. (2022).  ABA from A-to-Z: Behavior science applied to 350 domains of socially significant behavior. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 45, 327-359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-022-00336-z. 

Are you interested in the science of behavior change to make the world a better place? Tune into our inaugural World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast and listen to Dr. Julie Vargas share her insight and anecdotes about her life, work, and father B.F. Skinner. 

Dr. Julie Vargas is an American author, educator, and behavior analyst. She is the oldest child of B. F. and Eve Skinner. In addition to her bachelor's degree in music from Radcliffe College, she holds a master's degree in music education from Columbia University, as well as a doctorate in educational research from the University of Pittsburgh. 

Her teaching career at West Virginia University spanned more than 30 years in the College of Human Resources and Education. Dr. Vargas was a founding editor of The Behavior Analyst and a former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis International. She is president of the B. F. Skinner Foundation, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has written or co-authored four books, including Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching, released in 2009. 

During this episode, Dr. Vargas graciously shares her experiences as a teacher, researcher, and behavior analyst, as well as her efforts to continue her father's work, the renowned behavioral scientist B.F. Skinner, through the B.F. Skinner Foundation.

We are honored to have such a distinguished scholar share her insights with our listeners!

Show Note Links:
Skinner Foundation
Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching Text
The Shame of American Education Article
The Shame of American Education Video
Morningside Academy Podcast
Precision Teaching: Discoveries and Effects
Training Cats Anecdote by Deborah Buzan
B.F. Skinner: The Last Few Days
B.F. Skinner Books 

In this World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast episode, hosts Dr. Paulie Gavoni and Dr. Janet Enriquez welcome the esteemed Dr. Dave Palmer. A leading voice in behavior analysis, Dr. Palmer shares his journey into radical behaviorism, the impact of B.F. Skinner on his career, and his deep exploration of verbal behavior.

The conversation dives into his early inspiration from Walden Two, his attempt at forming a cooperative based on behaviorist principles, and how a personal letter to Skinner led to a life-changing mentorship. Dr. Palmer also discusses his academic journey, his deep intellectual dive into Noam Chomsky’s linguistic theories, and how he ultimately refuted Chomsky’s critiques of behaviorism.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• Influence of Walden Two – How reading B.F. Skinner’s Walden Two shaped Dr. Palmer’s early ideals and career.
• Meeting B.F. Skinner – His firsthand experience meeting Skinner and how it influenced his professional trajectory.
• Critique of Chomsky – His in-depth analysis of Noam Chomsky’s linguistic theories and how they contrast with behavior analysis.
• Selectionist Account of Reinforcement – The connection between reinforcement and natural selection in shaping behavior.
• Emersonian Philosophy & Behavior Analysis – How Emerson’s philosophical ideas intersect with behavior analysis.
• Intellectual Humility & Scientific Debate – The importance of engaging with opposing views to advance knowledge in behavior analysis.

This engaging and thought-provoking discussion is a must-listen for behavior analysts, educators, and anyone interested in the philosophy and application of radical behaviorism.

Timestamps:
04:30 - Welcoming Dr. Dave Palmer
06:00 - How Walden Two sparked his interest in behaviorism
12:30 - His efforts to create a Walden Two-inspired cooperative
18:15 - Writing to B.F. Skinner and their first meeting
25:40 - His deep dive into Chomsky’s linguistic theories
34:00 - Why Skinner’s approach to verbal behavior still holds up today
41:20 - The selectionist account of reinforcement & its parallels to natural selection
50:00 - How philosophy, particularly Emerson’s essay on Compensation, connects to behavior analysis
56:00 - Reflections on mentorship and shaping future behavior analysts

Resources Mentioned:

• Walden Two by B.F. Skinner
• Verbal Behavior by B.F. Skinner
• Dr. Palmer’s paper Chomsky’s Nativism Criticized (Published in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 2000)
• Learning and Complex Behavior by John Donahoe & Dave Palmer

Connect with Dr. Palmer:

Smith College Website

Email Dr. Palmer

In this special episode of the World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast, hosts Dr. Paulie Gavoni and Dr. Janet Enriquez welcome the legendary Dr. Steven C. Hayes—a pioneering psychologist and the founder of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Dr. Hayes takes us on a deep dive into his personal and professional journey, from his early exposure to behavior analysis to the pivotal moments that led to the development of ACT and RFT. He shares candid stories about his struggles with panic disorder and the intellectual battles that shaped his groundbreaking work in contextual behavioral science.

• Influence of Walden Two – How reading B.F. Skinner’s Walden Two sparked Dr. Hayes’ passion for psychology and behavior analysis.
• Modernizing Behaviorism – His efforts to bring radical behaviorism into a new era, despite resistance from traditional behavior analysts.
• Relational Frame Theory (RFT) – The origins and impact of RFT, emphasizing how "relating is an operant" transformed the study of language and cognition.
• Personal Struggles & ACT – How his experience with panic disorder led to the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
• Psychological Flexibility – The philosophical and practical foundations of psychological flexibility and its importance for human well-being.
• Mentorship & Influences – Reflections on his relationships with B.F. Skinner, Willard Day, and other influential figures in behavior analysis.
• Future of Behavior Analysis – His perspective on the direction of the field, emphasizing the importance of innovation and scientific humility.

Timestamps:
06:00 - Welcoming Dr. Steven Hayes & his early exposure to behavior analysis
12:30 - From Walden Two to radical behaviorism: The early influences on his career
18:15 - Skinner, language, and the philosophical battles in behavior analysis
25:40 - The evolution of Relational Frame Theory (RFT) and why it matters
34:00 - How ACT emerged from personal struggle and scientific exploration
41:20 - The role of psychological flexibility in human well-being
50:00 - Reflections on Skinner, mentorship, and pushing the boundaries of behavior analysis
56:00 - The future of behavioral science & the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration

Resources Mentioned:

Walden Two by B.F. Skinner
Verbal Behavior by B.F. Skinner
Learning and Complex Behavior by John Donahoe & Dave Palmer

A Liberated Mind: How to Pivot Toward What Matters by Dr. Steven C. Hayes

ACT Bootcamp for Behavior Analysts – April 24-27, 2025, in Oakland, CA

Connect with Dr. Hayes:

🌎 Website
📘 Books & Publications
🎧 ACT in Practice Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Janet Sanchez Enriquez and Dr. Paulie Gavoni are joined by a remarkable guest, Dr. Noor Syed - Assistant Professor of Applied Behavior Analysis, founding Director of the Center for Autism Advocacy: Research, Education, and Services (CAARES) at SUNY Empire State University, and the Turben Director of Autism Advocacy. Dr. Syed has dedicated over 20 years to advancing autism advocacy, behavior analysis, and global inclusion. Her work spans teaching, therapy, and consultation in countries like Uganda, India, and Indonesia, while her leadership at Anderson Center International and ABAEthicsHotline.com reflects her commitment to ethical and affirming practices.

Highlights include:

• Dr. Syed's journey into behavior analysis and her inspiration for championing neurodiverse inclusion.
• How CAARES uses the MTSS framework to create inclusive college environments.
• Launching a Master of Science in ABA with a focus on affirming, responsive practice.
• Insights from her global consultation experience and ethical challenges in the field.
• Her vision for equity, inclusion, and the future of behavior analysis.

Tune in as we explore Dr. Syed’s innovative contributions to autism advocacy and her vision for fostering global acceptance and accessibility in behavior analysis.

We're thrilled to welcome you to a special episode of the WBAD Podcast, where Paulie and Janet Enriquez sit down with one of the true luminaries in our field, Dr. Pat Friman. Dr. Friman's influence spans decades, from his role as Vice President of Behavioral Health at Boys Town to his tenure as a Clinical Professor at the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. With over 200 scientific publications and a career that bridges academic, clinical, and applied settings, his contributions to behavioral pediatrics, behavioral medicine, and the broader field of behavior analysis are legendary. 

This episode dives deep into the role of compassion in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), exploring how integrating a compassionate perspective reshapes behavioral health services. With topics ranging from empathy in practice to the transformative "Circumstances View" of behavior, Dr. Friman's insights challenge and inspire. Tune in for a conversation that promises not only to elevate your understanding but also to ignite a passion for more humane and effective practices in our field.