If you're a parent with a child diagnosed with Level 1, 2, or Level 3 autism or worried about speech delays, tantrums, autism signs, hitting, potty training struggles, picky eating, meltdowns, sensory issues, or toddler behavior that feels confusing or overwhelming, you're in the right place: www.marybarbera.com
Hosted by Dr. Mary Barbera โ RN, doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D), best-selling author, and creator of widely used online programs for toddlers and preschoolers โ this bi-weekly podcast breaks down complex child development topics into simple, actionable steps any parent or professional can use immediately.
Every other week, Mary shares her proven 4-step approach to help children (with and without autism or ADHD) make measurable progress at home, school, and in the community. Episodes cover highly searched topics such as:
๐ฃ๏ธ Speech & Language Development
How to get your toddler to talk
What to do when your toddler isn't talking
Late talking, first words, echolalia, scripting, and vocal stimming
Strategies to build interaction, joint attention, and social engagement
๐ญ Behavior & Tantrums
How to stop hitting, biting, throwing, and daily meltdowns
What causes tantrums and how to reduce them
Simple behavior plans any parent can use
Emotional regulation for toddlers and preschoolers
๐ง Autism, ADHD & Early Signs
Early signs of autism in toddlers
What to do if you suspect autism โ or if someone told you to "wait and see"
Screening vs. diagnosis
Sensory processing disorder, hyperlexia, giftedness vs. autism traits
Navigating early intervention, speech therapy, OT, or ABA therapy
๐ถ Daily Life Skills
Potty training for toddlers with speech delays or autism
Picky eating and feeding challenges
Sleep issues and bedtime routines
Safety, wandering, transitions, and managing hard outings
Preparing for doctor, dentist, or haircut visits
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ฆ Parent Coaching & Real-Life Stories
Real parent success stories (like toddlers going from 0 words to hundreds)
How to create calm, confident routines at home
Reducing stress for the whole family
Mindset support for overwhelmed parents
This show is designed to help parents, but is also widely followed by behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists, teachers, pediatricians, nurses, and early-intervention professionals who want child-friendly, research-backed strategies that work in real homes.
Whether you're dealing with a diagnosis of autism or a late talker with frequent tantrums, sensory challenges, or early signs of autismโฆ or you simply want a clear, compassionate, step-by-step plan to help your child thrive โ this podcast is here to guide you.
Subscribe and learn how to improve talking, reduce problem behaviors, and help your child gain confidence, independence, and skills โ starting today.
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ยฉ My Podcast Data ยท Independent project ยท Data from Apple & Spotify
#353: "I Never Thought I'd Hear Her Talk" | Autism Success Story
Episode 353
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 โข Duration 44:35
Michelle C. shares her daughter Elena's autism success story, from severe language delays and tantrums at age two to thriving in a general education third-grade classroom. After COVID disrupted therapy services, Michelle used the Turn Autism Aroundยฎ approach to assess Elena's skills, build communication, make learning enjoyable, and track progress. Elena went from using only a few meaningful words to hundreds, while Michelle gained the confidence and tools to support her development. Today, Michelle also helps other families as a Team Barbera coach.
#352: Her Daughter Had Autism and Just 2 Wordsโฆ Look at Her Now
Episode 352
Tuesday, October 6, 2026 โข Duration 44:39
Mary Barbera welcomes back Michelle, a parent and autism coach, to share her daughter Elena's remarkable journey. Michelle discusses recognizing early signs of regression, receiving an autism diagnosis, and navigating therapy shutdowns during COVID-19. She shares how implementing at-home teaching strategies helped Elena progress from two words to 180 words and phrases in just 33 days.
Now eight years old and thriving in third grade, Elena continues to make progress. Michelle reflects on the challenges her family overcame and the importance of empowering parents to actively participate in their children's development.
#351: Her Granddaughter Wasn't TalkingโThen Tracy Learned What to Do
Episode 351
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 โข Duration 30:55
Mary Barbera interviews longtime collaborator Tracy Rasmussen about helping her 16-month-old granddaughter, Cece, who was showing signs of a speech delay. Tracy shares the strategies she learned through Mary's program, including language sampling, modeling words, repetition, structured table time, and reducing pressure around speaking. She also discusses Cece's early progress with new word approximations, communication, and cooperation. The program is designed to give parents, grandparents, and professionals practical tools they can use to help children build stronger communication and language skills.
#350: "Free" Tips & Therapy Aren't Really Free - The Autism Myth Keeping You Stuck
Episode 350
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 โข Duration 17:57
Dr. Mary Barbera explains why "free" autism advice and therapy can still carry a cost when they delay real progress. Mary shares two parent stories: Ruth, who spent 150+ hours piecing together free content without a step-by-step plan, and Kelsey, who had funded therapy in place but watched her son work on the wrong goals. Both stories point to the same lesson: parents need to become the "Captain of the Ship" with a clear plan for teaching language, reducing problem behaviors, and supporting progress every day.
#349: Child Talking Too Quietly? How to Improve Voice Volume in a New Talker
Episode 349
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 โข Duration 15:15
When a child has words but speaks too quietly to hear, low volume may be connected to confidence, fluency, and how difficult the word feels. In this coaching call excerpt, Dr. Mary Barbera explains how to increase talking and voice volume by giving the answer, modeling words clearly, slowing down practice, using 3D objects, matching, microphones, mirrors, songs, outdoor play, and weekly word lists. The goal is to shape louder, clearer communication without constant correction or pressure.
#348: Siblings, Autism & Speech Delays: Why You Can't Predict the Future
Episode 348
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 โข Duration 12:36
Dr. Mary Barbera shares the story of her sons Lucas and Spencer, two boys who looked very similar as toddlers but had very different outcomes. Through their journey, she explains why parents can't predict a child's future with a "crystal ball," but should still take action early when they notice speech delays, autism signs, or developmental concerns. She also introduces her 5 Weeks to More Talking program as a step-by-step way to start helping children right away.
#347: Could Autism Be Detected at Birth? One Father's Mission to Change Autism Care
Episode 347
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 โข Duration 41:36
Dr. Mary Barbera interviews Amol Deshpande, creator of the Frontera app and father of a son with autism, about his mission to improve early autism detection and access to care. They discuss biomarker testing that may help identify autism risk as early as birth, the importance of parent support, the role of AI and technology, concerns about misinformation, and why earlier intervention could dramatically improve outcomes for children and families.
#346: 30 Years After My Son's Autism Diagnosis: What I Know Now
Episode 346
Tuesday, July 14, 2026 โข Duration 14:29
Dr. Mary Barbera reflects on nearly three decades in the autism world as both a mom and professional. She shares how denial, long waitlists and limited early support can delay progress for children with autism or developmental delays. She emphasizes the importance of assessment, early action, parent-led intervention and individualized plans, while introducing the free Barbera Early Childhood Assessment (BECA) as a starting point for families seeking clarity and next steps.
#345: Can Autism Be Reversed? Stem Cells, Early Intervention & New Research
Episode 345
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 โข Duration 37:13
Dr. Mary Barbera speaks with Dr. Joseph Cautilli about autism research, including cautious optimism around university-based stem cell studies and stronger evidence for early behavioral intervention. They discuss a 2023 study showing some children diagnosed as toddlers were no longer diagnosable by age five, especially with early intervention and parent-supported engagement. The conversation emphasizes that parents should not wait for a diagnosis to begin helping their child build language, adaptive skills, communication, engagement, and quality of life through fun, child-friendly strategies.
#344: Why "He'll Be Fine" Is the Most Dangerous Advice in Autism
Episode 344
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 โข Duration 15:34
"He'll probably be fine." That's what most parents hear when their toddler shows early signs of autism. After 25 years in the field - and raising a son who looked "mild" at 2 but needs 24/7 care at 30 - Dr. Mary Barbera explains why that reassurance may be the most dangerous sentence in child development.
In this video, Dr. Mary Barbera breaks down:
Why the question "Can autism be prevented or reversed?" has become politically incorrect - and why it's the most important question to ask anyway
The river parable: why we can't just keep pulling children from the water without going upstream
The "golden year" of neuroplasticity - and why almost every autism family misses it
Why kids who look "mild" at 2 can end up needing lifelong care - while kids who looked severe are graduating college
Dr. Glenn Dunlap's career-changing advice: "Treat it like the most severe case of autism"
Why early intervention systems haven't changed since the 1990s - and what parents can do right now
Dr. Mary Barbera is an RN turned BCBA-D and bestselling author of Turn Autism Around. As both a doctoral-level behavior analyst and the mother of a 30-year-old son with severe autism, she bridges clinical credibility with lived experience to empower parents as the lead in their child's progress.
๐ค QUESTION OF THE DAY:
Did someone tell you to "wait and see" when you first noticed delays? What happened next?
Monthly deep dives on where the autism field is headed, what the research actually says, and practical strategies you can start using today - from someone who's both a doctoral-level behavior analyst and an autism mom.
๐ TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Can autism be prevented or reversed? 0:29 The river parable - going upstream to find the cause 1:19 "I'm the person going upstream" 1:42 The most important question in the autism world 2:40 Why prevention became politically incorrect in 2026 3:23 The 2023 Boston study - 40% no longer meeting criteria 3:46 Dr. Ami Klin's eye tracking research 5:25 Waiting for a diagnosis is almost always a bad idea 5:41 The "golden year" of neuroplasticity - and why most miss it 7:08 There is no time to wait and worry 7:32 The danger of "he'll probably be fine" 8:31 Lucas's story - mild signs at 2, preschool with no issues 9:26 Lucas at 30 - and the kids who looked worse but thrived 942 Dr. Dunlap's advice treat it like the most severe case 10:48 Why Mary's approach puts parents in the lead 12:44 The Turn Autism Around approach - what makes it different 14:27 Can autism symptoms be prevented? Mary's verdict 15:11 Never too early, never too late