ABA Inside Track – October 2025 Preview (October 1, 2025)
Episode Overview
The ABA Inside Track crew—Rob, Diana, and Jackie—gather live at the Thompson Center’s 20th Autism Conference in St. Charles, Missouri, to deliver their monthly preview for October 2025. The trio shares details about upcoming episodes, reflects on their conference experiences, discusses recent and future presentations, and sprinkles in banter about research articles, behavioral artistry, and humorous behind-the-scenes podcast moments. This lively, conference-recorded preview is packed with teasers for October’s content, memorable anecdotes, and inside looks into the lives of behavior analysts.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Location & Episode Format
- The episode is recorded live during lunch at the Thompson Center’s 20th Autism Conference in Missouri, setting a casual and spontaneous backdrop.
- Quote [00:39] (Rob): “...the stimulus control of recording is all messed up because we are live in St. Charles, Missouri, at the Thompson Center's 20th conference.”
2. October 2025 Episode Lineup
- Three Full-Length Episodes Planned:
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a. Fall Grab Bag
- A playful session with random research articles picked from the “grab bag.” The hosts joke about new and evolving ways to select articles, playing on the evolving format.
- Articles Discussed:
- Do persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities prefer to save the best for last in an MSWO: a preliminary investigation (Behavioral Interventions, 2022)
- Effects of Group Virtual Training and Self Monitoring on Leading a Meeting (JABA, 2025)
- Curriculum Based Evaluation of Cultural Competency Coursework in an Online ABA Grad Program (Behavior Analysis and Practice, 2025)
- Quote [02:36] (Diana): “We're not getting rid of the grab bag episodes. We like doing them. Hopefully you like the kids.”
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b. Behavioral Artistry with Dr. Amy Bookspan
- A follow-up conversation with Dr. Bookspan, discussing her latest research and clearing up a previous citation mistake.
- Articles Discussed:
- Utilizing the Teaching Interaction Procedure to Train Special Education Teachers in Behavioral Artistry (Behavioral Interventions, 2025)
- Training Behavior Technicians to Become Behavior Artists through the Teaching Interaction Procedure (Behavioral Interventions, 2023)
- Quote [04:25] (Jackie): “She answered one of our questions... And here's the follow up article.”
- Quote [04:31] (Rob): “… you can listen to that episode and we hear about the mistake from the offended person there.”
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c. Safety Skills Episode
- Dedicated to best practices in teaching safety skills.
- Articles Discussed:
- Evaluation of Behavioral Skills Training to Prevent Gunplay in Children (JABA, 2004)
- Effectiveness of Video Modeling and Teaching Earthquake and Post-Earthquake Evacuation Safety Skills for Children with Autism (JABA, 2023)
- Teaching Safety Skills to Children: A Discussion of Critical Features and Practice Recommendations (BAP, 2022)
- A Survey of Safety Skills Training Used by Behavior Analysts in Practice (BAP, 2024)
- Quote [05:46] (Diana): “…lots to look forward to.”
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3. Conference Experience and Reflections
- The hosts share their presentation, “Neurodiversity Affirming Practices and Behavioral Goal Setting,” focusing on supporting neurodivergent individuals and fostering self-determination.
- Quote [07:53] (Diana): “You know, it was Neurodiversity Affirming Practices and Behavioral Goal Setting.”
- Reflections on audience dynamics and the transition from podcasting to live talks.
- Quote [08:18] (Rob): “...when you’re doing a talk, you’re sort of like, looking around the audience and there’s so many people...just a polite human, you know, so it’s always a little different to sort of see, like, what feedback is there going to be?”
- Recalling an emotionally powerful opening keynote by Catlina Varana, an autistic advocate who used AAC, which deeply moved attendees.
- Quote [09:26] (Jackie): “...she was autistic and communicated via AAC throughout the entire keynote...it was an amazing...perspective.”
- Descriptions of other interesting sessions attended, such as health and fitness goal setting with Dr. Brandon May, and advances in VR-based behavioral training by Dr. Casey Clay.
4. Humorous Anecdotes and Personal Stories
- The trio shares stories about embarrassing VR mishaps, like falling out of a chair during a Stranger Things simulation.
- Quote [11:39] (Jackie): “That was the first time I had ever done VR...I fell out of my chair.”
- Banter around upcoming local (BABBAT Conference in Worcester, MA) and international conferences, student presentations, and the anticipated trivia night event.
- Quote [14:21] (Jackie): “...using UDL in higher education. I was like, ooh, I really want to go to this one. I’m going to learn a lot. And then I scrolled just a tiny bit up and there was my name, and I was like, oh, I guess I’m going to that.”
- Joins occur about supporting students and “fangirling” over Dr. Miltenberger at BABBAT.
- Quote [15:17] (Rob): “I know Dr. Miltenberger, I believe, is there this year. So you're going to chase him down, fangirl him up.”
5. Listener Engagement and Patreon Updates
- Jokes about launching a $3,000 Patreon tier to fund Rob’s dream of owning a signed first edition of Walden 2 by B.F. Skinner.
- Quote [17:02] (Rob): “...I'm going to use that money to purchase Walden 2, first edition, signed by B.F. skinner.”
- Encouragement for audience engagement, and shoutouts to students and practitioners presenting at conferences.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Conference Nerves [08:18] (Rob):
“When you’re doing a talk, you’re sort of like, looking around the audience and there’s so many people... Are they clapping because they liked your talk? Are they clapping because they're like, I'm glad this is over?” -
On Powerful Keynotes [09:26] (Jackie):
“...it was an autism advocate. She was autistic and communicated via AAC throughout the entire keynote... it was so informative and it was a really good perspective.” -
On VR Mishaps [11:39] (Jackie):
“That was the first time I had ever done VR...I fell out of my chair. It was like a Stranger Things scene...and I was like, oh, that's what you were watching.” -
On Presenting and Forgetfulness [14:21] (Jackie):
“...I saw our talk, and it was like, using UDL...I was like, ooh, I really want to go to this one. I’m going to learn a lot. And then...there was my name, and I was like, oh, I guess I’m going to that.” -
On Signed Books [17:02] (Rob):
“...we’re starting a new Patreon tier...for $3,000...I’m going to use that money to purchase Walden 2, first edition, signed by B.F. Skinner.”
Important Episode Timestamps
- 00:11–01:36 — Show opening, introductions, settling in at the Thompson Center Conference
- 02:12–06:49 — October episode preview: grab bag, behavioral artistry, and safety skills episodes
- 07:27–10:26 — Conference experiences, reflections on giving their talk, keynote highlights
- 11:01–12:10 — Descriptions of other talks attended; VR anecdotes
- 12:37–14:13 — Upcoming conferences (BABBAT), talk previews, trivia night details
- 14:45–15:16 — Encouraging attendance and support for students; “fangirling” over Dr. Miltenberger
- 15:48–16:44 — Updates on bonus episodes, multidisciplinary poster session at the Thompson Center
- 17:02–18:12 — Fake $3,000 Patreon tier for signed “Walden 2” book; playful family financial banter
- 18:33–18:56 — Closing remarks and sign-off
Conclusion
This episode offers a lighthearted, content-rich glimpse into the October lineup of ABA Inside Track, complemented by real-life vignettes from a major autism conference. Listeners will come away with a clear idea of what’s in store for the month, insight into the host’s professional (and personal) journeys, and a sense of the vibrant, ever-evolving ABA community. Whether you're a practitioner, student, or fan, this episode blends serious behavioral science with just enough laughter and humility to make it a must-listen.