Is compassion in ABA a “soft skill”… or a missing piece of the science? 👀In this episode of The BC(BAes) Podcast, Melina and Jordan sit down with Dr. Nissa Intarachote Van Etten, BCBA and leader in training and development, to unpack one of the most important — and often overlooked — topics in behavior analysis:🧠 Compassionate careWith over 20 years in the field, Dr. Nissa shares why she dedicated her doctoral research to compassion, how soft skills impact real outcomes, and why being technically sound isn’t enough if you can’t connect with the families you serve.From navigating ethical gray areas, to supporting staff in real-life, vulnerable home settings, to using AI to be more present (not less) — this episode dives into the human side of ABA that doesn’t always show up in textbooks.If you're a BCBA, RBT, or ABA professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about care, connection, and what it really means to be effective in this field.Because at the end of the day…👉 We’re humans working with humans.⏱️ Episode Timestamps00:00 – Meet Melina, Jordan & Dr. Nissa00:40 – Why study compassionate care in ABA?01:20 – Early ABA: working directly with families (pre-insurance era)02:00 – Why parents had to trust you back then02:50 – What are “soft skills” in ABA?03:40 – Technical skills vs soft skills explained04:30 – Why soft skills are missing in ABA training05:00 – Should RBTs be trained in compassionate care?05:10 – Can empathy be taught?05:30 – Inside Dr. Nissa’s dissertation research06:20 – Measuring empathy (Jefferson Scale)07:00 – Can you teach compassion—or just “mask” it?07:40 – Gender, empathy & societal conditioning08:40 – “Fake it till you make it” in compassionate care09:20 – Self-reflection as a clinician10:20 – What families actually want from BCBAs11:00 – Can you use ABA principles and be compassionate?12:00 – Protocol vs clinical judgment13:00 – Where the field is missing compassion the most13:30 – Compassion between colleagues (not just clients)14:20 – Ego, gatekeeping & growth in ABA15:00 – Why collaboration matters in a growing field16:00 – Being in vulnerable spaces with families16:40 – Cultural responsiveness in the home17:20 – Real ethical dilemmas (hugging a parent?!)18:10 – Balancing ethics code vs being human19:00 – Navigating boundaries as a clinician20:00 – Learning from mistakes in the field20:50 – Rigid thinking vs true behavior analysis21:30 – Self-awareness and checking your biases22:20 – Coaching RBTs beyond “you’ll figure it out”23:00 – Practical ways to improve compassionate care TODAY23:40 – Balancing data collection vs human connection24:20 – Using AI to improve presence in sessions 🤖25:00 – Why automation can enhance (not replace) care25:40 – Final thoughts + Part 2 teaser🧠 Topics We Cover✔️ Compassionate care in ABA✔️ Soft skills vs technical skills✔️ Teaching empathy to clinicians✔️ Ethics vs real-world practice✔️ Cultural responsiveness✔️ Supporting families in vulnerable moments✔️ RBT & BCBA training gaps✔️ Using AI in ABA sessions✔️ Collaboration vs gatekeeping in the field📲 Follow The BC(BAes)Instagramhttps://instagram.com/thebcbaesTikTokhttps://tiktok.com/@thebcbaesYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@TheBCBAes🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.If you're in the ABA field, make sure to subscribe for real conversations about ethics, leadership, clinical work, and the human side of behavior analysis.

She was doing telehealth before telehealth even existed… 🤯In this episode of The BC(BAes) Podcast, Jordan and Melina sit down with Emaley McCulloch, Chief Clinical Officer at Motivity, to unpack her incredible journey from early ABA pioneer to tech innovator.From taking data as a child 📊 (yes, really), to building autism programs in Hawaii and Tokyo, to creating one of the first ABA training video platforms, Emaley has been shaping this field for decades.Now, she’s helping lead one of the most impactful ABA data and practice management platforms in the game — and giving us a behind-the-scenes look at how technology is transforming behavior analysis.This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered:🧠 How did ABA evolve into what it is today?💻 Can technology actually improve clinical quality?📈 How do we scale services without losing the human side?⚖️ Are we drifting away from the roots of the field?This conversation is equal parts history lesson, inspiration, and future roadmap for ABA professionals.⏱️ Episode Timestamps00:00 – Meet Emaley McCulloch (Motivity CCO)01:05 – Getting into ABA on purpose (not by accident!)01:30 – Early experiences supporting individuals with disabilities02:30 – First exposure to autism & behavior modification03:50 – Learning ABA in the 90s (and how much has changed)05:30 – College, career path & early field experiences06:20 – Marriage, life pivots & unexpected directions07:15 – Moving to Hawaii for adventure 🌺08:00 – Becoming a district autism specialist08:40 – The impact of the Felix Consent Decree09:00 – Opening a school for autism in Hawaii09:10 – Expanding services to Tokyo, Japan 🇯🇵09:50 – Early telehealth using cameras & remote supervision (way ahead of its time)10:50 – The birth of online ABA training content11:30 – Starting Autism Training Solutions12:30 – Growing to 600+ organizations13:15 – Acquisition by Relias & shifting roles14:00 – Joining Motivity & returning to ABA roots14:45 – Reflecting on 30 years in the field15:10 – Being a pioneer in ABA technology16:00 – Is ABA shifting back to clinician-led roots?17:00 – How insurance funding changed the field18:00 – The reality of admin burden in modern ABA19:00 – Why going independent isn’t always “freedom”19:30 – The role of technology in scaling ABA services20:00 – Rapid growth of the ABA field (and challenges)20:30 – Online training & accessibility in ABA21:00 – How tech supports clinicians & families21:30 – The vision behind Motivity22:00 – NIH funding & building research-backed tech23:00 – Creating data-driven clinical tools24:00 – Why data collection must connect to billing & reporting25:00 – Building an all-in-one ABA platform26:00 – Scaling from startup to 60+ employees27:00 – Favorite Motivity features from a clinical perspective28:00 – Using data to support staff performance & quality🧠 Topics We Cover✔️ The evolution of ABA from the 90s to today✔️ Early telehealth & global autism services✔️ ABA technology and data systems✔️ Scaling ABA services with tech✔️ Insurance & payer impact on the field✔️ Clinical quality vs administrative burden✔️ Training the next generation of clinicians✔️ Inside Motivity’s platform and vision📲 Follow The BC(BAes)Instagramhttps://instagram.com/thebcbaesTikTokhttps://tiktok.com/@thebcbaesYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@TheBCBAes🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.If you’re a BCBA, RBT, or ABA professional, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of where the field has been — and where it’s going next.🔎 Hashtags#BCBA #ABAtherapy #BehaviorAnalysis #ABAfield #AutismSupport #RBTlife #ABAtechnology #BCBAlife #ABAcommunity #BehaviorAnalyst #TheBCBAes #Motivity

Can you scale an ABA company without losing your values… or your soul? 👀In this episode of The BC(BAes) Podcast, Jordan and Melina sit down with Javon May, CEO and Chief Clinical Officer of Autonomous Behavior Solutions in Los Angeles, for a real conversation about growing an ABA business the right way.The ABA field is expanding faster than ever. 🚀 But with growth comes hard questions:⚖️ How do you scale ethically?📈 How fast is too fast to grow?🧠 How do you protect staff from burnout while maintaining quality care?💼 And what responsibilities come with being the person at the top?Javon shares what it’s actually like running a clinician-led ABA organization — from making difficult ethical decisions, to turning down clients when necessary, to building systems that support sustainable growth.If you’re a BCBA, RBT, clinical director, or behavior analyst thinking about starting your own company, this episode pulls back the curtain on leadership in ABA.Because scaling a business is one thing…Scaling it without sacrificing your values is another.⏱️ Episode Timestamps00:00 – Meet the BC(BAes) & guest Javon May00:40 – Why a CEO should stay grounded in the clinical side01:30 – Wearing both CEO and Chief Clinical Officer hats03:40 – The ABA paradox: working yourself out of a job04:05 – What sustainable growth actually means in ABA05:00 – “More money, more problems” in business growth06:20 – Avoiding staff burnout while scaling an ABA company07:40 – Systems and SOPs that support growth08:05 – Small company vs large company leadership09:40 – Delegation and trusting your leadership team10:15 – The speedboat vs oil tanker analogy in business growth11:10 – When company growth naturally slows down13:10 – Ethical challenges CEOs face in ABA organizations14:20 – Balancing client needs vs staff protection15:45 – When you have to turn down a client16:40 – Protecting staff from disrespectful situations17:20 – Ethical decisions that aren’t in the BACB code18:30 – Tough leadership calls in ABA organizations19:50 – Advice for BCBAs thinking about starting a company21:00 – The reality of wearing every hat as an owner22:15 – Why being a great BCBA doesn’t automatically make you a great CEO23:40 – The responsibility of leading a team24:00 – The “no shield” feeling of business ownership25:45 – Staying motivated as a CEO in ABA26:50 – Why seeing client progress still fuels the mission27:40 – Measuring quality care in an ABA organization28:30 – Supporting staff while maintaining clinical excellence🧠 Topics We Cover✔️ Scaling an ABA company ethically✔️ Sustainable growth in the ABA field✔️ Preventing burnout for RBTs and BCBAs✔️ Leadership for clinician-owned organizations✔️ Ethics in business decisions✔️ Measuring quality ABA services✔️ Systems and procedures for growth📲 Follow The BC(BAes)Instagramhttps://instagram.com/thebcbaesTikTokhttps://tiktok.com/@thebcbaesYouTubehttps://youtube.com/@TheBCBAes🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.If you're in the ABA field, subscribe so you don’t miss conversations about the real life of behavior analysts — leadership, ethics, business, and the science that drives it all.🔎 Hashtags#BCBA #ABAtherapy #BehaviorAnalysis #ABAfield #BCBAlife #AutismSupport #ABAclinic #RBTlife #ABAethics #BCBAPodcast #TheBCBAes #BehaviorAnalyst