Episodes

  • Words that Work: Brittany Warnke on Effective Language Interventions (Part I)
    Jan 25 2026

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap is proud to present Brittany Warnke, SLP (Part 1 of 2):

    In this episode of ABA on Tap, hosts Mike Rubio and Dan Lowery are joined by Brittany Warnke, MA, CCC-SLP, a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist from San Diego, California.

    Brittany brings her specialized expertise in bridging the gap between speech pathology and behavior analysis to the table. Currently serving at Pioneer Day School, Brittany focuses on collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches to support learners with diverse communication needs.

    In this episode, we dive into:

    • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: How SLPs and BCBAs can work together to create more comprehensive and effective treatment plans.
    • Functional Communication: Strategies for prioritizing meaningful, real-world communication goals that empower students.
    • Bridging the Jargon: Navigating the different professional "languages" of SLP and ABA to foster better teamwork and outcomes for families.

    Whether you’re a practitioner looking to sharpen your collaborative skills or a parent navigating the world of related services, Brittany’s insights offer a fresh, compassionate perspective on how we can better serve our learners together.

    Pull up a chair, grab a cold one, and let's talk shop. Cheers, and always analyze responsibly!.

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • Behavioral Wellness: Creating Functional Change for Families and Schools With Dr. Tranika Jefferson (Part II)
    Jan 18 2026

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap is proud to present Dr. Tranika Jefferson, BCBA-D (Part 2 of 2):

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tranika Jefferson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA, a distinguished doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of The Behavioral Wellness Academy. With over 16 years of experience in the field, Dr. Jefferson has dedicated her career to understanding the "why" behind human behavior and using evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to improve lives.

    Key Discussion Points:

    • Holistic ABA Therapy: How Dr. Jefferson uses ABA to increase functional skills—such as communication and social play—while minimizing challenging behaviors like aggression and tantrums.
    • Advocacy & Leadership: Her role as a speaker at the 2026 Black Women In Behavior Analysis Appreciation Day (BWIBAAD) conference and her work in fostering inclusive communities.
    • Community Impact: Her commitment to accessibility, including the implementation of sliding-scale fee systems and partnerships with schools to support families who lack insurance coverage.
    • Professional Journey: From her academic roots at Prairie View A&M University to her PhD from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Jefferson shares her passion for mentoring future clinicians.

    Dr. Tranika Jefferson is a native of Bryan, Texas, and a recognized expert in treating autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental health disorders. She is a three-time grant awardee for behavioral disability care and currently serves as a consultant to schools and community-based organizations in the Houston metropolitan area.

    Connect with Dr. Jefferson:

    • Website: The Behavioral Wellness Academy
    • LinkedIn: Dr. Tranika Jefferson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA
    • Instagram: @tranikaj26

    *ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY*

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • Behavioral Wellness: Creating Functional Change for Families and Schools With Dr. Tranika Jefferson (Part I)
    Jan 11 2026

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap is proud to present Dr. Tranika Jefferson, BCBA-D (Part 1 of 2):

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tranika Jefferson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA, a distinguished doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst and the founder of The Behavioral Wellness Academy. With over 16 years of experience in the field, Dr. Jefferson has dedicated her career to understanding the "why" behind human behavior and using evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to improve lives.

    Key Discussion Points:

    • Holistic ABA Therapy: How Dr. Jefferson uses ABA to increase functional skills—such as communication and social play—while minimizing challenging behaviors like aggression and tantrums.
    • Advocacy & Leadership: Her role as a speaker at the 2026 Black Women In Behavior Analysis Appreciation Day (BWIBAAD) conference and her work in fostering inclusive communities.
    • Community Impact: Her commitment to accessibility, including the implementation of sliding-scale fee systems and partnerships with schools to support families who lack insurance coverage.
    • Professional Journey: From her academic roots at Prairie View A&M University to her PhD from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Dr. Jefferson shares her passion for mentoring future clinicians.

    Dr. Tranika Jefferson is a native of Bryan, Texas, and a recognized expert in treating autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental health disorders. She is a three-time grant awardee for behavioral disability care and currently serves as a consultant to schools and community-based organizations in the Houston metropolitan area.

    Connect with Dr. Jefferson:

    • Website: The Behavioral Wellness Academy
    • LinkedIn: Dr. Tranika Jefferson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA
    • Instagram: @tranikaj26

    *ALWAYS ANALYZE RESPONSIBLY*

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like, Overstimulation: Holiday ABA with Mike and Dan, Part II
    Dec 21 2025

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap presents 'Holiday ABA with Mike and Dan,' (Part 2 of 2)

    Get ready to navigate family gatherings with ease! In this episode, Mike and Dan are unwrapping the essential conversations so the surprises are all about cheer.

    Priming is the name of the game--talking with kids and family members before big events, covering topics from managing sensory overload and food expectations (balance, not control!) to setting boundaries and dealing with tricky relatives. The idea is ensuring your kids and family members feel prepared, supported, and less stressed for a smoother, happier family time for everyone!

    What You'll Learn:

    • Setting the Scene: How to prepare kids for crowds, noise, and new environments.
    • Food Talk: Shifting from restriction to body trust around holiday treats.
    • Boundary Basics: Teaching kids to say "no" and manage unwanted attention.
    • Handling Awkward Questions: Scripts for dealing with intrusive questions from family.
    • Managing Expectations: Discussing gifts, attention, and potential conflicts.
    • Escape Plans: Creating a signal for when they need a break.

    Find the full article used in this episode at: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conversations-with-kids-before-holiday-gatherings_l_691b9820e4b0b8c5ce7298c7

    Happy Holidays! And Always Analyze Responsibly.

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like, Overstimulation: Holiday ABA with Mike and Dan, Part I
    Dec 14 2025

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap presents 'Holiday ABA with Mike and Dan,' (Part 1 of 2)

    Get ready to navigate family gatherings with ease! In this episode, Mike and Dan are unwrapping the essential conversations so the surprises are all about cheer.

    Priming is the name of the game--talking with kids and family members before big events, covering topics from managing sensory overload and food expectations (balance, not control!) to setting boundaries and dealing with tricky relatives. The idea is ensuring your kids and family members feel prepared, supported, and less stressed for a smoother, happier family time for everyone!

    What You'll Learn:

    • Setting the Scene: How to prepare kids for crowds, noise, and new environments.
    • Food Talk: Shifting from restriction to body trust around holiday treats.
    • Boundary Basics: Teaching kids to say "no" and manage unwanted attention.
    • Handling Awkward Questions: Scripts for dealing with intrusive questions from family.
    • Managing Expectations: Discussing gifts, attention, and potential conflicts.
    • Escape Plans: Creating a signal for when they need a break.

    Find the full article used in this episode at: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/conversations-with-kids-before-holiday-gatherings_l_691b9820e4b0b8c5ce7298c7

    Happy Holidays! And Always Analyze Responsibly.


    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    50 mins
  • RBT--Person or Service?
    Dec 7 2025

    Send us a text

    Bringing back greatest hits as we wrap on 2025! Originally published on Season 4 Episode 8 and referred to often in subsequent podcasts, please rejoin us and enjoy this episode - RBT-Person or Service!

    Continuity of quality service might be one of the most important aspects of treatment with successful outcomes. Quality can refer to a number of variables including a strong rapport between client (and family) and clinicians, built over time with a steady progression of engaging and reinforcing sessions. While case managers are part of this quality service, it is inevitably the registered behavior technicians (RBTs) who share the most time and encounters with client and family. often in the family home. Hence, the reality of turnover of staff, or perhaps the necessity for 'time-off,' can create a semblance of discontinuity in service all on its own. In this episode, Dan and Mike revisit a 'company line' oft used to promote parameters like 'sub' clinicians when assigned staff is unavailable for a session and client as usual--the RBT is 'a service, not a person.' All the while, Mike splits time between being a 'sub' of sorts himself, caring for his 2-year-old while 'mama' is away, as Dan and he analyze the pros and cons of seeing the RBT as a service, and not a person.

    Lots to analyze in this tasty brew--a hint of bitterness, perhaps a bit sour at times, but it promises a smooth finish. Enjoy all the layers, and always analyze responsibly.

    AND--if you are ready to enjoy the benefits of Magic Mind and boost your brain performance, please use the following link and use the discount code ABAONTAP to receive 20% off your purchase:
    https://www.magicmind.co/ABAONTAP

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • ACT, MFT and ABA: Discovering a Unique Alphabet with Matt Tapia (Part II)
    Nov 30 2025

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap is proud to present Matt Tapia (Part 2 of 2):

    Matt Tapia is a dually-credentialed professional, holding licenses as both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Arizona and California and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This unique background allows him to offer a comprehensive, integrated perspective on mental health and behavior, drawing from both clinical counseling and applied behavior analysis.

    Matt's therapeutic approach is heavily influenced by third-wave behavioral therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). His work focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families navigate a broad spectrum of challenges, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, and caregiving stress, particularly for those within the autism and neurodivergent communities.

    In addition to his clinical practice, Matt serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) where he helps develop and review national exam questions for aspiring BCBAs and RBTs. He holds a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). With a commitment to meeting clients where they are, Matt uses a collaborative, team-based approach to help people build meaningful and fulfilling lives.

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • ACT, MFT and ABA: Discovering a Unique Alphabet with Matt Tapia (Part I)
    Nov 23 2025

    Send us a text

    ABA on Tap is proud to present Matt Tapia (Part 1 of 2):

    Matt Tapia is a dually-credentialed professional, holding licenses as both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Arizona and California and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). This unique background allows him to offer a comprehensive, integrated perspective on mental health and behavior, drawing from both clinical counseling and applied behavior analysis.

    Matt's therapeutic approach is heavily influenced by third-wave behavioral therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). His work focuses on helping individuals, couples, and families navigate a broad spectrum of challenges, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues, life transitions, and caregiving stress, particularly for those within the autism and neurodivergent communities.

    In addition to his clinical practice, Matt serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) where he helps develop and review national exam questions for aspiring BCBAs and RBTs. He holds a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). With a commitment to meeting clients where they are, Matt uses a collaborative, team-based approach to help people build meaningful and fulfilling lives.

    Support the show

    🔥 Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review on your favorite podcast platform!

    📢 Connect with Us:
    🔗 Website: https://abaontap.com
    🎧 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aba.on.tap.podcast

    📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abaontap/
    🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ABAonTap
    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aba-on-tap

    💡 Support the Show:
    ☕ Love what we do? Buy us a virtual drink! Support ABA on Tap
    🎙️ Interested in sponsoring? Partner with us

    🚀 Join the ABA on Tap Community! Stay updated on the latest episodes, live events, and exclusive content.

    🎧 Analyze Responsibly & Keep the Conversation Going! 🍻

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr