The World Behavior Analysis Day Podcast

In this episode, hosts Dr. Paulie Gavoni and Dr. Janet Sanchez Enriquez welcome Dr. Sarah Lechago, Professor of Behavior Analysis at the University of Houston–Clear Lake, to discuss her path into behavior analysis and her work connecting rigorous science with meaningful community engagement.
Dr. Lechago shares that she discovered behavior analysis later in her undergraduate training, through a behavior modification course, and gained early experience working with the Victims Resource Institute and the Texas Young Autism Project. She reflects on her journey into graduate training at Western Michigan University, including reaching out to leaders in the field and navigating her path into behavior analysis.
The conversation explores common misconceptions about behavior analysis within psychology, particularly the need for broader dissemination beyond autism, and highlights the importance of making the science more accessible and representative across communities.
Dr. Lechago also discusses the development of the Behavior Analysts for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (BADIE) research lab at University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL), a lab-based initiative founded in 2020 that mentors high school students through structured modules, hands-on lab experiences, and a culminating public symposium. The program emphasizes culturally responsive care and has continued to evolve within the context of Texas policy, including SB 17, while maintaining a strong focus on access, representation, and community engagement.
We close with reflections on humility in practice, grounding work in radical behaviorism, avoiding perfectionism, and expanding how success is defined within the field.
Listeners will gain insight into:
Dr. Lechago’s path into behavior analysis:
Her discovery of the field through coursework, early clinical experiences, and eventual graduate training at Western Michigan University.
Misconceptions and dissemination in behavior analysis:
A discussion on how behavior analysis is often misunderstood within psychology and the importance of expanding awareness beyond autism.
The BADIE High School Mentorship Program:
An innovative model that provides high school students with exposure to behavior analysis through structured learning modules, lab participation, and a final symposium.
Culturally responsive practice and systems-level thinking:
How Dr. Lechago integrates cultural responsiveness into training and mentorship, even within shifting policy landscapes.
Building pathways into the field:
The importance of early exposure, mentorship, and creating accessible entry points for diverse students.
Advice for practitioners and students:
Reflections on humility, compassionate science, avoiding perfectionism, and redefining success in meaningful ways.
Access the BADIE Repository Here!
Follow the BADIE Lab on Instagram
Erratum: 
Dr. Lechago would like make a correction. She mistakenly stated that her article on advice for early career behavior analysts was published in BAP. This article is published in Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice (BARP).

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

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