Functional Relations

Zachary Bird, PhD, BCBA-D and Caleb Davis, PhD, BCBA-D

Behavior Analysis

Radical Behaviorism

Pavlovian Conditioning

Reinforcement

Goal Setting

Matching Law

ADHD

Clinical Interventions

Artificial Intelligence

Continuing Education

Child Anxiety

Education

Leadership

BACB

Behavioral Economics

Applied Behavior Analysis

Cultural Selection

Walden Two

Space Model

Supervision

An ABA podcast where Dr. Zachary Bird and Dr. Caleb Davis set aside time to have engaging conversation with experts in the field of behavior analysis to explore topics like ethics of functional analysis, effective supervision practices, translating research to practice, and others. BACB, IBAO, and QABA CEUs are available for listeners. To purchase, visit www.functionalrelationspodcast.com To deliv... more

49 ratings

Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	51	Founded	7 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Social SciencesEducationScience

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Latest Episodes

#47 - Procrastination from a Behavioral Perspective w/ Dr. Zach Bird

In this episode, Caleb interviews Zach about his research and publication on procrastination and discusses the applied application of the results.

• 1 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase it at http... more

5 Oct 2026 • 1 hr • Most popular

#46 - Pavlovian Conditioning in the Classroom? w/ Dr. Rick Colombo

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss a recent publication on Pavlovian Conditioning in classroom w/ Dr. Rick Colombo.

• 1 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase it at www.functionalrelatio... more

1 Sep 2026 • 1 hr 3 min

#45 - Spreading the Science: Radical Behaviorism for All w/ Dr. Matt Normand

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss a recent paper on radical behaviorism and the dissemination of those ideas with Dr. Matt Normand.

• 1.5 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase them at w... more

1 Aug 2026 • 1 hr 19 min

#44 - Leveling Up the Respondent-Operant Distinction w/ Dr. Michael Domjan

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss the distinction between operant and respondent behavior with Dr. Michael Domjan.

• 1.5 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase them at www.functionalrela... more

1 Jul 2026 • 1 hr 22 min

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Recent Guests

Dr. Zachary Bird

Guest expert on procrastination and behavior analysis; PhD researcher

Independent researcher / Academic collaborator

Episode: #47 - Procrastination from a Behavioral Perspective w/ Dr. Zach Bird

Dr. Rick Colombo

Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific

Episode: #46 - Pavlovian Conditioning in the Classroom? w/ Dr. Rick Colombo

Dr. Matt Normand

Professor of psychology at the University of the Pacific; author of Psychology as a Behaviorist substack

University of the Pacific

Episode: #45 - Spreading the Science: Radical Behaviorism for All w/ Dr. Matt Normand

Corey Stocco

Behavior Analyst at an intermediate school district in Minnesota

Intermediate School District, Minnesota

Episode: #43 - Analyzing Complex Teacher-Student Interactions w/ Dr. Corey Stocco and Molly Dwyer

Molly Dwyer

Behavior Analyst at an intermediate school district in Minnesota

Intermediate School District, Minnesota

Episode: #43 - Analyzing Complex Teacher-Student Interactions w/ Dr. Corey Stocco and Molly Dwyer

Bill Ahearn

Director of Research at the New England Center for Children; Chair of the Behavior Analyst Licensing Board in Massachusetts

New England Center for Children; Massachusetts Licensing Board

Episode: #42 - The Status of Radical Behaviorism w/ Dr. Bill Ahearn

Dr. Judah Axe

Director of Research at Behavioral Connections; President of the BF Skinner Foundation; Adjunct Professor at Simmons University

Behavioral Connections; BF Skinner Foundation; Simmons University

Episode: #40 - Rethinking How We Teach Tacts w/ Dr. Judah Axe

Bruce Tinor

BCBA and Assistant Superintendent at Saucon Valley School District

Saucon Valley School District

Episode: #39 - The Science of Positive Culture Building w/ Dr. Bruce Tinor

Dr. Paula Kenyon

International consultant in behavior analysis and adjunct professor

Northeastern University

Episode: #38 - Can I Take That $11 Gift Card? w/ Dr. Paula Kenyon

Hosts

Zachary Bird

Host of the show focusing on extracting practical insights from behavior-analytic theory.

Caleb Davis

Co-host who drives discussions with practitioners and researchers, often focusing on practical implementation.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings

Great CE’s
Great podcast. I enjoy how diverse the areas of topics are. And earning CE’s while listening and walking my dog is a bonus!
Apple Podcasts
5
amanda_314
United States6 years ago
Amazing!
I have loved listening to the Functional Relations podcast - the topics, insights, and expert opinions have been excellent! I’ve recommended to my cohort members and professors. Hoping there will be more!!
Apple Podcasts
5
Olew0610
United States7 years ago
Loving this podcast!
I started with episode 3 - I laughed, I cheered, I got the chills a couple times. :) I love the accessibility of podcasts and the opportunity to get ceus while I’m listening on my way to work!
Apple Podcasts
5
kristen j.m.
United States7 years ago
A must listen to!
What a fantastic podcast for those in the field of ABA. I love the format of the two of you discussing the topic, interviewing your guests, and then recapping what was discussed. I’m so looking forward to your future episodes!
Apple Podcasts
5
Mariadee5
Canada7 years ago
Great ABA podcast
Love the podcast. Listened for work but will continue to be a listener. Love that ABA providers are getting into podcasting- perfect way to pass time during the multiple commutes!
Apple Podcasts
5
AtlAlly
United States7 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Well-structured format with interviews, recaps, and expert guests.

ABA providers appreciate the podcast as a useful resource for professional development.

Great CE's: Listening for CEU value and accessibility.

Accessible and engaging; CEUs and practical takeaways are a highlight.

Diverse topics and expert insights praised, with recommendations to others.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#212	United States/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#205	Germany/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#40	Singapore/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#74	Ireland/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#92	Philippines/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#136	Austria/Science/Social Sciences

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#46 - Pavlovian Conditioning in the Classroom? w/ Dr. Rick Colombo

Q: What were the main findings regarding attention and positive emotional responding, and how did they differ across classrooms?

Attention to the CS plus increased and was more pronounced than with the CS minus; positive emotional responses were also elevated in the CS plus condition, though there were notable between-classroom differences likely due to contingencies being described by teachers and differences in student language abilities and support needs.

#46 - Pavlovian Conditioning in the Classroom? w/ Dr. Rick Colombo

Q: In your study, what was the neutral stimulus and how did you pair it with the unconditioned stimulus?

The neutral stimulus was a combination of an audio and visual cue (a jazz song and a light). The unconditioned stimulus consisted of a few fun activities delivered by a teacher (e.g., bubble machine, balloon game). Over time, the neutral cue began to predict the upcoming fun activity, turning into a conditioned stimulus that elicited attention and positive emotional responses.

#46 - Pavlovian Conditioning in the Classroom? w/ Dr. Rick Colombo

Q: Can you give us a quick rundown in 30 seconds of what we need to know going into this interview?

Pavlovian conditioning starts with a neutral stimulus, which is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to produce a conditioned response; the timing and salience of the stimuli are crucial for learning, and in classroom contexts, using a salient, portable cue and an engaging, but controllable, unconditioned activity helps make the conditioning occur in natural settings.

#45 - Spreading the Science: Radical Behaviorism for All w/ Dr. Matt Normand

Q: If the paper succeeds, how might day-to-day clinical practice look five years from now?

Clinicians may increasingly ground practice in solid behavioral principles while translating them for public understanding, but the core science remains central; there will likely be a broader emphasis on predicting and controlling relevant variables rather than just applying procedures.

#45 - Spreading the Science: Radical Behaviorism for All w/ Dr. Matt Normand

Q: How might professors integrate this paper into their syllabus and teaching?

Use the primer as an introductory overview early in the course, then build deeper exploration through subsequent readings and activities, including discussions of determinism, monism, and core learning principles to anchor students in the radical framework.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Relations

What is Functional Relations about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show consistently brings behavior-analytic theory into practical, real-world settings through in-depth conversations with leading practitioners and researchers. Episodes cover core topics like radical behaviorism, Pavlovian and operant conditioning, ABA in schools, ethics, AI in behavioral services, and organizational culture in education, often pairing theoretical foundations with actionable takeaways for clinicians, teachers, and leaders. Guests tend to be prominent researchers or senior clinicians, and the hosts frequently unpack complex ideas with clear examples, aiming to translate research into practice while highlighting ethical considerations and professional development opportunities. A notable strength is the cadence of exper... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Functional Relations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Functional Relations:

1. The Behavioral Observations Podcast with Matt Cicoria
2. All Things Behavior
3. The How to ABA Podcast
4. Crime Junkie
5. 48 Hours

How many episodes of Functional Relations are there?

Functional Relations launched 7 years ago and published 51 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Functional Relations?

Recent guests on Functional Relations include:

1. Dr. Zachary Bird
2. Dr. Rick Colombo
3. Dr. Matt Normand
4. Corey Stocco
5. Molly Dwyer
6. Bill Ahearn
7. Dr. Judah Axe
8. Bruce Tinor

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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