Functional Relations

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

Behavior Analysis

Radical Behaviorism

Reinforcement

Goal Setting

Matching Law

ADHD

Clinical Interventions

Artificial Intelligence

Continuing Education

Child Anxiety

Leadership

BACB

Behavioral Economics

Cultural Selection

SPACE Model

Walden Two

Supervision

Verbal Behavior

Virtual Reality

Applied Behavior Analysis

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	47	Founded	7 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Social SciencesScienceEducation

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

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

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss analyzing teacher-student interactions with Dr. Corey Stocco (BCBA-D) and Molly Dwyer (BCBA). • 1.5 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase it at www.funct... more

1 Jun 2026 • 1 hr 19 min

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

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss a recent publication on the status of radical behaviorism with Dr. Bill Ahearn.

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

1 May 2026 • 1 hr 9 min

#41 - Student Episode: 7 Dimensions of ABA

In this episode, Zach and Caleb have a discussion to help students understand the 7 dimensions of applied behavior analysis from the 1968 article "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis" by Baer, Wolf, & Risley. This covers A.5. of the ... more

1 Apr 2026 • 40 min

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

In this episode, Zach and Caleb discuss rethinking how we approach teaching tacts w/ Dr. Judah Axe.

• 0.5 Ethic/0.5 General CEU (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) is available for this episode. You can purchase it at www.functionalrelationspodcast.... more

1 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 8 min

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Recent Guests

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

Michael Domjan

Professor of Psychology at University of Texas at Austin; expert in Pavlovian conditioning

University of Texas at Austin

Episode: #37 - Pavlovian Conditioning for the Applied Behavior Analyst w/ Dr. Michael Domjan

David Roth

Member of the Publication Committee of the BF Skinner Foundation; BCBA; co-host of Dialogues on Verbal Behavior

BF Skinner Foundation; Dialogues on Verbal Behavior

Episode: #36 - Did Skinner Meditate? Behaviorism Meets Contemplative Living w/ David Roth

Dr. David Cox

Assistant Director of Research at Endicott College; Vice President of Data Science at Mosaic Pediatric Therapy

Endicott College; Mosaic Pediatric Therapy

Episode: #35 - Ethics of AI in behavioral services w/ Dr. David Cox

Dr. Paul Gavoni

Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author; founder of Heart and Science International; coach and behavior analyst

Heart and Science International

Episode: #34 - Feedback and Leadership w/ Dr. Paul "Paulie" Gavoni

Dr. Cody Morris

Assistant Professor and Graduate Programs Director at Salve Regina University; host and executive producer of BAPcast

Salve Regina University / BAPcast

Episode: #32 - Is Private Equity Good for ABA? w/ Dr. Cody Morris

Hosts

Caleb Davis

Co-host leading discussions on behavior analysis and supervision practices, bringing insights from his experience in the field.

Zachary Bird

Co-host facilitating engaging conversations about behavior analysis, ethics, and advancements in the field.

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 States5 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 States6 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.

Listeners highlight the accessibility of the podcast as a convenient medium for professional development during commutes or daily routines.

The podcast is described as a must-listen for those in the ABA field, with a format that combines discussions, interviews, and recaps effectively.

Listeners appreciate the diverse and engaging topics covered, noting the opportunity for earning continuing education credits while benefiting from expert opinions.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#204	United States/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#108	Mexico/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#151	India/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#172	Ireland/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#187	Norway/Science/Social Sciences
Apple Podcasts	#217	Austria/Science/Social Sciences

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#32 - Is Private Equity Good for ABA? w/ Dr. Cody Morris

Q: What safeguards or ethical considerations should be in place to prevent negative impacts on client welfare?

He discusses the need for organizational-level standards and oversight (e.g., Autism Commission on Quality and CASP-type guidelines) to hold PE-owned providers to high-quality standards, and stresses that credentialed BCBA leadership should be the final decision-maker to safeguard clinical integrity against profit-driven contingencies.

#32 - Is Private Equity Good for ABA? w/ Dr. Cody Morris

Q: What are the primary advantages PE ownership can bring to an ABA company or its staff and clients?

Morris outlines potential benefits including taking over non-clinical management duties (billing, payer negotiations, HR, marketing), providing capital for growth, and offering expertise to scale operations, all while allowing clinicians to focus on clinical work and potentially expanding service delivery and market share.

#32 - Is Private Equity Good for ABA? w/ Dr. Cody Morris

Q: What is private equity and why has it become prominent in the ABA field?

Dr. Morris defines private equity as a group of private investors who pool resources to buy and manage a company with the aim of increasing its resale value, and notes that in ABA this often means PE sees providers as assets to be scaled and monetized, sometimes at the expense of long-term clinical considerations. He emphasizes the basic mechanics, the fiduciary obligation to investors to maximize returns, and the tensions this creates with client welfare and professional ethics.

#37 - Pavlovian Conditioning for the Applied Behavior Analyst w/ Dr. Michael Domjan

Q: What do you think are the potential benefits for clinicians to view client behavior through more of a Pavlovian lens rather than focusing predominantly on operant conditioning?

Broadening the lens to include Pavlovian processes expands the clinician's toolkit by highlighting how signals, cues, and automatic physiological responses shape behavior, which can inform more nuanced intervention strategies and potentially reveal new techniques for modifying behavior beyond reinforcement schedules.

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

Q: How should we balance the idea of radical behaviorism with popular branding or packaged approaches in practice?

Branding and universal packages can be useful, but radical behaviorism argues for tailoring approaches to the individual's history and current environment; practitioners should develop tools and expertise to customize interventions rather than applying a cookie-cutter method to everyone.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Functional Relations

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

This podcast engages in meaningful discussions with experts in the field of behavior analysis, covering a wide array of topics including ethics, supervision practices, and the integration of research into practical applications. With a focus on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the hosts encourage thoughtful conversations that integrate theory with real-world implications, making the content both accessible and impactful for professionals in the field. Unique features include the opportunity for listeners to earn continuing education credits while exploring complex subjects, fostering a community of learners and practitioners eager to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Where can I find podcast stats for Functional Relations?

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How many listeners does Functional Relations get?

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What are the audience demographics for Functional Relations?

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How many subscribers and views does Functional Relations have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Functional Relations?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Functional Relations:

1. ABA Inside Track
2. Crime Junkie
3. Morbid
4. Up First from NPR
5. ABA on Tap

How many episodes of Functional Relations are there?

Functional Relations launched 7 years ago and published 47 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Functional Relations?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Functional Relations?

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What guests have appeared on Functional Relations?

Recent guests on Functional Relations include:

1. Bill Ahearn
2. Dr. Judah Axe
3. Bruce Tinor
4. Dr. Paula Kenyon
5. Michael Domjan
6. David Roth
7. Dr. David Cox
8. Dr. Paul Gavoni

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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