Change Doesn’t Have to Suck with Dr. Maya Shankar

This week, Liat and her sister Talia sit down with Dr. Maya Shankar, cognitive scientist, former Senior Advisor and founder of the White House Behavioral Science Team, Head of Behavioral Economics at Google, host of A Slight Change of Plans, and author of The Other Side of Change.Maya shares how she landed in rooms that didn’t even have a role for her yet (BCBAs, take notes), and opens up about losing the identity she built as a Juilliard-trained violinist after a career-ending injury. We unpack why change is so threatening to our sense of self, why our brains hate uncertainty, and how to build a “soft landing” when life makes other plans.Liat also shares her own story of navigating serious health struggles and letting go of what she thought her career was going to look like. We talk identity, loss, growth, Love Is Blind takes, and why you are so much more than what you do.Maya’s new book, The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans, is out now - click the link below to get your copy!Behavior Concepts Covered:PairingReinforcement Antecedent Consequence Contingency Variable ratio schedule High response effort Connect with Dr. Maya:Order Maya’s book and join our book club on Mar 10th!Listen to a Slight Change of PlansInstagramYoutubeXSubstackMayaShankar.comConnect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com• PairABA: PairABA.com

If you know the material but your brain completely melts the second the exam starts, this episode is for you.In How to Outsmart Test Anxiety, Liat sits down with Dr. Nicole Cain, author of Panic Proof, to explain why anxiety hijacks your brain and how to shut that down. We break down what your amygdala, nervous system, and “autopilot brain” are doing when panic shows up, plus real tools to calm your body so your executive brain can actually access the right info.No “just relax” nonsense. Just science, behavior, and practical strategies for BCBAs, RBTs, and everybody inbetween.Behavior Concepts Covered:AntecedentDeterminism Consequence Pairing Behavior chain interruptionFunction of behavior Operant conditioning Positive reinforcement Connect with Dr. Nicole Cain:Website: www.DrNicoleCain.comBook: Panic ProofInstagram: @drnicolecainFacebook: Dr. Nicole CainLinktree / Resources: https://campsite.bio/drnicolecainConnect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com• PairABA: PairABA.com

What if fitness, food, and stress weren’t about discipline, but about behavior?This week, Liat sits down with Brittnay Duguay, BCBA, functional nutritionist, IFBB Bikini Pro, and founder of Better Habits by Britt, to talk about why most wellness plans (and your New Year’s resolutions) fail, and how behavior science can actually make habits stick. From undoing diet culture and perfectionism to breaking down why “starting on Monday” is a total behavior trap, Brittnay shows how ABA principles apply way beyond the clinic and straight into real life.If you’ve ever said “I don’t have time,” spiraled after one off day, or wondered why you can’t stick to your routine, this episode is for you.Behavior Concepts Covered:Pragmatism AntecedentReinforcement Motivating OperationsCMO-RRatio Strain MentalismShaping Task analysisConnect with Brittnay:Instagram: @betterhabitsbybrittWebsite: www.betterhabitsbybritt.comRegister for Stone Soup 2026!Register here with code SNABA26 for $20 off!Check out the SNABA Stone Soup Giveaway here!Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com• PairABA: PairABA.com

This week, Liat sits down with transformation coach and author Keith Crossley, whose work on healing, relationships, and enlightenment has gone viral. Keith breaks down the science and psychology behind betrayal, why we cling to relationships that hurt us, and how to stop living in fear of your own emotions.If you’ve ever wondered why breakups feel like withdrawal, why your feelings seem so damn big, or how to start healing instead of spiraling, this episode is your guidebook to face betrayal and find freedom on the other side.Behavior Concepts Covered:Private verbal behavior Variable ratio schedule Replacement behaviors Matching Law StimulusConditioned reinforcement Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Negative reinforcementFunction of BxTacting ExtinctionConnect with Keith:KeithCrossley.comFind him on Facebook or LinkedIn!InstagramTikTokYoutubeGet the Book!Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com• PairABA: PairABA.com

AI is here…but is it taking your BCBA job, or just saving you from writing session notes? Beth Garrison, Ph.D., BCBA, and AI wizard, breaks down the hype, the way it works, and what humans will always do better than robots. We talk weird searches, the ethical red flags every behavior analyst should know before plugging client info into ChatGPT, and the ultimate ABA AI assistant.Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com

Ever said something and immediately thought, “Why did I say it like that?” Same. This week, Liat chats with Dr. Laura Sicola, cognitive linguist and communication queen, to break down how your tone, pacing, and pitch can change your message.We discuss how vocal fry, upspeak, confidence, and even the way you say your name can change how people see you. If you’ve ever wanted to sound like a leader (without faking it), this episode is your crash course.Whether you’re a boss, a student, or just trying to stop saying “like” every three seconds, this episode will have you speaking to influence people, not just to fill silence.Get the Book:Paperback - Audible - Kindle Read the First 2 Chapters Free!Connect with Dr. Laura:LauraSicola.comSpeakingtoInfluence.comDr. Laura’s TEDx PresentationLinkedInConnect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com

Can you really read people by their faces? Brian Galke, The Decoding Detective (and skeptic), thinks so, and he’s here to prove it. Liat and Brian dish on first impressions, wild face-reading fails, and awkward truths about people skills…plus a totally ridiculous celeb Face Off you won’t stop laughing at.Behavior Concepts Covered:RepeatabilityStimulus DiscriminationIndividualizationLearning Histories Connect with Brian:SubtleSkills.comFace Reading Cheat Sheet@SubtleSkills Everywhere:InstagramTikTokYoutubeLinkedInFacebook Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com

Bedtime shouldn’t feel like a hostage negotiation, but for most parents, it does. Sleep expert and BCBA Emily Varon (founder of Ready, Set, Sleep) is back to drop real, science-backed strategies for ditching bedtime chaos. We’re talking screens before bed, blue light myths, teeth grinding, night terrors, and whether handing your kid an iPad is the end of the world (spoiler: you’re fine). Emily keeps it relatable, funny, and actually doable…because every parent deserves some damn sleep.Behavior Concepts Covered:Pragmatism Variable ratio scheduleExtinction Function of BxRespondent behavior Operational definitionLatency Connect with Emily:ReadySetSleep.comSleep Pro CEU BundleLinkedinBlogConnect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com

Step inside one of Europe’s largest legal brothels with Catherine DeNoire—a PhD student in organizational psychology and the manager behind the business side of the sex industry. From HR to marketing to worker safety, Catherine shares what it’s really like to run a brothel that operates more like a corporation than a cliché. We dive into the realities of customer behavior, how legality shapes safety, the surprising economics of sex work, and why personality matters more than looks. Equal parts researcher and operator, Catherine is breaking stereotypes and reshaping how the world sees this often-misunderstood industry.Behavior Concepts Covered:GeneralizationContingent reinforcement Preference assessment Shaping Unconditioned reinforcement Connect with Catherine:Instagram: @catherine_de_noire and @cath_de_noireTikTok: @kate.denoireFacebook: Catherine De Noire pageOnlyFans: onlyfans.com/catherinedenoire/Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com

In this episode, we hang out with Ryan O’Donnell and get real about everything from making behavior analysis interesting to the outside world, to echo chambers, incels, and even why the APBA tables look like the ’90s threw up. We dive into self-management, reinforcement, punishment, and philosophical doubt while swapping stories, laughs, and some hard truths about how our field is seen.Behavior Concepts Covered:PragmatismPunishment Repeatability Reinforcement Negative ReinforcementDelayed DiscountingLearning HistoryPhilosophical doubt Connect with Ryan:@TheDailyBA on Instagram https://www.thebehavioracademy.com/ Connect with Behavior BitchesInsta: @behaviorbitchespodcastFacebook: Behavior Bitches PodcastWebsite: BehaviorBitches.comPatreon: Patreon.com/BehaviorBitchesPodcastContact Us: For podcast inquiries, episode ideas, or just to say hi, email us at [email protected] Leave us a 5-star review in the Apple Podcast App so we can read it to everyone during our episodes and make us super happy!Looking for BCBA Exam Prep or CEUs?• Whether you need help passing the BCBA exam or are looking to earn CEUs, Study Notes ABA has you covered. Check out our website for comprehensive exam prep materials, prep courses, and CEUs• Test Prep: StudyNotesABA.com• CEUs: CEU.StudyNotesABA.com