Ep. 17 - Saying the Quiet Parts Out Loud

Ep. 17 - Saying the Quiet Parts Out Loud

Many critical conversations about the autism care industry are only happening behind closed doors. This isn't one of them. Sean Yocum, BCBA, has built a reputation for saying what many clinicians are thinking but aren't always willing to state publicly. As one half of the Rad N’ Bad podcast and founder of Hickory Learning Group, Sean isn't afraid to challenge practices and ruffle a few feathers along the way. In fact, that's why he and co-host Mike Carrero embraced the idea of being the industry's "bad guys." Sean joins Lindsey for a candid conversation about why thoughtful criticism isn't something the autism field should fear. It’s a powerful force for progress. They talk about why parent-mediated intervention deserves a larger role in autism care, whether today's service models still reflect the evidence they were built upon, the incentives that shape how autism services are delivered, value-based care and what meaningful outcomes should actually look like. Drawing from his own childhood growing up alongside his autistic brother, Sean shares how his family's experiences with early autism services inspired him to enter the field and ultimately led him to question many of its most entrenched practices. He explains why he left traditional service models to build Hickory Learning Group around parent-mediated care, family empowerment and the belief that the best clinicians should be working themselves out of a job. And, for the first time, Sean gives his ‘villain’ origin story of how he and Mike intentionally created a space where difficult conversations could happen openly. A podcast walking the fine line between criticizing an industry and strengthening it – using evidence, philosophical doubt and a healthy dose of humor to challenge ideas without losing sight of the families they're trying to serve. Resources mentioned: Dr. Lindsey Sneed on the Rad N’ Bad podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-who-the-hell-is-that-lindsey-sneed-the/id1818091909?i=1000724745012 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-who-the-hell-is-that-lindsey-sneed-the/id1818091909?i=1000724745012] The full Rad N’ Bad podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/rad-n-bad-podcast/id1818091909 [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/rad-n-bad-podcast/id1818091909] Rad N’ Bad YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZmTXgytPbkj9Qw-D5QuLw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZmTXgytPbkj9Qw-D5QuLw] Hickory Learning Group: https://www.hickorylearninggroup.org/ [https://www.hickorylearninggroup.org/]

Ep. 16 - Needless Suffering

Sometimes behavior isn't a behavior problem. Sometimes aggression is actually dental pain. Sometimes refusal to eat is acid reflux. Sometimes a sleepless night, or a sudden outburst or a dramatic change in mood is a person's only way of communicating that something is wrong. Sometimes these are actually underlying medical issues that practitioners and physicians simply aren’t seeing because they don’t have the right training.   Lindsey sits down with Dr. Craig Escudé, one of the nation's leading experts in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), to explore a blind spot hiding in plain sight: the gap between behavioral and medical care. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Escudé explains why behavior is communication, how clinicians and physicians alike can miss critical underlying health issues, and why many medical professionals receive little to no formal training on caring for people with I/DD. The consequences can be profound – from unnecessary suffering to missed diagnoses and preventable hospitalizations. Lindsey and Craig discuss the dangers of diagnostic overshadowing, the importance of seeing people as people first rather than diagnoses, and the systemic changes needed to ensure more equitable care. With approximately 1 in 6 people in the United States living with one or more developmental disabilities or delays, the need for better training, stronger collaboration and integrated care has never been more clear. Resources mentioned in this episode: - Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearning course: Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearn - IntellectAbility [https://replacingrisk.com/curriculum-in-idd-healthcare-elearn-2/] - IntellectAbility’s free IDD Perspectives webinar series:  Webinars - IntellectAbility [https://replacingrisk.com/webinars/] - Free resources and articles from IntellectAbility: Intellectual Disability Services, Intellectual Disability Definition [https://replacingrisk.com/idd-resources/#downloads] - Dr. Craig Escudé’s book: Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare: Second Edition - IntellectAbility [https://replacingrisk.com/product/clinical-pearls-in-idd-healthcare-second-edition/] - Dr. Craig Escudé’s podcast: IDD Health Matters Podcast [https://linktr.ee/iddhealthmatters] - Catalight hospitalization study: Large-Scale Study Finds Autistic Youth Far More Likely to Be Hospitalized for Mental Health Conditions - Catalight [https://www.catalight.org/press-release/large-scale-study-finds-autistic-youth-far-more-likely-to-be-hospitalized-for-mental-health-conditions] - Catalight sleep study: Study Links Poor Sleep to Increased Risky Behavior Among Autistic People - Catalight [https://www.catalight.org/press-release/study-links-poor-sleep-to-increased-risky-behavior-among-autistic-people]

Ep. 15 - A System Built for Behavior, Not Humanity

Autism and other I/DD treatment is often designed around behavior. But people are more than just behavior. They’re humans with families, wants, needs and their own goals. In BCBA training, behavior analysts are taught to think of humans in terms of “organisms” – a clinical, scientific lens that, unfortunately, first shapes how care is delivered. What that lens is blind to is what matters most – the human experience. Lindsey sits down with Dr. Tracy Raulston, a BCBA, researcher and professor at Texas State University, whose work focuses on family-centered care and parent-mediated intervention, to ask the question, “Why is family-centered care such a novel concept to the autism industry?” There’s been a system built for behavior, but not always built to support individuals, parents, caregivers and families. Lindsey and Tracy explore what it really means to center families in care while discussing the limitations of traditional training models, the overlooked importance of working with caregivers and the reality that most care doesn’t happen in a clinic – it happens in homes, in routines and in everyday life. Links:  Catalight Academy – RUBI course: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic [https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic] Catalight Academy – Live RUBI workshops: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-workshop?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic [https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-workshop?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic] Catalight Academy – RUBI advanced certifications: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-advanced-certification?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic [https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-advanced-certification?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic]   Project ImPACT: Project ImPACT [https://www.project-impact.org/] ABAI conference (5/22/26) – Empowering Families Through Everyday Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): A Workshop on Parent-Mediated Interventions (PMI) Implementation: Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International [https://www.abainternational.org/events/program-details/event-detail.aspx?sid=96223&by=Workshop&hc=1] ABAI conference symposium (5/24/26) – Expanding Access and Effectiveness in Parent-Mediated Behavioral Interventions: Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International [https://www.abainternational.org/events/program-details/event-detail.aspx?sid=96264&by=ByArea&hc=1] ABAI conference skill building – Writing Effective, Evidence-Based Goals for Autistic Individuals: A Neuroaffirming Approach (5/25/26): Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International [https://www.abainternational.org/events/program-details/event-detail.aspx?sid=97432&by=ByArea&hc=1]

Ep. 14 - Room at the Table: From Food Fights to Family Feasts

Mealtimes aren't just about nourishing the body, they're also about nourishing connection. For most of us, eating just happens. For many children with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, however, every bite can be a battle – one that affects their physical and mental health along with their sense of cultural belonging. Lindsey sits down with Dr. Yev Veverka, BCBA clinician, researcher, and director of training and consultation services at the University of Washington Autism Center – to explore how make mealtimes meaningful, inclusive and supportive by bringing joy to eating. Whether at home, at school or in a restaurant, mealtimes can be overwhelming and unpredictable for many autistic kids. Dr. Veverka, co-author of “Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters,” empowers educators, parents and support teams to turn mealtimes into opportunities for growth – literally and figuratively. They talk about how small, thoughtful changes can transform mealtimes from a source of stress into a moment of connection. “Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters”: https://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Mealtimes-Practical-Strategies-Eaters/dp/1681258242 [https://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Mealtimes-Practical-Strategies-Eaters/dp/1681258242] Yev Veverka – Feeding Matters: Yev Veverka PhD, BCBA-D - Inclusion Representative - Feeding Matters [https://www.feedingmatters.org/committee_member/yev-veverka-phd-bcba-d/]

Ep. 13 - Evidence Will Sometimes Break Your Heart (and That’s OK)

Evidence is evidence, right? Binary. Black and white on paper. Well, not really. “Evidence-based” isn’t as simple as people would like to make it out to be. And, if you truly want to be objective and find real answers, you must be open to the idea that your assumptions may not hold up while simultaneously maintaining an openness to learn. Prolific researcher Micheal Sandbank, Ph.D., joins Lindsey to discuss what “evidence-based” really means. They examine what makes a good study, what quality research entails and ask, “evidence for what exactly?” The two talk about how evidence is being used as ammunition in the autism care industry and how people’s strong, unchanging convictions are creating camps in the field – a schism that is hurting kids and families in need. Dr. Sandbank is a professor at the University of North Carolina and the lead of Project AIM, a comprehensive meta-analysis of all non-pharmacological interventions designed for young autistic children, which was selected as one of the ‘Top Advances in Autism Research’ by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can find her research here. Micheal was a keynote speaker at Catalight's virtual Elevate Your Impact conference earlier this year. The virtual event, occurring next on March 12 and 13, 2026, is open to everyone around the world with continuing education opportunities for those who qualify. Learn more or register here: https://elevateyourimpact.org/ [https://elevateyourimpact.org/]. You can also apply to be a speaker here: Call for Papers - Elevate Your Impact: Evidence in Action [https://elevateyourimpact.org/call-for-papers]