Paradise Leuta - Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Pathways to Paradise LLC

Joy Pendola - Chief Clinical Officer, McCall Behavioral Health Network

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Joy Pendola, Chief Clinical Officer at McCall Behavioral Health Network, to discuss what it really takes to balance clinical excellence with operational demands in behavioral healthcare. Joy shares her journey into the field, the leadership lessons she's learned over nearly three decades, and why quality care should always remain the foundation of organizational growth. The conversation explores clinician retention, supervision, professional development, continuous quality improvement, and the growing impact of compliance and regulatory requirements on behavioral health organizations. Whether you're leading a behavioral health organization, managing clinical teams, or planning for growth, this episode offers practical insights on building systems that support both staff and clients while maintaining accountability and high standards of care.

Zoe Huppman - Human Resource Business Partner, Chimes

In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Tim Zercher sits down with Zoe Huppman, Human Resource Business Partner at Chimes, to talk about what behavioral health organizations often miss when it comes to retention, hiring, and staff support. Zoe shares her perspective as both a former RBT and current HR leader, highlighting why organizations need to stop simply “filling bodies” and start creating environments where staff can actually stay, recover, and thrive. From realistic job previews to mental health days, quiet break spaces, supervisor support, and stronger community partnerships, Zoe offers practical insight into building teams that last. She also discusses the importance of understanding disability, behavior, and workplace support through a more holistic lens.

Dr. Monica Gilbert – Licensed Psychologist & Founding President, Crystal Minds New Beginning

What does real buy-in actually look like in behavioral health? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Dr. Monica Gilbert to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in the field: compliance is not the same as commitment. Dr. Gilbert shares why clinicians often mistake attendance and agreement for true engagement - and how that gap leads to burnout, stalled progress, and frustration for both providers and families. They dive into the power of better questions, the role of motivational interviewing, and how shifting from “fixing” to truly understanding can transform outcomes inside and outside the session room. You’ll also hear how Dr. Gilbert has scaled her practice over 16+ years, the importance of stepping back as a leader, and why building the right processes and culture is critical for long-term growth. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation for ABA leaders, clinicians, and behavioral health operators looking to drive real impact. Learn more about Monica Gilbert: www.drmonicagilbert.com [http://www.drmonicagilbert.com] https://crystalabatherapy.com/ [https://crystalabatherapy.com/]

Beth DuPree, M.D., FACS, ABOIM – Chief Medical Officer, Gateway Clinics

What if we’ve been treating the wrong problem in healthcare? On this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy Zercher sits down with Dr. Beth DuPree, a breast cancer surgeon turned integrative medicine leader, to explore why traditional medicine often misses the most important part of healing - the mind. With over 35 years in medicine, Dr. DuPree shares how her experience with cancer patients revealed a major gap in care: treating the physical disease without addressing the emotional and neurological impact.  The conversation dives into: *  Why “healing” goes beyond removing disease  *  The role of the nervous system and vagus nerve in recovery  *  How bioelectric therapies are changing outcomes in mental health and cancer care  *  Why medications alone often fail to address root causes  *  The future of holistic, patient-centered treatment  This is a powerful, forward-looking conversation on where behavioral health is heading - and what it will take to truly help patients heal.

Chris Seigel – Chief Program Officer, Queen of Peace Center & Saint Louis Counseling

What actually breaks when behavioral health organizations try to scale? In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Chris Seigel to unpack the real operational challenges behind growth, leadership, and AI in behavioral health. Chris shares his journey from clinician to system builder—and why outcomes aren’t just driven by clinical skill, but by the systems surrounding it. They dive into: *  The biggest mistakes organizations make when scaling too fast  *  Why culture matters more than systems  *  How poor infrastructure gets exposed during growth  *  What leaders misunderstand about AI in clinical settings  *  Why AI is not a tool decision - but a governance decision  *  The role of partnerships and referrals in sustainable growth  This is a practical, no-fluff conversation on how to scale responsibly without compromising care quality, team stability, or long-term success.