Behaviour Speak with Ben Reiman

In this episode, Ben speaks with Rahma Farah, Ikram Buralle, Suaad Jama, and Nasteya Mahamoud of the Somali Behaviour Analysis Association, a growing, community-led initiative focused on expanding autism awareness and behaviour analytic services for Somali populations. Drawing from their experiences across Somalia and the diaspora, the group shares the realities of introducing ABA in a region...

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Ben sits down with Dr. Setareh (Star) Moslemi, an Iranian behaviour analyst whose journey into the field of ABA was shaped by displacement, loss, and a profound sense of responsibility. Growing up in Iran as a member of the Baháʼí Faith, Star experienced systemic barriers to education and opportunity. At 16, her family made the difficult decision to...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Dr. Monica Gilbert to unpack what’s often missing in behaviour analysis: true engagement. While clinicians are trained in evidence-based interventions, many still struggle with caregiver buy-in, staff engagement, and sustained change. Dr. Gilbert argues the issue isn’t the science—it’s the conversation. Drawing from her work in clinical...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, Ben sits down with Hong Chun Tan and Alexa Goh to explore the rapid development of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Malaysia. What began as parent-led initiatives has evolved into a coordinated national effort—complete with certification pathways, university programs, and a growing professional community.Hong and Alexa share the behind-the-scenes story of...

What happens when there are no autism services in your country? In this episode, Ben speaks with Maxcia Williams, a parent, advocate, and behaviour technician in the Turks & Caicos Islands, about her journey raising a son with autism in a system that didn’t yet exist—and how she helped build one. From navigating stigma and cultural myths to founding the Hope Foundation for Autism Awareness,...

In this special role-reversal episode, Dr. Asmahan Saleh Khalil returns—this time as host—to interview Behaviour Speak’s own Ben Reiman. Marking five years and close to 300 conversations, Ben reflects on the unexpected evolution of the podcast—from a simple networking idea to a global platform amplifying diverse voices in behaviour analysis. Together, they explore: The origins and evolution of...

In this episode, Ben sits down with Danielle Cohen to explore Constructional Exposure Therapy (CET)—an emerging, compassionate approach grounded in the constructional framework of behaviour analysis. Rather than focusing on eliminating fear or escape behaviour, CET identifies the behaviour the person needs to access meaningful outcomes—and systematically teaches it in a way that maintains choice,...

Behaviour analysis is often associated with clinical work in autism and developmental disabilities. But what happens when the science is applied to entire institutional systems?In this episode, Valeria Pascale discusses her interdisciplinary work applying behaviour analysis inside Italian maximum-security prisons.Drawing on her background in law, psychology, and neuroscience, Valeria developed a...

In this episode of Behaviour Speak, I speak with Zornitsa Ivanova, the first board certified behaviour analyst living and working in Bulgaria.Zornitsa shares her journey from special education and child psychology into applied behaviour analysis (ABA), and what it has been like introducing evidence-based autism intervention in a country where the field barely existed a decade ago.From translating...

This episode is a special compilation recorded at the 2025 Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis Conference, where I had the chance to sit down with four outstanding poster presenters whose work represents the next wave of thinking in our field.From mapping service access across Ontario using statistical modelling… to advancing cultural responsiveness in ABA… to examining bilingual...