Episode 1: So... What Exactly Is ABA?
Behavior makes sense, even when it makes absolutely no sense in the moment. In the very first episode of Chaos to Connection, Catey Rice introduces the idea at the heart of the podcast: behavior is happening everywhere, and understanding why it happens can completely change the way we respond to it. ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, is often associated with autism therapy, but behavior science reaches far beyond the walls of a clinic. It's in the grocery store when a child screams for candy. It's in the five extra minutes of iPad time you swore you weren't going to give. It's in Starbucks rewards, sibling fights, procrastination, parenting, relationships, classrooms, workplaces, and yes, in our own behavior too. In this episode, Catey breaks down ABA without the textbook language and explores what it looks like to approach behavior with curiosity instead of judgment. You'll hear about: Why behavior makes sense, even when it doesn't feel like it in the moment How reinforcement shows up in everyday life—sometimes without us realizing it Why a meltdown over the "wrong" color cup may be about much more than the cup The difference between simply trying to stop a behavior and asking what someone needs to learn What compassionate, meaningful ABA can actually look like Why the smallest skills can create some of the biggest changes Why behavior analysis isn't just for autism—or even just for kids The debut of Antecedent. Behavior. Chaos., where the traditional ABCs of behavior analysis meet real life And because understanding behavior doesn't mean getting it right all the time, Catey also shares what happens when 19 letters after your name meet approximately four percent remaining parental patience. Because sometimes nobody needs a behavior plan. Everybody needs a snack and to go to bed. The challenge for this week is simple: the next time someone's behavior drives you absolutely crazy, pause before asking, "WHY are you doing this?!" Instead, try: "Huh... I wonder why you're doing this." Curiosity is where understanding starts. And understanding is how we begin turning everyday chaos into meaningful connection. On Episode 2, Catey's husband, Seth, joins the podcast to investigate a very important behavioral question: Why are our kids ALWAYS fighting?
