The NDBI Navigator
The NDBI Navigator podcast features engaging interviews with leading experts, researchers, and community practitioners who share real-world strategies and insights on using Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) with young autistic children. Hosted by Dr. Jamie Hughes-Lika, each episode offers practical, actionable ideas to inspire and support professionals in making a meaningful impact.
Episodes
32 episodes
Episode 31 Bridging Cultures and Science: Expanding NDBI in Latin America
In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Ana Maria Hernandez Villalobos, a medical doctor, psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, and certified ESDM and JASPER therapist and trainer based in Monterrey, Mex...
Episode 18 Coaching Caregivers and Supporting Early Development with Social ABCs
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jessica Brian, psychologist, senior clinician scientist at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, and associate professor at the University of Toronto. A long-time champion of caregiver-mediated int...
Episode 30 The Magic of Motivation: How PRT and NDBIs Transform Learning for Autistic Children
In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Podcast, Dr. Jamie welcomes Dr. Grace Gengoux, a nationally recognized expert in evidence-based autism intervention, clinical psychologist, BCBA-D, and faculty member at Stanford University. Together, they ...
Episode 17 Transforming Care in Albania: NDBI, ESDM, and Empowering Families
In this episode—Dr. Jamie welcomes international guest Enron Seiti from Tirana, Albania. Enron shares the incredible work being done at the Help the Life Association, a nonprofit parent-founded organization dedicated to providing services and s...
Episode 16 Inclusive Classrooms, Playful Learning, and Parent Partnership
In this episode, we’re joined by Christine Gomez, an NDBI mentor at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC) in Phoenix, Arizona. Christine shares her journey into the field of autism intervention, how she discovered Naturali...
Episode 15 Disseminating NDBI Across Latin America: Lessons in Language, Culture, and Connection
In this inspiring episode, Dr. Jamie is joined by Natalia Santamaría, a psychoeducator and expert in Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), who shares her powerful journey into NDBI practice and her work to bring parent-me...
Episode 14 Supporting Early Development Through Play and Naturalistic Intervention
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Raulston, Assistant Professor in the Applied Behavior Analysis program at Texas State University. She shares her journey from classroom teaching to doctoral research, and how her passion for developmen...
Episode 13 Embedded Instruction, Joyful Learning & the Evolution of ABA
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Ilene Schwartz, Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington and founding developer of the Project DATA model. With more than four decades of experience, Dr. Schwartz reflects on the evolution of Appli...
Episode 12 From Traditional ABA to Developmentally-Grounded Services
In this episode, we’re joined by Teresa McFarland, M.Ed., BCBA, Director and Senior Consultant for Thrive Collaborative, to explore her 22-year journey from traditional behavior therapy to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interven...
Episode 29 Caregivers as Change Agents: Data, Innovation, and Expanding Access to NDBI
In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Deanna Swain, clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado. Dr. Swain shares how her work span...
Episode 27 Community-Based NDBI Implementation & Inclusive Early Childhood Models
In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, host Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Bonnie McBride, a Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma Health Campus and the Director of the Okla...
Episode 26 Stronger Together: Building Meaningful Partnerships to Support Children and Families
In this episode of the NDBI Navigator Narratives Podcast, host Dr.Jamie sits down with Ania Petrova, BCBA and founder of Comprehensive ABA, to explore her professional evolution from traditional ABA to Naturalistic Developmental Behavi...
Episode 11: Bringing CPRT to the Classroom
In this episode, we’re joined by Janice Chan, lecturer in the Department of Special Education at San Diego State University and long-time trainer in Classroom Pivotal Response Teaching (CPRT). Janice shares her two-decade journey through autism...
Episode 10: Scaling Parent Coaching & NDBIs in Public Systems
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Melanie Pelichia, clinical psychologist and implementation scientist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Mental Health, where she leads groundbreaking efforts to embed high‑quality, evidence‑based...
Episode 9: Bringing NDBIs to Life: Dissemination and Implementation in Community Settings
In this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Ariana Boutain, BCBA-D and Chief Clinical Officer at the Atlanta Autism Center. With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Bane shares her inspiring professional journey — from starting in traditio...
Episode 28: From Speech to ABA to NDBI: Building Willing Communicators Through Play
In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Tamara Kasper, a dual-certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, to talk about what happens when speech science, behavior analysis, and play...
Episode 25: Building the Social Foundations of Language
In this episode of NDBI Navigator Narratives, Dr. Jamie sits down with Dr. Pamela Rollins, professor at UT Dallas and a leading voice in developmental language research, for a powerful conversation on the social foundations of language deve...
Episode 8: Empowering Parents Through Pathways Early Autism Intervention
In this episode, we’re joined by Renee Hoffman, BCBA, LPC, and Melissa Looney, BCBA‑student, to explore Pathways Early Autism Intervention— a Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Intervention (NDBI) parent‑training program designed to help fam...
Episode 6: Advancing Preschool Inclusion with NDBIs
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Sophia D’Agostino, Assistant Professor at Utah State University in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling. Her research and teaching focus on early childhood special education with...
Episode 5: Relationship and Strength‑Based Coaching for Parents
In this episode, we welcome Janet Harder and Michaela Jelen of JHMJ Consulting, two highly experienced ESDM therapists and trainers who have worked extensively in early intervention, Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), ...
Episode 4: Cultural Considerations in Caregiver-Delivered NDBIs
In this episode, we’re honored to welcome Dr. Ana Dueñas, Assistant Professor of Special Education at San Diego State University and Verified Course Sequence Coordinator for their BCBA program. Identifying as transferisa — having grown...
Episode 24: Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals Across the Lifespan with PRT
In this episode, Dr. Jamie is joined by Jillian Schneider for a thoughtful conversation about Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and why truly effective support must extend across the entire lifespan—not just early chil...
Episode 7: Scaling ESDM in Community‑Based Autism Centers
In this episode, I’m joined by Will Martin, BCBA, ESDM‑certified therapist, and apprentice trainer, who leads Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) implementation at SOAR Autism Center. With over a decade of experience in behavior analysis, Will shar...
Episode 3: Early Detection, Intervention, and Global Implementation
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Giacomo Vivanti, Associate Professor and Program Leader in the Early Detection and Intervention Program at the AJ Drexel Autism Institute. His work focuses on improving the well‑being and outcomes of autisti...
Episode 2: Bridging Group-ESDM and Inclusive Early Childhood Education
In this episode, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, a child clinical and developmental psychologist whose career bridges early autism diagnosis, evidence-based early intervention, and inclusive early education. Initially trained in early auti...