ABA Business Leaders

Stephen Smith
  • 4.9 (36)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Join us as we dive deep into the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), exploring real-world challenges and practical strategies to improve the quality, ethics, and sustainability of ABA services. Hosted by April & Stephen, the team behind 3 Pie Squared, each episode brings actionable insights for practice owners, clinicians, and leaders in the field—whether you’re just getting started or scaling your business. Expect candid conversations, expert interviews, and honest advice about supervision, billing, hiring, training, compliance, and more. Our goal? To help you build an ABA practice that serves clients ethically and effectively—while supporting your team and growing your business with purpose. 🔗 Learn more about our courses, handbooks, and consulting services at www.3piesquared.com.

  1. Audit Anxiety in ABA Businesses: Lessons Every Owner Needs to Hear

    9H AGO

    Audit Anxiety in ABA Businesses: Lessons Every Owner Needs to Hear

    Audit anxiety is one of the most common — and least talked about — pressures facing ABA business owners.   Hosts Stephen and April, joined by Alecia Barrett from A. Barrett Academy LLC, share candid stories about the audits they personally went through, including moments when accusations of fraud and recoupment demands threatened their stability. These stories highlight an important truth for ABA owners: audits are stressful, but they’re also manageable when you understand your rights and keep strong documentation.  They also walk through what happens when insurers raise fraud concerns, how to respond to recoupment demands, and the importance of preparing long before an audit begins. Clean documentation, consistent systems, and proactive processes can make the difference between a stressful review and a business-threatening crisis.  If you’ve ever felt the weight of compliance anxiety or worried about what an audit might uncover, this episode offers reassurance, practical guidance, and real-world lessons from leaders who have navigated these challenges themselves.  Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  MarginKeepers:  https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers   Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

    1 hr
  2. ABA Business Leaders and Work-Life Balance

    MAR 5

    ABA Business Leaders and Work-Life Balance

    In this solo episode, April Smith takes a direct and nuanced look at burnout in the ABA industry, and challenges the way we talk about it.  Rather than accepting burnout as an inevitable byproduct of leadership, April explores the illusion of burnout and how it shows up specifically for ABA business owners. She unpacks the subtle ways leaders can feel trapped: by their standards of excellence, by financial pressure, and by the belief that exhaustion is simply “part of the job.”  This episode goes beyond surface-level self-care advice. April examines how a lack of operational options—limited margin, no leadership depth, unclear systems—creates the emotional experience we label as burnout. When you don’t have choices, everything feels heavy. When you can’t step away, every problem feels personal.  If you’re an ABA owner who feels constantly behind, stretched thin, or questioning the reason you built your business, this conversation will resonate.   Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  Free ABA Business Leaders Support Group https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

    35 min
  3. Why Are Prior Authorizations in ABA Changing?

    FEB 26

    Why Are Prior Authorizations in ABA Changing?

    In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April and Stephen discuss the evolving landscape of prior authorizations in ABA with Jeff Morelli from Silna Health. SILNA handles prior-authorizations using the power of AI, all designed specifically for ABA Businesses and their workflows.  They explore the challenges faced by clinicians due to administrative burdens and how technology, particularly AI, is reshaping the reimbursement process.   Jeff introduces Silna's Predictive Document Intelligence, which aims to streamline authorizations and reduce denial rates. The conversation highlights the importance of efficient systems in ABA practices, the financial risks associated with denied authorizations, and the need for delegation and resource utilization to enhance clinician focus on patient care.  Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Resources & Links  SILNA:  https://www.silnahealth.com/?ref=3Pie#get-started    Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips

    49 min
  4. ️ Artificial Intelligence in ABA

    FEB 19

    ️ Artificial Intelligence in ABA

    In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Dr. David J. Cox, a uniquely cross-disciplinary thinker whose work spans behavior analysis, bioethics, behavioral economics, and data science. With formal training from Union Graduate College, a PhD from the University of Florida, and post-doctoral work at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Insight Data Science Fellowship, David brings a rare lens to one of the most pressing conversations in ABA today: What does AI mean for clinical quality, professional judgment, and business leadership?  Having worked in behavior analysis since 2006 as a clinician, academic, technologist, and researcher—with more than 70 peer-reviewed publications—David helps unpack the signal vs. noise around artificial intelligence and its real implications for BCBAs and the organizations they lead. 📞 Have a Question for Stephen & April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline:  (737) 330-1432  Sponsored by Office Puzzle  This episode is sponsored by Office Puzzle, an all-in-one practice management software built to streamline workflows, simplify data collection, and help ABA practices operate more efficiently from intake to billing. With intuitive tools and an easy learning curve, teams can spend less time on administrative work and more time on client care.  Join our ABA Business Leaders Support Group Sign up here (free)  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC  🔗 Resources & Links  Office Puzzle   https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/office-puzzle   ABA Business Leaders Support Group for FREE:  https://forms.office.com/r/cigPR8wFFC  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

    1h 14m
  5. Valentines Episode - Couples as Co-owners Panel

    FEB 12

    Valentines Episode - Couples as Co-owners Panel

    ABA Business Leaders Podcast  Stephen and April Smith are seasoned ABA entrepreneurs who built, scaled, and successfully exited a seven-figure ABA practice. Now, through 3 Pie Squared, they help other ABA business owners grow sustainable, values-driven companies without burning out or losing sight of what matters most.  In this Valetines Day special episode, Stephen and April explore what really happens when couples build ABA businesses together. They are joined by a select panel of couples in business together in the ABA industry:   Jes Pape & Chris Robinson- AByay  Jessica Harrison & Joshua Harrison – ENC ABATasneem Ramey - Summit Collaborative Care  If you’re in business with your partner (or considering it) this episode offers practical insight grounded in real-world experience.  Join our ABA Business Leaders Support Group for Couples  💬 Interested? Sign up here : https://forms.office.com/r/LLpAHCXUN8  Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs    Have a Question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline:  📞 (737) 330-1432

    1h 28m
  6. Aligning Values and Growth in ABA Businesses

    FEB 5

    Aligning Values and Growth in ABA Businesses

    In this episode, Stephen and April Smith of 3 Pie Squared explore how values shape decisions, culture, and growth in ABA businesses. Drawing from their experience building and exiting a seven-figure practice, they discuss aligning goals with values, learning from mistakes, and turning abstract principles into actionable business practices.  Stephen and April also highlight the role of teams in upholding values through trust, communication, and accountability, and share how 3 Pie Squared introduced a new value to reflect their evolving business.  Whether you are starting, scaling, or preparing your ABA practice for exit, this episode offers actionable insights for integrating values into leadership, operations, and financial strategy to drive ethical, sustainable growth.  Sponsored by MarginKeepers  This episode is sponsored by MarginKeepers, a full-service accounting firm specializing in ABA businesses. MarginKeepers helps practice owners maintain financial clarity so their values can be upheld in daily operations and long-term strategy.  Have a question for Stephen and April?  📞 Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432   Resources & Links  MarginKeepers: https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/MarginKeepers  Business Essentials List: https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen: https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment: https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide: https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs: https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

    51 min
  7. ABA Practice Management Software: Why You Need It and What to Look For 

    JAN 29

    ABA Practice Management Software: Why You Need It and What to Look For 

    ABA Practice Management Software: Why You Need It and What to Look For  Running an ABA practice and delivering great clinical care go hand in hand with efficient systems and reliable software.  In this episode of ABA Business Leaders, Stephen and April Smith sit down with Charlene Kurth, Chief Operating Officer at Office Puzzle, and Hailu Jardines, CEO of Office Puzzle, to unpack why practice management software (PMS) is a crucial tool for scaling your ABA business, and how the right platform can directly impact efficiency, compliance, and long-term enterprise value.  Together, they explore the evolution from pen-and-paper operations to fully integrated systems, common mistakes practice owners make when selecting software, and what to look for if you’re considering switching platforms. The conversation also dives into Electronic Visit Verification (EVV), scalability challenges, and why your PMS plays a critical role if you plan to one day sell your practice.  Whether you’re just getting started or managing a multi-location organization, this episode offers practical insight into aligning your technology with your business goals.    📞 Have a Question for Stephen & April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline:  (737) 330-1432    🔗 Resources & Links  Office Puzzle Affiliate Link  https://3piesquared.com/business-affiliate/office-puzzle  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24  Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page  Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment  ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips  ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

    1h 1m
  8. Back to Basics: One Decision That Moved the Business Forward

    JAN 22

    Back to Basics: One Decision That Moved the Business Forward

    In this episode of the ABA Business Leaders Podcast, April Smith, co-founder of 3 Pie Squared, hosts an expert panel discussion featuring:   Alecia Barrett BCBA, COBA, LSW and owner of A. Barrett Academy, LLC located in Holland Ohio Brooke Schneider, M.S.Ed., BCBA, LBA is the Founder and Clinical Director of Orange Pediatric Therapy, which she opened in 2015 Mallory Stinger, BCBA, CEU Coordinator, IEP Advocate, Sleep Consultant. Mallory has been in the field since 2010.  Jennifer Helten, the CEO and Founder of Unique Pathways LLC.   The panel explores the risks of micromanagement, the challenge of delegating before you feel “ready,” and why most owners are never fully prepared for the next level of scale. Plus, each founder answer one of the most pressing questions ABA Business Owners ask:   What one move can I make to drive my business forward?  Key themes include:  Identifying decisions that unlock operational momentum rather than adding complexity Letting go of control without sacrificing quality or outcomes Choosing your “hard” as a business owner and accepting that growth always comes with trade-offs The long-term impact of training, developing, and growing alongside your BCBAs Why background work and infrastructure matter just as much as visible leadership Have a question for Stephen and April?  Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432  Join our ABA Business Owner Support Group here for Free: Sign up here    Resources & Links  Business Essentials List  https://www.3piesquared.com/blog/the-essential-list-for-a-successful-business_24 Schedule a Consultation with Stephen  https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page Free ABA Business Readiness Assessment  https://3piesquared.com/aba-business-readiness-assessment ABA Billing Tips Guide  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Billing_Tips ABA Business Leaders Podcast CEUs  https://3piesquared.com/productDetails/ABA_Business_Leaders_Podcast_CEUs

    59 min
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4.9
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Join us as we dive deep into the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), exploring real-world challenges and practical strategies to improve the quality, ethics, and sustainability of ABA services. Hosted by April & Stephen, the team behind 3 Pie Squared, each episode brings actionable insights for practice owners, clinicians, and leaders in the field—whether you’re just getting started or scaling your business. Expect candid conversations, expert interviews, and honest advice about supervision, billing, hiring, training, compliance, and more. Our goal? To help you build an ABA practice that serves clients ethically and effectively—while supporting your team and growing your business with purpose. 🔗 Learn more about our courses, handbooks, and consulting services at www.3piesquared.com.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephen Smith
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    193
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Stephen Smith
  • Show Website
    ABA Business Leaders

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