The NDBI Navigator

Jamie Hughes-Lika, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA
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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.

  1. Apr 20

    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, Mexico. Dr. Ana Maria shares her inspiring journey into NDBI and her passion for bridging science, culture, and family connection to ensure that high-quality early intervention is accessible to Spanish-speaking families across Latin America. Together, they explore the challenges and opportunities of implementing NDBI within different cultural contexts, shifting from a traditional medical model to a collaborative, family-centered approach, and empowering both therapists and caregivers in the process.

    41 min

  2. Apr 20

    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 explore the power of motivation, flexibility, and collaboration in supporting autistic children through Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), with a special focus on Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT). Dr. Gengoux shares her journey into the field, the science behind pivotal behaviors, and groundbreaking research on parent coaching, telehealth delivery, and optimizing intervention approaches for diverse learners.

    41 min

  3. Apr 20

    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 interventions, Dr. Brian shares her journey into Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) and her leadership in developing the Social ABCs program. With decades of experience at the intersection of research and clinical practice, Dr. Brian highlights the power of empowering caregivers, listening to parents, and grounding early intervention in meaningful everyday interactions. Dr. Brian and her team continue refining Social ABCs, updating their website with new video content and caregiver-friendly summaries of the latest research. As they expand their reach, the core mission remains unchanged: to empower families, listen deeply to their insights, and support meaningful developmental outcomes through play and connection.

    44 min

  4. Apr 20

    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 support to children with developmental disabilities and their families. He’s been deeply involved with the association for nearly 15 years. Together with their dedicated team, they’ve built a network of services that now spans six cities, empowering families, training young professionals, and advocating for change in a country where less than 5% of children and people with disabilities receive services. With more than 25 years of impact, Enron reflects on the organization's evolution, the challenges of service delivery in Albania, and how Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), particularly the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), are transforming care for young autistic children in the region. Enron also shares practical advice for professionals wanting to learn more about NDBI: seek mentorship, exchange ideas openly, and be willing to question existing approaches to find better solutions. His experience confirms that NDBI is not only more natural and enjoyable but also more effective for children — and more freeing for therapists.

    46 min

  5. Apr 20

    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 Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), and how her work in inclusive preschool classrooms has shaped her views on child development, play, and parent collaboration. With deep experience in implementing Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and integrating developmental strategies like the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Christine offers a grounded, joyful, and developmentally affirming perspective on early learning environments.

    35 min

  6. Apr 20

    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-mediated, evidence-based interventions to families across Latin America. Natalia describes how her early work in Montreal led to a deep appreciation for Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) and later the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). She recalls reaching out directly to Dr. Lynn Koegel for mentorship when formal certification was financially out of reach — a bold move that shaped her trajectory. After returning to Argentina, Natalia became a driving force in translating and adapting NDBI materials into Spanish and expanding access to caregiver coaching and naturalistic intervention strategies across the region. Natalia reminds us that while research is important, accessibility matters. Her passion for culturally adapting materials and building bridges across languages shines through, offering a compelling vision for what it looks like to bring high-quality early intervention to families everywhere — not just in English-speaking or high-resource contexts.

    52 min

  7. Mar 30

    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 developmental science, early intervention, and child-led learning shaped her commitment to Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs). With over 20 years of experience in autism support and early childhood special education, Tracy brings a unique blend of clinical practice and research insight to the conversation.

    48 min

  8. Mar 30

    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 spans clinical practice, informatics, and research — all with a shared goal of improving access to meaningful, evidence-based support for autistic children and their families.

    45 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamie Hughes-Lika, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, IBA
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The NDBI Navigator
  • Show Website
    The NDBI Navigator

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