3 Pie Squared - ABA Business Leaders

Stephen Smith

<p>We discuss topics around Applied Behavior Analysis and how to improve the quality of services. You can check out our other services for ABA practices at www.3piesquared.com</p>

  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    April Fools'

    In this April Fool’s–themed episode, Stephen and April Smith are joined by a panel of ABA owners – Chris, Jennifer, Alecia Barrett, & Mallory Stinger - sharing their most unbelievable (but very real) stories from running an ABA business.  

    From insurance nightmares to staff issues and difficult audits, the conversation balances humour with practical takeaways. At its core, it’s about staying grounded, trusting your instincts, and leading with clarity when situations get messy. 

    ☎️ Have a Question? 

    Have a question for Stephen and April? 
    Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 

     

    🔗 Resources & Links 

    2 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 15 minutes
    Buying and Selling an ABA

    In this episode, Stephen and April sit down with Alex Veach, founder of Agenda Health, to break down what it looks like to buy or sell an ABA business. From understanding valuations to navigating the emotional and operational challenges of a sale, this conversation gives a practical look at a process many owners think about, but few fully understand. 

    Alex shares insights from the transaction side of the industry, highlighting what makes a business attractive to buyers, what slows deals down, and how owners can position themselves for a successful exit or acquisition. 

    Sponsored By Office Puzzle 

    This episode is brought to you by Office Puzzle. 
    Simplify your back-office operations and get the clarity you need to scale your ABA business. 

    Try it free for 30 days: 
    officepuzzle.com/3ps 

    Have a Question for Stephen & April? 

    Call the ABA Business Leaders Hotline: (737) 330-1432 

    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 

    26 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 38 minutes
    Self Care in ABA

    In this episode, Stephen and April Smith sit down with Josh Levine, co-founder of Momentum, for a conversation about burnout, leadership, and the role of self-awareness in the ABA field. Josh shares how a simple habit of daily reflection helped him grow as a clinician and develop a mindset focused on continuous improvement rather than perfection. 

    The discussion explores the emotional side of behavioral work, from overcoming negative self-talk to recognizing how burnout affects business owners, staff, and clients alike. Stephen, April, and Josh also talk about the importance of trust, delegation, and hiring team members who align with your organization’s values. 

    The episode closes with a powerful reminder that meaningful change in leadership starts internally. When clinicians and business owners prioritize self-awareness, compassion, and personal growth, it creates healthier teams and better outcomes for the families they serve. 

    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

    ABA Support Group for Business Owners 

    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 

    19 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 1 hour 21 seconds
    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 

    12 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 34 minutes 41 seconds
    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 

    5 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 49 minutes 9 seconds
    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 

    26 February 2026, 12:59 pm
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    ️ 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 

    19 February 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 27 minutes
    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 ABA
    • Tasneem 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 

    12 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 50 minutes 55 seconds
    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 

     

    5 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 1 hour 1 minute
    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 

    29 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 59 minutes 10 seconds
    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 

    22 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App