What’s Up With Catalight!

Catalight is changing how the world supports people with autism and intellectual disabilities. We’re building a more equitable future through innovative care solutions, research, and open conversations.Join us as we explore groundbreaking research, hear from experts, and uncover new ways to empower individuals and families. Together, we can create a world where everyone thrives.

What’s Up With Catalight! is a education podcast hosted by Catalight, with 15 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Catalight hosts What’s Up With Catalight!, a education show with 15 episodes published.

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  Episode #17

  Ep. 20 - The Dosage Effect Problem

  Sep 30, 202652 min

  An idea that may seem like common sense on its surface has shaped autism care for decades: more intervention hours lead to better outcomes. However, a growing body of research – including Catalight’s own – is challenging that assumption. In a special episode, Lindsey is joined by her mentor Doreen Samelson, Ed.D., Catalight’s chief clinical officer, to explain what evidence actually tells us about intervention intensity and the often-overlooked nuance of the “dosage effect” – the amount of treatment hours per week over a period of time. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, her perspective as the mother of an adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities, her own recently published study “Dosage in Applied Behavior Analysis: Effect on Adaptive Behavior, Goal Attainment, and Dangerous Behavior” and other recent real-world studies of ABA outcomes, Doreen speaks about why higher hours don’t necessarily predict greater success. That’s not to say the answer isn’t simply prescribing fewer hours, either. Lindsey and Doreen spend time talking about the importance of defining meaningful outcomes in the first place, the limitations of traditional outcome measures, the impact high-hour treatment can have on an entire family, and why a diverse autism population demands more individualized options. Better care isn’t about maximizing hours – it’s about understanding the person, the family and the outcomes that actually matter. Resources/references mentioned in this episode: Dr. Doreen Samelson’s study “Dosage in Applied Behavior Analysis: Effect on Adaptive Behavior, Goal Attainment, and Dangerous Behavior”: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-025-07203-1 Coverage of Dr. Samelson’s work on dosage effect: https://www.catalight.org/press-release/study-finds-more-treatment-hours-for-autistic-children-may-not-lead-to-better-outcomes Catalight LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/catalightcares Catalight Instagram: www.instagram.com/catalightcares/ Catalight Facebook: www.facebook.com/CatalightCareServices/

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  Episode #21

  Ep. 19 - A Life That's Good for Me

  Aug 27, 202652 min

  For many autistic people, getting through the day can require an enormous amount of energy. Sensory overload, social expectations, masking and the pressure to fit into environments that weren’t designed for neurodivergent minds can take a toll. Out of necessity, Maja Toudal, in struggling with autism challenges, ADHD and suicidal ideation as a teen in Denmark, found that the answer isn’t learning to push harder or mask better, but understanding what takes energy, what restores it and what a good life actually looks like for different individuals. Now a psychologist, speaker, educator and advocate, Maja Toudal talks with Lindsey about her book “Energy Accounting.” By treating energy like a bank account – with experiences that act as withdrawals and others that serve as deposits – Energy Accounting offers a practical way to better understand personal limits, make intentional adjustments and protect long-term wellbeing. Their conversation goes well beyond that – encompassing myriad aspects of life that lead to stress and burnout. Maja shares her experience growing up autistic, being told by professionals not to expect friendships, relationships or a meaningful career, and ultimately rejecting the idea that being autistic meant accepting a life of suffering. Instead of trying to build a life that looked like everyone else’s, she began figuring out how to build a life that was good for her. Resources/references mentioned in this episode: Maja Toudal’s website: https://majatoudal.com/ “Energy Accounting” book: https://energyaccounting.com/ “What Your Autistic Child Wants You to Know: And How You Can Help Them”: https://www.amazon.com/What-Your-Autistic-Child-Wants-ebook/dp/B09XPFN6FD Autistic Tidbits and Tangents podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autistic-tidbits-tangents/id1637750283

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  Episode #22

  Ep. 18 - The Divorce of Behavior Analysis and Psychology

  Jul 28, 202655 min

  Behavior analysis and psychology used to be one and the same. But, over time, the two disciplines split and the effects of that rift are still shaping autism support today. Lindsey is joined by Dr. Lauryn Toby and Erica Ranade, behavior analysts with backgrounds in psychology and the creators of the popular ‘Psychobabble BCBAs’ Instagram channel, to examine what happened when behavior analysis separated from its psychological roots. As the field grapples with renewed scrutiny around issues like overbilling, fraud and the quality of care, they argue that understanding how behavior analysis evolved is more important than ever. While the split helped behavior analysis establish itself as a rigorous scientific discipline, they believe it also left behind valuable elements of psychology, including therapeutic relationships, child development, consultation, collaboration and clinical judgment. Through conversations about the history of the field and the challenges it faces today, they discuss how reconnecting with psychology's broader understanding of human behavior doesn't mean abandoning the science of behavior analysis – it’s all about strengthening it. By looking back at where the field came from, they make the case that bringing the best of psychology and behavior analysis back together could help create more individualized, compassionate and effective autism support for the future. Resources/references mentioned in this episode: The Psychobabble BCBAs website: https://www.thepsychobabblebcbas.com/ The Psychobabble BCBAs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychobabblebcbas “Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts” edited by Lauryn Toby and Erica Ranade: https://www.routledge.com/Psychology-Essentials-for-Behavior-Analysts/Toby-Ranade/p/book/9781032844183 or Amazon.com: Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts: 9781032844183: Toby, Lauryn M., Ranade, Erica S.: Books Lindsey Sneed’s CEU class with Hoosier ABA on parent mediated training on Aug. 7 (open to all): https://www.hoosieraba.org/event-details/august-hoosier-happy-hour Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis 2026 (Oct. 14-16): https://behaviorlive.com/conferences/hoosierABA2026/home

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  Episode #18

  Ep. 17 - Saying the Quiet Parts Out Loud

  Jul 2, 202652 min

  Many critical conversations about the autism care industry are only happening behind closed doors. This isn't one of them. Sean Yocum, BCBA, has built a reputation for saying what many clinicians are thinking but aren't always willing to state publicly. As one half of the Rad N’ Bad podcast and founder of Hickory Learning Group, Sean isn't afraid to challenge practices and ruffle a few feathers along the way. In fact, that's why he and co-host Mike Carrero embraced the idea of being the industry's "bad guys." Sean joins Lindsey for a candid conversation about why thoughtful criticism isn't something the autism field should fear. It’s a powerful force for progress. They talk about why parent-mediated intervention deserves a larger role in autism care, whether today's service models still reflect the evidence they were built upon, the incentives that shape how autism services are delivered, value-based care and what meaningful outcomes should actually look like. Drawing from his own childhood growing up alongside his autistic brother, Sean shares how his family's experiences with early autism services inspired him to enter the field and ultimately led him to question many of its most entrenched practices. He explains why he left traditional service models to build Hickory Learning Group around parent-mediated care, family empowerment and the belief that the best clinicians should be working themselves out of a job. And, for the first time, Sean gives his ‘villain’ origin story of how he and Mike intentionally created a space where difficult conversations could happen openly. A podcast walking the fine line between criticizing an industry and strengthening it – using evidence, philosophical doubt and a healthy dose of humor to challenge ideas without losing sight of the families they're trying to serve. Resources mentioned: Dr. Lindsey Sneed on the Rad N’ Bad podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-who-the-hell-is-that-lindsey-sneed-the/id1818091909?i=1000724745012 The full Rad N’ Bad podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/rad-n-bad-podcast/id1818091909 Rad N’ Bad YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZmTXgytPbkj9Qw-D5QuLw Hickory Learning Group: https://www.hickorylearninggroup.org/

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  Episode #16

  Ep. 16 - Needless Suffering

  Jun 10, 202647 min

  Sometimes behavior isn't a behavior problem. Sometimes aggression is actually dental pain. Sometimes refusal to eat is acid reflux. Sometimes a sleepless night, or a sudden outburst or a dramatic change in mood is a person's only way of communicating that something is wrong. Sometimes these are actually underlying medical issues that practitioners and physicians simply aren’t seeing because they don’t have the right training. Lindsey sits down with Dr. Craig Escudé, one of the nation's leading experts in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), to explore a blind spot hiding in plain sight: the gap between behavioral and medical care. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Escudé explains why behavior is communication, how clinicians and physicians alike can miss critical underlying health issues, and why many medical professionals receive little to no formal training on caring for people with I/DD. The consequences can be profound – from unnecessary suffering to missed diagnoses and preventable hospitalizations. Lindsey and Craig discuss the dangers of diagnostic overshadowing, the importance of seeing people as people first rather than diagnoses, and the systemic changes needed to ensure more equitable care. With approximately 1 in 6 people in the United States living with one or more developmental disabilities or delays, the need for better training, stronger collaboration and integrated care has never been more clear. Resources mentioned in this episode: - Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearning course: Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearn - IntellectAbility - IntellectAbility’s free IDD Perspectives webinar series: Webinars - IntellectAbility - Free resources and articles from IntellectAbility: Intellectual Disability Services, Intellectual Disability Definition - Dr. Craig Escudé’s book: Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare: Second Edition - IntellectAbility - Dr. Craig Escudé’s podcast: IDD Health Matters Podcast - Catalight hospitalization study: Large-Scale Study Finds Autistic Youth Far More Likely to Be Hospitalized for Mental Health Conditions - Catalight - Catalight sleep study: Study Links Poor Sleep to Increased Risky Behavior Among Autistic People - Catalight

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