What’s Up With Catalight!

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

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

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/id1818091909Rad N’ Bad YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChZmTXgytPbkj9Qw-D5QuLw
Hickory Learning Group: https://www.hickorylearninggroup.org/

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

Autism and other I/DD treatment is often designed around behavior. But people are more than just behavior. They’re humans with families, wants, needs and their own goals.
In BCBA training, behavior analysts are taught to think of humans in terms of “organisms” – a clinical, scientific lens that, unfortunately, first shapes how care is delivered. What that lens is blind to is what matters most – the human experience.
Lindsey sits down with Dr. Tracy Raulston, a BCBA, researcher and professor at Texas State University, whose work focuses on family-centered care and parent-mediated intervention, to ask the question, “Why is family-centered care such a novel concept to the autism industry?”
There’s been a system built for behavior, but not always built to support individuals, parents, caregivers and families.
Lindsey and Tracy explore what it really means to center families in care while discussing the limitations of traditional training models, the overlooked importance of working with caregivers and the reality that most care doesn’t happen in a clinic – it happens in homes, in routines and in everyday life.
Links: 
Catalight Academy – RUBI course: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organicCatalight Academy – Live RUBI workshops: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-workshop?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic
Catalight Academy – RUBI advanced certifications: https://www.catalightacademy.org/program/rubi-advanced-certification?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic
 
Project ImPACT: Project ImPACTABAI conference (5/22/26) – Empowering Families Through Everyday Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): A Workshop on Parent-Mediated Interventions (PMI) Implementation: Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International
ABAI conference symposium (5/24/26) – Expanding Access and Effectiveness in Parent-Mediated Behavioral Interventions: Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International
ABAI conference skill building – Writing Effective, Evidence-Based Goals for Autistic Individuals: A Neuroaffirming Approach (5/25/26): Event Detail - Association for Behavior Analysis International

Mealtimes aren't just about nourishing the body, they're also about nourishing connection.
For most of us, eating just happens. For many children with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, however, every bite can be a battle – one that affects their physical and mental health along with their sense of cultural belonging.
Lindsey sits down with Dr. Yev Veverka, BCBA clinician, researcher, and director of training and consultation services at the University of Washington Autism Center – to explore how make mealtimes meaningful, inclusive and supportive by bringing joy to eating.
Whether at home, at school or in a restaurant, mealtimes can be overwhelming and unpredictable for many autistic kids. Dr. Veverka, co-author of “Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters,” empowers educators, parents and support teams to turn mealtimes into opportunities for growth – literally and figuratively.
They talk about how small, thoughtful changes can transform mealtimes from a source of stress into a moment of connection.
“Meaningful Mealtimes: Practical Strategies for All Young Eaters”: https://www.amazon.com/Meaningful-Mealtimes-Practical-Strategies-Eaters/dp/1681258242
Yev Veverka – Feeding Matters: Yev Veverka PhD, BCBA-D - Inclusion Representative - Feeding Matters

Evidence is evidence, right? Binary. Black and white on paper. Well, not really. “Evidence-based” isn’t as simple as people would like to make it out to be. And, if you truly want to be objective and find real answers, you must be open to the idea that your assumptions may not hold up while simultaneously maintaining an openness to learn.
Prolific researcher Micheal Sandbank, Ph.D., joins Lindsey to discuss what “evidence-based” really means. They examine what makes a good study, what quality research entails and ask, “evidence for what exactly?”
The two talk about how evidence is being used as ammunition in the autism care industry and how people’s strong, unchanging convictions are creating camps in the field – a schism that is hurting kids and families in need.
Dr. Sandbank is a professor at the University of North Carolina and the lead of Project AIM, a comprehensive meta-analysis of all non-pharmacological interventions designed for young autistic children, which was selected as one of the ‘Top Advances in Autism Research’ by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can find her research here.Micheal was a keynote speaker at Catalight's virtual Elevate Your Impact conference earlier this year. The virtual event, occurring next on March 12 and 13, 2026, is open to everyone around the world with continuing education opportunities for those who qualify. Learn more or register here: https://elevateyourimpact.org/. You can also apply to be a speaker here: Call for Papers - Elevate Your Impact: Evidence in Action

For decades, autism science has failed women.
Lindsey talks with internationally renowned British cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Gina Rippon, whose latest book “Off the Spectrum” (titled “The Lost Girls of Autism” in the UK) details how autism research and diagnostic models have historically overlooked women and girls. For far too long, autism was considered “a boys’ disorder,” and misguided stereotypes persist to this day.
Dr. Rippon shares how societal expectations, harmful assumptions and masking behaviors have contributed to the underdiagnosis and misdiagnosis of autistic girls and women as Lindsey conveys her own experiences as a diagnostician – going 5 years to start her career without ever seeing an autistic female patient to now when females seeking her diagnosis far outnumber males. The conversation challenges long-held ideas about brains, gender and neurodiversity while asking how science can do better.
This episode marks the What’s Up With Catalight! one-year anniversary — thank you to all our listeners for joining us on this journey!
“Off the Spectrum/The Lost Girls of Autism” by Dr. Gina Rippon: https://www.ginarippon.com/the-lost-girls-of-autism

Host Lindsey Sneed was unfamiliar with the term 'polyvagal theory' until recently.  After reading “Autism in Polyvagal Terms,” however, she saw how guest and author Sean Inderbitzen is using the body-based approach and lived experience to conceptualize autism in a brand-new way.  
The polyvagal theory – centered around how vagal nerve branches control unconscious behaviors – has been prominent topic in the self-help section of bookstores since the ‘90s, but Dr. Inderbitzen posits that we can also use it to better understand the challenges of autism and look at nearly all mental health diagnoses along with the full human condition through the theory’s lens. In doing so, he came up with analogy that, in response to feelings of safety or threat, the vagus nerve triggers one of three brains: the owl (when we’re curious and open), the cheetah (fight or flight) and the possum (shutting down).  
He and Dr. Sneed discuss the novel concept, Sean’s motivation to increase access to mental health services and how demonstrating kindness is one of the most important themes of the book. 
"Autism in Polyvagal Terms" by Sean Inderbitzen: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324053217 
To learn more about Sean, hear him speak or book a consultation: https://linktr.ee/seaninderbitzen 

In an extremely topical episode, Dr. Peter Hotez, one of the world’s most preeminent experts on vaccines and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, joins host Lindsey Sneed to talk about the all too widespread and modern misconception that vaccines cause autism. While he’s saved hundreds of thousands of lives with the low-cost vaccines that he’s helped create over his illustrious career, Peter tells Lindsey that his recent work defending vaccines may ultimately prove to be as important as making the vaccines themselves.  
The father of a daughter with autism, Peter wrote the book “Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism” in 2018 – mixing his personal and professional life in a way that explains the causes of autism and how parents can be duped into simplistic fallacies in search of understanding. Modifying ‘tikkun olam,’ the Jewish concept of “repairing the world,” Peter says his own ‘science tikkun’ has become the meaningful framework of his life’s work – even when his life is being threatened by anti-vaxxers.  
Peter Hotez is a pediatrician, public health advocate, dean of the Baylor College School of Tropical Medicine and co-director of the Texas Center for Vaccine Development who’s appeared on CNN, MSNBC, BBC, Fox News, the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the Joe Rogan Experience. A nine-time author, Peter is finishing up his next book due out in the fall – a collaboration with famed geophysicist Michael Mann entitled “Science Under Siege,” an examination of the overlap between the attacks on climate science and biomedicine.