About Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA
The Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA) strives to spread knowledge throughout the animal care field to help enhance animal care through operant conditioning. Each episode we will discuss a topic in the world of animal care and break down the science of behavior change. To achieve this, the podcast’s host, Shane Gorbett, will interview fellow animal care professionals and experts from across the world to discuss all things training, behavior, enrichment, welfare, and much more! This podcast will be a great resource for all trainers. Let's talk some training and banter about behavior!
Publisher
Shane Gorbett, Board of Directors, The Animal Behavior Management Alliance
84: Schedules of Reinforcement - Part 2 with Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park & ABMA Board of Directors
This episode Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and an ABMA Board Member, helps to define and break down “Schedules of Reinforcement”. This episode is Part 2 of a two part series breaking down the most commonly heard and used schedules of reinforcement. The episode aims to break down and discuss the four main types of intermittent reinforcement schedules. Sue explains and gives examples of Fixed Ratio (FR), Fixed Interval (FI), Variable Ratio (VR), and Variable Interval (VI) Schedules. To end the episode, we discuss two “flavors” of schedules of reinforcement which are not found in the literature but are used in practice. These “twists” to traditional reinforcement schedules include Variable Ratio of Reinforcement Variety (VRRV) and a continuous schedule that utilizes secondary reinforcers. Stay tuned in for Sue’s "Training Tale" about reimagining the zoo’s macaw flight and how they implemented a variable schedule od reinforcement. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org (mailto:abc@theabma.org). To learn more about the ABMA visit: https://www.theabma.org/ (https://www.theabma.org/)
6:50 Overview of the four main types of intermittent schedules of reinforcement
9:15 Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR)
17:35 Fixed Interval Schedule (FI)
22:55 Variable Ratio Schedule (VR)
33:50 Variable Interval Schedule (VI)
40:00 “Flavor” of Schedule of Reinforcement: Variable Ratio with Reinforcement Variety (VRRV)
45:45 “Flavor” of Schedule of Reinforcement: Continuous Schedule Utilizing Secondary Reinforcers
58:30 “Training Tales”
11 Sept 2026
83: Schedules of Reinforcement - Part 1 with Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park
This episode Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park and an ABMA Board Member, helps to define and break down “Schedules of Reinforcement”. This episode is Part 1 of a two part series breaking down the most commonly heard and used schedules of reinforcement. The episode starts with definitions of schedules of reinforcement and the two categories nonintermittent and intermittent. Next, continuous reinforcement is discussed. Continuous is the best schedule to utilize when teaching a new item. Sue then provides some learning into non-intermittent schedules of reinforcement. The importance of knowing what schedules of reinforcement and consistency across team members was discussed. Sue also discusses how schedules come into play when shaping a new behavior. The discussion ends with advice for transitioning from a continuous reinforcement schedule to an intermittent schedule. Stay tuned in for Sue’s "Training Tale" about the power of asking why something is done and the benefits of well conditioned bridging.For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org and to reach Sue email.
3:55 Introduction to Sue Pasquine
9:45 Definition of Schedules of Reinforcements
12:10 Definition of Non-Intermittent schedules and Continuous Reinforcement
17:20 Definition of Intermittent schedules
25:55 The importance of knowing what schedule we are using and that a team is using the same schedule in the same situations
28:20 How schedules come into play when shaping a new behavior
33:50 Advice for moving from a continuos schedule to an intermittent schedule
41:00 “Training Tales”
28 Aug 2026
82: Building Resiliency in Animals with Heidi Hellmuth, ABMA Founder
This episode Heidi Hellmuth, an ABMA founder, provides some great learning and advice for building resiliency, or coping skills, with animals. This podcast is a companion to Heidi’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Building Resiliency in Animals from Anemones to Zebras”. The episodes starts with defining resiliency and practical applications to building resiliency in animals while also explaining what resiliency is not. Next Heidi discusses the importance of proactively vs reactively building resiliency and the positive effects it can have on an animals welfare and mental state. The episode ends with advice on how to start resiliency building, ideas for parts of an animal’s life and environment to focus on, and the benefits of giving animals more control and agency in their life. Stay tuned in for Heidi’s "Training Tale" about a hippo who learned to go on a scale in a unique way! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email abc@theabma.org and to reach Heidi email heidi.hellmuth@yahoo.com
6:55 Introduction to Heidi Hellmuth
13:50 Definition of resiliency
18:50 The importance of proactively vs reactively building resiliency
20:35 How an individual’s resilience can be an indictor of an animal’s welfare and mental state
24:00 What resiliency is not
27:40 The positive effects that building resiliency can have
31:35 Aspects of an animal’s life to focus on building resiliency
45:00 How can giving animals more control and agency in their life positively affect their resiliency
49:30 Potential risks involved in resiliency building
53:00 Ideas to start resiliency building
58:35 “Training Tales”
Who has been a guest on Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ari Bailey
Dr Susan Friedman
Marie Filipek
Heidi Moomaw
Benjamin Fainsod
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
36 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
64
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
85
Contact Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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