Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers

About Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers

Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers is a weekly podcast where leadership meets behavior science, and where educators, clinicians, and humans grow. Hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, EdD, BCBA, LBS, each Friday, the podcast brings dynamic conversations, lived experiences, and behavior-based leadership discussions from diverse guests. These episodes are designed to help you connect theory to practice, hear how leadership unfolds in complex systems, and consider how behavior is shaped, supported, and sustained in authentic contexts. As part of the Behaviorally Speaking Leadership Lab, a weekly leadership lab where change makers learn, test, and apply behavior-based strategies for real-world impact, Dr. Bubb invites you to listen actively, learn from lived expertise, and expand how you lead through connection and understanding. For more knowledge and learning, visit https://esthercbubbabaservices.com/ (https://esthercbubbabaservices.com/).

Publisher

Dr. Esther C. Bubb

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Nov 2025

Latest episode

23 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

50 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Oct 2026

   S4 E6: Big-Impact Leadership Begins With Small Actions: How Jewel & Shalleann Alexis-Josey Are Inspiring Change Through Leadership, Kindness & Love ❤️ 🇬🇩

   Can one small act of kindness really make a difference? In this heartfelt episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers, Dr. Esther Bubb talks with youth leader Jewel Alexis-Josey and her mother, Shalleann Alexis-Josey, about how purpose becomes action and how everyday choices can help create safer, kinder, more connected communities. Jewel began imagining ways to help others when she was just five years old. Today, her message encourages people to bridge divides, support those in need, and stand together against violence and hate. Alongside her, Shalleann shares lessons from parenting, community service, and raising children to recognize their value and their ability to lead. In this conversation, we explore: Why leadership is not determined by age, title, or position—but by the choice to act. How small acts of kindness can inspire others and build momentum for community change. Why children need adults who model compassion, listen to them, and practice service alongside them. How encouragement, affirming words, and self-belief can help young people respond to bullying and peer pressure. Why love, unity, and seeing one another’s humanity matter in leadership. A practical Monday Morning Move: choose kindness even when it is not returned, and offer encouragement instead of criticism. Jewel and Shalleann remind us that change does not have to begin with a platform or a position. It can begin with a kind word, a meal shared, a person made to feel seen, or the courage to take the first step. As Jewel puts it, “We don’t fight each other, we fight together”—because love can heal and service can create a legacy that reaches beyond ourselves. Monday Morning Move: Make one intentional choice to encourage rather than criticize. Offer a thoughtful word, recognize someone’s effort, or show kindness without expecting anything in return. About Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers is hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, a behavior analyst and educational leader who explores leadership, behavior, dignity, organizational culture, and systems change. Leadership grounded in behavior. Guided by dignity. Designed for change. Connect with Dr. Esther Bubb If you're passionate about leadership, behavior science, education, and creating cultures where people flourish, you're in the right place. Because leadership isn't about changing people—it's about creating the conditions where people discover what's possible. Subscribe to Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers for conversations that bridge behavior analysis, leadership, education, and organizational change. If you enjoyed this episode:⭐ Follow the podcast⭐ Leave a rating and review⭐ Share this episode with a colleague, supervisor, educator, or fellow leader⭐ Visit Esther C. Bubb ABA Services for additional leadership resources, training, and professional development opportunities 🌐 Esther C Bubb ABA Services: https://esthercbubbabaservices.com 📝 Behaviorally Speaking: Insight for Change Makers Blog: https://esthercbubbabaservices.com/blog/f/big-impact-leadership-begins-with-small-actions Leadership is behavior. And behavior always tells a story. About Our Guests Jewel Alexis Josey, 10-Year-Old Humanitarian, Youth Leader, and Founder of Accelerate & Arise Foundation Inc. Jewel Alexis-Josey is a 10-year-old humanitarian, youth leader, and founder of Accelerate & Arise Foundation Inc. (Where Love Wins), a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering communities through service and unity. At just five years old, she received a vision to create positive change—leading efforts to feed the hungry, support the homeless, and bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities while sharing her message: “We don’t fight each other, we fight together—for only love wins.” Since then, she has helped provide essential resources to over 2,000 individuals across the U.S., Africa, and the Caribbe

2. 

   16 Oct 2026

   S4 E5: The Hidden Ways Childhood Trauma Shapes Relationships, Leadership, and Healing with Tyrrea L. Graves

   What if some of the ways we communicate, respond to conflict, build relationships, and lead others are connected to messages we learned long before we understood their meaning? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Dr. Esther Bubb welcomes back Tyrrea L. Graves, MEd, MBA, BCBA, LBS—Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, educator, entrepreneur, speaker, and author of Unspoken Truths: Marriage, Power, Secrets, and Survival. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience working with children and families, Tyrrea shares how childhood experiences, family dynamics, and the unspoken messages we inherit can influence our adult behavior, relationships, communication, and leadership. Through personal reflection, behavioral science, and storytelling, she invites us to consider the patterns we carry, the triggers we may not fully understand, and the truths we may have learned to keep silent. Together, Esther and Tyrrea explore: Childhood mantras and learned behavior: How messages such as “be strong,” “keep family matters private,” and “just get along” can influence the way we navigate adulthood. The power of self-reflection: Why asking “Why does this trigger me?” and “When was the first time I felt this way?” can open the door to greater self-awareness. Silence and healing: How unspoken experiences can remain influential and why creating space for honest, compassionate conversations matters. Generational patterns: How family norms and coping strategies can be passed down—and how intentional choices can help interrupt patterns we no longer want to repeat. Behavior analysis beyond traditional practice: How Tyrrea combines her professional knowledge and love of reading to make behavioral concepts accessible through fiction. Leadership and emotional intelligence: Why understanding our own triggers, values, and responses can help us better serve the people we lead. Boundaries, self-care, and growth: Why recognizing our capacity, giving ourselves grace, and working on ourselves over time are essential parts of the journey. This conversation is a reminder that understanding behavior requires more than looking at what someone does. It calls for curiosity about learning history, relationships, context, and the experiences that may be influencing the present. As Tyrrea reminds us, silence does not erase trauma. Her journey also offers an important message about taking responsibility for our growth, seeking support when needed, and making conscious choices about what we carry forward. Whether you are a leader, educator, behavior analyst, parent, or someone reflecting on your own personal journey, this episode invites you to look beneath the surface, challenge inherited assumptions, and consider what it means to create different possibilities for yourself and future generations. Reflection What messages did you learn growing up that still influence how you communicate, respond to conflict, establish boundaries, or lead others today? 0.5 Free BCBA Ethics CEU Available If you would like to obtain 0.5 Free Ethics CEU after listening to the episode, email Dr. Bubb at mail@esthercbubbabaservices.com. About Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers is hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, a behavior analyst and educational leader who explores leadership, behavior, dignity, organizational culture, and systems change. Leadership grounded in behavior. Guided by dignity. Designed for change. Connect with Dr. Esther Bubb If you're passionate about leadership, behavior science, education, and creating cultures where people flourish, you're in the right place. Because leadership isn't about changing people—it's about creating the conditions where people discover what's possible. Subscribe to Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers for conversations that bridge behavior analysis, leadership, education, and organizational change. If you enjoyed this episode:⭐ Follow the podcast⭐

3. 

   9 Oct 2026

   S4 E4: From Poverty to Physician: Dr. Betty-Ann Bernard on Women in Medicine, Leadership, & Purpose

   What does it take to turn a dream into a life of purpose? In this episode of Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers, Dr. Esther Bubb sits down with fellow Grenadian Dr. Betty-Ann Bernard, physician, educator, healthcare leader, and advocate, for a personal conversation about perseverance, purpose, leadership, and the journey from humble beginnings to medicine. Betty-Ann shares the story of growing up in Grenada, the influence of her family and especially her mother's emphasis on education, and how she developed the dream of becoming a physician. She takes us through her journey to studying medicine in Cuba, returning to Grenada, navigating professional challenges, and establishing herself as a woman in medicine. Together, Esther and Betty-Ann explore what leadership looks like when you are working directly with people, especially when what appears on the surface may not tell the whole story. Betty-Ann reflects on listening carefully to patients, looking beyond presenting symptoms, resisting assumptions, and recognizing when someone may need more than the immediate solution to the problem that brought them through the door. The conversation also takes a difficult but important turn toward gender-based violence, healthcare, education, and social change. Betty-Ann discusses the role healthcare professionals can play when individuals experiencing violence seek care, the challenges created by limited resources, and why education must be part of the larger conversation about prevention. At the heart of the episode is a message about purpose: using what you have learned, what you have experienced, and the opportunities you have been given to help create possibilities for others. From a young girl in Grenada with a dream of becoming a doctor to a physician committed to serving others, Dr. Betty-Ann Bernard's story is a reminder that “Sometimes you just have to dig deeper.” In this episode, we explore: Growing up in Grenada and the influence of family and education Betty-Ann's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a physician Studying medicine in Cuba and returning home to Grenada Perseverance and overcoming professional challenges Women pursuing careers in medicine and other traditionally challenging fields Looking beyond the presenting problem to understand the person Compassion, listening, and resisting assumptions in healthcare Gender-based violence as a public health and leadership challenge The role of education in prevention and social change The importance of purpose, service, and creating opportunities for others 🎙️ Listen now: From Poverty to Physician: Dr. Betty-Ann Bernard on Women in Medicine, Leadership & Purpose #BehaviorallySpeaking #LeadershipForChangeMakers #WomenInMedicine #Leadership #Purpose #Grenada #HealthcareLeadership #SocialChange 0.5 Free BCBA Ethics CEU Available If you would like to obtain 0.5 Free Ethics CEU after listening to the episode, email Dr. Bubb at mail@esthercbubbabaservices.com. About Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change Makers is hosted by Dr. Esther C. Bubb, a behavior analyst and educational leader who explores leadership, behavior, dignity, organizational culture, and systems change. Leadership grounded in behavior. Guided by dignity. Designed for change. Connect with Dr. Esther Bubb If you're passionate about leadership, behavior science, education, and creating cultures where people flourish, you're in the right place. Because leadership isn't about changing people—it's about creating the conditions where people discover what's possible. Subscribe to Behaviorally Speaking: Leadership for Change-Makers for conversations that bridge behavior analysis, leadership, education, and organizational change. If you enjoyed this episode:⭐ Follow the podcast⭐ Leave a rating and review⭐ Share this episode with a colleague, supervisor, educator, or fellow leader⭐ Visit Esther C. Bubb ABA Services for additio