Rad N Bad: Traditional vs. New ABA — Neutral Science, Values-Driven Application, and Social Validity

Sean Yocum, MA, BCBA, LBA & Michael Carrero, BCBA, LBA

Sean: MA, BCBA, LBA · Mike: BCBA, LBA

Sean Yocum, MA, BCBA, LBA (BACB certification #1-22-57936), is the owner of Hickory Learning Group in Hickory, NC, and co-host of the Rad N Bad Podcast. He also serves as Hickory Learning Group's ACE Coordinator and runs the Underground Conference, a monthly speaker series for the ABA field. Sean grew up as the big brother of a younger brother with autism, and he has worked as a behavior analyst across home, clinic, school, and community settings with hundreds of families. He is a strong advocate for radical caregiver involvement, built on one idea: success is measured by how many hours families no longer need us. On the mic, Sean opens with the hard question and says the quiet part out loud. Off the mic, he coaches travel baseball. Michael Carrero, BCBA, LBA (BACB certification #1-22-57932), is co-host of the Rad N Bad Podcast and presents with Hickory Learning Group. On the show he is the practical clinician and the steady hand next to Sean's volume. He asks the clarifying questions, plays devil's advocate, brings in examples from his own clinical work, and turns every debate into what to do next: behavioral skills training, clear definitions, and goals that fit the person. His OpenCEU workshop, Roadmapping: A Guide to Lasting Independence, introduces a person-centered planning framework for building long-term learner independence. Mike closes nearly every episode with a short, practical takeaway, because, in his words, "curiosity should always be stronger than certainty."