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Tim Talks: Behavioral Health
Tim Talks: Behavioral Health is a fast-paced podcast featuring candid, 10-minute conversations with leaders across the behavioral health field.
Hosted by Timothy Zercher, CEO of A-Train Marketing, each episode dives into what’s actually working in marketing, practice growth, and leadership — with a sharp focus on ethics, sustainability, and smart strategy.
Designed for behavioral health providers, practice owners, and executive leaders, Tim Talks delivers real insight from real operators shaping the future of care.
Short talks. Big insights. Smarter growth.
New episodes weekly.
Tim Talks: Behavioral Health
From Compliance to Competence: Allyson Wharam on Elevating ABA Training and Supervision
What if your ABA training systems didn’t just check boxes - but actually built confident, competent clinicians?
In this episode of Tim Talks: Behavioral Health, host Timothy Zercher sits down with Allyson Wharam, M.Ed., BCBA, the founder of Sidekick Learning, to explore how behavioral health organizations can rethink training, supervision, and clinical decision-making. From the gaps in traditional fieldwork to balancing compliance with creativity, Allyson brings a refreshing and practical perspective on empowering the next generation of BCBAs and RBTs.
This conversation is a must-listen for clinical directors, training leads, and anyone committed to raising the standard in ABA service delivery.
00:01 – Introduction
Timothy Zercher welcomes Allyson Wharam to the show.
00:11 – What inspired you to blend instructional design with behavior analysis and launch Sidekick Learning?
Allyson shares her personal journey from RBT to BCBA and instructional designer, and how fieldwork gaps sparked the idea for Sidekick Learning.
01:47 – How do you balance compliance with creativity in the ABA space?
She explains how many systems stop at compliance—and why the content within those hours is where real quality happens.
03:40 – What is one common mistake you see new BCBAs or ABA organizations make?
Allyson discusses the risks of the “cookbook” ABA approach and the need for deeper clinical training and adaptability.
06:23 – What is your favorite part about building scalable systems as an entrepreneur?
She talks about the freedom to identify needs and create solutions in real-time—centered around people, not processes.
08:24 – If you had a magic wand, what’s one thing you’d fix in ABA training and development?
Her answer: build better systems for tracking real-world application of training—turning onboarding into ongoing development for both BCBAs and RBTs.
10:52 – Closing Thoughts
Allyson shares her excitement for the future of systematized supervision and the cultural shifts happening in the field.
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