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
Jen Farris - Building Sprout MBC to Serve Underserved Communities
In this episode, Timothy A. Zercher sits down with Jen Farris, founder of Sprout MBC, to explore her journey from a college student unsure of her path to a passionate leader in behavioral health. Jen shares the story of how she got into applied behavior analysis, the challenges of building and growing a behavioral health organization in rural communities, and her vision for improving access to services for underserved populations.
They discuss:
- The hardest parts of growing a behavioral health organization
- Gaps in training for BCBAs and how Sprout MBC addresses them
- How to market ABA services effectively without compromising values
- Changing the public perception of ABA and highlighting its positive impact
If you’re in behavioral health, leadership, or looking to build a mission-driven organization, this conversation is full of practical insights and inspiration.
00:00 – Timothy A. Zercher:
Hi, good morning Jen, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate you taking time out your schedule.
00:07 – Timothy A. Zercher:
Your job is not an easy one. I find that almost anyone in behavioral health has a specific reason and a story of how they got here. Would you mind sharing yours?
00:15 – Jen Farris:
[Jen shares her story of how she got into behavioral health after being kicked out of college and finding a passion for working with children with autism.]
01:56 – Timothy A. Zercher:
Wow, wow, so you could have been in marketing and instead you chose a much, much, much harder career.
02:30 – Timothy A. Zercher:
So what have you found is the hardest part of growing your organization, growing your team?
02:36 – Jen Farris:
[Jen talks about logistical challenges in rural areas, being the “villain” in business decisions, and balancing clinical values with leadership responsibilities.]
03:54 – Timothy A. Zercher:
So how did the concept of Sprout NBC come to life?
03:54 – Jen Farris:
[Jen describes the inspiration behind Sprout, including her master’s project, focus on underserved communities, and creating accessible services.]
06:50 – Timothy A. Zercher:
What do you see as one of the biggest gaps in training for BCBAs today as someone who has multiple degrees and also practices?
06:57 – Jen Farris:
[Jen discusses the knowledge-to-practice gap, challenges with supervision, and the importance of clinical apprenticeships.]
09:22 – Timothy A. Zercher:
That's awesome. Keeping the focus on high quality and high quality learning for your team as well.
09:42 – Timothy A. Zercher:
How does your team go about gaining new clients right now? What is working well for you?
09:42 – Jen Farris:
[Jen explains Sprout’s reliance on word-of-mouth, strong community partnerships, and highlighting quality work.]
12:05 – Timothy A. Zercher:
What is one marketing tactic or marketing process, something like that, that you're either watching really carefully in the marketplace or that you're actually considering for your team right now?
12:05 – Jen Farris:
[Jen shares her approach to changing the public perception of ABA, highlighting positive outcomes, and being intentional with messaging.]
13:40 – Timothy A. Zercher:
Perfect. Well, thank you so much. We'll leave it on that inspirational note.
13:46 – Jen Farris:
Awesome. Of course.
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