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!

Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA is a kids podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 83 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA, a kids show with 83 episodes published.

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  Animal Behavior Conversations: The Podcast of The ABMA

  84: Schedules of Reinforcement - Part 2 with Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park & ABMA Board of Directors

  Oct 2, 20261h 3m

  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 ⁠ ⁠. To learn more about the ABMA visit: 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”

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  Episode #83

  83: Schedules of Reinforcement - Part 1 with Sue Pasquine, ZooTampa at Lowry Park

  Sep 11, 202649 min

  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”

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  Episode #82

  82: Building Resiliency in Animals with Heidi Hellmuth, ABMA Founder

  Aug 28, 20261h 6m

  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”

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  Episode #81

  81: The Behaviors of Training the Trainers with Megan Sanders, BehaviorWorks

  Aug 14, 20261h 9m

  This episode continues on "The Behaviors of..." series which dives into the people side of the animal care field. This episode Megan Sanders, BehaviorWorks, discusses the behaviors of training the trainers and advice on coaching people through the science and practical application of training. This podcast is a companion to Megan’s presentation at the 2026 ABMA-IAATE annual conference titled “Training the Trainer: Behavior Skills Training Using PORTL to Improve Accuracy with Animal Trainers”. Megan starts the episode by demonstrating how we can take our knowledge of the science of training animals and apply that to training and coaching humans. Next, Megan discusses the importance of practicing skills in the “classroom” beforehand and advice on how to teach those skills. Finally, Megan provides some advice on giving and receiving feedback and how to best set yourself up for success if you are the one being training. Stay tuned in for Megan’s "Training Tale" about the simple way spider monkeys were recalled from the rainforest. For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠ ⁠ abc@theabma.org ⁠ ⁠ and to contact Megan email mms@behaviorworks.org 4:10 Introduction to Megan Sanders 13:00 How do we use the knowledge that we have about behavior modification in animals and bring that into how we teach people 16:30 Information on resources related to the science of behavior change and people 19:15 The importance of practicing skills before training an animal 30:35 Behavior Skills Training and how to apply that to teaching training 34:30 Teaching training skills in a classroom setting using PORTL 40: 25 Advice on giving feedback 45:45 Modeling as an effective teaching strategy 47:30 How to set yourself up for success if you are the one being trained 57:05 The behaviors of being effective at training trainers 1:02:40 “Training Tales”

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  Episode #80

  80: Creating Reinforcing and Challenging Environments with Gerry Creighton, Global Elephant Care

  Jul 31, 20261h 14m

  This episode Gerry Creighton, Global Elephant Care, discusses the importance of and advice for creating reinforcing and challenging environments for animals. Gerry starts the podcast by detailing his journey and the evolution of the Dublin Zoo and then discussing what it means to “borrow animals” for training. He gives advice on creatinine environments where animals aren’t looking to us for reinforcers. Gerry also provides learning on giving animals appropriate, biological challenges and allowing animals to make their own decisions. The podcast ends with advice on how to effectively message to guests, and leadership, when environments are created that may limit the guest view of the animal. Stay tuned in for Gerry’s "Training Tale" about an elephant who learned the joy of positive reinforcement training! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠ ⁠ abc@theabma.org ⁠ ⁠ and to reach Gerry email ⁠ gerry@globalelephantcare.com To learn more about Global Elephant Care and Gerry’s book “Raised by the Zoo: My Life with Elephants and Other Animals” visit https://globalelephantcare.com/ 5:20 Introduction to Gerry Creighton 21:50 “Borrowing Animals” for training 33:25 How can we give animals appropriate challenges in their life? 40:45 Creating environments where animals aren’t looking to us for reinforcers 50:15 Letting animals make their own decisions and how to listen to those decisions 1:01:40 Effectively messaging to guests and leadership if environments cause an animal to not be readily seen 1:08:40 “Training Tales”

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