55: A Free Operant Approach to Behavior Management with Rick Hester, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & BehaviorWorks

This episode Mary Hunter, Behavior Explorer, provides some great learning and advice about Reinforcement Systems. This podcast is a companion to Mary’s presentation at the 2024 ABMA annual conference in 2024 titled “Reinforcement Systems: Building Interconnected behavior chains that lead to improved communication and accelerated teaching”. The episode begins by defining Reinforcement Systems and their practical application. Next Mary gives an in depth breakdown to the four dimensions of Reinforcement Systems: Reinforcer, Delivery System, Bridge, Ready Response. The episode ends with Mary discussing how a reinforcement system can improve communication, accelerate learning, and help problem solve various potential training challenges. Stay tuned in for Mary’s "Training Tale" about how her horse has taught her care givers how and where to give her tactile reinforcement! For questions or suggestions about the podcast email ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. To reach Mary and to learn more about Behavior Explorer and PORTL visit her websites https://behaviorexplorer.com/ and https://stalecheerios.com/ 4:45 Introduction to Mary Hunter 6:30 PORTL 10:25 Definition of Reinforcement Systems 18:40 The Dimensions of a Reinforcement System: Reinforcer, Delivery System, Bridge, Ready Response 44:55 How can teaching a Reinforcement System increase communication and accelerate learning to avoid accidentally reinforced behaviors. 55:50 What challenges can be problem solved with Reinforcement Systems 1:02:25 “Training Tales”

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 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. To learn more about the ABMA visit: https://www.theabma.org/

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 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ 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”

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 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ and to reach Heidi email [email protected] 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”

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 ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ and to contact Megan email [email protected] 4:10 Introduction to Megan Sanders