The Daily Ethics Playlist
Author: Sarah Lichtenberger
As the authors of Daily Ethics: Creating Intentional Practice for Behavior Analysts, we wanted to give readers a little something extra, so we built not just a book club and recipe list, but also a playlist. Why a playlist, you ask? Because ethics can (and should) be fun! Our framework for weaving ethics into daily practice is probably a shift from how you’ve thought about ethics before, so we wanted to offer ways to keep it fresh and engaging. Whereas I’d love to break down every track on the playlist, I’ll stick to five favorites and share why I think they earn their spot. Just remember—these picks are mine alone, not my coauthors’, and you may totally disagree (which is half the fun).
“… Ready for it?”—Taylor Swift
If you’re cringing that the first song on this playlist is by Taylor Swift, I’m assuming you didn’t attend the Eras Tour. Those who’ve known me for a while might even be surprised to see her here—my transformation didn’t truly happen until I experienced the Eras Tour alongside the Swifties in my life.
When I reflect on my career as a behavior analyst, I can’t help but notice parallels to the Taylor Swift eras. There was my student era—new to behavior analysis, thrilled by every new concept, and excited to put it into practice. You could say I was … Fearless.
Fast-forward a few years into practice, and I encountered moments when it felt like my Reputation was on the line and a single mistake could define me. Looking back, I can see that perception grew from a very black-and-white interpretation of ethics. Over time, through the guidance of mentors, colleagues, and real-world experience, I began to appreciate the gray. Ethics isn’t rigid; it’s contextual and nuanced.
That’s the core of Daily Ethics. Our hope was to help you become more … ready for it, by incorporating intentional ethical practice into your everyday work. Not just reacting to dilemmas, but building the fluency and confidence to prevent, navigate, and respond to them with clarity and compassion.
“Let It Go”—Idina Menzel
In my journey toward embracing ethical daily practice, especially with the self-reflection piece, I’ve had many moments filled with discomfort and anxiety about how I handled past situations and the potential impact those decisions had. As the authors of Daily Ethics, we know self-reflection can evoke memories that feel … well, icky. And as uncomfortable as those moments are, they matter.
Those feelings can signal areas where more intentional practice is needed so you can respond in ways that align with your values and the ethics requirements. Spend time exploring that discomfort with honesty and curiosity. But also, be kind to yourself in the process. Acknowledge where you could have done better and where you want to grow, and then let it go. Don’t hold on to the guilt or replay the mistake so much that it becomes a barrier to learning, keeping you Frozen.
Take the lesson, commit to doing better in the future, and release what no longer serves your growth.
“Everyday”—Logic & Marshmello
The title of this song might feel a little on the nose. But that’s the point. The heart of Daily Ethics is in the daily: the everyday decisions, actions, and reflections.
By incorporating ethical practice into your routine, you make it less scary. Putting it into regular practice better prepares you to respond to dilemmas in the moment and helps you spot red flags earlier, put effective antecedent strategies in place, and possibly avoid the dilemmas altogether.
I also appreciate this song for another reason: because as behavior analysts, we really do work hard every day. The work you do is so important to your clients, their families, your colleagues, and our profession. And ensuring that we do it ethically is not just a requirement; it reflects our commitment to the people we serve.
“Girl on Fire”—Alicia Keys
The goal of engaging in daily ethical practice is to build fluency and confidence in your ethical decision-making and how to respond when missteps occur. This confidence might look like raising concerns when policies and procedures put others at risk of violating ethics requirements, having the courage to tell your supervisor when you’ve made a mistake, or supporting a colleague navigating an ethical dilemma.
It won’t be perfect every time, and perfection isn’t the goal. Instead, the hope is that it will get easier over time and allow you to engage in behavior that aligns with your values and the ethics requirements.
The hope is that when you imagine yourself as a girl on fire, you’re seeing a version of yourself responding confidently in those heated moments with the skills you acquired with intentional practice, and not the “This is fine” house-on-fire dog meme.
“Golden”—HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, & KPop Demon Hunters Cast
I was late to the KPop Demon Hunters love, but I’m fully in it now! In case you haven’t seen it, the story starts with a group of hunters charged with protecting humans by removing demons. This stark contrast of good versus evil soon begins to blur when we discover that one of the hunters is hiding part of her identity. She’s hiding what she believes is bad and shameful.
Many of us were similarly introduced to ethics as a black-and-white distinction between right and wrong, ethical and unethical, good and bad. However, in practice, ethics is complex and rarely as clear-cut as we wish it were.
Instead of living in shame, hiding our missteps, and fueling the metaphorical demons that feed on fear and silence, we can choose a different path. We can lean into the discomfort, use our mistakes as learning opportunities, and rely on our community (e.g., colleagues, mentors, accountabilibuddies, fellow hunters) to support our growth in ethical decision-making, and be golden!
And as I write this, I’m starting to think that there might be another KPop Demon Hunters song that deserves a spot on this playlist—so keep an eye out for an addition, and any others that might join in the future!
Hopefully, this short tour of our playlist has inspired you to create your own or find other ways to pair ethics with fun as you enter your intentional ethics practice era!
Playlist Links
Daily Ethics: Creating Intentional Practice for Behavior Analysts
This book is a practical, reflective guide to building ethical fluency in everyday practice. Through structured prompts, real-world scenarios, and two-week learning cycles, Sellers, Patrizi, and Lichtenberger help behavior analysts strengthen self-awareness, navigate complex decisions, and proactively manage ethical challenges. Designed to develop “ethical muscle memory,” this book supports practitioners in aligning daily actions with professional standards and personal values.
