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# Occupied

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Episodes](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/episodes/)
- [193 - Leading with Creativity and Advocacy: Adam Lo OAM](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/193-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Jess sits down with Adam Lo OAM to explore an inspiring career spanning clinical practice, leadership, advocacy, and the arts. Adam shares his experiences working in Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) and discusses the unique role occupational therapists play in supporting children, young people, and their families. We also dive into his passion
- [083 – OT’s Role in Harm Minimisation](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/083-2/) - Exploring the Dark Side of Occupation in more detail this episode, Rina and I delve into the world of harm minimisation. A question that I’ve been asked by many students is how can you work with someone who is “using illicit substances” when its “illegal”. When is “getting off” or “staying off” drugs not the
- [102 – Difficult Conversations & BPD ft Keir Harding](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/102-2/) - DURING THIS PODCAST TOPICS SUCH AS SUICIDE, SELF HARM AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE DISCUSSED. IF THIS IS A TRIGGER OR MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. A while ago I asked the audience what topics they would like episodes on and there was a big swell of
- [192 - The Blessing of Not Fitting In ft Mallory Reilly](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/192-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Brock sits down with Mallory Reilly, an occupational therapist who never quite felt like she fit the traditional OT mould. Rather than forcing herself into a version of practice that didn’t feel right, Mallory forged her own path — blending her OT knowledge, clinical reasoning, and passion for physical training into a
- [191 - Leadership, Inclusion & Impact ft Angus Buchanan](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/191-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Jess sits down with occupational therapist Angus Buchanan to explore a career that has spanned clinical practice, academia, and leadership as a Head of School. Angus shares reflections from his recent keynote address at the National Occupational Therapy Conference in Adelaide in 2025, offering honest insights into how his thinking has
- [190 - Born to be a Pediatric OT ft. Greg Santucci](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/190-2/) - Greg Santucci is an internationally recognised paediatric occupational therapist with over 26 years experience. He is a clinical leader, educator and creator of the Model of Child Engagement, known for making complex neurodevelopmental concepts practical and usable. We sat down and chatted about where it all started and the keys to the development of the
- [189 - From PhD to Practice: Evidence, Occupation & Knowledge Translation](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/189-2/) - In this solo episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick reflects on her PhD journey and explores what evidence-based practice really means for occupational therapists. Why does it take an average of 17 years for research to reach routine clinical practice? Why does strong evidence alone fail to change systems? And what responsibility do clinicians hold in
- [015 – Occupational Interviewing](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/015-2/) - As requested! an expansion of Episode 009 – How Do Values Fit with OT Practice by having a chat about how I’ve used these concepts in practice. Looking at a very practical way of finding a person’s occupational needs which can then be used to guide the occupation based practice direction. Super keen to start the discussion an
- [188 - The Nitty-Gritty about Burnout](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/188-2/) - Burnout gets talked about a lot — but rarely with clarity. In this episode, Brock and Jess unpack the biology of burnout and challenge the flood of non-evidence-based ideas circulating online. If you’ve ever been told burnout is “just stress,” “just poor boundaries,” or something you can fix with a weekend off… this conversation is for you.
- [010 – The Grey Revolution: Aged Care’s Young Leaders](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/010/) - Samantha Bowen is an Occupational Therapist from Perth Australia who found her passion in the aged care sector. Samantha started Acorn Network, an entrepreneurial venture aimed at promoting young leaders in the aged care sector by providing mentoring, support and growth services to individuals and companies. http://www.acorn-network.com.au/ Samantha has also just dropped her own podcast
- [009 – How do Values fit with OT practice?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/009/) - A rather spontaneous recording whilst getting some vitamin D, sitting outside, and relaxing. You know what they say, strike while the iron is hot, so whilst thinking about how I utilised values and values assessments within and occupation-based practice context it seemed like the perfect time to put my thoughts on record….and then send them out to
- [008 – Dr Jessie Wilson and the Co-Op approach](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/008/) - Dr Jessie Wilson is a former colleague of mine who now works at Western University in Canada. Her paediatric and mental health clinical background led her into her Ph.D. around an occupation based therapy project for young adults with autism. We discussed everything from previous episodes of Occupied, some of the marketing issues of the
- [007 – Why SMART Goals are Dumb](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/007/) - Goals…..we’ve all heard of them and all been advised that we should be using them both personally and clinically….but why and how are we using them? Do we have a good understanding of how they work? Hear me out and I’ll see if I can make you think 😉 When I say how do you
- [006 – The Business of Women’s Health and Occupational Therapy](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/006/) - Melissa LaPointe is a friend I’ve known for a number of years and I’ve watched her entrepreneurial journey building from her original passion area, Occupational Therapy and Women’s Health. Now she is an online entrepreneur, a women’s health advocate, a coach, a leadership consultant and a community builder! We went into some detail around therapist
- [005 – What can Minimalism teach Occupational Therapists](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/005/) - So in this episode, I explore some random reflections I’ve had after coming across the concept of “minimalism”. It started when I found a documentary on Netflix called Minimalism: A documentary about the important things which was the beginning of me diving down the minimalism rabbit hole. “Minimalism is a lifestyle that helps people question what things
- [004 – Newgradoccupationaltherapy.com with Dom](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/004/) - This episode I delved into the world of the New Graduate Occupational Therapist!! I had the pleasure of sitting down with the one and only Dominic Lloyd-Randolfi to hear about his journey into Occupational Therapy including his involvement with www.NewgradOccupationalTherapy.com NewGradOT is an amazing blog resource for new graduates containing an amazing array of information
- [003 – Reflecting on Reflection](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/003/) - Every now and then a small thing happens during my day triggers some much more extensive thoughts/reflections (ironic right?). Discussing with my Occupational Therapy students about the importance of reflection got me thinking about my personal journey towards developing this SUPER IMPORTANT skill. I discuss a bit about my experience of finally realising how amazing this
- [002 – Occupation based Pediatrics with the Rocket OT](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/002/) - Simone contacted me on Reddit following the release of Occupied episode 001 saying she wrote a blog called the Rocket OT and had created a visual that “demonstrates how regulation develops and is affected depending on environment/occupation”. After having a chat it was clear that Simone and myself were on similar wavelengths so how could
- [001 - Operation Occupation](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/001/) - Operation Occupation was a project that I undertook a few years ago and was a turning point in my career for my personal growth into the profession of OT. Below is a presentation that I gave to the OT’s in my district about the “Operation Occupation” project whilst it was in progress: Keep occupied Brockbrock.cook@me.com
- [Intro](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/intro/) - For the longest time I’ve wanted to start a podcast. The blend of technology, creative expression and Occupational Therapy has always appealed to me greatly. My vision for this is to be an online space where I can discuss concepts, new ideas, old ideas, talk to interesting OT’s, explore the dark depths of Occupation and
- [131 – Political Competency in OT ft Dr Nick Pollard](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/131-2/) - Dr Nick Pollard is a senior lecturer in occupational therapy at Sheffield Hallam University, teaching occupational therapy students at undergraduate and post graduate level, and course leader of the MSc pre-registration programme. He was previously professional lead in occupational therapy, vocational rehabilitation and dietetics on an interim basis for 23 months, and before that team
- [THE OT ROUNDTABLE – 132 – What Impact is Isolation Having on People’s Habits, Routines and Health](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/132-2/) - Our Roundtable Guest:Tegan McKay is a provisional psychologist who owns The Mindful Hub and is also one half of the Strong Minds Club podcast. Her psychology background adds an important dynamic to the occupational therapy perspective of the rest of the roundtable. This episode we are diving into the effects we have been experiencing recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- [133 – An OT’s Perspective of His Own Traumatic Injury ft Collin Hernandez](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/133-2/) - Collin Hernandez loved working with his hands. Building things was a job that continued as a hobby. That was until he had a traumatic accident that severely compromised his ability to engage in the things he loves most. In this episode we explore the injury and his rehabilitation up to this point from an occupational
- [134 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Dr Danielle Hitch](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/134-2/) - Outcome measurement in Occupational Therapy – What are we scared of? Dr. Danielle Hitch, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Deakin University, Australia & Allied Health Research & Translation Lead, Western Health, Australia Session Details: Outcome measurement is crucial to proving the effectiveness of occupational therapy, but remains scarce in many areas of practice. So what’s holding
- [135 – MOHO 101 ft Ruth Hambling](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/135-2/) - I’m the first to admit that I never used the MOHO much in clinical practice for a number of reasons. Conversations with Ruth started to get me to revisit some of the thoughts I’d had for a long while. We started with the basics exploring the model and then moved into a bit more of
- [136 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Dr Daniela Castro De Jong & Dr Georgia Pike-Rowney](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/136-2/) - Daniela Castro de Jong, Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra (Australia) & Georgia Pike-Rowney, Practitioner and researcher in the transdisciplinary space of music, community, education, health and wellbeing, Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University Session Title Doing music together as a shared occupation: a socio-altruistic music program as a
- [137 – BecomingOT ft Dr Tailor Blaine](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/137-2/) - You may know Tailor best as @BecomingOT on instagram, an account she started to share the transition from “anxious OT student to growing practitioner”. Her passion for improving those around her and assisting people to learn from her experiences is infectious. But how did it get to this stage? How did she get to share
- [THE OT ROUNDTABLE – 138 -Who is the Imposter?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/138-2/) - Our Roundtable Guest:Alondra is an occupational therapist in Bay Area California and currently, she provides services via Hippotherapy, which entails incorporating horses And utilizing the movement of the horse Within the treatment sessions. She has a keen interest in imposter syndrome given her own personal experience of it. Talking Points What is imposter syndrome? How
- [139 – WFOT Congress with WFOT President Samantha Shann](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/139-2/) - Today is a VERY special episode! Firstly I got the opportunity to talk with our WFOT President Samantha Shann. We explored her journey through the profession, How she got involved with WFOT, how she made it to the position of President and then we explore the upcoming WFOT Congress in Paris. The upcoming congress in
- [140 – OT and Pain ft Natalie Khan](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/140-2/) - Natalie has an amazing breadth of experience for such a young clinician. This ep we have a look at that experience and then funnel down into her interest and experience living and working with chronic pain. Check out her work here: Also if you’re in the market for some gorgeously designed clinic posters for your
- [141 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Dr Allison Sullivan](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/141-2/) - Session Title “How Did I Get Here? One Occupational Therapist’s Search for Meaning” Session Details (TW // sexual violence) The purpose of this session is to provide my personal perspective as a practitioner, educator, and researcher on the topics identified as the focus of this seminar series. In these roles, I have attempted to understand people
- [142 – THE OT ROUNDTABLE – Do Occupational Therapy Practitioners Make Good Entrepreneurs?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/142-2/) - Our Roundtable Guest: Tomeico is an occupational therapist in North Carolina and entrepreneur extraordinaire. She is the host of the Therapy Entrepreneurs and Leaders of Color podcast, owner of Fasion Consulting (a business coaching and consulting company for therapy entrepreneurs), an author of 3 books on entrepreneurship, and a business owner with over 17 years
- [143 – An Exploration of Creativity ft Moo Smith](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/143-2/) - I am a fan of Moo Smith. A YouTube creative who’s style and attitudes towards creativity align quite closely with my own. I’ve observed Moo’s development and growth in her field for a couple years now. I’m wanting to put together some episodes exploring aspects of everyday occupations and the things people get out of
- [187 - 12 Months of Following Along the Newgrad Experience ft Courtnee Bertucci](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/187-2/) - More than a year in the making, this episode follows Courtnee Bertucci across three check-ins throughout her first year as a new graduate Occupational Therapist. Instead of a single retrospective reflection, we captured her experience in real time — documenting the emotional shifts, clinical growth, and evolving professional identity as it unfolded. Together, we unpack
- [130 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Moses N Ikiugu](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/130-2/) - Understanding Meaningful Occupation and its Healing Qualities Moses N Ikiugu, PhD, OTR/L, Professor and Director of Research, Occupational Therapy Department, University of South Dakota Session Details In this seminar, we will discuss the following: – The nature of meaningful occupations – The difference between meaningful and psychologically rewarding occupations – The postulated healing properties of meaningful and psychologically
- [186 - Intimacy, Identity, and OT Practice ft Emilie Chong](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/186-2/) - Sex and intimacy are core parts of everyday life—but they’re often left out of healthcare conversations. In this episode, we chat with Emilie Chong about sexual expression as an occupation and the role of occupational therapists in supporting clients’ intimacy and wellbeing. We cover: Why sex is considered an occupation Barriers to intimacy and participation The OT
- [185 - An Incredible Career in the Greatest Profession ft Prof Mandy Stanley](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/185-2/) - In this special episode of Occupied, we sit down with Professor Mandy Stanley to reflect on an extraordinary career in occupational therapy as she steps into retirement. Mandy shares the story behind her journey in OT — from early clinical practice to leadership, academia, and shaping the profession at a national level. This conversation is part history lesson,
- [144 – THE OT ROUNDTABLE – Should Every OT Practitioner Be A Fieldwork Educator?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/144-2/) - Our Roundtable Guest: Nancy is an occupational therapist in Maryland who has worked in a skilled nursing facility for 3 years, the first year as a new grad traveler. Nancy loves helping people as cliche as it may seem, that’s her passion in life. Helping people in all/any capacity, and OT especially allows her to
- [145 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION – ft John Knight](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/145-2/) - Session Title Digitally Occupied: Alienation, Autonomy and Resilience Session Details This session will cover the learnings from a number of years research into digital workers’ occupational experience. Findings from a four-week diary study, using online data collection and a variety of elicitation methods will be presented in detail. The data points to a need to extend
- [146 – Eating Disorders Program Followup ft Carissa Gualano](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/146-2/) - Carissa returns to the podcast! During her last episode (OCCUPIED 123) she discussed her personal experience with eating disorders and was about to embark on her doctoral project. She has now completed that project and has come back to talk about how it went. Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [147 – Should Therapy be Conducted Outdoors](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/147-2/) - Our Roundtable Brad: Brad Williams is an occupational therapist based in Adelaide, Australia and enjoys thinking deeply about why we do things the way we do and shaking things up or trying new things when there might be better ways of doing things. Brad created Naturally Gathered with the mission of changing children’s lives through
- [148 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Sakshi Tickoo](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/148-2/) - Session Title Sexuality as an Occupation Session Details Human sexuality is an ongoing occupation that develops at each stage of an individual’s life. This session will focus on understanding the basics of sexuality and the various ways it translates into human occupations. It will also explore how therapists can practically integrate sexuality within their occupational therapy education,
- [149 – Rural Practice as a Newgrad ft Holly Gawthorne](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/149-2/) - You may have heard her on the Holly the OT podcast and if not then definitely get on that! Holly works in a super remote Australian town called Lightening Ridge. Her experience of the newgrad transition on top of working super remote is unique and one that everyone can take lessons from. Look after yourself,
- [150 – Why do we need to talk about Occupational Therapy?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/150-2/) - Welcome to Occupied 3.0. Some of you may have noticed a lack of episodes recently, and for that unannounced break I apologised. But I’m back and I’m inspired to continue bringing you more regular eps and interviews again! A hot topic every April during OT month. Why does no-one know what we do? I want
- [151 – Can Anyone Be a Dope Leader?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/151-2/) - This Episode was recorded around April 2021. Leadership is a topic that everyone has come across during their studies, career, sports engagement or just general life but how’s your knowledge about what it actually is? This episode we decided to bounce around the idea of leadership and pick it apart in order to fully understand
- [152 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Jaime Leite Junior](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/152-2/) - Session Title: Dissident Genders and Sexualities and Life Possibilities Session Details This seminar aims to create a dialogue about the possibilities of life faced by the population who experience dissidence of genders and sexualities. Taking the Brazilian reality as a central example, the proposal is that we can understand how the vulnerability and subalternization processes of
- [184 - 2025 in Review & Setting Intentions for 2026](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/184-2/) - In this reflective end-of-year episode of Occupied, hosts Brock and Jess take a moment to pause, look back, and make sense of 2025 — both personally and professionally. Together, they unpack the highs, the hard bits, and the unexpected lessons that shaped the year, before turning their attention to what lies ahead. Rather than rigid resolutions, this conversation focuses on
- [108 – Creativity V Depression ft Erik Johnson](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/108-2/) - DURING THIS PODCAST TOPICS SUCH AS SUICIDE, SELF HARM AND MENTAL ILLNESS ARE DISCUSSED. IF THIS IS A TRIGGER OR MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, LOOK AFTER YOURSELF AND DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN. In episode 098 I put out an episode about my personal experience with depression. Not long after that Erik (you will remember him
- [111 – Happy Birthday Occupied](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/111-2/) - A nice, short and sweet episode reflecting on the last 3 years of this podcast. So much work but for me personally its resulted in so much growth. Thankyou to everyone who’s been involved in the podcast in any and every small way. Heres to the next 3 years Look after yourself, look after others
- [114 – All About Occupation Series ft Karen Whalley Hammell](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/114-2/) - OCCUPIED is proud to announce a partnership with the All About Occupation series of seminars being hosted by Rebecca Twinley from the University of Brighton. We will be bringing these seminars to you on the podcast and am SUPER stoked to have the very first one of the series with the phenomenal Karen Whalley Hammell!
- [153 – How To/Not to Enact Change in the Profession ft Clarice Grote](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/153-2/) - Clarice and I connected online after a little social media break when I arrived to a bunch of online controversy regarding a movement being pushed to change the profession in a variety of ways. We decided that we would get together and have a chat and break down some of the points logically and see
- [154 – The State of the Profession](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/154-2/) - So I’ve been asked a fair bit about where I think the profession is at right now and where I think it’s going. So here is a short and sweet exploration of that exact topic…..or is it…. Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [155 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Clare Hocking](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/155-2/) - Time for a secret sneaky episode! featuring the one and only Claire Hocking doing her All About Occupation Seminar For more and how to register for future seminars, see: https://blogs.brighton.ac.uk/occupation/
- [156 – The Memory OT ft Allison Brush](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/156-2/) - If you’re like me you are aware that memory is a thing. You may even know there are different types etc but for many this is the extent of it. Allison Brush IS the Memory OT. I came across her page on Insta where she puts out awesome content around the OT’s role when working
- [157 – Lessons I’ve Learned Pushing OT Into The Digital World](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/157-2/) - Absolutely honoured to be asked to deliver the keynote for the Wisconsin OT Association virtual conference. This is that presentation as well as the Q&A at the end of it for your consumption. Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@OccupiedPodbrock.cook@me.com Transcript Brock Cook 0:00 Hi, and welcome to another episode
- [158 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Karina Sanson-Fisher](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/158-2/) - Karina Sanson-Fisher Occupational therapist in Mulubinba (Newcastle), Australia Instagram @doing.therapy Session title Doing Drugs: Occupational therapy and alcohol and other drugs Session details This session explores an occupational therapy role working with people who use alcohol and other drugs, and provides my own experiences of finding and maintaining occupationally focussed practice in this space. For more and how to
- [159 – The Independence Myth](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/159-2/) - What does being Independent mean? why does it always seem to be an OT’s goal for their clients? Is it even possible? A long time bug bear that I decided to have a deeper look into. Part of this ep looks at info from the included article. Tamaru, A., McColl, M, A., & Yamasaki, S.
- [160 – Catching Up with Ms OT Flourish ft Mandy Chamberlain](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/160-2/) - If you’re on social media and don’t know Mandy then are you really on social media? Mandy is not only a beautiful person but has been in the online space helping therapists and students grow and learn into the profession. Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [161 – ALL ABOUT OCCUPATION ft Assoc Prof Genevieve Pepin](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/161-2/) - Genevieve Pepin Associate Professor Higher Degree Research Director Deakin University, Australia Session title Occupational Therapy and Eating Disorders…. Seriously, it is that hard to understand? Session details (CW & TW // eating disorders) The main aim of this presentation is to share the evolution of the role of occupational therapists in the field of eating disorders. Through the journey of
- [162 – Trauma Informed Occupational Therapy ft Marie Bell](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/162-2/) - I explore my friend, Marie’s, journey into working with kids with trauma and some of the considerations that need to be made by clinicians when working in this kind of area. Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [163 – Do we all need to be Occupational Scientists?](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/163-2/) - Was listening to OT & Chill recently and something from this episode triggered my brain into thought! Occupational Scientists are important but do we all need to be qualified occupational scientists? Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [164 – OTAus2023 Reflections](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/164-2/) - 1 Month on from the OT Australia National Conference in Cairns and these are some reflections from the event! Look after yourself, look after others, and always keep Occupied Brock@brockcookOTbrock.cook@me.com
- [165 – Celebrate the Little Wins](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/165-2/) - Never in my wildest dreams did I see us getting here. Last night we clocked over….half a million downloads!! That’s right…500,000 🫣 164 episodes500,000+ downloads98 amazing guests174+hours of original content released225+hrs of recording556gig of raw audio files160 countries reached58 different podcast apps2.5 websites2 MacBook Pro’s4 MicrophonesStill only 1 tech issue (touch wood)1 fan photoMany hrs
- [166 – Call out your Whiteness ft Helen Harrington and Marielle Turner](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/166-2/) - Welcome to the latest episode where we explore the intricate dynamics of racial identity, privilege, and the role of white individuals in addressing systemic racism. In this episode, I’m joined by Helen Harrington and Marielle Turner and we embark on a journey of self-reflection and understanding. We delve into the concept of white privilege, and
- [167 – How to improve your Interviewing](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/167-2/) - Today’s episode is all about mastering interviews, whether you’re sitting in the hot seat or the one steering the conversation. We’re unpacking everything from breaking down interview myths to post-interview protocols in a way that’s easy to digest and even easier to put into action. First off, we’re tackling what really happens in an interview,
- [168 – Critical Thinking 101](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/168-2/) - In the latest episode of our podcast, we delve into the fascinating topic of Critical Thinking and its significance in our daily lives. We aim to unravel the mysteries of this crucial skill set, often overlooked yet essential for personal growth and informed decision-making. We’ll discuss practical strategies for nurturing a critical mindset, share insights
- [169 – EquipMeOT ft Lindsay DeLong](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/169-2/) - In this inspiring episode of Occupied, I sit down with the multi-talented Lindsay DeLong, an occupational therapist and online content creator known for her innovative videos on assistive technologies. Lindsay shares her journey of merging her passion for occupational therapy with her creative flair, offering listeners a unique perspective on how assistive technologies can enhance
- [170 – Digital Identity Influencers and Mental Health ft Dr Jessica Levick](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/170-2/) - In this episode I sit down with Dr. Jessica Levick to explore the intersection of identity, social media, and the commercialisation of mental health. Together, we unpack the growing influence of social media personalities on mental health narratives, discussing both the opportunities and the challenges this creates for individuals seeking support. We delve into how
- [2 Fast 2 Curious: Occupied Reloaded](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/171-2/) - Welcome back to the Occupied Podcast! After a significant hiatus, we’re rebooting with fresh perspectives, exciting content, and most importantly, a brand-new co-host—Jessica Levick. In this special reboot episode:Meet Jessica Levick: Get to know Jessica, her professional background in Occupational Therapy, and her vision for the future of Occupied.What’s Changing: Brock and Jessica discuss why the podcast
- [172 – Navigating Complex Clinical Environments with Dr Theo Theodoros](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/172-2/) - In Episode 172 of Occupied, co-host Dr Jessica Levick speaks with consultant psychiatrist Dr Theo Theodoros to explore the realities of working in challenging, complex and high-pressure healthcare environments. Drawing from his extensive experience in mental health settings including High Dependency Units (HDU) and Emergency Departments, Dr Theodoros reflects on the emotional, ethical, and systemic challenges
- [176 – Reflections from the 2025 Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/176-2/) - Brock and Jess chat and explore her firsthand experiences attending the 2025 Occupational Therapy Australia National Conference. She explores the highlights, key insights, and areas for improvement from her perspective. Adding depth to the conversation, you’ll also hear reflections from a diverse range of attendees, capturing the varied impressions and standout moments from this year’s
- [173 – OT Australia’s Chief Occupational Therapist Michelle Oliver](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/173-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, I sit down with Michelle Oliver, Australia’s first-ever Chief Occupational Therapist, for an inspiring and insightful conversation about her journey, her vision for the profession, and the evolving landscape of occupational therapy in Australia. We dive into: Michelle’s personal career path—from clinical practice to national leadership What the role of Chief Occupational Therapist
- [054 – Mental Wellbeing and Occupational Therapy](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/054-2/) - This episode I wanted to reflect on an idea that I’ve been playing around with for a few weeks and that’s the difference between Mental Health and Mental Illness. Having an understanding of the links between wellbeing and mental health is a skill that every clinician can take into just about every clinical practice area.
- [174 – Recovery-Oriented Practice in Mental Health with Martin Staines](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/174-2/) - In Episode 174 of Occupied, host Dr Jessica Levick speaks with Martin Staines, an Advanced Occupational Therapist with a deep commitment to recovery-oriented practice in mental health. Martin shares reflections from his extensive clinical experience, exploring how occupational therapists can work authentically alongside people experiencing mental health challenges. The conversation dives into what recovery-oriented practice truly
- [175 – Academia Highs and Lows](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/175-2/) - In this candid conversation, Brock and Jess dive into the rewarding yet challenging world of academia within occupational therapy. They discuss the genuine highs, the unexpected lows, and share personal insights about navigating life as educators, researchers, and clinicians. Expect reflections on balance, burnout, triumphs, and the ongoing journey of growth in academia. Tune in
- [177 – A New Clinical Reasoning Model with Dr Craig Greber](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/177-2/) - Join Brock and Jess as they chat with Dr Craig Greber about an exciting new model of clinical reasoning he’s helped to develop. Craig shares insights into the origins of this innovative approach, how it can enhance occupational therapy practice, and why clinical reasoning remains critical to the profession. An essential listen for anyone interested
- [178 – Life and Leadership with the new AOTA President – Dr Arameh Anvarizadeh](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/178-2/) - In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, the newly elected president of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). We dive into her journey into occupational therapy, the experiences that shaped her leadership, and the values guiding her work at the highest level of the profession. Dr. Anvarizadeh shares candid insights into her personal story,
- [179 – Private Practice with a Recovering People Pleaser ft Joey Peppas](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/179-2/) - In this episode, I’m joined by Joey Peppas, an occupational therapist running her own private practice. Together, we dig deep into the less-talked-about realities of our profession—being a people pleaser, battling imposter syndrome, and the unique personality traits that often draw us into OT in the first place. Joey shares her experiences of navigating private practice,
- [182 – Doing, Being, Becoming Collective ft Brad Williams](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/182-2/) - In this episode, Brock sits down with Brad from The Becoming Collective to unpack what it really means to come into alignment with the profession of occupational therapy — and what happens when we drift away from it. Brad opens up about the origins of The Becoming Collective, how it started as a space for meaningful connection and reflection, and
- [180 – Knowledge Translation and Lifelong Learning with Dr Kieran Broome](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/180-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick is joined by Dr Kieran Broome — occupational therapist, educator, and researcher, to explore how we can bridge the gap between what we know and what we do. We unpack the concept of knowledge translation and why it’s essential for meaningful, evidence-informed occupational therapy practice. Kieran shares insights into how OTs
- [183 - Lived Experience and Practice: A Conversation with Mental Health Nurse Ayden Riethmuller](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/183-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick sits down with mental health nurse Ayden Riethmuller to explore the powerful intersection between lived experience and professional practice. Ayden shares his personal journey with mental health challenges and how these experiences have shaped his approach to care, compassion, and recovery-oriented practice. Together, they discuss the value of
- [181 – Leading Change and Shaping the Future of Occupational Therapy with Professor Elspeth Froude](https://www.occupiedpodcast.com/181-2/) - In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick chats with Professor Elspeth Froude — Professor of Occupational Therapy and National Head of the School of Allied Health at the Australian Catholic University. Elspeth shares insights from her leadership journey in academia, her passion for advancing the profession globally, and her role as Chair of the WFOT

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