The BRAVE OT Podcast | Real Conversations with Occupational Therapy Trailblazers

Welcome back BRAVE OTs! I'm really excited about this podcast conversation because it's going to hit home for so many of you who have been trying to balance personal growth with running a business. In this epsiode, I'm chatting with Jessica Earle, a participant in the ACTivate Vitality program and an incredible occupational therapist who's been on quite a journey of transformation, both personally...

We're diving into what it really means to build something new from scratch—both personally and professionally. My guest, Dana Solomon, is an occupational therapist who has bravely stepped into the world of pelvic health and entrepreneurship by creating the Pelvic Health Clubhouse . In this episode, we talk about her journey, the vulnerability that comes with launching a project that isn't perfect,...

SPECIAL WORKSHOP-STYLE EPISODE. Listen and use the companion workbook (linked below), to explore your occupational therapy business through the Kawa Model. WORKBOOK DOWNLOAD We are applying, the Kawa Model, an innovative occupational therapy model from Japan to assess and enhance the life flow of your OT business. By visualizing your professional journey as a river, I hope you'll build awareness o...

In this episode, I sit down with Landy Peek, a success coach for OT and PT entrepreneurs. We dive deep into the unique challenges therapists face personally and professionally. Landy and I work with similar clients in different ways and we share some of thedifferent ways that we use our backgrounds as therapists in working with the clinicians we coach. We talk about somatic practices, acceptance a...

My guest, Ashley Ballou, is someone that I really admire for her deep commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of clients, caregivers, and therapists.  In this conversation, we take a deep dive into the holistic approach of occupational therapy discussing the vital role it plays, not only in daily activities, but also in mental health and spiritual wellbeing.  We explore the importance of servant lea...

In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I'm thrilled to bring you a highly motivating conversation with two trailblazing occupational therapists, Alyson Stover and Karen Jacobs, and their courageous journey in reshaping the landscape of occupational therapy by putting a very important occupational therapy stamp on artificial intelligence.  Alyson is the president of the American Occupational Ther...

My guest for this episode is a physiotherapist by training who went on to be a Vice President at a national health care company and has recently pivotted to share his knowledge and level the playing field, supporting smaller businesses in maximizing their potential. This conversation with Gary Thorne will get therapy business owners thinking about how they can create transferable value in their bu...

In this episode, we're joined by Mel Homan, a fellow OT who has turned her experiences with burnout into a transformative program for others. Whether you're an OT, a helping professional, or anyone navigating the challenges of a demanding career, this episode is packed with insights just for you. We share invaluable insights on overcoming hustle, nurturing our mental health, and the significance o...

In this episode, down-to-earth business coach, Brettany Sorokowsky shares many tangible tips to help you simplify your business, including some golden instructions on using ChatGPT to streamline your business marketing. Brettany and I found each other because we share values around making your business work for you and not listening to the generic business coaching advice that is regularly thrown...

In this relatable episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sit down with Jarrett Dottin, a trailblazing occupational therapist and business owner, who shares his inspiring transition from feeling overwhelmed to achieving a state of calm mastery in his professional and personal life. Discover how Jarrett embraced intentional choices, cultivated his own version of work-life balance, and harnessed his uniq...

This is part 2 of our discussion with Rebecca Rae-Hodgson, The Chronically Resilient OT. She shared a lot about her lived experience as am ADHD and Autistic OT who found her way to practicing OT in New Zealand while accommodating the energetic and nervous system regulation ups and downs of persistent mental and physical illnesses.  In Part 2 we discuss how she's crafting and curating her work to f...

In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast our guest, Rebecca Rae-Hodgson bravely shares her real and raw lived experience as a ADHD and autistic OT who has crafted a business and life that is sustainable while living with chronic illness.  With the energetic and nervous system regulation ebbs and flows of fibromyalgia, borderline personality disorder, chronic fatigue and other persistent medical con...

In this quietly inspiring episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, we dive deep into the heart of what it truly means to define success on your own terms. Laura Bremner is my guest, and an exceptional occupational therapist and occupational performance coach from the UK. We explore the journey of stepping away from conventional measures of professional success to embrace a life full of occupations that cr...

  Emma Shears' story of personal and professional resilience is deeply impactful. I've been grateful to be part of her transformation journey since 2022 when she joined the ACTivate Vitality Program. She has shown up FULLY and embraced the challenge of change and her presence in the program has impacted so many others.  I hope you're inspired to make important changes in the way you live and work...

OTs around the world are asked to add their voices to support the OTs of British Columbia in maintaining their scope of practice in the face of proposed changes to the Health Professions ACT of BC by completing this form . This morning, Michelle Ferguson and I sat down to talk about the pressing issue and its impact on the profession, particularly in the area of mental health occupational therapy....

In this second part of our engaging conversation with Jessica Miller on The Brave OT podcast, we go deeper into Jessica's transformative journey within the field of occupational therapy. This episode focuses on how Jessica overcame burnout and redefined her work as an OT and how she pays this growth forward by supporting other OTs in nourishing their nervous systems.  We explore the integration of...

In this enlightening episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast I have a deep conversation (not sure I know another kind) with Jessica Miller, a neuro-based occupational therapist and brain injury specialist who is also a member of my ACTivate Vitality community as a client and contributor. Discover how Jessica's journey intertwines personal growth, professional development, and innovative approaches in prov...

In Episode 16: Falling In and Out of Love with OT, we explore Rhiannon Crispe's journey. Together, Rhiannon and I peel back the layers of what it truly means to be an OT with a heart for change. She's a trailblazer who's not just living the OT life, but redefining it. Through her story, we explore what it was really like to create a documentary about OT, Finding Me in OT . And we explore resisting...

In this enlightening episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sit down with Kathryn Wise, a trailblazer in the field of occupational therapy and health leadership. Kathryn, an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University and Program Director at University of California at San Francisco, shares her insights on the importance of interprofessional leadership development and the critical role of comp...

Venture with me into the heart of conscious rebellion with a very special guest, Lindsey Vestal .   Long before training as an OT, Lindsey saw an opportunity for Occupational Therapy to be at the heart of pelvic health, and she has been paving the path for other OTs to become trained and established in this area of practice ever since.   Even if pelvic health isn't your passion, you are going to g...

There are a number of people in my life with whom a simple, superficial conversation is not possible. This guest is one of those people and I think you'll enjoy the layers and gentle rhythm of our discussion on the unique development potential in the crises that highly creative, deep feeling, big thinking individuals encounter.  In my work I often support occupational therapists through their own...

On a number of occasions I have taken time away from the noise of routines and tasks to reflect on my business. How it feels, how it aligns with my values and life direction. I've been at this a long time so I've done it a few times. I essentially Marie Kondo my work. Which parts spark joy? Which ones do not? It's really a process of getting out of autopilot and taking a high level life review tha...

Are you an occupational therapy business owner, a nature OT, or an OT in midlife looking for more peace in your business? If so, you're in for a treat! In this episode of The Brave OT Podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of nature-based therapy and its transformative impact on well-being. Our guest, Bronwyn Paynter, a seasoned occupational therapist in Australia, shares her personal journey...

I loved sitting down with Michele Hampton, an inspiring mental health occupational therapist, who shares her journey in starting her own private practice and the lessons she learned along the way. With humour and heart, Michele shares her stories about calling into radio talk shows, how her husband wrote a banjo song for their pandemic puppy, and how she found the courage and support to launch her...

Get to know trailblazer Keir Harding, an occupational therapist and mental health advocate from the UK who specializes in working with people living with suicidal tendencies and who engage in self-harm as a way of coping. He passionately advocates for individuals while working toward making system-level changes in the way individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder are treated with...