Episodes

  • 191 – Leadership, Inclusion & Impact ft Angus Buchanan

    191 – Leadership, Inclusion & Impact ft Angus Buchanan
    Apr 22 2026
    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 evolved over time, particularly in the areas of social inclusion and working alongside people with intellectual disability. Angus reflected on his career turns and what has shaped him to be the occupational therapist he is today. Together, we unpack what inclusion really looks like in practice, the gaps that still exist within our systems, and the role occupational therapists play in shaping more meaningful participation and belonging. Angus shares some exciting work he is currently doing with inclusion of people with intellectual impairment at university. This conversation moves beyond theory, highlighting the realities of practice, the influence of leadership in education, and the importance of staying grounded in the core values of occupational therapy across a career. Angus discusses his newly appointed role as Editor of the Australian Journal of Occupational Therapy and the challenges of AI use in article submissions. Key Takeaways Inclusion is more than access—it’s about meaningful participation and belonging Small, everyday changes can have a significant impact on a person’s sense of inclusion There is often a disconnect between systems, education, and lived experience Leadership in OT requires staying connected to the core philosophy of the profession Reflective practice across a career is essential for growth and impact Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Jess Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    41 mins
  • 190 – Born to be a Pediatric OT ft. Greg Santucci

    190 – Born to be a Pediatric OT ft. Greg Santucci
    Mar 30 2026
    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 Model of Child Engagement. Paediatrics is not my area of practice so I was incredibly keen to learn more and see just how different it could be from other practice areas. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode! FROM OT AUSTRALIA: GREG SANTUCCI TOUR OTA is thrilled to bring Greg to Australia for their 2026 International Speaker Tour. He’ll be running full-day workshops in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – highly interactive sessions with strategies you can use immediately. 🎧 Special offer for our podcast listeners. Use the code OCCUPIED70 to get $70 off your ticket if you book before 30 April 2026, when Early Bird pricing ends. https://otaus.com.au/international-speaker-tour-2026-greg-santucci Greg’s workshop dates: Brisbane – 22 June Sydney – 26 June Melbourne – 29 June Perth – 2 July Don’t miss this chance to learn directly from Greg and supercharge your OT practice!
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • 189 – From PhD to Practice: Evidence, Occupation & Knowledge Translation

    189 – From PhD to Practice: Evidence, Occupation & Knowledge Translation
    Mar 20 2026
    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 translating knowledge into real-world care? Drawing from her experience as a mental health occupational therapist and researcher, Jessica discusses: The identity shift from clinician to researcher The realities of academic publishing What evidence-based practice actually involves (beyond “just using research”) Why she chose to undertake a PhD The gap between research and implementation This episode challenges the idea that research belongs only in academia. Instead, it reframes evidence-based practice as an ethical responsibility shared by all clinicians. You don’t need a PhD to be evidence-informed — but you do need curiosity. If you’ve ever questioned whether what we say about occupation aligns with what we fund, measure, or prioritise in health systems, this episode is for you. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Dr Jessica Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    22 mins
  • 188 – The Nitty-Gritty about Burnout

    188 – The Nitty-Gritty about Burnout
    Mar 2 2026
    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. We explore what’s actually happening in the nervous system when burnout sets in — including: The role of the amygdala and chronic threat activation What happens to the prefrontal cortex under prolonged stress How the stress response shifts from adaptive to maladaptive The Default Mode Network and why cognitive flexibility drops Why productivity, empathy, and executive functioning decline The overlap (and differences) between burnout and trauma One of the biggest problems with burnout is that people experiencing it often don’t understand what’s happening to them — which can lead to shame, self-blame, and pushing harder when the body is actually signalling overload. This episode reframes burnout as a biological state shift, not a personal weakness. For occupational therapists — and anyone working in high-demand caring roles — understanding the mechanisms behind burnout changes how we respond to it in ourselves, our colleagues, and our clients. Because you can’t intervene effectively in something you don’t understand. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook & Dr Jessica Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    1 hr and 23 mins
  • 187 – 12 Months of Following Along the Newgrad Experience ft Courtnee Bertucci

    187 – 12 Months of Following Along the Newgrad Experience ft Courtnee Bertucci
    Feb 23 2026
    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 confidence, imposter syndrome, uncertainty, and the slow building of competence that shapes year one. From early nerves and self-doubt to growing clarity and resilience, this is an honest look at what really changes between month one and month twelve — and what it actually feels like to become an OT. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • 186 – Intimacy, Identity, and OT Practice ft Emilie Chong

    186 – Intimacy, Identity, and OT Practice ft Emilie Chong
    Feb 17 2026
    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 role in sexual health How to approach these conversations in practice Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Dr Jessica Levick & Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    35 mins
  • 185 – An Incredible Career in the Greatest Profession ft Prof Mandy Stanley

    185 – An Incredible Career in the Greatest Profession ft Prof Mandy Stanley
    Jan 25 2026
    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, part mentorship session, and part heartfelt reflection on what it really means to grow with a profession over decades. We explore how occupational therapy has evolved across her career, the moments that challenged and shaped her, and what she hopes the next generation of OTs will carry forward. Whether you’re a student just starting out, a clinician mid-career, or an educator thinking about your legacy, this episode is full of perspective, wisdom, and grounding reminders about the heart of OT. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • 184 – 2025 in Review & Setting Intentions for 2026

    184 – 2025 in Review & Setting Intentions for 2026
    Jan 19 2026
    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 values, direction, and intentional growth as they set goals for 2026. This episode is an honest check-in about work, identity, creativity, burnout, momentum, and what it means to keep evolving as practitioners, educators, and humans. In this episode, we discuss: Key reflections and standout moments from 2025 What challenged us, stretched us, or changed our perspectives Lessons learned from projects, conversations, and community Letting go of what no longer serves us Setting meaningful, values-aligned goals for 2026 How intention, curiosity, and sustainability guide our plans moving forward Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook & Dr Jessica Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!
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    44 mins