Dr. thOTs

Doom scrolling got you down? SCOTUS got you suffering? Well, the Dr. thOTs duo is in the building with an episodic remedy. This episode is an ode to optimism and filling our cups when the negativity is rolling around. Filled with tangents and laughs, Khalilah and Ryan do a brief recap of how they got into OS, the benefits they've found from having that science brain, and the ways its been exciting in their work. They cover everything from wine to candy crush, drag and going to gym. The thOTs talk existential occupational questions, community building, and whether we can touch government or not. There's also a teaser tangent about whether "fieldwork" is problematic that demonstrates the OS brain in action. HIghlights include: Khalilah comes out as a gaming queen, Ryan is the least friendly person, and OS gets spicy!

The Dr. thOTs duo welcome the "great connector", Dr. Sue Coppola to the episode this week and partake in a beauty-filled, aesthetically pleasing, conversation with her as the three discuss humanities, art, and occupational therapy practice and education. If you ever wanted to know exactly what a painting on a wall has to do with occupational therapy - this is the episode for you. Dr. Coppola reveals the power of aesthetic analysis of occupation and understanding what is beautiful to a person as part of occupational therapy practice and education. Art is everywhere in our everyday lives and can be a powerful tool in both occupational therapy practice and education. Dr. Coppola describes how she uses a painting called "Mending Socks" to engage occupational therapy practitioners in deep noticing of the beauty in their own and their clients' everyday lives. Highlights include: Ryan and Sue fangirling over John Dewey, Khalilah bringing art into the classroom, and all three dispelling the Hippie Dippie myth of humanities!

The Dr. thOTs duo welcome Sarah Lyon and Tomeico Faison to the podcast this week to talk business about business. These two practitioners have taken entrepreneurship to new heights, leveraging their OT approach in everything from real estate to evidence based practice education. Also sidenote: This episode marks the first "blending of the blues" in Dr. thOTs herstory - come on collaboration with rivals! The guests describe their experiences developing and running business using their occupational therapy skills and values. They are intentional and accidental entrepreneurs who are ready to lead OTPs in thinking innovatively about practice. They discuss OT education in entrepreneurship and the need for an entrepreneurial spirit across all areas of practice, however language for this practice area is sort of a bummer. Any listeners have better ideas? Highlights include: Tomeico having a zoo, Khalilah throwing shade at some book publishers, Ryan making a sports reference- kind of, and Sarah getting a little risky!

Let's just say this episode takes sass and mentorship and wraps into one big ball of joy. Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Betsy Francis-Connolly to the podcast this week to talk about her leadership style and stories. Dr. Francis-Connolly shares her experiences in leadership positions and guiding teams in occupational therapy. She brings a humility and humor to the work that has the two thOTs laughing and learning at the same time. She may sound gentle, but she's got a fierce passion for good leaders and good times - that explicit label isn't a mistake 😂. Betsy discusses the challenges and joys of managing teams and what she looks for in a good team member. Highlights include: Betsy drops a bomb, UNC stealing a professor, and Ryan and Khalilah fan girling with their bestie SSO:USA chair.

Khalilah and Ryan are joined by the founders of B3 Coffee this week on Dr. thOTs. Former UNC OT and current SLP students, these three will knock your socks off. Jacklyn Boheler, Greg Boheler, and Hannah Steen come prepared to our recording with experiences, nuggets of wisdom, and reality checks for community practitioners and beyond. These three were doing Being, Belonging, and Becoming before it was cool. The three founders tell us about the origins of B3 and how its role in the community has evolved over the last years, now including pop up coffee, a kiosk in a local library, and ongoing community programming. They talk "community facilitation" and the necessity to smash the hierarchy when it comes to disability justice. Strategy and partnerships are core to their approach and it shows. Highlights include: Khalilah loving a pound cake, Jacklyn and Greg getting married, Hannah directing all the fun, and Ryan being a proud OT professor.

This one is a long one but, y'all, the Dr. thOTs duo had a lot to unpack. After saying hi to new followers, Khalilah and Ryan kiki about AOTA Inspire 2023. They first cover the good and exciting things that happened at conference, recognizing the good work being done, networking and coalition building, and the amazing OTPs who are continuing to contribute to this profession and its progress. Then they get to the tea - which, let's be real, is really why y'all are here. They discuss the undercurrent of the #JusticeForArameh movement and its advocacy presence at the conference - which also set a particular context for "the incident". Ryan and Khalilah discuss the comment heard 'round the OT world, why it was problematic, its aftermath, and AOTA leadership in the wake of the situation. The duo discusses the role AOTA has - or does not have - in leading this profession. Highlights include: Khalilah gets a grant! Ryan considers an OT union, and the AOTA Board of Directors gets an invitation.

Content Warning: This episode of Dr. thOTs discusses sexual harassment and assault, particularly within the OT profession. | Ryan and Khalilah are excited to welcome Dr. Rachel Proffitt to the podcast to discuss her recent article with colleagues regarding the #MeTooOT movement and revealing the realities of sexual harassment and assault within the occupational therapy profession. Dr. Proffitt discusses her impetus for leading this powerfully important study for our profession and the implications it has for action. She discusses the emotional toll that writing this study entailed, but also the responsibilities she felt as a tenured professor. Power, systems, action, and institutions are all discussed in relation to creating change for this issue. Highlights include: The Need for Action within OT for Systemic Change regarding Sexual Harassment and Assault

Join us next Friday for our BONUS episode on AOTA Inspire 2023

Have the thOTs got an episode for you! Ryan and Khalilah welcome a phenomenal educator, researcher, and fashionista to the podcast, none other than a former senior White House staff member and one of Obama's Black 44, Dr. Lauren Mims! Dr. Mims walks us through her transitions from doctoral school, to politics, to the White House, and back to academia. She tells Ryan and Khalilah all about her research on the education of Black children, claiming an axiom of brilliance, and changing up the game when it comes to facilitating transformative classrooms. She calls us to do "research that matters" and drops gem after gem as the hosts discuss research design, showing up in the classroom authentically, and how we prepare students to cope with and redress systemic prejudices. This is not an episode to miss! Highlights include: Khalilah and Lauren mutually fangirling, Khalilah bestowing an honorary degree, and Ryan finding a kindred quote spirit.

Drs. Khalilah Johnson and Ryan Lavalley are starting up a new season of Dr. thOTs! Here comes season 3! Bringing you all the thoughts and thots they can fit into 14 episodes! In this first brief episode, the hosts give some updates on their own lives, work and personal. Let's just say they've got grants, babies, classes, and plants galore. Ryan got a new D.R. in front of his name and Khalilah is rolling in those grant applications. The doctors share their hopes for the season and discuss some of the upcoming guest hosts. With a good reminder about self-care, the hosts launch this new season with excitement and sass... per usual. Highlights include: a specific shout out to the OTJR instagram - looking at you social media person! Khalilah may or may not drop Obama's name - what!? and Ryan makes a bad pun... per usual.

Khalilah and Ryan put each of their 4/10 energies together to make a 10/10 finale episode of Season 2 of the Dr. thOTs podcast. Weaving and rolling through connections to past guests and the ideas they discussed throughout the season, the Drs. discuss their growing edges and what they learned from this season.  Ryan throws out a sassy sponsorship suggestion - Khalilah makes the invitation. They talk juggling projects, leading teams, and providing honest feedback all while giving shoutouts to guests from this season. Looking forward in the podcast and their work, the Dr. thOTs duo celebrates 28 whole episodes and are excited for Season 3! Highlights include: Khalilah putting her edges down, Ryan resetting his brain, and both making plans to continue being two thots growing old together.