Dr. thOTs

This episode is one for the record books. The first 6 minutes alone will give you chills - in the best way possible. Khalilah and Ryan welcome the revolutionary occupational therapy educator, Dr. Jian Jones to the podcast. A newly minted PhD, Dr. Jones is bringing effective education through hip hop culture to the OT classroom. Diving deep into pedagogy and classroom professionalism, the three doctors explore the doors they've stepped through to show up authentically in the classroom and the strategies they've used to help students find themselves in the content. With metaphors and effortless bars punctuating the conversation, Dr. Jian Jones reminds us to bring peace, love, unity, and fun into our classrooms and beyond, following the footsteps of pioneering hip hop leaders. You do not want to miss this finale guest episode of Season 2. Highlights include: Khalilah reconsidering an entire syllabus, Ryan suggesting a new head of ACOTE, and Dr. Jones giving us a historic Dr. thOTs moment.

Ryan and Khalilah plunge into the world of social media, respectability, and the tension in public scholaring. They kiki about some of the challenges of having such an amazing network of people to connect with while also trying to manage professional obligations and work. Ryan can't decide if he's an OT influencer or not. They unpack the tension in compartmentalizing their sassier sides and their professorial sides, in general and particularly at a public university. Khalilah calls out Instagram. They also reveal some uncomfortable posts, that had them intentionally and unintentionally reeling in the full potency of their personalities in social media. In the end, they love engaging but it comes in a mixed bag. Highlights include: Khalilah pursuing a cronut, Ryan wearing a speedo, and both maybe going in together to hire a social media assistant - but probably not - because let's be real, who has that money?

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Alaa Abou-Arab from @knowbias on the podcast this week and dive into the difficult work of speaking truth into the occupational therapy profession and beyond. Alaa shares a bit about his journey to occupational therapy and the experiences that sparked his interest in antiracism and activism in OT. He shares the discomfort he feels with how much silence persists and the need for more professionals to speak out against injustice. The three talk about the fires that push them forward in their respective work, including the privileges they carry with them. Alaa encourages us to be our authentic selves for ourselves and Khalilah reminds us we have to bring our interests and motivations to the hard work. Although this had to be a shorter episode, the hosts are sure to bring Alaa back to the microphone. Highlights include: Alaa swapping surpise baby stories , Ryan having the audacity, and Khalilah finishing a cocktail.

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Anne Kirby onto the podcast to discuss her research with the autistic and trans communities regarding suicidality and mental health. Before jumping into the topics, Ryan and Khalilah reminisce about old times with Anne from graduate school and discuss the differences between identity-first and people-first language. Dr. Kirby shares how she got into OT, what brought her to her work with the autistic community and how she has walked with that community as she's built a somewhat unexpected research trajectory. Her story reflects an important skill in therapy and in research - listening to mirror. All three discuss the need to be responsive in working alongside the community, moving in the direction that most benefits the community. Highlights include: Anne making a licentious joke, Ryan wanting to be a wrench, and Khalilah starting a new university.

Khalilah and Ryan jump knees first into the topic of aging, including all the aches, pains, joys, and opportunities that come with more years. They talk about their personal experiences of getting a little older and what being "old" means to them. They unpack ageism and the ways our society can perpetuate it, breaking down some myths about aging and older adults. They talk the infantilization of older people, sex in elderhood, and the right for older adults to take risk. Let's just say the meaning of "community service" is greatly expanded. They also break through the stigma and talk about death and dying, their plans, and how to prepare for your own death. Highlights include: Ryan having to pee in the middle of the night, Khalilah finding out she's a Type A dier, and both going to brunch to direct a movie.

The twists and turns Ryan and Khalilah take you on in this episode will rock your kool-aid cups. The thOTs cover everything from problematic slide shows to spilling tea about the Well Elderly study - also Ryan has a stache! They dive into the politics of representation in the profession and the idolization of our founders and the biomedical model. They challenge practitioners to lean into our identities as embodied advocates, take on some risk, put our eggs in more than the biomedical basket, and diversity our revenue streams. They talk decolonizing OT the WHOLE way and shifting power for real. Highlights include: OT entrepreneurs getting a shout out, Khalilah giving OT conferences kool-aid flavors, and Ryan just absolutely obliterating a gas idiom.

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Nancy Bagatell, everyone’s favorite boss… and also their actual amazing boss. Dr. Bagatell is the Director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy as well as many other things! The Drs. discuss giving and receiving feedback in academia and the ways we can keep our wits about us in the wild west of evaluations, manuscripts, and mentorship. We hear stories of rough feedback, prejudiced feedback as well as true and needed feedback. Dr. Bagatell offers thoughts and strategies for managing and offering feedback to and from everyone from students, to practitioners, to her own daughter! Highlights include: Dr. Bagatell secretly wanting to be intimidating, Khalilah not needing to be told to “be careful,” and Ryan making a weird noise.

This episode is a tad longer than the usual duo episode, but that's because it's packed full of Ryan and Khalilah answering YOUR questions about them, their work, and their thOTs. They discuss everything from inspirational moments and people to what they got wrong about academia and what their hopes are for the OTPs who come after them. They talk about centering joy and showing up authentically and the nuances that come with that work. Ryan explores how to get into #VintageOT and Khalilah discusses the hard lessons she's learned as a Black female scholar and practitioner. Finally they end on a note about self-love and honoring your successes. Highlights include: Ryan gets a new nickname (probably won't stick), Khalilah preaches the word on trauma, they are both happy the other showed up today, Ryan wins a jump-roping award, and Khalilah reminds everyone to mind your business and drink water.

Khalilah and Ryan welcome Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz to the podcast this week to talk about medication management and occupational therapy practice. Dr. Schwartz is an assistant professor of occupational therapy and neurology at Washington University in St. Louis and also a new chicken farmer. While they start off the episode with a little tangent about chickens and antibiotics, the hosts dive right into the reasons why occupational therapy practitioners should be considering medication management in their work. Khalilah tells us the story of how this topic was inspired and both Jaclyn and Ryan get on soap boxes about the work. Jaclyn gives advice on how to start a medication revolution and where our work is supporting change. Highlights include: Jaclyn making a claim for a new ADL, papers giving side-eyes to new manuscripts, and comparing women's hormones to rocket science.

Khalilah and Ryan welcome Mecca Williams (@meccapresents) back to the podcast for another lively, gem-filled, hilarious, and insightful conversations about relationships, both personal and professional. Relationshipping is the occupation of the hour, with Mecca dropping her wisdom, naming realities, and calling us into authentic relationships. They discuss the work of self to be able to be in relationship with our clients, partners, parents, and more, showing and receiving love. They talk family, friends, boundaries and boards. Ryan and Khalilah even help each other set some boundaries. Highlights include: Ryan getting into a canoe, Khalilah having a breakthrough, and Mecca writing a book.