What does it really look like to choose freedom while navigating student loan debt?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kellen Cannon, PT, DPT, a travel physical therapist who shares her journey of taking an unconventional—and deeply intentional—approach to paying off six figures of student loan debt.

Instead of following the traditional path, she made the decision to pursue travel therapy to increase her income, live in an RV to reduce expenses, and take on additional work as a fitness coach—all with one goal in mind: to not let debt hang over her for the next 10-20 years.

We talk about the mindset behind choosing an aggressive payoff strategy, why she decided not to pursue PSLF, and the sacrifices (and trade-offs) that come with prioritizing financial freedom.

We also dive into the bigger picture—why salary transparency in rehab matters, how clinicians can start thinking differently about their earning potential, and what it looks like to take control of your financial future.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your loans or unsure what path is right for you, this episode is a reminder that you have options—and that your journey can look different.

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In this episode, we cover:

• The emotional weight of student loan debt
• Why she chose not to pursue PSLF
• How travel therapy changed her income potential
• The role of mindset in aggressive debt repayment
• Sacrifices vs. intentional choices
• The importance of salary transparency in rehab
• How to approach your own student loan strategy

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Connect with our guest:
Instagram: @yourtravelptfriend

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If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to share it with a friend and tag me on Instagram—I love hearing what resonates with you 🤍

Show Summary:

What if your first job as an OT didn’t already exist… and you had to create it yourself?

In this episode, I’m joined by Gabrielle Sledge, a new grad occupational therapist who did exactly that. From carving out her own role in early intervention working with kiddos with visual impairments, to confidently negotiating her salary as a brand-new grad, Gabrielle shares what it really looked like to step into her career with intention.

We also dive into her approach to student loans — how she kept her borrowing lower than expected and why she’s choosing to aggressively pay down her debt early on.

This is a refreshing and honest conversation about what’s possible when you take ownership of your career and your finances from the very beginning.

In Today’s Episode, We’re Chatting About:

• Creating your own OT job as a new grad
• Early intervention + visual impairments
• Salary negotiation tips
• Building confidence and self-advocacy
• Paying off student loans early
• Balancing finances while enjoying life
• Getting started with content creation

Guest Bio:

Gabrielle Sledge, OTD, OTR/L is a new graduate occupational therapist working in early intervention, where she specializes in supporting children with visual impairments. After completing her doctoral program, she took an unconventional path by creating her own role within an agency.

Gabbi is passionate about approaching her career and finances with intention — from being mindful about student loan borrowing to actively paying down her debt early. She’s also beginning to share her journey through content creation, offering an honest look at life as a new OT.

Connect with Gabbi:

• TikTok | Etsy Store

Join our FB Group: ⁠⁠⁠Money Matters in Occupational Therapy⁠⁠⁠ 

Show Summary:

What does occupational balance really look like as a school-based OT? In this episode, I’m joined by Dysiris, a New York City DOE occupational therapist and content creator, to talk about the many hats therapists wear behind the scenes — from IEPs and collaboration to advocacy and personal well-being. We also dive into student loans, public service loan forgiveness, and repayment options for school-based OTs, along with honest reflections on building a sustainable career while still making space for yourself.

In Today’s Episode, We’re Chatting About:

• The reality of working as a school-based OT in the NYC DOE

• Student loans, PSLF, and repayment options for school-based therapists

• What occupational balance looks like in real life as an OT

• Protecting your energy while balancing work, motherhood, and creative pursuits

• Using content creation to advocate for the OT profession and share your voice

Guest Bio:

Dysiris is a full-time school-based occupational therapist who is passionate about practicing and promoting occupational balance, especially as a new mom balancing multiple roles. Through her work as a clinician and content creator, she shares an honest look at life in school-based OT while advocating for the profession and encouraging therapists to prioritize their well-being both inside and outside of work.

Connect with Dysiris:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠YouTube

Join our FB Group: ⁠⁠Money Matters in Occupational Therapy⁠⁠ 

Show Summary:

Travel therapy is often talked about through the lens of pay, but for new grads, the reality goes far beyond the paycheck. In this episode, I’m joined by Jenna Seeton, MSOT, OTR/L, a new grad travel occupational therapist, to talk honestly about what travel therapy actually looks like day to day and how it can shape both your career and your life.

Together, we dive into the lifestyle adjustments, workplace transitions, and emotional considerations that come with travel therapy, especially for new grads who are often discouraged from taking this path. This conversation is meant to give you a clearer, more grounded picture of who travel therapy is really for, what to think through before taking the leap, and how this experience can bring clarity around settings, populations, and long-term goals beyond just the money (although, that's a nice perk, too!)

In Today’s Episode, We’re Chatting About:

• Why new grads are often discouraged from travel therapy

• What drew Jenna to travel therapy beyond the paycheck

• Adjusting to new cities and being away from your support system

• Navigating new workplaces, teams, and personalities each assignment

• Who travel therapy is really for, and who may struggle

• How travel therapy can shape long-term career goals and clarity

• Jenna’s biggest advice for new grads debating whether to take the leap

Guest Bio:

Jenna Seeton, MSOT, OTR/L is a new grad travel occupational therapist who chose this path to explore new places, learn from different teams, and build a career that supports both her personal life and financial goals. She earned her Bachelor’s in Health Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in December 2024, passed the NBCOT in March 2025, and began her first travel contract in April in a school setting—despite having limited exposure to schools during her training.

After taking time off over the summer to reconnect with loved ones, Jenna committed to a full school-year contract for 2025–2026. During her break, she launched a travel therapy Instagram to document her journey and support other new grads curious about this path. Jenna loves the adventure of travel therapy and is always excited to connect with others navigating this season of their OT careers.

Connect with Jenna:

• ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn | ⁠TikTok
• Interview Guide | Housing Tips | Recruiter Recs

Join our FB Group: ⁠Money Matters in Occupational Therapy⁠ 

Show Summary:

Student loans are changing — and 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for PTs, OTs, and other healthcare professionals. In this episode, Amirra is joined by Noah O’Dell, founder of the Personal Finance for Physical Therapists platform, to break down what’s happening with federal student loans and what it means for students and clinicians.

Inspired by the recent “PT and OT isn’t a professional degree” announcement, this conversation clears up common concerns, explores potential changes to repayment systems and loan caps, and offers practical guidance on controlling the controllables amid uncertainty.

In Today’s Episode, We’re Chatting About:

• Why 2026 is a pivotal year for student loans

• What’s changing with federal student loans and the Department of Education

• The “PT and OT isn’t a professional degree” announcement

• How potential federal loan caps could impact PT/OT students and clinicians

• Practical ways to control the controllables when navigating student loans

Guest Bio:

Noah O’Dell helps PTs, OTs, and other healthcare professionals take control of their complete financial picture — no matter what their situation looks like. He’s the founder of the Personal Finance for Physical Therapists platform, where he provides practical, judgment-free financial guidance for clinicians at every stage of their career. Follow Noah on Instagram

Resources Mentioned:

• RouteFin | Student Loan Planner | Loan Calculator

Show Summary:

Feeling burnt out in your career—or wondering what it would take to pivot into something that truly aligns with your values, even with student loans and financial responsibilities? In this episode, I’m joined by occupational therapist–turned–holistic nutritionist Cassaundra Lindsay, who shares her journey from traditional OT practice and deep burnout to running a business that lights her up. She opens up about the guilt and fear of leaving a profession she’d trained for, how she navigated the financial side of stepping away from a steady paycheck, and the mindset and money shifts that gave her permission to choose a new path. Whether you’re feeling out of alignment in your current role or curious about what it takes to make a big career pivot, this conversation is full of honesty, encouragement, and practical insight.

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:

• What first drew Cassaundra to the OT profession

• The moment she realized traditional practice was no longer aligned

• The guilt and fear that came with leaving OT while still having student loans

• How she approached the financial side of her pivot

• The mindset and money shifts that helped her choose a new path

• What her business, Nourish Freely, looks like today

• Encouragement for anyone considering a career change

Guest Bio:

Cassaundra Lindsay is a Holistic Nutritionist and the founder of Nourish Freely. She helps busy individuals struggling with low energy, digestive issues, and confusion around nutrition. Through her 3-month coaching program, Cassaundra offers personalized support to get to the root cause of symptoms so her clients can stop guessing, start healing, and feel confident in their bodies again. Her signature approach simplifies nutrition, boosts energy, heals digestion, and empowers clients to be in control of their health without relying on caffeine, crash diets, or constant Googling. She created this business after healing her own energy and digestive challenges as well as seeing a gap in Western Medicine during her time working as an OT.

Connect with Cassuandra:

• Follow Cassaundra on Social Media: Instagram | LinkedIn
• Connect with the Nourish Freely Community: Website

Show Summary:

Struggling with student loan debt—or wondering how to make financial progress without sacrificing your well-being? In this episode, I’m joined by physical therapist Sunny to explore how she’s tackling over $200K in student loan debt while prioritizing her mental health, self-worth, and joy. Sunny shares her journey, the mindset shifts and strategies that have worked for her, and how she balances repayment with living a meaningful life. Whether you’re facing a big loan balance or looking for ways to protect your peace while paying down debt, this conversation is full of insights and encouragement.

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:

• 
  
• • Sunny’s journey into physical therapy and how she decided to aggressively tackle her student loans
  • Mindset shifts that helped her stay motivated and consistent

• Strategies she’s using to make real progress on over $200K of debt

• Balancing debt repayment with self-care, joy, and overall well-being

• Encouragement for anyone navigating their own student loan journey

Guest Bio:

Sunny, DPT, is a physical therapist based in Los Angeles with experience in home health, acute care, and outpatient orthopedics.

Connect with Sunny:

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• Follow Sunny on Social Media: Instagram

Show Summary:

Thinking about homeschooling as an OT—or wondering how to create a values-aligned life that balances career, family, and passion projects? In this episode, I’m joined by OT mom and entrepreneur Sarah Collins to explore why OTs are uniquely equipped to pursue homeschooling. Sarah shares her journey, how her OT skills naturally support a homeschooling lifestyle, and the lessons she’s learned juggling business, motherhood, and education. Whether you’re curious about homeschooling or exploring alternative career paths, this conversation is full of insights and inspiration.

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:

• How Sarah’s OT background shapes her approach to homeschooling

• The natural overlap between OT skills and teaching kids at home

• Lessons from balancing business ownership, motherhood, and homeschooling

• Encouragement for OTs considering nontraditional career and family paths

Guest Bio:

Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist and homeschooling consultant dedicated to helping parents align homeschooling with their children’s unique needs. Through her platform HomeschoolOT, she provides personalized consultations, teaches month-long courses on key topics, fosters community through group and individual coaching, and speaks at national conferences. Her work empowers parents to build learning environments that support their children’s development and passions.

Connect with Sarah:

• Purchase: A Chameleon Tale- A Colorful Sensory Story

• Follow Sarah on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

• Connect with The Homeschool OT Community: Website | Podcast

Show Summary:

In this special episode, I’m talking directly to students and new grads about navigating student loan debt—and for the first time, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes look at a project my husband and I have been quietly building to support healthcare professionals in personal finance. If you know you’ll graduate with loans (or you’re already there), we’re breaking down:

✅ Practical money moves you can make before graduation

✅ Why tracking your loans matters more than you think

✅ Smart strategies to cut down on borrowing

✅ How to financially prepare for life after graduation

✅ Why entrepreneurship belongs in the conversation

✅ An exclusive first look at our new business venture!

If you’re a student, new grad, or just navigating finances as a healthcare professional, this episode is packed with actionable advice and encouragement to help you feel more confident with your money.

Resources:

• AOTA Article: Practical Information: Stories for Those With Student Loan Debt

• Instagram Post: New Data on OT Student Loan Debt!? Yikes.

• Ep 26. Building Confidence to Negotiate and Maximize Income with Samantha Hayes

• Join our FB Group: Money Matters in Occupational Therapy 

Show Summary

What does it look like to build a fulfilling OT career outside of the typical mold—and on your own terms? In this episode of The Money Matters in OT Podcast, I’m joined by Justine Vidro, a school-based Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and the founder of Teeny Tots Learning.

We’re diving into what it’s really like working in schools as a COTA, the behind-the-scenes of launching a business while still working full-time, and how Justine found confidence in her own voice along the way.

Whether you're a COTA, OT, or creative entrepreneur at heart—Justine’s story is a reminder that there’s no one right way to succeed in this field. Her passion for early learning, advocacy, and real talk about the profession will leave you feeling inspired and empowered. 💻📚

In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:
✨ Justine’s path into school-based OT
✨ Why she started Teeny Tots Learning and how it grew
✨ What it’s really like balancing multiple roles
✨ How to stay grounded when pursuing new opportunities
✨ Encouragement for COTAs who want to expand their careers
✨ Building something meaningful while still honoring your day job

Guest Bio:

Justine Vidro is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), school-based OT professional, and the creator of Teeny Tots Learning. Through her growing online business and Teachers Pay Teachers store, Justine provides educational resources that support early learning, development, and accessibility in classrooms and homes. She’s passionate about advocacy, creativity, and helping other OT professionals dream beyond the traditional path.

Connect with Justine:
📲 Instagram: @just_tee_cota & @teenytotslearning

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