Show Summary
What really happens after OT school ends and the real world begins? 🎓 In this episode of The Money Matters in OT Podcast, I’m joined by pediatric OT, content creator, and new mom Desiree Hayes to talk about the messy, confusing, and empowering transition from student to practitioner.

We’re diving into what it’s like to navigate job interviews, self-advocacy, and perfectionism in your first year as an OT—and how to build confidence when everything still feels new. Desiree shares honest reflections, mindset shifts, and encouragement for anyone in the thick of the new grad season.

This episode is your reminder that you don’t have to have it all figured out—and that growth happens in the showing up. 💛

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

• What surprised Desiree most about life after OT school

• The pressure to “do it right” in your first job

• Reframing perfectionism and building self-trust

• Navigating job interviews, salary, and self-advocacy

• What helped Desiree find her voice as a new OT

• Encouragement for embracing the messy middle

Guest Bio
Desiree Hayes, OTR/L, is a pediatric occupational therapist and the creator behind @theprofessional_ot. She’s passionate about helping OT students and new grads feel supported, empowered, and confident in the early stages of their careers—reminding them that growth is never linear, and they’re not alone.

Resources
📲 Connect with Desiree on Instagram: @theprofessional_ot

Show Summary
What happens when you step away from traditional OT work—but never stop seeing the world through the OT mindset? In this episode of The Money Matters in OT Podcast, I’m joined by pediatric OT, stay-at-home mom, and soon-to-be children’s book author Gabriella Thalin to talk about how her occupational therapy background continues to shape her life beyond the clinic.

We dive into the emotional transition of leaving the workforce, the decision to become a homeschooling SAHM, and how the OT lens shows up in everyday motherhood, homemaking, and creative projects—including her upcoming children’s book, How to Become a Knight. Gabriella’s story is a reminder that the value of our OT training goes far beyond any one career path.

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

• Why Gabriella chose OT—and how it aligned with her long-term goals of motherhood

• What it felt like to step away from clinical practice after OT school

• Mindset shifts that helped her embrace life as a SAHM

• The unexpected ways OT shows up in parenting and homemaking

• How her OT background inspired her first children’s book

• Encouragement for OTs exploring non-traditional paths

Guest Bio

Gabriella Thalin is a pediatric occupational therapist, stay-at-home mom, and the author of the upcoming children’s book How to Become a Knight. She’s passionate about using her OT lens to support her family, church community, and creative work. Gabriella believes OT doesn’t end at the clinic door—it’s a mindset that shapes how we nurture, teach, and build a life we love.

Resources
📲 Connect with Gabriella on Instagram: @hiyagabriella & @meditationsforchildren

Show Notes:
Wondering how to design a career in OT that gives you freedom, flexibility, and financial growth? In this episode, I’m joined by Kaitlyn Smart, a travel OT, real estate investor, and entrepreneur who has built a multifaceted career rooted in freedom.

We dive into how Kaitlyn started with travel therapy as a new grad, her journey into real estate investing, and why she believes passive income is essential for OTs. If you’re dreaming of building wealth and creating a bold, fulfilling career outside the traditional path, this conversation will inspire you to take action.

In this episode:

• 
  
• • Starting a travel therapy career after graduation
  • Strategies to maximize income and pay off debt
• • Getting started with real estate investing as an OT
  • Building passive income through digital products
• • Balancing multiple income streams and entrepreneurship
  • Advice for OTs who want more freedom and flexibility

Guest Bio:

Kaitlyn Smart is a travel OT, real estate investor, and founder of The Smart OT. With three years of experience in the OT field, Kaitlyn has successfully blended her love for healthcare with her passion for entrepreneurship. She is dedicated to empowering OTs to expand their income streams and build more freedom into their careers. Kaitlyn also runs the OT Digital Academy, where she helps OTs create and launch digital products that generate passive income. Outside of her work, Kaitlyn enjoys exploring new places, investing in real estate, and guiding others on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Resources:

Follow Kaitlyn on IG: 📲 @thesmartot & @heyy_kait
Learn more about the OT Digital Academy 💻 and join the Case Study Group 📚

In this episode, I’m joined by Jayson Davies, a school-based OT who’s not only crushed his student loan debt but also built a successful online business supporting other therapists.

We chat about his journey to becoming debt-free, what inspired his entrepreneurial path, and how he balances business ownership with a full-time OT role in the schools.

If you're a school-based OT looking for more freedom, financial clarity, and creative income streams—this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• How Jayson paid off his student loans

• What sparked his online business journey

• Tips for building a biz while working full-time

• Mindset shifts for financial and career growth

Resources:

Follow Jayson on IG: @ot_schoolhouse
Check out his website: otschoolhouse.com
Learn more at: OTpreneur.com

Show Summary:
Talking about money can feel a little taboo in our profession, but the truth is, financial stress plays a huge role in burnout—and as OTs, we need to be having these conversations. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Doug Vestal, fellow personal finance enthusiast and author of Financial Freedom for OTs: A Guide to Building Wealth Without Burnout, to dive deep into what financial freedom actually looks like for occupational therapists.

Doug shares his personal journey, including how his own family’s financial struggles shaped his passion for financial literacy in the OT community. We’re talking about money mindsets, student loan debt, entrepreneurship, and why understanding your ‘freedom number’ is key to building a career (and life!) you love. Plus, Doug breaks down practical strategies for managing finances, avoiding burnout, and even stepping into private practice.

If you’re ready to take control of your finances and create more options for yourself—without sacrificing your well-being—this is the episode for you!

In today’s show, we’re chatting about:
✅ Why financial freedom is essential for OTs and how money stress contributes to burnout
✅ Doug Vestal’s personal journey and what led him to advocate for financial literacy in the OT community
✅ How money mindset influences financial success and the shifts OTs need to make
✅ Creative strategies for tackling student loan debt and accelerating repayment
✅ The concept of a "freedom number" and how it guides financial independence
✅ Exploring private practice and entrepreneurship as pathways to financial and time freedom

Resources & Links:

📖 Purchase Financial Freedom for OTs: A Guide to Building Wealth Without Burnout | Amazon

📲 Follow Doug on Social Media: [Instagram] | [Facebook] [YouTube]

🌐 Connect with Doug’s Community: [Website]

Episode Summary:

Have you ever wondered if pursuing a pediatric fellowship is worth the financial sacrifice?

In this episode of The Money Matters in OT Podcast, I’m joined by Teresa, a pediatric occupational therapist who took a leap of faith by moving states to pursue a fellowship. From clinical rotations in feeding, autism, and neurodevelopment to her impactful work in the NICU, Teresa shares the highs and lows of her fellowship journey — including the financial realities that came with it.

We dive deep into the tough questions: How do you balance a pay cut while advancing your career? How do you overcome imposter syndrome as a new grad OT? And what strategies can you use to build confidence when you’re just starting out?

If you’re a new OT or student wondering if a fellowship is the right path for you — and how to navigate the financial side of it — this episode is packed with honest advice and practical tips.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Teresa's journey from working in a sensory integration clinic to moving for a pediatric fellowship

• What it’s really like working at a pediatric OT fellow

• How to manage the financial strain of a pay cut and out-of-state move

• Practical strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome as a new grad

• The role mentorship plays in building confidence and advancing your career

• Insights into balancing career growth, personal life, and yes — even wedding planning — while pursuing a fellowship

Guest Bio:

Teresa is a Vietnamese American pediatric occupational therapist. She started her career working in a sensory integration clinic and received her certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration to support the foundations of her practice for those with developmental disabilities and neurodiversity. After working in California for 3 years, she moved to Oregon to pursue a pediatric fellowship at a children’s hospital. There, she completed clinical rotations in feeding, autism, neurodevelopment, early intervention, and NICU. After the recent completion of her fellowship, she is now working at an outpatient pediatric hospital, in addition to working in home health part time and developing her private practice. She aims to work with young children with feeding and swallowing disorders for the years to come. Lastly, Teresa has always been passionate about seeking and providing quality mentorship at all stages of her career path, and aims to support pre-OT students and new grads in their discovery of the occupational therapy profession. 

🔗 Resources & Links

🎓 The Backbones to Becoming a Clinical OT — Use code "MIRRACLE" for 15% off!

📲 Follow Teresa: OT Instagram | Private Practice Instagram

💻 Connect with the “OT with T” Community: Website

👥 Join the FB Group: Money Matters in Occupational Therapy

🌟 Let’s connect: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

Episode Summary:

$500,000. That’s the student loan debt my husband, Mazi, and I faced — $270k from OT school and $230k from CRNA school. It felt overwhelming, like we’d be making payments forever.

But step by step — through budget talks, sacrifices, and a whole lot of mindset work — we did it. As of this month, we are officially debt free.

In this episode, we’re sharing our student loan payoff journey — what worked, what didn’t, and how we kept going when the finish line felt so far away.

No magic wand, no one-size-fits-all advice — just our story and the hope that it inspires you to tackle your loans in a way that works for you.

Because no matter how long it takes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Guest Bio:
Mazi Condelee is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) with a passion for healthcare, family, and financial wellness. Alongside his wife, Amirra, he tackled over $500k in student loan debt, proving that with teamwork, mindset, and intentional choices, financial freedom is possible.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The moment we realized we had $500k in student loan debt
• How we created a repayment plan and stayed motivated
• The sacrifices and mindset shifts that helped us stay on track
• Why there’s no “one size fits all” approach to student loan repayment
• Encouragement for anyone in the middle of their own debt journey

👉 Learn more at marvelousmirracles.com
📲 Follow me on Instagram @moneymattersinot

In this special episode, I’m finally sharing my birth story! Birth is such an incredible experience, and as an OT, I found that my knowledge of body awareness, nervous system regulation, and proprioception actually played a huge role in helping me have the birth I envisioned.

But you know I couldn’t do an episode without tying in finance! So along with my birth story, I’m also breaking down:
✅ How much my birth cost (yep, I’m spilling the numbers!)
✅ Why hospital bills are negotiable and how we’re negotiating ours
✅ The OT skills that helped me in labor—from managing overstimulation to advocating for myself
✅ How I prepared for birth (chiropractic care, prenatal Pilates, pelvic floor therapy & more)
✅ Pivoting in life and career after birth—adjusting to motherhood, what’s next for the podcast & Marvelous Mirracles

If you’ve ever wondered about the true cost of giving birth, how to advocate for yourself in medical billing, or how OT knowledge can support labor and postpartum recovery, this episode is for you!

🎧 Tune in now!

Resources

Ep 8: Birthday, Birth Story, and Bills

Follow the IG page: https://www.instagram.com/moneymattersinot/ 

Join the new FB Group: Money Matters in Occupational Therapy

Show Summary: 

Happy New Year! As we dive into 2025, it’s the perfect time to reflect on personal growth—physically, mentally, and of course financially. In this episode, I’m joined by Shang Saavedra, founder of Save My Cents and author of the must-read book Wealth Is a Mindset, which explores the powerful connection between mental health and financial success. Shang shares her inspiring journey to retiring by age 31 and offers actionable insights to help you transform your relationship with money. If you’re a healthcare professional, this book is a game-changer, providing strategies to reduce stress and build wealth in a demanding field. Whether you’re ready to take control of your finances or need the motivation to start the year strong, this episode is packed with advice you won’t want to miss. Make sure to grab a copy of Shang’s book—it’s the ultimate guide to shifting your mindset and thriving financially!

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

Guest Bio:

Shang Saavedra is the founder and CEO of Save My Cents, a personal finance education platform that helps Americans learn how to grow their financial wealth by addressing mental health. Shang finished saving for her retirement by the age of 31, and is America's leading expert on retirement. Shang's insights have been published by Business Insider, CNBC, Forbes, Fox Business, USA Today, Time / NextAdvisor, Nasdaq, The New York Post, Kiplinger, and she has been named by Time / NextAdvisor as one of The 25 Most Influential New Voices of Money. Shang has previously worked for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Shang received her bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard and her MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Her book, Wealth Is a Mindset, releases January 2025 with Third State Books.

Resources

Get in touch

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Show Summary: 

The new grad OT journey, there’s nothing quite like it. You’ve graduated, aced your boards, and are ready to dive into the OT world. But then reality hits: so much of what lies ahead is unfamiliar, especially when it comes to settings like home health or early intervention, or deciding to go the independent contracting route as a new grad - all areas of OT we don’t typically cover much while in our programs. In this episode, I’m joined by Ashley Wright, MS, OTR/L, a newly licensed pediatric OT who took the bold step of jumping right into contracting. Ashley shares her experience navigating life as a 1099 contractor, budgeting as a new grad, managing the hidden costs of becoming an OT, and tackling taxes and fluctuating income. She offers real tips and insights on setting up for success, even when facing those first-year challenges. If you’re nearing graduation or just stepping into your first OT job, this episode is packed with encouragement, real talk, and practical advice to help you embrace the unique path you’re meant to take as an OT.

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

Guest Bio:

Ashley Wright, MS, OTR/L is a newly licensed pediatric occupational therapist, diving into her career as an independent contractor in both home health and clinic pediatrics. A recent MSOT graduate, she’s passionate about supporting children’s development and sharing creative intervention ideas through her Instagram account, @OTwithAshley, where she connects with fellow pediatric OTs and parents. Ashley is enthusiastic about navigating the financial side of life as a new grad, from budgeting to licensing costs, and is excited to share her experiences and insights with other therapists just starting out. When she’s not working, Ashley loves running, snacking on popcorn, and planning her upcoming wedding!

Resources

Get in touch

Wanna be innanet friends? Instagram - TikTok - Facebook