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.

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Host: Dr Jessica Levick

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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.

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Host: Brock Cook & Dr Jessica Levick

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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.

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Host: Brock Cook

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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

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Host: Dr Jessica Levick & Brock Cook

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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.

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Host: Brock Cook

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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

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Host: Brock Cook & Dr Jessica Levick

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In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick sits down with mental health nurse Ayden Riethmuller to explore the powerful intersection between lived experience and professional practice. Ayden shares his personal journey with mental health challenges and how these experiences have shaped his approach to care, compassion, and recovery-oriented practice.

Together, they discuss the value of lived experience. This candid conversation highlights the strength that comes from vulnerability and the ways personal experience can enrich professional identity in mental health care.

Whether you’re a clinician, student, or someone with lived experience, this episode offers an honest, hopeful look at what it means to support recovery — for ourselves and others.

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In this episode, Brock sits down with Brad from The Becoming Collective to unpack what it really means to come into alignment with the profession of occupational therapy — and what happens when we drift away from it.

Brad opens up about the origins of The Becoming Collective, how it started as a space for meaningful connection and reflection, and how the group evolved (and sometimes dissolved) as members navigated burnout, personal growth, and the realities of professional life.

Together, Brock and Brad explore:

🌊 The natural ebb and flow of professional identity — and how OTs can lose (and rediscover) their sense of purpose.

🔥 Burnout, disillusionment, and the courage it takes to pause and realign.

🧩 Why models and frameworks aren’t just academic tools, but anchors for reasoning, reflection, and reconnection with occupation.

🤝 The importance of community, vulnerability, and staying curious about who we are becoming as practitioners.

This episode is a grounded, honest reflection on growth, drift, and renewal — reminding us that returning to the core of our profession often starts with reconnecting to ourselves.

Check out the Becoming Collective here: 

The free Clarity Collection guide 1 download: https://thebecomingcollective.kit.com/07b16351bcThe OT Re-Alignment Experience page: https://becoming-realign-landing.lovable.app/The Becoming Collective page: www.thebecomingcollective.com

Email: [email protected]

In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick chats with Professor Elspeth Froude — Professor of Occupational Therapy and National Head of the School of Allied Health at the Australian Catholic University. Elspeth shares insights from her leadership journey in academia, her passion for advancing the profession globally, and her role as Chair of the WFOT World Congress to be held in Thailand in 2026.

Together, Jess and Elspeth explore the evolving landscape of occupational therapy education, research, and international collaboration, and discuss how occupational therapists can stay grounded in occupation while responding to global challenges.

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation for anyone passionate about the future of occupational therapy and the power of leadership to create meaningful change.

💥 Exclusive Listener Offer! Listeners of Occupied can receive 10% off full registration for the WFOT World Congress 2026 in Thailand using the code Occupied@10 at checkout. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and celebrate occupational therapy on the global stage!

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In this episode of Occupied, Dr Jessica Levick is joined by Dr Kieran Broome — occupational therapist, educator, and researcher, to explore how we can bridge the gap between what we know and what we do. We unpack the concept of knowledge translation and why it’s essential for meaningful, evidence-informed occupational therapy practice. Kieran shares insights into how OTs can stay curious, reflective, and engaged in lifelong learning, no matter where they are in their career journey.

Whether you’re a student, clinician, or academic, this conversation will leave you inspired to think critically, learn continuously, and translate knowledge into everyday action.

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Host: Dr Jessica LevickSubscribe now and never miss an episode!