Occupied

By Brock CookMedicine Health & Fitness Mental Health

Occupied episodes

April 01, 2019 032 – The Rocket OT returns to Earth: Occupation in Action
You may remember Simone from episode 2! She is the creator of the Regulation Rocket and an amazing occupation-based pediatric OT. Simone has definitely been one of our most popular guests. She has just got back to Australia after spending a year travelling the world (pretty sure the last episode was recorded from Japan!). Because of that, I thought it was time to touch base again and explore her occupational brain. 🙂
From the moment we met Simone and I have got along really well and found that we’re both on the same occupational wavelength. We could literally talk for days if left to our own devices. This episode we explore her new business venture including telehealth and how occupation can be implemented using it. We went deep into the realities of implementing Occupation Based Practice and the systemic limitations that become barriers. Naturally, a lot of pet peeves came to the surface such as OT memes, client labels, generational communication differences.
We explored the importance of routines and habits but also of developing the adaptability and resilience to cope when they’re disrupted. From that, the topic of success and not recoiling from failure came up. We then discussed how OT’s can often let fear hold them back from breaking the mould and doing something truly innovative or scary. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Rocket OT podcast without discussing the Regulation Rocket and self-regulation.
Like I said at the start, Simone and I could talk forever and we’ve decided that we will record again. Expect an episode in the future that explores the professions over-reliance on “independence”. http://rocketot.com/
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 47 min
March 21, 2019 031 – Succeeding to Fail with Jon Jon Rivero
Prior to meeting Jon Jon my measures of success were most definitely material and superficial. Since that time I’ve been a much more introspective OT. I met Jon Jon Rivero in 2014 when he came to Australia to deliver the keynote at the QLD State Conference. I’ve still never been to a more amazing presentation. There was singing, dancing, roundhouse kicks, beatboxing, harmonica as well as amazing occupation based practice stories. I learned about creativity and growth and finding yoURawesome.
Since that time we’ve kept in touch and I’ve followed along the success, growth and development of Qi Creative. Some of you may have seen me hinting at a link between my last guest, Meghan Harris, and Jon Jon and that link is that Meg also works for Qi!
The conversation ended up moving towards something that I’d been mulling over for a few weeks and thats, pulling success from failure. Jon Jon was open and honest enough to share an amazing story. He told how a large part of his professional self and his business birthed from a large “fail”.
I had an absolute blast talking with Jon Jon and left feeling inspired and motivated for the profession and the future.
Jon Jon on Twitter
QI Creative
Balikbayan Project
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
56 min
March 13, 2019030 – An OT’s Story of Trauma and Rehab
THIS EPISODE DISCUSSES TRAUMA & TRAUMATIC INJURY. ALTHOUGH THERE IS IS NOTHING OVERLY GRAPHIC OR NEGATIVE, PLEASE DO EXERCISE COMMON SENSE IF YOU FIND THESE TOPICS DIFFICULT OR TRAUMATIC.
Meghan and I connected many years ago on twitter and I’ve followed her career and growth since then.
Last year Meghan and a group of others from her cycling club were hit by a truck whilst out for a ride. She suffered vast and traumatic injuries and spent a long while in a rehabilitation hospital. Meghan is now back at home but still working through her rehabilitation. In this conversation, we explored Meghan’s experience right from the accident to this point in time through her occupational lense. The hope is that we are able to give therapists a view and perspective from the other side of the fence.
Through the trauma, Meghan remained positive and driven. This was something I was curious about and we did get to discuss the realities of this perception. Meghan is an amazing therapist and her views and observations of the process I find incredibly positive and inspirational.
qicreative.com
[email protected]
Meghan’s Instagram
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 38 min
March 08, 2019 029 – OT After Dark: Sex as an ADL
SOME CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST MAY BE CONSIDERED EXPLICIT BY SOME PEOPLE. SEX AND INTIMACY TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED AND MAY INCLUDE SOME COLLOQUIAL TERMINOLOGIES. EXERCISE COMMON SENSE IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THESE OR RELATED TOPICS.
I discovered the OT After Dark podcast only 4hrs after they released their first episode (Sex as an ADL). My initial reaction was “Yes! Finally someone is brave enough to talk about sex and sexuality in a public forum!” But it got even better. Firstly, they’re hilarious and very personable. Secondly although speaking candidly about these topics they are exceptionally well read and well researched…. They also include, on their website, all of the research they discuss in each episode for your perusal.
I firmly believe that sex, sexuality and intimacy are topics that OT’s often neglect for a variety of reasons. Similar to most social change I feel that opening the conversation is the first step. Exposure to the topics will hopefully ease some of the anxiety and awkwardness about addressing sex with our clients.
I encourage everyone to check out the OT After Dark podcast on your favorite podcast app. Also check out their website or tweet them:
https://otafterdark.com/https://twitter.com/otafterdark
Keep occupied
[email protected]@brockcookOT
1 hr 20 min
March 07, 2019 029 – OT After Dark: Sex as an ADL
SOME CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST MAY BE CONSIDERED EXPLICIT BY SOME PEOPLE. SEX AND INTIMACY TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED AND MAY INCLUDE SOME COLLOQUIAL TERMINOLOGIES. EXERCISE COMMON SENSE IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY THESE OR RELATED TOPICS.
I discovered the OT After Dark podcast only 4hrs after they released their first episode (Sex as an ADL). My initial reaction was “Yes! Finally someone is brave enough to talk about sex and sexuality in a public forum!” But it got even better. Firstly, they’re hilarious and very personable. Secondly although speaking candidly about these topics they are exceptionally well read and well researched…. They also include, on their website, all of the research they discuss in each episode for your perusal.
I firmly believe that sex, sexuality and intimacy are topics that OT’s often neglect for a variety of reasons. Similar to most social change I feel that opening the conversation is the first step. Exposure to the topics will hopefully ease some of the anxiety and awkwardness about addressing sex with our clients.
I encourage everyone to check out the OT After Dark podcast on your favorite podcast app. Also check out their website or tweet them:
https://otafterdark.com/
https://twitter.com/otafterdark
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 20 min
February 26, 2019 028 – Seniors Flourish in a Digital World with Mandy Chamberlain
You may know Mandy as Seniors Flourish. She’s an OT. Entrepreneur. Business Owner. OG OT Podcaster. Online OT personality. but most of all she was kind enough to come and have a chat with us here at OCCUPIED.
Many of you may have come across her work on social media where she produces and curates tonnes of useful and interesting content for therapists in all areas of practice. Her work is, as the name suggests, predominantly targeted at those working with seniors in the aged care sector and we explored just why her passions lay in this practice area.
It was an extremely fun conversation that had us both laughing a lot. We explored Mandy’s journey into OT, her business, her podcast, the evolution of digital tech and even her dance prowess.
If you don’t already definitely get along and check out her website and social profiles:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
And if you are in aged care or have an interest in aged care her membership site, The Learning Lab, provides and unprecedented community of support and resources to help you develop your practice.
SeniorsFlourish.com/learninglab
Also we’re still waiting for her dance video…..
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 41 min
February 19, 2019 027 – Occupational Observations of a Natural Disaster
I’d like to reflect on a natural disaster. At the beginning of February 2019 the city where I live was stuck under a monsoonal rain even for over a week. This event dumped over 1.6m (5ft) of water in 7 days. Townsville being a typically dry place was not designed or ready to drain and divert more than its yearly rainfall in one week. What proceeded was a 1 in 100 year wet event with unprecedented flooding.

Throughout the event I received so many messages from friends, family and fans of the podcast and I’d like to thank you for your thoughts and concern. It meant the worlds. Long story short, myself, my family and most importantly my dog are all fine. We didn’t even get the worst of it. Some of the suburbs on the south side of Townsville were completely devastated. In many cases lost everything they owned.
The Podcast
This podcast is some observations I made during the even through an occupational lens. My aim is not to sugar coat, nor shield anyone from the realities of natural disaster. I do discuss, death, loss of possessions, grief, etc so if this is something you are sensitive to then please ensure you are appropriately supported or alternatively skip this episode. I also touch on some of the amazing things to come out of such a difficult time. People pulling together to help each-other, rescue each-other, and dropping everything for each-other. In some cases even using their own tools and resources to help their fellow man without hesitation.

Social media played a massive role during this natural disaster and I reflect on exactly how I saw this powerful tool being utilised. From that I also explore my own occupational experience during the floods.

This video should give you an idea of the water levels and widespread devastation.
Video by Cameron Laird
https://youtu.be/BHAX5VdD5jg
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
35 min
February 12, 2019 026 – How and Why EVERY Occupational Therapist needs to Research with Dr Kitty & Dr Anna
Kitty (@truly_radical_) contacted me over Twitter some time ago and emphatically stated that she wanted to talk with me about research. She told me that herself and fellow OT, Anna (@aurbanowicz) had a huge passion for promoting research to Occupational Therapists. She wondered if I would like to talk about it with them on Occupied…. definitely!
Dr Anna Urbanowicz and Dr Kitty-Rose Foley did their PhD’s at the same time in the same place. This lead to two very different directions and experiences. Sitting down and chatting with the two of them highlighted the challenges and rewards of completing research and a PhD.
Anna is Australian but currently in the United States as a VC Postdoctoral Fellow (Fulbright Scholar) at RMIT University. Learning inclusive research techniques to bring back to her work in Australia.
We talked about their respective journeys through PhD and into Post Doc. From there we went on to explore why research is important to the profession and various ways that OT’s are able to get into it. The key takeaway is that research isn’t scary, it just takes a little bit of planning. With this in mind you have the opportunity to add to the evidence base of the profession using your own clinical experiences.
For me personally this a great follow-on from episodes 013–014 about transitioning to academia and I’m def more driven than ever to get stuck into some research! I’m excited!
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 24 min
January 31, 2019 025 – Mindfulness and Occupational Therapy with Leah Forman
Leah Forman is a COTA and an OTD student whom I originally discovered from her Instagram. The very first post I saw was a photo of a pelvis and a comment about womens health, mindfulness and OT. This (strangely) caught my eye due to my good friend Melissa LaPointe and her business/interest/passion in the field.
I also noticed Leah had a blog and through reading some of her posts I got to see some quite similar interests to myself. The use of mindfulness and meditation being one of them. Connecting with her then and having further discussions it didn’t take long to work out we were on the same wavelength about a lot of different things. Seemed like a no brainer to get her on Occupied and see where the conversation took us!
Leah taught me about what a COTA is and what they do. We also explored the therapeutic use of mindfulness and meditation. Finally we looked into the links that can be seen between the concepts of mindfulness, minimalism and Occupational Therapy. The conversation was fun and came really easily and I’m sure you will get as much out of this conversation as I did.
Check Leah out in all the following places:
lifesoccupations.com
www.instagram.com/lifesoccupations/
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
2 hr 8 min
January 19, 2019 024 – Occupational Justice with Professor Gail Whiteford
I am honestly so excited about this episode. When Gail first sent me a message asking to be on the podcast I almost fell off my chair. All my Occupational dreams come true!
Professor Gail Whiteford has been an OT hero of mine for the longest time and even though we have met multiple times, getting to have a chat with her was a surreal experience. To say I was fan-boying was an understatement. Coming to the conclusion that she is not only one of the most intelligent and well rounded Occupational Therapists i know but also one of the most easy to talk to and engage with. I can’t thank Gail enough for allowing me to pick her brain.
Professor Whiteford’s work has had a significant and lasting impact on the direction of the profession and Occupational Science. In particular her work with Dr Elizabeth Townsend in the development and promotion of the Participatory Occupational Justice Framework was something that resonated with me from the core of my OT beliefs. Being involved with OT organisations such as OOFRAS and working with some marginalised populations the framework instantly resonated with the work and professional experiences I had up until that point.
The Conversation
Our conversation started with her journey through the profession and the evolutions of OT she experienced throughout that time. Gail, on the spot, came up with ideas I would never have ever considered about the profession. Blew my mind wide open. Feel like im still processing it.
We discussed the POJF and how it came into development. The current state of Occupational Therapy as well as what the future may hold for the profession. Definitely one of the deepest, most reflective conversations I’ve had and I really hope it blows your mind as much as mine.
Keep occupied
Brock
[email protected]
@brockcookOT
1 hr 16 min