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The OT Lifestyle Movement

The OT Lifestyle Movement

Hosted by The OT Lifestyle Movement

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Episodes

59

Latest episode

Mar 2026

Language

EN-AU

About the show

Come take a front row seat on the most inspiring OT conversations that will inject you with unbound confidence and leave you feeling lit up and empowered to take action in your life, work and business. This is for the occupational therapy professionals who dare to think differently, who deeply resonate with a lifestyle approach to therapy and who endeavour to create meaningful change in the lives of others. It’s for the OT’s who are eager to take the roof off their expectations and live up to their own occupational potential.

Listen to episodes

59 recent
March 28, 20261 hr 13 min

133: Starting Your Online OT Business feat. Beki Eakins

In this business-focussed episode of The OT Lifestyle Movement, I sit down with Beki Eakins to talk about what building a thriving online OT business actually looks like – the numbers, the strategy and the mindset behind it all. We discuss: What Beki's online business looks like today – her offers, her week and how she structures her time across a full work day The real numbers behind a successful online OT business The marketing strategies that have genuinely moved the needle for her – and what she now teaches others from hard-won experience How to attract and serve your ideal clients, even if you're starting from scratch The mindset shifts that helped Beki stop playing small and start scaling with purpose ….and SO MUCH MORE! Connect with Beki Eakins: Website: www.bekieakins.com/ Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/bekieakins/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/otyourselftofreedom/ Beki Eakins is a business coach for occupational therapists who are done with burnout, low pay, and building businesses that still depend on their time. After seeing how traditional OT roles keep highly skilled clinicians overworked and underpaid, she built a freedom-based business working just 12 hours a week, generating consistent high-ticket sales and supporting OTs across the world to do the same. Her work challenges the industry norms many therapists feel stuck in, showing them how to move away from referrals, funding dependence, and exhausting caseloads, and into scalable online businesses that create more income, impact, and control. Through her programme, the OT Freedom Collective, and her podcast “OT Yourself to Freedom”, she has helped hundreds of OTs rethink what is actually possible in their career. She is known for her direct, no-nonsense approach, calling out what is not working and showing therapists how to build businesses that actually support their lives.

August 17, 202551 min

132: Occupation-Based Practice – Reclaiming The Soul of Occupational Therapy ft Wendy Stav

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of The OT Lifestyle Movement, I sit down with Dr. Wendy Stav to explore the heart of our profession - occupation. We discuss: Why Wendy never abbreviates “OT” and always says “occupational therapy” - and why language matters The difference between occupation as means and occupation as end, and why it matters in practice How to hold onto authentic occupational therapy values in highly medicalised systems Practical steps to reclaim occupation-centred care An introduction to the Dynamic Model of Occupation-Based Practice - what it is and how it supports transformative, occupation-driven work ....and SO MUCH MORE! Connect with Wendy Stav: Website The Dynamic Model of Occupation-Based Practice

July 29, 202553 min

131: Burn In Mini-Series | #3: The Flame + The 8 Ecosystem Elements Explained

In this episode Michelle Luken and I discuss: Why The Burn In Model is based on a metaphor. The flame at the heart of The Burn In Model. The flame represents the alignment between who you are (being), what you do (doing) and who and what you're connected to (belonging) What it means to tend to your inner flame vs your outer flame A breakdown of the 8 Ecosystem Elements that influence alignment: 1. Sticks – the personal and occupational factors that fuel or dampen your fire 2. Rocks – boundaries; your foundations of safety, regulation and capacity 3. Rain + Wind – physical and social environment 4. Coal – burnout 5. Smoke – signs and signals of burnout 6. Ash – end of life and what we leave behind; lineage and legacy 7. Spark – life itself; and where there is life, there is hope 8. Embers – the gifts we offer the world If you are interested to join our upcoming 6 week guided journey through The Burn In Model, you can learn more here: burninnotout.com

July 29, 202539 min

130: Burn In Mini-Series | #2: The Origins of The Burn In Model

In this episode, I’m chatting with Michelle Luken, Occupational Therapist and co-creator of The Burn In Model, about how it all began. We discuss: The moment Burn In was first named How Michelle and I, on opposite sides of the world, were exploring similar concepts and how the Universe clearly connected us to bring The Burn In Model to life What the model means to us now vs. when it started How a single post turned into a worldwide co-creation The development of The Burn In Model - group collaboration, focus groups and over 700 messages between Michelle and I The mission to spark a global movement, beyond OT To join us for a 6 week guided journey - to burn in, not out, head to burninnotout.com

July 29, 202541 min

129: Burn In Mini-Series | #1: Our Burnout Stories ft Michelle Luken

In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Luken - Occupational Therapist, U.S. Army Veteran, and co-creator of The Burn In Model. We dive deep into the personal stories that sparked this model, including: Michelle’s OT journey and the roles she’s held across military and mental health settings Her own experience of burnout and why it didn’t feel just like exhaustion, but something deeper Why our definition of burnout expands beyond the World Health Organisation’s The factors that led to misalignment in my own life and practice Why we both began to understand burnout not as a collapse, but as a misalignment — between who we are, what we do, and who and what we're connected to This is where The Burn In Model begins... with story, reflection and the decision to burn in, not out. Learn more about our upcoming free Webinar or join our 6 week journey where we guide you through The Burn In Model, so you can use it personally and professionally: www.burninnotout.com

May 18, 20251 hr 5 min

128: Who Are We Really? A Critical Look at OT Identity ft Justine Jecker

In this episode, I chat with Justine Jecker - an occupational therapist I instantly fell in love with for her grounded wisdom, her realness, her critical thinking and the way she speaks so deeply to the heart of our profession. This conversation is rich, reflective and full of insight into what it really means to be an OT today. We discuss: How our personal identity shapes how we show up as occupational therapists What identity means within the OT profession and why it matters The rich history of OT and how it influences our current professional identity The challenge of defining what OTs do vs. what OT is The importance of staying grounded in occupation as the heart of OT How we can communicate the value of occupational therapy more clearly Why being an OT and something else is becoming more common It’s not always about us trying to explain OT - it's can others describe what it is we’re doing? Justine Valencia Jecker is an occupational therapist with Canadian and European lineage who would self-describe as being a global citizen. She was raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada until the age of 17 before traveling to Japan to finish high school. In the 20+ following years, she has traveled to more than three dozen countries and has personal and professional connections around the world. Justine's academic background include a BSc. Kinesiology, MSc. Occupational Therapy, and a PhD in Educational Leadership. Her occupational therapy background within the past two decades has involved working in Forensic Mental Health, Community Indigenous Health, Interprofessional Education, and National Association work focusing on the practice of OT in Canada. Justine, officially Aussie nicknamed "Juzzy", is passionate about how our personal identities shape our professional lives, and has joined us to discuss this adventurous topic.

April 30, 202519 min

127: The Identity We Weave: Professional Identity, Language & the Future of OT

Have you ever fumbled to explain what you do as an OT? Questioned your place in the profession because the reality feels so far from what you were taught? Shrunk your words just to be understood - and still weren’t? Felt unseen, undervalued or like you care too much in systems that don’t? You’re not alone. Correcting someone who thinks you’re a physio… Trying to justify your value in a system obsessed with KPIs… Shrinking your occupation-based words just to make them easier for someone else to sit with… Wondering if the version of OT you believed in still exists. This solo episode is a raw and real reflection. We talk about the disconnect so many OT practitioners are feeling. This isn’t a teaching episode. It’s a truth-telling one. A space to speak what so many of us have been carrying — and maybe haven’t said out loud. And if any part of this lands with you, I’d love to invite you to join me for: The Identity We Weave — a FREE, live global event for OTs where we’ll be diving into these exact conversations, alongside Emeritus Professor Gail Whiteford and Professor Elizabeth Townsend. It’s free. It’s real. And it’s for you.

March 30, 20251 hr 7 min

126: The Neuroscience of Emotional Regulation, OT Coaching & Supervision Strategies ft Dr. Áine O’Dea

In this episode we are talking all talking about a wide range of topics that surprisingly have a lot in common! We're talking about emotional regulation, OT coaching and supervision strategies with the wonderful Dr. Áine O'Dea. We discuss: How understanding the brain helps OTs in supporting emotional regulation. The effects of stress on the nervous system and effective strategies for OTs. The integration of bottom-up and top-down therapeutic strategies in sessions. Differences between coaching and traditional therapy and when to use each approach. The role of neuroscience in coaching and its impact on behaviour change. Applying self-determination theory in occupational therapy. Key coaching strategies and the transition challenges OTs face in adopting new roles. Strategies for supervisors to foster reflective practice and critical thinking. Ways supervisors can assist OTs coping with stress and burnout. Connect with Dr. Áine O'Dea: Website LinkedIn Instagram

March 10, 202553 min

125: OTs on the Money: Pathways to Financial Freedom ft Doug Vestal

In this episode we're exploring how to achieve both time and financial freedom. We dive deep into practical strategies and actionable tips with our guest, Doug Vestal, to empower you on your journey towards a more liberated and fulfilling OT life. We discuss: What financial freedom and time freedom mean for OTs and how to achieve them. The importance of financial literacy for OTs. Tips for occupational therapists to gain financial independence, including paying off student debt, diversifying income and automating business operations. Understanding and utilizing the "Freedom Number" to set financial goals. Aligning spending with personal values and rethinking financial priorities. Tackling common financial misconceptions in the OT community and the benefits of financial well-being. Strategies for OTs to manage and pay off student debt effectively. Practical advice for enhancing financial growth and managing debt for occupational therapists. Doug Vestal is the author of the book: Financial Freedom for OTs: A Guide to Building Wealth Without Burnout. Doug helps OTs achieve occupational choice and freedom by starting private pay practices. He co-founded The Functional Pelvis, a private pay OT practice with his OT wife, Lindsey Vestal. He has over 10 years’ experience managing an OT private practice and has helped 100s of OTs start private practices. Before working with OTs he spent 15 years in senior management positions on Wall Street. He loves combining his business acumen, passion for entrepreneurship, and his knowledge of OTs to help them find time and money freedom on their terms. He has a Master’s in Financial Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Applied Probability.  Connect with Doug: Website Instagram YouTube

October 18, 202453 min

121: The Power of Stretch Therapy & Nervous System Regulation in Occupational Therapy Practice ft Karlye Williamson

In this episode, we dive deep with Karlye Williamson, an experienced occupational therapist who has seamlessly integrated stretch therapy and nervous system regulation into her practice. Join us as we explore how Karlye's journey into OT led her to develop a unique approach that enhances both mental and physical well-being. We discuss: Karlye’s journey from traditional OT to specialising in stretch therapy and nervous system regulation.  The fundamentals of stretch therapy and its application in occupational therapy.  The role of nervous system regulation in supporting meaningful engagement in daily activities.  The polyvagal theory and its implementation in therapeutic OT practices.  Mind-body connection and its importance in healing from chronic stress or trauma.  Sensory-based techniques for people experiencing mental health challenges. An overview of her private practice, including in-person sessions, online programs for clients and OTs, and her upcoming workshops.  The impact of combining in-person therapy with online resources to enhance client outcomes.  An introduction to Karlye’s online program, "Regulating Nervous System Pathways," designed for individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, and those seeking overall well-being improvement.  You can connect with Karlye and learn more about her programs here: Instagram Website

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