Dr. thOTs

Whew, chile. This episode gets into the thick of it—the Dr. thOTs duo are back at it, peeling back the layers of identity, advocacy, and the messiness of inclusion. From classroom to community, they're asking hard questions: Who gets to be included? Who should be excluded? Are we all just inside a bush? They kiki about critical pedagogy and managing discomfort while learning. You know these two love a good boundary! But even in research? Racial caucusing, coalition-building across difference, and, yes, occupation as a tool for liberation - you know they couldn't leave her out. Highlights include: Khalilah joining Michelle Obama in saying FAFO and Ryan deciding "clusion" is somehow a word.

This week, the Dr. thOTs duo welcome a guest from 17 time zones away. Dr. Isla Emery-Whittington joins Ryan and Khalilah in a warm conversation about decolonizing practices. With a true auntie vibe, Dr. Emery-Whittington names and frames the importance of building communication, building movements, and building concrete strategies in the work of reconnecting our separated world, including looking deeply into ourselves. Highlights include: Nova making a keynote, Isla publishing in a circle, and Ryan being called out for being the youngest

In this homegrown heart-to-heart, Khalilah and Ryan get all up in their feelings (and their plants) to talk about what makes a space feel like a place. We're talking aesthetics, sensory vibes, cultural grounding, and the divine chaos that is cohabitation. From Khalilah's sacred order to Ryan's plant-based messages of care, this episode unpacks how our environments reflect our identities, values, and that fine line between "intentional design" and "creative clutter." Highlights include: Ryan thinking dusting is stupid and Khalilah taking a plant off life support.

This episode is a LONG time coming! Ryan and Khalilah wanted to make sure this one got its due. Spurred by a calling in, the duo invite Dr. Emily Grullón and Dr. Alondra Ammon to discuss complex racial identities. History, age, geopolitics, and learning are the hot topics of this episode, unpacking Latinidad, Blackness, and the relationship between the two. Highlights include: Emily giving historian realness, Ryan challenging clients, Alondra bringing the data, and Khalilah proposing a situationship.Content Warning: This episode discusses violence against Black people

Beaten, bruised, but they are back! The Dr. thOTs duo is up to good trouble yet again, launching their 5th season of the podcast with spicy nicknames, real talk to the front, and some self care resolutions! Khalilah and Ryan give you the run down on what they've been up to the last few months and what they are excited about in the upcoming season. Join the duo as they launch the next season of the Dr. thOTs podcast! Highlights include: Khalilah talking q-tips and thermometers and Ryan singing for the first time on the podcast (don't quit your day job).

That very important time of 2024 is approaching y'all! November 5th is election day and the Dr. thOTs want to make sure you are ready to vote! On this special election episode, the thOTs duo interview Dr. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, Occupational Therapist, Associate Professor, and State Congresswoman of Indiana! She is doing it all! She discusses life in the state house, leadership, and working to make change she believes in. Highlight includes: GET OUT THE VOTE!

What a season! The 4th epoch of the Dr. thOTs podcast has come to a close. Khalilah and Ryan recap the topics and conversations of the last 14 episodes, thanking their guests, listeners, and team along the way. They discuss the deep conversations of the summer but also the importance of reclaiming time care of self. If you want to get a taste of the topics and guests for Season 4 before diving in, this is the episode for you. Highlights include: Khalilah rejecting two monitors, Ryan failing at being a rocket scientists, and the duo synthesizing another great season of making conversations together.

The Dr. thOTs duo are joined by Trey Washington (@whatsonemorepothos) who occupies "the intersection of fried fish / porch sitting / Fantasia's barefoot antics / communalism / anti-carceral, anti-capitalist politics and doing the chicken-head to every song like it's still 2001" (WhatsOneMorePothos.com, 2024). The trio digs into Trey's journey to occupational therapy, community organizing, and plant care, exploring the everyday roots of justice and injustice. To close, Trey highlights some concrete ways to engage in radical communities of care. Highlights include: Ryan needing a fungus gnat solution, Trey helping a housing bond pass, Khalilah leaning into joy and imagination, and monsteras getting a movement.

We all know these two thOTs can't chart a straight path across an open field, but at least they try. Khalilah and Ryan talk professional boundaries and wandering scopes. What makes occupational therapy? They've got opinions on research, capstone, and policy impact on practice roles and identities. Lines are drawn and lines are crossed but not a single one is straight. Werk. Highlights include: Khalilah asking for an alien abduction, Ryan being occupationally blasphemous, and hell freezing over.

The Dr. thOTs duo is excited to offer this special mini episode to introduce you to a mini-diva! Chanel Jackson, niece of non other than Dr. Khalilah Johnson joins the Drs. on the podcast. In just 30 minutes, this 9 year old fashionista lets us in on her future plans, opinons on other nine-year-olds, and some advice for her Auntie Kiki - the little one reads above her grade level on this one. Y'all, the library is open. Highlights include: Ryan being analog, Khalilah lacking a family discount, and Chanel dropping some wisdom for her peers.

Kahlilah and Ryan are joined by the one and only Raheleh Ghasseminia, an up and coming doctoral student but long-time experienced occupational therapy practitioner. Raheleh leads these thOTs into the wonderful world of intimacy, sex, and occupation. The hosts discuss how she arrived in the intimacy area, how sex sits in practice, and where fingers should be pointing when it comes to talking about this ADL. Theory, socio-cultural contextualization, and sex puns abound. Highlights include: Ryan getting a new responsibility, Khalilah can't keep a straight face, and Raheleh is a bull in a sex shop.

A Dr. thOTs favorite joins yet again to make us laugh but this time brings the tea on embodied leadership. George Barret steps out of his good judy role into his working girl role talking with Ryan and Khalilah about embodied leadership, creative meeting strategies, community building, and modeling for the next generation. Per usual, these three are a hoot with a healthy does of insight. Highlights include: Ryan attempting modern dancing, George flocking it up, and Khalilah leaning into emotions.

Khalilah and Ryan are joined by none other than everybody's favorite ADA nerd, Dr. Katie Sorensen. We roll through this episode about accessibility with an undefeated champion of musical chairs and ADA certified specialist. The thOTs talk going wheels up with disabilities, managing flying, educational accommodations, and ADA policies in public spaces. Katie discusses the hills and valleys of sitting up for disability rights and accessibility advocacy. Highlights include: Khalilah stealing candy, Katie drinking too much iced tea, and Ryan comparing biceps

Ryan and Khalilah get into a hairy situation, cutting it up about body hair, grooming, and all things structural stigma. They talk Crown Act buzz and bush commercials, shame and discrimination, gender and personal boundaries - a true salon of ideas. This episode is definitely not a wash - at least not with shampoo. Highlights include: Ryan growing trees under his arms, Khalilah calling for waxing at her wedding, and an occupational werewolf being born.

We got students in the house! Khalilah and Ryan are joined by Jaime Leitre Jr. and Rebecca Parkin for a lively discussion about publication, studenthood, and the structures of power in the process. Becky has recently published a critique of whiteness in the science in JOS and Jaime on dissident genders and sexualities in AJOT. They give us all the tea on publishing challenging and disruptive content as students. Highlights include: Jaime being a bear, Becky giving a great plug, and the hosts being proud thOT mentors.

Khalilah and Ryan warmly welcome Dr. LaRhonda Manigault-Bryant - to the podcast but also to Carolina! After a delightfully contentious conversation about shades of blue, the three docs get into it about Black women in media, in church, and in big bodies. The three discuss the narratives of Black women, the power of documentary for dissemination, and the work that still needs to be done in representation. Highlights include: Ryan bringing the ice to the cookout, Khalilah finding the thigh gap, and Rhon finding God's blue.

Ryan and Khalilah, representing no organizations or institutions they are affiliated with, recorded this episode as a special conversation about student movements given the current situation within the US and global context. In the episode, they discuss there own experiences as faculty, student activists, and ongoing supporters of students' right to protest. They emphasize the importance of critical interrogation of media and narratives while at the same time historicizing student movements in a US context. They discuss the sometimes necessary reality of challenging governments, policies, and state sanctioned actions and strategies for keeping students, campuses, and faculty safe while acknowleding the need for difficult and uncomfortable conversations. There are no highlights because it is all a necessary conversation.

Your girl Dr. Khalilah Johnson and colleagues wrote a whole paper about the State of the Science when it comes to DEIJAB in occupational therapy in the United States. The thOTs talk the limits of DEI and how it sits with decoloniality, and decolonization. Khalilah discusses why she thinks Black women are leading these risky efforts and why DEI often focuses on race. Highlights include: The first ever Dr. thOTs blooper that you get to hear and a white man standing in front of a Black woman asking her about DEI.

The Dr. thOTs duo welcome Whitney Harris to the podcast this week to talk everything leadership, inclusion, and identity. Whitney discusses how she got involved with COTAD National Leadership and what drives her forward in the work, particularly from her experience as a mixed race practitioner. The thOTs discuss the ways leading can look differently and finding your own way in the work. Highlights include: Ryan creating a new "academic uncle role", Khalilah getting into her DNA, and Whitney doing it anyway!

The Dr. thOTs duo is back for a jam packed Season 4! Joining the duo for this season opener is Seth Mitchell, PhD student in occupational science and Dr. thOTs onboarder, helping hand, and assistant extraordinaire. The thOTs welcome Seth to his podcast debut and spill the tea on working with these two wannabe celebrities. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Lavalley give some updates on what's been going on in the run up to this season including some awards, grant applications, position switches, and advocacy challenges. Highlights include: Ryan is caught dancing in the locker room, Seth is Kim Kardashian, and Khalilah speaks in cursive.

We did three seasons y'all! The Dr. thOTs duo wraps up this season of the podcast in this finale review! If you prefer to pick and choose your podcast episodes, this is a great episode to get some sneak peeks at previous Season 3 discussions and guests and see which episodes might tickle *wink* your fancy. Ryan and Khalilah reminisce about their beginnings as podcasters and discuss what they've learned this season about leadership, difficult conversations, joy, activism, luxury, and more. The thOTs appreciate the friendship, laughter, and fun the podcast provides and are excited to lean into Season 4! Highlights include: A big THANK YOU to Seth Mitchell, all of our guests, and especially all of our listeners.

Everybody's favorite Ms. Frizzle look alike joins the Dr. thOTs duo this week! Khalilah and Ryan welcome colleague Dr. Meghan Blaskowitz to the podcast! After a rousing return to 1990s PBS, Megan talks with the thOTs about post-secondary inclusive education and her work to be an ally for young adults with IDD at the collegiate level. The trio discuss university supports, red-tape, and the right to risk for people who have historically be stigmatize or infantilized. From research methods, to drinking, to helicopter parents, Dr. Blaskowitz covers it all. Highlights include: Megan gets consent, Ryan takes a wonky fieldtrip, and Khalilah calls it like it is.

Ok fam. This episode is a gas. Get ready for the Dr. thOTs duo to give you the skinny on generational differences and lingo. Khalilah and Ryan talk everything from bussin' to wet noodles in the classroom and in practice. From professional dynamics to work/life boundaries, the thOTs spill the tea on generational differences and similarities. From social media to sex work, the Drs. stan Gen Z and give the boomers down the road for bogarting. Highlights include: Ryan severely mispronounces a word, Khalilah proposes an academic only fans, and its decided that everything in the 80s was wet.

Come on interdisciplinary! The Dr. thOTs duo are excited to invite everybody's favorite "long time listener, first time caller" to the podcast. Dr. Suzanne Huot is an internationally known Canadian occupational scientist and geographer whose research focuses on immigration, space generation, and linguistic inclusion. However, she is also a unicorn of an occupational scientist because she is not an occupational therapist! In this episode Ryan and Khalilah discuss Dr. Huot's experience as a scientist but not a therapist - but still teaching occupational therapists and researching through a lens of occupation. They unpack how occupation caught Dr. Huot's eye as a geographer and how it has developed within her research with francophone Canadians and immigrants. The three dive into the politics of belonging, Canadian vs US occupational practice, accents, and the benefits and challenges of not being an OT in OS. Highlights include: Dr. Huot recommends a business leadership podcast, Khalilah thinks about learning ASL, and Ryan excludes some bus buddies.

This is a gut

Doom scrolling got you down? SCOTUS got you suffering? Well, the Dr. thOTs duo is in the building with an episodic remedy. This episode is an ode to optimism and filling our cups when the negativity is rolling around. Filled with tangents and laughs, Khalilah and Ryan do a brief recap of how they got into OS, the benefits they've found from having that science brain, and the ways its been exciting in their work. They cover everything from wine to candy crush, drag and going to gym. The thOTs talk existential occupational questions, community building, and whether we can touch government or not. There's also a teaser tangent about whether "fieldwork" is problematic that demonstrates the OS brain in action. HIghlights include: Khalilah comes out as a gaming queen, Ryan is the least friendly person, and OS gets spicy!

The Dr. thOTs duo welcome the "great connector", Dr. Sue Coppola to the episode this week and partake in a beauty-filled, aesthetically pleasing, conversation with her as the three discuss humanities, art, and occupational therapy practice and education. If you ever wanted to know exactly what a painting on a wall has to do with occupational therapy - this is the episode for you. Dr. Coppola reveals the power of aesthetic analysis of occupation and understanding what is beautiful to a person as part of occupational therapy practice and education. Art is everywhere in our everyday lives and can be a powerful tool in both occupational therapy practice and education. Dr. Coppola describes how she uses a painting called "Mending Socks" to engage occupational therapy practitioners in deep noticing of the beauty in their own and their clients' everyday lives. Highlights include: Ryan and Sue fangirling over John Dewey, Khalilah bringing art into the classroom, and all three dispelling the Hippie Dippie myth of humanities!

The Dr. thOTs duo welcome Sarah Lyon and Tomeico Faison to the podcast this week to talk business about business. These two practitioners have taken entrepreneurship to new heights, leveraging their OT approach in everything from real estate to evidence based practice education. Also sidenote: This episode marks the first "blending of the blues" in Dr. thOTs herstory - come on collaboration with rivals! The guests describe their experiences developing and running business using their occupational therapy skills and values. They are intentional and accidental entrepreneurs who are ready to lead OTPs in thinking innovatively about practice. They discuss OT education in entrepreneurship and the need for an entrepreneurial spirit across all areas of practice, however language for this practice area is sort of a bummer. Any listeners have better ideas? Highlights include: Tomeico having a zoo, Khalilah throwing shade at some book publishers, Ryan making a sports reference- kind of, and Sarah getting a little risky!  

Let's just say this episode takes sass and mentorship and wraps into one big ball of joy. Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Betsy Francis-Connolly to the podcast this week to talk about her leadership style and stories. Dr. Francis-Connolly shares her experiences in leadership positions and guiding teams in occupational therapy. She brings a humility and humor to the work that has the two thOTs laughing and learning at the same time. She may sound gentle, but she's got a fierce passion for good leaders and good times - that explicit label isn't a mistake

Khalilah and Ryan are joined by the founders of B3 Coffee this week on Dr. thOTs. Former UNC OT and current SLP students, these three will knock your socks off. Jacklyn Boheler, Greg Boheler, and Hannah Steen come prepared to our recording with experiences, nuggets of wisdom, and reality checks for community practitioners and beyond. These three were doing Being, Belonging, and Becoming before it was cool. The three founders tell us about the origins of B3 and how its role in the community has evolved over the last years, now including pop up coffee, a kiosk in a local library, and ongoing community programming. They talk "community facilitation" and the necessity to smash the hierarchy when it comes to disability justice. Strategy and partnerships are core to their approach and it shows. Highlights include: Khalilah loving a pound cake, Jacklyn and Greg getting married, Hannah directing all the fun, and Ryan being a proud OT professor.  

This one is a long one but, y'all, the Dr. thOTs duo had a lot to unpack. After saying hi to new followers, Khalilah and Ryan kiki about AOTA Inspire 2023. They first cover the good and exciting things that happened at conference, recognizing the good work being done, networking and coalition building, and the amazing OTPs who are continuing to contribute to this profession and its progress. Then they get to the tea - which, let's be real, is really why y'all are here. They discuss the undercurrent of the #JusticeForArameh movement and its advocacy presence at the conference - which also set a particular context for "the incident". Ryan and Khalilah discuss the comment heard 'round the OT world, why it was problematic, its aftermath, and AOTA leadership in the wake of the situation. The duo discusses the role AOTA has - or does not have - in leading this profession. Highlights include: Khalilah gets a grant! Ryan considers an OT union, and the AOTA Board of Directors gets an invitation.

Content Warning: This episode of Dr. thOTs discusses sexual harassment and assault, particularly within the OT profession. | Ryan and Khalilah are excited to welcome Dr. Rachel Proffitt to the podcast to discuss her recent article with colleagues regarding the #MeTooOT movement and revealing the realities of sexual harassment and assault within the occupational therapy profession. Dr. Proffitt discusses her impetus for leading this powerfully important study for our profession and the implications it has for action. She discusses the emotional toll that writing this study entailed, but also the responsibilities she felt as a tenured professor. Power, systems, action, and institutions are all discussed in relation to creating change for this issue. Highlights include: The Need for Action within OT for Systemic Change regarding Sexual Harassment and Assault Join us next Friday for our BONUS episode on AOTA Inspire 2023

Have the thOTs got an episode for you! Ryan and Khalilah welcome a phenomenal educator, researcher, and fashionista to the podcast, none other than a former senior White House staff member and one of Obama's Black 44, Dr. Lauren Mims! Dr. Mims walks us through her transitions from doctoral school, to politics, to the White House, and back to academia. She tells Ryan and Khalilah all about her research on the education of Black children, claiming an axiom of brilliance, and changing up the game when it comes to facilitating transformative classrooms. She calls us to do "research that matters" and drops gem after gem as the hosts discuss research design, showing up in the classroom authentically, and how we prepare students to cope with and redress systemic prejudices. This is not an episode to miss! Highlights include: Khalilah and Lauren mutually fangirling, Khalilah bestowing an honorary degree, and Ryan finding a kindred quote spirit.

Drs. Khalilah Johnson and Ryan Lavalley are starting up a new season of Dr. thOTs! Here comes season 3! Bringing you all the thoughts and thots they can fit into 14 episodes! In this first brief episode, the hosts give some updates on their own lives, work and personal. Let's just say they've got grants, babies, classes, and plants galore. Ryan got a new D.R. in front of his name and Khalilah is rolling in those grant applications. The doctors share their hopes for the season and discuss some of the upcoming guest hosts. With a good reminder about self-care, the hosts launch this new season with excitement and sass... per usual. Highlights include: a specific shout out to the OTJR instagram - looking at you social media person! Khalilah may or may not drop Obama's name - what!? and Ryan makes a bad pun... per usual.

Khalilah and Ryan put each of their 4/10 energies together to make a 10/10 finale episode of Season 2 of the Dr. thOTs podcast. Weaving and rolling through connections to past guests and the ideas they discussed throughout the season, the Drs. discuss their growing edges and what they learned from this season.  Ryan throws out a sassy sponsorship suggestion - Khalilah makes the invitation. They talk juggling projects, leading teams, and providing honest feedback all while giving shoutouts to guests from this season. Looking forward in the podcast and their work, the Dr. thOTs duo celebrates 28 whole episodes and are excited for Season 3! Highlights include: Khalilah putting her edges down, Ryan resetting his brain, and both making plans to continue being two thots growing old together.

This episode is one for the record books. The first 6 minutes alone will give you chills - in the best way possible. Khalilah and Ryan welcome the revolutionary occupational therapy educator, Dr. Jian Jones to the podcast. A newly minted PhD, Dr. Jones is bringing effective education through hip hop culture to the OT classroom. Diving deep into pedagogy and classroom professionalism, the three doctors explore the doors they've stepped through to show up authentically in the classroom and the strategies they've used to help students find themselves in the content. With metaphors and effortless bars punctuating the conversation, Dr. Jian Jones reminds us to bring peace, love, unity, and fun into our classrooms and beyond, following the footsteps of pioneering hip hop leaders. You do not want to miss this finale guest episode of Season 2. Highlights include: Khalilah reconsidering an entire syllabus, Ryan suggesting a new head of ACOTE, and Dr. Jones giving us a historic Dr. thOTs moment. 

Ryan and Khalilah plunge into the world of social media, respectability, and the tension in public scholaring. They kiki about some of the challenges of having such an amazing network of people to connect with while also trying to manage professional obligations and work. Ryan can't decide if he's an OT influencer or not. They unpack the tension in compartmentalizing their sassier sides and their professorial sides, in general and particularly at a public university. Khalilah calls out Instagram. They also reveal some uncomfortable posts, that had them intentionally and unintentionally reeling in the full potency of their personalities in social media. In the end, they love engaging but it comes in a mixed bag. Highlights include: Khalilah pursuing a cronut, Ryan wearing a speedo, and both maybe going in together to hire a social media assistant - but probably not - because let's be real, who has that money?

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Alaa Abou-Arab from @knowbias on the podcast this week and dive into the difficult work of speaking truth into the occupational therapy profession and beyond. Alaa shares a bit about his journey to occupational therapy and the experiences that sparked his interest in antiracism and activism in OT. He shares the discomfort he feels with how much silence persists and the need for more professionals to speak out against injustice. The three talk about the fires that push them forward in their respective work, including the privileges they carry with them. Alaa encourages us to be our authentic selves for ourselves and Khalilah reminds us we have to bring our interests and motivations to the hard work. Although this had to be a shorter episode, the hosts are sure to bring Alaa back to the microphone. Highlights include: Alaa swapping surpise baby stories , Ryan having the audacity, and Khalilah finishing a cocktail. 

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Anne Kirby onto the podcast to discuss her research with the autistic and trans communities regarding suicidality and mental health. Before jumping into the topics, Ryan and Khalilah reminisce about old times with Anne from graduate school and discuss the differences between identity-first and people-first language. Dr. Kirby shares how she got into OT, what brought her to her work with the autistic community and how she has walked with that community as she's built a somewhat unexpected research trajectory. Her story reflects an important skill in therapy and in research - listening to mirror. All three discuss the need to be responsive in working alongside the community, moving in the direction that most benefits the community. Highlights include: Anne making a licentious joke, Ryan wanting to be a wrench, and Khalilah starting a new university.

Khalilah and Ryan jump knees first into the topic of aging, including all the aches, pains, joys, and opportunities that come with more years. They talk about their personal experiences of getting a little older and what being "old" means to them. They unpack ageism and the ways our society can perpetuate it, breaking down some myths about aging and older adults. They talk the infantilization of older people, sex in elderhood, and the right for older adults to take risk. Let's just say the meaning of "community service" is greatly expanded. They also break through the stigma and talk about death and dying, their plans, and how to prepare for your own death. Highlights include: Ryan having to pee in the middle of the night, Khalilah finding out she's a Type A dier, and both going to brunch to direct a movie. 

The twists and turns Ryan and Khalilah take you on in this episode will rock your kool-aid cups. The thOTs cover everything from problematic slide shows to spilling tea about the Well Elderly study - also Ryan has a stache! They dive into the politics of representation in the profession and the idolization of our founders and the biomedical model. They challenge practitioners to lean into our identities as embodied advocates, take on some risk, put our eggs in more than the biomedical basket, and diversity our revenue streams. They talk decolonizing OT the WHOLE way and shifting power for real. Highlights include: OT entrepreneurs getting a shout out, Khalilah giving OT conferences kool-aid flavors, and Ryan just absolutely obliterating a gas idiom. 

Ryan and Khalilah welcome Dr. Nancy Bagatell, everyone's favorite boss… and also their actual amazing boss. Dr. Bagatell is the Director of the UNC-Chapel Hill Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy as well as many other things! The Drs. discuss giving and receiving feedback in academia and the ways we can keep our wits about us in the wild west of evaluations, manuscripts, and mentorship. We hear stories of rough feedback, prejudiced feedback as well as true and needed feedback. Dr. Bagatell offers thoughts and strategies for managing and offering feedback to and from everyone from students, to practitioners, to her own daughter! Highlights include: Dr. Bagatell secretly wanting to be intimidating, Khalilah not needing to be told to “be careful,” and Ryan making a weird noise.

This episode is a tad longer than the usual duo episode, but that's because it's packed full of Ryan and Khalilah answering YOUR questions about them, their work, and their thOTs. They discuss everything from inspirational moments and people to what they got wrong about academia and what their hopes are for the OTPs who come after them. They talk about centering joy and showing up authentically and the nuances that come with that work. Ryan explores how to get into #VintageOT and Khalilah discusses the hard lessons she's learned as a Black female scholar and practitioner. Finally they end on a note about self-love and honoring your successes. Highlights include: Ryan gets a new nickname (probably won't stick), Khalilah preaches the word on trauma, they are both happy the other showed up today, Ryan wins a jump-roping award, and Khalilah reminds everyone to mind your business and drink water.

Khalilah and Ryan welcome Dr. Jaclyn Schwartz to the podcast this week to talk about medication management and occupational therapy practice. Dr. Schwartz is an assistant professor of occupational therapy and neurology at Washington University in St. Louis and also a new chicken farmer. While they start off the episode with a little tangent about chickens and antibiotics, the hosts dive right into the reasons why occupational therapy practitioners should be considering medication management in their work. Khalilah tells us the story of how this topic was inspired and both Jaclyn and Ryan get on soap boxes about the work. Jaclyn gives advice on how to start a medication revolution and where our work is supporting change. Highlights include: Jaclyn making a claim for a new ADL, papers giving side-eyes to new manuscripts, and comparing women's hormones to rocket science.

Khalilah and Ryan welcome Mecca Williams (@meccapresents) back to the podcast for another lively, gem-filled, hilarious, and insightful conversations about relationships, both personal and professional. Relationshipping is the occupation of the hour, with Mecca dropping her wisdom, naming realities, and calling us into authentic relationships. They discuss the work of self to be able to be in relationship with our clients, partners, parents, and more, showing and receiving love. They talk family, friends, boundaries and boards. Ryan and Khalilah even help each other set some boundaries. Highlights include: Ryan getting into a canoe, Khalilah having a breakthrough, and Mecca writing a book. 

Have you ever wanted to jump from the clinic to the classroom? From practice to pedagogy? From grading activities to grading papers? - well maybe not that last one. Either way, this episode is for you! The Drs. discuss the various journeys and pathways to becoming a professor or faculty at a university for practitioners. They touch on everything from which degrees you might have or want to pursue to the story you tell on your 1-2 page (please!) resume. They discuss myths about landing the job and a few difficulty realities to prepare for once you're in the classroom. Highlights include: Khalilah not having the words, Ryan suggesting drop kicking professors (metaphorically of course), and most importantly, we learn how many walls are between Khalilah and Ryan's offices.

Khalilah and Ryan welcome Dr. Douglene Jackson, FAOTA to the podcast to talk about all things imposter syndrome and the future of OT practice.  They explore the places and spaces occupational practitioners are showing up and some of the challenges they face in believing they can translate their skills. Dr. Douglene reveals her tips and tricks for shifting your narrative around imposter syndrome and framing the work you do. Khalilah names and frames how that can show up in academia and the profession. Ryan and Dr. Douglene kiki about community practice. Highlights include: Dr. Douglene going Futuristic OT, Khalilah wanting to know Dr. Douglene's bicep measurement, and Ryan reclaiming #VintageOT.

Welcome back to Dr. thOTs! Drs. Ryan Lavalley and Khalilah Johnson are excited for the next sassy installment of the podcast. Khalilah and Ryan jump straight into updating listeners on the last few months - mostly incubating babies, grants, and labs - as academics do! They discuss the transitions of motherhood and going from post-doc to full faculty member, and all the joys and challenges that accompany. Shout outs rain down for all the amazing OTPs out there doing the werk and mobilizing to make change and leadership happen across the globe. But even with that mobilization, self-care is important! Ryan and Khalilah touch base about how they're keeping self-care alive as they dive into the work alongside such a powerfully inspiring community. Let Season 2 begin!

Ryan and Khalilah jump into reminiscing about the past season and the lessons and takeaways they'll carry with them from it. We discuss the new ways science communication is evolving, the importance of how we learn from each and support each other in our professional spaces, and the hopes we have had for this podcast. We remember transformational moments from our guests and talk discussions we hope to have in Season 2. Have ideas for us? Connect with us via email drthotspodcast@gmail.com or on instagram (@Drth0ts_podcast). Highlights include: Ryan learning how not to be raggedy, Khalilah calling out anybody eating ribs with a fork, and all the joyful reprisals of Dr. thOTs moments you could every ask for! 

Khalilah and Ryan have the privilege and honor to sit with Dr. Elelwani Ramugondo and Dr. Frank Kronenberg to, oh you know, just casually discuss theorizing and disrupting for occupational therapy's future. This pair of professors seamlessly connect the story of their couple power to their immense individual contributions in the occupational therapy and occupational science realm, while being hilarious and as salt of the Earth as you can be. We laugh, we shake shit up, we are inspired and energized! Highlights include: Trojan horses galore, Elelwani being an enzyme,  Khalilah immediately changing her syllabus, Ryan calling out angels, and Frank severely underestimating the age of a spring chicken.

In this episode three queens kiki the house down with all the tea and shade we can muster, yaaasss gawd. Khalilah and Ryan invite Mr. George Barrett, executive direction of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center and concept queen extraordinaire, back to the podcast to talk queer culture in professional spaces, appropriation, and celebrating intersectional queerness. You betta believe these regular degular queers and favorite auntie spill the tea on Rupaul, Pink-washing, and Derek the drunk straight White guy. We get our life and celebrate our gifts. Werk! Highlights include: Khalilah's wisdom for the gods, a shout out to the House of Coxx, and George sending an email on a Thursday at 2:30.