As a busy occupational therapist, you know how hard it is to find time to learn more about your field, grow your client base, or keep up-to-date on the latest studies and journal articles. But take heart! A great variety of OT podcasts can provide the resources you need to advance your knowledge, connect with other therapists and educators, and stay on top of the latest developments in your field. But where should you start? Here is our list of the eight best OT podcasts.
Best General Occupational Therapy “Tea”
1. AOTA’s OT Podcast Channel
Host(s): Matt Brandenburg
Average Length: 45 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts
What It’s About: This podcast, produced by the American Occupational Therapy Association, is a solid resource for OTs, including students and long-time practitioners. Episode topics include:
- Most current evidence-based practices (via a special weekly “Everyday Evidence” series) from a therapist’s perspective
- Pediatrics
- Working with older populations
- Patients requiring assistive technology
- Updates on the latest OT news, studies, and research
- OT advocacy
Why You’ll Love It: This podcast offers a great variety of topics, making it easy for you to expand your knowledge and tap into some OT specialities. A convenient listing of all past episodes lets you choose the topics you are most interested in and listen to whenever you have the time. The podcast is regularly updated, so you won’t have to search for the most recent content.
2. Spill the OT
Host(s): Anonymous
Average Length: 45 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It’s About: This podcast presents topics that cover the ups and downs of the occupational therapy field. By remaining anonymous, the podcast host strives to present an honest and upfront view of OT issues that therapists face in daily life. Topics span the range of sharing OT salaries, paying student loans, handling Medicare, and exploring educational opportunities.
Additionally, this podcast:
- Provides insights on working with children, adults, and seniors
- Exposes listeners to a variety of practice settings
- Gives access to informational interviews with practicing occupational therapists
Why You’ll Love It: This podcast covers many different topics, exposing you to areas of OT you may not know much about. In addition, no topics are off-limits. Reviewers love the transparency of the special guests and feel validated when hearing about even the most negative experiences. The host doesn’t hesitate to dive into difficult conversations that are often considered taboo. Also, the podcast prides itself on being a judgment-free zone where commentators can share their thoughts openly.
Best Podcasts for Pediatric Occupational Therapists
3. OT 4 Lyfe
Host(s): Sarah Putt, MA, OTR/L
Average Length: 50 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It’s About: Many of the OT topics covered in this podcast are geared to pediatric occupational therapists. However, the host’s background includes owning her own clinical practice, so she shares her personal experiences about owning an OT business as well as digging deeper into practice topics such as child health, child development, fieldwork, mental health in a pediatric setting, and more.
Why You’ll Love It: This podcast gives you valuable insights into the profession without sounding like an academic lecture. Reviewers often mention that Sarah has a special way of keeping listeners engaged and feeling as though they are part of the conversation, so much so that they refer to her as the “Oprah of OT.”
4. OT School House
Host(s): Jayson Davis, MA, OTR/L
Average Length: 1 hour
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
What It’s About: The focus of this podcast is school-based occupational therapy topics, and episodes regularly include special guest interviews. Begun in 2018, the podcast is ideal for those already working as school-based OTs or in the process of starting a clinical.
Why You’ll Love It: The OT School House podcast is informative and outright fun to listen to, whether you’re a new grad or seasoned practitioner already in a school system. You not only can learn about new practice strategies but also earn professional development/continuing education credits through the podcast. And its variety of topics means you’ll never become bored.
Podcasts for Other Occupational Therapy Specialists
5. Seniors Flourish
Host: Mandy Chamberlain, MOTR/L
Average Length: 48 minutes
Listen on: Apple Podcasts**
What It’s About: Seniors Flourish strives to keep you motivated and excited about your work with seniors. Episode topics include:
- Current OT research news
- Hot topics
- Interviews with industry experts, and educators
- Actionable ideas to use in your practice, whether that be geriatric rehab centers or home health
Why You’ll Love It: The host’s conversational manner makes you feel as though she is speaking directly to you, and each episode tackles a different topic that relates to your patients and their specific needs. Reviewers often praise Mandy for bringing together a variety of occupational therapy practitioners to interview and learn from. Other reviewers say that she is a delight to listen to and is currently doing so many wonderful things for the OT profession.
6. All Things Sensory
Host(s): Rachel Harrington, COTA, and Jessica Hill, COTA
Average Length: 27 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Spotify**
What It’s About: This podcast helps you stay on top of the specific skills and knowledge required to work with special-needs patients. Rachel and Jessica offer ways to overcome the unique everyday challenges faced by patients who have deep sensory issues. Topics include:
- OT best practices
- ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorders, and other special needs
- General health and wellness measures
- Nutritional needs
- Parenting strategies
Why You’ll Love It: The hosts’ caring and informative approach sets exactly the right tone for OT professionals working with special-needs patients. The podcast provides valuable resources on topics such as communicating with special-needs patients and helping parents learn more about the therapies available and what to expect from occupational therapy sessions.
Best Occupational Therapy Business Advice for Starting a Private Practice
Ready to set out on your own and start an OT private practice? If so, here is a podcast not to miss.
7. Mind Your OT Business
Host(s): Laura Park Figueroa, MS, OTR/L
Average Length: 40 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts
What It’s About: Mind Your OT Business is for those thinking about or planning to start a private practice. The episodes are meant to encourage, motivate, and empower you with helpful ideas and the tools you need to become an occupational therapy private practice owner. Laura also:
- Shares her knowledge in the business
- Covers the whole gamut of topics for those just starting out, including marketing, finances, leadership, staffing, and organization
- Identifies what resources are needed to start, run, and continue to grow a profitable business
Why You’ll Love It: Laura provides more than just information on getting started. She also teaches you how to be savvy in your approach and succeed at being your own boss. Her listeners often say she is encouraging, positive, and honest, providing practical tips to get you started right away and keep you on track. Her coaching is clear and concise, so you never have to decipher meaning or feel as though starting your own practice is out of reach.
Best Occupational Therapy Business Advice for Growing Your Practice
Already own your practice? If so, be sure to tune in to this podcast.
8. Next Level Occupational Therapy
Host: Kara Welke, OTD, OTR/L, CLT
Average Length: 40 minutes
Listen On: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
What It’s About: This podcast coaches both OTs wanting to start their own practice and those looking to expand their current practice. Episodes cover a range of topics, including:
- Time management techniques
- New practice strategies and how to implement them
- Business finances
- Marketing tips
Why You’ll Love It: As owner of Mobile Practice, Home Therapy Solutions, LLC, Kara knows about the struggles of growing a practice. She conveys this in each episode, providing you with solid advice to boost all types of OT practices to new heights.
Final Thoughts
This Best of OT Podcasts of 2023 is by no means an exhaustive list of what is available to occupational therapists and students. It is, however, a solid set of podcasts to get you started and keep you excited about your profession. Try out them all or zero in on the one that captures your attention for where you currently are in your occupational therapy career. Have suggestions for next year’s list? Share with us on @MyBerxi.
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