Dr. thOTs

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.

Khalilah and Ryan discuss preparing for the transition back to in-person teaching/work and managing the trauma of the pandemic and the catalyzing energy of social movements over the past two years. Habits and routines are changing; environments and energy demands are in transition - and they are feeling it. They discuss the ways they're planning on doing self-care to support returning to campus but also discuss the excitement they feel about the generative and shared spaces that come with that change. Highlights include: Khalilah asking for a cot in the office and Ryan calling for #RealRibsToTheFront

Ryan and Khalilah invite Dr. Kendra Heatwole-Shank and Dr. Amber Angell onto the podcast to discuss pregnancy, parenting, and academia. As Khalilah prepares to enter into academic mamahood, Amber and Kendra offer experiences, advice, and considerations for parents and parents to be navigating the complexities and demands of academic and professional spaces. Highlights include: Amber telling us how she "practiced" being a parent, Khalilah dropping statistics everywhere, Kendra reclaiming her pumping time, and Ryan taking parenting notes left and right.

Khalilah and Ryan jump right into this episode and wander through the tensions and challenges of scholar/practitioner activism, exploring the situation of Ms. Nikole Hannah-Jones and UNC-Chapel Hill and the growing edges and frustrations they have as they navigate pushing for change. They discuss ivory town "activism" and connecting writing to action, while also recognizing how draining this work can be. Highlights include: Khalilah calling out privilege and Ryan challenging a professor; also coining a term - and its definitely not "occupational intersectionality."

Kahlilah and Ryan welcome Mecca Williams (@meccapresents) to talk about about all things fashion, style, and mental health. Mecca is a licensed professional counselor and fashionista, named one of Richmond, VA's most fashionable people. We discuss clothing, colors, and comfort and how those play into our lives, practice, and therapeutic relationships. Mecca drops gems left and right about the art of dressing yourself and curating your body for your own joy and liberation. We also talk tips and tricks for professionals in more restrictive fashion settings. Highlights include: Khalilah being a beginner at something, Ryan's whole relationship with clothes being turned upside down, and Mecca having a fight with dress codes.

This episode is short but packs a punch! Khalilah and Ryan share their thoughts on thOTs - the name and the idea, discussing liberation on all fronts from language barriers and sexual liberation to self-examination and identity politics. They share how they manage thOT-iness in the classroom and beyond. Highlights include: Ryan somehow thinking he ever passes as straight and Khalilah dropping gems on liberating the soul.

Khalilah and Ryan are joined by Dr. Jenny Womack and Dr. Virginia Dickie to discuss the dos and don'ts of conferences. We discuss being bold and sometimes contentious at conferences, the best places to find dissertation advisors at conference, and to "doing together" that can lead to some great relationships and collaborations. Highlights include: Dr. Dickie blowing our minds with facts about conference badges and all of us expressing our universal disdain for 5 minute preludes to questions. #JustAskTheQuestion

Ryan and Khalilah discuss how faculty can be accomplices when inviting guest speakers with minoritized backgrounds into the classroom, sharing stories from both being speakers and inviting speakers. Highlights include: Khalilah has a "pregnant" pause 😉 and PAY YOUR SPEAKERS

Khalilah and Ryan invite George Barrett, Executive Director of the Marian Cheek Jackson Center, to discuss the occupation of going to church, faith, and community. Speaking from the Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, and Catholic perspectives, we talk across the intricacies of race, queerness, and spirituality and how it has played into our everyday lives. Highlights include: Realizing that all educated people don't go to hell, the formation of the Church of OT Justice and Drag Liberation, and an affirmation of molecules AND God.

Khalilah and Ryan unpack a recent visit to the emergency room, how costs of health care and power differentials influence access to and quality of care, and the importance of respect in occupational therapy practice and beyond. Highlights include Ryan breaking to Khalilah that he was only 8 years old in 1998 and Khalilah trying to grow a third leg. NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the passing of Earl Simmons, American rapper DMX, may he rest in peace.

Dr. Johnson and Dr. Lavalley welcome Dr. Katie Sorensen and Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh to the podcast to discuss the trials and celebrations of the "Dr." title. We discuss when and where we do and do not want to be called Dr. and some of the underlying messages that can surround the use or not use of this title.

Khalilah and Ryan discuss memories when they learned about their identities as a Black woman and a queer man, what these experiences have taught them as they carry them forward, and how those lessons emerge in their practice, pedagogy, and personal life. "Come Clean" by Blue Cactus is highlighted as their conversation starter.

Ryan and Khalilah introduce the podcast and talk a little bit about their backgrounds, work together, and friendship, and describe hopes for the space this podcast can offer for themselves and for all the other occupation-oriented queens out there.