Occupied

In this episode I'm unpacking Michael Easter's The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self — his argument that modern life has engineered discomfort out of almost everything, and what that's quietly costing us physically and mentally. I'm looking at it through an occupational therapy lens, and through my own experience with outdoor challenge and off-grid time. Topics covered: Scarcity vs. abundance — why brains built for scarcity struggle with modern excess o

In this episode, I reflect on the first month of a new self-development routine built around getting up earlier, journalling, habit tracking and taking a bit more time to reflect. I talk about what I’ve been trying and what I’ve noticed so far. Development shows benefits I’m starting to see, and I’m still figuring out a few things along the way. Nothing revolutionary — just an honest check-in on one month of trying to be a little more intentional with how I start my days. Development guides my v

In this episode of Occupied, Jess sits down with Adam Lo OAM to explore an inspiring career spanning clinical practice, leadership, advocacy, and the arts. Adam shares his experiences working in Child and Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) and discusses the unique role occupational therapists play in supporting children, young people, and their families. We also dive into his passion for the creative arts, including the development of arts festivals that celebrate inclusion, participation, and

In this episode of Occupied, Brock sits down with Mallory Reilly, an occupational therapist who never quite felt like she fit the traditional OT mould. Rather than forcing herself into a version of practice that didn’t feel right, Mallory forged her own path — blending her OT knowledge, clinical reasoning, and passion for physical training into a practice that feels authentic, meaningful, and impactful. This conversation explores what it feels like to not quite belong in the expected professiona

In this episode of Occupied, Jess sits down with occupational therapist Angus Buchanan to explore a career that has spanned clinical practice, academia, and leadership as a Head of School. Angus shares reflections from his recent keynote address at the National Occupational Therapy Conference in Adelaide in 2025, offering honest insights into how his thinking has evolved over time, particularly in the areas of social inclusion and working alongside people with intellectual disability. Angus refl

Greg Santucci is an internationally recognised paediatric occupational therapist with over 26 years experience. He is a clinical leader, educator and creator of the Model of Child Engagement, known for making complex neurodevelopmental concepts practical and usable. We sat down and chatted about where it all started and the keys to the development of the Model of Child Engagement. Paediatrics is not my area of practice so I was incredibly keen to learn more and see just how different it could be