Occupied

Jess and Brock are back from Canberra after attending the 2026 Occupational Therapy Australia Mental Health Forum, and there's plenty to unpack! In this episode, we reflect on our experiences across the forum, the presentations and conversations that got us thinking, and the value of getting together with passionate mental health OTs from across the country. We chat about the ideas that stood out, the connections we made, and what events like this mean for the future of mental health occupational therapy. A bit of professional reflection, a few tangents, and plenty of the usual Occupied banter! Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Hosts: Brock Cook & Dr Jess Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!

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 of food, choice and stimulation Comfort creep — how yesterday's comfort becomes today's baseline, and the tension between removing barriers (OT's job) and removing all friction (not the same thing) Boredom as a "desire for desires" rather than a problem to eliminate, and what constant stimulation costs us Sensory desensitization — the modern noise load and what it does to stress and cognition Novelty and lifelong learning — and the direct link to OT's own Well Elderly Study evidence Misogi — Easter's 50%-chance-of-failure challenge practice, and how it maps onto the "just-right challenge" already central to OT Book: The Comfort Crisis: Embrace Discomfort to Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self by Michael Easterhttps://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Crisis-Embrace-Discomfort-Reclaim/dp/0593138767 The next book club episode will be about Rutger Bregman's Human Kind: A hopeful History. If you feel so inclined, please grab a copy, have a read and let us know your thoughts! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1408898950/?mr_donotredirect Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!

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 view of personal growth and daily progress. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!

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 community connection in Logan, Queensland. The conversation also explores Adam's leadership within Occupational Therapy Australia, where he has served as Australia's World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Delegate. Together, we discuss the importance of international collaboration, professional advocacy, and what the future holds for occupational therapy both in Australia and around the world. Whether you're an occupational therapist, allied health professional, student, or simply passionate about mental health and creative practice, this episode offers valuable insights into leadership, innovation, and the power of occupation.Leading with Creativity and Advocacy: Adam Lo OAM  Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Dr Jess Levick Subscribe now and never miss an episode!

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 professional boxes, the courage it takes to build something different, and how occupational therapists can use their unique interests and strengths to shape practice in ways that truly fit. We explore the breakdown of the profession from an occupational science perspective to see if we can find why many people experience this misalignment. Instagram: @OccupiedPodcastFacebook: Occupied Podcast Host: Brock Cook Subscribe now and never miss an episode!