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Artwork for Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright
Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism
Evidence-Based Practice
Play
Pediatric Therapy
Mental Health
Cerebral Palsy
Zones Of Regulation
Emotional Regulation
Executive Function
Sensory Processing
Ayres Sensory Integration
Motor Learning Theory
Attunement
Movement Play
Imposter Syndrome
Imaginative Play
Play Theories

Welcome to Ideas at Play, the go-to podcast for busy pediatric occupational therapy professionals! Whether you're in school-based settings, early intervention, or outpatient practice, we bring you evidence-based strategies, practical tips, and engaging discussions to support your OT practice with children, teens, and young adults.

Each episode features:

A deep dive into recent pediatric OT resea... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes87Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducationHealth & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy

Latest Episodes

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Pediatric OTs use play in nearly everything we do, but how much of it is actually play? In this episode, we review the play-work continuum, which separates free play from play as a vehicle for goals. Michele also shares 1... more

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Sensory garments are everywhere and frequently marketed to our clients and families — but almost none of the research asks what happens after a parent clicks "buy." This episode discusses a study with off-the-shelf sensor... more

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Up to 50% of kids with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) also have ADHD — and that overlap changes how motor gains actually stick. We're back with another episode on CO-OP: goal, plan, do, check, and 8 strategies ... more

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“You gain what you train” — but what does that actually look like session to session? In this episode, Michele and Lacy review a case study that has all the ingredients of a solid motor learning intervention for self-feed... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Susie King
OT practitioner in New Zealand sharing insights about OT in Aotearoa
Episode: Ep. 80 OT in Aotearoa New Zealand
Heather Kuhaneck
A leader in research on play and autism, Professor and Program Director of the OT Master's Program at Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Episode: Ep. 40 Let's Talk Ayres SI, Autism, & Play with Dr. Heather Kuhaneck
Dr. Anita Bundy
Lead researcher of the Sydney Playground Project
University
Episode: Ep. 32 Sydney Playground Project
Dr. Iona Nowak
Expert in goal writing in OT
Episode: Ep. 32 Sydney Playground Project
Iona Novak
World-renowned researcher and occupational therapist specializing in pediatric interventions
Episode: Ep. 20 Do What Works! (with guest Dr. Iona Novak)
Yovana Harris
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant specializing in feeding medically fragile children
Outpatient Clinic, Santa Ana College
Episode: Ep. 10 Tubes & Tables: Supporting Mealtime with Medically Fragile Kids (special guest episode)

Hosts

Michele Alaniz
Host with pediatric OT expertise; Director of Pediatrics at a rehab hospital in Southern California
Lacy Wright
Co-host; Occupational Therapy Professor in Kansas City; OT practitioner

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 53 ratings
  • Aging Student

    I am an aging student switching careers and often it’s difficult to connect what I’m leaning in class to the real world. Michele and Lacy make all things OT accessible and easy to digest. I LOVE them!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    New OT On The Block
    United States4 months ago
  • The best CPD on the run!

    I just love this podcast so much. I’ve only just stumbled across it but have already covered so many topics that really interest me. I am a UK based private OT working across various schools but also with clients in their own homes. Many of those common themes that come up when chatting with my OT colleagues are tackled in depth, mixing the hosts own personal experiences with reviews of recent literature and evidence in a really fun and engaging way! I listen in the car on my way to see clients ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    brighton rox
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Research made practical, and fun to listen to!

    I used to work with both Michele and Lacy many years ago, and hearing them banter back and forth took me back in time! I listened to the first three episodes back to back and had a smile on my face the whole time. You guys have a great format, it’s well thought out and each section is so helpful. I’ll definitely be recommending your podcast to my staff and to other clinic owners I know.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Thisisina
    United Statesa year ago
  • Fieldwork coordinator

    As a fieldwork coordinator and professor, it has been up to me on how to develop these behaviors. At almost two years in we find it only can do so much without student self led motivation and discipline. We use a textbook throughout fieldwork and develop assignments throughout.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sflot
    United Statesa year ago
  • A MUST listen!

    Michele and Lacy do any amazing job with real life scenarios and using evidence based practice on how to enhance your OT sessions. Really love listening to these podcast they are not only informative but also fun to listen to! Thank you both for this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sarahm27283
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging mix of evidence review and real-world stories keeps topics relatable.
Hosts translate research into actionable steps for pediatric settings.
Clear, practical takeaways for everyday OT practice.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Summer of Discovery: Building & Trialing a Sensory Activity Schedule
Q: Tell us about the mechanism of action.
Rooted in sensory integration theory, with an added emphasis on allostasis to anticipate and prime the child for upcoming tasks, adjusting arousal proactively rather than reactively to improve engagement and task performance.
Summer of Discovery: Building & Trialing a Sensory Activity Schedule
Q: What are the key ingredients for a sensory activity schedule?
Individualization, collaboration with teachers and caregivers, scheduling within the daily routine, a specific, measurable goal, ongoing sensory activities, and a clear mechanism of action that explains why the activities help, plus data collection to monitor progress.
Summer of Discovery: Building & Trialing a Sensory Activity Schedule
Q: What is the population we should be considering for this intervention?
The approach is most commonly applied to school-aged children, with some use in early intervention, and it can be relevant across the spectrum depending on the individual, though the strongest evidence early on targets school settings.
Ep. 70 Listener Questions: Pediatric OT in the Real World (Round 2)
Q: What buzzwords are you hearing and how do you see them evolving in pediatric OT?
Trauma-informed care and neurodiversity affirming care are prominent; there's interest but a need for stronger, more concrete frameworks and evidence to guide practice.
Ep 68 CIMT Summer Camp
Q: I'm in Chicago. A few years ago everyone was talking about interoception. Is there any buzzwords we are hearing more of that we could talk about on the podcast?
The hosts acknowledge listener questions and invite more questions via voicemail or email, signaling they plan to cover topics like interoception in future episodes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy

What is Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, research-forward show for pediatric occupational therapy professionals, with hosts breaking down recent OT studies, discussing real-world implementation, and sharing field-based tips. Each episode blends evidence reviews, hands-on demos, and audience questions, plus a recurring segment that highlights what's working (or not) in everyday practice. The format emphasizes applicability to school-based, early intervention, and outpatient settings, with a playful yet rigorous tone that makes complex research accessible for busy clinicians, teachers, and students. Noteworthy strengths include clear explanations of study design, actionable takeaways, and practical tools (like the “Nailed It / Failed It” moments) that translate to faste... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy:

1. All Things Sensory by Harkla
2. The Mel Robbins Podcast
3. The Art of Being Well
4. Good Inside with Dr. Becky
5. Neurodiversity Podcast

How many episodes of Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy are there?

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy launched 2 years ago and published 87 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy?

Recent guests on Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy include:

1. Susie King
2. Heather Kuhaneck
3. Dr. Anita Bundy
4. Dr. Iona Nowak
5. Iona Novak
6. Yovana Harris

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