Ep. 45: Burnout and Attuning to Your Inner Wisdom to Transform Your Business With Guest, Dr. Jess Reynolds

Ep. 45: Burnout and Attuning to Your Inner Wisdom to Transform Your Business With Guest, Dr. Jess Reynolds

Author: Carlyn Neek - OT Entrepreneur Coach, Educator, Founder of ACTivate Vitality August 1, 2025 Duration: 1:16:16

What happens when your business feels out of alignment with who you are and you're brave enough to admit it?

In this episode of The BRAVE OT Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Jess Reynolds, a collaborator and traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and educator, to talk about what it really looks like to reimagine your life and work from the inside out.

In this discussion we explore some of our lived and learned experiences including:

  • How inner work shapes outer success—and why it's often the part we skip

  • The hidden spiritual and identity layers of burnout

  • Why teaching can be the best way to learn (especially the stuff you most need yourself)

  • Disrupting default ways of practicing to make room for deeper alignment

  • The introvert table, mindfulness beyond meditation, and laundry piles as existential mirrors

Whether you're an OT in private practice, an educator, or a healing professional trying to find your footing, this is a real conversation about being human in your work.

 

I think you'll find AH-HAs in:

  • Jess's experience pivoting from teaching technique to teaching transformation

  • The gap between what practitioners need and what they actually seek out in CE

  • Why "just be yourself" isn't always accessible—and how to honor your capacity

  • The shift from pre-recorded courses to community-based learning

  • Personal stories of burnout, grief, reinvention, and finding flow again

 

Mentioned:

 

 

Connect with Jess:

 

Connect with Carlyn:

 

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Hosted by Carlyn Neek, an OT entrepreneur coach and educator, The BRAVE OT Podcast | Real Conversations with Occupational Therapy Trailblazers is a space for honest dialogue about the evolving landscape of occupational therapy. This isn't about abstract theory; it's grounded in the real-world experiences of practitioners who are actively reshaping their careers and the profession itself. Each conversation delves into what it means to build a meaningful practice, whether that's in clinical settings, through entrepreneurial ventures, or by advocating for systemic change. You'll hear stories of navigating challenges, redefining success beyond burnout, and discovering innovative ways to serve clients. The discussions naturally weave together the science of occupational therapy with the practicalities of business and the social impact of the work. Listening to this podcast feels like joining a candid mentorship circle, one that values curiosity and growth over perfection. It’s for OTs who are ready to examine their assumptions, try new approaches, and find a deeper sense of fulfillment in their professional journey. Carlyn brings her perspective as the founder of ACTivate Vitality to these interviews, fostering talks that are both supportive and provocatively thoughtful, always aimed at empowering therapists to live their mission more fully.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 58

The BRAVE OT Podcast | Real Conversations with Occupational Therapy Trailblazers
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