Host Alex Theodorou sits down with Dr. Virginia Spielmann—occupational therapist, global speaker, and Executive Director of the STAR Institute—to explore why sensory health matters to everyone and how play, culture, and cutting-edge research can shape better care.

From founding a thriving children’s therapy center in Hong Kong to turning Dungeons & Dragons into the therapeutic game Critical Core, Dr. Spielmann’s journey reveals practical insights for clinicians, parents, and health-tech founders alike.

Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and show introduction

00:13 Meet Dr. Spielmann: OT, researcher, TEDx speaker

03:24 Founding SPOT Children’s Therapy Center in Hong Kong

07:02 Scaling to four clinics and lessons learned

08:26 Joining STAR Institute: combining therapy, research, and education

14:09 From “sensory disorder” to “sensory health”: language that resonates

19:15 Creating Critical Core: Dungeons & Dragons for therapy

22:26 How tabletop role-play boosts social-emotional skills

28:17 Kickstarter launch, community feedback, and what’s next

31:14 Global practice: cultural humility in occupational therapy

34:54 Starter tips for clinicians and health-tech founders

39:05 Key takeaways and sign-off