Occupational therapists talk a lot about occupation, but what we mean is not simply a job or employment. Occupation refers to the everyday activities that people need, want, or are expected to do. These are the meaningful things that fill our time and shape who we are, from self-care and work to leisure, rest, and participation in community life.
With the London Podcast Festival celebrating its 10th anniversary this September, it feels like the perfect moment to reflect on the role of podcasts in everyday life. For me, they are far more than background noise, they shape the other occupations I engage in, broaden my horizons, and connect me to communities I may never otherwise encounter. Through the Person–Environment–Occupation model, we can see how podcasts fit into daily participation and why they matter for occupational therapy thinking.
As a person, my podcast choices reflect my values and interests. I return time and again to The Guilty Feminist, Miss Me, and Political Dysfunction for their honesty, humour, and unapologetic challenge to the status quo. The Rest is Politicshelps me make sense of the world, while shows like Access All, The Rest is Money, and The Rest is Entertainment give me insight into areas I want to learn more about. In the past, My Dad Wrote a Porno and Sex Power Money with Sara Pascoe brought laughter and provocation in equal measure.
I also love a crime drama or investigative podcast, such as The Teacher’s Pet, which explored the case of a missing person and ultimately contributed to a conviction years later. These kinds of podcasts show the power of storytelling and investigation, and how listening can open up questions of justice, truth, and accountability.
I also love a podcast on long journeys. They have been especially important during times when I have been in hospital for extended periods, including over a year as an inpatient. Podcasts were an occupation I could easily engage in, and they helped me stay connected with the world outside. I often listen to episodes more than once, and although it is not usually recommended from a sleep perspective, I find that listening to something familiar can help me drift off to sleep.
The environment shapes how I use podcasts. They can travel with me anywhere, at home, on the move, or filling the quieter moments of the day. They are also deeply social. Recommendations from The Guilty Feminist led me to attend the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, while conversations sparked by The Rest is Entertainment have influenced the television and films I have chosen to watch. Podcasts often provide access to information and perspectives that feel more engaging and accessible for me as a neurodivergent person, compared to traditional news or books.
The occupation itself, listening, is only the starting point. The impact of podcasts is occupationally rich, sparking discussions with friends, shaping leisure choices, broadening my political understanding, and inspiring real-world participation. They are a meaningful way I connect with the world, and they ripple into many other occupations that bring me identity and belonging.
The Person–Environment–Occupation Model Explained
The Person–Environment–Occupation (PEO) model was developed by Law and colleagues in Canada in the 1990s to help occupational therapists understand how people participate in everyday life. It proposes that occupational performance, the ability to carry out tasks and roles in daily living, emerges from the interaction between the person, their environment, and the occupations they want or need to do.
- Person includes an individual’s unique characteristics such as values, interests, skills, and lived experiences.
- Environment refers to the physical, social, cultural, and institutional contexts that influence participation.
- Occupation describes the meaningful activities, roles, and tasks that bring purpose and structure to life.
These three elements overlap like a Venn diagram. The closer the fit between them, the greater the occupational performance and the richer the person’s participation in life.
A Note on the Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance Model
Alongside PEO, occupational therapists also use the Person–Environment–Occupation–Performance (PEOP) model, first developed in the United States in the 1980s. PEOP also considers the interaction between the person, environment, and occupation, but places stronger emphasis on performance as the outcome of that relationship. It often looks more closely at health conditions, personal capacities, and organisational or societal influences.
There are many similarities between the two models, and they are sometimes used interchangeably. Both highlight that occupation is shaped not just by the person but also by the contexts around them. Where PEO focuses on the fit between person, environment, and occupation, PEOP tends to make performance and participation more visible as outcomes.
For this blog, I have focused mainly on PEO, because it offers a clear way to see how listening to podcasts fits into my everyday life. However, it is important to acknowledge PEOP, as it reminds us that occupation is not only about fit, but also about what we can achieve and how participation is enabled or restricted in real-world contexts.
Conclusion
Podcasts might appear to be “just listening,” but through the lens of occupational therapy they hold much deeper meaning. They are occupations that can provide comfort, stimulate learning, spark conversations, and help people feel connected to the wider world. For me, podcasts have supported wellbeing during hospital stays, filled quiet moments on long journeys, and even influenced the cultural events I attend and the media I consume.
For occupational therapists, podcasts could also be a useful suggestion during an interest checklist with someone. Their flexible and accessible nature means they can be a gentle starting point for re-engaging with meaningful occupation. Listening is often a solo activity, which can feel safe and manageable, yet podcasts also open the door to connection. They can be discussed afterwards with friends, family, or peers in person, or shared in online communities where listeners exchange views and recommendations.
Some practical ideas include:
- Recommending podcasts that align with a person’s interests, such as comedy, true crime, or politics, to spark enjoyment and engagement.
- Encouraging podcasts that support learning or self-management of health conditions, such as disability-focused or wellbeing shows, to promote empowerment and self-efficacy.
- Suggesting shared listening, where two people agree to listen to the same episode and then discuss it together, helping to build connection and reduce isolation.
- Highlighting podcasts that bring a sense of community and belonging, such as feminist or activist programmes, where listeners feel part of a wider movement.
- Recognising podcasts as an accessible way to enjoy stories, news, or entertainment for people who may find reading challenging or tiring.
Podcasts remind us that meaning in occupation does not need to be complex or traditionally structured. Sometimes it is found in the simple act of listening, laughing, reflecting, or drifting off to sleep to a familiar voice. They show how occupation can be both personal and communal, and how small everyday activities can ripple into wider patterns of participation and belonging.
References
Law, M., Cooper, B., Strong, S., Stewart, D., Rigby, P., and Letts, L. (1996). The Person–Environment–Occupation Model: A transactive approach to occupational performance. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(1), 9–23.
Townsend, E., and Polatajko, H. (2013). Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being, and justice through occupation. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.
Hutchinson, A., and Moran, L. (2020). The role of podcasts in supporting learning and engagement in higher education. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 8(2), 56–64.
Leave a Reply