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

In this exciting launch of the new season of Startup Sit-Down, Alex sits down with Corey Wolman, founder of Crawford Group, to explore his fascinating journey from mergers and acquisitions lawyer to real estate innovator and entrepreneur. Corey shares insights from his early passions in debating, skiing, and building that shaped his unique approach to business strategy and community building. Learn how he uses "the fog" as a metaphor for navigating ambiguity in decision-making, and discover how Crawford Group and Curve Benders are creating meaningful connections in Montreal's entrepreneurial scene. Tune in to hear Corey's heartfelt thoughts on fatherhood, his vision for business growth, and his commitment to building a supportive community for fellow entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Alex (@neurofitvr) discusses the transformative power of empathetic listening, his journey of conducting over 100 interviews in the healthcare field, and uncovering the hidden insights in people's speech. By truly understanding not just what was said, but how it was expressed, he discovered patterns and identified a significant gap between patients and professionals. This realization became the cornerstone of Neurofit, allowing him to solve a problem that many weren't even aware of. By listening empathetically, we can unlock opportunities that we may have otherwise missed. Tune in to learn how empathy could help you tap into new ideas and perspectives.