Open Wide With Julio Podcast

On today's episode we sit with the iconic bye bye biofilm Paula and we sit down and tackle, early career, RDHAP, a positive take on mental health for the dental hygiene student, and how to solve a new type of hygiene shortage. We tackled why it is so important for RDHAP's and hygienists to be in healthcare settings. You're going to want to tune in and listen to this entire podcast, and...

On today's episode we sit with the iconic teeth talk girl Whitney difoggio and we go way back to the very beginning of what started it all. She's one of the most influential dental hygiene influencers who loves what she does. We tackle early career, new grad life, social media, and doctorate degrees! You do not want to skip this one out. Thank you so much to Whitney for believing in open w...

OCTOBER IS HERE WHICH MEANS ITS NATIONAL DENTAL HYGIENE MONTH! To kick start this month we will be having AN ICON join us every Friday this month, and to start us off we have the beautiful brush with Britt! Thank you so much for allowing open wide with Julio to capture your story! I loved getting to know you even more and we are just so thankful for you. This entire community wouldn't be the s...

On this season 2 debut episode, we sit down with rooted purpose RDH Lisa, and talk about her journey to RDH at age 36! She sits down with us to explain the obstacles she faced in DHS and that it is never too late to go back to school. Sometimes we need a little push to get us there. Open wide with Julio is designed to capture RDH stories and uplift the dental community and to inspire future studen...

ON THE SEASON ONE FINALE OF OPEN WIDE WITH JULIO! We end it with our sister podcast spit it out with meg, and we sit down to talk about all things dental hygiene. We tackle friendships, heartbreak, scholarships, university route, volunteer work, and so much more. Tune in to episode 25 and the season one finale of open wide with Julio. A huge thank you to meg for being on here and speaking about he...

Being a dental hygienist was not Blancas first choice, she actually decided to career pivot, on this episode of open wide with Julio I sit down with this beautiful soul to tackle everything from foster care, career pivoting, to now becoming one of the biggest temping queens on social media. Thank you blanca for sharing your journey and being so open and vulnerable with us. Don't forget to foll...

On this episode of open wide with Julio, we sit down with our favorite first generation dental hygienist stellar Steph to talk about all things first generation, to being denied 3 times from dental hygiene school, to immigrants and how hard its been on her mental health lately. This episode is very authentic and raw, and we talk about how sometimes the world around us can affect us individually, a...

This special Pride Month episode of  Open Wide with Julio  features the incredible Al an RDH from Canada who traded the operatory for the Pilates studio and found the courage to fully step into his authentic self. Al opens up about his coming out journey, navigating cultural expectations, finding acceptance, and discovering the freedom that comes with living honestly. From dentistry to movement, i...

In this episode I interview the fabulous Dr. Lisa Creaven who is the co founder of made by dentists. This incredible brand who is changing oral health care for the good. We go over the story behind the making of this company, and what it takes to get there. We also break down why you should consider made by dentists toothpaste, and the importance of label reading. She also shares the creative side...

On today's episode we go over the not so talked about mental health crisis during rigorous programs like dental hygiene school. I host the amazing Shelby, RDH and her truth on how she survived this extensive program, while holding on to her mental health. This episode is designed for the dental hygiene student or future dental hygiene students who struggle with similar issues, and how you can...

Hey pookie, welcome back to another episode of open wide with Julio, today's episode we talk about the life of an orthodontic dental hygienist, and how she started her business smile lab apparel. This episode is very informative and interesting, because ortho hygienists are not a thing here in California, which we need to get on that. Thank you for supporting this podcast and I ,and we truly l...

Welcome back to another episode of open wide with Julio, today we sit with the CEO of QUIP, Meredith, to tackle everything you need to know about the company and how she navigates running a successful brand. She gives us some insight into quips famous products and chat about the vision they would like you to understand.. Thank you for supporting this show, and follow for more future episodes. foll...

In this episode of Open Wide with Julio , we sit down with Kolbi, a restorative dental hygienist who’s redefining what it means to work in clinical dentistry. From placing fillings to balancing patient care with expanded responsibilities, Kolbi shares what it’s really like to step beyond the traditional hygiene role. We dive into how she manages her day-to-day duties, navigates the mental and phys...

In this episode of Open Wide with Julio, I sit down with the incredible Fiona RDH, widely known online as Mouthboxx . Fiona has built a powerful presence across multiple social media platforms where she shares honest, educational, and empowering content for dental hygiene students and new grads navigating the profession. We talk about how she built her platform, the realities of becoming a dental...

A Valentine’s special on Open Wide with Julio dives into the beautifully chaotic world of gay dating. From hookup culture and commitment fears to modern love, loneliness, and everything in between. Julio explores why connection can feel complicated in a swipe driven era, shares real talk about expectations vs. reality, and reflects on what it truly means to build something meaningful in today’s da...

This week on open wide with Julio, I’m joined by Florie Mancilla , a seasoned dental hygienist with 16+ years of experience in the field. We have an honest, insightful conversation about career longevity in hygiene , navigating school vs. real-world practice , protecting your body and mental health , and finding work-life balance in a profession that can be both rewarding and demanding. Florie sha...

In this episode, Julio sits down with Ani “Floss Fairy” Aniston to unravel the real journey from dental hygiene student to brand-new grad navigating life beyond school. The temping life and why it sounds so scary, Ani shares the wins, the curveballs, and the raw stories that don’t always make it into the textbooks from clinical rotations to first days on the job, managing nerves, building confiden...

Welcome back to another episode of open wide with Julio, on today's episode we cover sobriety, and what it took to get there. This episode isn't about quitting alcohol, its about choosing yourself. I get so vulnerable in this episode, and open up about my sobriety journey, the habits, and friendships I had to leave behind. The uncomfortable silence that came with starting over, no filters, no glam...

This week on Open Wide with Julio , we’re opening wide with Felicity , a dental hygienist who turned her passion for education into a full-blown brand and became a CEO in scrubs . From navigating hygiene school to realizing there was a gap in how students study and retain information, Felicity shares how she built Dental Hygiene Reference Cards and transformed a simple idea into a tool trusted by...

Dental hygiene is often glamorized, but what happens when the burnout outweighs the passion? Warning this episode does contain explicit content. I provide a comfortable space for my guests and I as a host match energy, we love to host a professional environment but we are also human. In this episode, I talk with AL, a dental hygienist who shares why he’s stepping away from the field, the mental an...

Social media gave me community, it showed me resilience, and it showed me to always show up for myself. In this episode of OPEN WIDE WITH JULIO, we dive into how I started social media, and how it was a scary place to be in the beginning ,and how far I've come since my first post ever. In this episode, I open up about building friendships online, outgrowing people, and why going back to school...

On this episode of the Open Wide Podcast , I’m so excited and grateful to welcome Sam , the Founder & CEO of FLAUS . We talk all about her journey as a founder, what it’s really like managing CEO life, building a brand with purpose, and balancing business, personal growth, and vision. Sam shares her story, the highs and the hard moments behind the scenes, and what it takes to lead with intenti...

In this Thanksgiving Special episode, we go all the way back to the 1600s to uncover what oral care really looked like before toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental offices were even a thing. From wild home remedies to survival-style hygiene, we break down how dentistry started and how insanely far we’ve come. This episode is all about education, perspective, and being grateful for modern dentistry....

This episode features Dana Paladino, RDH, the creator behind Dental Hygiene Basics. Dana shares her story, her goals for the future of dental hygiene, and how she uses social media as a powerful tool for education and mentorship. We talk about navigating school, building community online, and the importance of supporting the next generation of hygienists with resources, transparency, and real guid...

In this episode of Open Wide with Julio , I sit down with the amazing Dana Paladino, creator of Dental Hygiene Basics a platform dedicated to empowering future dental hygienists. We dive into her story, her “why,” and the journey behind creating a brand that’s helping students everywhere. Together, we strip down the layers of social media, talk about personal growth, staying authentic online, and...