Dental Leaders Podcast

Barely two years after graduating, Faris Elsayed already runs a successful startup and one of the profession’s most popular social channels.   He chats with Payman about his YouTube alter ego, Faris Dent, shares insights from life on the road as a sales rep with aligner brand 32Co, and discusses the highs and lows of entrepreneurialism.  Faris also talks about his faith, charity work, and personal...

If you follow the dentists of TikTok, you’ll be familiar with this week’s guest, Onkar Mudhar, whose relatable content has been setting the TikToksphere alight.  Dr Onkar chats with Payman and Rhona about the impact of social media on dentistry, touching on mental health, and his experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis. Dr Onkar also talks about his experience at dental school and debates the ac...

Implantologist and dental educator Sumair Khan recounts his journey from childhood to becoming a respected figure in implant dentistry—with a little help from an Airfix model aeroplane. The discussion delves into the crucial role of mentoring, leadership, and effective communication skills, providing a sense of guidance and support for young dental professionals.  Sumair candidly discusses his exp...

This episode of Mind Movers features an intimate conversation with renowned dentist Nilesh Parmar. The discussion delves into Nilesh's personal life and professional journey, exploring themes of success, relationships, and mental health in the dental profession. The conversation offers a candid look at the personal side of a successful professional, highlighting the importance of balancing car...

Clinical dental technician Michael Joseph recounts his journey from sales rep to clinical dental technician and lab owner. Michael touches on the dentist-lab relationship and communication, keeping abreast of new tech, and the life-changing business and personal impacts of lab life under COVID restrictions. Enjoy!  In This Episode 00:02:00 - Michael's journey to becoming a dental lab technicia...

Rhona and Payman meet Talitha Price, the founder of the successful hair extension business Fox and Vamp.  Talitha shares her entrepreneurial journey, from her early days in the beauty industry working for Virgin Atlantic and major cosmetics brands to starting her own salon and product line. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of building a business, including the loneliness of...

Rory Boyd shares his journey to being a specialist prosthodontist and owner of Dublin’s Belfield Clinic.  Rory discusses the value of work-life balance, adopting new tech, and growing and managing his referral-based practice.  Rory also discusses his involvement with the Irish Dental Association and his efforts to advocate for the profession.  Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:50 - Backstory 00:11:30 -...

Rhona chats with celebrity personal trainer Sana Shirvani about her journey in the fitness industry. Sana shares her experience working long hours and taking on clients' stress, as well as the pressure she faced from her conservative father to pursue a traditional career.  Sana candidly shares the mental health challenges she faced after her cousin's suicide and her own battles with depres...

Kevin Shannon discusses leaving dentistry to focus on his dental software startup, DigitalTCO. Kevin shares how his frustration with the inefficiencies of dental note-taking and a difficult patient complaint inspired him to create DigitalTCO, which uses AI to automatically generate clinical notes and consent forms from audio recordings of patient consultations.  He taught himself to code to build...

Founder and host of the award-winning Sex Talks Emma Louise Boynton joins Payman and Rhona for a frank exploration of sex education and communication.  The conversation touches on cultural taboos around sex, gender relations and inequalities, to provide an open and nuanced exploration of the complex intersections between sex, intimacy, shame, relationships and well-being. Enjoy! In This Episode 00...

Prav and Payman chat with Siamack Bagheri, a highly successful orthodontist who owns ten large orthodontic practices with his wife. Siamack shares his story of coming to the UK from Iran in the 1970s and pursuing dentistry. He discusses the challenges he faced during dental school and how those experiences shaped him. The conversation touches on recruitment challenges, the shift toward temp agenci...

Rhona and Payman chat with Daniel Daggers, a successful luxury real estate agent, founder of Drew Global, and star of Netflix’s Buying London. Daniel shares his rise from humble beginnings in local authority housing to becoming a top agent, dealing with challenges like bullying and trolling along the way.  He discusses his people-centric approach to business, the importance of personal branding, a...

How do dental practices stand out from the competition in a fiercely competitive marketplace that’s becoming more crowded by the day? Join Prav for an in-depth discussion of defining and leveraging your clinic’s unique selling points to design unique, memorable customer journeys and stand out from the competition. Enjoy!  In This Episode 00:01:30 - TCO training—evolution and adaptation  00:09:00 -...

We reach way back into the archives this week with a look back at one of Payman and Prav’s favourite conversations with Green Beret-turned-dentist, Danny Watson. Danny looks back on his first meeting with Prav, recalls how seeing military dentists at work inspired him to join the profession, and discusses burning his military bridges in hot pursuit of his newfound passion. Enjoy!  In This Episode...

Specialist orthodontist Annika Patek opens up about the challenges of dental study and practise for those who don’t fit the mould.  The conversation delves into the challenges of being a career-focused woman in dentistry, including sacrificing family and relationships for speciality training.  Annika discusses her experiences with marriage and motherhood while working as a specialist, the importan...

Payman chats with the world-renowned professor Avijit Banerjee, who shares his journey in academia, discussing his research focused on applying scientific findings to patient care.  As you’d expect from a polymathic mind like Prof. Banerjee's, the conversation ranges far and wide, covering challenges in dental education, the role of new technologies in diagnosis and the public's perception...

Simon Chard shares his journey through the challenges and triumphs of running a dental practice, his presidency of the BACD and thoughts on the potential of new technologies and methodologies in shaping the future of dentistry. His passion for personal development, both for himself and his peers, shines through as he discusses the potential for dentistry to improve lives. Enjoy! In This Episode 02...

Reality star, TV presenter, and writer Amber Rose opens up about life as Love Island contestant and winner. Amber shares the story of how she was cast on Love Island and how subsequent attention and criticism led to what she considers her lowest point. Amber, always true to herself, shares her current career pursuits in entertainment, writing, and brand deals, the process of writing her first nove...

Payman chats with dental coach and communication expert Barry Oulton. Barry shares his journey into dentistry, despite his artistic nature, and how his father influenced his career choice.  He discusses his education in the UK and the US, overcoming limiting beliefs and the challenges of running a practice. Enjoy! In This Episode [00:01:10] Backstory [00:09:05] Study [00:11:25] Journey to practice...

Rhona catches up with long-time friend Sarita Stefani, co-founder of Amelis, a platform that makes egg freezing and fertility treatments more accessible and affordable for women.  They delve into Sarita's remarkable journey as a female entrepreneur, highlighting her resilience and determination, especially during the challenging fundraising process while pregnant.  The conversation also explor...

Payman reunites with bestie and occasional show host Prav Solanki for a long-awaited update on his mission to bring effortless enquiry conversion to dental clinics. Prav briefs us on the story of Leadflo from its early barebones launch to becoming the most advanced dental CRM on the market. Packed with Prav’s trademark insight on sales psychology, the conversation covers the challenges of software...

Dental technician Simon Caxton shares his unconventional path into dental technology, describing his hands-on learning style, passion for the craft, and drive to excel. Our conversation takes a deep dive into the current landscape of dental labs in the UK. We explore the challenges in finding skilled technicians, the transformative impact of digital technologies, and the value of collaboration and...

This week’s episode reaches spots other podcasts miss as Payman sits down with dentist-turned-inventor Michael Alatsaris.   Michael shares his journey from a dissatisfied clinician and practice owner to a fulfilled product designer and entrepreneur, discussing the highs and lows of the painstaking process of bringing an innovative new toothbrush to market.   Enjoy! In This Episode 00:02:30 - Choos...

Mind Movers brings things home this week as Rhona has a heart-to-heart with her father, Dr Alex Eskander, a renowned obstetrician and gynaecologist.    Dr Eskander shares his inspiring journey from Egypt to the UK, his experiences as a junior doctor in the NHS, and his transition to private practice.    The conversation delves into important topics such as the importance of egg freezing, increasin...

Selvaraj Balaji shares his journey from growing up in rural South India to the UK, where he is now a successful implant dentist at the helm of a small group of practices and implant training academy.   Selvaraj discusses the challenges of getting started in the UK,  the philosophy behind his  Academy of Soft and Hard Tissue Augmentation (ASHA) Club UK for advanced implant training and finding a he...