Dental + Meaningful

This Dental + Meaningful conversation feels different. I’m sitting on Deborah’s couch, we don’t just hear about her life, we see it. Creativity isn’t something she does on the side, it’s how she moves through the World. Deborah’s art spans from prints to shoemaking to sculptures, working with various mediums to capture her humour and unique take on life. We explore her time providing dental care i...

This episode of  Dental & Meaningful  is one of the most candid and important conversations to date and a great one to open 2026 with! I’m joined by Dr Ellie Borgelt for an honest discussion about the lived realities of many women in dentistry. We discuss gender bias in clinical environments, including  sexual harassment in the workplace   (trigger warning) , and the emotional toll of building...

If you need some powerfully uplifting energy and joyful grit in your life right now, this is for you. I sit down with Dr. Purnima Kumar in Vienna for this conversation. She is the head of department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan, School of Dentistry. She has built a wonderfully successful and accomplished career in research and academics, whilst also finding time...

This was a beautiful episode covering multiple facets of the lived experience of a woman in our profession. Dr Parul Bhatia's strength shines through as quiet fortitude and hope in the journey she shares with us. We open with the bittersweet experience of selling the practice she build from scratch but ultimately looks towards all the different possibilities in her next chapter with great anticipa...

Episode Summary Ready to check in with yourself and come out feeling recharged? In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Dr. Olan Hartley for a soul-nourishing conversation that’s equal parts grounding and uplifting. We talk about redefining self-worth, recognising the quiet signs of burnout, setting boundaries with intention, and making gratitude more than just a passing thought. Olan’s grac...

This is the first in a six-part bonus series where I’ll be bringing you into our Cusp Collective conference this year. These episodes are my personal reflections of each speaker's presentation, what I took from it, how I use it in my life and how it can be applied to your clinical practice.  First up is Annelise McCarthy, founder of Her Speaking Coach and an expert in public speaking and power...

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Chen and Dr. Suelen Cella explore the profound journey of resilience, the challenges and triumphs Suelen has experienced in her dental and personal journey. Suelen shares her inspiring story of moving from a rural upbringing in Brazil to becoming a successful dentist in Australia, overcoming trauma, and navigating the complexities of family planning, IVF, and career as...

After our annual conference, the buzzing energy stays with me as I take a break from prepping for the event and continue post-event admin. I created this platform at a time when I needed support like this but couldn't find it. It was also a time perhaps I couldn't have made it to every event. This is why the podcast exists, to bring the much needed conversations and connections to you. In...

Episode Summary And we're back! It was a longer break than anticipated but it was much needed. And no better episode to return to than thissoul nourishing conversation with Dr. Sara Lonergan. We talk about the peace she finds in her menagerie ofanimals, the sanctuary she’s created outside of clinical life, and the intentional way she’s built one of the most welcoming clinics I’ve ever stepped into...

In this episode, we talk about all the things we carry as women in this profession. Dr. Annalene Weston shares her insights andwisdom from decades in dentistry. We explore her experiences of moral injury as a young dentist in the NHS, how she addressed burnout and pivoted her career. We dive into her role as head of advisory at DPL and encounters withgender bias, as well as challenges of being a w...

In this conversation, Dr. Leonora Langstaff shares her journey as a dentist transitioning from the UK to Australia, her passion for teaching and mentoring new graduates, and the challenges she faced in various workplaces in her early career. She emphasizes the value of mentorship and support in the dental field. Dr. Langstaff also recounts unique experiences, including working at a detention cente...

Episode Summary In this episode, I’m joined by the deeply thoughtful and grounded Dr. Thao. We explore what really matters in dentistry beyond your clinical skills. Dr. Thao reminds us that who you are as a person-your emotional intelligence and how you treat others- has a greater impact than any technical ability. We dive into professional courtesy, navigating clinical difficulties without shame,...

In this uplifting conversation, Dr. Tiffany Chen chats with Dr. Amesha Maree about her inspiring journey to becoming an orthodontist whilst navigating her transition into single parenting. Dr. Maree shares her experiences of resilience and grit, the importance of finding one's voice, and embracing vulnerability. She emphasizes the value of empathy in business and reflects on her motivations and th...

Summary Hello and welcome to our very first episode! I am Dr Tiffany Chen, founder of The Cusp Collective and host of Dental & meaningful. For this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Aovana Timmerman and am impressed at every turn by her passion for teaching and her approach to tackling difficult situations. You might know her as the endodontist with an engaging Instagram presence, or the one w...

Welcome to  Dental & Meaningful - a creation from The Cusp Collective Hi! I'm Tiffany, periodontist, founder of The Cusp Collective, and host of Dental & Meaningful. This isn’t just another dental podcast- it’s a space for raw, real, and powerful conversations with high-achieving women in dentistry. We go beyond the accolades, diving into the highs, the lows, and everything in-between....