Sandbox Stories - The Podcast

This "Short" Sandbox Story speaks to the want to achieve a broader audience, with recognizing and appreciating those who have supported Sandbox Stories distribution to date.

Dr. Kenji Hamada has served Optometry, the United States of America, and his communities with the greatest of commitments.  This Sandbox Story tells his many stories of business and personal success.     The Stories within the Story include: 1:05  The Sharing Story 3:17  The Helen Keller Camp Story 7:43  The Music Recording Story 8:50  The Japan to California Story 13:50  The US Army Story 16:34 ...

Mr. Gregg Fowler is another guest who isn’t a Eye Care Professional.  He has spent his career working for industry vendors, doing incredible behind-the-scenes work to improve eye care practice, and he is also an eye care patient whose story will impress anyone.  More than anything, he shares a viewpoint of the power of eye care services that every ECP and eye clinic employee needs to hear.   The S...

Dr. Larry DeLucas is the only Optometrist to have ever flown on the Space Shuttle - and that's enough reason to check out this Sandbox Story.  With two doctorate degrees and a deep knowledge base about the importance of optometry and science, you will thoroughly enjoy this episode!

Admitting that you are wrong is difficult.  Perhaps getting to the psychologic basis for this difficulty can help you become better at it, because none of us are right all the time.  Let me tell you about my challenges, so you can grow with me.  

This Sandbox Interview delivers really fantastic perspective from two ODs who have built their own practices and also helped build practices for others.  Dr. Eric Baas and Dr. Robert Steinmetz are owners of iCare Advisors, a cold-start facilitation business.  They are both from families who had educators in them, which shaped them to be incredible guiders of others.  Check this out as they share t...

Dr. Jim Wachter is the Chief Professional Officer of EyeCare Partners, created by the private equity group, FFL, in 2015 as a derivative from the large practice built by his partner and him; today they operate over 400 locations.  From Dr. Wachter’s experienced perspective, learn how business management concepts in a large, geographically diverse practice can apply to smaller practices.    The Sto...

Have you learned how to find jewels in a pile of rubble?  When things go bad, can you identify the silver lining?  If you think you are doing well, but eventually identify that you aren’t, are you self-aware enough to figure out how to improve?  In this Sandbox Story, you will get an example of how a company reversed its path to demise in the 1970’s by taking older technology to save their busines...

Dr. Lisa Wade is an optometry educator who truly believes in a life of giving back.  She has motivated the last few “next generations” of optometry school students at Southern College of Optometry, currently serving as Director of the Hayes Center for Practice Excellence.  In this interview, she shares how understanding psychology will help a practice drive the platinum rule of patient care.  The...

As a psychology major in college, Dr. Art Epstein has a sincere interest in people and he has used it to serve optometry in so many ways.  From serving as Editor to the digital newsletter, Optometric Physician, to his days as national media spokesperson for the AOA, Art has used his communication skills to improve the state of the profession.  In this interview, you will experience his stories --...

Each dynamic that affects a business team can be assessed for impact.  In this Sandbox Story, the concept of “birth order” is examined.  When a business leader considers the birth order of their business partners and co-workers, insight can be gained that helps understanding conflicts and anticipating outcomes.

Dr. Jim Sandefur represents the legacy generation of Optometrists that have worked so very hard to make optometry what it is today.  He proudly lives in the small town of Oakdale, LA, and shares stories about his family cabin, his time as Executive Director of the state Association, and his time in practice when refraction fees started at $5.  Jim brings a strong point of view on the importance of...

An IT guy by training, Jim McGrann moved into the eye care space with Marchon, then bringing in OfficeMate, and ultimately becoming the Global CEO of VSP.  Now as part of a “next generation” buying group, called Healthy Eyes Advantage, Jim continues his pursuit of supporting eye care businesses.  Jim is another “first-born” guest on Sandbox Stories, telling the story of his large family and his da...

Dr. Essence Johnson represents the essence of optometry.  In this Sandbox Story, learn about the experience she has had through practicing medical eye care, how it was to be brought up in a military family, and hear her special story about the one and only time that her Mom told her “no”.  She also talks about the insights she learned attending a Historically Black College/University (HBCU), as we...

This is a SPECIAL EDITION of Sandbox Stories in which I give the overview of my path to, and through, optometry.  Unlike other Stories, I took the advice of many of my colleagues to free-form my presentation, and this is a real presentation “from the heart.”     Included are many different parts of the journey, including my early desire to be in optometry, how I searched for a practice, the apprec...

This episode of Sandbox Stories profiles the first ophthalmologist to be interviewed, Dr. Lou Probst.  Lou brings his thoughtful approach to a wide variety of topics, including deep insights on his views on the power of optometric co-management of refractive surgery patients which he helped drive as the National Medical Director of TLC Laser Eye Centers.  You will also learn about his appreciation...

Peloton is a highly disruptive business that is driving a consumer experience not previously seen.  This Story delivers three important take-aways from the Peloton model that can be applied to optometry.

This Sandbox Interview is the first with a Canadian Optometrist - Dr. Nana Owusu.  Learn about his family’s interesting move from Ghana to Canada, as well as the incredibly interesting meeting of his future wife when they were both taking optometry school interviews.  From football to family to an in-depth discussion on the importance of diversity in optometry, Nana shares incredible insights. The...

As 2020 closes, it's time to share thanks with the Sandbox Stories community.  Here's to a more uplifting 2021!

This Sandbox Story is an interview with Dr. Kristie Nguyen, an optometrist whose path has been substantially different than most.  After her family left Vietnam when she was a few months old, she pursued an aggressive academic process through her Doctor of Optometry degree, she has made an incredibly diverse life.  In this Story, you will learn about the organization Optometry Divas, Kristie’s app...

Each of us has a story of someone who motivated, compelled, and inspired us to pursue our dreams.  Within that story is some common thread that unifies the various tales and becomes the basis for the story.  In this episode of Sandbox Stories, learn the stories behind the story of Sandbox.   Runtime:  8 min

This is a truly special Sandbox Story, wherein five faculty members from ICO speak to their unique perspective of the College’s management of optometric education, clinical processes, and student affairs matters that needed to evolve due to the impact of COVID on American society.  Not only will you learn insights and perspectives about the temporarily modified state of optometric education, but t...

This Story summarizes the 2020 book by Simon Sinek, THE INFINITE GAME, which teaches business leaders about how to rethink their business journey to one that is not short-sighted.  After an in-depth summary of the book and sharing examples of how its lessons can be applied to the business of optometry, Scott tells the story and looks back on how he applied THE INFINITE GAME’s key elements to his s...

Chuck Brownlow is the most influential optometrist on my career.  This episode is filled with stories from a humble Midwestern OD who has truly inspired thousands of his colleagues, this Story includes dozens of anecdotes and key insights.  A proud grandfather, accomplished pilot, and now, a book author, you will find Chuck’s stories to be fascinating and impactful.   The Stories within the Story...

This Sandbox Story "Short" aims to share some listener feedback - and invites expanded awareness via sharing!