Shawn Zajas Show

Dino Watt grew up in a broken home. His parents divorced when he was eight. He lived in a five-by-ten trailer with no running water as a teenager. He has dyslexia. He never went to college. He is also one of the most respected relationship coaches in the dental industry, a keynote speaker, an author, and a man who has been married to his wife Shannon for 33 years. In this conversation, Dino shares...

Jeffrey Hayzlett moved out at 16, worked multiple jobs through college, and made his first million by age 26. Today he stands as a four-time business hall of fame inductee, former CMO of Kodak, and founder of the C-Suite Network. But none of that defines him. In this conversation, Jeffrey shares the foundational belief that shaped his trajectory: the things that define you must be decided by you,...

Men Over 40: This Extensive 150-Minute Interview Could Save Your Life - A Patient's Complete Journey Through Prostate Cancer CRITICAL VIEWING: One in Eight Men Will Get This Disease - Learn What Doctors Won't Tell You Black Men & Men With Family History: Your Risk Is Even Higher - Watch This Now In this powerful, comprehensive interview, prostate cancer patient Joe Dooley shares his entire jou...

Michael Arias shares his journey from being a nutritionist to becoming a pioneering figure in dental marketing. He coined the term "ground marketing" and developed it into a sophisticated approach for dental practices to connect with their communities. The conversation explores his evolution as a podcaster, his philosophy on learning and growth, and how he overcame initial fears in business develo...

Angela Davis Sullivan's transformative journey from dental assistant to sought-after leadership coach reveals the power of authentic brilliance emerging through gradual courage. Over two decades in dentistry, Angela discovered that her introverted nature wasn't a limitation—it was her secret weapon for connecting with quiet team members whose voices often went unheard. Her story illuminates a prof...

Dawn Scott's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a master of patient connection reveals how authentic brilliance emerges from embracing our most difficult experiences. Raised in an environment where she learned to "read between the lines" due to her mother's anxiety and depression, Dawn discovered her superpower: the intuitive ability to understand people's unspoken needs. Despite ini...

Dr. Kianor Shah illuminates the human journey behind his remarkable transformation from immigrant to global healthcare pioneer. Born amidst revolution in Iran and witnessing historic moments across three countries, his authentic brilliance emerged from these unique experiences, fueling his mission to return healthcare control to doctors. Despite fierce resistance when launching World's Top Doctors...

In this compelling conversation, Cassie Tallon shares her journey from hospitality marketing to becoming a fractional CMO/COO in the dental industry. She discusses her unique approach to leadership, combining operational excellence with deep empathy for team members' individual strengths and aspirations. Cassie emphasizes the importance of giving people permission to dream and breaking down limiti...

In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Matt Allen shares his authentic journey from dental director to founding Different Kind, a dental technology company transforming how practices collect and utilize patient feedback. The episode explores Matt's sabbatical year that created space for his authentic brilliance to emerge, his experience navigating uncertainty without guarantees, and his vision for...

In this captivating episode, Dr. Paul Goodman, founder of Dental Nachos, shares his remarkable journey from practicing dentist to creating one of dentistry's most influential communities. With infectious energy and authentic transparency, Paul discusses the challenges of dental practice, the importance of communication in healthcare, and how a simple Facebook group evolved into a movement that's c...

In this inspiring episode, Brenda McNulty shares her journey from reluctant dental assistant to successful leadership coach and consultant. She discusses how her faith, optimism, and willingness to take chances led her to create DSO Facts, a company providing fractional accountability coaching to dental practices. Brenda's story demonstrates how identifying your strengths and being unafraid to piv...

In this engaging conversation, Tim McNeely, founder of Dental Wealth Nation, shares his unique journey from Wharton-educated financial advisor to specialized dental practice consultant. Through personal experience with his dentist wife, Tim discovered the complex challenges dentists face in managing both their practices and wealth. He discusses the importance of building strong teams, maintaining...

In this episode, Sean Hamel shares his unexpected journey from aspiring financial advisor to successful musician to founding The Art of Dental Marketing. He discusses how helping a friend market his dental practice led to discovering fundamental truths about dental marketing - particularly that emotional connection and authenticity matter more than clinical credentials. Sean emphasizes the importa...

In this engaging episode, serial entrepreneur John Ayers shares his journey from childhood paper routes to founding Chapters.io, an innovative AI-assisted book publishing company. Through candid discussion, John reveals how his early experiences with technology, business ownership, and continuous learning shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. The conversation explores the evolution of his vario...

In this inspiring episode, Shawn Zajas sits down with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, a pioneer in dentistry and the co-founder of Practice by Numbers , to discuss her incredible journey from immigrant dental student to industry leader. Dr. Agarwal reflects on her fearless approach to life, from starting a dental practice from scratch in a challenging market to creating a revolutionary practice management plat...

In this episode, Shawn Zajas interviews Geri "Gigi" Gottlieb, a dental industry leader who empowers practices to embrace authentic leadership and connection. Gigi shares her journey from a ballerina and aspiring counselor to becoming a dental practice coach and consultant. Her story emphasizes breaking free from perfectionism, embracing vulnerability, and aligning with one’s core values to create...

Tonya Lanthier, founder of DentalPost, shares her inspiring journey from being a dental hygienist to becoming a successful entrepreneur with a significant business exit. Rooted in her deep care for people and an entrepreneurial spirit, Tonya reflects on the pivotal moments and challenges that shaped her journey. From flipping houses and starting a job board for dental professionals to scaling her...

In this episode, Dayna Johnson, founder of Navoni, shares her transformative journey from working in a dental practice to becoming a sought-after expert in optimizing dental systems and software. Starting as a young insurance coordinator, Dayna quickly became a trusted problem-solver in her practices, driven by a passion for helping others and a love of technology. Facing personal challenges, incl...

In this enlightening episode, host Shawn Zajas sits down with Dr. Victor Martel, a seasoned dentist, speaker, and mentor. Dr. Martel shares his unconventional journey into dentistry, which began when a physician advised him against pursuing medicine and suggested dentistry instead. He recounts how shadowing a charismatic dentist—who later became his mentor and partner—opened his eyes to the possib...

In this enlightening conversation, Tiffany Wuebben, RDH, shares her unique journey from the luxury hospitality industry to dentistry, bringing valuable insights from her experience at the Ritz-Carlton and La Costa Resort. She discusses how hospitality-based care can transform dental practices by creating memorable patient experiences that go beyond clinical excellence. The discussion covers practi...

In this inspiring conversation, Kim Mack shares her remarkable journey from dental hygienist to multi-practice owner and founder of Practice Strategies. Starting as a dental assistant before becoming a hygienist, Kim pursued an MBA while still practicing, driven by her vision of being more involved in the business side of dentistry. Together with her husband Ken, she built a successful dental prac...

In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the journey of Dr. Christian Coachman, a sixth-generation dentist who transformed modern dentistry through an unconventional career path and innovative thinking. Coming from a family with a 174-year legacy in dentistry (recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records), Coachman chose to challenge traditional career paths by continuing to work as a den...

In this Sandbox Session , Shawn Zajas sits down with Dee Dee Reid to explore the unique role of private practice dentists and the profound impact they have on their communities. Dee Dee, with her deep passion for personalized care, reflects on the unparalleled privilege that dentistry offers—forming lasting relationships with families, from grandparents to grandchildren, and becoming a trusted par...

In this episode of The Shawn Zajas Show , Shawn sits down with Carrie Weber of the Jameson Group, an organization dedicated to supporting dental practices across the country. What starts as a lighthearted conversation quickly dives deep into Carrie’s personal journey and the legacy of her family’s work in dentistry.  Carrie reflects on growing up in a high-performing family, led by her parent...

In this episode of The Shawn Zajas Show, Shawn sits down with Dr. Bob “Dee” Dokhanchi, a pioneering force in dentistry with a passion for leadership and community building. Dr. Dee opens up about his unique journey from an immigrant background to becoming a key figure in the dental world, sharing insights that go beyond clinical practice. Dr. Dee discusses the importance of authenticity and resili...