The Independent Dental Practice Podcast

Episode Title Dr. Sabrina O’Shee: Her Journey to Practice Ownership Description In this episode of The Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera speaks with Dr. Sabrina O’Shee, who shares her inspiring journey from working alongside her father to owning her own practice, her passion for orofacial pain management, and the realities of transitioning into ownership. Listeners will gain val...

Episode Title: Dr. Sonya Wintzell: Her Journey from Associate to Partner to Owner Description  In this episode of The Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Sonya Wintzell to unpack her journey from a new dental school graduate to practice owner. With clarity, honesty, and passion, Dr. Wintzell shares how mentorship, open communication, and intentional leadership s...

Description In this deeply moving and insightful conversation, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Dawn Cheney Baker to explore her incredible journey through dentistry—one marked by loss, grit, growth, and unwavering determination. From the early days of dental school to navigating personal tragedy, Dr. Baker shares how each chapter of her life has shaped her clinical philosophy and leadership sty...

Episode Title From India to Ownership: Dr. Toral Pandya’s Path to Purpose-Driven Dentistry Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Toral Pandya, a California-based practice owner whose journey spans continents and challenges. Trained initially in India, Dr. Pandya shares her candid, inspiring story of immigrating to the U.S., navig...

Episode Title Dr. Maryam Golshani: Her Journey into Practice Ownership Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, host Dr. Sonny Spera welcomes Dr. Maryam Golshani to share her inspiring journey from childhood dental fascination to becoming a successful fee-for-service practice owner. With candid reflections on personal loss, professional burnout, and eventually findin...

Episode Title Dr. Sonia Chopra: Aligning Personal Values with Business and Ownership Description In this episode, Dr. Sonia Chopra sits down with Dr. Bob Spera to discuss her personal and professional transformation in dentistry. From her early days of burnout and overwork to building a thriving fee-for-service endodontic practice, Dr. Chopra shares how she redefined success on her own terms. She...

Episode Title Dr. Fauzia Khan: Her Journey Into Practice Ownership Description  Dr. Fauzia Khan joins Dr. Sonny Spera to share her inspiring journey from associate to startup practice owner in Lake Bluff, IL. A mother of five, she built her fee-for-service office from scratch, guided by a clear personal and professional vision. This episode explores how Dr. Khan balanced family with clinical excel...

Episode Title From Refugee to Owner: Dr. Emily Letran’s Journey to Multi-Practice Success Description Dr. Emily Letran joins Dr. Sonny Spera to share her extraordinary journey from escaping war in Vietnam to becoming a leading dental entrepreneur in the U.S. She opens up about life in a refugee camp, adjusting to a new country, building multiple practices while raising a family, and her path to be...

Episode Title Dr. Rod Bahjat, President & CEO of All Practice Solutions, and His Journey Description  In this episode of The Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Rod Bahjat, founder and CEO of All Practice Solutions. From a medical degree in Baghdad to building one of the fastest-growing dental equipment companies in the U.S., Dr. Bahjat’s story is one of res...

Description  In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera interviews Dr. Madalina Ivan, a general dentist and practice owner based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Originally from Romania, Dr. Ivan walks us through her extraordinary journey from communist-era Eastern Europe to becoming a dental practice owner in the United States. This conversation is part of a specia...

Episode Title Dr. Bradley Coons Part 2: His Move to Independence from Insurance When 70% of His Practice Was PPO Description In this powerful follow-up episode, Dr. Bradley Coons shares the real story behind his transition from a high-volume, insurance-heavy dental practice to a fully out-of-network, independently aligned business model. With Dr. Sonny Spera guiding the conversation, this episode...

Dr. Bradley Coons Part 1: His Journey Into Private Practice Ownership Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera interviews Dr. Bradley Coons about his path from dental school to owning his own practice in Folsom, California. Dr. Coons shares how his upbringing in an entrepreneurial family shaped his mindset, why lifestyle and family location drove his...

Episode Title Dr. Kim Power: Her Journey in Dentistry From Associate to Owner Description  In this unfiltered and inspiring episode, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Kim Power to discuss her journey from dental school to becoming a thriving practice owner in North Carolina. With humor, honesty, and no-nonsense insights, Dr. Power walks us through her early years as an associate, her unique path...

Episode Title The DocSites: From Humble Beginnings to a Successful Marketing Company Description  In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera interviews Parham from DocSites — a website and marketing company exclusively focused on helping dental and medical practices thrive. Parham shares his inspiring immigrant story, entrepreneurial background, and the journey fro...

Episode Title Dr. Van Orenstein Part 2: Going Out of Network — How, Why, and When Description  In Part 2 of this inspiring conversation, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Van Orenstein to dive into the real story behind going out of network: the motivations, the method, and the mindset. Dr. Van shares the challenges of transitioning away from insurance dependence, how he kept his practice thrivin...

Episode Title Dr. Van Ornstein Part 1: My Journey in Dentistry — Dr. Sonny Spera Interviews Dr. Van Orenstein Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, host Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Van Orenstein, a board-certified pediatric dentist and founder of Newton Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Orenstein shares the powerful story behind his journey into dentistry, including...

Episode Title Partnerships: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly with Dr. Thomas Reed Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera welcomes longtime friend and experienced practitioner Dr. Thomas Reed. With over two decades in private practice, multiple partnerships, and acquisitions under his belt, Dr. Reed unpacks the full spectrum of what it means to be in...

Find the resource material here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gXoft2lmZqW1q7C1mmcYYfIbVtBYD5Km?usp=drive_link Description In Part 2 of this compelling conversation, Dr. Sonny Spera continues his interview with Dr. Michael Abernathy, a legendary figure in the dental world whose no-nonsense wisdom has helped shape the careers of countless dentists. Dr. Abernathy dives deep into his scalab...

Find the resource material here :  Description In this episode of The Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with the legendary Dr. Michael Abernathy, a trailblazer in the dental industry who has built and scaled numerous successful practices. Dr. Abernathy shares his journey from a young lab technician to owning multiple high-performing dental practices, emphasizing key le...

Episode Title: Building a Referral-Based Practice, Part 2 Find the resource material here : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jQaF7GfYcZTNex55X10715mxFjLoW7eg?usp=sharing Episode Description In this episode, we continue our conversation with Jennifer de St. Georges, a leading expert in dental practice management. We dive deeper into the importance of performance reviews, how to handle diffic...

Episode Title: Building a Referral-Based Practice, Part 1 Find the resource material here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jQaF7GfYcZTNex55X10715mxFjLoW7eg?usp=sharing Description: In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera welcomes the legendary Jennifer de St. George, a pioneer in dental practice management. Jennifer shares her no-nonsense approach to bui...

Description: In this episode, Dr. Sonny Spera sits down with Dr. Ed Feinberg, a seasoned expert in restorative dentistry with over 40 years of experience. Dr. Feinberg shares his deep insights on implants, crown and bridge, and why modern dentistry is ignoring fundamental engineering principles. With a lineage tracing back to pioneers in full-coverage restorative techniques, he challenges mainstre...

Episode Title: Lessons from a Dental Startup: Burnout, Bankruptcy, and a Fresh Start Description In this episode of the Independent Dental Practice Podcast, host Dr. Sonny Spira catches up with Dr. Lejla Straits, who made the difficult decision to close her startup practice just three months ago. After transitioning from the military to practice ownership, Dr. Straits faced physical and mental bur...

Description In this episode of the independent dental practice podcast, host Dr. Sonny Spirit sits down with dental legend Dr. Richard Madow—a seasoned consultant, coach, and award-winning musician. Dr. Madow shares his extensive experience in transforming dental practices through effective communication, humanizing patient care, and cutting through industry jargon. Listeners gain insight into his...

Episode Title: Mastering Team Building & Leadership: Hiring the Right People, Strengthening Office Culture, and Leading with Impact. Description In this episode of The Independent Dental Practice Podcast, Dr. Sonny Spera welcomes renowned dental consultant and speaker Dr. Bob Pick. Together, they discuss the crucial aspects of building a high-performing dental team, developing strong leadershi...