The Making of a Dental Startup

Building Ashley's Second Smile & Co. Office: Floor Plans, Architects, and Unexpected Surprises In this episode, Ashley and Collin go behind the scenes of building Ashley's second Smile & Co. office, diving into the two-year construction timeline and the decisions that shaped the space from day one. Ashley opens up about drawing her own floor plan on taped-together printer paper, why she br...

Michelin Star Moves: The Morning Huddle That Changes Everything In this episode Ashley and Collin break down the morning huddle that has become a non negotiable part of how Smile and Co. runs every single day. From starting with gratitude to identifying VIP patients, this quick episode is full of tactical takeaways you can implement in your own practice starting tomorrow morning. What You'll Hear...

The Making Of Evelina Smiles | Front Desk, Floors, and Soft Opening Strategy with Dr. Rich Constantine In this episode Ashley catches up with Dr. Rich Constantine after a few weeks away and gets a full update on everything happening at Evelina Smiles. From hiring the front office team to finally solving the herringbone flooring saga, to insurance decisions and the philosophy that is shaping how Ri...

The Making Of Evelina Smiles | Branding, Marketing, and Building Something That Lasts with Josh Scott of Studio 8E8 In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine and Josh Scott, founder of Studio 8E8. They talk about everything from the story behind the Evelina Smiles name and logo to ad spend strategy, grand opening timing, and what actually makes a startup marketing campaign work, t...

How To Build A Team That Actually Fits Your Culture  In this episode Ashley and Collin sit down for a quick but packed conversation on one of the most important and most overlooked parts of building a dental practice. Hiring. Ashley has spent eight years building the culture at Smile and Co. and she shares everything she has learned along the way. From personality tests to working interviews, from...

Technology, Equipment, and the Nuts and Bolts of Building Evelina Smiles In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine for a deep dive into every system, tool, and piece of equipment going into Evelina Smiles before the doors open. The decisions nobody tells you about until you are already making them. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 05:00 – Practice Management Software Cloud-based...

The Making Of Smile and Co. #2 — Smile Design Studio | The Come To Jesus Moment, Insurance, and Financing In this episode Ashley and Collin sit down inside Smile Design Studio, the very office they are talking about building, for a raw and honest conversation about the decisions that shaped both Smile and Co. locations. From the come to Jesus meeting that almost stopped the second location from ha...

Branding, Culture, and the Vision Behind Evelina Smiles In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine to go behind the brand. From the story behind the name to the team he is building from scratch, this one is equal parts heart and strategy. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 05:00 – Where the Name Comes From Evelina is named after his grandmother Evelyn. Why he chose a name with meani...

The Hospitality Standard There is a reason Michelin-star restaurants have people coming back again and again. It is not just the food. It is the way they make you feel from the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave. Ashley Joves has spent years applying that same philosophy to dentistry at Smile & Co. In this episode, she breaks down exactly what she does so you and your team can...

In this episode, Collin and Ashley take a moment to pause the regular schedule and check in. Between navigating personal health journeys and managing a growing business, the duo realizes they’ve been sitting on a treasure trove of history. While the podcast continues to spotlight new dental startups across the country, Ash and Col are officially opening "The Vault" to finally tell the story of Smi...

Location, Demographics, and Financing Your Dream Build In this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine for a deep dive into the decisions that happen long before a single wall goes up. Real numbers, real mistakes, and real talk for anyone thinking about a ground up build. What You'll Hear in This Episode: 05:00 – Location and Site Selection How Rich found his first lot on a downtown wal...

The Marketing Truth Every Startup Doc Needs to Hear | Josh Scott of Studio 8E8 and Dr. Toni of Bloom Dental Co. In this episode, Ashley sits down with Josh Scott, founder of Studio 8E8, and Dr. Toni Torres of Bloom Dental Co. for one of the most practical and inspiring branding and marketing conversations we have ever had on this podcast. From building a brand before you have a lease to finding yo...

The Making Of 323 Dentistry with Dr. Brian In this episode, Collin sits down with Dr. Brian, founder of 323 Dentistry in Newhall, CA — a practice built on prevention-first care, fee transparency, and hard-earned pivots. From a bank-robbing former employer to a ground-up build finally breaking ground, Dr. Brian's journey is one of the most raw and relatable we've ever heard. What You'll Learn: From...

This episode serves as the ultimate "Intro" to a brand-new chapter of The Making Of. We aren't just talking about a new office; we’re documenting the evolution of Dr. Rich Constantine as he embarks on his most intentional project yet: Evelina Smiles . Rich pulls back the curtain on his entire career arc—a journey that has seen him go from a high-level Associate to launching his first successful St...

"You can't have beauty without that foundation of health and function." In this episode of The Making Of..., Collin sits down with Dr. Megan of Soleil Dental Co. to pull back the curtain on a truly unique path to ownership. Dr. Megan didn't just decide to open a practice; she decided to build a "village" in her hometown after realizing the standard associate track couldn't contain her vision. Her...

Collin sits down with Dr. Toni Torres to see how Bloom Dental Co. is flourishing five months post-launch.  1. Clinical & Financial Milestones The Profit Pivot: Bloom hit profitability in Month 3 and doubled it in Month 4, fueled by a successful All-on-X case. The $30k Tax Surprise: Toni shares the relief of a $30,000 tax refund due to startup investment losses—a crucial "cash cushion" as she n...

In this episode, Collin Al-Samarrie talks with Dr. Dixie Mobley , an Air Force veteran and founder of Pearl and Pine Dental Studio . They discuss her rapid transition from military dentistry to building a "bomb-shelter" startup in the Florida Panhandle. Episode Timestamps [00:00] Intro & "This or That" with Dr. Dixie. [05:42] The Origin Story: Following her father’s private practice footsteps....

Life, Wellness, and the "Marathon Mindset" In this raw and intimate "living room session," Ashley, Collin, and Brian sit down to pass a single mic and share a major life update. This isn't your typical clinical podcast; it’s a deep dive into the "Not Alone" mission that defines The Making Of. From Brian’s miraculous PET scan results to a surprise marathon challenge and the role of AI in personal w...

In this raw, "on-the-go" episode, Brian and Ashley take you on a Thursday afternoon walk in California to discuss the most intense season of their lives. Recorded just after receiving life-changing medical imaging results, this conversation bridges the gap between the clinical "battle" and the human "journey." From the "hangover" of chemotherapy to a radical shift in nutrition, this is a deep dive...

Episode Overview: We are re-releasing one of our most popular and impactful conversations! In this episode, Dr. Ashley Joves sits down with the legendary Dr. Rob Ritter for a masterclass in dental practice longevity, leadership, and the art of the high-end consult. Dr. Ritter shares the hard-won wisdom from his 30+ years in practice, diving into the "benevolent dictatorship" model of leadership, t...

In This Episode, We Discuss: The Physicality of Dentistry: Toni discusses how she combats the postural strain and why ergonomic loupes have been a game-changer for her migraines and neck pain. The $17,000 "Happy Accident": Toni recounts her first All-on-4 restoration case.  Relinquishing the Vine: Dr. Ashley Joves reflects on the "forced delegation" of her business, realizing that building a team-...

In this raw "trifecta" episode, Ashley, Brian, and Collin sit down for a candid update on Brian’s battle with Stage 4 tongue cancer. Recorded just weeks before a life-altering surgery, the team discusses the physical toll of chemo, the overwhelming weight of "decision fatigue," and how the dental community has rallied to support them. This is an unfiltered look at resilience and the reality of nav...

In this week’s episode, Collin Al-Samarrie sits down with Dr. Toni Torres of Bloom Dental Co. to navigate the high-stakes month leading up to her formal grand opening. From the logistics of hosting a city-sanctioned ribbon cutting to the sudden "panic" of realizing your practice is growing faster than your team can handle, Toni pulls back the curtain on the emotional and operational roller coaster...

Life in the Making — An Update from Dr. Ashley Joves After a brief hiatus, Dr. Ashley Joves is back in the booth with Collin Al-Samarrie . While The Making Of usually focuses on the grit of dental startups, this episode takes a deeply personal turn as Ashley shares the "life" part of the journey—specifically, the challenging season her family has walked through since December. In this transparent...

EPISODE 12  “The Business of Branding, Banned Words, and Burst Water Heaters” In this week’s episode Dr. Ashley Joves, Dr. Toni Torres, and Collin dive deep into the "messy middle" of the startup journey—moving from the dry world of legal paperwork into the high-stakes world of branding and insurance. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the "invisible" work of being an owner, this episode is a must...