The Real Talk of Dental

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with Dr. Connie Wang—associate dentist, former pharmacist, and one of the most thoughtful voices for early-career clinicians navigating confidence, connection, and culture in dentistry. Dr. Connie shares her journey from pharmacy school to graduating from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, and what it’s really like being a newer asso...

In this deeply moving and refreshingly honest episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with Olivia Woo , a 20-year-old entrepreneurship student and the daughter of Dr. Valerie Woo (guest of Episode 19), to explore what it’s really like growing up as the child of a high-achieving dentist and entrepreneur. Olivia was literally along for the ride—her mom was pregnant with her while opening her...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Marissa Gonzalez—the OG unicorn of Thrive Tribe and a powerful voice in dental marketing—to unpack what marketing really is when you strip away the noise, metrics, and performative strategies. With a background in journalism and a heart for storytelling, Marissa brings a refreshing, grounded perspective to branding, hiring, and personal v...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Nathaniel Baker—Key Account Executive at Overjet and one of the most refreshingly honest voices emerging in dental leadership. Nathaniel hasn’t been in dentistry forever—and that’s exactly what makes his perspective so powerful. With a background in physiology, physical therapy, and sales, he brings a grounded, human lens to leadership, t...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Dr. Melanie Silvestrini—a dentist, creator, coach, and rising voice in the profession who is redefining what it means to be a clinician in today’s world. At just 30 years old, Dr. Melanie has already built a powerful personal brand by blending clinical excellence with creativity, spirituality, and deep self-awareness. Her journey—from den...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Brittany Rogars—Open Dental savant, founder of SKF Practice Solutions, and the woman quietly rescuing front office teams from burnout one button click at a time. Brittany started in dentistry with zero experience, simply trying to support her young family. Today, she’s one of the most respected experts in Open Dental software, known for h...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Steve Craig—a 25-year veteran in dental sales, national educator on water safety, and someone I proudly call one of the biggest supporters of this show. Steve has seen dentistry evolve from every angle: vendors, practice operations, the business of dentistry, patient expectations, and the massive changes brought by technology and AI. But...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Dr. Valerie Woo—pediatric dentist, founder of Valerie Woo Consulting, high-capacity achiever, and a powerhouse advocate for helping women dentists reclaim their joy, identity, and sanity. Dr. Woo built a thriving multimillion-dollar pediatric practice from scratch straight out of residency… with a newborn, $2M in debt, zero business train...

In this deeply honest part-two conversation with Dr. Jeff Grove, we pull back the curtain on one of the most emotionally charged topics in dentistry today: associateship—what works, what fails, and why so many docs on both sides feel frustrated, misunderstood, or burnt out. Jeff built his career from owning a single thriving practice with multiple associates… to leading 10 dental offices as clinic...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with Dr. Tanya Sue Maestas—public health dentist, advocate, and unapologetic joy-bringer—to talk about what it really looks like to build a fulfilling dental career rooted in service, authenticity, and humor. A 2018 graduate who now serves a Native American community in El Paso, Dr. Maestas has carved out a career in public health that defies...

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of The Real Talk of Dental , host Brandi Marzolino sits down with Joanne Ignatov, a veteran dental assistant, educator, and passionate advocate for dental assistants across Canada and beyond. Joanne shares her 30-year journey from chairside assisting to teaching and coaching, revealing the emotional resilience, leadership, and untapped potential that denta...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , Brandi sits down with Caitlin Parsons—better known as The Aligned Hygienist . A registered dental hygienist, yoga therapist, and ergonomics educator, Caitlin is on a mission to help dental professionals reconnect with their bodies, reduce pain, and live in full alignment—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Caitlin shares her journey from early-career...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , Brandi sits down with Kelly Duggan—personal brand strategist, success coach, and certified image consultant—who helps professionals master the art of showing up with presence. Kelly dives deep into how style, posture, communication, and energy all work together to shape how others perceive you as a leader. Together, they unpack how presence goes far bey...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , Brandi sits down with the bold and hilarious Trish Mooradian — registered dental hygienist, mom, entrepreneur, and unapologetic advocate for hygienists knowing their worth and owning their power. Trish is on a mission to help hygienists stop settling, start earning what they deserve, and transform their hygiene careers into purpose-driven, profitable, a...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with Nicole Toudouze —a dental marketing and branding pro turned conscious entrepreneur—whose story is one of courage, authenticity, and reinvention. Nicole shares her remarkable journey from building a thriving dental marketing agency to intentionally dismantling and rebuilding it in full alignment with who she’s become. After years of exter...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, I sit down with Dr. Jeff Grove—dentist, entrepreneur, and now leadership coach—whose story is as real as it gets. From growing up in dentistry alongside his father, to expanding into 10 practices, to ultimately walking away from the chaos to create a new life in Colorado, Jeff shares the highs, the burnout, and the wake-up calls that reshaped his definit...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with Ken Kaufman—co-founder of Accruent, CFO, and unapologetic numbers nerd on a mission to drag dentistry out of financial guesswork and into clarity. Ken has been in the CFO seat of high-growth organizations for nearly two decades, and he’s seen firsthand how bad data, cash-basis accounting, and “hope-based” leadership sink practices. Inste...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with public health hygienist, nonprofit founder, and relentless advocate Crystal Spring to talk about what’s really holding dentistry back: access, division, and a culture that ignores the patients who need us most. From her start as a hygienist serving nursing homes to building Smiles Across Montana into a statewide nonprofit, Crystal has se...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with coach, consultant, and first-gen Latina leader Edna Abreu to talk about what’s really keeping dental practices from thriving: judgment, culture, and leadership that doesn’t go deeper than surface level. From her start in the trenches as a dental assistant to becoming a trusted consultant, Edna has lived the reality of being dismissed for...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with psychologist and organizational leadership advocate Jonathan Bonanno – known in the industry as Chief Psycho —to unpack the truth about culture, psychological safety, and the addiction to being needed inside dentistry. Jonathan shares his journey from corporate consulting in pharma and medical to the dental world, where he now champions...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with CPA-turned-dental coach Doug Fettig to talk about what really happens when leadership and life collide, and how choosing curiosity, not perfection, can transform both your career and your joy. Doug shares the pivotal moments that shaped his path. From losing everything on a backpacking trip in Europe to the devastating loss of his son Pa...

In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I sit down with dentist-turned-coach Laura Schwindt to talk about what really happens when burnout takes over your career, and how choosing yourself can open the door to an entirely new life. Laura opens up about the breaking point that led her from a thriving dental practice to a path of coaching, the messy middle of admitting she needed help, and the...

In this unfiltered episode of The Real Talk of Dental , we get real about the double standards, hidden biases, and emotional toll women face in leadership – both in and outside of dentistry. Drawing from my own experiences and the stories of women across the industry, I talk about the quiet, persistent patterns that keep women undervalued, underpaid, and misunderstood. From being labeled “emotiona...

In this raw, no-filter episode of The Real Talk of Dental , I’m joined by two powerhouse hygienists and founders of LD Coaching—Laura Bettencourt and Danielle Avila—for a conversation that puts words to what so many in the industry are feeling but can’t say out loud. We talk about the silent epidemic of burnout, navigating toxic office dynamics, and the very real identity shift that happens when y...

In this bold and unfiltered first episode, I’m sharing the real reason I started The Real Talk of Dental —and why this podcast isn’t just another surface-level industry show. From my journey from geologist to health coach to dental leadership coach, to my deep commitment to sobriety and women's empowerment, this episode lays the foundation for everything that’s coming. I talk about the pain I’ve w...