The Story Project w/ Joanna Scott

In this episode of The Story Project, Joanna sits down with Marni Blythe — national speaker, fractional COO, and founder of Full Pocket Coaching — for a conversation that goes deep fast and stays there.   Marni grew up losing everything at 12, a childhood that lit a fire in her she never let go out. From NYU to Fortune 500 boardrooms to dental stages across the country, she has spent 25 years buil...

In this episode of  The Story Project , Joanna sits down with Dr. Tara Aboumahboub for a conversation that moves far beyond dentistry. Known for blending advanced dentistry with a wellness-focused approach, Dr. Tara is helping shift the conversation around oral health, longevity, and the connection between the mouth and the rest of the body.   From growing up as a creative, sports-loving kid in So...

In this episode of The Story Project , Joanna sits down with Trish Constantine — a dental revenue cycle and credentialing specialist, former practice co-owner, and someone whose path into dentistry was anything but linear. From being a competitive swimmer from ages 6 to 24 to starting out in nursing and eventually building and selling a practice with her husband, Trish shares how those early exper...

In this episode of The Story Project Podcast , Joanna sits down with Dr. Erin Sheffield — board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, founder of The Doctor is All-In , and a bold voice for women in surgery — for a candid conversation about mastery, resilience, and what it means to fully claim your calling. From fainting during her early surgical experiences to becoming a leader in a field wher...

I n this episode of The Story Project , Joanna sits down with Dr. Ann Bynum — board-certified pediatric dentist, founder, speaker, and leader — for a conversation about resilience, leadership, and what it really takes to build something lasting. From launching her practice in the late 1990s without the modern tools we rely on today to carving out space in a male-dominated field, Ann shares how she...

In this episode of The Story Project, Joanna speaks with Dr. Savanah Craig — a dentist, podcast host, and powerful new voice for early-career professionals in dentistry. Savannah shares the unfiltered side of her journey, from the hyper-competitive grind of dental school to the moments of burnout that forced her to ask: is this the life I actually want? With honesty and vulnerability, she talks ab...

In this episode of The Story Project, Joanna Scott sits down with Anne Duffy — powerhouse founder of Dental Entrepreneur Woman (DeW), advocate for women's voices, and eternal optimist. Anne shares the surprising story behind launching DeW, a movement that began with a phone call and blossomed into a nationwide community of women supporting women in dentistry.   With warmth and wisdom, Anne unpacks...

In this episode of The Story Project , Joanna sits down with her friend Leslie Costes — wife, mom of three boys, community leader, and philanthropist— for an honest conversation about navigating life's transitions. Leslie shares what it's like to raise teenage sons in today's culture, from navigating the influence of technology to adjusting to the bittersweet season of sending kids off to college....

In this episode of  The Story Project , Dr. Zaneta Hamlin, owner of Cusp Dental Boutique, shares her personal journey of becoming a dentist, practice owner, and a woman who leads with both strength and humility. Inspired by her father, Dr. Hamlin found her calling in the fusion of creativity, compassion, and patient care. She opens up about the intentionality behind her space, the significance of...

In this emotional and deeply inspiring episode of  The Story Project , Dr. Cerisa Clouse shares her powerful journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope after losing her dental practice building to the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfires. A former U.S. Navy officer turned practice owner, Dr. Clouse opens up about the unexpected path to ownership, the toll of burnout from constantly pouring i...

In this episode of The Story Project, Joanna sits down with Ariel Kuhn, Creative Strategist at Studio EightyEight, to talk about the magic behind Brand Sessions—a custom experience designed to help leaders in the profession discover their brand story with clarity and authenticity. Ariel shares how the Discovery phase is all about asking the right questions to uncover a client's "why," creating a s...

In this episode of  The Story Project , Joanna sits down with Allison Lacoursiere—internationally recognized coach, consultant, and speaker—who shares her journey from dental assistant to industry leader. Allison reflects on how her own coaching experience inspired her to become a coach herself, founding  Clear Coaching LTD  and  Women in Digital Dentistry.  She opens up about the challenges many...

In this episode of  The Story Project Podcast , Joanna sits down with Dr. Valerie Woo—entrepreneur, pediatric dentist, mother of four, and mentor to women in dentistry. Dr. Woo shares her journey of founding NOVA Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics while navigating the challenges of new motherhood and business ownership. From getting her practice off the ground to overcoming self-doubt and burnout,...

In this episode of  The Story Project , host Joanna Scott sits down with Dr. Kalli Hale, an airway specialist passionate about the connection between oral health and overall well-being. With a deep background in obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Hale shares how her training has not only transformed her career but also her personal life. Together, they explore the incredible power of oxygen—both physica...

In this special episode of  The Story Project , Joanna Scott sits down with her husband and business partner, Joshua Scott, CEO of Studio 8E8, to discuss their journey in business, life, and achieving predictable success. They explore how the seasons of business ownership have shaped Studio 8E8's growth, from hiring strategies to organizational development. Josh emphasizes the importance of intent...

In this heartfelt episode of The Story Project, Joanna Scott and Dr. Karen Tindall dive into the emotional transition of becoming an empty nester. Karen, co-founder of The Mint Door, opens up about how sending her children to college impacted her identity and daily life. She describes the importance of allowing oneself to feel sadness and loneliness as natural responses to this major life shift. B...

In this episode of The Story Project, Dr. Sonia Chopra shares how her personal journey as a dental patient, marked by years of pain and unanswered questions, inspired her to pursue a career in endodontics. Now a board-certified endodontist and impact entrepreneur, Sonia relates deeply to her patients because of her own experiences. Her unique approach to care is both empathetic and deeply rooted i...

In this episode of the  Story Project  podcast, "Nurturing Female Friendships in Your Forties," I sit down with my dear friends, Sara Ritchie, CEO of Dental Flix, and Josey Sewell, creator of the Dental Operating System and Joyful People. Together, we explore the importance of building and nurturing authentic female friendships, especially for women in their forties balancing careers, family, and...

In this episode of The Story Project, we're joined by Katherine Eitel Belt, a leading coach in unscripted communications and founder of Lionspeak. Katherine's journey into dentistry began as a chairside assistant as a mere job for gas money, but evolved into a passion for coaching, consulting, and communication. We dive into the importance of courageous conversations in any professional setting. T...

Summer Kassmel is the owner of two group offices in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in CO. She was able to remove herself from clinical dentistry in 2014 and since then has created online training companies for front office team members and hygienists, as well as helping doctors start dental assistant schools in their own offices. She is also a black belt coach and speaker with DSI since 2019 and...

Dr. Kristine opened her first practice during the longest economic downturn since World War II. Was there magic in her approach? Not at all. She is a technology geek who is dental phobic, so she combined the best technology available with a patient-first approach and grew her practice into what it is today.   Dr . Kris's practice has a digital technology flow that honors patient's busy schedules a...

Samantha Jones is a powerhouse of strength and creativity, fueling her passion for empowering others through her business and life transformation company called Cre8Wise Movement. As a loving wife and nurturing mother, Samantha's dedication extends beyond her family, as she also leads a charitable organization. Through this organization, Samantha helps underserved women find independence by provid...

Meet my guest Crystal Spring, Founder and CEO of Smiles Across Montana!  With nearly three decades of experience in the dental industry, Crystal Spring is an innovator and influencer in the mobile and public healthcare industries. Crystal is the founder of Smiles Across Montana, a non-profit mobile dentistry organization that serves the state with access to care programs that are changing lives an...

With over 20 years as a professional in the dental industry, Malika Azargoon has established herself as a top dental management consultant in the DC Metro area. As a George Washington University graduate, her initial plan was to pursue a career in dentistry. However, as her family grew, her focus and passion shifted slightly from building her own practice to helping others create and grow their ex...

Dr. Tina Saw is a general dentist and entrepreneur with more than 15 years in the dental industry. She is the founder and CEO of Oral Genome, a point-of-care dental saliva testing company that is transforming dental prevention and early disease detection for providers and their patients. Previously, she grew her dental practice, Elevated Smiles into the #1 dental practice in San Diego County, and...