People often take the easy path, but what can you achieve and grow by jumping into thorny problems that don’t have an obvious solution?

Today's guest on Contrary to Ordinary is Dr. Alex Vieira. He’s a pioneer in cleft-palate research, has authored more than 400 scientific papers, and is the most cited expert in the field.

In this episode, Alex shares his journey from growing up in Rio de Janeiro during the military regime to becoming a leading figure in oral health research. He discusses his decision to pursue dentistry, influenced by an admired uncle, the challenges of starting his research career during the AIDS epidemic, and his fascination with the Human Genome Project.

In this episode’s commentary, Kim discusses the importance of the entrepreneurial mindset and the roles of genetics and environment in shaping human behavior. He emphasizes the value of collaboration, the importance of local contributions to global impact, and the need to maintain high research standards. 

Overall, Alex believes in following one's passion and making meaningful changes in the immediate environment, which he sees as having a trickle-down effect on broader societal improvements.

Episode Highlights

01:49 –Alex’s early life.

04:41 – How working with genetics changed the trajectory of Alex’s career.

08:00 – Kim’s thoughts: Surround yourself with those you admire - the rest will follow.

08:46 – The Human Genome Project and dentistry.

12:10 – The road less travelled and the genetics of extraordinary.

14:47 –Kim's thoughts: Can you change your genetic predisposition through forming new habits?

15:55 – The complicated world of genetics and dental caries.

19:49 – What drives Alex?

20:41 – Kim's thoughts: The entrepreneurial mindset isn’t just for business people.

23:43 –How does Alex maintain a high standard of work?

24:47 – What’s next for Alex?

25:56 – Alex’s final thoughts.

Resources

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• CariFree Website
• CariFree on Instagram
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• CariFree on Pinterest
• Dr. Alex Vieira Bio
• The Human Genome Project Website
• The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones - James Clear

Today's guest is Dr. Bradley Bale, a pioneering cardiologist and co-founder of the BaleDoneen Method.

In this episode, we explore Brad’s fearless approach to life, the driving force behind his groundbreaking practice, and dive into why he’s willing to take a few arrows in the back for what he believes in.

The BaleDoneen Method is a personalized approach to preventing and managing heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). It focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of arterial disease rather than just addressing risk factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

The BaleDoneen Method Website

Beat the Heart Attack Gene

The Bezos Blueprint
The Biology of Kindness

What's In This Episode

• Brad’s motivation for taking a few arrows in the back.
• Why the cardiovascular status quo isn’t good enough.
• The financial incentives of late-stage treatment and not prevention.
• The power of optimistic thinking.

Today's guest is Dr. Sandra Hulac, co-founder of Tam, Hulac & Partners, a cutting-edge interdisciplinary dental practice in Hong Kong. 

In this episode, we dive into what it means to be a global citizen and business owner. We’ll also get a rare, inside look at how someone as accomplished as Sandra handles challenges - and even navigates moments of self-doubt.

Sandra has been living and practicing in Hong Kong since 2001 and has also worked in London, Germany, and the US. 

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Tam, Hulac & Partners Website
Why young people worldwide want and need ‘meaningful work’

What's In This Episode

• How Sandra found herself working in Hong Kong.
• Sandra’s approach to tackling challenges in her life.
• What Sandra thinks makes someone extraordinary.
• Her advice to young people.

Today's guest is Sheena Hinson, Senior Marketing Manager at Philips. Sheena's journey began as a dental hygienist, but she quickly uncovered a passion for business development. Since then, she’s not only launched her own ventures but also built a vast expertise in entrepreneurship.

This is part two of Sheena’s interview. In this episode, she opens up about her struggles, and how reaching out for support has helped her grow. She also reflects on how she balances short-term and long-term thinking in business and finding mentors in unlikely places.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Sheena Hinson on LinkedIn

Sheena Hinson on Instagram

What's In This Episode

• Sheena’s mission to reach out to others and learn.
• The short-term vs long-term dilemma of business-focused thinking.
• How we have more in common than we think.
• Sheena’s life of constant improvement

Today's guest is Sheena Hinson, Senior Marketing Manager at Philips. Sheena's journey began as a dental hygienist, but she quickly uncovered a passion for business development. Since then, she’s not only launched her own ventures but also built a vast expertise in entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Sheena shares insights on the importance of human capital, the role of mentors, and the value of curiosity and perseverance in personal and professional growth.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Sheena Hinson on LinkedIn

Sheena Hinson on Instagram

What's In This Episode

• How Sheena became an “accidental expert”.
• Sheena’s style of leadership from the ground up.
• The Socratic Mentoring method.
• How trust has to be earned.

Today's guest is Dr. Tracey Nguyen, the owner of Lansdowne Dental Care in Leesburg, Virginia. In addition to her general practice, Tracey specializes in airway health, with a particular focus on pediatric care. She is also among an elite group of only 350 individuals worldwide accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Tracey’s journey to success was far from easy. Growing up in poverty and facing challenging circumstances, she lacked the guidance of strong role models. Now, reflecting on her past, she is committed to giving back by serving as a mentor and teacher to others in her community.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Dr. Tracey Nguyen Website

Dr. Tracey Nguyen on Instagram

Machell Hudson on resilience and compassion

What's In This Episode

• Tracey’s origin story.
• Why airway health is important to dentistry.
• Why accountability is so important.
• How teaching should benefit the student and the teacher.

This week's guest is the phenomenal Dr. Steve Lamberg, one of the world's leading experts in dental sleep medicine—a field that explores the critical roles sleep and breathing play in maintaining our health and well-being. 

Steve has been practicing dentistry on Long Island for over 45 years, where he runs the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Dental Treatment Center alongside his general practice. 

Steve is also the author of Treat the Cause... Treat the Airway: The Role of Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Contemporary Preventive Medicine, a book that reveals how common and dangerous snoring, sleep apnea and adult sleep problems can be. 

Steve believes that we should all stop and smell the roses sometimes. Even when we're very busy, taking time for this helps us not sweat the small stuff and live life to the fullest.

Resources
Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Dr. Steve Lamberg on LinkedIn

Dr. Steve Lamberg Website

Dr. Steve Lamberg on Instagram

Treat the Cause... Treat the Airway: The Role of Snoring & Sleep Apnea in Contemporary Preventive Medicine

The GROW Coaching Method

What's In This Episode

• How Steve became interested in sleep as a subject area.
• Why dentists should be coaching patients toward better health outcomes.
• Why you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff.
• What would Steve tell his 25-year-old self?

This week’s guest is Dominik Lysek, an entrepreneur with over 15 years of impactful contributions to the dental and pharmaceutical industries. He is the CEO of PharmaTrail, a Swiss company specializing in blockchain-based software solutions for capturing and managing clinical trial data. Dominik also serves on the board of several companies, including the dental science firm Vvadis and the RNA-based therapeutics organization Altamira Therapeutics.

In 2010, Dominik founded Credentis, a company that pioneered groundbreaking enamel restoration technology. This marked the beginning of his journey in innovation and entrepreneurial success.

Please be advised that this episode includes a discussion of cancer mortality.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Dominik Lysek on LinkedIn

PharmaTrail Website

Altamira Therapeutics Website

The Futuri Foundation (The Future Foundation) Website

The Mentor’s Guide Sample Chapter
CancerCare's Cancer Grief Resource

What's In This Episode

• Dominik's entrepreneurial journey.
• The relationship between mentor and mentee.
• Why overnight success takes years.
• How Dominik’s wife supported him.

This week's guest is Dr. Kelly Blodgett, a man who has made it his life’s mission to challenge the “negative stereotype of dentistry.” Kelly Blodgett founded Blodgett Dental Care in 2001 where active listening plays a crucial role in the patient experience. 

Kelly was also one of the first within dentistry to recognize the significance of the mouth-body health connection. He shares his expertise with a large audience on Instagram, where his popular weekly series, Toxic Tooth Tuesdays and Wellness Wednesdays, have garnered significant attention. The success of Toxic Tooth Tuesdays even led him to take it on tour across the country.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Dr. Kelly Blodgett on LinkedIn

Dr. Kelly Blodgett on Instagram

Blodgett Dental Care Website

What Is Active Listening? - The Harvard Business Review

What's In This Episode

• Kelly’s experience on a crisis line.
• Why active listening is so important.
• How Kelly manages the patient experience.
• How the Toxic Tooth Tour came to be.

This week's guest is Dr. Tina Saw, a dentist and serial entrepreneur. She founded Light Solutions Company, which creates wireless lights for dentists, Harmony Health Foundation, an organization supporting healthcare in underserved communities, and Oral Genome, which uses saliva testing to identify potential health issues before they arise.

Tina is a proactive problem solver who can't help but create solutions for any problem she encounters. Currently, she doesn't have much work-life balance. With two young children and multiple startups to run, Tina is certainly in her busy era.

This conversation took place at SmileCon 2023 in Orlando, Florida, so be prepared for some background noise and maybe even some music.

Resources

Follow your curiosity, connect, and join our ever-growing community of extraordinary minds.

CariFree Website

CariFree on Instagram

CariFree on Facebook

CariFree on Pinterest

Dr. Tina Saw on LinkedIn

Oral Genome Website

Harmony Health Website

Light Solutions Company Website

How to avoid egg on your face from common founder f**k ups - StartUp Factory Article

What's In This Episode

• How Tina became a serial entrepreneur.
• Is there such a thing as work-life balance?
• Why many people should think twice about starting a business.
• How Tina stopped people pleasing.