Innovation in Dentistry

In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Matt Allen shares his authentic journey from dental director to founding Different Kind, a dental technology company transforming how practices collect and utilize patient feedback. The episode explores Matt's sabbatical year that created space for his authentic brilliance to emerge, his experience navigating uncertainty without guarantees, and his vision for revolutionizing dental data collection. Through powerful metaphors about rivers, boats, and placing stones one at a time, Matt reveals how embracing his unique path led to creating technology that helps practices improve both patient outcomes and business performance. His story exemplifies how stepping beyond clinical dentistry can lead to unprecedented impact when we trust our vision even without seeing the full road ahead.

Connect with Matt Allen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentkind/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imdifferentkind/

X: https://twitter.com/imdifferentkind 

In this captivating episode, Dr. Paul Goodman, founder of Dental Nachos, shares his remarkable journey from practicing dentist to creating one of dentistry's most influential communities. With infectious energy and authentic transparency, Paul discusses the challenges of dental practice, the importance of communication in healthcare, and how a simple Facebook group evolved into a movement that's changing how dentists learn and connect. From his early days working with his father to building a multi-faceted business empire, Paul offers invaluable insights about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of dental education.

In this inspiring episode, Brenda McNulty shares her journey from reluctant dental assistant to successful leadership coach and consultant. She discusses how her faith, optimism, and willingness to take chances led her to create DSO Facts, a company providing fractional accountability coaching to dental practices. Brenda's story demonstrates how identifying your strengths and being unafraid to pivot can lead to greater impact and fulfillment. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards while showing grace to others, and how her mission extends beyond business success to creating positive change through charitable giving.

In this engaging conversation, Tim McNeely, founder of Dental Wealth Nation, shares his unique journey from Wharton-educated financial advisor to specialized dental practice consultant. Through personal experience with his dentist wife, Tim discovered the complex challenges dentists face in managing both their practices and wealth. He discusses the importance of building strong teams, maintaining soul in business, and creating lasting legacies. The conversation delves into entrepreneurial struggles, the value of community, and the future of private practice dentistry.

In this episode, Sean Hamel shares his unexpected journey from aspiring financial advisor to successful musician to founding The Art of Dental Marketing. He discusses how helping a friend market his dental practice led to discovering fundamental truths about dental marketing - particularly that emotional connection and authenticity matter more than clinical credentials. Sean emphasizes the importance of story-based marketing and explains why traditional dental marketing often fails to convert patients. The conversation covers the problems with template-based marketing approaches, the value of community engagement, and why understanding human psychology is crucial for dental practice growth.

In this engaging episode, serial entrepreneur John Ayers shares his journey from childhood paper routes to founding Chapters.io, an innovative AI-assisted book publishing company. Through candid discussion, John reveals how his early experiences with technology, business ownership, and continuous learning shaped his approach to entrepreneurship. The conversation explores the evolution of his various ventures, including a coffee house near ASU and early web development, culminating in his current mission to help others share their authentic stories through AI-enhanced book publishing.

In this inspiring episode, Shawn Zajas sits down with Dr. Aditi Agarwal, a pioneer in dentistry and the co-founder of Practice by Numbers, to discuss her incredible journey from immigrant dental student to industry leader. Dr. Agarwal reflects on her fearless approach to life, from starting a dental practice from scratch in a challenging market to creating a revolutionary practice management platform that empowers dentists with data-driven insights.

Listeners will hear how Dr. Agarwal navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship alongside motherhood, what it means to build something out of necessity, and how dentists can overcome fear and embrace innovation. Through resilience, humility, and a commitment to growth, Dr. Agarwal has not only succeeded in her practice but also given back to the dental community in remarkable ways. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a dentist looking for a better way to run your practice, this episode will challenge and inspire you to “just do it.”

In this episode, Shawn Zajas interviews Geri "Gigi" Gottlieb, a dental industry leader who empowers practices to embrace authentic leadership and connection. Gigi shares her journey from a ballerina and aspiring counselor to becoming a dental practice coach and consultant. Her story emphasizes breaking free from perfectionism, embracing vulnerability, and aligning with one’s core values to create meaningful impact. Gigi’s heartfelt insights and actionable advice inspire listeners to pursue their unique path, whether they’re dentists, team members, or dreamers looking to step into their calling.

Tonya Lanthier, founder of DentalPost, shares her inspiring journey from being a dental hygienist to becoming a successful entrepreneur with a significant business exit. Rooted in her deep care for people and an entrepreneurial spirit, Tonya reflects on the pivotal moments and challenges that shaped her journey. From flipping houses and starting a job board for dental professionals to scaling her business and navigating personal struggles like divorce, Tonya demonstrates resilience and a commitment to creating a legacy. Now focused on helping others, she’s building tools like a divorce app and mentoring women to rise stronger. Tonya’s insights on overcoming fear, embracing failure, and honoring legacy resonate deeply, inspiring listeners to pursue their own bold ambitions.

In this episode, Dayna Johnson, founder of Navoni, shares her transformative journey from working in a dental practice to becoming a sought-after expert in optimizing dental systems and software. Starting as a young insurance coordinator, Dayna quickly became a trusted problem-solver in her practices, driven by a passion for helping others and a love of technology.

Facing personal challenges, including raising a daughter with epilepsy and navigating a painful divorce, Dayna used her resilience and resourcefulness to create a new path. Her transition to consulting began with becoming a certified Dentrix trainer, allowing her to triple her income within a year. With her expertise and determination, she launched Navoni, a thriving online learning platform that helps dental teams maximize efficiency and improve workflows.

Throughout the interview, Dayna reflects on the importance of hard work, honoring those who support you, and embracing discomfort as a path to growth. She credits her success to key mentors, her faith in her ability to adapt, and her willingness to “kick open doors” when opportunities arose. Now, she’s focused on empowering dental practices to harness the full potential of their software and systems, while also teaching others to create scalable businesses through membership models.

Dayna’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and a deep commitment to serving others, inspiring listeners to embrace challenges and build meaningful careers in and beyond dentistry.