Get the Success & Burnout Score GPT

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Dentists are constantly moving the goalpost of success & happiness. If I can just push through this season, everything will be better.

Even worse is the assumption that more = better. More practices, more procedures, more collections.

Are you actually living the life you want to live? Or just playing the game of dentistry mindlessly because it's your default?

0:00 Introduction and Personal Story

00:16 The Hidden Struggles of Success

00:57 The Cost of More 01:59 Redefining Success

04:00 The Right Game and Leverage

05:50 Surrounding Yourself with the Right People

09:01 Taking an Honest Audit

10:10 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

Crisis resources (U.S.): Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If in immediate danger, call 911. Outside the U.S., search your country’s suicide hotline.

Topic: Healing after suicide—grief that’s angry, guilty, complicated…and hopeful.

I bring back Steven Kalas to walk us through what survivors actually face. We talk about the implicit family pact—we don’t give up—and how suicide shatters that, why guilt can feel “safer” than helplessness, how to forgive the right person for the right thing, and how to turn a broken heart into service without sentimentalizing the truth.

You’ll learn:

Why suicide grief is uniquely complicated (anger + guilt, both valid)

How to separate real ownership from false guilt

What honest, non-sentimental compassion sounds like

Practical ways to forgive, remember, and move forward

How vulnerability and community interrupt isolation

Need help or want to talk?

• Steven Kalas: [email protected] | (702) 845-7993

• DM me on IG @DrRichardLow

• Join our FB community: Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout (anonymous posting available)

We can’t change the past, but we can change how we live, how we show up for each other, and how we break isolation—today.

Trigger & Explicit-Language Warning:

This conversation contains strong language and detailed discussion of suicide, depression, faith, and trauma experienced by first responders. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada) or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support.

In this deeply raw episode, Dr. Richard Low sits down with his mentor and friend Kyle Carnahan—founder of Superhuman Fathers and a former firefighter who has witnessed hundreds of deaths—to talk about suicide, identity, faith, and redemption.

Kyle and Richard go all-in on what it really means to walk through darkness as a man, husband, and father. They discuss:

• What firefighters really see when suicide hits close to home

• Why so many high-performing men—especially dentists—feel trapped in success

• How Kyle helped Richard out of the darkest season of his life

• The link between authenticity, discipline, and spiritual transformation

• What to say (and not say) when someone you know is suicidal

• How Jesus and radical honesty can reframe even the darkest story

This is not a polished conversation. It’s real, unfiltered, and meant for men ready to stop hiding, start healing, and lead with courage.

00:00 Trigger Warning and Introduction

00:56 Meet Kyle Carnahan

01:38 Joining Superhuman Fathers

02:34 Personal Transformations and Struggles

06:13 The Dark Side of Dentistry

06:37 Kyle's Unfiltered Perspective

08:26 The Journey to Authenticity

13:18 Kyle's Personal Story

25:55 The Birth of Superhuman Fathers

34:46 Addressing Suicidal Thoughts with Tough Love

36:09 The Importance of Responsibility and Purpose

37:55 The Power of Christianity in Overcoming Darkness

38:31 Reframing Negative Stories Through Faith

40:56 The Unique Struggles of Dentists

44:28 The Role of Authenticity in Healing

46:17 The Concept of Unworthiness and Redemption

49:26 Personal Struggles and the Path to Transformation

51:35 The Power of Vulnerability and Support

55:13 Intervening in Suicidal Situations

01:02:11 Embracing Trials and Trusting in God

01:07:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

This episode is a practical, compassionate walkthrough of what to say and do when someone hints at suicide—especially in high-stress clinical settings. Counselor and spiritual leader Steven Kalas joins me to unpack clear steps you can use right away: how to make the covert overt, ask direct safety questions, assess plan → means → intent, remove access to means, and when/how to request a welfare check. This is education for prevention and immediate help—not sensational content.

You’ll learn

The exact phrasing to turn vague comments into a real conversation (“Are you going to kill yourself tonight?”)

How to quickly gauge plan, means, and intent—and what to do at each level

Scripts for setting loving boundaries (“I can’t carry this alone; your spouse has to know by Sunday”)

What not to do (no promises of secrecy, no graphic method talk)

How dentists can act as gatekeepers for colleagues and team members under pressure

If you’re in crisis or supporting someone who is:

U.S.: Call or text 988 (24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

Canada: Call or text 988 (24/7)

UK & ROI: Samaritans 116 123 (24/7)

Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)

If you’re elsewhere, search your country’s suicide/crisis hotline. If someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services now.

Disclaimer: This content is for education and support. It’s not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Seek professional care when needed.

Guest: Steven Kalas — counselor, author, spiritual leader

Host: Richard Low, DDS — Next Level Dentist

Transforming Marriages and Tackling Dentist Suicide with Steven Kalas | Next Level Dentist Podcast

In this episode of the Next Level Dentist Podcast, host Richard welcomes Steven Kalas, a seasoned couples counselor who has profoundly impacted Richard's own marriage. Steven shares insights from his extensive work with couples and his experience as an ordained Episcopal priest. The conversation delves into critical and heavy topics, including tackling suicide within the field of dentistry. Steven discusses the overlap between spirituality and depth psychology and his personal background in suicidology, an area that has deeply affected his family. They also touch on prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies for dealing with suicidality. This episode seeks to shed light on the importance of addressing mental health in high-stress professions and fostering meaningful conversations around difficult issues.

Join our private community, "Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout" on Facebook.

If you or someone you know is struggling or thinking about ending their life, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please look up the local crisis hotline in your country. You don’t have to go through this alone.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:04 Steven's Background and Spiritual Framework

01:06 Exploring Suicide in Dentistry

02:03 Depth Psychology and Spirituality

03:54 Steven's Journey into Suicidology

05:02 Understanding Suicide Prevention and Postvention

06:55 Systems Theory and Suicide

11:14 The Pain of Ambiguity and Guilt

19:42 Personal Stories and Reflections

26:01 The Great Wallendas: A Family of Daredevils

27:17 The Thrill and Danger of High-Risk Entertainment

27:59 Subintentional Suicide: The Hidden Desire for Death

29:46 Victim Precipitated Homicide: Death by Cop

31:35 The High Suicide Rates Among Dentists

39:31 The Gender Differences in Suicide Methods

41:56 The Reality of Hardcore Suicide

48:34 The Importance of Suicide Prevention and Support

00:00 Ep2 - Suicide in Dentistry: Navigating Shadows Through Counseling w Steven Kalas - Pt 1

Overcoming Loss: Understanding Suicide in Dentistry

Join us in Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout if you want a community where you're safe to talk about your struggles.

If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please look up the local crisis hotline in your country. You don’t have to go through this alone.

In the first episode of 'Next Level Dentist' podcast, host Richard Low explores the heavy and important topic of suicide within the field of dentistry. He interviews Michiye Harper, who shares her journey following the passing of her husband, Mike Harper, by suicide in early 2024. The conversation delves into the pressures and mental health struggles that many dentists face, examining Mike's experiences with anxiety, career changes, and the feeling of losing one's identity. Chiye provides insights into coping with grief, the importance of community support, the challenges of continuing to manage a dental practice, and emphasizes the need to confront and accept pain rather than resist it. The episode aims to shed light on the mental health issues prevalent in the dental profession and highlights the significance of authentic connections and support systems.

00:00 Introduction to Next Level Dentist

00:22 Understanding Suicide in Dentistry

01:24 Interview with Michiye Harper

03:43 Chiye Harper's Journey in Dentistry

05:52 Challenges and Growth in Practice

08:17 Military Service and Mental Health

11:40 Transition to Civilian Life

32:52 COVID-19 and Personal Struggles

38:44 Coping with Loss and Moving Forward

39:24 Faith and Identity in Dentistry

41:36 Coping with Loss and Community Support

47:37 Understanding and Forgiveness

59:41 The Pressure of Growth in Dentistry

01:11:37 Embracing Pain and Moving Forward

01:18:48 The Power of Connection and Sharing

Crash & Burn - Success and Burnout in Dentistry: Episode 0

Welcome to the first episode of the Next Level Dentist Podcast, hosted by Dr. Richard Low. Dr. Low, founder of the Shared Practices Podcast, shifts focus from dental practice ownership to the challenges stemming from success in dentistry. This episode delves into important topics like burnout, mental health, and the alarming rate of suicide in the dental profession. Upcoming episodes will feature personal stories and professional insights, addressing the hard questions successful dentists face, such as whether to open another practice, sell to a DSO, or dive into real estate. Additionally, Dr. Low introduces his men's group, Next Level Fathers, aimed at enhancing personal fitness and accountability. Tune in as we explore these complex issues and more, offering valuable insights for everyone in the dental field.

00:00 Introduction to the Next Level Dentist Podcast

00:37 The Problem with Success in Dentistry

01:18 Addressing Mental Health and Burnout

02:46 Themes and Future Episodes

03:52 Next Level Fathers: A Side Project

04:38 Conclusion and Stay Tuned

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