In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune tackles one of the toughest challenges in private practice ownership: building fair and effective associate agreements. Drawing from years of experience, he breaks down the 10 most important elements to include—tiered compensation, lab fee adjustments, guarantees, notice clauses, CE commitments, referral expectations, column load management, supply and lab agreements, weekly performance reviews, and profit-sharing opportunities. Whether you’ve been burned by a past associate arrangement or you’re preparing to bring on your first one, this conversation will give you a clear framework to protect your practice while keeping agreements ethical, balanced, and attractive to top-performing dentists

In this inspiring episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with comedian, author, and motivational speaker Zach Anner to explore how resilience, humor, and community can transform life’s toughest challenges into opportunities. Born with cerebral palsy, Zach shares his journey from winning Oprah’s reality show and creating viral YouTube content to writing for television and becoming an ambassador for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Together, Scott and Zach discuss the power of “joyful grit,” the importance of narrating your own story, and why connection and vulnerability are essential for leaders and entrepreneurs alike. Whether in dentistry or everyday life, this conversation is a reminder that challenges don’t define us—they give us the tools to thrive.

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Dr. Scott Leune sits down with top motivational speaker Laura Gassner Otting to share how practice owners can reset their goals, strengthen leadership, and retain top talent. Drawing from decades of experience interviewing high-performing executives, Laura explains how to align your “three buckets” of money, freedom, and passion, and create a culture where employees feel truly seen, valued, and engaged. Packed with mindset shifts and actionable strategies, this conversation offers a blueprint for keeping your team motivated and your career moving forward.

Scott talks with Rob Bay, co-founder of Dental Intelligence and current chairman of Alta.Ai, about how practices can save time, improve hygiene production, and reduce burnout without adding staff. They explore the systems and strategies that are reshaping clinical efficiency and giving doctors and teams more time to focus on what matters most—patients.

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with conflict resolution expert Gabe Karp—TEDx speaker, author of Don’t Get Mad at Penguins, and former trial lawyer—for a powerful conversation about confronting conflict in dental practices. Together, they explore why ignoring issues fuels burnout, how to reframe tough conversations, and the simple weekly meeting that could transform your culture. If you're tired of walking on eggshells and ready to lead with clarity and courage, this episode is for you.

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Erin Stafford—author of The Type A Trap, social psychologist, and former head of marketing for a $11B healthcare company—for a candid conversation about high achievement, burnout, and how to reclaim your life without sacrificing success. Erin shares her own journey from burnout to balance and offers practical tools to help dentists stay productive, fulfilled, and emotionally healthy—even under pressure. If you’ve ever felt “miserably successful,” this one’s for you.

This week on The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Dr. Rebecca Heiss—biologist, stress expert, and author of Instinct—to explore why so many dental professionals feel stuck in survival mode. They dive into how our evolutionary wiring impacts decision-making, leadership, and burnout—and what you can do to break the cycle. From fear-based habits to building intentional routines, this episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to lead with more clarity, confidence, and calm.

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune talks with Jana Macon, President of Curve Dental, about how AI and cloud-based technology are rapidly transforming the way dental practices operate. From automating insurance verification and scheduling to streamlining clinical notes and claims processing, Jana shares what’s coming—and what’s already here. They also dive into why outdated systems are driving away top talent, how digital expectations are reshaping patient behavior, and what practice owners must do now to stay competitive in an AI-enabled world.

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune breaks down the single most effective tool he’s used to retain high-performing associates and team leaders—profits interests. He explains how this strategy allows owners to share in profits without giving up equity or control, all while incentivizing long-term loyalty and performance. Whether you're looking to reward your best people or create a growth-aligned culture, this episode offers a practical roadmap to retaining talent without breaking the bank.

In this episode of The Dental CEO Podcast, Scott Leune sits down with Ryan Estis—keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Prepare for Impact—to discuss the shift from command-and-control management to human-centered leadership. They explore how building trust, investing in employee growth, and leading with empathy can help dental practice owners improve team engagement, reduce turnover, and increase patient loyalty. Packed with actionable insights, this conversation is a must-listen for dentists ready to lead more effectively and scale their business through people-first leadership.