The Dentalpreneur Podcast w/ Dr. Mark Costes

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Katherine Eitel Belt, dentistry's unscripted leadership communications coach, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Katherine shares her journey from chairside dental assistant to global authority on leadership communication, including the pivotal moment that shaped her approach to helping leaders raise standards with clarity, courage, and compassion. She breaks down her framework for the three essential leadership conversations: invitation conversations, coaching conversations, and courageous conversations. Katherine also explains how practice owners and managers can address accountability without fear, inspire team members into higher standards, and create a culture where people choose growth rather than simply comply. The conversation also highlights her upcoming book, Lead Yourself, Lead Your Team, and why strong leadership begins with self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a willingness to own your role first.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.lionspeak.net
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Eric Pook, owner of Cirrus Consulting Group, live from Thrive Live 2026 in Las Vegas. Eric shares how his background in medical and dental entrepreneurship led him into the highly specialized world of dental office lease consulting, and why so many dentists unknowingly sign agreements that can put their practice, profitability, and future transition at risk.

From missed renewal deadlines and month-to-month leases to assignment clauses, personal guarantees, tenant improvement allowances, and landlord leverage during practice sales, Eric breaks down the most common lease mistakes dentists make and how proactive planning can protect long-term value. He also explains why doctors should review their leases years before renewal or transition, especially if they plan to expand, renovate, sell, or protect their estate.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.cirrusconsultinggroup.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Jacob Vanderslice, co-founder of VanWest Partners, to explore the opportunities, risks, and realities of self-storage investing. Jacob shares how he went from single-family rentals and fix-and-flips to overseeing a portfolio of 42 self-storage properties, why his team targets underperforming facilities, and how operational improvements can increase net operating income and property value.

They also discuss due diligence, market supply, closed-ended funds, projected returns, tax advantages, liquidity risks, and the role private real estate can play in a diversified investment portfolio.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.vanwestpartners.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, recorded live at the Dental Success Summit 2026, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Gino Wickman, creator of the Entrepreneurial Operating System and author of Traction, Rocket Fuel, and Shine. Gino shares the lessons behind building EOS, the six essential traits of an entrepreneur, and why the right visionary-integrator partnership can transform a growing business.

They discuss how to find and evaluate an integrator, the five rules that keep the relationship strong, the most overlooked components of EOS, and the foundational tools dental leaders can begin implementing immediately. Gino also opens up about the deeper message behind Shine and why lasting success requires more than achievement alone.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes answers listener questions in this Ask Me Anything special, covering ownership strategy, practice growth, scaling decisions, and the team of advisors every dental owner should build. Mark shares what he would do differently if he were starting over as a new grad, including avoiding practices that are too small to scale, being cautious with overly rural locations, and focusing on demographics, capacity, and long-term exit options.

He also discusses when it makes sense to add another doctor, what metrics to watch beyond revenue, and why owners should stabilize their flagship practice before pursuing additional locations. The episode also dives into building a personal board of directors, including a CPA, bookkeeper, attorney, tax strategist, financial advisor, banker, and performance coach, before wrapping with advice on making faster, less fearful business decisions without abandoning thoughtful analysis.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Summer Kassmel takes the stage at the Dental Success Summit to help dentists and their teams turn inspiration into real, lasting change. She shares why so many practice owners get caught in the "someday trap," waiting for the right associate, production number, or season of life before building the practice and lifestyle they truly want.

Dr. Kassmel breaks down the three keys to fighting the pull of status quo: getting clear on what you want and why it matters, understanding the short-term price of meaningful change, and leading first as the doctor or practice leader. She also offers a practical communication framework for holding standards with grace, creating alignment, and choosing one focused "Monday move" that can help transform your practice for good.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes delivers his main stage presentation during the 13th Annual Dental Success Summit, using the story of Jerry the lobster as a powerful metaphor for growth, vulnerability, and the need to shed old ways of operating. Mark reflects on his own journey through academic challenges, practice ownership, burnout, and reinvention, then connects those lessons to the current state of dentistry. He breaks down the major headwinds facing the profession, including staffing shortages, rising wages, flat PPO reimbursements, declining practice ownership, margin compression, burnout, and the growing divide between elite independent practices and those stuck in the middle. Mark also introduces the frameworks DSI uses to help dentists build stronger systems, better leadership, healthier lives, and more scalable practices, reminding owners that what got them here will not get them where they want to go next.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Brett Titensor live from Thrive Live 2026 to talk about digital dentistry, technology, and building a practice designed for the future. Brett shares what it was like taking over from his father, working alongside him for 10 years, and bringing new technology into a second-generation practice.

He discusses his passion for same-day crowns, guided implants, 3D printing, surgical guides, full-arch workflows, and how delegating digital processes to the team can make advanced dentistry more efficient and scalable. Brett also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the new facility he is building in the Dallas area, which will combine a dental practice with an education center where dentists can see real workflows from start to finish in a live clinical setting.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.titensordental.com
• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, this Part 2 conversation features Jake Conway continuing his April 2026 Mastermind presentation with a deeper look at hygiene performance, owner compensation, cash flow strategy, and practice valuation. Jake explains how hygiene production impacts payroll, fixed costs, doctor production, and overall profitability, while showing how KPIs like perio percentage, fluoride, open hygiene time, exam mix, and production-to-pay ratios can reveal the true causes behind underperformance.

He also outlines how owners can think about paying themselves as both clinicians and owner-operators, including W-2 salary, distributions, gap pay, break-even targets, and capital reserves. The session wraps with a practical look at practice valuations, adjusted net income, EBITDA, doctor-to-doctor sales, and how owner production can directly influence the value of a practice in a DSO or private equity transaction.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

On today's episode, this Part 1 conversation features Jake Conway presenting during the April 2026 Mastermind and breaking down how practice owners can better understand the numbers that drive their income. Jake explains why a dental practice should be viewed as a source of information rather than an ATM, and how overhead is not a destination but a measurement of how well the office is being run.

He walks through the difference between fixed and variable costs, the symptom-cause-solution approach to diagnosing financial issues, and how management reporting differs from tax reporting. Jake also reviews how cash flows through a practice, from collections and overhead to available funds, and encourages owners to use their reports as investigative tools to identify opportunities, improve decision-making, and create more influence over their pay.

Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• https://www.truedentalsuccess.com
• Dental Success Network
• Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast