The Real Talk of Dental is not your average industry podcast—it’s a soul-shaking, BS-busting, variety show for dental professionals who are done faking fine. Hosted by Brandi Marzolino—a 20-year dental vet, leadership coach, and cultural truth-teller—this show rips off the polite mask and digs into the real issues behind the front desk: burnout, boundaries, broken systems, and the human stories no one’s talking about. Expect sharp leadership insights, anonymous confessions, chaotic call-ins, sketch-style reenactments, and mic-drop moments that make you laugh, cry, cringe, and breathe a little deeper. This is for the dentists secretly, or not-so-secretly, in therapy, the OMs carrying too much, the hygienists questioning everything, the team members who just want to feel seen – and the industry partners, vendors, and DSO players navigating the business of dentistry while trying to make it a little more human. With weekly episodes that blend industry expertise, emotional intelligence, and unapologetic humor—plus recurring segments like X-Ray Vision, Trauma Drama Theater, and the Real Talk Hotline—this is where the dental world gets real. Because in this office? Truth is the treatment plan. And humor? That’s the local anesthetic. Hit play. We saved you a seat.
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Episode #57
057: Half of Dental Assistants Want to Quit. Here's Why | Kevin Henry
Aug 21, 202633 min
Why dental assistants are leaving the profession comes down to something simple: they don't feel valued, and the data backs it up, with nearly half considering a job change in the next two years. If you've ever wondered why your best assistant seems checked out, or you're an assistant who feels invisible on your own team, this episode reframes the whole conversation using an unlikely lens: sports. Brandi Marzolino, a 20+ year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Kevin Henry, a sports journalist turned 20-plus year dental industry advocate and host of Dental Assistant Nation, the longest running podcast devoted to dental assistants. Kevin shares why dental assistants are consistently the lowest paid and most overlooked role in the practice, and uses a baseball analogy from his own softball coach to explain why every position on a team, and every role in a dental practice, matters more than people think. This is a fun conversation about a serious topic that every dental leader needs to hear. You’ll learn: Why nearly half of dental assistants are considering leaving the profession, and what's actually driving that number. The baseball position analogy Kevin uses to explain why every role on a dental team matters, even the ones that go unnoticed. Why dentists hesitate to invest in dental assistant careers, and why that mindset is costing practices good people. The story of a coach who turned a player's least favorite position into her greatest strength, and what it teaches about leadership. Why professional athletes rely on mental health coaches, and why more dental teams should think the same way. Why leaving work stress at work is a skill dental teams can learn from professional sports. Why patients can feel it when a dental team doesn't get along, and what that costs a practice long term. Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 From sports writer to dental assistant advocate 02:11 What Dental Assistant Nation is and why it exists 06:02 How he started writing for dental assistants in 2005 08:45 The biggest problems dental assistants deal with today 11:46 Why owners hesitate to invest in dental assistant careers 14:39 The baseball position that best fits a dental assistant 15:12 The right field story about being valued on a team 22:13 Why no one wins alone on a dental team 26:32 How pro athletes reset after a bad day 28:34 Why coaches and therapists are a strength, not a weakness 33:03 What every leader can learn from a great coach Thank you to our episode sponsors! Check out Avora here: https://getavora.ai/ Check out Archy here: https://www.archy.com/ Check out medix Dental: https://medixdental.com/ Connect with Kevin LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinhenryigniteda/ Website: https://www.kevinspeaksdental.com/ Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalAssistants #DentalAssistantNation #DentalTeamCulture #DentalLeadership #DentalAssistantRecognition #DentalRetention #SportsAndLeadership #TeamCulture #DentalIndustry #UnsungHeroes #DentalPodcast #DentalCoaching #WomenInDentistry #DentalTeamBuilding #RealTalkOfDental
056: She Was Pushed Out at 56. Then Reinvented Herself | Lorie Streeter
Aug 14, 202642 min
Nervous system regulation for dental teams starts with recognizing who on your team is quietly carrying everyone else's weight. If you've ever been the person everyone comes to, the fixer, the calm one, this episode names that pattern and explains why it eventually leads to burnout even for the most capable people in the room. Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Lorie Streeter, a certified therapeutic coach with 37 years in dentistry who spent over a decade as a dental office manager before being transitioned out of AADOM and reinventing her career at MaxAssist. Lorie shares her backpack of rocks visualization for emotional weight, explains why leaders need nervous system regulation more than another leadership book, and opens up about starting over in her fifties. This is a conversation about capacity, worth, and what it actually takes to reinvent yourself. You’ll learn: What it actually means to be a high capacity woman in dentistry, and why that strength can quietly lead to burnout. The backpack of rocks visualization Lorie uses to help leaders see exactly what emotional weight they're carrying for others. Why nervous system regulation matters more for dental teams than another leadership book or a new software system. How distorted filters shape the way you take feedback, and why cleaning your filters changes every relationship you have. What it felt like for Lorie to start over in her fifties after seventeen years doing the same work. The story behind the signs that led her to her current role, and why she believes the universe was talking. Why self love, not victimhood or toughness, is the center point every high achieving leader needs to find. Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 What it means to be a high capacity woman 02:48 Lorie's twelve years as a dental office manager 06:54 Why leaders need nervous system reset, not another book 07:57 The operating system analogy for personal growth 10:50 How distorted filters shape the way we take feedback 16:17 Why emotional safety matters more than new software 17:44 The backpack of rocks visualization for emotional weight 19:19 What is it like starting over after seventeen years 25:00 The victim versus perp scale and where self love lives 33:00 Her body knew before she did she was leaving AADOM 37:00 The elephant signs that led her to MaxAssist 39:47 Rewriting her mission statement after reinvention Connect with Lorie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriestreeter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorieStreeterCoaching Website: https://www.loriestreeter.com/ Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222 #HighCapacityWomen #NervousSystemRegulation #DentalOfficeManager #EmotionalSafety #DentalBurnout #TherapeuticCoaching #CareerReinvention #WomenInDentistry #DentalLeadership #SelfWorth #DentalPodcast #SomaticCoaching #LeadershipBurnout #AADOM #RealTalkOfDental
055: Your Team Isn't Lazy, Your Project Has No Manager | Abby Hogan
Aug 7, 202641 min
Project management in dentistry is rarely talked about, but it's the missing piece between a visionary's big idea and a team that actually gets it done. If you've ever watched a great initiative stall out inside your DSO or practice, or felt like you're constantly saying "get this done" without a clear plan behind it, this episode explains exactly why that keeps happening. Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Abbigail Hogan, known as Abby, a former director of project management at a DSO who now runs her own project management and fractional operations business. Abby breaks down the EOS visionary and integrator model, the Working Genius framework's activator role, and why most dental teams have someone doing project management without any formal training in it. You'll walk away with a clear way to spot the gap in your own team, and language to close it. You’ll learn: What project management in dentistry actually means and why most DSOs don't have anyone formally trained to do it. The activator role from the Working Genius model and why it's the missing link between a visionary and an integrator. Why visionaries end up surrounded by yes people and how that leads to ideas that never get finished. Why cleaning up RCM keeps failing even when the same team keeps saying they've already cleaned it up. The difference between a project coordinator and a project manager, and why dental teams need both roles. The exact language for pushing back on a CEO's idea without damaging trust or sounding aggressive. Why every good idea deserves a backlog instead of an immediate yes, and how that protects your team's focus. Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 What project management actually means in dentistry 02:51 Meet the person dentistry's DSOs are missing 06:52 How she built a project management team inside a DSO 12:00 What actually counts as a project in dentistry 15:05 Why RCM cleanup keeps failing without a project owner 18:32 What an activator does that a coordinator can't 20:32 How to translate a visionary's idea into a real plan 25:06 Why do visionaries burn out from answering every question 33:43 Why pushing back on your CEO builds more trust 34:30 The power of putting good ideas on the backlog 39:38 The rose bush story and what it teaches about projects Connect with Abbigail LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbigailhogan/ Website: www.thedsopm.com Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222 #ProjectManagementDentistry #DSOOperations #WorkingGenius #EOSModel #DentalLeadership #FractionalProjectManager #DentalOperations #VisionaryIntegrator #DentalTeamBuilding #PracticeManagement #DentalPodcast #ActivatorRole #DentalBusiness #WomenInDental #RealTalkOfDental
054: Why Selling to a DSO Might Cost You Millions | Mike Baird
Jul 31, 202642 min
A DSO alternative for dentists exists, and it's built to make sure the company can never sell itself to private equity. If you have ever felt like your only two options are staying solo forever or eventually selling to a DSO, this episode breaks down why that's not actually true, and what the real numbers look like right now in 2025 compared to the frothy days of 2022. Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Mike Baird, CEO of Accelerate Dental and former CEO of Henry Schein One, to unpack why he built a minority-partnership model where doctors keep majority ownership and the group is legally barred from ever selling. Mike shares the real recapitalization data behind today's DSO market and the outcomes his doctors are seeing, including doubled collections and 50 percent higher personal income over five years. This is the conversation every dentist weighing their next move needs to hear. You’ll learn: Why the two options most dentists think they have, staying solo or selling to a DSO, aren't actually the only choices. The DSO alternative model where dentists keep majority influence and the company can never sell itself to private equity. Why DSO recapitalization multiples dropped from 14 times revenue in 2022 to closer to 10 times in 2025. The real odds of getting recapped in 2025 versus what brokers and DSOs are telling dentists right now. Why private equity ownership in medicine created three minute doctor visits, and why dentistry is following the same path. The real numbers behind doubling collections, growing equity value 2.5 times, and raising personal income 50 percent over five years. Who is actually the ideal fit for a minority partnership model instead of a traditional DSO buyout. Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 The two options every dentist thinks they have 03:22 Mike's alternative to DSOs, Accelerate Dental 05:10 Why most dentists don't know their real options 06:07 How he built the model by interviewing 100 dentists 09:00 Why 80% of doctors in medicine work for a corporation 13:01 The Walmart story and what it means for dentistry 18:19 What is the real downside of selling to private equity 20:11 Why DSO recap multiples dropped from 14x to 10x 21:49 The real odds of getting recapped in 2025 25:24 How the Accelerate Dental model actually works 30:47 Who is the ideal fit for this model 38:25 The real numbers behind doubled income and equity Connect with Mike LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/accelerate-dental Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bairdmike/ Website: https://www.acceleratedental.com/ Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222 #DSOAlternative #DentalPrivateEquity #DentalPracticeOwnership #DentalGroupPractice #DentalIndustry #PracticeTransition #DentalBusiness #DentistIncome #DentalLeadership #HealthcarePrivateEquity #DentalConsolidation #PracticeOwnership #DentalPodcast #DoctorOwned #RealTalkOfDental
053: What Does Dr. Brett Kessler REALLY Think? Hear It From Him
Jul 24, 202638 min
Oral preventive assistant controversy is exactly what turned former ADA president Dr. Brett Kessler into one of dentistry's most polarizing figures online. If you've seen the online pile-on, the accusations of being a DSO sellout, or the anger over an OPA policy letter, you already know how fast dental industry misinformation spreads. Brandi Marzolino sits down with Kessler to unpack the real story behind the backlash, the misquotes, and the sound bites stripped of context that turned one signed letter into a viral controversy. Brandi Marzolino, a 20-year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, hosts this conversation with Dr. Brett Kessler, former ADA president and founder of Dentistry Reimagined, his executive coaching practice for dental professionals. You'll hear how Kessler separates fact from misinformation on the OPA debate, why DSOs keep getting mistaken for private equity, and how the shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset carried him through 27 years of recovery. This is a real talk about staying grounded when the internet decides who you are. You’ll learn: What the oral preventive assistant policy actually allows, and why a single Nevada support letter turned Dr. Brett Kessler into the center of a viral dental hygiene controversy. Why dentists mistake DSO partnerships for private equity ownership, and what Brett clarifies about PDS Health's actual funding structure after his post went viral. How McCarran-Ferguson and ongoing ERISA reform efforts show the ADA's real, if slow, progress on dental insurance regulation. Why Brett Kessler started Dentistry Reimagined, his leadership coaching business helping dental professionals build their own voice and purpose. How shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset became the turning point in Brett's 27 years of recovery from substance abuse. Why "anything is possible" and "they go low, I go high" became the guiding principles behind Brett's leadership under public criticism. What Brandi and Brett both learned about accountability, humility, and putting in the reps from their shared recovery journeys. Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Woman in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 Why Brett Kessler became dentistry's most polarizing president 02:01 Welcome back for a third appearance and the ongoing backlash 06:50 What the oral preventive assistant policy actually says 07:48 How a Nevada support letter sparked the OPA outrage 12:04 Why DSOs get mistaken for private equity sellouts 19:21 Launching Dentistry Reimagined to coach dental leaders 21:11 Is the ADA doing enough on insurance reform 22:48 McCarran-Ferguson and the fight over dental insurance rules 29:53 Pivoting to the recovery principles behind it all 31:00 What almost cost him his sobriety early on 41:27 Why the haters never outnumber the support Connect with Dr. Brett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-brett-kessler/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bikodds/ Phone: 720-989-7960 Email: bikodds@gmail.com Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalPodcast #Dentistry #ADA #OralPreventiveAssistant #DSOs #DentalLeadership #DentalRecovery #SobrietyJourney #GrowthMindset #DentalIndustryNews #DentalInsurance #ERISAReform #DentalHygiene #OrganizedDentistry #DentalWellness #RealTalkOfDental
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