045: Why “Pick Me” Thirsty Energy Is Hurting Dentistry More Than Helping It | Beverly Wilburn

047: The Most Underrated Leadership Skill in Dentistry | Ralf Tomandl

What actually makes someone a great leader? It's not charisma. It's not confidence. And it's definitely not having all the answers. In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, Brandi sits down with Ralf Tomandl, COO of HR for Health, to explore the leadership lessons that only come from real life experience. From surviving cancer and supporting a special needs child through life-threatening health challenges, to helping dental leaders navigate growth, culture, hiring, and team development, Ralf shares the experiences that shaped his perspective on leadership, resilience, and authenticity. Together, they unpack why so many dentists struggle when transitioning from clinician to leader, the hidden dangers of trying to emulate other people's leadership styles, and why self-awareness may be the most important leadership skill of all. This conversation goes far beyond business strategy. It's about becoming the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow. You’ll learn: * Why authenticity is one of the most powerful leadership advantages * The leadership mistake many growing dental organizations make * Why employees don't care about your business the way you do * How personality often matters more than technical skill when hiring * The difference between running one practice and scaling multiple locations * Why great clinicians are not automatically great leaders * How ego becomes a roadblock to organizational growth * The importance of hiring people who can eventually replace you * What adversity teaches about resilience, empathy, and leadership * Why asking for help is often the strongest leadership move you can make * How leaders can create cultures built on trust and honesty * The mindset shift required to successfully scale a dental organization 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com [https://www.therealtalkofdental.com] 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss [https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss] We talk about: 00:00 Introduction to Ralf Tomandl and his leadership journey 04:50 Starting in dentistry and finding purpose in the industry 07:45 The impact of adversity, cancer, and personal growth 11:00 How life-changing challenges reshape leadership 15:00 Supporting others through difficult seasons 18:15 Parenting, sacrifice, and building empathy 22:00 Why authentic leadership matters more than ever 26:00 Hiring for personality versus technical skills 30:00 The leadership challenges of scaling dental groups 34:00 Why leaders should hire people who can replace them 37:00 What dentistry can learn from military leadership 42:00 Why asking for help is a leadership strength Connect with Ralf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralf-tomandl-a689138/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralf-tomandl-a689138/] Dental Leadership Summit: https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/ [https://dentalleadershipsummit.com/] Website: https://hrforhealth.com/ [https://hrforhealth.com/] Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/] https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ [https://courageandjoyatwork.com/] https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #Dentistry

046: Think ChatGPT Is Your HR Department? Think Again. | Kara Kelley

Think AI is helping you make smarter HR decisions? It might actually be creating evidence against you. In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, Brandi sits down with HR compliance expert Kara Kelley for a candid conversation about the growing risks of using AI for hiring, firing, employee relations, and workplace compliance. From AI-generated employee handbooks and employment law advice to the legal implications of what practice owners type into ChatGPT, Kara breaks down where AI can help, where it absolutely cannot, and why relying on it for HR decisions could put your business at serious risk. The conversation also explores leadership, recruiting, workplace culture, employee retention, and the common mistakes dental practices make when trying to shortcut complex people problems. If you've ever used AI to write a policy, navigate a difficult employee situation, or help make hiring decisions, this episode may completely change the way you think about compliance. You’ll learn: * Why AI should never replace HR expertise * How AI-generated employee handbooks can create compliance risks * What employers need to know about AI chats becoming legal evidence * The hidden dangers of using ChatGPT for employment decisions * Why hiring and leadership are often confused in dental practices * The biggest recruiting mistakes dental offices make * Why working interviews can expose practices to legal liability * How to evaluate candidates more effectively * The role of self-awareness in leadership success * What dental practice owners should focus on before scaling their teams 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com [https://www.therealtalkofdental.com] 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss [https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss] We talk about: 0:00 Why AI is creating new HR risks for employers 4:45 The legal reality of AI prompts and employment decisions 9:15 How AI-generated policies and handbooks go wrong 13:10 Leadership, self-awareness, and team turnover 17:45 Why Kara disagrees with working interviews 22:40 Hiring mistakes dental practices continue to make 27:15 Recruiting, reference checks, and candidate evaluation 31:10 The limits of DIY HR solutions 34:00 Why expert guidance matters more than ever Connect with Kara LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karadkelley/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/karadkelley/] Website: http://www.clinicalhr.com [http://www.clinicalhr.com/] Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/] https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ [https://courageandjoyatwork.com/] https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalLeadership #AuthenticityInDentistry #DentalIndustry

045: Why “Pick Me” Thirsty Energy Is Hurting Dentistry More Than Helping It | Beverly Wilburn

What happens when influence becomes more important than integrity? In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, Brandi sits down with Beverly Wilburn, longtime dental leader, practice owner, and former ADOM Office Manager of the Year, for a brutally honest conversation about authenticity, scarcity, and the “pick me” culture taking over dentistry. From speakers and consultants chasing visibility, to social media performativity and AI-generated content that all sounds the same, Beverly shares why trust, reciprocity, and genuine connection matter more than ever in today’s dental industry. This conversation dives deep into leadership, entrepreneurship, burnout, influence, and why people can instantly feel the difference between someone who wants to serve… and someone who just wants attention. If you’ve ever struggled with authenticity, comparison, visibility, or building a name for yourself in dentistry without losing who you are in the process, this episode will hit home. You’ll learn: * Why “pick me” energy is becoming a problem in dentistry * The difference between authentic leadership and performative influence * How scarcity mindset impacts business, speaking, and consulting * Why trust matters more than visibility * How AI is affecting authenticity online * The dangers of unvetted experts and transactional networking * Why entrepreneurship is harder than most people expect * What real leadership and reciprocity actually look like 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com [https://www.therealtalkofdental.com] 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss [https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss] We talk about: 0:00 The “taker” culture happening in dentistry 5:20 Authenticity, trust, and transactional relationships 11:10 Why AI content is making everyone sound the same 17:30 The obsession with influence and visibility 24:15 The rise of unvetted experts in dentistry 30:40 Entrepreneurship, burnout, and scarcity mindset 36:00 Beverly’s advice for future leaders in dentistry Connect with Beverly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlywilburn/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverlywilburn/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearbevvie_/ [https://www.instagram.com/dearbevvie_/] Website: https://dentalspousesinbusiness.com/ [https://dentalspousesinbusiness.com/] Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/] https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ [https://courageandjoyatwork.com/] https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalLeadership #AuthenticityInDentistry #DentalIndustry

044: The AI Tool Changing Dentistry Forever (And Why Human Connection Matters More Than Ever) | Danny Bessonov

AI is not replacing dentistry. It’s exposing where dentistry has been overwhelmed all along. In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, Brandi sits down with Danny Bessonov, founder of Avora, the voice AI platform helping dental practices automate documentation, improve patient communication, and create more human-centered experiences inside the operatory. But this conversation is about much more than technology. Danny shares how growing up in Silicon Valley, teaching himself to code as a child, and building viral apps as a teenager eventually led him into healthcare, where he realized one major thing: The biggest problem in dentistry is not a lack of skill. It’s cognitive overload. Because when providers are balancing notes, treatment planning, patient education, scheduling issues, handoffs, and constant interruptions… connection starts to disappear. And patients feel that. Danny breaks down how voice AI can eliminate administrative friction, improve coaching and communication inside practices, and allow dental teams to become more present, more effective, and less burned out. This episode challenges the fear around AI and reframes it as something much more powerful: A tool that gives people their attention back. If you’ve ever wondered where dentistry is headed, how AI is changing patient experience, or what the future of leadership and communication inside practices could look like… this conversation is going to shift your perspective. You’ll learn: * Why dental teams are overwhelmed even when they love what they do * How AI can improve patient experience instead of replacing human connection * The hidden impact documentation has on burnout and communication * Why most practices are sitting on valuable patient data they never use * How voice AI helps improve coaching, handoffs, and case acceptance * The real reason communication consistency matters in dental practices * Why leadership visibility becomes easier with AI-supported systems * How Avora automates documentation and supports operational efficiency * The difference between good technology and technology that actually gets adopted * Why the future of dentistry will belong to practices that embrace both innovation and humanity * What Danny believes most tech companies still misunderstand about dentistry * How AI can help practices create better experiences for both teams and patients 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com [https://www.therealtalkofdental.com] 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss [https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss] We talk about: 0:00 Danny’s unbelievable Alcatraz swim story at nine years old 3:00 Growing up in Silicon Valley and learning to code as a child 8:00 Building viral apps as a teenager and early entrepreneurship 12:00 Working in voice technology and discovering AI’s potential 15:00 Why Danny and his co-founder chose healthcare and dentistry 19:00 The real problem Avora was built to solve inside practices 22:00 How AI improves human connection instead of replacing it 25:00 Using voice AI to coach communication and improve patient experience 28:00 Why leadership and coaching in dentistry are evolving 31:00 The biggest mistakes tech companies make in dental 34:00 What dental practices misunderstand about AI adoption 36:00 Burnout, business building, and what keeps Danny motivated 37:30 The future of dentistry, voice technology, and human-centered care Connect with Danny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbessonov [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbessonov] Website: https://getavora.ai/ [https://getavora.ai/] Website: https://danielb.co/ [https://danielb.co/] Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/] https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ [https://courageandjoyatwork.com/] https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalAI #AIInDentistry #DentalTechnology

043: She Turned Dental Hygiene Into a $40K/Month Business (And Rewrote the Rules) | Sade Morel

Most hygienists aren’t underpaid because they lack skill. They’re underpaid because they don’t understand the numbers. And once you see it… you can’t unsee it. In this episode of The Real Talk of Dental, Sade Morel shares how she went from working inside corporate dentistry to building a multi-provider hygiene business that generates tens of thousands per month, on her terms. This is not just a conversation about money. It’s about autonomy, ownership, and what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start understanding your value. Because here’s the truth most people avoid: you can be incredible at your job and still be operating inside a system that was never designed to reward you properly. Sade breaks down exactly how she learned to read production numbers, take control of her schedule, and eventually step into independent practice, creating a model that blends hygiene, wellness, and business in a way the industry hasn’t caught up to yet. If you’ve ever felt stuck, undervalued, or unsure of what’s actually possible for you in this field, this episode will shift something. You’ll learn: * Why hygienists are often underpaid, even when they’re producing high revenue * How understanding production numbers changes everything * The real reason your schedule determines your income * Why relying on the front desk can limit your earning potential * How to take ownership of your schedule and production * The mindset shift from employee to business owner * What it takes to open an independent hygiene practice * How Sade built a mobile service into a full wellness-based business * Why patient education directly impacts case acceptance and revenue * The truth about autonomy, burnout, and staying in dentistry long-term 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com [https://www.therealtalkofdental.com] 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss [https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss] We talk about: 0:00 The real state of dental hygiene and why the system feels broken 2:30 From corporate dentistry to questioning income and value 5:00 Production goals, tracking numbers, and what they really mean 8:00 How scheduling impacts hygiene revenue and daily production 11:00 Taking control of your schedule and eliminating “ghost appointments” 14:00 Knowing your worth through data, not feelings 17:00 Patient education strategies that increase treatment acceptance 20:00 Why avoiding money conversations holds hygienists back 22:30 The limitations of traditional dental practice structures 25:00 Discovering the RDHAP path and independent practice 28:00 Transitioning from employee to mobile hygiene business 30:30 Setting pricing, building demand, and replacing income 33:00 Opening a physical practice and navigating regulations 35:30 Scaling into a multi-provider wellness model 37:30 Redefining hygiene, autonomy, and what’s actually possible Connect with Sade TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@saderdhap [https://www.tiktok.com/@saderdhap] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smilesbysade_rdhap/ [https://www.instagram.com/smilesbysade_rdhap/] Website: https://www.saderdhap.com/ [https://www.saderdhap.com/] Connect with me LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ [https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/] https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ [https://courageandjoyatwork.com/] https://leadhershipexperience.com/ [https://leadhershipexperience.com/] Phone: 616-682-6222 #DentalHygiene #DentalBusiness #WomenInDentistry