On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with licensed mental health counselor and life coach Nikolai Blinow, who specializes in burnout, high-functioning anxiety, and adult ADHD. From a former fundraising executive to a TEDx speaker and mindfulness-based therapist, Nikolai shares her powerful origin story and how a pivotal trip to Costa Rica helped her redefine success and fulfillment. The conversation dives into the unique stressors dental professionals face, how burnout can quietly erode...
Jul 11, 2025•54 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Kwane Watson, the visionary founder and CEO of Kare Mobile Inc. With a background in both private practice and corporate dentistry, Dr. Watson has pioneered a transformative model of mobile dental care using single-operatory vans combined with proprietary technology. He shares how Kare Mobile addresses healthcare inequities by partnering with insurance companies, counties, and institutions like jails to bring care directly to underserved pop...
Jul 10, 2025•24 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Kyle Guerin, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Henry Schein, to explore the transformative power of service in dentistry. Kyle shares incredible stories from nearly two decades of humanitarian outreach—including 16 trips to Ethiopia—where dental care and education have created ripple effects of hope and opportunity. He explains Henry Schein’s commitment to health equity through initiatives like Shine Cares kits, sustainable clinic m...
Jul 09, 2025•31 min
In today’s Part 2 episode, Dr. Mark returns with a powerful message on the critical importance of practice infrastructure over sheer production. From leadership and culture assessments to systemization, He shares the real metrics that matter in dental practice ownership. He emphasizes how many practices in the U.S. operate at 2% or even negative profitability—and what that means for your financial legacy. Dr. Mark introduces foundational frameworks like the Six Pillars of Practice Optimization a...
Jul 08, 2025•26 min
On today's episode, Dr. Mark dives deep into the realities of dental business ownership, emphasizing the importance of strong operational infrastructure over just increasing production. Dr. Costes shares insights into his coaching and consulting work with over 230 private clients, the vibrant and supportive community inside the Dental Success Network, and the powerful impact of the world's largest dental buying group. Dr. Mark also introduces his passion project, Smile Outreach International, wh...
Jul 07, 2025•29 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Holli Perez, CMO and co-founder of DirectDental, to discuss the workforce challenges reshaping the dental industry. Holli shares her journey from being laid off in a DSO leadership role to launching a game-changing dental staffing platform that now serves practices in all 50 states. The conversation dives deep into the realities of temp staffing, the growing hygienist shortage, and why nearly 30% of dentists are reportedly doing their own hygien...
Jul 04, 2025•29 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with dental transitions expert Greg Auerbach, Senior Director at Henry Schein Dental Practice Transitions. Greg unpacks the critical mistakes dentists make when preparing to sell their practices—and why waiting until you're ready to retire could cost you big. From understanding valuation methodologies like cap rate and EBITDA, to the difference between DSO deals and private practice transitions, Greg offers data-driven insights on how to boost your p...
Jul 03, 2025•23 min
In today’s Part 2 episode, Dr. Mark Costes dives deep into the tactical side of building a scalable and profitable dental practice. He outlines his proven frameworks for streamlining operations, conducting effective team meetings, and mastering key performance indicators (KPIs). Dr. Costes shares real-world examples from his journey managing multiple practices, emphasizing the importance of organizational charts, performance reviews, and clear leadership expectations. He also breaks down the tru...
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr 4 min
In today’s Part 1 episode, Dr. Mark Costes shares the captivating journey that took him from 20 dental school rejections to owning 16 successful dental practices and becoming a global leader in dental outreach. Speaking to a live audience, Dr. Costes breaks down the economic realities of private equity’s growing influence in dentistry and why understanding overhead and operational efficiency is more crucial than ever. He dives into the emotional and physical tolls of the profession, sharing why ...
Jul 01, 2025•1 hr 9 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with employment attorney and HR tech founder Ali Oromchian for a candid and eye-opening conversation about the legal pitfalls facing dental practice owners. Ali, who is the CEO and co-founder of HR for Health, shares the shocking truth about why even well-intentioned dentists are at high risk for employment lawsuits—and what they can do to avoid them. From missed lunch breaks to post-sale lawsuits by longtime team members, Ali shares real-world examp...
Jun 30, 2025•28 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by Penny Reed, Executive Vice President at ADOM and a trailblazer in dental practice management. Penny shares her journey from being recruited by her dentist to manage a practice, to becoming a nationally recognized consultant and leader in dental office management. She reveals the five key revenue drivers for practice growth, why active patient engagement starts in hygiene, and how simple, enthusiastic patient interactions can powerfully increase ne...
Jun 27, 2025•26 min
In today’s Part 2 episode, Dr. Mark Costes continues his compelling conversation with Dr. Lincoln Harris, CEO of RIPE Global, diving deep into the innovation behind their game-changing dental training platform. In this second half, Dr. Harris reveals how their software and hardware ecosystem is built for scalability, with a focus on improving clinical outcomes and associate productivity—fast. From cutting-edge cloud simulators and proprietary mannequins to custom LMS channels and data-driven ROI...
Jun 26, 2025•36 min
In today’s Part 1 episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with the always insightful Dr. Lincoln Harris, founder of Harris Dental Boutique and CEO of RIPE Global. Fresh off recording 26 podcasts at Thrive Live, Mark kicks things off with high energy and hands over the mic to Dr. Harris, who shares his incredible journey from Queensland, Australia to Colorado, USA. The conversation dives into the evolution of RIPE Global from an in-person CE provider to a global force in dental education, now offering...
Jun 25, 2025•31 min
On today’s Part 2 episode, Dr. Steve Dove sits down with Dr. Mark Costes, diving deep into the mindset, strategies, and grit it takes to build and scale a thriving dental organization. Steve breaks down his leadership philosophy, including why delegation is essential for growth and how empowering the right people—even when they’re only 80% ready—can transform a business. He shares his passion for making people feel seen, both in his teams and patient care, and gives a candid look at the evolutio...
Jun 24, 2025•36 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined by longtime friend and DSI Black Belt coach Dr. Steve Dove for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation. Steve shares his journey from immigrating to the U.S. from South Africa at age 11 to becoming a Division I athlete and eventually a successful dental practice owner. He opens up about his early cultural challenges, the pivotal decision to pursue dentistry, and the humbling transition into dental school. Steve also reflects on how athletics shaped hi...
Jun 23, 2025•27 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Lily Larsen, a standout field sales consultant with Henry Schein in South Florida. She opens up about her journey from collegiate swimmer to one of Shine’s most respected reps, known for her high-touch, relationship-driven approach to supporting dental practices. Lily shares how her role goes far beyond selling supplies—diving into practice performance, strategic planning, and long-term growth for her clients. She also discusses how Henry Schein...
Jun 20, 2025•28 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes is joined live from the Thrive Live event in Las Vegas by Brian Colao, a true authority on DSOs, mergers and acquisitions, and dental law. He shares his unparalleled insights on the current state of the DSO market, explaining how economic uncertainty, stalled private equity deals, and rising costs have created the most unpredictable environment in recent memory. Brian breaks down why so many transactions are being abandoned, how multiples have changed since th...
Jun 19, 2025•25 min
In today's Part 2 episode, Dr. Mark Costes dives deeper into the AI revolution transforming the dental industry with Flossy CEO and co-founder, Dr. Miles Beckett. Miles unpacks how Fiona, their AI receptionist, is engineered to handle complex scheduling, triage emergencies, verify insurance, and provide human-like empathy—all while reducing overhead and improving patient conversion rates. The conversation touches on the ethical importance of transparency when AI answers the phone, how Flossy int...
Jun 18, 2025•30 min
In today's Part 1 episode, Dr. Mark Costes kicks things off with a quick update from a whirlwind quarter of travel and a legendary local event in Prescott, Arizona—the "Crit Party" at the Whiskey Off-Road bike race. Then, he welcomes Dr. Miles Beckett, co-founder and CEO of Flossy, to the show. Miles shares his remarkable pivot from a career in plastic surgery to becoming a pioneer in dental tech. Backed by over $30 million in venture capital, Flossy is leveraging cutting-edge AI to revolutioniz...
Jun 17, 2025•27 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes chats with Sydney Robinson, Executive Director of the Dental Success Network and founder of FOA Coaching. Sydney shares how she evolved from a dental office manager into a strategic operations leader, managing a growing team that supports over 2,000 dentists and tens of thousands of team members across DSN and FOA. The discussion highlights the power of empowering office managers through business acumen, leadership mentorship, and communication training. Sydne...
Jun 16, 2025•26 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes Jordan Reiss, Senior Director of Clinical Strategic Development at DEXIS, live from the Thrive Live exhibition hall in Las Vegas. With a background that spans management consulting at KPMG to dental tech innovation, Jordan shares how he found his passion in dentistry and 3D imaging. The conversation explores how CBCT is transforming not just implantology, but also endodontics, orthodontics, and aligner therapy. Jordan highlights the evolving need for ...
Jun 13, 2025•24 min
On today’s Part 2 episode, Dr. Mark Costes and Matt Uhler dive deep into what drives high achievers—and what often breaks them. From chasing arbitrary financial milestones to constantly moving the goalpost, the two reflect on the emotional toll of the entrepreneurial grind. Mark shares how hitting his million-dollar goal left him more miserable than ever and why he created the Four Futures framework to redefine true success across all areas of life. Matt adds powerful insights from his 27 years ...
Jun 12, 2025•38 min
On today’s Part 1 episode, Dr. Mark Costes joins Matt Uhler for an open and impactful conversation about building—and nearly breaking—his dental career. Mark shares the early days of his entrepreneurial journey, from buying his first practice sight unseen to growing six locations and eventually scaling to sixteen. But behind the growth was chaos: burnout, poor systems, and a personal life unraveling. Mark walks through the turning point that led him to sell most of his practices, rebuild with in...
Jun 11, 2025•32 min
On today’s Part 2 episode, Joshua Scott sits down with Dr. Mark Costes, and the focus turns to the power of attention in modern marketing. They reflect on the early strategies of Ryan Holiday and the ethical implications of manipulating media—then apply those insights directly to the dental world. Josh explains why attention, not just leads or new patients, is the true top of the marketing funnel, and how practices can shift their thinking from conversions to community impact. The conversation a...
Jun 10, 2025•34 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back one of the Dentalpreneur Podcast’s most frequent and valued guests—marketing leader and Studio 8E8 CEO, Joshua Scott. In this first installment of a two-part series, Josh and Mark unpack the chaos of Q1, balancing the grind with intentional downtime, and what it means to be “busy for the right reasons.” Josh reflects on his journey from sitting in the audience at his first Dental Success Summit to earning a coveted main stage spot, and shares the...
Jun 09, 2025•28 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Jan Jaffer, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of TREC Dental, a values-based dental organization out of Calgary, Alberta. Broadcasting live from the Thrive Live exhibition hall in Las Vegas, the two dive into the unique structure of TREC Dental—an 18-practice group that operates without production targets, budgets, or bonuses. Dr. Jaffer shares how simplicity, trust, and a patient-first mindset have helped their model thrive, while maintai...
Jun 06, 2025•29 min
On today’s Part 2 episode, Troy Eckard returns to demystify the difference between mineral rights and working interests in oil and gas investing. He breaks down how mineral rights function like the "house" in a casino—offering truly passive monthly income with no risk, liability, or operating expenses. In contrast, working interests carry greater risk but are rewarded with aggressive tax benefits, including up to a 100% deduction of your investment against ordinary income. Troy explains why each...
Jun 05, 2025•33 min
On today’s Part 1 episode, Dr. Mark Costes welcomes back Troy Eckard for another deep dive into the macroeconomic trends shaping today’s investing environment. As one of the most downloaded guests in Dentalpreneur Podcast history, Troy brings 40 years of oil and gas experience to the table, helping dentists and high-income professionals understand how to navigate an uncertain market. The two discuss the current global liquidity crisis, rising interest rates, and why so many private equity deals ...
Jun 04, 2025•39 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down live from the Thrive Live exhibition hall with the dynamic Katherine Eitel Belt, founder and CEO of LionSpeak. Catherine shares her remarkable journey from dental assistant to international speaker and communications coach, emphasizing the transformative power of language, leadership, and clear communication. Together, they explore the framework behind courageous conversations, how to make a clear invitation to your team, and why many dental leaders ...
Jun 03, 2025•31 min
On today’s episode, Dr. Mark Costes kicks off a special series of live interviews from the Thrive Live exhibition hall in Las Vegas with Ryan Gross, founder and CEO of CMOshare. Ryan shares the origin story of his fractional CMO journey and how his company has grown into one of dentistry’s top marketing firms. The two dive deep into the evolution of dental marketing, with a particular focus on data-driven decision-making, ROI transparency, and the increasing role of AI in transforming both marke...
Jun 02, 2025•22 min
