How does a dentist go from student debt to earning their first million in just 18 months? In this episode, Dr. Derek Williams breaks down the exact strategies, mindset shifts, leadership skills, and business systems that helped him scale his dental practice fast — without burnout, gimmicks, or chasing trends. This episode dives deep into dental practice management, case acceptance strategies, leadership in dentistry, dental marketing systems, scheduling efficiency, and building a profitable dent...
Feb 23, 2026•19 min•Ep. 298
Are you a general dentist wondering how to increase production, improve clinical skills, and grow your dental practice without working longer hours? In this episode of the Lifestyle Practice Podcast , Dr. Steve Van de Graaff shares powerful insights on specialty procedures for general dentists, including dental implants, endodontics, oral surgery, and advanced treatment planning. Many dentists struggle with referring high-value cases out of their practice—from root canals and wisdom teeth extrac...
Feb 16, 2026•12 min•Ep. 297
Is dentistry still worth it in 2026? With rising interest rates, staffing shortages, shrinking insurance reimbursements, and the polarizing narratives on social media, this question is louder than ever. In this episode, Dr. Derek Williams breaks down the real state of the dental industry today—no fear-mongering, just clarity on the math and the mindset required to win. We dive deep into the specific challenges modern dentists face, from "complexity inflation" to the realities of overhead costs. ...
Feb 09, 2026•12 min•Ep. 296
How Dr. Cody Santora Doubled His Dental Practice Revenue in 1 Year. Are you debating whether to buy a dental practice or start one from scratch? In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Matt Vogt sits down with Dr. Cody Santora to reveal the exact blueprint he used to acquire a practice and nearly double its collections—from $840k to $1.6M—in just 12 months. If you are looking for dental practice growth strategies that work, this episode is a masterclass in execution. We break down...
Feb 02, 2026•56 min•Ep. 295
When a key team member resigns, it can be one of the most stressful moments in managing a dental practice. Most owners feel blindsided, and if handled poorly, a single resignation can damage your dental office culture and trigger a wave of dental staff turnover. In this episode, Dr Steve Van De Graaff breaks down exactly how to handle employee resignations with professionalism and strategy. This is not just about filling a role; it's about leadership in dental practice and maintaining stability ...
Jan 26, 2026•14 min•Ep. 294
In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, host Matt Vogt is joined once again by Zach Lemaster, founder of Rent To Retirement, to explore how dentists and other healthcare professionals can build long-term wealth through turnkey real estate investing—without the stress of being a landlord or losing focus on their practice. You’ll learn exactly how to start or scale a real estate portfolio using passive strategies, new construction rentals, and tax-saving techniques such as bonus depreci...
Jan 19, 2026•37 min•Ep. 292
In this episode of the Lifestyle Practice Podcast , Dr. Steve Van De Graaff shares a powerful and personal story about designing a dental career that supports freedom, family, and meaningful experiences outside the dental office. Dr. Steve reflects on a recent dental humanitarian trip to the Galápagos Islands, where he and his family provided essential dental care to underserved communities in Ecuador. This episode highlights how building a well-run dental practice allows practice owners to step...
Jan 12, 2026•10 min•Ep. 291
Dentists are taught to equate success with production, income, and constant growth. But many high-achieving practice owners still feel stressed, restless, or burned out. In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams sits down with repeat guest Dr. Talon Davis to explore a better framework for wealth, ambition, and fulfillment through the lens of Morgan Housel’s book The Art of Spending Money. They discuss how dentists often use money as a status scoreboard, why lifestyle ...
Jan 05, 2026•37 min•Ep. 290
Is 2025 the year you finally buy a dental practice? If you’re a recent dental school graduate, GPR resident, or an associate who’s been waiting for the right moment — this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast is the wake-up call you need. Dr. Steve Van De Graaff makes a powerful case for dental practice ownership and challenges you to stop waiting and take action. Through real-world financial comparisons and personal coaching insights, Steve breaks down the income potential of being an owne...
Dec 22, 2025•9 min•Ep. 289
Thinking about buying a second dental practice? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast , Dr. Steve Van De Graaff unpacks one of the biggest decisions every growth-focused dentist must face: “Should I expand to multiple dental practices or go all in on one highly productive office?” If you're a dentist looking to increase production, reduce stress, and build long-term financial freedom, this episode offers critical insights into what actually drives dental practice gr...
Dec 15, 2025•10 min•Ep. 288
Is it smarter to buy a dental practice or build one from the ground up. In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr Matt Vogt sits down with TLP coaching client and startup owner Dr Dawson, who shares his powerful journey of launching and growing his practice from zero. If you are a dentist debating startup versus acquisition, this conversation gives you a clear look at what real life looks like when you open a practice from scratch. Dawson walks through how he handled uncertainty, mad...
Dec 08, 2025•29 min•Ep. 287
If you’re a dentist looking to increase production, improve daily efficiency, and grow your dental practice in 2025, this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast is for you. Dr. Steve shares one of the most overlooked productivity tips for dentists: arriving just 15 minutes earlier each day. This simple shift can lead to more efficient dental scheduling, a stronger dental office team culture, and even add $100,000 in annual production, without working longer hours. In this episode, you'll lear...
Dec 03, 2025•8 min•Ep. 286
How to Increase Profit, Lower Costs, and Build a Simpler, Richer Lifestyle Practice. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast • Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com...
Nov 24, 2025•25 min•Ep. 285
In part two, Derek and Dr. Dale Hoffel unpack the whirlwind from deal collapse to dream fit—how walking away from a tight, risky acquisition led to a Laguna Beach practice that aligned with her life vision. Dale shares the inside story: a last-minute listing, a 48-hour offer, and launching into ownership with three ops (quickly four), paper-to-digital conversion, and a summer of broken equipment, staff gaps, and nonstop “first impressions.” What follows is Dale’s leadership playbook in real time...
Nov 17, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 284
In this episode, Derek sits down with Dr. Dale Hoffel of Laguna Beach, California, to unpack her remarkable and vulnerable path to ownership. From battling severe depression and personal trauma to rediscovering purpose and chasing a long-lost dream, Dale’s story is one of courage, self-awareness, and transformation. She opens up about the years she thought dentistry was behind her, how therapy and honest self-reflection changed everything, and what ultimately reignited her drive to lead and crea...
Nov 10, 2025•49 min•Ep. 283
In this episode, Matt continues his conversation with attorney Vince Nardone on the legal mistakes dentists make around practice acquisitions. Building on Part 1, they expand the discussion and continue breaking down areas where dentists get themselves into trouble, often without realizing it until much later. Vince shares additional examples and insight that apply whether you're preparing to buy a practice or already own one and want to avoid costly legal surprises. Connect with us: • Learn mor...
Nov 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 282
In this episode, Matt sits down with attorney Vince Nardone, a legal expert who has handled countless dental practice acquisitions. They break down the most common mistakes dentists make when buying a practice and why many of these errors don’t surface until it’s too late. Vince shares real-world scenarios and key red flags to watch out for, whether you’re currently looking to buy a practice or already own one and want to avoid hidden legal and financial traps. Connect with us: • Learn more abou...
Oct 27, 2025•23 min•Ep. 281
Derek interviews Steve about how he and his family moved to Europe and lived out of backpacks. They discuss the planning the trip, and what traveling in Europe looks like. They talk about prioritizing experiences and acting with urgency on your dreams. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast • Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Steve at steve@theli...
Oct 20, 2025•49 min•Ep. 280
In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Steve Van de Graaff interviews Dr. Derek Williams about what life was really like after selling his practice and hitting the road full-time with his family. Derek shares the fears, logistics, and challenges of RV life with five kids, along with the deep rewards—stronger family relationships, personal growth, and a new perspective on freedom. They discuss what it feels like to step away from clinical dentistry, how to find fulfillment after f...
Oct 13, 2025•52 min•Ep. 279
In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams and Dr. Steve Van de Graaff open up about the vision, planning, and mindset that allowed them to sell their practices and take extended time away with their families. They share the early influences that shaped their career goals, the numbers and strategies that made financial independence possible, and the emotional challenge of actually pulling the trigger. Whether you dream of early financial freedom or simply want more bal...
Oct 06, 2025•47 min•Ep. 278
In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams breaks down exactly how he sold his dental practice without a broker—what he did, why he did it, and what he’d change. Derek covers building a bank-ready prospectus (financials, KPIs, payer mix), where and how he marketed the listing (FB groups, classifieds, ADA Marketplace), keeping anonymity (NDAs, separate email), and running negotiations when you’re representing yourself. He also compares private-dentist buyers vs. DSOs, t...
Oct 03, 2025•21 min•Ep. 277
In this episode, Matt shows you how to cut through the dental jargon and focus on what patients really care about. Stop talking about teeth and start connecting with the human in front of you... their wants, desires, and problems. When you do, both your practice and your fulfillment will skyrocket. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast • Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Matt at matt@thelif...
Sep 22, 2025•20 min•Ep. 276
Stop complaining about your team and start teaching them. Steve shares solid lessons to help you create a team that makes your life easier, not harder. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast • Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com...
Sep 16, 2025•13 min•Ep. 275
New owner. New mindset. Zero panic. In this candid conversation, Derek sits down with a brand new owner to unpack how a 20-year-old’s discovery of FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) shaped his entire path through dental school, associateship, and a swift, strategic leap into ownership. He shares how he maximized clinical reps in school (hello molar endo and wisdom teeth), evaluated practices with a clear freedom-first lens, and landed a rare small-town, low-competition office outside Da...
Sep 08, 2025•41 min•Ep. 274
In this episode, we explore why retaining patients is just as important as attracting new ones. Matt shares a real-world case where a patient nearly slipped out the “back door” mid-treatment, highlighting the risks to both patient care and the practice. You’ll learn simple, repeatable steps to protect your work, improve continuity of care, and keep patients engaged through treatment completion. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Life...
Sep 01, 2025•20 min•Ep. 273
In this episode of the Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Steve Van DeGraff shares valuable insights and strategies to help dentists achieve better work-life balance. Amidst juggling responsibilities as a dentist, business owner, and parent, Dr. Van DeGraff offers practical tips to stay present, take decisive action, seek mentorship, and prioritize effectively. Tune in to learn how to prevent work from creeping into personal life, manage stress, and improve both professional and personal well-being...
Aug 25, 2025•17 min•Ep. 272
Buying a practice can feel like stepping onto a moving treadmill set at full speed. Most new owners scramble to fix the wrong problems, burn out their team, and miss the opportunities right in front of them. In this episode, Derek shares the five action items that separate thriving first-year owners from the ones barely keeping up. These aren’t theory — they’re hard-won lessons from his own journey and from coaching over 50 dentists through acquisitions. One of them might be the very thing you’r...
Aug 18, 2025•29 min•Ep. 271
Speed is the secret weapon of the most successful dentists. In this episode, Matt breaks down why fast action leads to faster growth and how hesitation kills momentum. If you’re ready to stop overthinking and start executing, this one’s for you. Connect with us: • Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching • Get access to TLP Academy • Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast • Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com • Email Steve at steve@thelifestyle...
Aug 11, 2025•27 min•Ep. 270
In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, host Dr. Steve Van De Graaff addresses the overwhelming burden of student loans for new dentists. Steve discusses strategies for managing and paying off student debt, including utilizing the new SAVE repayment plan and the benefits of investing in a highly profitable dental practice. He emphasizes the importance of financial freedom, flexibility, and building a thriving practice to overcome financial challenges. Tune in for practical advice and ...
Aug 04, 2025•20 min•Ep. 269
Are you hesitant to step into your role as a leader - especially after acquiring a practice? In this episode, Derek shares a coaching story that will resonate with any new owner who feels unsure about holding meetings, sharing their vision, or setting expectations. You’ll hear how one doctor overcame her fear, led her first team meeting, and was surprised by the team’s enthusiastic response. Derek breaks down why your team actually wants you to lead, the most common mindset blocks holding doctor...
Jul 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 268
