In this compelling episode, Dr. Eric Block sits down with Bob Spiel, dental consultant, leadership expert, and host of the "Just Say No to the DSO" podcast to unravel the truth behind Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), private equity buyouts, and the illusion of "easy exits" in dentistry. Bob shares his deep experience in leadership development and associate dentist matchmaking, shedding light on how private practitioners can reclaim control, build effective teams, and avoid costly mistakes th...
Aug 16, 2025•36 min•Ep. 233
If you’ve ever wondered how to make patients say yes more often or how to bring out the best in your team, this episode is for you. Dr. Eric Block sits down with Debra Engelhardt-Nash, a well-loved dental coach with decades of real-world experience, for an honest and inspiring talk about the things that really matter in your practice. They explore how simple changes in the way you speak and connect can make a big difference in case acceptance, patient trust, and team morale. Debra also shares st...
Aug 01, 2025•42 min•Ep. 232
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block is joined by Dave Monahan, CEO of Kleer and Membersy, to explore how dental membership plans are helping dentists move away from insurance dependence and take back control of their profitability. From automation and compliance to patient behavior and small business opportunities, Dave lays out why a well-run membership plan is no longer optional, but essential. Whether you're a new practice looking to build loyalty fast or an est...
Jul 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 231
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block is joined by Dr. Mark Murphy, Chief Learning Officer at the International Academy of Sleep. From his beginnings in general dentistry to becoming a leading figure in dental sleep medicine, Dr. Murphy shares a compelling journey marked by transformation, innovation, and a relentless passion for improving patient care through airway-focused solutions. They explore how sleep dentistry is not only clinically impactful but also professionally rewarding, and dive into th...
Jul 01, 2025•35 min•Ep. 230
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block welcomes performance psychologist Dr. Ben Bernstein to explore the intense demands of the dental profession and the subtle, often overlooked indicators of stress and burnout. Drawing from decades of experience working with high-stress professionals,including athletes, surgeons, and test takers, Dr. Bernstein provides practical strategies for dentists to recognize, manage, and recover from stress. You will gain a deeper understanding of the unique psychological pre...
Jun 16, 2025•27 min•Ep. 229
In this inspiring episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block sits down with Dr. Sam Shamardi, Harvard faculty, periodontist, speaker, and founder of Master Clinical Surgery. Dr. Shamardi shares his journey from dental school to launching a unique mentorship-based surgical training platform designed to elevate clinicians with practical, day-to-day surgical confidence. From his passion for perio and its systemic importance, to insights on why traditional CE falls short, this episod...
Jun 01, 2025•25 min•Ep. 228
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block talks with Dr. Scott Drucker—a periodontist, entrepreneur, and co-host of The Open Wide Podcast. Scott shares his unique journey from dental school to launching Supply Clinic, an online marketplace for dental supplies, all while still in residency. Scott opens up about the challenges of building a business during such a demanding time, working long nights after full days of surgery and classes. But his drive to solve problems in the dental world pushed him forward...
May 16, 2025•35 min•Ep. 227
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Show, Dr. Eric Block is joined by Nancy Kagan, Managing Partner at Rosen Summit Dental Advisors. Drawing from decades of experience in clinical hygiene, multi-practice management, billing systems, and consulting, Nancy shares what truly makes a dental practice successful, not just operationally, but ethically and emotionally. You’ll hear real-world insights about identifying embezzlement, setting up proper billing structures, the emotional toll of leade...
May 01, 2025•28 min•Ep. 226
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, host Dr. Eric Block sits down with board-certified master hypnotherapist Kyra Yang to explore how reprogramming the subconscious mind can help dentists and high achievers break through burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism. Kyra shares her personal journey from corporate burnout to hypnotherapy, and explains how unresolved subconscious programming can quietly drive stress, overthinking, and the never-ending chase for validation. This is a must-li...
Apr 16, 2025•31 min•Ep. 225
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block chats with husband-and-wife dentists Dr. Eric Applesies and Dr. Alex Kantor, hosts of Just a Couple of Dentists podcast. They share their journey through dental school, military service, practice transitions, and launching a startup—complete with unexpected challenges, including a sewage flood just weeks after opening. From navigating the ups and downs of business ownership to lessons learned from a failed partnership, they offer real talk on perseverance, risk, a...
Mar 31, 2025•45 min•Ep. 224
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist , Dr. Eric Block welcomes content marketing expert and book consultant John Webben. John shares his incredible journey from the corporate world to becoming a thought leader in content marketing and book publishing. As the founder of Captain of Books, John has helped countless professionals—dentists included—turn their knowledge and experiences into impactful books. Tune in as Dr. Block and John discuss the power of writing, personal branding, and how pu...
Mar 25, 2025•30 min•Ep. 223
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block welcomes Dr. Ervin Weiss, CEO of Nobio, to discuss groundbreaking advancements in antibacterial dental restorations. Dr. Weiss introduces Infinix, an innovative restorative material with antibacterial properties that help prevent recurrent decay. Dr. Weiss explains the science behind this game-changing technology and its future applications in root canals, implants, and more. Whether you're looking for ways to enhance patient car...
Mar 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 222
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block sits down with Dr. DeAngelo Webster to discuss how dentists can build a lean, efficient, and stress-free practice. Dr. Webster shares his unique journey—starting his practice while still in dental school—and the key lessons he learned along the way. Discover how mentorship gave him a competitive edge, why selective case acceptance can boost profitability, and how applying Kaizen principles leads to long-term success. Plus, he highlights the importance of self-care...
Mar 11, 2025•23 min•Ep. 221
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block welcomes back Naren Arulrajah, CEO of Ekwa Marketing, to discuss a crucial topic—keeping your new patient schedule consistently full. They dive into the pitfalls of relying on PPO plans, the power of SEO, and strategies to attract high-value patients without heavy discounts. Naren shares insights on maximizing online visibility, leveraging Google reviews, and optimizing phone call conversions to ensure more patients book appointm...
Mar 04, 2025•27 min•Ep. 220
In this insightful episode of The Stress-Free Dentist podcast, Dr. Eric Block chats with Dr. Kyle Stanley about the challenges dentists face with stress, perfectionism, and burnout. Dr. Stanley opens up about his journey—from pursuing art and performance to becoming a leading implant specialist—and how burnout led him to question his career. He shares how research on mental health, positivity, and stress management helped him overcome burnout and inspired him to create Lightside Academy, a platf...
Feb 25, 2025•23 min•Ep. 219
Running a stress-free, efficient dental practice starts with the right systems. In this episode, Dr. Eric Block talks with Sandy Pardue about the power of SOPs, clear team communication, and structured policies to reduce stress and improve productivity. They discuss handling common staff issues, finding and hiring top-tier employees, and creating predictable success through proven systems. Tune in for actionable strategies to build a thriving practice!
Feb 18, 2025•32 min•Ep. 218
This week, episode 217 of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast features Dr. Eric Block talking with Dr. Chris Griffin. Dr. Griffin shares his unconventional journey into dentistry, beginning in engineering before shifting to biological sciences and dental school. He discusses the challenges of starting his practice, navigating financial struggles, and adapting to unexpected setbacks, including a devastating fire that destroyed his office. Dr. Griffin’s story highlights resilience and adaptability. Hi...
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Ep. 217
In this special episode, Dr. Eric Block is joined by recurring guest Naren Arulrajah, CEO of Ekwa Marketing, to discuss what truly worked for Dr. Block in building his practice after transitioning to a fully fee-for-service model. This episode is unique because it goes beyond generic growth strategies and highlights real-life experiences, challenges, and the key transformations that allowed Dr. Block to achieve sustainable success. Whether you're a new dentist or an experienced practitioner look...
Feb 04, 2025•43 min•Ep. 216
In this heartfelt episode of The Stress-Free Dentist, Dr. Parul Dua Makkar shares her journey as a dentist and advocates for oral cancer awareness. Inspired by the loss of her younger brother Manu to oral cancer at just 34, she highlights the critical role dental professionals play in early detection and patient education. Dr. Makkar discusses her initiative, the Do a Good Job Symposium, which brings together healthcare professionals to improve oral cancer care and empower teams with tools to ac...
Jan 28, 2025•26 min•Ep. 215
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block speaks with Dr. Amanda Wilson, founder of Straight Smile Solutions, about empowering general and pediatric dentists to incorporate orthodontics effectively. She discusses the importance of mastering case selection, proper records, and slowing down aligner treatment plans for optimal outcomes. Dr. Wilson emphasizes reducing refinements by using techniques like articulation checks and individualized plans. She also highlights the b...
Jan 21, 2025•26 min•Ep. 214
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block is joined by serial entrepreneur Elijah Desmond to discuss strategies for dental practice owners considering selling their practices. Elijah shares insights from his new venture, Dental Pitch Brokerage, focusing on the importance of preparation, understanding your EBITDA, and leveraging expert advice to maximize the value of your practice. They also explore innovative ways Dental Pitch Brokerage incorporates fun and creativity in...
Jan 14, 2025•43 min•Ep. 213
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block interviews Naren Arulrajah, CEO of Ekwa Marketing; they discuss how Dr. Block transformed his dental practice's online presence, achieving 60+ new patient calls per month via Google. They emphasize the significance of Google reviews for building trust and attracting patients, recommending practices to aim for at least 10 new reviews monthly. Naren outlines six critical components of effective SEO and highlights the importance of ...
Jan 07, 2025•30 min•Ep. 212
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block interviews Dr. Ashley Lerman, a pediatric dentist and founder of First Grin, who shares her journey into pediatric dentistry and her innovative approach to preventive care. Dr. Lerman discusses the challenges of managing high patient volumes and emphasizes the importance of early dental care education for parents. Her company, First Grin, offers intraoral care kits and a companion app designed to promote oral health from infancy....
Dec 31, 2024•24 min•Ep. 211
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block interviews Dr. Chad Duplantis to explore the transformative role of mentorship and technology in modern dentistry. Dr. Duplantis shares his journey from aspiring psychiatrist to accomplished dentist, emphasizing the value of mentors in shaping both professional and personal growth. The discussion highlights actionable advice for young dentists, including the importance of financial planning, continuing education, and building eff...
Dec 24, 2024•25 min•Ep. 210
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block interviews Dr. Chance Bodini, dentist and founder of Proximal Contact LLC. Dr. Bodini describes his shift from private practice and DSOs to a tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), where he thrives in a collaborative environment, providing comprehensive care with a team of specialists. He shares a key learning moment and the importance of personal malpractice insurance. Dr. Bodini also highlights his ventures: DentWoo, ...
Dec 17, 2024•22 min•Ep. 209
In this episode, Dr. Eric Block and Naren Arulrajah, CEO of Ekwa Marketing, discuss the game-changing role of Google reviews for dental practices. Discover why reviews are critical for attracting new patients and staff and building trust. Learn actionable tips for setting goals, encouraging “love letter” reviews, and handling negative feedback constructively. Naren also highlights the broader marketing ecosystem, including SEO and Google Maps. Don’t miss this practical guide to leveraging review...
Dec 10, 2024•27 min•Ep. 208
In this episode of The Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Block is joined by Dr. Vinny Singh, a practicing dentist and the creator of Denscribe AI. Together, they explore the challenges dentists face with documentation, patient care, and running a practice. Dr. Singh shares her journey from dental school to practice ownership and explains how her innovative technology streamlines charting and reduces stress. Whether you're navigating insurance, managing a team, or searching for ways to save time, ...
Dec 03, 2024•33 min•Ep. 207
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Eric Block chats with Eric Miller, owner of Econologics Financial Advisors, about helping dentists achieve financial freedom. Together, they discuss practical strategies to build wealth, manage finances, and create a thriving dental practice. Eric Miller shares tips for reducing stress and planning for a secure financial future. Whether you’re navigating daily challenges or preparing for long-term success, this conversation offers valuable ...
Nov 26, 2024•28 min•Ep. 206
In this week's episode of the Stress-Free Dentist podcast, Dr. Eric Block interviews Dr. Dan Greenstein, a dentist who found an unexpected way to handle the pressures of his profession: through comedy. Dr. Dan shares his journey from dental school to managing his practice, facing mental health struggles, and eventually stepping onto the comedy stage. Hear how he balances two very different careers, uses humor to cope with stress, and inspires young dentists to embrace flexibility and prioritize ...
Nov 19, 2024•35 min•Ep. 205
In this episode of the Stress-Free Dentist Podcast, Dr. Block interviews Naren Arulrajah, the CEO of Ekwa Marketing. They explore proven marketing strategies to bring high-value patients into your practice. From mastering SEO and Google Analytics to building patient trust, marketing expert Naren shares insights on attracting implant patients and establishing your expertise. Discover actionable tips to boost patient engagement and grow your practice stress-free!
Nov 12, 2024•24 min•Ep. 204
