The Real Talk of Dental

Brandi Marzolino
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 5d ago

    056: She Was Pushed Out at 56. Then Reinvented Herself | Lorie Streeter

    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

    056: She Was Pushed Out at 56. Then Reinvented Herself | Lorie Streeter

  2. Aug 7

    055: Your Team Isn't Lazy, Your Project Has No Manager | Abby Hogan

    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 Thank you to our episode sponsors! Check out Avora here: https://getavora.ai/ Check out Archy here: https://www.archy.com/ Connect with Abbigail LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbigailhogan/ Website: www.thedsopm.com Connect with meLinkedIn: 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

    055: Your Team Isn't Lazy, Your Project Has No Manager | Abby Hogan

  3. Jul 31

    054: Why Selling to a DSO Might Cost You Millions | Mike Baird

    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

    054: Why Selling to a DSO Might Cost You Millions | Mike Baird

  4. Jul 24

    053: What Does Dr. Brett Kessler REALLY Think? Hear It From Him

    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

    053: What Does Dr. Brett Kessler REALLY Think? Hear It From Him

  5. Jul 17

    052: 40% of Her Dental Clients Quit in One Week. Here's How She Rebuilt | Brittany Rogars

    Starting a dental consulting business looks like freedom from the outside, but the reality is a nine to five that turns into a twenty four seven you never fully clock out of. If you have ever thought about leaving your day job in dentistry to coach, consult, or build something of your own, this episode is the honest version nobody posts on social media. You will hear what it actually feels like when a scarcity mindset takes over, when clients start walking, and when you have to decide if the dream is still worth it. Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Brittany Rogars, founder of SKF Practice Solutions and one of the most sought after Open Dental consultants in the industry, for round two of their conversation. Brittany walks through her PIVOT method for handling business chaos and the moment she lost 40 percent of her clients in a single week. You will walk away with a real framework for deciding if entrepreneurship is actually for you, not just the highlight reel. You’ll learn: Why starting a dental consulting business trades a nine to five for a twenty four seven you have to actually love. The PIVOT method Brittany uses to process, trust intuition, validate internally, seek outreach, and stay tenacious through business chaos. What happened when Brittany lost 40 percent of her clients in a single seven day span and how she rebuilt. Why a scarcity mindset is the biggest thing killing new dental consulting businesses before they even get started. Why hiring the right team, not doing it all yourself, is the best gift Brittany ever gave her business. Real talk on why delegation is still a daily practice even after years of running a growing company.What to ask yourself before you decide you want to start your own business in dentistry. 🔗 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 Brittany Rogars origin story from soap maker to consultant 03:40 What life as a dental entrepreneur really looks like 07:37 Losing her sense of smell and pivoting into Open Dental 08:43 The scarcity mindset that almost made her quit 15:00 What is the biggest gift she gave her business 19:19 Why delegation is still a daily practice for her 22:44 What to ask before you start your own business 26:51 Why you have to fall in love with the suck 32:00 Trading a nine to five for a twenty four seven 32:21 How scarcity mindset kills new consulting businesses 39:20 Breaking down the PIVOT method step by step 42:27 Details on the second annual Open Dental Users Workshop Connect with Brittany Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skfpracticesolutions Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skfpracticesolutions Open Dental Users Workshop: https://skfpracticesolutions.com/opendentallive Website: https://skfpracticesolutions.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 #DentalEntrepreneur #DentalConsulting #OpenDentalSoftware #DentalPracticeManagement #WomenInDentistry #DentalLeadership #SmallBusinessOwner #EntrepreneurMindset #ScarcityMindset #BusinessCoaching #DentalIndustry #StartingABusiness #PivotMethod #DentalPodcast #FemaleEntrepreneur #BusinessOwnerLife #DentalCoaching #RealTalkOfDental

    052: 40% of Her Dental Clients Quit in One Week. Here's How She Rebuilt | Brittany Rogars

  6. Jul 10

    051: Why Your Benefits Plan Could Get You Sued | Emily Stellflug

    Employee benefits compliance for dental practices is no longer optional paperwork, it's a legal responsibility every practice owner and DSO leader now carries under federal law. If your team has ten people or ten thousand, you are the fiduciary on that plan, and that means real liability if your broker compensation isn't documented and your benefits process isn't transparent. Brandi Marzolino, 20 year dental veteran and leadership coach, sits down with employee benefits advisor Emily Stellflug to break down the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), the 2021 law reshaping how dental practices and DSOs manage healthcare costs, broker pay, and risk. Emily shares how practices of every size can build full transparency into their premium dollars, why an unhealthy, underinsured team quietly kills production, and how she rebuilt her own career and confidence in her mid-40s while caring for her mother in hospice. This episode will change how you think about your benefits plan. You’ll learn: What the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) requires from every dental practice that offers a health plan, and why treating benefits like a set it and forget it line item creates real legal exposure.Why broker compensation disclosure is now a legal requirement for employers, and what happens if your practice does not have that documentation on file.How dental practices and DSOs can get full transparency into where premium dollars actually go, from admin costs to pharmacy spend to claims.Why an unhealthy, benefits starved team leads to more call outs, lower production, and unhappier patients, and how a strong wellness program changes that equation.What Emily Stellflug learned about humility, mentorship, and imposter syndrome after pivoting from dental practice management into employee benefits in her mid-40s.How to reframe a scary organizational change, like updating your benefits plan, using the same mindset that helped Emily navigate a career pivot and a family health crisis at the same time. 🔗 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 Meeting Emily at Women in DSO and their bonding story 04:26 What the Consolidated Appropriations Act means for your practice 09:11 What are the biggest compliance mistakes employers make 11:49 Why no one questions their employer's benefits process 13:44 How to get full transparency into your premium dollars 16:59 Why call outs from an unhealthy workforce kill production 19:05 What are other ways to build a great benefits culture 21:46 What are the biggest misconceptions about changing benefits 25:38 What prompted Emily's career pivot in her mid-40s 29:54 How Emily did the inner work during her career transition 33:20 What the Knicks comeback teaches about chasing big goals 37:26 Caring for a parent while building a new career Connect with Emily LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-stellflug/ Website: http://www.mahoneygroup.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 #DentalIndustry #DentalPractice #EmployeeBenefits #DentalHR #BenefitsCompliance #DSO #DentalLeadership #HealthcareCosts #WomenInDentistry #CareerChange #DentalCulture #HRCompliance #BrokerCompensation #MentalHealthParity #DentalBurnout #PracticeManagement #TheRealTalkOfDental

    051: Why Your Benefits Plan Could Get You Sued | Emily Stellflug

  7. Jul 3

    050: Episode 50 Meets 10 Years of Dental Entrepreneur Woman | Anne Duffy

    Dental Entrepreneur Woman is the support community Anne Duffy built after one phone call ten years ago, when a friend in the dental industry was reduced to tears over a comment about her smile. If you have ever walked into a room full of dental professionals and felt like you did not belong, Dental Entrepreneur Woman is proof that feeling does not have to be permanent. On this episode, Anne Duffy, founder of Dental Entrepreneur Woman, joins host Brandi Marzolino to mark two milestones at once: ten years of Dental Entrepreneur Woman and the 50th episode of The Real Talk of Dental. Brandi Marzolino, a 20 year dental industry veteran and leadership coach, sits down with Anne Duffy to trace how one phone call turned into a magazine, then a movement, then a retreat that now sells out with over 250 women every year. You will hear how CliftonStrengths reshaped the way Anne Duffy leads, why DeW's principle that the answer is in the ladies room guides the community, and what it actually feels like the first time you walk into a room of 250 women and wonder if you belong. Press play and find your seat at the table. You’ll learn: Why Anne Duffy started Dental Entrepreneur Woman after a single phone call with a friend who was told her smile looked insincere, and how that moment became a ten year movement for women in dentistry. How CliftonStrengths showed Anne Duffy the difference between the balcony and the basement of a strength, and why knowing both changed the way she leads Dental Entrepreneur Woman. What it actually feels like to walk into your first Dental Entrepreneur Woman retreat as an outsider, and how Brandi Marzolino found her own seat at the table. Why Dental Entrepreneur Woman pairs new members with established ones through its mentorship program, and how one connection eases the overwhelm of a 250 woman retreat. The core principles that keep Dental Entrepreneur Woman a safe space, including why gossip and gatekeeping have no place in the community. How Anne Duffy as an activator and Brandi Marzolino as a strategic thinker show why different CliftonStrengths build stronger movements together. Why Anne Duffy calls herself an accidental entrepreneur, and what that means for anyone building a community without a five year plan. 🔗 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 smile comment that sparked Dental Entrepreneur Woman 03:00 Welcoming Anne Duffy to The Real Talk of Dental 05:00 Anne Duffy's 46 years in clinical dental hygiene 08:00 Why weren't women getting dental industry speaking gigs 09:00 What phone call started Dental Entrepreneur Woman 12:00 What CliftonStrengths revealed about Anne Duffy's gifts 17:00 Why Anne Duffy wanted to bring love to dentistry 24:00 DeW's principle that the answer is in the ladies room 26:00 Brandi Marzolino's first Dental Entrepreneur Woman retreat 28:00 The matching dress moment that meant she belonged 38:00 Partnering with Ryan Vet on Dental Entrepreneur magazine DeW Retreat Charlotte, NCNovember 12–14, 2026Register here: https://www.dewlifecrew.com/offers/HiYAFNRX/checkout Connect with Anne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-duffy-b421882/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dewlifemag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dewlifemag Website: http://dew.life/ 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 #DentalEntrepreneurWomen #WomenInDentistry #DentalIndustry #DentalHygienist #WomenSupportingWomen #DentalLeadership #DentalCommunity #DEWLife #DentalPodcast #WomenInBusiness #DentalCoaching #CliftonStrengths #DentalRetreat #DentalEntrepreneur #WomenInDental #DentalMentorship #DentalCareer #BelongingInDentistry #RealTalkOfDental

    050: Episode 50 Meets 10 Years of Dental Entrepreneur Woman | Anne Duffy

  8. Jun 26

    049: The Most Undervalued Person in Your Practice | Wayne Glassoff

    Dental assistant digital workflow training is the missing piece between the technology your practice already paid for and the results you're still waiting on. Practices across the country are dropping six figures on intraoral scanners, 3D printers, and CAD/CAM systems, then handing the keys to team members who were never properly trained on any of it. The technology sits. The ROI doesn't come. And the dental assistant, who could be running that entire workflow, is still being treated like the lowest rung on the ladder. Brandi Marzolino, 20-year dental industry vet and leadership coach, sits down with Wayne Glassoff, co-founder of the Digital Dental Assistant Academy (DDAA), to dig into what's actually broken. Wayne spent 20 years on the vendor and manufacturer side, selling SprintRay 3D printers and watching dentists reject technology with one excuse: "My team can't learn this." That excuse launched a company. The DDAA launched March 1, 2026, as the first structured education platform built specifically to train dental assistants in digital workflow execution, from intraoral scanning to 3D printing to simple design. Wayne and Brandi also go there on loyalty, toxic dental sales culture, and what it actually looks like to define success on your own terms. You’ll learn: Why dental assistant digital workflow training is the single biggest bottleneck holding digital dentistry adoption back, and what most practices are doing instead of fixing itWhat co-founder Wayne Glassoff saw while selling 3D printers at SprintRay that convinced him the real problem was never the technology, it was the trainingHow the Digital Dental Assistant Academy trains dental assistants to own the full digital workflow, from scanning to printing to design, so practices finally get ROI on their technology investmentWhy dental assistants remain the most undercompensated and underutilized team members in dentistry despite doing more hands-on work than almost anyone else in the officeWhat loyalty actually looks like in dental sales and why Wayne says it's harder to find than people want to admit, on both sides of the relationshipThe difference between a high-pressure sales approach and the consultant-educator approach Wayne built his entire 20-year career on, and why dentists responded to itWhy the real bottleneck in digital dentistry is not the technology or the budget, it is that 85 to 90 percent of the digital work still sits with the dentist when it should be flipped 🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ 🔗 Boundary Boss GPT: https://leadhershipexperience.com/boundaryboss We talk about: 00:00 Introduction and why dental assistants inspired this episode 07:00 Why dental assistants are the lowest paid despite doing the most 06:00 Why dentists hesitate to hand digital tools to their assistants 07:00 Wayne's 20-year journey from Monster.com to dental technology sales 09:00 The dentist objection that launched the Digital Dental Assistant Academy 11:00 How Wayne and his co-founder landed on the same idea at a Chicago trade show 14:00 The bottleneck holding digital dentistry back in practices right now 18:00 What loyalty really looks like in dentistry and why it is hard to find 21:00 How changing commission plans breed rep disloyalty across the big three distributors 24:00 Is dog-eat-dog sales culture still alive on the vendor side of dentistry 29:00 Why smart people resist coaching and accountability the most 34:00 Wayne's sales philosophy: consultant and educator, not salesperson Connect with Wayne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayne-glassoff-7a93898/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wglassoff/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wayne_glassoff_3dprints_teeth/ Website: https://theddaa.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 #DentalAssistant #DigitalDentistry #DentalWorkflow #DentalTraining #DentalAssistantLife #DentalTech #DentalTeam #DentalPractice #DentalBusiness #DentalPodcast #RealTalkOfDental #BrandiMarzolino #DentalLeadership #DentalCulture #DigitalDentalAssistant #3DPrinting #IntraoralScanner #DentalSales #DentalBurnout #DentalAssistantEmpowerment

    049: The Most Undervalued Person in Your Practice | Wayne Glassoff
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Brandi Marzolino
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Brandi Marzolino
  • Show Website
    The Real Talk of Dental