The restorative consultant who studies psychology, mortality and Stoic philosophy as seriously as he studies teeth - on why we're all wearing a mask, why comfort is quietly making us worse, and how to tell which of your desires are even yours. New episodes every Monday. The long-form conversation defining dentistry's next decade - hosted by Dr Simon Chard. This episode: Dr Richard Porter - restorative consultant, founder of Aspire Dental Academy, postgraduate scholar in psychology, and one of dentistry's most original thinkers on human flourishing. In this conversation: why every professional wears a "persona" and what hostility really reveals, the fundamental attribution error and how it shows up with patients, mimetic desire and the borrowed wants driving most of our anxiety, what dying patients consistently say matters most, the six pillars of health, the truth about supplements and statins, fluoride and minimally invasive care, and why the future of dentistry belongs to human connection. ▬▬ ABOUT THE GUEST ▬▬ Dr Richard Porter is a restorative consultant and the founder of Aspire Dental Academy, where he has trained dentists for 15 years. Alongside clinical and teaching work he is a postgraduate scholar in psychology and a leading voice on emotional intelligence, preventative health and human flourishing in dentistry. Find Richard: @AspireDentalAcademy ▬▬ ABOUT THE HOST ▬▬ Dr Simon Chard is the Past-President of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, co-founder of PÄRLA, owner of Rothley Lodge Dental, and host of Contact Point. Find Simon: @drsimonchard ▬▬ EPISODE SPONSORS ▬▬ Vvardis — Curodont Repair A biomimetic peptide technology that can arrest or even reverse early carious lesions, meaning patients can avoid the filling they don't want. Easy to apply, suitable for all age groups, and a genuine step change in minimally invasive care. → 10% off your first case at professional.vvardis.com/contactpoint Dental Monitoring AI-powered remote orthodontic care that brings aligner appointments to your patients' phones. Monitor compliance, hygiene, and aligner progression remotely - far better care with far fewer appointments. → Special discount off your starter kit at dentalmonitoring.com/contactpoint ▬▬ FOLLOW CONTACT POINT ▬▬ YouTube: @contactpointpodcast Instagram: @contactpointpodcast LinkedIn: contactpointpodcast ▬▬ CREDITS ▬▬ Hosted by Dr Simon Chard Guest: Dr Richard Porter Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Human Flourishing & The Power of Prevention 00:00:16 The Red Trousers Memory & 14 Years of Shared Values 00:01:59 Professional Identity: From Consultant to Human Flourishing Advocate 00:03:53 The Suffering Dentist: Emotional Intelligence & Professional Stress 00:06:59 Knowing Yourself: The Shadow Self & Emotional Awareness 00:10:03 Memento Mori: Life Is Short & The 11-Year-Old's Lesson 00:11:48 Fear of Death vs Fear of Not Feeling Alive 00:18:04 The Comfort Crisis: Why Discomfort Drives Growth 00:21:36 Mimetic Desire: Are Your Goals Really Yours? 00:27:25 The Deathbed Test: Clarity From Life's End 00:29:44 Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Challenges: Stoicism & Daily Practice 00:31:02 Health Foundations: The Non-Negotiable Morning Workout 00:39:49 Exercise Protocol: Zone 2, HIIT & Strength Training 00:43:14 Sleep, Supplements & The Big Three: Vitamin D, Omega-3 & Magnesium 00:45:15 Mitochondrial Medicine: NAD+, Cold Exposure & Energy Optimization 00:48:58 The Cholesterol Controversy: Beyond Good vs Bad 00:45:54 Testosterone Crisis: The Declining Male Hormone Epidemic 00:58:20 Functional Medicine: Root Causes Over Symptom Management 00:38:40 The Parent Modeling Effect: Teaching Through Action 00:00:08 Life Is Emotion: Faith in Humanity & The Path Forward #dentistry #ukdentists #dentalpodcast #contactpoint #drsimonchard #aspiredental #emotionalintelligence #humanflourishing #preventativehealth #functionalmedicine #stoicism #mentalhealth #patientexperience #vvardis #dentalmonitoring
