Dental Leaders Podcast

Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Dental Leaders podcast takes you on a behind the scenes journey with emerging leaders in dentistry. Success leaves clues, and these conversations uncover the depth, detail, and backstory behind our guests. The show is hosted by dental entrepreneurs Payman Langroudi & Prav Solanki. Let the conversation flow. Find out more at https://www.dentalleaders.co.uk/

  1. 1H AGO

    #331 The Minefield — Nasser Syed & Chez Bright

    Nasser Syed is a man who doesn't really do stillness. With a background in oral surgery and conscious sedation, he's pivoted from five clinical days a week to running a growing group of practices, training dentists, and launching a brand new facility hire venture aimed at super associates who'd rather focus on their dentistry than deal with the headaches of practice ownership.  Joining him is Chez Bright, his PA and right-hand collaborator, who offers a candid view of what it's actually like to work alongside someone whose brain, in her words, is "a minefield."  Payman talks with them both about building teams, backing yourself, and knowing when to say no — plus the early clinical mistake that still sits with Nasser decades later and the personal losses that have shaped his faith and his drive. In This Episode 00:01:00 — Practice ownership 00:05:20 — Developing associates 00:09:00 — Picking a lane 00:16:00 — Meeting Chez Bright 00:17:45 — Running projects 00:24:30 — AI and the future of dentistry 00:31:10 — Manchester Sedation Course 00:37:45 — HireADentalSurgery.com 00:52:20 — Branding and virality 00:57:15 — Blackbox thinking 01:04:15 — Clinical communication 01:13:00 — Lowest point 01:15:20 — Faith and loss 01:22:25 — Memorable lecture 01:25:00 — Fantasy dinner party About Nasser Syed Nasser Syed is a Liverpool-born dentist with a background in oral surgery and conscious IV sedation, currently working across a growing group of practices in the North West. He founded the Manchester Sedation Course in 2015 — SDC-accredited and open to both beginners and more experienced clinicians — and now runs it alongside his clinical and business commitments. His latest project is HireADentalSurgery.com, a dedicated facility hire model in Hale, Cheshire, offering super associates the equipment and flexibility to treat their own patients without the overheads of practice ownership.

    1h 28m

  2. 4D AGO

    Everyone Else Is Taken - NAIL-IT with Payman Langroudi

    What happens when you turn the microphone on the man who's spent years behind it? In this episode of the NAIL-IT podcast, Rana and Bav get Payman Langroudi — host of Dental Leaders and Clinical Director at Enlighten — firmly in the hot seat.  It's a wide-ranging, refreshingly candid conversation that moves from the origins of Enlighten and the relentless pursuit of world-class quality to the very real mental health pressures that underpin life in dentistry.  Payman reflects on leaning into his strengths, trusting his instincts, and why, after 320 episodes, the Dental Leaders podcast has become the thing he's most proud of.  Find Rana on Instagram at @drranaalfalaki, and on Facebook and LinkedIn as Dr Rana Al-Falaki. Follow Bav on Instagram at @drbav83. You can also follow the NAIL-IT podcast at @nailit_podcast. In This Episode 00:01:05 — Introductions and the Dental Leaders origin story 00:02:10 — Why Payman started a podcast — and what it's become 00:05:20 — Leaning into strengths, owning your quirks 00:07:00 — Starting Enlighten at 28 and the philosophy of doing one thing brilliantly 00:10:25 — The sacrifices behind world-class quality 00:14:10 — Being number two — and the decision to become the best 00:16:15 — Favourite quote: Oscar Wilde and the art of being yourself 00:20:25 — Identity, self-awareness and shedding the layers 00:21:50 — Dentistry as a kingdom — and why practices are anything but the same 00:23:10 — Mental health in dentistry: burnout, suicide and the stress bucket 00:27:40 — The emotional drain of being "on show" all day 00:30:20 — Kids, careers and the realities of dentistry as a profession 00:35:40 — Knowing yourself before you can lead others 00:36:10 — Intuition as a leadership skill — and how to train it About Dr Rana Al-Falaki and Dr Bhavin Patel Dr Rana Al-Falaki is a periodontist and internationally recognised pioneer in the use of lasers in periodontal treatment, having presented her research to audiences from the British Society of Periodontology to the American Academy and European Federation.  After pushing herself to the point of chronic illness in pursuit of excellence, she channelled that experience into developing the NAIL-IT programme — a performance and leadership system built around optimising energy and helping dental professionals truly thrive.  Dr Bhavin Patel is a dentist and educator who ran a practice on Wimpole Street for nearly eight years before stepping back to prioritise family life. Together, they host the NAIL-IT podcast — a show dedicated to helping dental professionals live fully, lead better, and laugh more.

    41 min

  3. FEB 18

    #330 Analytics and Aortas — Daniel Jones

    Payman chats with Daniel Jones, the Cambridge-educated entrepreneur who's bringing analytical rigour to dental practice management.  Daniel shares the dramatic health journey that redirected his path from investment banking into healthcare innovation, revealing how a near-miss diagnosis of a life-threatening heart condition shaped his mission.  The conversation explores the technical challenges of building software that actually talks to the chaotic ecosystem of dental systems, from practice management platforms to lab invoices trapped in PDFs.  You'll hear about the realities of fundraising, the loneliness of startup life, and why Daniel thinks the best entrepreneurs operate with surprisingly simple rules—even when solving complex problems.` In This Episode 00:01:05 - What Medfin does 00:03:05 - Associate performance metrics 00:04:00 - Connecting disparate systems 00:04:50 - Single practice viability 00:05:40 - Why dentistry? 00:06:10 - The blood pressure discovery 00:08:20 - Coarctation diagnosis 00:09:05 - Healthcare system chaos 00:10:40 - Economics at Cambridge 00:12:25 - Investment banking to startups 00:15:50 - First startup lessons 00:18:55 - Finding the dental opportunity 00:22:40 - Building the founding team 00:25:15 - Technical architecture challenges 00:29:30 - Onboarding process evolution 00:33:10 - Product development philosophy 00:36:45 - Pricing strategy and models 00:40:20 - Fundraising journey 00:44:35 - Investor relationships 00:48:50 - Multi-practice versus single site 00:52:15 - NHS versus private analytics 00:56:30 - Clinical efficiency debates 01:00:45 - Competition and market positioning 01:04:20 - AI integration plans 01:08:35 - Team building challenges 01:12:50 - Work-life balance realities 01:16:15 - Fantasy dinner party 01:18:40 - Last days and legacy About Daniel Jones Daniel Jones is the founder and CEO of Medfin, an analytics platform that helps dental practices and groups optimise their operational and financial performance. A Cambridge economics graduate who moved from investment banking into the startup world, Daniel has built software that connects the fragmented ecosystem of dental practice systems—from practice management platforms to accounting software—giving practice owners the insights they need to improve profitability.

    1h 22m

  4. FEB 11

    #329 Sandhurst to Scotland — Amber Aplin

    Payman chats with Amber Aplin, who's carved out something genuinely different in the Scottish Borders. From military dentist to biomimetic practice owner, Amber's journey takes in Germany, Iraq, private equity, and ultimately building a practice that puts prevention and patient education at its core.  She talks candidly about the realities of military life, the loneliness of early practice ownership, and why she now trains therapists and other dentists in minimally invasive techniques.  There's also a refreshing honesty about perfectionism, work-life balance, and what happens when you stop chasing the next big thing and start appreciating what's already there. In This Episode 00:00:40 - Military beginnings 00:02:05 - Sandhurst training 00:03:55 - Germany posting 00:06:50 - Iraq deployment 00:09:25 - Leaving the forces 00:10:45 - Moving to Scotland 00:12:30 - Early practice ownership struggles 00:15:20 - Private equity involvement 00:19:10 - Buying the practice back 00:22:15 - Building a biomimetic practice 00:26:40 - Therapist-led model 00:31:20 - Teaching and courses 00:36:45 - Microscope dentistry 00:42:10 - Direct bonding techniques 00:48:25 - Patient communication 00:53:30 - Practice culture 00:58:15 - Work-life balance challenges 01:04:20 - Pascal Magne influence 01:09:40 - Preventive dentistry philosophy 01:15:50 - Social media approach 01:21:35 - Business versus clinical focus 01:26:45 - Blackbox thinking 01:28:50 - Fantasy dinner party 01:30:15 - Last days and legacy About Amber Aplin Amber Aplin is a biomimetic dentist and practice owner in the Scottish Borders who served six years as a military dentist, including deployments to Germany and Iraq. She now runs a prevention-focused practice where therapists deliver the majority of patient care, and teaches minimally invasive dentistry techniques to other practitioners.

    1h 36m

  5. FEB 4

    #328 No Ego Zone — Payvand Menhadji

    This week Payman chats with Payvand Menhadji, a newly qualified specialist periodontist who's navigating the delicate balance between clinical excellence and impending motherhood.  At 30 weeks pregnant, Payvand reflects on her journey from general dentist to specialist—driven by a competitive streak and a love for surgical challenge that emerged during her VT year.  The conversation weaves through everything from the realities of private practice economics to why she'd rather perfect her surgical skills than chase Instagram fame, touching on mentorship, imposter syndrome, and the art of staying humble when success comes knocking. In This Episode 00:01:00 - Finishing specialist training whilst pregnant 00:04:20 - Why four days feels necessary 00:05:10 - The moment surgery clicked 00:07:10 - Competitive from birth 00:08:20 - Hospital jobs and surgical confidence 00:11:45 - Decision to specialise 00:14:50 - Choosing between ortho and perio 00:18:30 - Training structure and challenges 00:22:15 - Learning from the best 00:26:40 - Private practice reality 00:30:20 - What patients actually pay 00:34:45 - Imposter syndrome 00:38:20 - Building a reputation 00:42:15 - Surgical complications 00:46:30 - Blackbox thinking 00:51:45 - Treatment planning philosophy 00:56:20 - Working with implantologists 01:00:15 - Referral relationships 01:04:30 - Social media approach 01:08:45 - Learning from Instagram 01:13:35 - Fantasy dinner party 01:15:20 - Last days and legacy About Payvand Menhadji Payvand Menhadji is a specialist periodontist who completed her training in September 2024. She works across multiple specialist practices focusing on periodontal surgery and implantology, having developed her surgical interest during VT under the mentorship of implantologist Victor Keyhani.

    1h 18m

  6. JAN 28

    #327 Start, Scale Exit & Life — Prav Solo

    In this solo episode, Prav Solanki shares a no-nonsense reflection on business, health, family and personal discipline as he looks ahead to 2026. After a turbulent end to the year involving a family health scare, he talks through the non-negotiables shaping his daily life, from strength and cardio to carving out space for strategy. But the real centrepiece is business — specifically his Start, Scale, Exit model, which underpins everything he’s building this year. Whether you’re a founder in the trenches or a parent trying to balance your time, there’s something here that hits home. In This Episode00:01:00 – Health before everything00:10:45 – Family illness and perspective00:20:30 – Training with discipline00:30:50 – Vegetarianism and protein00:41:10 – Bloodwork and optimisation00:51:40 – Start, Scale, Exit explained01:01:30 – Scaling with team structure01:12:00 – Coaching, clarity and freedom01:22:15 – Tactical planning for 202601:32:00 – Work-life integration mindset About Prav SolankiPrav Solanki is a health-obsessed entrepreneur, performance coach and co-host of Dental Leaders. With multiple successful businesses under his belt, he’s now focused on helping others implement his Start, Scale, Exit model — a framework built on clarity, simplicity, and ruthless prioritisation.

    35 min

  7. JAN 21

    The Horton Hangout — Laura Horton & Leanna Best

    The tables turn this week as Payman hangs out with Laura and Leanna on The Horton Hangout.  What starts as a chat about the challenges of being interviewed rather than interviewing quickly evolves into something deeper—an honest exploration of ambition, sacrifice, and what it means to build something meaningful whilst trying to hold onto the people you love.  From managing business partnerships and navigating the tension between legacy and presence, to the surprisingly simple power of just showing up, this conversation touches on the parts of success no one really talks about until they're living through it. In This Episode 00:01:25 - Hosting versus guesting 00:02:55 - How Laura and Leanna met 00:06:40 - Having it all as ambitious women 00:10:50 - Balancing work travel with family life 00:14:30 - Partnership dynamics and business relationships 00:19:45 - The Enlighten story and business evolution 00:28:15 - Marketing philosophy and brand building 00:35:20 - Working with your best mate 00:41:10 - The reality of business partnerships 00:47:25 - Managing conflict and difficult conversations 00:52:40 - Learning to say no and setting boundaries 00:58:15 - Legacy versus being present 01:03:30 - Parenting and guilt 01:09:45 - The immigrant work ethic 01:16:20 - Competition in dentistry 01:21:35 - Advice for younger dentists 01:25:00 - Meeting strangers from the internet 01:28:20 - Remote teams and South African operations About Laura Horton & Leanna Best Laura Horton is a dental hygienist, educator, and founder of multiple dental businesses including Brush, whilst Leanna Best is a treatment coordinator and educator who worked alongside Neil and Fiona Gerrard before launching her own training ventures.  Together they co-host The Horton Hangout—a podcast that strips away the polish and gets into the real conversations about life, work, and everything in between within the dental world.

    1h 31m

  8. JAN 14

    #326 True Kindness — Niki Keyhani

    This week, Payman chats with Niki Keyhani, a newly qualified specialist prosthodontist who's already built something remarkable. Seven years out from qualification, she's opened a squat practice, completed her specialist training at King's, and somehow managed to do both simultaneously during a pandemic.  What really stands out isn't just the clinical achievement—it's the way she talks about passion versus ambition, about choosing to do everything at once rather than waiting for the "right time." There's a refreshing honesty here about being underestimated as a young woman in dentistry, about that first complaint that knocked her sideways, and about why true kindness matters more than just going through the motions.  Whether she's discussing optimal achievement over high achievement or explaining why she'd rather wait for the right person than rush into marriage, Niki brings a perspective that feels both grounded and aspirational. In This Episode 00:01:15 - Introduction and background 00:01:55 - Passionate versus ambitious 00:03:00 - Sibling dynamics and guidance 00:04:40 - The "wanting it all" approach 00:05:50 - Sacrifice and balance in career building 00:10:00 - Growing up as a dentist's daughter 00:15:00 - Starting a squat practice during COVID 00:21:15 - Opening during the pandemic 00:22:20 - Decision to pursue specialist training 00:24:00 - Neil Nathwani's encouragement to specialise 00:25:30 - Getting into specialist training first try 00:27:45 - Clinical capabilities and full mouth rehabs 00:36:00 - Patient selection red flags 00:37:40 - Blackbox thinking 00:56:15 - Challenges as a woman in dentistry 01:06:15 - Business development mindset 01:07:10 - High achievers versus optimal achievers 01:09:15 - Child of a dentist privilege 01:10:10 - Building the perfect patient journey 01:13:50 - Spanish lessons and tennis 01:15:30 - Best lectures and courses 01:16:50 - Creating a thousand-page prosthodontic textbook 01:21:25 - Fantasy dinner party 01:24:00 - Last days and legacy About Niki Keyhani Niki Keyhani is a newly qualified specialist prosthodontist who graduated from King's College London in 2017. She completed her postgraduate diploma at the Eastman and her specialist training at King's whilst simultaneously opening and running her own squat practice from 2020. The daughter of a dentist, she's passionate about prosthodontics, teaching, and breaking down perceptions of what young women in dentistry can achieve.

    1h 31m
See All (380)

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Dental Leaders podcast takes you on a behind the scenes journey with emerging leaders in dentistry. Success leaves clues, and these conversations uncover the depth, detail, and backstory behind our guests. The show is hosted by dental entrepreneurs Payman Langroudi & Prav Solanki. Let the conversation flow. Find out more at https://www.dentalleaders.co.uk/

Information

  • Creator
    Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    380
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Prav Solanki & Payman Langroudi
  • Show Website
    Dental Leaders Podcast

You Might Also Like