The Educated Associate Podcast

Dr. Tony Schicktanz & Dr. Alex Besmer
  • 5.0 (2)
  • BUSINESS

The Educated Associate Podcast is the go-to podcast for associate dentists with a vision that extends far beyond the operatory. Built for clinicians who feel a pull toward ownership—even if they’re early in their careers—this show exists to demystify the path from employee to entrepreneur. Whether you’re dreaming of your first startup, evaluating a practice to buy, navigating a transition, or preparing to eventually sell your own practice one day, this podcast gives you the honest, practical, and unfiltered guidance you wish dental school had provided. Ownership isn’t just a career move—it’s a mindset shift. It’s the moment when you stop thinking of dentistry as a job and begin viewing it as a vehicle for autonomy, financial growth, and a practice built around your clinical values. But the journey is filled with unknowns: contracts, valuations, lending, leadership, team culture, insurance dynamics, and the emotional weight of stepping into responsibility. Our mission is to bring clarity to those unknowns by giving associate dentists a trusted place to learn, think, and grow. Each episode features conversations with practice owners, industry experts, and associates currently navigating the transition into ownership. We explore the stories behind their successes—and their failures—because real lessons come from both. We’ll discuss what they wish they knew earlier, what surprised them most, and the strategies that shaped their careers. From startup dentists who built their dream practice from scratch, to seasoned owners who have expanded, sold, or reinvented their business model, every interview provides actionable insight you can apply immediately. But this podcast isn’t just about the numbers or the logistics of buying a practice. It’s also about the human side of ownership—leadership, burnout prevention, cultivating vision, building a memorable patient experience, managing team dynamics, and finding your identity as a dentist-owner. We go beyond surface-level advice to explore the mindset, confidence, and clarity required to step into ownership feeling prepared, not overwhelmed. On The Future Practice Owner Show, no topic is off-limits. We’ll break down: How to evaluate whether a practice is truly worth buying The red flags that signal you should walk away How to negotiate associate agreements and compensation structures Startup vs. acquisition: which path fits your personality and goals What banks really look for when financing your ownership journey The systems that make an owner’s life easier—and the ones that create chaos How to build a thriving team and a profitable practice without losing yourself in the process Whether you’re 6 months out of residency or 6 years into associate life, this podcast is designed to shorten your learning curve and fast-track your ownership readiness. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge, confidence, and vision to build the practice—and the career—you’ve always imagined. If you’re an associate with a passion for ownership, welcome home. This is your show. theeducatedassociate.substack.com

  1. "My Complete Dentures Are $17,000" — Dr. Finlay Sutton, Specialist Prosthodontist (UK)

    3D AGO

    "My Complete Dentures Are $17,000" — Dr. Finlay Sutton, Specialist Prosthodontist (UK)

    A patient walked into Finlay Sutton’s clinic in 2014. The man wanted a replacement all-on-six in the upper jaw. He’d already sued three previous dentists. Fin took the case anyway. He tried a new technique. He used a different lab. Three attempts later, he refunded the man’s £30,000 — about $30K USD — and stared at his career. He called his wife. She told him to see a clinical psychologist. And that one conversation rebuilt everything. — Dr. Finlay Sutton has been practicing prosthodontics in Lancaster, England, for over 25 years. He’s a specialist. His complete dentures cost $17,000 — upper and lower, no implants. He books out 12 months in advance. His patients pay him in three installments before they ever leave with their teeth. None of that was supposed to happen. Fin qualified at 23 and hated dentistry for the first six years. He bounced through Carlisle and Edinburgh, doing general practice work that was — in his own words — “just awful.” He called his dad once after a patient walked back into his clinic ten minutes after a fitting, screaming: “What have you done? Call yourself a dentist?” The patient’s name was Mrs. Kennedy. Fin still remembers it 25 years later. That was the bottom. The top is what we sat down to talk about on the show. If you’re a dental student wondering whether dentistry will be worth it — if you’re an associate two years in, watching every Instagram influencer do all-on-X and wondering if you missed the boat — Fin’s 25-year arc is exactly the conversation you need. Here’s what came out of it. — 1. THE $17,000 DENTURE (AND THE NICHE NOBODY WILL TOUCH) 30% of Fin’s caseload is patients who want new high-quality dentures and will pay $17K for them. 30% are failed all-on-X revisions — patients who’ve had two or three rounds of implants that didn’t work, sometimes zygomatic, and need someone to give them function back. 20% are bisphosphonate patients who can’t have surgery at all. That’s 80% of his caseload coming from a market most dentists treat as bread-and-butter ($1,500 dentures, low margin, complain about them in the lounge). His own quote: “No one does it really. It’s a niche. But it’s a massive niche.” 2. THE 60/20/20 CASH FLOW STRUCTURE Every patient pays 60% at visit one. 20% partway through treatment. 20% before the teeth are fit. Fin doesn’t chase receivables. He doesn’t carry balances. He pays his lab and his staff every month out of cash already collected, not promises pending. He says it plainly on the show: “I’m always cash rich.” If you’re acquiring a practice, taking on overhead, or building a fee-for-service model — this is the structural lesson worth the full episode. 3. THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST CONVERSATION THAT REBUILT A CAREER After the $30K refund, Fin sat across from a clinical psychologist. He didn’t get told to work harder. He didn’t get told to lower his fees or take a CE course. He got asked one question: what do you love doing? Fin said: I love doing removable. The answer was: just do it. Fin weaned himself off fixed work over the following year. Within five years he was the UK’s most-watched lecturer in traditional removable prosthodontics. Revenue went up. Stress went down. He started teaching internationally. The lesson in one line: most dentists chase a niche because it pays. Fin chased a niche because he loved it. The pay followed. 4. FIVE YEARS SOBER (AND THE MORNING ROUTINE THAT REPLACED THE WINE) At 49, Fin stopped drinking. Five years sober now. The morning routine he built in place of alcohol is engineered to walk into the clinic centered: AeroPress coffee, a Paul McKenna self-hypnosis track, a gratitude journal, a “where am I winning today” reflection, a Robin Sharma eulogy exercise, an ideal-day visualization. Three workouts a week. Quarter past six in the morning. He talks about it on the show because two other guests in the same month independently mentioned the eulogy exercise — write your own eulogy, then work backwards from the person you want to be remembered as. Fin started this five years ago. He says it’s the single highest-leverage thing he does as a dentist. 5. THE 43 EXTRA DAYS THAT GENERATED £250,000 Fin learned a Scandinavian system for removable partial dentures in 2011. It cut his adjustments and reviews by 50%. He calculated the math: the time saved gave him 43 extra clinical days per year. At his fee structure, that’s a quarter-million pounds in additional annual revenue — without working any harder, just by switching systems. The takeaway isn’t “use Scandinavian RPDs.” The takeaway is: every practice has a version of this hidden in plain sight. A protocol that’s 50% more efficient than the one you were taught. The dentist who finds theirs wins. 6. THE 20-YEAR APPRENTICESHIP NOBODY TELLS YOU ABOUT Fin met his lab technician Rowan in 1999. They’ve been working together for 27 years. They car-share to work. They case-plan in the driver’s seat. Fin’s master’s professor told him straight: “You’re rubbish at the beginning.” Fin says that was a gift. Most dentists never get told the truth about where they stand. If you’re five years out and frustrated that you’re not where the lecturers are — congratulations, you’re on year five of a 20-year arc. The frustration is part of the system, not a defect. 7. “BE BRAVE. TREAT PEOPLE RIGHT.” Fin’s philosophy distilled in six lines: “Be brave, treat people right. And I promise success and money and freedom and joy will come your way.” Twenty-five years of prosthodontics in one sentence. The full closing is on the episode. It’s the part you’ll replay. — LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE: → YouTube: Link → Apple Podcasts: Link → Spotify: Link — BEFORE YOU SIGN A CONTRACT — A NOTE Fin refunded $30,000 because he didn’t have the protections in place to walk away cleanly. Three dentists before him got hit by the same patient for similar amounts. None of them knew until after. Your associate contract is the same setup. We see them every week. The non-compete that follows you 30 miles. The production threshold that gets re-set every quarter so you never hit the bonus. The termination clause that says you owe 90 days notice but they owe you nothing. The buy-in math that doesn’t math. The retention clauses that quietly turn your signing bonus into a multi-year prison sentence. You don’t see any of this until something goes wrong. By then, you’ve already signed. Here’s what we do. We’re two dentists. Not lawyers. Dentists who have signed these contracts ourselves, watched friends get burned by them, and decided to do something about it. Send us your contract. Within 48 hours you get back: → A line-by-line analysis of every clause → A plain-English summary you can actually understand → A custom negotiation playbook — what to push back on, how to phrase it, when to walk → A compensation one-pager — what you’re actually being offered vs. market → A 1-on-1 strategy call to walk through it → 30 days of follow-up access → Our “First 90 Days” survival guide as a bonus If we don’t find at least three things worth negotiating, you don’t pay. Submit at theeducatedassociate.com — or DM @the_educated_associate on Instagram. Forty-eight hours from contract to clarity. — CONNECT Fin’s website: finlaysutton.co.uk Fin on YouTube: search “Finlay Sutton” — ~1,000 hours of free traditional removable CE The show: → @the_educated_associate on Instagram → @dr.besmer on Instagram (Alex personal) → theeducatedassociate.substack.com — newsletter — Share this with one classmate or colleague. That’s how we grow. That’s how we reach more dentists before they sign the wrong contract. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    1h 54m
  2. "I Hated My Life Running 35 Offices" — Dr. Richard Low, DMD (Founder, Shared Practices Podcast)

    MAY 13

    "I Hated My Life Running 35 Offices" — Dr. Richard Low, DMD (Founder, Shared Practices Podcast)

    "I just couldn't be the boss of 35 offices and I hated my life. I really collapsed because of it." Dr. Richard Low, founder of America's #1 dental podcast, just walked away from his own 35-office DSO. This is the conversation he hasn't had with anyone else. Dr. Richard Low built Shared Practices into the #1 rated dental podcast in America (3M+ downloads, 763+ episodes). He co-founded a 35-office dental group. Then he walked away. Now he coaches 55 burned-out dentist-fathers through Next Level Fathers. In this episode he tells us: • The 4 dental practices associates should NEVER buy (and the one quietly printing money while everyone chases Instagram clinics) • Why he bought 5 practices while still active-duty Army — and the loophole that made it possible • The bipolar II diagnosis that explained the last decade of his life • Why "one large practice" out-earns a 35-office DSO every time • The exact 7-to-8 op acquisition every young dentist should be hunting for • "Don't build a freaking DSO" — and what to build instead • The Army PT test he failed, and what 50 pounds of skinny-fat taught him about transformation • Why Next Level Fathers exists — and what 55 burned-out dentist-fathers taught him about success • The faith conversation most dentists are too scared to have KEY MOMENTS: 00:00 — "I couldn't be the boss of 35 offices and I hated my life" 03:30 — How a closet at Fort Hood became the #1 dental podcast 12:30 — RED FLAG #1: Why 3 ops is an automatic NO 16:00 — RED FLAG #2: The high-fixed-cost trap 19:00 — "I bought 5 practices while in the Army" 23:00 — Why Richard walked away from his own DSO 30:00 — If he could do it again: ONE large practice, not a DSO 37:00 — "Don't build a freaking DSO" 38:00 — The 7-to-8 op acquisition formula 41:30 — Transition: Next Level Fathers 49:00 — Failed the Army PT test, married above his weight class 54:00 — Faith, fitness, and what everyone worships 59:30 — The bipolar II diagnosis that explained everything 1:08:00 — How Richard would build a dental school curriculum 1:14:00 — "Dental famous is not a thing" --- STUCK ON A CONTRACT? Two dentists, not lawyers, will review it line-by-line in 48 hours — or you don't pay. → theeducatedassociate.com or DM @the_educated_associate --- SUBSCRIBE: theeducatedassociate.substack.com FOLLOW: @the_educated_associate on Instagram HOSTS: Dr. Alex Besmer (@dr.besmer) & Dr. Tony Schicktanz GUEST: Dr. Richard Low, DMD Founder, Shared Practices Podcast | Creator, Next Level Fathers @dr.richard.low | nextlevelfathers.com | richard@nextlevelfathers.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    1h 17m
  3. "They're Not Buying the Treatment Plan. They're Buying YOU." — Mark Pugliese, DMD

    MAY 6

    "They're Not Buying the Treatment Plan. They're Buying YOU." — Mark Pugliese, DMD

    He bought a practice that still placed amalgams. No caller ID. Hygienists had never seen a perio staging chart. When Mark told a patient with 6mm bleeding pockets "I cannot continue to see you" — his staff was shocked. Six months later they were thanking him. Part 2 with Dr. Mark Pugliese: inside year one of modernizing a 39-year-old family practice in Concord, New Hampshire. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - The Aspen new patient framework that drives Mark's 90% patient acceptance - The intraoral photo method that closes cases x-rays cannot - A $17 book that delivered $50,000 in saved sleep — and zero voluntary turnover - Why Mark fires 13-year veterans and hires brand new grads (the teachability bet) - The patient dismissal philosophy that shocked his staff into cheering - How he built a perio protocol from zero in an office that had never done SRPs - Patient acceptance vs. treatment plan acceptance: which one actually matters - "They're not buying your treatment plan. They're buying YOU." - The "seasons" framework for surviving year one without losing yourself - "Go touch grass" — Mark's brutal advice for online doomer dentists KEY TIMESTAMPS: 0:13 - Alex's intro: modernizing an old practice, finding joy in a 30-year career 2:45 - The Aspen new patient training that became Mark's highest-ROI skill 4:48 - Intraoral cameras in every op: the case acceptance unlock 8:58 - How to Win Friends and Influence People: the highest-leverage book for dentists 12:31 - Zero voluntary turnover in year one. One firing. Here's why. 13:30 - Hot take: hire inexperienced over experienced 23:11 - The practice he inherited: amalgams, no SRPs, no caller ID 25:39 - "I cannot continue to see you" — the patient dismissal that changed the culture 34:58 - 90% patient acceptance. 50% treatment plan acceptance. Only one matters. 38:38 - "They're buying YOU, not the treatment plan." 42:00 - PBN screen share: the exact dashboard Mark checks every morning 45:39 - The Arrival Fallacy and the "enjoy the journey" reframe 49:40 - "Go touch grass." Mark's brutal advice for burned-out dentists. 51:22 - The "seasons" framework for ownership balance 53:43 - "The right person to that person" — the marriage insight beyond "marry well" Your contract reviewed by dentists, not lawyers — submit at theeducatedassociate.com or DM @the_educated_associate on Instagram. Guest: Dr. Mark Pugliese (@pugliese_dmd) | Wall Street Dental Group, Concord NH Follow: @the_educated_associate | @dr.besmer Subscribe: theeducatedassociate.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    1h 1m
  4. He Applied to 50+ Jobs, Heard Back from 5, and Bought a Practice by 30 | Mark Pugliese, DMD

    APR 29

    He Applied to 50+ Jobs, Heard Back from 5, and Bought a Practice by 30 | Mark Pugliese, DMD

    He was running an Aspen Dental office solo by month 4. Two years later, his banker called him first about a practice that hadn't even hit the market. Dr. Mark Pugliese went from BU grad to practice owner by 29 — and the path wasn't what you'd expect. This is Part 1 of our conversation — covering dental school, the DSO decision, corporate systems, and exactly how he found and acquired a 39-year family practice in New Hampshire. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - The DSO "floor/ceiling" framework that reframes the entire corporate vs. private debate - Why applying to 50+ jobs with a "shotgun method" led to the only 5 callbacks that mattered - How his mentor quitting after 1 month became the best training he never planned for - The exact confirmation and callback systems Aspen uses (decoded for private practice) - Howard Farran's "buy the biggest, baddest practice" rule — and Mark's 2 filters for every listing - Why he toured practices he planned to reject — and how that strategy won him first dibs - The due diligence mistake that cost $15K in expired supplies (and why it didn't matter) - The insurance loophole (AVS) that lets him charge premium while staying in-network - How a premium lab with 10x crown costs actually became his biggest selling point KEY TIMESTAMPS: 0:14 - Alex's intro: why Mark had the ideal path to ownership 2:55 - "Get their Instagram, not their phone number" — the networking rule 9:34 - Why Mark chose Maine (high need, low dentist saturation) 12:12 - The super GP who made Mark want to do it all 13:32 - The DSO floor/ceiling framework 14:10 - His mentor quit month 1 — trial by fire begins 17:44 - Running someone else's office: the dials that change production 23:59 - Aspen's systems decoded: callbacks, confirmations, walk-in policy 32:22 - The 2-year practice search and the banker relationship that changed everything 36:30 - The seller blocked all other buyers after one meeting 39:43 - Due diligence: what matters, what doesn't, what cost him $15K 44:26 - Northeast Delta + Added Value Service Agreements explained 46:46 - Why he talks money with every patient in the chair Your contract, reviewed by dentists — not lawyers. Submit at theeducatedassociate.com or DM @the_educated_associate on Instagram. Guest: Dr. Mark Pugliese (@pugliese_dmd) | Wall Street Dental Group, Concord NH Follow: @the_educated_associate | @dr.besmer Subscribe: theeducatedassociate.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    51 min
  5. He Almost Failed Med School. Now He Has $2M at 40 and Quit a $700K Business

    APR 15

    He Almost Failed Med School. Now He Has $2M at 40 and Quit a $700K Business

    He was ranked 103 out of 119 in medical school. Today he has $2M+ at 40, hosts a podcast with millions of downloads, and walked away from a $700K/year business because it was eating his life. This episode will change how you think about money, patients, and your career. Dr. Jimmy Turner is a practicing anesthesiologist, host of Money Meets Medicine, and entrepreneur who held nothing back in this conversation. Here’s what you’ll learn: - The psychology study that changed 85% of patient decisions with 3 words (and how to use it with your next treatment plan) - Why he has $2M at 40 and has never budgeted a single dollar - His 10-second test to know if your business idea is real - The disability insurance mistake that permanently ruined his ability to get coverage - How to tell if you should quit your side hustle or double down - The Instagram strategy that grew him from 2K to 30K in 15 weeks - A marriage hot take that will either inspire you or make you hit skip Whether you’re a dental student, a new associate, or a doctor with a side hustle — you’ll walk away from this hour with at least 3 things you can use immediately. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The #1 financial mistake you can make 1:20 - Who is Dr. Jimmy Turner? 4:50 - Dyslexia, ADHD, and the "Dory" nickname 8:10 - The 10-second business idea test 12:10 - Why he became a doctor 16:37 - 103 out of 119 in med school 20:43 - "Sales isn’t sleazy. Sales is service." 21:14 - 90% survival vs. 10% death (the framing study) 26:10 - "Just launch. Stop perfecting." 31:27 - Disability insurance horror story 37:12 - Why he quit a $700K business 40:00 - "I hate budgeting" — the $2M alternative 43:12 - Faith and identity 48:14 - HOT TAKE: Marriage priorities 51:10 - The math of divorce 52:54 - Keep your business simple 56:15 - 2K to 30K followers in 15 weeks 58:00 - Final thoughts ——— About to sign a dental contract? A dentist reviews your contract — not a lawyer. We find what’s costing you money before you sign. Submit at theeducatedassociate.com or DM @the_educated_associate on Instagram. Subscribe: theeducatedassociate.substack.com Follow: @the_educated_associate | @dr.besmer Guest: Dr. Jimmy Turner | @moneymeetsmedicine | jimmy@moneymeetsmedicine.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    1h 1m
  6. "You Are Not Your Productivity" — Mental Performance for Dentists w/ Gabriel Rocha, MS (Fighter Pilot & Athlete Coach)

    MAR 25

    "You Are Not Your Productivity" — Mental Performance for Dentists w/ Gabriel Rocha, MS (Fighter Pilot & Athlete Coach)

    What would a mental performance coach for USAF fighter pilots and professional athletes tell a young dentist about handling stress, staying calm when procedures go sideways, and not letting a bad case ruin the rest of your day? That’s exactly what we found out. Gabriel Rocha, MS is a Cognitive Performance Specialist who works with fighter pilots in the USAF’s pilot training pipeline and coaches professional athletes and business owners through his private practice. In this episode, he breaks down the exact mental frameworks that keep pilots composed in the cockpit — and shows us how to apply them chairside. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Cold open: "You are not your productivity" 0:27 — Episode intro 1:12 — Getting to know Gabriel + blue light blockers 2:26 — "I wanted to be a fighter pilot" — Gabriel’s origin story 4:20 — What Gabriel actually does for fighter pilots and athletes 6:07 — When your dream career doesn’t happen — how to deal 9:00 — The real cost of becoming a dentist nobody talks about 10:52 — "I was promised a bill of goods" — when reality doesn’t match expectations 17:09 — "Utterly dedicated, utterly detached" — the mindset framework 21:08 — How to stay calm when a procedure goes wrong 23:02 — ANC: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate — the fighter pilot stress protocol 27:47 — Tony’s "sometimes the best medicine is time" strategy 29:55 — Why stepping away is strength, not weakness 33:42 — Perfectionism is killing your dentistry 35:47 — One bad filling is one data point, not your identity 40:20 — How to set a high standard without destroying yourself 43:37 — Role vs. identity — how to leave work at the door 49:05 — How to sustain excellence over a 30+ year career 49:34 — Gabriel’s own struggle balancing business + relationship 54:56 — "Kobe Bryant seasons" — how to communicate with your partner 1:01:25 — The path to excellence: staying curious and winning the margins 1:06:36 — Applying excellence to practice ownership 1:11:42 — Sleep, nutrition, recovery — the foundation dentists ignore 1:15:23 — "Don’t underestimate the compound effect of doing little things well" 1:17:53 — Where to find Gabriel + closing thoughts Whether you’re a dental student, associate, or early-stage practice owner — this episode is a free mental performance coaching session. Follow Gabriel: @rocha_sportpsych on Instagram | grochaempc@gmail.com Follow the show: @the_educated_associate on Instagram Follow Dr. Besmer: @dr.besmer on Instagram This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    1h 23m
  7. Howard Farran, DDS, MBA - The Godfather of Dental Media Tells Young Dentists the TRUTH

    MAR 18

    Howard Farran, DDS, MBA - The Godfather of Dental Media Tells Young Dentists the TRUTH

    The Godfather of Dental Media sat down with us for 3 HOURS. Dr. Howard Farran is the founder of Dentaltown (250K+ member dentists), host of Dentistry Uncensored (1,700+ episodes, 8M+ downloads), and has been named one of the most influential people in dentistry for multiple years running. WHAT WE COVER: AI replacing dental consultants, coding, and practice management DSO truth bombs from someone who has watched them for 37 years Why your $500K student loan debt is a privilege The Singapore one-chair model making $190K on $275K revenue "Showtime Baby" - acting your way to patient trust Contract horror stories (a $75K liability signed in 4 minutes) Non-competes: enforceable or not? (Depends on your state) Why the smartest professionals make the worst business decisions TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Pre-show: Howard on AI rewriting Dentaltown from the ground up 10:03 - Official start: Introductions and why Howard came back to podcasting 14:00 - The $500K student loan reality check 17:00 - Why life goes on and dentistry keeps changing 20:00 - Insurance companies: the lion and the lamb 24:00 - DSO scaling: why most die between location 2 and 4 31:00 - AI as the great democratizer of dental practice management 35:00 - Communication vs. STEM: the skill dental schools never taught 39:00 - "Showtime Baby" - the Tom Cruise philosophy for dentists 44:00 - Yomi robots: 40,000 implants and counting 1:01:00 - The one-chair model: why you only need one location to hit $100M 1:08:00 - DSO roll-ups vs. roll-outs: the math that kills 1:11:00 - Why Singapore DSOs eliminated hygienists entirely 1:31:00 - Stock picking for dentists: "If Costco got you, that is your stock" 1:35:00 - "If all you do is bleaching and veneers, you are not a doctor" 1:42:00 - Using AI (Claude/Opus 4.6) as your dental practice consultant 1:44:00 - AI will burn every business model to the ground 2:01:00 - ADA vs. international dentists: the cartel conversation 2:09:00 - Staff management: "Why do you pay people you hate?" 2:15:00 - Decision-making paralysis: the smartest people problem 2:31:00 - Howard's Delta Dental CEO lunch story 2:38:00 - "Stop living in fear" - closing message to young dentists 2:45:00 - The Educated Associate brand overview and contract review horror stories 2:53:00 - Online toxicity, mental health, and why Howard left Facebook FOLLOW US: The Educated Associate: @the_educated_associate (Instagram) Dr. Alex Besmer: @dr.besmer (all platforms) Howard Farran: @howardfarran (Instagram) | Dentaltown.com SUBSCRIBE to our podcast for full episodes SUBSCRIBE to our substack for all of our content Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - it helps more than you know. #dentist #dentistry #dentalstudent #associatedentist #dentaltown #howardfarran #podcast #dentalpodcast #practiceownership #DSO #AI #dentistlife This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    2h 58m
  8. 16 Practices, 17 Years: The Blueprint from the Dental Growth Coach

    MAR 11

    16 Practices, 17 Years: The Blueprint from the Dental Growth Coach

    She's opened 16 practices in 17 years. This is the dental business masterclass you didn't get in school. Dr. Nikki (@dentalgrowthcoach) started as a $11/hour front desk employee and built a dental empire. In this episode, she breaks down: • The embezzlement scams happening in dental offices right now (including credit card refund fraud you've never heard of) • Why the "timid dentist" is the best practice to buy • The business operations gap that leaves million-dollar practices in the hands of untrained staff • Why associates should pull the trigger on ownership sooner • Her honest comparison: buying vs. building from scratch Whether you're pre-dental, an associate, or already own—this is essential listening. Follow Dr. Nikki: @dentalgrowthcoach 0:00 - Intro 1:48 - Portable credit card terminal scam 1:59 - Credit card refund embezzlement scheme 5:38 - The Hermès heir story ($15B lost) 6:55 - The danger of depending on one person 7:43 - "Office manager is amazing, can't survive without her" 8:28 - "Million-dollar business, high school education" 10:41 - "I've opened 16 practices in 17 years" 13:45 - Associate hierarchy in practices 15:43 - DSOs vs private practices 18:19 - First steps to buying a practice 21:59 - "Buy from the timid dentist" 25:49 - Buying vs. building from scratch 27:45 - Custom cabinets vs. Patterson/Schein 29:44 - A-to-Z business ops course coming soon 31:09 - Based in Los Angeles 32:35 - Why Tony hasn't bought yet 34:05 - Associate-run practice model 34:58 - "The sooner you own, the better" 36:06 - $11/hour front desk origin story 37:36 - "I want to hire the specialist" 39:23 - The struggles behind the Instagram 40:16 - Coaching thriving practices with hidden problems 41:02 - "The office is running, but they don't know how" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theeducatedassociate.substack.com

    41 min
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The Educated Associate Podcast is the go-to podcast for associate dentists with a vision that extends far beyond the operatory. Built for clinicians who feel a pull toward ownership—even if they’re early in their careers—this show exists to demystify the path from employee to entrepreneur. Whether you’re dreaming of your first startup, evaluating a practice to buy, navigating a transition, or preparing to eventually sell your own practice one day, this podcast gives you the honest, practical, and unfiltered guidance you wish dental school had provided. Ownership isn’t just a career move—it’s a mindset shift. It’s the moment when you stop thinking of dentistry as a job and begin viewing it as a vehicle for autonomy, financial growth, and a practice built around your clinical values. But the journey is filled with unknowns: contracts, valuations, lending, leadership, team culture, insurance dynamics, and the emotional weight of stepping into responsibility. Our mission is to bring clarity to those unknowns by giving associate dentists a trusted place to learn, think, and grow. Each episode features conversations with practice owners, industry experts, and associates currently navigating the transition into ownership. We explore the stories behind their successes—and their failures—because real lessons come from both. We’ll discuss what they wish they knew earlier, what surprised them most, and the strategies that shaped their careers. From startup dentists who built their dream practice from scratch, to seasoned owners who have expanded, sold, or reinvented their business model, every interview provides actionable insight you can apply immediately. But this podcast isn’t just about the numbers or the logistics of buying a practice. It’s also about the human side of ownership—leadership, burnout prevention, cultivating vision, building a memorable patient experience, managing team dynamics, and finding your identity as a dentist-owner. We go beyond surface-level advice to explore the mindset, confidence, and clarity required to step into ownership feeling prepared, not overwhelmed. On The Future Practice Owner Show, no topic is off-limits. We’ll break down: How to evaluate whether a practice is truly worth buying The red flags that signal you should walk away How to negotiate associate agreements and compensation structures Startup vs. acquisition: which path fits your personality and goals What banks really look for when financing your ownership journey The systems that make an owner’s life easier—and the ones that create chaos How to build a thriving team and a profitable practice without losing yourself in the process Whether you’re 6 months out of residency or 6 years into associate life, this podcast is designed to shorten your learning curve and fast-track your ownership readiness. Our goal is to empower you with the knowledge, confidence, and vision to build the practice—and the career—you’ve always imagined. If you’re an associate with a passion for ownership, welcome home. This is your show. theeducatedassociate.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Tony Schicktanz & Dr. Alex Besmer
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Besmer
  • Show Website
    The Educated Associate Podcast

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