Conversations with Dental Friends

If you are in the dental industry and feel you have loads of potential and more to give, or maybe you’re new to the dental field, and if you like interesting stories from interesting people that might just inspire your dental future then this podcast is for you!

Conversations with Dental Friends is a business podcast hosted by Rachael, with 67 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Rachael hosts Conversations with Dental Friends, a business show with 67 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Conversations with Dental Friends

  S6 Ep 7 : What Makes a Great Dental Career? Opportunity Support & Learnings with Dr Nicola Gore

  Sep 24, 20261h 18m

  Can saying yes shape an extraordinary career? In this episode of Conversations with Dental Friends, Rachael is joined by Dr Nicola Gore, a restorative dentist, practice owner, educator, author and Vice President of the College of General Dentistry. In this episode, we cover: Growing up between England and Iran and nearly leaving dental school Accepting a last-minute foundation training position Working in restorative and maxillofacial hospital departments Learning from community dentistry in Australia Combining postgraduate education, practice ownership and motherhood Investing in communication, photography and careful documentation Learning to walk before attempting advanced dentistry Why removable prosthodontics can transform a patient’s life Teaching and supporting 26 foundation dentists Writing Dentistry in a Nutshell Leadership within the College of General Dentistry Supporting dental therapists and the wider dental team Content note This episode contains brief references to suicide-related trauma, bereavement and distressing cases encountered within hospital dentistry. The supplied transcript contains only an opening timestamp, so a precise time for this section is not available. Nicola’s advice for early-career clinicians Nicola encourages new clinicians to invest in good loupes and a reliable camera, photograph their work with appropriate consent and begin building a portfolio from the earliest stages of their careers. Her central message is to learn to walk before trying to run. Strong cosmetic or restorative dentistry still depends on communication, trust, documentation, isolation and sound clinical fundamentals. Nicola also stresses the importance of being honest about limitations and possible complications. Patients cannot make an informed decision unless they understand both what treatment may achieve and what could go wrong. Dentistry in a Nutshell discount code Nicola co-authored Dentistry in a Nutshell with Dr Raabiha N Maan. The book uses practical tables and flowcharts to support dental students, clinicians, dental therapists, dental nurses, professionals returning to practice and candidates preparing for overseas registration examinations. You can use the discount code NEC when ordering Dentistry in a Nutshell . The code is available until 30 September 2026 . Order Dentistry in a Nutshell Dentistry in a Nutshell on Google Books Links and resources mentioned College of General Dentistry Totteridge Dental Studio The Impression Club Rupert Monkhouse on Instagram Continue the conversation Conversations with Dental Friends on Instagram Rachael at @homegirlhygienist Conversations with Dental Friends on Substack Conversations with Dental Friends on YouTube Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Homegirl Hygienist Sponsors A huge thank you to Oral-B and NSK for supporting Conversations with Dental Friends. Free Career Planning Workbook If you would like Rachael’s free Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook, comment or message the word “link” and she will send it to you. Follow the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and share this episode with a dental friend who would enjoy Nicola’s story.

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  Conversations with Dental Friends

  S6 Ep 6 : Can Better Health Make You Better at Business? Performance From Within with George Vernon

  Sep 17, 202647 min

  Can success cost you your health? High performance without burnout What if looking after your health was not separate from building a successful dental career, but one of the most important parts of it? In this episode, Rachael is joined by George Vernon, a health and performance coach who works with dental professionals, practice owners, business leaders and other ambitious professionals. George shares how his early dream of becoming a boxing champion led him into sports science, strength and conditioning, athlete coaching and, eventually, the world of dentistry. His experience of pushing his own training to the point of burnout shaped his evidence-based approach to psychology, nutrition and physical health. Together, Rachael and George explore why dental professionals often place themselves at the bottom of their priority lists, how small improvements can protect energy and extend a career, and why the right kind of coaching can reduce years of trial and error. They also discuss building an authentic professional presence on LinkedIn, finding a niche through meaningful work and redefining success around the values that matter most to you. In this episode George’s journey from competitive boxing to health and performance coaching What dental professionals can learn from elite athletes Protecting your physical health and energy in a demanding profession Why putting yourself first can benefit your patients, team and family How coaching helps turn complicated goals into manageable actions Building a personal brand and finding opportunities through LinkedIn Choosing values, meaning and sustainable wellbeing over endless achievement How small, consistent changes can produce very different long-term results Links and resources mentioned George Vernon’s website George’s free Health Phase Assessment Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Atomic Habits by James Clear Rachael’s conversation with Dr Alan Clarke on Apple Podcasts Connect with George George Vernon on Instagram George Vernon on LinkedIn George Vernon: Health & Performance on YouTube Continue the conversation Conversations with Dental Friends on Instagram Rachael on Instagram at @homegirlhygienist Conversations with Dental Friends on Substack Conversations with Dental Friends on YouTube Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Visit the Conversations with Dental Friends website With thanks to our sponsors A huge thank you to Oral-B and NSK for sponsoring this episode and supporting Conversations with Dental Friends. Visit Oral-B UK ​Mynsk.co.uk If this conversation made you think differently about health, success or the way you are building your career, please share it with a dental friend. You can also receive the free Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook by commenting the word link on the episode.

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  Conversations with Dental Friends

  S6 Ep 5 : How Can Dental Therapists Create More Opportunities? Using Your Full Scope with Imogen Fox

  Sep 10, 202657 min

  Could saying yes transform your dental career? From safe beginner to paediatric leader What if the next step in your career is not part of a carefully mapped-out five-year plan, but simply an opportunity you are curious enough to say yes to? In this episode of Conversations with Dental Friends, Rachael is joined by award-winning dental hygienist and therapist Imogen Fox, whose incredibly varied career has taken her through foundation training, head and neck cancer care, special care dentistry, education, private practice and paediatric dentistry. Imogen shares why becoming a “safe beginner” is the real goal when we qualify and how the right mentorship helped her build confidence in her full dental therapy scope. We also discuss why you do not need to feel completely ready before accepting an opportunity and how some of Imogen’s biggest career developments began with a leap of faith. The conversation explores Imogen’s formative work as one of the UK’s first Macmillan dental therapists, what treating head and neck cancer patients taught her about compassionate empathy and the importance of knowing when to ask for help. We also look at the huge opportunity for dental therapists within paediatric dentistry. Imogen explains how therapists can lead children’s examinations, prevention and restorative care, while sharing practical advice for creating a positive experience for young patients. This is a wonderfully reassuring conversation about staying curious, building confidence, exploring your scope and creating a dental career that can evolve alongside the different seasons of your life. In this episode Why foundation training and supportive mentorship can transform early clinical confidence Becoming comfortable with being a safe beginner Saying yes before you feel completely ready Building a varied career across oncology, special care, education and private practice What head and neck cancer care taught Imogen about compassionate empathy The opportunities available to dental therapists within paediatric dentistry Imogen’s three practical principles for treating children Creating a career that supports both professional fulfilment and family life Links and resources mentioned Imogen’s professional profile and dental articles Head and Neck Cancer Care in the General Practice Setting , Imogen’s on-demand educational webinar Progress and Headwinds for Dental Therapists , Imogen’s article on the future of dental therapy and paediatric care Dentaid’s Uganda volunteering programme , for dental professionals interested in overseas volunteering NSK Ikigai , where Imogen is an opinion leader and educator Connect with Imogen Connect with Imogen Fox on LinkedIn Read more about Imogen’s clinical work at Refresh Dental Continue the conversation Follow Conversations with Dental Friends on Instagram: @conversationswithdentalfriends Follow Rachael on Instagram: @homegirlhygienist Visit the Homegirl Hygienist website A huge thank you to Oral-B and NSK for sponsoring this episode and supporting Conversations with Dental Friends. If this conversation encouraged you to explore more of your scope or say yes to a new opportunity, share it with a dental friend who might need that reminder too. You can also download the free Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook by commenting the word link on the episode, and I’ll send it directly to you. Imogen Instagram @dental.hygienist.uk

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  Conversations with Dental Friends

  S6 Ep 4 : Could Dentistry Prepare You For Business? From Clinician to Founder with Dr Ariba Karim

  Sep 3, 202655 min

  Could dentistry prepare you for business? From clinician to founder What happens when the career you worked so hard for no longer feels like the right fit? In this episode of Conversations with Dental Friends, Rachael is joined by dentist, facial aesthetics practitioner and founder of Whip Belfast, Dr Ariba Karim. Ariba shares the honest story behind her journey from dentistry into hospitality and entrepreneurship. We talk about cultural expectations, choosing dentistry, navigating difficult working environments and the realities of building a career as a self-employed dental professional. After working across Northern Ireland and Dublin, Ariba began to recognise that her mental health was being affected by a career she no longer felt passionate about. Through therapy, travel and plenty of self-reflection, she uncovered a long-suppressed ambition to build something of her own. That idea became Whip Belfast, a personality-filled concept café known for its açaí bowls, matcha, creative menus and distinctly “girly pop” energy. This is a wonderfully honest conversation about career pivots, transferable skills, financial risk, resilience and what can happen when you allow yourself to pursue the work that genuinely lights you up. In this episode Why Ariba chose dentistry and what her early career really looked like The realities of NHS dentistry, self-employment and associate life Recognising when a working environment is not right for you Investing in further training and exploring different niches Mental health, therapy and losing passion for your profession Starting a business, experiencing financial risk and rebuilding after setbacks The skills dentistry gave Ariba that now help her run Whip Building a memorable brand through creativity, social media and community Ariba’s plans to grow Whip while protecting the quality of its original Belfast location Links and resources mentioned Study Dentistry at Queen’s University Belfast Start With Why by Simon Sinek Watch Simon Sinek’s TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action Derma Medical , where Ariba completed facial aesthetics training Connect with Ariba and Whip Belfast Follow @whipbelfast on Instagram Follow @whipbelfast on TikTok Visit Whip on the Lisburn Road in Belfast Continue the conversation Follow Conversations with Dental Friends on Instagram: @conversationswithdentalfriends Follow Rachael on Instagram: @homegirlhygienist Visit the Homegirl Hygienist website A huge thank you to Oral-B and NSK for sponsoring this episode and supporting Conversations with Dental Friends. If this conversation made you think differently about your own career, share it with a dental friend who might need to hear it. You can also download the free Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook by commenting the word link on the episode, and I’ll send it directly to you.

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  Conversations with Dental Friends

  S6 Ep 3 : Could Better Boundaries Help Protect Your Dental Career? Preventing Burnout with Dr Rana

  Aug 27, 20261h 6m

  What if the answer to burnout isn’t simply doing less, but learning how to live, work and succeed in a completely different way? In this episode of Conversations with Dental Friends, Rachael is joined by specialist periodontist, author, coach, international speaker and fellow podcaster Dr Rana Al-Falaki. Rana was the first periodontist in the UK to begin using lasers in daily practice and has developed minimally invasive periodontal protocols that are now informing clinical trials around the world. Alongside her clinical and educational work, she is the creator of the NAIL-IT Leadership System, which helps professionals pursue sustainable success without sacrificing their health, happiness or relationships. Behind Rana’s extraordinary career is an incredibly honest story of burnout. She shares what happened when years of overachievement, emotional trauma, professional pressure and never asking for help finally caught up with her. Content note This episode contains a personal discussion of childhood trauma and sexual abuse. This begins at approximately 26 minutes and 15 seconds within the original interview. Please be aware that the precise timestamp may move slightly following the addition of the episode introduction and sponsorship messages. Please look after yourself while listening and feel completely free to pause or skip this part of the conversation. Find out more about Dr Rana Al-Falaki Dr Rana’s official website: https://www.drranaalfalaki.com/ Follow Dr Rana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drranaalfalaki/ Discover NAIL-IT Leadership and Rana’s coaching, workshops and services: https://www.drranaalfalaki.com/nail-it Find out more about NAIL-IT Leadership: Your Blueprint to Optimal Performance: https://www.drranaalfalaki.com/nail-it-leadership Listen to the NAIL-IT Podcast with Dr Rana Al-Falaki and Dr Bhavin Patel: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/nail-it/id1824975541 Follow the NAIL-IT Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nailit_podcast/ NAIL-IT events and education Find out more about the NAIL-IT Leadership Experience and upcoming 2026 dates: https://www.nailitindentistry.com/nail-it-in-dentistry-leadership-wellbeing-day-dental-team-professionals Find out more about Rana’s periodontal and peri-implant courses: https://www.nailitindentistry.com/perio-courses Find out more about the periodontal and peri-implant masterclass taking place in London on 20 and 21 November 2026: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYeIAZNmhry/ Thank you to our sponsors A huge thank you to Oral-B and NSK for sponsoring this episode and supporting Conversations with Dental Friends. Find out more about Oral-B Professional: https://www.oralbprofessional.co.uk/s/ Find out more about NSK UK: https://mynsk.co.uk/ Stay connected with Conversations with Dental Friends Follow the podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conversationswithdentalfriends/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@homegirlhygienist2756?si=IfQgFNVLAMZu1rcL https://substack.com/@conversationswithdentalfriends?r=57fuak&utm_medium=ios Join us on Substack: Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0TR0CyMSp9K3JHIg8eg9nQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/conversations-with-dental-friends/id1802284203 Free Career Planning Workbook If you would like some space to reflect on what you want from your own dental career, comment the word LINK on the episode post and I’ll send you my free Conversations with Dental Friends Career Planning Workbook. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review and share it with a dental friend who may need to hear this conversation.

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