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Meghan Chard is many things at once — principal dentist, practice owner, mum of three, and quietly passionate evangelist for childhood airway health. In this episode, she sits down with Payman for a wide-ranging conversation that takes in meeting her husband Simon at dental school, buying his family's Leicestershire practice a month before their first child arrived, and the very particular chaos of juggling clinical work, business ownership, and family life. Then there's the airway thread — and once Meghan gets going, you can see why she's hooked. Sleep disordered breathing in children is, she argues, a dramatically underscreened problem, and dentists are uniquely placed to spot it.In This Episode00:00:55 — Introductions and Rothley Lodge00:02:30 — Meeting Simon at King's00:05:10 — Life as associates, then buying the practice00:06:05 — Running the practice: ops vs. direction00:08:25 — The dental family advantage00:12:45 — Learning the numbers — and how Pärla helped00:13:00 — Staff management and the art of delegation00:15:30 — Superpowers and self-awareness00:17:35 — The juggle: three kids, two clinical days, one nanny00:20:00 — Something has to give00:26:10 — Mary McAleese, Belfast, and family roots00:30:05 — Childhood airway obstruction: signs, symptoms and the dentist's role00:40:05 — Treatment: referral, palatal expansion and the habit-corrector appliance00:54:10 — Case studies and outcomes00:58:35 — Pärla: the emotional roller coaster of consumer business01:05:35 — Covid and the darkest days of practice ownership01:08:20 — Dental school, inferiority, and graduating second in the year01:16:30 — Blackbox thinking01:26:25 — Faith, spirituality, and community01:30:50 — Succession planning01:35:10 — How Meghan ended up in dentistry01:39:15 — Best lecture: Malcolm Levinkind on teeth, posture and the body01:41:50 — Favourite resources: Breath, Breathe Sleep Thrive, Saved by the Mouth01:42:45 — Sauna obsession and longevity habits01:43:55 — Fantasy dinner party01:45:40 — What she'd do differentlyAbout Meghan ChardMeghan Chard is a principal dentist and co-owner of Rothley Lodge Dental Practice in Leicestershire, which she and her husband Simon Chard took over from his family in 2018. Alongside clinical practice and running the business, she has developed a keen interest in childhood sleep disordered breathing and consults for a paediatric airway appliance brand. She is also a niece-in-law of Mary McAleese, former President of Ireland.
Lancio është një tjetër emision që ka nisur të transmetohet që në fillimet e Top Albania Radio. Qëllimi i këtij show radiofonik është promovimi i muzikës ndërkombëtare dhe asaj shqiptare. Njëkohësisht në thelb të këtij emisioni qëndron edhe pasurimi artistiko-kulturor i dëgjuesve. Informacionet mbi karrierën apo zhvillimet e aktiviteteve ndërkombëtare të artistëve janë ta pamunguara. Lancio është rrjeta e informacioneve të fundit të muzikës më të mirë të momentit.
What happens when a mechanical engineer spends a decade fixing factories, then walks away from it all to start dental school at 34? Henry Totterdell joins Payman to tell that story. He talks about the years spent solving problems on aircraft carriers and chemotherapy production lines, the slow-burning itch to do something with his hands, and why he finally took the plunge. Along the way they get into first principles, the magic of human connection over Zoom, where robots might fit into the chair one day, and the quiet privilege of a patient simply saying thank you. It's a conversation about taking the long way round — and arriving exactly where you meant to.In This Episode00:01:55 - Travel and adventure 00:05:20 - Childhood in Stroud 00:06:15 - Choosing engineering 00:07:35 - Loughborough years 00:08:45 - Engineering versus dentistry 00:10:00 - First principles thinking 00:12:10 - Life as a consultant 00:17:15 - Losing his purpose 00:18:35 - The pharmaceutical world 00:21:00 - The itch to do medicine 00:22:15 - Working with his hands 00:23:50 - The leap to dental school 00:31:50 - The Innovations Hub 00:36:05 - First extraction 00:38:40 - Blackbox thinking 00:43:45 - Starting a business 00:44:55 - Lectures that stuck 00:48:10 - What makes a course brilliant 00:50:25 - The magic of being in the room 00:52:15 - Soft skills and integrity 00:54:20 - Reading the patient 00:57:45 - Regrets 01:01:45 - Robots in the chair 01:06:00 - Relentless optimism 01:06:45 - Darkest days 01:10:20 - Nervous patients 01:13:40 - Awards and recognition 01:16:20 - Confidence and family 01:18:35 - Fantasy dinner party 01:20:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Henry TotterdellHenry Totterdell is a third-year dental student at Bristol, having come to dentistry after a decade as a mechanical engineer and consultant. A Loughborough graduate, he worked across defence, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing before retraining at 34. Alongside his studies he runs a Dental Innovations Hub at Bristol, introducing students to the technology and business side of dentistry that the course doesn't cover.
Ali Al-Hassan is the walking embodiment of work hard, play hard — a young dentist who's gone from associate to super associate, practice co-owner and globe-trotter, all while building a following that brings patients straight to his chair. In this episode, he and Payman get into what really separates an ordinary associate from a "super" one: bringing in your own patients, owning your fees, and treating social media as your digital shop front. There's honest talk about outworking self-doubt, the awards debate, a vexatious GDC referral that came out of nowhere, and a wild Covid-era trading story that took a £50k bounce-back loan to seven figures and most of the way back down again. Threaded throughout is a simple philosophy — do the thing, do it thousands of times, and let it compound. You'll come away with plenty to think about, whether you're weighing up your own brand or just wondering how one person fits in this much living.In This Episode00:02:30 - Work hard, play hard 00:08:10 - Growing up and family 00:14:30 - The inflection point 00:17:30 - Associate vs super associate 00:24:40 - Social media and the first Invisalign open day 00:33:15 - Tenacity and outworking self-doubt 00:39:05 - Niching down 00:49:50 - Cornerstones of safe GDP ortho 00:53:50 - Blackbox thinking 00:59:30 - The GDC referral 01:08:45 - Compounding and word of mouth 01:09:45 - Dental Opulence 01:18:55 - The awards debate 01:25:35 - Travel and friendships 01:29:25 - Working with Robbie 01:32:05 - The Covid trading story 01:42:25 - Examinations and case acceptance 01:48:05 - Composite bonding approach 01:54:50 - Finishing teeth upside down 01:56:25 - Fantasy dinner party 02:00:25 - Last days and legacyAbout Ali Al-HassanAli Al-Hassan, known online as Doctor Ali, is a Cardiff-trained dentist working across practices in Swindon, the Midlands and London, with a focus on Invisalign and composite. He's a super associate who built his patient base through years of consistent social media, and co-owns the Dental Opulence clinic in the Midlands. Away from the chair, he travels monthly, invests, and is renovating a house back home in Swindon.
Ashley King and Sophie Lovett run the international side of Pearl, the AI company that reads dental radiographs — and they turn up as a self-confessed package deal. The chat starts with what the tech actually does (a second opinion for clinicians, and a way to help patients finally see what's going on in their own mouths), but it doesn't stay there for long. Payman, Ashley and Sophie get into US versus UK dentistry, the state of the NHS, why trust beats price every time, and how AI is creeping into everyday work. Then it gets personal: women and AI, the awkwardness of asking for a pay rise, what happens when a woman out-earns her partner, and whether having children is selfless or selfish. Honest, funny and occasionally controversial — this one wanders well beyond the X-ray.In This Episode00:00:50 - Life at a start-up 00:02:20 - Life on the road 00:04:35 - Distributors or your own office 00:06:05 - What Pearl does 00:09:30 - Accuracy and limits 00:10:45 - A controversial take 00:12:45 - AI and the future 00:18:35 - A cottage industry 00:21:20 - US vs UK dentistry 00:24:40 - NHS vs private 00:30:20 - Getting set up 00:34:00 - The price 00:35:40 - Why trust is everything 00:37:45 - The word "sell" 00:40:35 - Living in London 00:46:50 - The worst of America 00:51:50 - Politics 00:56:05 - AI in their own work 01:00:50 - Women and AI 01:02:30 - The pay rise problem 01:05:20 - The gender pay gap 01:08:25 - Femininity as power 01:11:00 - Relationships and self-reliance 01:13:55 - Children01:16:30 - Out-earning a partner 01:25:10 - "I'm just a hygienist" 01:26:30 - Business influences 01:33:50 - Biggest business mistakes 01:38:40 - Competitors and USP 01:45:40 - Guilty pleasures 01:49:05 - Fantasy dinner party 01:54:00 - Ministry of SoundAbout Ashley King & Sophie LovettAshley King leads international partnerships at Pearl, having started out in dental back in 2018 at VOCO; she's from North Carolina and now calls London home. Sophie Lovett heads up Pearl's international market development and, despite only three years in dentistry, talks the clinical language like a native. The two are best friends as much as colleagues — which is exactly why they turned up to record together.
Professor Tara Renton OBE brings four generations of dental history — and a career built on curiosity rather than ambition — to her conversation with Payman. From navigating undiagnosed dyslexia and a father who begged her not to follow him into dentistry, to becoming the first female chair of oral surgery at King's College London, her story is one of serendipity, resilience, and an almost obsessive interest in the patient behind the pain. She shares remarkable insights into orofacial pain — nerve injuries, psychosocial histories, patients whose chronic pain only begins to shift when someone finally takes the time to ask the right question — and makes a compelling case for multidisciplinary thinking in a profession she feels has been far too siloed for far too long. Sharp reflections on surgical safety, local anaesthetic technique, and the state of dental education sit alongside something warmer: a life philosophy that's disarmingly simple. Stay curious.In This Episode00:02:50 - Four generations of dentists00:06:05 - Child dental health crisis00:07:20 - New grandmother00:10:00 - Choosing dentistry00:17:05 - Serendipity over ambition00:37:15 - The juggle: three kids and a PhD00:41:00 - Bullying and misogyny in surgery00:44:45 - King's: first chair in oral surgery00:47:35 - Multidisciplinary pain clinic00:49:25 - The Iranian patient00:56:00 - Trust underpins consent01:00:00 - Classifying orofacial pain01:07:05 - When grief resolves chronic pain01:12:15 - Blackbox thinking01:17:00 - Local anaesthetic tips01:22:00 - Wrong site surgery01:25:30 - Dental student selection01:27:15 - Redesigning the dental course01:47:50 - Bruxism: rethinking the evidence01:50:15 - Fantasy dinner party01:53:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Professor Tara Renton OBEProfessor Tara Renton OBE is Emeritus Professor of Oral Surgery at King's College London Dental Institute, where she became the first female chair of oral surgery — and one of the world's leading authorities on orofacial pain and nerve injury. Over a career spanning more than 40 years, she has authored over 250 research papers, completed a PhD centred on morbidity following third molar surgery, established a pioneering multidisciplinary pain clinic at King's, and carried out extensive medico-legal work in surgical safety. She is the co-founder of the patient resource orofacialpain.org.uk.
Mike Gray's path to dentistry was anything but straightforward — and that's precisely what makes this conversation so compelling. A former semi-professional mountain biker who raced the World Series across three disciplines, a musician who once had the head of Universal Publishing sitting in his living room in rural Wales, and a dentist who spent years doing everything he could to avoid dentistry, Mike has lived several lives before arriving at the one he clearly loves. Payman and Mike cover the full sweep — grief, therapy, surgical war stories, and an obsessive, self-taught approach to digital restorative dentistry that culminates in his POISE Protocol: a no-prep veneer workflow that he believes makes truly minimally invasive ceramics available to the vast majority of patients, not just a lucky five per cent.In This Episode00:00:55 – Introductions and first impressions00:01:20 – Mountain biking career00:09:15 – A friend's suicide, guilt and stepping back from maxfax00:12:15 – Therapy00:14:10 – Life on the World Series circuit00:19:25 – From maxfax to music00:28:10 – Blackbox thinking00:33:45 – Music career — Alabama Three, Peppa Pig and Covid00:49:25 – NHS dentistry debate00:51:50 – Falling in love with dentistry00:54:40 – Self-taught restorative and the digital workflow01:00:25 – Ditching the articulator01:01:20 – Prototypes, not temporaries01:05:10 – Into implants01:11:00 – Compassion fatigue01:13:40 – POISE protocol and no-prep ceramics01:25:10 – The Lodge and the course01:29:05 – Resilience and failure01:34:20 – Practice ownership01:41:10 – Instagram01:49:20 – Fantasy dinner partyAbout Mike GrayMike Gray is a dentist based in Wales, working at Parkway Clinic in Swansea and The Lodge — a referral and education centre where he hosts his sold-out POISE Protocol course on minimally invasive ceramic veneers. His background spans maxillofacial surgery, semi-professional mountain biking at World Series level, and a music career that attracted interest from Universal Publishing and, improbably, Peppa Pig. He teaches himself CAD, machines his own surgical instruments, and has spent five years developing a digital workflow for no-prep ceramic restorations that he believes renders feldspathic and heavy preparation largely redundant.
Rawa Jawad Quinn is a dentist-turned-tech founder whose restless energy and refusal to be underestimated have shaped every chapter of her career. In this episode, she tells Payman about growing up in Chelsea after her Iraqi family fled Kuwait with nothing, studying in Liverpool, and working across 16 dental practices before channelling her frustrations into Medicube — a consent and patient communication platform built to give associates the consistency they've never had. The conversation takes some wonderfully unexpected detours into quantum physics, telepathy, AI-driven futures and the spiritual experiences that Rawa can't quite explain but absolutely trusts. There's also plenty of practical wisdom on occlusion, practice culture and what it really takes to bootstrap a dental tech start-up while raising a three-year-old without a nanny.In This Episode00:00:45 – Introduction and welcome00:01:25 – Growing up on the Kings Road and childhood in Chelsea00:03:30 – Studying dentistry in Liverpool and reinvention00:07:00 – Dyslexia diagnosis and learning differently00:10:10 – The itch beyond dentistry00:14:00 – Fleeing Kuwait, starting over in the UK00:16:25 – Why her parents' medical careers put her off medicine00:18:05 – Ambition, being underestimated and self-belief00:23:15 – Spirituality, connectedness and trusting intuition00:26:10 – Wanting it all — motherhood, marriage and a start-up00:31:00 – Lessons from 16 dental practices00:36:25 – Working in corporates and at Bupa00:41:20 – NHS vs private practice00:45:15 – The birth of Medicube00:48:30 – How Medicube works and pilot results00:55:55 – Finding a co-founder and the UCL connection00:58:50 – Funding through grants, awards and bootstrapping01:03:25 – AI, the Turing test and the future of work01:10:25 – Robots, relationships and what makes us human01:22:55 – Physics, multiverse theory and keeping an open mind01:28:40 – Blackbox thinking01:33:40 – A patient with buyer's remorse after crown preps01:36:55 – Occlusion, full mouth rehabs and the Dawson Academy01:43:20 – Tech conferences and the reality of being a founder01:47:05 – Fantasy dinner partyAbout Rawa Jawad QuinnRawa Jawad Quinn is a dentist based in Belfast, currently working at Bupa, with a particular interest in full mouth rehabilitation cases. She is also the co-founder of Medicube, a dental tech platform that streamlines consent, treatment planning and patient communication. Rawa trained at the Dawson Academy and Chris Hall's programme, and has worked across 16 practices spanning NHS, private and corporate settings.
Andy Acton returns to the Dental Leaders hot seat for a proper deep-cut conversation about the business of owning a dental practice — from first purchase right through to the exit. Payman and Andy cover the current market (spoiler: banks still love dentists, and buyers far outnumber sellers), before getting into the real meat of the episode: owner fatigue. Andy breaks down the five categories of burnout he's observed across 25 years of working with practice owners, and it's the kind of honest, unglamorous stuff that rarely gets aired. There's also a brilliant success story about a single-surgery practice that became a near-£2 million sale in four years, plus some sharp advice on what not to do in your first month of ownership. Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to work out why you're so tired, this one's well worth your time.In This Episode00:00:50 – Andy's business portfolio and the FTA family of companies 00:03:10 – Market snapshot: supply, demand and the state of play in December 2025 00:04:15 – Squats vs acquisitions 00:07:35 – What buyers are really looking for 00:10:15 – Occupancy levels and the case for maximising before expanding 00:13:10 – Corporates vs independents: deal structures and flexibility 00:17:10 – Patient attrition when the owner leaves 00:20:25 – Horror stories and success stories: flipping practices 00:28:15 – Young dentists buying early and the bank of mum and dad 00:31:05 – Would Andy encourage his kids to become dentists? 00:33:20 – Owner fatigue: five categories of burnout 00:35:25 – How valuation methods have evolved over 25 years 00:42:45 – Raising finance and banking terms 00:45:45 – The ownership lifecycle and signs of fatigue 00:55:55 – Sales readiness: the checklist 01:05:30 – Business education and the case for teaching it at school 01:13:05 – Understanding financial accounts and key KPIs 01:18:25 – Quick-fire: favourite business book, business hero, and the green lights philosophy 01:25:15 – Dental leaders who inspire Andy 01:32:25 – Fly on the wall moment: the Man United treble changing roomAbout Andy ActonAndy Acton is co-founder of Frank Taylor Associates, one of the UK's leading dental practice sales and valuation firms. Alongside his business partner Chris, Andy has built a portfolio of dental-focussed businesses, including FTA Finance, FTA Media, FTA Wealth, and the Principals Club — a members-only community for independent practice owners. He has worked in the dental sector for over 25 years.
In this lively and layered episode of Mind Movers, Vanita Rattan joins Rhona and Payman to talk about medicine, entrepreneurship, motherhood and the sheer force of personality it takes to build something different. She traces her path from UCL medical school to formulating skincare for skin of colour, then opening clinics around the world before Covid forced a brutal pivot into social media and direct-to-consumer growth. What follows is not just a business story. It is a conversation about dyslexia, immigrant pressure, obsession, sacrifice, miscarriage, ambition and the cost of always operating in warrior mode. Honest, sharp and occasionally uncomfortable, this one goes well beyond skincare.In This Episode00:01:15 - Medicine to formulation00:02:05 - Building global clinics00:05:05 - Covid and the pivot00:06:20 - Community over following00:10:25 - Crisis mode and grit00:15:00 - Opportunity cost thinking00:20:15 - Dyslexia and determination00:27:25 - Business, children and sacrifice00:31:00 - Money, ambition and power00:56:25 - Miscarriage and autopilotAbout Vanita RattanVanita Rattan is a medical doctor, cosmetic formulator and entrepreneur focused on skincare for skin of colour. After qualifying in medicine at UCL, she trained in formulation, built the Hyperpigmentation Clinic into an international business, and later grew a highly engaged skincare brand through education-led content and direct community input. She is known for combining science, straight talking and a clear mission to serve women who have long been overlooked by mainstream beauty.
At just 27, Ali Hashemizadeh is doing things most dentists twice his age haven't managed — two private associate roles, a growing reputation as an endodontist, and the kind of self-awareness that usually takes a decade to develop. In this episode, Payman sits down with the Newcastle-based, Aberdeen-raised, Iranian dentist to trace the path from a rocky first year on the NHS to finding his feet in private practice. Ali talks candidly about the complaint that rocked him early in his career, the perspective shift it forced, and why he's genuinely glad it happened. It's a conversation about curiosity, resilience, and the quiet power of just cracking on.In This Episode00:00:50 – Introduction: Ali Hashemizadeh00:03:45 – Lifelong learning00:07:25 – The future of dental events00:14:30 – Optimism as a work philosophy00:15:35 – NHS complaint, first job00:19:40 – Resilience and perspective00:21:10 – Going private early00:22:25 – Becoming the endo guy00:25:55 – Generalist or specialist?00:26:50 – The disease of the twenties00:28:30 – Iranian roots in Aberdeen00:38:15 – Foundation year in London00:40:55 – Outdoor pursuits and Ironman training00:46:10 – CBCT and safe-ended files00:50:05 – Endo, implants and aesthetics under one roof00:52:00 – Treatment coordinators and ethical selling00:57:15 – The value of mentorship00:59:00 – Networking and landing the jobs01:02:55 – The two practices compared01:07:35 – Lucas Lassman and the most inspiring lecture01:10:40 – Dental resources: YouTube and Instagram01:15:10 – Being Mortal and Man's Search for Meaning01:16:30 – Modern Wisdom and guilty pleasures01:22:35 – Ten-year plan01:27:40 – Fantasy dinner partyAbout Ali HashemizadehAli Hashemizadeh is a 27-year-old private associate dentist working across two practices in the northeast of England — Middleton Saint George Dental in Darlington and Ken Harris's clinic in Sunderland — where he has developed a particular focus on endodontics. Born and raised in Aberdeen to Iranian parents, he qualified from Newcastle University and completed his foundation year in London before heading back north.
Mehy Lo Presti joins Payman on the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation that's equal parts origin story and quiet manifesto. Raised in the heartland of La Mancha by a Palestinian father and Italian mother, Mehy arrived in London in 2015 with barely any English, no NHS number, and — as it turns out — very little interest in following the conventional path. He's since built a reputation not just as a restorative associate but as one of dentistry's most creative event and experience designers, currently channelling that energy into Dent Town, a major immersive dental conference launching this September. The conversation ranges freely across the fear culture surrounding the GDC, the science of patient experience design, and the painful economics of putting on events that are actually good — before landing somewhere unexpectedly personal, as Mehy opens up about the impact of October 7th on his family and his mental health in the weeks surrounding his daughter's birth.In This Episode00:00:55 - Introductions00:01:50 - The outsider mentality00:03:05 - Palestinian-Italian roots and growing up in La Mancha00:07:15 - On parenting and giving children freedom00:10:30 - Problems with conventional education00:30:55 - GDC fear culture vs Spain00:37:10 - Moving to London from scratch00:40:20 - First steps in private practice00:41:25 - Master's in aesthetic restorative dentistry at King's00:43:20 - College of Extraordinary Experiences00:48:00 - Patient Experience Design00:49:30 - Designing the ideal squat00:52:55 - Reception as the heart of the practice01:02:10 - Google reviews and the "feel" factor01:04:05 - Associate vs clinic owner01:09:15 - The economics of running events01:17:15 - Events mistakes01:20:50 - Blackbox thinking01:25:00 - Setting patient expectations01:29:20 - Favourite resources01:32:05 - Fantasy dinner party01:36:25 - October 7th, Gaza, and personal impact01:43:00 - Faith, karma, and identityAbout Mehy Lo PrestiMehy Lo Presti is a London-based associate dentist with a master's degree in aesthetic and restorative dentistry from King's College London, currently practising at The Kensington Dentist. A son of Palestinian and Italian parents who met in Egypt and settled in Spain, he grew up in La Mancha before relocating to London in 2015. He is probably best known as the creative force behind Global Dental Collective and the Dental Rama brand, and is now co-founder of Denttown — an immersive two-day dental conference launching in September 2026.
This week, Payman sits down with Zain Remi, a Newcastle-based practice owner whose path to dentistry was anything but straightforward. After missing out on dental school the first time round, Zain took the pharmacology route, grafted his way through eight years of study, and eventually qualified from King's College London in 2016. What followed was a decade of pivotal decisions — a golden handshake from a corporate, a restorative diploma that nearly cost him his job, and a mental health crisis serious enough to land him in hospital for two months.Rather than shy away from any of it, Zain unpacks each chapter with an honesty that's genuinely refreshing. By October 2023, he'd bought his own private practice in Newcastle — and the lessons he's drawn from every stumble along the way are, frankly, worth the listen alone.In This Episode00:00:50 - Introduction00:01:35 - Growing up in London00:02:00 - Dad the dental technician00:04:40 - Dental school reflections00:14:45 - The pharmacology detour00:20:30 - Heading northeast00:22:40 - Foundation year00:24:20 - The corporate golden handshake00:30:05 - Restorative diploma and CPD00:40:05 - Burnout00:43:05 - Mental health crisis00:50:35 - Recovery and talking therapy00:57:25 - Buying the practice01:00:30 - Practice ownership: the hard reality01:05:10 - The associate–principal relationship01:10:25 - Social media as a clinical tool01:16:05 - Diary of Dental Practice Owners01:20:15 - The awards debate01:29:35 - Hiring and firing01:33:05 - Blackbox thinking01:40:05 - Fantasy dinner party01:44:30 - Favourite and least favourite treatments01:46:10 - Future visionAbout Zain RemiZain Remi is a dental practice owner based in Newcastle, who qualified from King's College London in 2016 after first completing a pharmacology degree. Having worked across NHS and mixed practices in the northeast, he acquired his own fully private practice in October 2023. He holds a postgraduate diploma in restorative dentistry and runs the Diary of Dental Practice Owners community on Facebook, offering an unfiltered look at life as an independent practice principal.
This week, Payman chats with JW Oliver — serial entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, and the man behind Support DDS, the largest dental insourcing company in the US. JW's story begins well below the poverty line in Texas and winds through dental equipment, bankruptcy, and a fateful meeting at a Christian marriage conference that led him to Zimbabwe — and ultimately to building a 1,700-strong operation across Africa and Costa Rica.It's a conversation about purpose, resilience, and why answering the phone might be the most underrated skill in dentistry. Along the way, JW opens up about faith, failure, fatherhood, and why giving away 51% of your profits doesn't feel nearly as crazy once the cheques start to mean something.In This Episode00:00:40 - Welcome and introductions00:02:00 - Growing up poor; early entrepreneurial instinct00:04:50 - From dental equipment to Zimbabwe; the chance meeting that started Zim Works00:09:00 - Purpose over profit; donating 51% and building a philanthropy operation00:12:20 - Insourcing vs outsourcing; what Support DDS actually does00:19:30 - A typical UK dental practice use case; why unanswered calls kill marketing spend00:25:00 - The real challenge; onboarding, training timelines, and setting expectations00:28:10 - Faith; how it evolved, when it was tested, and the summer of 199400:40:25 - Blackbox thinking; not reacting fast enough to a changing market00:43:20 - Resilience as both superpower and blind spot; when to hold, when to fold00:51:15 - Writing books; creative process, ghostwriting, and books as authority tools01:00:10 - Immigration, assimilation, and understanding the other side01:08:50 - Fantasy dinner party01:11:00 - Darkest day; bankruptcy, Disney, and a wife who said "I trust you"01:13:55 - Treating everyone the same; from the excellence team to the C-suiteAbout JW OliverJW Oliver is a serial entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist based between Texas and Zimbabwe. He is the founder of Zim Works and Support DDS — the largest dental insourcing company in the United States — which employs over 1,700 people across Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Costa Rica, and donates 51% of its profits to charitable causes. A former dental equipment entrepreneur turned global business builder, JW is driven as much by faith and purpose as by commercial ambition.
What happens when a Royal Marine Commando dentist who spent six months being ambushed on every patrol in Helmand Province turns his hand to building dental businesses? You get Mike Hesketh: serial practice owner, consultant, and one of the more quietly formidable figures in UK dentistry. In this episode, Payman sits down with Mike to trace a story that runs from a North Wales council estate and the loss of his father at eight years old, through the front lines of Afghanistan, to a 10x practice exit and the creation of Dartmoor Dental — a 200-year-old manor house turned thriving, NHS-inclusive, ten-surgery practice. Mike talks with real candour about the four pillars he uses to build and consult on dental businesses, why he treats his NHS contract as a social obligation rather than a commercial one, and how the Royal Marines' mantra ‘cheerfulness in the face of adversity' translates surprisingly well to practice ownership.In This Episode00:02:00 — Growing up in North Wales; losing his father at eight00:07:40 — Deploying to Helmand Province with 40 Commando Royal Marines00:12:05 — Leaving the military; getting ripped off on day one as a civilian dentist00:13:05 — Buying his first practice with £20,000 and a devil-may-care attitude00:51:35 — Selling Exeter and the year-long family world trip00:54:25 — Laura and the brand; how Dartmoor grew from £700K to £2.5M00:56:00 — The NHS contract as a social obligation01:07:40 — Barriers to entry, squat risks, and buying underperforming practices01:19:00 — Appointing the youngest clinician as clinical lead01:27:00 — Military-derived leadership principles; letting the ship sail without you01:33:15 — Fee guides as windows to the soul01:39:55 — The four pillars: leadership, infrastructure, branding, financial command and control01:53:35 — Darkest days in business01:57:30 — KPIs: one metric, embed the culture, then move on02:11:55 — Fantasy dinner partyAbout Mike HeskethMike Hesketh is a practice owner, dental business consultant, and founder of Hesketh Healthcare Accounting. He qualified as a dentist whilst serving as an officer with 40 Commando Royal Marines, completing the commando course and deploying to Helmand Province, Afghanistan. After leaving the military, he built and sold Exeter Dental Centre before buying and transforming Dartmoor Dental — a ten-surgery practice in Tavistock — from a £700K turnover to £2.5M in three years. Mike holds an MBA and a coaching qualification from Henley Business School, and works with a small number of practices on a bespoke, year-long consultancy basis.
Most dentists are brilliant clinicians and hopeless with numbers — and Bilal Ahmed has built a career filling exactly that gap. A chartered accountant and tax adviser who stumbled into the dental world through his wife's professional circle, Bilal brings a corporate finance sharpness to a profession that's long been underserved by the accounting industry. In this episode, Payman and Bilal cover the full financial landscape for dentists: from the quirks of associate contracts and HMRC tax investigations to the thorny arithmetic of Invisalign, the hidden traps in popular tax schemes, and the long game of inheritance tax planning. Honest, direct, and refreshingly unafraid to say when something just doesn't work — this one's a must-listen for any dentist who's ever wondered if they're paying more tax than they should.In This Episode00:00:50 - Introduction00:01:05 - Finding dentistry00:03:05 - Nuances of dental accounting00:08:35 - Tax investigations00:19:25 - Good accountant vs great accountant00:21:05 - Practice valuations and the post-Covid hangover00:59:00 - Pricing strategy01:07:05 - Making Tax Digital01:09:30 - Expensing and entertainment01:23:00 - Tax avoidance schemes01:28:25 - Inheritance tax planning01:34:05 - Last days and legacy01:36:05 - Being an outlierAbout Bilal AhmedBilal Ahmed is a chartered accountant, tax adviser, and business consultant working exclusively with dental professionals. He came to dentistry by accident — through his wife's network — and recognised quickly that dentists were operating in a financial vacuum, using accounts only at tax time rather than as a tool for planning and growth. Drawing on a background in corporate finance, Bilal now helps dentists make sense of their numbers, structure their businesses correctly, and plan for long-term wealth — all while keeping things firmly on the right side of the line.
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 Episode00:01:00 — Practice ownership00:05:20 — Developing associates00:09:00 — Picking a lane00:16:00 — Meeting Chez Bright00:17:45 — Running projects00:24:30 — AI and the future of dentistry00:31:10 — Manchester Sedation Course00:37:45 — HireADentalSurgery.com00:52:20 — Branding and virality00:57:15 — Blackbox thinking01:04:15 — Clinical communication01:13:00 — Lowest point01:15:20 — Faith and loss01:22:25 — Memorable lecture01:25:00 — Fantasy dinner partyAbout Nasser SyedNasser 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.
Senator Fatima Payman is not only one of the most productive members of parliament, but also courageous.As such, this conversation is all about how to be brave and courageous, even in the quieter moments and when the fear is present and inescapable.Born in Afghanistan, Senator Payman migrated to Perth with her family in 2003, studied pharmacy, and became president of Young Labor WA. In 2022, at just 27, she was elected as a Western Australian Senator for Labor, becoming one of the youngest senators in history and the first member of parliament to wear a hijab. Senator Payman crossed the floor in June 2024 over the Albanese Government's Gaza response, seeing her indefinitely suspended from the Labor caucus. She quit the Labor party to sit as an independent. In January this year, Senator Payman announced she is expecting her first child in May. She will become the first Western Australian Senator to have a baby in office. This conversation was recorded in Januaray and some things may have changed. It also follows a piece Senator Fatima Payman penned as part of a collection of essays called A Time for Bravery: What Happens When Australia Chooses Courage? published by Australia Institute Press. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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 Episode00:01:05 — Introductions and the Dental Leaders origin story00:02:10 — Why Payman started a podcast — and what it's become00:05:20 — Leaning into strengths, owning your quirks00:07:00 — Starting Enlighten at 28 and the philosophy of doing one thing brilliantly00:10:25 — The sacrifices behind world-class quality00:14:10 — Being number two — and the decision to become the best00:16:15 — Favourite quote: Oscar Wilde and the art of being yourself00:20:25 — Identity, self-awareness and shedding the layers00:21:50 — Dentistry as a kingdom — and why practices are anything but the same00:23:10 — Mental health in dentistry: burnout, suicide and the stress bucket00:27:40 — The emotional drain of being "on show" all day00:30:20 — Kids, careers and the realities of dentistry as a profession00:35:40 — Knowing yourself before you can lead others00:36:10 — Intuition as a leadership skill — and how to train itAbout Dr Rana Al-Falaki and Dr Bhavin PatelDr 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.
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 Episode00:01:05 - What Medfin does00:03:05 - Associate performance metrics00:04:00 - Connecting disparate systems00:04:50 - Single practice viability00:05:40 - Why dentistry?00:06:10 - The blood pressure discovery00:08:20 - Coarctation diagnosis00:09:05 - Healthcare system chaos00:10:40 - Economics at Cambridge00:12:25 - Investment banking to startups00:15:50 - First startup lessons00:18:55 - Finding the dental opportunity00:22:40 - Building the founding team00:25:15 - Technical architecture challenges00:29:30 - Onboarding process evolution00:33:10 - Product development philosophy00:36:45 - Pricing strategy and models00:40:20 - Fundraising journey00:44:35 - Investor relationships00:48:50 - Multi-practice versus single site00:52:15 - NHS versus private analytics00:56:30 - Clinical efficiency debates01:00:45 - Competition and market positioning01:04:20 - AI integration plans01:08:35 - Team building challenges01:12:50 - Work-life balance realities01:16:15 - Fantasy dinner party01:18:40 - Last days and legacyAbout Daniel JonesDaniel 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.
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 Episode00:00:40 - 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 legacyAbout Amber AplinAmber 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.
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 Episode00:01:00 - Finishing specialist training whilst pregnant00:04:20 - Why four days feels necessary00:05:10 - The moment surgery clicked00:07:10 - Competitive from birth00:08:20 - Hospital jobs and surgical confidence00:11:45 - Decision to specialise00:14:50 - Choosing between ortho and perio00:18:30 - Training structure and challenges00:22:15 - Learning from the best00:26:40 - Private practice reality00:30:20 - What patients actually pay00:34:45 - Imposter syndrome00:38:20 - Building a reputation00:42:15 - Surgical complications00:46:30 - Blackbox thinking00:51:45 - Treatment planning philosophy00:56:20 - Working with implantologists01:00:15 - Referral relationships01:04:30 - Social media approach01:08:45 - Learning from Instagram01:13:35 - Fantasy dinner party01:15:20 - Last days and legacyAbout Payvand MenhadjiPayvand 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.
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 Episode00:01:25 - Hosting versus guesting00:02:55 - How Laura and Leanna met00:06:40 - Having it all as ambitious women00:10:50 - Balancing work travel with family life00:14:30 - Partnership dynamics and business relationships00:19:45 - The Enlighten story and business evolution00:28:15 - Marketing philosophy and brand building00:35:20 - Working with your best mate00:41:10 - The reality of business partnerships00:47:25 - Managing conflict and difficult conversations00:52:40 - Learning to say no and setting boundaries00:58:15 - Legacy versus being present01:03:30 - Parenting and guilt01:09:45 - The immigrant work ethic01:16:20 - Competition in dentistry01:21:35 - Advice for younger dentists01:25:00 - Meeting strangers from the internet 01:28:20 - Remote teams and South African operationsAbout Laura Horton & Leanna BestLaura 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.
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 Episode00:01:15 - Introduction and background00:01:55 - Passionate versus ambitious00:03:00 - Sibling dynamics and guidance00:04:40 - The "wanting it all" approach00:05:50 - Sacrifice and balance in career building00:10:00 - Growing up as a dentist's daughter00:15:00 - Starting a squat practice during COVID00:21:15 - Opening during the pandemic00:22:20 - Decision to pursue specialist training00:24:00 - Neil Nathwani's encouragement to specialise00:25:30 - Getting into specialist training first try00:27:45 - Clinical capabilities and full mouth rehabs00:36:00 - Patient selection red flags00:37:40 - Blackbox thinking00:56:15 - Challenges as a woman in dentistry01:06:15 - Business development mindset01:07:10 - High achievers versus optimal achievers01:09:15 - Child of a dentist privilege01:10:10 - Building the perfect patient journey01:13:50 - Spanish lessons and tennis01:15:30 - Best lectures and courses01:16:50 - Creating a thousand-page prosthodontic textbook01:21:25 - Fantasy dinner party01:24:00 - Last days and legacyAbout Niki KeyhaniNiki 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.
Richard Porter joins Payman to explore the meeting point of clinical dentistry and psychology. From his early struggles adapting to London dental school after growing up in rural Kent, to his current work exploring personality psychology and emotional intelligence in practice, Richard challenges conventional thinking about what makes a truly skilled dentist. He argues that feelings are the currency of human existence—and understanding them is as critical as clinical competence. The discussion moves through burnout, the dark triad of difficult patient personalities, and the tension between contentment and progress, before landing on Richard's passion for helping dentists understand their own minds. It's a conversation that questions everything from dental education to the nature of expertise itself.In This Episode00:01:20 - Backstory00:06:05 - Six pillars of good dentistry00:08:20 - Emotional intelligence and motivation00:13:35 - Psychology journey00:38:25 - Restorative dentistry career00:39:05 - Why implants matter00:41:25 - Hallmarks of expertise00:44:45 - Contentment vs progress01:17:20 - Blackbox thinking01:23:50 - Minimal vs proper tooth preparation01:29:35 - Dentistry's systemic health impact01:34:05 - Green button philosophy01:42:35 - Dentist suicide and burnout01:45:35 - Neuroticism and the N-score01:52:00 - Best lectures, books and courses02:02:30 - Fantasy dinner party02:03:40 - Last days and legacyAbout Richard PorterRichard Porter is a restorative dentist with specialist registrations in prosthodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry, and special care dentistry. Having trained at Guy's Hospital and worked in maxillofacial surgery, Richard now combines clinical teaching with his deep fascination for personality psychology, focusing on how emotional intelligence shapes patient outcomes and professional wellbeing.
This expansive and deeply reflective episode features Anne-Sophie Flury — neuroscientist, psychology graduate, former PhD researcher, and wellness educator — whose work bridges hard science with lived human experience. Known online as “Coochie by Gucci,” Anne-Sophie brings rare honesty and intellectual clarity to conversations about the brain, trauma, intuition, and emotional agency.Rhona and Payman explore Anne-Sophie's unconventional academic journey, from leaving a business degree for psychology to working in experimental neuroscience and neuropsychopharmacology alongside leading researchers. Together, they unpack why understanding the brain isn't enough — and how learning that the brain can change became the turning point in Anne-Sophie's own mental health and sense of agency.The conversation moves fluidly through modern overwhelm: social media burnout, dopamine addiction, emotional over-identification, and the spiritualisation of feelings. Anne-Sophie offers a grounded, science-based perspective on meditation, psychedelics, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation — cutting through both clinical detachment and performative spirituality.What emerges is a powerful discussion about responsibility without shame, emotional awareness without indulgence, and why separating yourself from your thoughts may be the most liberating skill of all.In This Episode00:00:25 – Returning to Mind Movers & meeting Anne-Sophie00:01:45 – From business to psychology: finding intellectual purpose00:04:15 – Neuroscience, VR research & leaving the PhD00:07:20 – Failure, resilience & unconventional career pivots00:08:30 – “Coochie by Gucci”: identity, grief & online personas00:10:20 – Social media, activism & burnout00:12:30 – Doomscrolling, empathy fatigue & loss of motivation00:14:40 – Perfection culture, comparison & digital disconnection00:18:45 – Psychology vs neuroscience: understanding the brain00:20:05 – Psychedelics, policy & political suppression00:23:00 – What psychedelics actually do to the brain00:27:20 – Mental health, loneliness & early emotional struggles00:30:40 – The moment everything changed: “I can change my brain”00:31:50 – Meditation, neuroplasticity & emotional regulation00:34:00 – Agency, awareness & visualising a different life00:36:00 – Relationships, values & evolving identities00:38:10 – Can core values really change?00:40:10 – Trauma, intuition & emotional misinterpretation00:42:25 – Are we over-validating emotions?00:44:30 – Spiritual bypassing vs real growth00:45:00 – Float tanks, meditation & separating from thought00:48:20 – Anxiety vs intuition: learning the differenceAbout Anne-Sophie FluryAnne-Sophie Flury is a neuroscience and psychology specialist whose work focuses on emotional regulation, nervous system awareness, and personal agency. After completing a psychology degree, a master's in experimental neuroscience, and publishing research during her PhD, she stepped away from academia to make science accessible in the real world.Blending research, lived experience, and practical tools, Anne-Sophie helps people understand not just why they feel the way they do — but how to change it. Her work challenges emotional fatalism, encourages responsibility without self-blame, and reframes mental health as something dynamic rather than fixed.
In this episode of Dental Leaders, Payman chats with Deepa Patel, a locum dentist with the unique experience of working inside over 100 different practices. Having held every role from nurse and receptionist to practice manager before qualifying, Deepa shares why the happiest practices aren't always the most high-tech, and why the most profitable dentists aren't always the most skilled.They touch on her philosophy of treating "dental and mental health" together and discuss how a transformative 10-day silent meditation retreat shifted her focus from perfection to presence. From humming during extractions to her daily gratitude practice, Deepa reveals to Payman why emotional intelligence is just as vital as clinical precision in modern dentistry.In This Episode01:20 - Mini smile makeovers and composite work04:10 - Mindset around colour conversations05:30 - Lessons from inside 100 practices08:00 - Adapting to different equipment10:20 - Respect for nurses and teamwork12:45 - Why reception is the hardest job14:35 - Handling difficult patients17:10 - Dentists who couldn't do nursing22:30 - Working in corporate versus independent24:45 - Meeting patients in the waiting room30:15 - Teeth colour and ageing33:20 - Humming to keep patients calm37:30 - Ethical treatment planning39:20 - Disagreeing with treatment plans42:05 - Motherhood and work-life balance47:50 - The silent meditation retreat experience50:15 - Living in the moment54:15 - Treating dental and mental health together56:35 - Blackbox thinking01:00:50 - Manager power in corporates01:09:25 - Courses as an investment01:10:10 - Writing ten gratitudes every morningAbout Deepa PatelDeepa Patel qualified as a dentist in India before moving to the UK, where she worked as a hygienist, dental nurse, receptionist, and practice manager whilst completing her ORE exams. She now works two days a week at a Bupa practice and spends the rest of her time as a locum dentist, having gained experience in over 100 different practices across the UK. Deepa completed a transformative 10-day Vipassana silent meditation retreat and practices daily gratitude, writing ten things she's grateful for every morning. She lives in Derbyshire with her husband and two children, aged 16 and 4.
This week, Payman sits down with Adeel Ali, an implantologist who's taken the kind of risks most dentists only talk about. Seven years qualified and he's already built multiple UK practices, mastered full-arch implantology including zygomatics, and most recently moved his family to Qatar to open a clinic from scratch—all whilst flying back every three weeks to maintain UK commitments. The conversation reveals someone refreshingly honest about not being naturally gifted clinically, instead crediting a relentless work ethic inherited from his father's 40-year retail career. They discuss marrying at 24, having kids young, and deliberately choosing to excel in every domain simultaneously rather than sequentially. Adeel's approach to business follows a simple framework: character-assassinate potential partners for integrity, find the best person doing what you want to learn, and when uncertainty hits, pray five times daily and trust it'll work out. From explaining why people should die with fixed teeth rather than dentures to how his wife rewired his mindset about Qatar, this episode offers an unfiltered look at making bold moves work through spiritual conviction and practical ruthlessness.In This Episode00:01:20 - Work ethic and retail roots00:04:25 - Teaching kids about money and work00:09:10 - Family dynamics and sacrifice00:13:50 - Marrying young and choosing fatherhood00:16:50 - Struggling through dental school00:22:15 - Life-changing full arch work00:23:25 - Finding mentors and the Tatum course00:26:25 - Three-tier training programme00:29:10 - Advice for aspiring implantologists00:33:45 - Aha moments in implantology00:43:15 - Mentorship beyond clinical skills00:46:50 - Choosing business partners00:51:15 - Practice acquisitions and growth strategy00:53:20 - Comfortable in the uncomfortable00:56:25 - Faith, religion and rating people holistically00:59:35 - Prayer and God consciousness01:05:50 - The Qatar move01:09:35 - Building London Implant Clinic from scratch01:12:35 - Wife's all-in mentality01:14:10 - Flying lifestyle and health concerns01:18:40 - Fantasy dinner party01:30:35 - Full arch consultation process01:36:25 - Cultural differences treating Qatari patientsAbout Adeel AliAdeel Ali is an implantologist who recently relocated to Qatar whilst maintaining UK practices. He's completed around 800 full arch cases and placed approximately 8,000 implants, focusing primarily on complex zygomatic and pterygoid cases. He runs a three-tier mentorship programme and travels between Qatar and the UK every three weeks.
In this Dental Leaders episode, Payman sits down with Fabian Farbahi, a 22-year-old Sheffield dental student who's already mastered something most people spend decades learning: the power of genuine conversation. Fabian spends 3.5-hour train journeys striking up chats with strangers because he's fascinated by people's stories—the same curiosity that drove him to become president of Sheffield's dental student society and spend two months on elective in Brazil learning Portuguese. They discuss Fabian's refreshingly unformed career path—he's drawn to oral surgery, intrigued by sports dentistry, passionate about public health behaviour change, and comfortable not knowing exactly which direction he'll take. The conversation covers his transformation from small-town student to confident stage presenter, lessons learned managing volunteers without pay, and why the best time to take business risks is when you're young. What emerges is someone who understands that dentistry isn't just about teeth—it's about connection, communication, and throwing yourself into uncomfortable situations until they become second nature.In This Episode00:03:35 - Choosing Sheffield and moving north00:06:45 - Clinical mistakes and university challenges00:07:40 - Student society presidency00:11:25 - Train conversations and connecting with strangers00:14:20 - Getting into dental school struggles00:17:40 - Career interests: implants, oral surgery, sports dentistry00:20:35 - Public health and behaviour change00:26:15 - Implantology path and the dip00:30:05 - Practice ownership versus travel ambitions00:32:20 - Two-month Brazil elective experience00:41:20 - Six-year projections and taking risks young00:44:30 - Managing people without payment00:50:15 - Business culture and leadership style00:54:50 - FDI World Dental Congress in Istanbul00:58:20 - Shadowing at Evo Dental01:01:30 - Sponsor hunting and sales lessons01:06:00 - Finding confidence through reinvention01:08:50 - Fantasy dinner partyAbout Fabian FarbahiFabian Farbahi is a fourth-year Sheffield dental student who served as president of the Sheffield University Dental Student Society. Originally from Taunton, he recently completed a two-month elective in Brazil, working across multiple cities whilst learning Portuguese and immersing himself in the culture.
Senator Fatima Payman remembers the first time Pauline Hanson pulled her burqa stunt in 2017. She was visiting her Dad in hospital and was told to 'piss off back where she came from'. She tells us how stunts like we saw this week in the senate, have real world implications how there needs to be more accountability in politics and the importance of supporting marginalised communities, particularly in the face of rising Islamophobia. But while she's dealing with the fallout from Hanson's burqa stunt 2.0, she also loves how the Australian community has rallied around her in support, the ultimate in 'mateship.' And in headlines today, A luxury wilderness resort that took a direct hit from tropical cyclone Fina has been partially destroyed, but two caretakers sheltering in an underground bunker escaped unharmed; The coroner has heard how a young, inexperienced ground crew member gave the thumbs up for takeoff less than a minute before a 2023 fatal mid air helicopter collision; French police have arrested four more people in connection to the Louvre jewel heist last month; Just weeks after denying rumours that she had died, Hollywood royalty Bridgette Bardot has been rushed to hospital in France THE END BITS Support independent women's media Check out The Quicky Instagram here GET IN TOUCHShare your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice note or email us at thequicky@mamamia.com.au CREDITS Hosts: Taylah Strano & Claire Murphy Guest: Audio Producer: Lu Hill Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
There's something about meeting someone who's truly hungry to learn. Payman spotted it straight away when Sanaa Harroussi walked into his Mini Smile Makeover course—that rare fire in the belly. But here's the thing: Sanaa's journey from Rabat to Paris to West London isn't just about collecting qualifications. It's about a woman who aced the ORE first time, built a fifteen-year career in the same practice, and then had everything turned upside down when her second son received a six-month life expectancy. What follows is a masterclass in resilience, the art of not taking anything for granted, and learning when perfectionism helps and when it hurts.In This Episode00:00:45 - Introduction and first impressions 00:01:25 - Growing up in Rabat 00:02:20 - Competitive entry into dental school 00:02:50 - How dentistry happened 00:03:50 - The serious student 00:06:25 - Postgraduate training in Paris 00:07:15 - Paris versus London 00:09:20 - The ORE challenge 00:11:20 - Blackbox thinking 00:17:10 - Finding her first job 00:20:30 - NHS reality check 00:21:55 - Patient expectations 00:24:25 - Family life begins 00:26:30 - The diagnosis 00:29:45 - Fighting for treatment 00:32:00 - Life with disability 00:33:40 - One day at a time 00:38:20 - The improvement obsession 00:40:00 - Retreats and self-care 00:40:30 - Clinical loves and methods 00:43:25 - Rubber dams and labs 00:48:40 - The digital question 00:51:10 - Invisalign journey 00:57:15 - Fantasy dinner party 00:58:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Sanaa HarroussiSanaa Harroussi trained in dentistry in Morocco before completing postgraduate studies in prosthodontics in Paris. She's been practising in West London for fifteen years, building her career in the same practice whilst raising three sons. When her middle child was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, Sanaa fought to secure him a place in a clinical trial that would save his life.
In this episode of The Slippery Slope with J Fallon, we examine the shocking remarks made by Australian Senator Fatima Payman following the assassination of U.S. commentator Charlie Kirk. Her sarcastic use of “RIP—whatever you want it to mean” has sparked outrage across political lines, with Pauline Hanson and Jacinta Price calling out what they see as radical ideology and contempt for Western values.This is just my opinionIntro song is 'Bring Me Down'Buy Me a CoffeeThe Slippery Slope SpotifyJ Fallon SpotifyThe Slippery Slope Apple PodcastsThe Slippery Slope YouTube
Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson spoke with Mark Levy and declared he hopes Senator Fatima Payman reconsiders her position and apologises for remarks made about Charlie Kirk following his assassination last week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Charles and Dom are joined by Amanda Tattersall, host of the ChangeMakers Podcast, who just interviewed Senator Fatima Payman on what went down behind closed doors before she left the Labor Party. Hear Dom and Charles debrief with Amanda about the interview in this episode, and the full episode with Payman on changemakerspodcast.org.ChangeMakers Fatima Payman episode: https://shows.acast.com/change-makers/episodes/fatima-payman-gaza-and-the-labor-party---Buy the Wankernomics book: https://wankernomics.com/bookListen AD FREE: https://thechaserreport.supercast.com/ Follow us on Instagram: @chaserwarSpam Dom's socials: @dom_knightSend Charles voicemails: @charlesfirthEmail us: podcast@chaser.com.auChaser CEO's Super-yacht upgrade Fund: https://chaser.com.au/support/ Send complaints to: mediawatch@abc.net.au Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Senator Fatima Payman was the first hijab wearing member of parliament representing the Australian Labor Party and in 2024 she was removed from the ALP caucus in response to her campaigning (and crossing the floor of parliament) calling for the ALP to recognise the genocide in Gaza and the need for a Palestinian State. As it turns out, her leadership was ahead of its time, with much of the world now finally recognising that more must be done to end Israeli aggression and support the right of Gaza to exist.In this conversation she shares the long history of her rise as young Senator from Western Australia. The guiding strength, voice and resilience she learnt from her parents, and how determined she was to bring all of herself - her faith, her gender and her voice - into the Parliament when she was elected. And yes - we talk about what happened when she crossed the floor and what she it has taught her about politics, political parties and making change.For more about Senator Fatima Payman go to https://www.fatimapayman.com.au/For more on ChangeMakers check us out:Via our Website - https://changemakerspodcast.org (where you can also sign up to our email list!)On Facebook, Instagram, Threads - https://www.facebook.com/ChangeMakersPodcast/Blue Sky Social - changemakerspod.bsky.aocial & amandatattersall.bsky.socialOn X/Twitter - @changemakers99 or @amandatattsOn LinkedIn - Amanda.Tattersall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Arielle sits down with renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeons Dr. Payman Danielpour and Dr. John Layke, co-founders of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group, the Beverly Hills MD skincare line, and the Proactive Longevity clinic in Cabo San Lucas. With over 18 years of experience working side-by-side, the duo has built a reputation for delivering natural-looking results, pioneering anti-aging solutions, and maintaining a rare humility in an often ego-driven field.They dive into the biggest myths in plastic surgery, how to really vet your surgeon in the age of social media, and why trends are shifting toward subtle, undetectable tweaks. Arielle also opens up about her personal experience with Botox complications, while the doctors break down game-changing treatments like therapeutic plasma exchange, natural killer cell therapy, and the real future of stem cells and exosomes.Whether you're curious about fat transfers, facelift trends, or building a skincare regimen that actually works—this conversation covers it all.For more on The Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group:Follow them on Instagram and FacebookVisit their WebsitePlease note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.Go to tryarmra.com/WELL for 15% off your first order.Get 20% off your first Ned order by visiting foriawellness.com/BLONDE OR use BLONDE at checkout.Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/BLONDE Visit fromourplace.com/blonde and use code BLONDE for 10% off sitewideVisit justthrivehealth.com/discount/well for 20% off your first 90 day bottle of Just Thrive with promo code WELL.Go to alliesofskin.com and use code WELL to claim your FREE deluxe Growth Factor Serum with orders of $130 or more.Produced by Dear Media.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This compelling episode features Lala, the anonymous voice behind "Lalalaletmeexplain" - a former social worker turned influential author who's helped thousands recognise red flags and find their worth. Rhona and Payman explore deeply personal territory as Lala shares her childhood trauma, decade-long career in child protection, and the systemic failures she witnessed firsthand. The conversation weaves through heavy topics, including misogyny, male influencers like Andrew Tate, and the recent concerning developments in UK abortion rights. What emerges is a raw, unflinching look at how childhood experiences shape our adult relationships, why anonymity can be liberating, and how society's treatment of vulnerable people - from social workers to women seeking healthcare - reveals our collective blind spots.In This Episode00:02:45 - The birth of anonymity 00:04:40 - Why hiding can mean truth-telling 00:09:10 - When dads abandon and mothers struggle 00:15:15 - Forgiving the unforgivable 00:24:15 - From personal pain to professional purpose 00:28:40 - When systems fail the vulnerable 00:42:35 - Blackbox thinking 00:59:55 - Misogyny as cultural DNA 01:11:55 - The Andrew Tate problem 01:15:00 - When women turn on women 01:32:05 - Justice on trial 01:38:45 - Tracking women's bodies 01:47:15 - Healing through words 01:52:35 - Moving trauma through movementAbout LalaLala is a former social worker who spent over a decade in safeguarding, witnessing firsthand the realities of domestic abuse and child protection. She's now a best-selling author and one of the most important voices online when it comes to love, abuse, power and patriarchy. Operating anonymously through her platform "Lalalaletmeexplain," she helps people recognise red flags, establish boundaries, and understand their worth through truth and lived experience.
Stina Sanders, a former dating app co-founder turned therapist and mental health advocate, joins Rhona and Payman for a raw conversation about love, trauma, and the difference between chaos and genuine connection. From selling her relationship-focused business Huggle to studying therapy after her own healing journey, Stina unpacks why we mistake dysfunction for passion, how trauma bonds keep us stuck, and whether AI can replace human connection in healing. This episode challenges everything you think you know about modern dating, attachment patterns, and what healthy love actually looks like.In This Episode00:02:05 - From PR to dating apps: Building Huggle 00:04:30 - Psychology calling: The moment everything clicked 00:07:50 - Abusive relationships: When love becomes survival 00:11:00 - The great love debate: Chaos versus calm 00:16:30 - Time and truth: Why masks slip eventually 00:18:30 - Training to heal: Mirror work in therapy school 00:21:15 - Spotting narcissists: What predators actually look for 00:25:15 - Social media narcissists: The new hunting ground 00:28:10 - Dating app fatigue: Endless options, empty connections 00:32:00 - High standards trap: When perfection becomes isolation 00:39:50 - Trauma bonds: The addiction to emotional rollercoasters 00:43:05 - ChatGPT therapy: Digital healing or dangerous replacement?00:48:00 - Modelling toxicity: Beauty industry's brutal reality 00:52:00 - Hormonal truth: PMDD and the medical gender gap 00:56:00 - Relationship detective: Every couple's unique puzzleAbout Stina SandersStina Sanders is a qualified therapist, mental health advocate, and former co-founder of dating app Huggle. After experiencing her own journey through abusive relationships and subsequent healing, she transitioned from the tech world to study therapy and is currently pursuing her master's degree. Stina regularly shares insights on emotional wellbeing, relationship patterns, and social media transparency through her platforms and is preparing to launch her own therapy clinic in Soho.
In this captivating episode of Dental Leaders, Payman sits down with Dr Moj Dehghanpour, a dentist whose journey from immigrant child to practice owner embodies resilience and entrepreneurial spirit. From navigating tough comprehensive schools to founding the premium Your Dental Wellness practices, Moj shares how his background shaped his ability to connect with patients across social divides. Throughout the conversation, he offers refreshing insights into clinical mistakes, practice positioning, and the vital role of communication in dentistry, while emphasising the importance of creating positive patient experiences through attention to detail and genuine human connection.In This Episode00:01:45 - Immigrant beginnings: Moving from Iran to the UK 00:04:20 - School experiences and finding resilience 00:13:10 - The Westminster City comprehensive years 00:21:40 - Why dentistry? From medicine to dental career 00:31:25 - Dental school at Queen Mary's in Whitechapel 00:34:30 - Early career in Norfolk 00:43:45 - Learning implantology 01:04:00 - Blackbox thinking01:17:25 - Life in Qatar as a dentist 01:29:10 - Your Dental Wellness practice journey 01:35:35 - Team building: Hiring for personality 01:44:35 - Practice positioning in the market 01:57:50 - Fantasy dinner party 02:02:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Moj DehghanpourDr. Moj Dehghanpour is the co-founder of Your Dental Wellness practices and a passionate dentist with 18 years of clinical experience. Born in Iran and moving to the UK at age seven, Moj qualified from Queen Mary's in 2007 and has since worked across the UK and internationally in Qatar. His career spans NHS practice ownership in Norfolk, specialist work at the renowned Hospital Lane referral clinic, and now his premium private practices in Islington and Maida Vale.
In this captivating conversation, Payman welcomes Alan Clarke, the innovative founder of Paste Dental in Belfast and creator of Paste Presents. Alan shares his journey from growing up in Northern Ireland to developing a global mindset through international experiences. Throughout the episode, he discusses building a lifestyle dental brand, his groundbreaking international dental mastermind events, and his passion for community building within dentistry. Alan's entrepreneurial spirit, faith-driven purpose, and willingness to take calculated risks showcase a refreshing perspective on leadership that transcends geographical boundaries and traditional dental practice limitations.In This Episode00:02:10 - Tall poppy syndrome00:04:30 - Growing up as an only child with supportive parents 00:08:10 - Life-changing Washington Ireland Program experience00:14:35 - Behind the scenes of American politics 00:19:20 - Reflections on Northern Ireland and the Troubles 00:22:15 - Bloom where you're planted: returning to Belfast 00:25:25 - Cultural differences between UK, US and European business00:33:15 - Clinical education at Queen's University Belfast 00:43:40 - Buying and rebranding a dental practice during COVID 00:47:15 - Managing patient expectations during practice transition 00:51:55 - Creating a lifestyle brand in dentistry 00:54:55 - Providing exceptional patient experiences 01:00:05 - Empowering staff to create memorable moments 01:07:30 - Adding value through communication and technology 01:11:10 - Creating Paste Presents: a global dental mastermind 01:17:15 - Building relationships through shared experiences 01:23:50 - Free university events to support dental students 01:29:15 - Faith as a foundation for business and life 01:35:05 - Perspectives on AI in dentistry 01:42:45 - Fantasy dinner party 01:48:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Alan ClarkeAlan Clarke is a dentist, entrepreneur and visionary from Belfast, Northern Ireland. As the founder of Paste Dental, he has transformed a traditional practice into a modern lifestyle brand offering high-end dentistry with exceptional patient experiences. Alan is also the creator of Paste Presents, an exclusive international dental mastermind that brings together influential dentists from around the world for immersive learning experiences in exotic locations. A graduate of Queen's University Belfast with further education in medical law and ethics at Edinburgh, Alan balances his clinical work with entrepreneurial ventures and a passion for elevating the dental profession. His international connections, particularly in the US, have helped him develop a unique perspective that combines American entrepreneurial spirit with Northern Irish values.
Payman welcomes renowned restorative aesthetic dentist Richard Lee to the Dental Leaders podcast. Richard shares his journey from an unintentional entry into dentistry to becoming one of the UK's top cosmetic clinicians. With refreshing candour, he discusses the endless pursuit of excellence, his formative education under mentors like Chris Orr, and his approach to balancing artistry with practicality. Throughout the episode, Richard reflects on how his international experiences, including a recent stint in New Zealand, have shaped his perspective on dentistry and life.In This Episode00:02:10 - The endless pursuit of excellence and early inspirations 00:05:50 - Discovering dentistry and university experiences 00:12:10 - Early career burnout and taking a year off to dive 00:20:25 - The influence of American occlusion courses 00:26:35 - Returning to dentistry with a new perspective 00:31:30 - Working as Chris Orr's first associate 00:38:00 - Finding your confidence in clinical dentistry 00:41:35 - Injection moulding technique for composite 00:47:15 - Working with technicians and their importance 00:51:40 - Handling difficult cases and patient expectations 00:57:20 - Setting boundaries with patients seeking dramatic aesthetics 01:07:35 - Primary tooth anatomy in composite work 01:15:25 - The New Zealand experience 01:30:35 - Clinical errors and managing patient expectations 01:38:00 - Redoing porcelain veneers for patient satisfaction 01:44:00 - Finding fulfillment in dentistry 01:47:15 - Fantasy dinner party 01:47:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Richard LeeRichard Lee is one of the UK's leading restorative aesthetic dentists, renowned for his work in both composite and ceramic restorations. A graduate of Birmingham University, Richard's career journey took him from NHS dentistry to becoming the first associate at Chris Orr's London Bridge practice. He has extensive experience in high-end private practice and currently works with Bupa. Richard is also an educator who runs sought-after composite courses internationally, including freehand and injection moulding techniques. His career has included a period working in New Zealand before returning to the UK, where he now practises in London while commuting from Winchester.
Payman speaks with Anni Seaborne, Head of General Dentistry at Bupa. Anni shares her unconventional journey from international childhood to sports dentistry, including her work with elite athletes and Formula One teams. The conversation weaves through her transition into corporate leadership, her honest reflections on being fiercely competitive, and how she balances multiple career paths while navigating personal choices. Throughout, Anni reveals how her sporting background has shaped her approach to dentistry and leadership.In This Episode00:01:30 - Practice ownership challenges and imposter syndrome00:02:10 - Growing up internationally and boarding school life00:04:25 - Early sporting career and swimming allergy00:08:00 - Introduction to sports dentistry00:11:25 - Working with elite teams and athletes00:14:45 - The unique oral health challenges of athletes00:18:35 - Building trust with elite athletes00:20:25 - Performance-enhancing dental appliances00:23:30 - Sports dentistry logistics and time management00:27:20 - Corporate leadership experience00:35:25 - Creating high-performing dental teams00:38:40 - Making dentistry more enjoyable for staff00:44:15 - NHS dentistry challenges00:51:25 - Tooth Angel sustainable oral care products00:56:35 - Blackbox thinking01:05:10 - Sports career ending injury01:15:25 - Work-life balance and career focus01:20:35 - Fantasy dinner party01:21:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Anni SeaborneAnni Seaborne is Head of General Dentistry at Bupa and a sports dentistry specialist who works with elite athletes, including England Rugby and Formula One teams. A Cardiff graduate, she's played lacrosse at national level for Wales and holds a master's in sports dentistry. Beyond her clinical work, Anni is an entrepreneur with stakes in sustainable oral care brand Tooth Angel and is developing her own sports dentistry course. Her unique international upbringing and sporting background have given her a distinct perspective on leadership and team dynamics in dentistry.
In this emotionally rich and refreshingly candid episode of Mind Movers, Julius Cowdrey joins Rhona and Payman to explore everything from public vulnerability to private pain.Once a singer-songwriter and Made in Chelsea star, Julius opens up about chasing validation, generational trauma, the pressure to provide, and the chaos of early success.Now a transformational coach, he reflects on the personal work it took to leave reality TV behind and step into purpose.Expect unfiltered honesty on masculinity, mental health, family dynamics, social media comparison, and what it really takes to feel “enough.”In This Episode00:01:00 – Reinvention and identity00:10:30 – Pressure to provide00:20:00 – Family, love and legacy00:29:30 – Made in Chelsea: dark side00:39:00 – Leaving TV for growth00:48:30 – Coaching and imposter syndrome00:58:00 – Purpose through helping others01:07:30 – Social media and truth01:17:00 – Masculinity and mental health01:26:00 – Fantasy dinner party guestsAbout Julius CowdreyJulius Cowdrey is a transformational coach, speaker and content creator known for his emotional intelligence, powerful conversations on male vulnerability, and background in music and television. After rising to fame on Made in Chelsea, Julius left the show to focus on his personal growth and now helps others move from chaos to clarity in their lives through coaching and his widely shared content series, The Mic.
Donate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here:http://btml.us/thinkingmuslim - Please do remember that charity never reduces our rizq and gives Barakah to our wealth. Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membershipThe Australian government has announced a general election, including elections to its lower house. Its Labour government has grown tired in office and, particularly important for Muslims, has colluded to enable a genocide in Gaza. In both the UK and America, Muslim and conscientious voices worked together to hold the government to account for what has been the worst crime in decades. Will Australia's Muslim community build upon its newfound resilience and unity and work with allies to punish those responsible for Gaza at the ballot box. Today, we have a very special guest. Senator Fatima Payman is a Senator in the Australian upper house for Western Australia. In June 2024, she was the first in her party since 1988 to cross the floor over a vote on Palestine's statehood. By July, she resigned over the government's policy on genocide—having been suspended by PM Anthony Albanese. Although Fatima is not up for re-election this time, these coming elections may be another extremely important test for Muslims in the West and their commitment to their ummah and justice.We all know how difficult it has been for food and essential supplies to reach the beleaguered people of Gaza. This, Insha'Allah, is changing. We have partnered with a charity, Baitulmaal, because now, more than ever, there is a need not only in Gaza but also in Turkish controlled Northern Syria and in all the places we routinely talk about in this program where our ummah is subject to abject poverty. We have chosen this charity because Baitulmaal is a non-profit with people on the ground who organize well-thought-out projects and serve the most needy.You can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynHost IG: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/Website Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Payman chats with Kaival Patel, the dynamic force behind Kana Health Group. Kaival opens up about his journey from an enthusiastic associate dentist to the leader of a thriving dental empire comprising five large practices and 130 staff members. With refreshing candour, he shares the challenges of creating a positive culture, the emotional lows of practice ownership, and his innovative approaches to team building and referral marketing. What truly shines through is Kaival's passion for developing people and creating workplaces where positivity becomes the foundation for success.In This Episode00:01:40 - Practice culture and family vibe across multiple locations 00:04:15 - North Star: Establishing positivity and respect as core values 00:09:50 - Evolution vs. revolution in practice acquisitions 00:12:35 - Growing as a leader and management evolution 00:16:30 - The Kana Cup: Points for positivity team system 00:19:20 - Handling resistance to new ideas 00:24:20 - Hiring for attitude over skill 00:30:15 - Business structure and organisation 00:40:35 - Pursuing peace vs. potential 00:53:05 - Creating a referral centre 00:57:45 - The hamper drop: Innovative referral marketing 01:04:00 - Career evolution and identity crisis 01:14:15 - Fantasy dinner party 01:28:55 - Last days and legacyAbout Kaival PatelKaival is the co-director of Kana Health Group, which operates five large dental practices with 28-29 chairs across Milton Keynes, employing approximately 130 team members. Originally from a family of Ugandan Asian immigrants who valued education above all, Kaival transitioned from clinical dentistry to business leadership after experiencing eye health issues during COVID. Together with his wife Serena, he has developed the Kana Academy, an educational institution providing high-quality dental training in Milton Keynes.
In this powerful episode of Mind Movers, Rhona and Payman speak with Jacqueline Hurst, one of the UK's leading life coaches and mindset experts. Jacqueline shares her remarkable journey from addiction, anorexia and self-destruction to becoming a force for change who has helped thousands transform their lives. With raw honesty, she explains how she hit rock bottom at 25, found recovery, and developed her no-nonsense approach to mindset work. The conversation explores how our thoughts create our feelings, the importance of self-awareness, and why finding inner peace has become Jacqueline's definition of success after 22 years of sobriety.In This Episode00:01:35 - Introduction and background 00:03:35 - Early struggles with addiction 00:05:25 - Parenting impact without blame 00:10:00 - Mindset management philosophy 00:22:15 - Fight or flight responses 00:29:10 - Rock bottom and turning point 00:30:10 - Recovery through meetings00:39:35 - Thought patterns vs feelings 00:49:10 - Relationships and emotional intelligence 00:53:25 - Common limiting beliefs 00:55:40 - Self-awareness techniques 01:00:00 - Peace as true success 01:08:15 - Last days and legacyAbout Jacqueline HurstJacqueline Hurst is one of the UK's leading life coaches, a mindset expert and author of "How to Do You". After overcoming severe addiction issues and hitting rock bottom at age 25, she transformed her life and has now been clean for 22 years. Her straight-talking approach has helped over 9,000 clients break free from limiting beliefs and take control of their minds.
In this captivating episode of Dental Leaders, Payman sits down with specialist endodontist Ammar Al Hourani. Born in Syria and raised in Scotland, Ammar shares his journey from reluctant dental student to passionate endodontics specialist. The conversation weaves through his life-changing experiences in refugee camps, the challenges of specialist training, and his current success running courses in the UK and India. Throughout the discussion, Ammar offers valuable clinical insights on everything from diagnosis to obturation while reflecting on the importance of listening to one's gut instinct in both clinical practice and life.In This Episode00:01:55 - Scottish upbringing and cultural identity 00:04:55 - Path to dentistry 00:14:45 - Refugee camp experiences 00:22:25 - Endodontic specialisation journey 00:27:35 - Imposter syndrome and building a practice 00:33:50 - Endodontic diagnosis tips 00:36:15 - Access cavity preparation 00:38:05 - Irrigation techniques 00:41:35 - File systems and obturation 00:45:40 - Coronal seal importance 00:49:50 - Managing cracked teeth 00:55:00 - Internal whitening techniques 01:03:40 - NHS dentistry challenges 01:08:40 - Continuing education courses01:28:10 - Blackbox thinking 01:36:45 - Fantasy dinner partyAbout Ammar Al HouraniAmmar Al Hourani is a specialist endodontist based in London. Originally from Syria but raised in Scotland, he completed his specialist training at Liverpool after working in various clinical settings. He now divides his time between clinical practice at multiple locations and teaching through "The Endo Guy," offering courses in both the UK and India.
In this Dental Leaders episode, Payman sits down with Sam Cope, a dentist whose journey to dentistry began in physiotherapy. Known for his focus on minimally invasive cosmetic dentistry, Sam discusses the habits that keep his clinical days finely tuned, the influence of mentors, and his obsession with detail. He reflects on how his background in physio shaped his approach to patient care, back health, and long-term sustainability in dentistry. The conversation ranges from composite techniques and mental health to happiness, burnout, and redefining success. Honest, introspective, and often unexpectedly profound, this is an episode that challenges what it means to thrive in modern dentistry. In This Episode00:01:00 – Daily habits and preparation00:13:00 – Mentorship and clinical growth00:25:00 – Blackbox thinking: Mistakes & lessons00:35:00 – From physio to dentistry00:47:00 – Adversity and inner drive00:58:00 – Mental health and fulfilment01:10:00 – Dentistry, stress and back pain01:23:00 – Work-life balance philosophy01:36:00 – Living below your means01:48:00 – Fantasy dinner party guestsAbout Sam CopeSam Cope is a minimally invasive cosmetic dentist based at Love Teeth, known for his highly refined clinical systems and patient-focused care. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, he transitioned into dentistry after discovering a passion for aesthetic and restorative treatment. Sam combines his love for detail with a strong belief in reflection, mentorship, and doing fewer things, better.
Sarovi Davda, a general dentist with a special interest in periodontics, joins Payman for an insightful conversation about the evolution of periodontal treatment and the art of balancing professional expertise with personal growth. From her journey through dental school to establishing herself as a medico-legal expert witness, Sarovi shares candid reflections on career choices, parenthood, and divorce. Her passion for periodontics combines technical skill with psychological understanding, emphasising how patient motivation transforms treatment outcomes. Throughout the episode, Sarovi's spiritual outlook provides a refreshing perspective on finding meaning in dentistry and life beyond clinical practice.In This Episode00:01:40 - Practice limitation to periodontics and medico-legal work00:05:35 - Childhood and education journey 00:09:35 - Balancing career with parenthood 00:10:25 - Navigating divorce and personal growth 00:17:45 - Dental school experiences 00:26:20 - Discovering a passion for periodontics 00:32:50 - Clinical prognosis in periodontics 00:39:00 - Interdental brushing vs flossing debate 00:43:50 - Medico-legal expert witness work 00:51:20 - Preventing periodontal litigation 01:14:15 - Blackbox thinking01:27:50 - Fantasy dinner party 01:32:45 - Last days and legacyAbout Sarovi DavdaSarovi Davda is a general dentist whose practice is now completely limited to periodontics and medico-legal expert witness work. After completing her MSc in Restorative Dental Practice at the Eastman, she developed her expertise in periodontics under the mentorship of respected periodontists Phil Ower and Graham Smart. Sarovi divides her time equally between clinical periodontics and serving as an independent expert witness, bringing her evidence-based approach to both areas of her practice.
In this exciting episode of Omni Talk's “Ask an Expert” series, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Ownit AI co-founders Payman Nejati and Evan Shiue to discuss how Amazon's Rufus and Google's AI overviews are revolutionizing e-commerce. They dive into the potential impact these innovations will have on product searches, consumer behavior, and how retailers can leverage AI to stay competitive. If you're interested in the future of retail and AI-driven shopping experiences, this episode is a must-listen. Key Moments Include: [0:25] - Introduction to Amazon Rufus and generative AI in retail. [2:05] - Payman and Evan's journey in e-commerce and AI technology. [5:50] - What Rufus does for Amazon users and its significance for e-commerce. [7:50] - How retailers need to adapt to AI-driven search models. [10:43] - How Google's AI overview competes with Amazon and changes search behaviors. [14:11] - Practical examples of how retailers can take advantage of AI in their product catalog. [22:10] - Impact of trends like social media on retail and AI's role in keeping retailers competitive. [26:26] - Discussion on AI in retail media and the integration of ads in AI-driven search. [30:13] - Final advice for retailers looking to leverage AI in their e-commerce strategies. Tune in for a detailed exploration of how generative AI is setting a new standard for shopping! #retailinnovation #ecommerce #Amazon #generativeai #retailtech Music by hooksounds.com *Sponsored Content*