🍂 Can you build a successful dental career without losing your joy along the way?

Welcome back to Gums & Gossip™ with Hope Loyd, RDH, BSDH, the Gum Goddess! This fall, we’re talking about something every dental professional needs to hear: how to enjoy the ride while building a joyful, profitable life in dentistry.

I’m joined by Dr. Alan Stern, author of Enjoy the Ride: Lessons for the Quest to Live a Joyful Profitable Life in Dentistry, for an honest conversation about redefining success, navigating financial pressure, protecting mental wellness, and remembering the human side of healthcare.

With more than 30 years in dental hygiene, I’ve seen how the dental experience affects everyone involved, from the patient in the chair to the professional standing beside it. We can’t truly humanize dentistry if we care for the patient’s mouth but forget the human being behind the smile.

🦷 IN THIS EPISODE, WE GET INTO:

🍁 What it really means to be successful in dentistry

💰 The relationship between profitability, financial well-being, and happiness

🧠 Dental professional stress, burnout, and mental wellness

❤️ Building healthier dental teams and more positive workplace cultures

😬 Dental fear, shame, trust, and why patients sometimes avoid care

🤝 Creating compassionate patient experiences without losing sight of business realities

🌱 Knowing when it’s time to change direction and rediscover your purpose

Whether you’re a dentist, dental hygienist, dental student, dental team member, or someone who has put off dental care because of fear, this conversation is for you.

THE TAKEAWAY: Success isn’t just about what you build. It’s also about how you feel while building it, the people you impact, and the life you get to live along the way.

📚 ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Alan Stern is the author of Enjoy the Ride: Lessons for the Quest to Live a Joyful Profitable Life in Dentistry.

Explore his profile: https://dentallifestylesmagazine.com/dr-alan-stern/

🎙️ ABOUT YOUR HOST

I’m Hope Loyd, RDH, BSDH, host of Gums & Gossip™. My mission is to humanize dentistry, open honest conversations about dental fear and anxiety, and help people move From Fear to Freedom.

Because every smile has a story, and everyone deserves to feel heard, respected, and safe.

💗 LET’S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING!

Follow Gums & Gossip™ on Spotify so you never miss an episode.

Share this episode with a dental professional who needs a reminder to enjoy the ride, or with someone who deserves a more compassionate dental experience.

Find dental fear resources and services: https://fearfreedental.org/work-with-me

🌸 Gums & Gossip™ — Fear Less. Smile More.

#GumsAndGossip #DentalPodcast #DentalHygiene #DentalLeadership #DentalAnxiety #MentalWellness #EnjoyTheRide

Dental professionals spend their days taking care of everyone else — but who is taking care of the person behind the chair?

In this episode of Gums & Gossip, Hope Loyd, RDH, talks with Dr. John Besharse, PT, DPT, CSCS, founder of The Dental Physical Therapist, about the physical demands of dentistry and what they can mean for our bodies and careers.

Hope met John at AADH, and they continue the conversation about dental ergonomics, posture, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, repetitive strain, injury prevention, strength, movement, and career longevity.

They talk about the aches and pains dental professionals often consider “just part of the job” — and why paying attention to what your body is telling you matters.

In this episode:

• Dental ergonomics and the operatory

• Common musculoskeletal challenges in dentistry

• Neck, shoulder, and back pain

• Repetitive movements and strain

• Strength and posture

• Injury prevention

• Career longevity

• Taking better care of the body behind the chair

If you’re a dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, or dental professional, this conversation is for you.

Because taking care of your patients shouldn’t mean forgetting about yourself.

Every smile shares a story.

🎙️ Hosted by Hope Loyd, RDH

🦷 Gums & Gossip

Learn more about Dr. John Besharse and The Dental Physical Therapist:

https://www.thedentalphysicaltherapist.com/

What if the person sitting next to you is struggling—and nobody knows?

This episode of Gums & Gossip™ goes beyond the dental chair and into a conversation about mental wellness, burnout, trauma and suicide prevention.

Hope sits down with Sherri Lukes to talk about the human side of dentistry—and why sometimes the most important thing we can do isn’t fix, teach or diagnose. It’s notice, ask and listen.

We talk about mental health in dentistry, the mouth-mind connection, professional burnout, dental fear, generational attitudes toward emotional pain, and how to recognize when someone may need support.

And we ask the question:

“What do you say when someone tells you they’re not okay?”

This is a conversation for dental professionals, patients, leaders, educators—and anyone who cares about another human being.

🎧 Listen.

💬 Start the conversation.

❤️ Share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Content note: This episode discusses suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis in the U.S., call or text 988.

@sherrilukes

@gumsngossip

#GumsAndGossip #MentalWellness #SuicidePrevention #Dentistry #DentalHygiene

🎙️ GUMS & GOSSIP PODCAST | SEASON 8

Behind the Pocket: Yvette’s Story — Part 1

What happens when the person behind the white coat has a story of her own?

In Part 1 of “Behind the Pocket,” Hope sits down with Dr. Yvette Carrillo for an honest, heartfelt conversation that goes far beyond periodontics.

Hope first connected with Yvette on Instagram, and what started as a social media connection turned into a meaningful conversation about dentistry, resilience, women’s health, and the experiences that shape who we become.

In this episode, Yvette opens up about:

🦷 Her journey through periodontal school

💔 Experiencing trauma during her professional journey

🌱 Finding resilience and learning to move forward

🌸 Navigating early menopause and women’s health

💬 Why healthcare professionals need to talk about the things we often keep behind closed doors

❤️ Turning difficult experiences into purpose

✨ The lessons she wishes she could share with her younger self

This isn’t just a conversation about teeth and gums.

It’s about the human being behind the professional title.

Because sometimes the strongest people in the room are carrying stories you know nothing about.

And as Hope always says…

Every smile shares a story.

👉 Subscribe to Gums & Gossip and turn on notifications so you don’t miss Part 2, where we talk about Yvette’s work with The Perio Pocket, her role as founder of Scrubs & Scalpels, leadership, community, and her vision for the future of women in dentistry.

🎧 Gums & Gossip Podcast — Season 8: From Fear to Freedom

Hosted by Hope Loyd, RDH, BSDH

💗 Come for the gossip. Stay for the story. Leave with a little more hope.

Follow @gumsngossip and @perio.princess

#GumsAndGossip #GumsAndGossipPodcast #DrYvetteCarrillo #BehindThePocket #Periodontics #DentalPodcast #WomenInDentistry #DentalHygiene #WomensHealth #DentalFear

Season 7 of Gums & Gossip with Hope Loyd wraps up with a powerful conversation about resilience, courage, and the people we meet along the way.

Hope is joined by Jae, author of Pain, Fear, Triumph: Jae’s Journey. Their connection began while working together in Germany, and in this episode Jae shares her story of survival, growth, and the lessons that come from facing fear head-on.

This conversation explores how childhood experiences, life challenges, and personal relationships shape the confidence we carry today.

As the season closes, Hope also introduces a new step in her mission to help others overcome dental anxiety through her Dental Fear Assessment, a tool designed to help people better understand their fears and feel more empowered about dental care.

Season 7 may be ending—but the journey continues.

Follow the show and stay tuned for what’s ahead in Season 8.

What happens after jaw surgery—and how can airway health change your life?

In this "where are they now" episode of Gums & Gossip, Jen returns to share how jaw surgery transformed more than her breathing—it reshaped her sleep, confidence, and sense of safety in her own body. We talk honestly about dental fear, medical anxiety, and the emotional side of healing that often goes unspoken.

You’ll hear about:

• The fears Jen faced before jaw surgery
• The link between airway health, anxiety, and sleep
• What recovery was really like
• Why airway issues are often overlooked
• How learning to breathe better changed daily life
• Tips for advocating for yourself in dental and medical settings

This episode is for anyone who has delayed care because of fear, felt dismissed by providers, or wants to better understand airway health and jaw surgery without the overwhelm.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to Gums & Gossip for real conversations that reduce dental fear and empower patients through education and storytelling.

Tags: jaw surgery, airway health, dental fear, dental anxiety, breathing issues, airway dentistry, sleep health, patient advocacy, women’s health, healing journey

What happens when your body says “enough”—and you choose to listen?

In this powerful episode of Gums & Gossip, host Hope Loyd sits down with Shalini, a somatic psychotherapist, trauma therapist, and nervous system educator from West Yorkshire, UK. Shalini shares her deeply personal journey through a full nervous system breakdown, a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and how she healed by understanding the body’s stress and trauma responses.

Together, Hope and Shalini explore:

• How trauma and chronic stress live in the nervous system
• Why fear shows up in the body—especially in the jaw, breath, and dental chair
• Simple somatic tools to regulate anxiety and feel safe again
• How nervous system rituals can support healing from chronic pain, illness, and long-term stress
• The connection between emotional safety, oral health, and whole-body wellness

This episode is especially powerful for anyone experiencing dental anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, jaw tension, teeth clenching, or feeling overwhelmed by their own body.

If you’ve ever felt like your body was holding fear you couldn’t explain—this conversation will meet you right where you are.

🎙️ Listen now and discover how small, compassionate practices can help you reclaim calm, safety, and trust in your body.

Follow IG: gumsngossip; shalini_cameron.nervoussystem

https://shalinicameron.co.uk

In this episode of Gums & Gossip Podcast, we dive into the inspiring work of a global advocate for Afghan women, Mursal Kakar , exploring the intersection of healthcare, dental wellness, education, and empowerment. From her humanitarian efforts in Germany to advocating for women’s rights on the international stage, she shares powerful stories of resilience, hope, and cultural pride.

We discuss the challenges Afghan women face, the importance of access to healthcare and dental care, and how advocacy and diplomacy can create real change. This episode is a reminder that even in the toughest circumstances, hope and empowerment can thrive.

✨ Listen to learn:

• How Afghan women are overcoming barriers to education and health
• The link between wellness, dental care, and empowerment
• Stories of resilience and inspiration from humanitarian efforts
• How you can support global women’s rights initiatives
  

Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the movement for hope, wellness, and empowerment.

Follow IG @Mursalmkakar @gumsngossip