The Lifestyle Practice Podcast For Dentists

293. What to Do When Your Best Employee Quits

When a key team member resigns, it can be one of the most stressful moments in managing a dental practice. Most owners feel blindsided, and if handled poorly, a single resignation can damage your dental office culture and trigger a wave of dental staff turnover.

In this episode, Dr Steve Van De Graaff breaks down exactly how to handle employee resignations with professionalism and strategy. This is not just about filling a role; it's about leadership in dental practice and maintaining stability when things get rocky.

Whether you are new to ownership or an experienced clinician, this guide to dental practice leadership will help you respond better, grow as a leader, and protect the business you’ve built.

Connect with us:

• Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/  
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ 
• Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/ 
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801 
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

292. Passive Income Strategies Every Dentist Should Know in 2026

In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, host Matt Vogt is joined once again by Zach Lemaster, founder of Rent To Retirement, to explore how dentists and other healthcare professionals can build long-term wealth through turnkey real estate investing—without the stress of being a landlord or losing focus on their practice.

You’ll learn exactly how to start or scale a real estate portfolio using passive strategies, new construction rentals, and tax-saving techniques such as bonus depreciation and cost segregation. Zach shares real numbers, strategic insights, and projections for the 2026 real estate market that every dentist investor should hear.

Connect with us:

• Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com 

291. The Side of Dentistry No One Talks About

In this episode of the Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Steve Van De Graaff shares a powerful and personal story about designing a dental career that supports freedom, family, and meaningful experiences outside the dental office.

Dr. Steve reflects on a recent dental humanitarian trip to the Galápagos Islands, where he and his family provided essential dental care to underserved communities in Ecuador. This episode highlights how building a well-run dental practice allows practice owners to step away from daily chairside dentistry and pursue purpose-driven work, travel, and family time.

If you’re a dentist, dental practice owner, or dental student who feels chained to your office, this conversation will inspire you to rethink success, prioritize memories over production numbers, and intentionally build a lifestyle dental practice that aligns with your values.

This episode is a reminder that dentistry is not just about production—it’s about impact, service, and living well.

Connect with us:
• Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

290. How Top 1% Dentists Manage Their Money

Dentists are taught to equate success with production, income, and constant growth. But many high-achieving practice owners still feel stressed, restless, or burned out. In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Derek Williams sits down with repeat guest Dr. Talon Davis to explore a better framework for wealth, ambition, and fulfillment through the lens of Morgan Housel’s book The Art of Spending Money.

They discuss how dentists often use money as a status scoreboard, why lifestyle inflation happens even when income rises, and how contentment can be engineered through intentional choices. You’ll hear practical insights about financial mindset, goal-setting, and designing a dental career you don’t need to escape. This episode is especially relevant for dental practice owners, associates considering ownership, and anyone looking for sustainable dental business growth without sacrificing mental health or family time.

If you’re questioning whether your next milestone will actually make you happier, this conversation will help you reframe success and build a lifestyle-driven dental practice with clarity.

Connect with us:
• Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

289. Why Pre-Owners Should Start A Practice in 2026

Is 2025 the year you finally buy a dental practice? If you’re a recent dental school graduate, GPR resident, or an associate who’s been waiting for the right moment — this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast is the wake-up call you need.

Dr. Steve Van De Graaff makes a powerful case for dental practice ownership and challenges you to stop waiting and take action. Through real-world financial comparisons and personal coaching insights, Steve breaks down the income potential of being an owner vs. an associate, and why the best time to buy is now — not “someday.”

Whether you're weighing the decision between starting a dental practice from scratch or acquiring an existing office, this episode walks you through the numbers, mindset, and practical advantages of ownership — including higher profitability, more flexible scheduling, and long-term equity. Plus, you'll hear how dentists who take early action set themselves up for career success, financial freedom, and more control over their work-life balance.

If you want to escape the associate hamster wheel and finally become the CEO of your own dental business, don’t miss this one. We cover everything from dentist tax strategy, practice cash flow, and lifestyle design, to how TLP coaching can help you find, evaluate, and purchase your first practice confidently.

Connect with us:
• Take our FREE lifestyle and practice assessment: https://thelifestylepractice.com/practice-assesment/
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Get access to TLP Academy: https://thelifestylepractice.com/coaching-services/
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlp-podcast-for-dentists/id1476544801
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

288. Is Opening a Second Practice Worth It?

Thinking about buying a second dental practice? You’re not alone. In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr. Steve Van De Graaff unpacks one of the biggest decisions every growth-focused dentist must face:
“Should I expand to multiple dental practices or go all in on one highly productive office?”

If you're a dentist looking to increase production, reduce stress, and build long-term financial freedom, this episode offers critical insights into what actually drives dental practice growth.

This episode also dives into the real numbers behind practice profitability, the challenges of associate dentist retention, and what separates the 10% of dentists who scale successfully from the 90% who actually earn less after expansion. Whether you're considering private equity, transitioning into a dental CEO role, or just want to improve profitability in your current dental office, you'll get actionable advice to help you grow smarter—not just bigger.

Connect with us:
• Learn more about 1 on 1 coaching
• Get access to TLP Academy
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

 

 

287. Dental Practice Growth Hacks for 50% Yearly Increase

Is it smarter to buy a dental practice or build one from the ground up.

In this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast, Dr Matt Vogt sits down with TLP coaching client and startup owner Dr Dawson, who shares his powerful journey of launching and growing his practice from zero.

If you are a dentist debating startup versus acquisition, this conversation gives you a clear look at what real life looks like when you open a practice from scratch. Dawson walks through how he handled uncertainty, made decisions on the fly, and grew a thriving office in a small town while serving a wide variety of patients and keeping most procedures in house.

You will also hear the leadership lessons that shaped him along the way. From building a strong team to handling staff dynamics to finding his true leadership voice, Dawson opens up about what it really takes to create a stable and successful practice.
This episode is filled with practical guidance for anyone who wants to grow their dental office, improve their leadership, expand clinical skills, or gain momentum in their career. Dawson’s story proves that you can build a practice your way and build it profitably.

Connect with us:
• Learn more about 1 on 1 coaching
• Get access to TLP Academy
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

286. Dentist Shares Secret Methods to Make 100k in 2026

If you’re a dentist looking to increase production, improve daily efficiency, and grow your dental practice in 2025, this episode of The Lifestyle Practice Podcast is for you.

Dr. Steve shares one of the most overlooked productivity tips for dentists: arriving just 15 minutes earlier each day.

This simple shift can lead to more efficient dental scheduling, a stronger dental office team culture, and even add $100,000 in annual production, without working longer hours.

In this episode, you'll learn how to identify gaps in your daily schedule, convert same day treatment opportunities, and lead your team with intention. These aren't abstract concepts or generic dental consultant advice these are real practice management strategies that Steve and the team use in their own offices every day.

Connect with us:
• Learn more about 1 on 1 coaching
• Get access to TLP Academy
• Subscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

285. Manage Your Overhead Before It Manages You

How to Increase Profit, Lower Costs, and Build a Simpler, Richer Lifestyle Practice.

Connect with us:
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching
• Get access to TLP Academy
• Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com

284. Buying the Right Practice, Building the Right Life: Dr. Dale’s First 6 Months of Ownership

In part two, Derek and Dr. Dale Hoffel unpack the whirlwind from deal collapse to dream fit—how walking away from a tight, risky acquisition led to a Laguna Beach practice that aligned with her life vision. Dale shares the inside story: a last-minute listing, a 48-hour offer, and launching into ownership with three ops (quickly four), paper-to-digital conversion, and a summer of broken equipment, staff gaps, and nonstop “first impressions.”

What follows is Dale’s leadership playbook in real time—setting clear patient standards (yes to X-rays, no to “pedicure cleanings”), running on-time through better hygiene workflows, blocking admin and team-meeting time, and distinguishing why she’s a dentist (care and comfort) from why she’s an owner (freedom to be present with her family). She talks hiring for attitude, creating redundancy, inviting staff goals into the practice plan, and finding the line between pushing and listening.

You’ll hear:

How trusting her gut (and the numbers) turned a hard “no” into the right “yes”

Converting chaos into systems: 4th op buildout, digital X-rays, and on-time hygiene

Patient standards without apology—and with kindness

The “why dentist” vs. “why owner” talk that aligned her team

Practical tactics for retention: flexible schedules, goal-setting, and cross-training

A candid, tactical look at early ownership—and how to build a practice that serves the life you actually want.

Reach out to Dale at drdaledentistry@gmail.com 

Connect with us:
• Learn more about 1-on-1 coaching
• Get access to TLP Academy
• Suscribe to The Lifestyle Practice Podcast
• Email Derek at derek@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Matt at matt@thelifestylepractice.com
• Email Steve at steve@thelifestylepractice.com