The Alan Mead Experience

Al tells a story of lawn mower tragedy, shame and redemption and what he learned from it. Lessons like "you're almost always the source of your own problems," "ask for help" and "get out of your own way" aren't the kind of things you'll see on Instagram, but they're pretty useful lessons that I continue to learn. Some links from the show: Ted's Lawn and Garden (https://www.midlandshometowndealer.com/)

The Alan Mead Experience makes a triumphant return after more than a year hiatus! Today's episode features Al talking about his first weekend as a clean and sober recovering person 19 years ago today!

Do dentists have a bad reputation? If yes, is there anything we can do about it? Al contemplates this and if customer service is dead. (spoiler: yes, it is).

Alan talks about taking a break from podcast production, losing some weight, defeating diabetes and what the future holds. Also a VoD tradition that includes the Waffle House.

The beginning of seventh grade. That's when the Rich and Al story started. Al has been friends with Richard Heend for more than 35 years. Which makes me feel super old. Rich had computers long before people normally had computers. This is where Al's fascination with computers and being "online" started. Some links from the show: Join the conversation on the AME Facebook group! Search for "Alan Mead Experience" on Facebook and ask for an invite. You'll need to use the password "Premier" or "Cosmedent" to be let in!

Al asks the Alan Mead Experience FB group to "ask me anything." And they did! I talk about new microphones, broken iPads, kids with autism, balancing dentistry and podcasting and the upcoming Voices of Dentistry meeting! A couple links: TextExpander (https://textexpander.com/) The Perfect Dental Chart Note (https://www.facebook.com/groups/538560539831535/) Voices of Dentistry (https://voicesofdentistry.com/) Neumann BCM 705 (https://en-de.neumann.com/bcm-705)

The AME is back from hiatus! Alan starts with a death defying horse story and then explains what he's been up to all summer.

Alan talks to Dr. Sarah Meyer who has convinced him working on sleeping patients is awesome, and working on sleeping gorillas, tigers and bears is even more awesome!

Al discusses a couple things that continue to bubble up when he's least expecting it. https://textexpander.com/

Al goes solo to answer a bunch of listener questions!

Dr. Chris Bowman joins Alan to talk about some great ways to communicate with patients. The actual human interactions between dentists and patients can be pretty bizarre when you step back and look at it. Chris is a bit of an expert on this kind of communication. They also dig into what really is "fee for service?"

Dr. Steven Vorholt is a dentist in the sweet spot. He heard episode 068 of the AME and realized that the "sweet spot" I was talking about was HIM! He's starting a journey to understand digital dentistry and use it in his practice and you can see this journey LIVE at www.stevenvorholtdds.com (https://www.stevenvorholtdds.com/).

Inspired by people he met at the AACD, Al waxes philosophical about the sweet spot of being 5 years out of dental school.

Alan is joined by one of the funniest people on Earth, Dr. Frank Clayton. In one of the greatest podcasts ever recorded, Frank and Al cover a bizarre range of topics: from pig farming, test taking, Spear and Kois, single tooth dentistry and hating removable dentures.

Al is trying to decide if not wanting to come back to work after spring break says good things about him or not. Bioclear Posteriors with Al! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156434058399873&set=gm.2099379717000529&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Alan talks with Dr. Alex Sharp who tells him that listening to podcasts pushed him into ownership! In one of the most gratifying interviews ever, Dr. Alex Sharp explains how the Voices of Dentistry meeting in Nashville back in 2017 helped push him into ownership and how podcasts helped him figure out how to do it!

Al riffs on being stuck between "high end" and "production." What kind of dentist are you? Can you be in between these two styles and make it? Come take the Bioclear posterior course with me on June 1-2 in Tacoma at the Bioclear Learning Center! Email Tanya at tanya@bioclearmatrix.com or call 1-855-712-5327 and ask for Tanya! I'd love to hang out with you and show you how awesome the Bioclear system is!

New dentists rejoice! Alan is joined by Dr. Alex Salen who is a (relatively) recent grad. We talk about growing up in the midwest, choosing what to do after school and learning to dentist! Egg Inc (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/egg-inc/id993492744?mt=8)

Dr. Mike DiTolla and Dr. Josh Austin hash out where Mike's been. Get ready for an entertaining and emotional ride. Buckle in...it's a long one! Dr. Mike DiTolla left the dental scene about 8 weeks before the Dentsply Sirona World event in September of 2017. His podcast co-host (The Accidental Geniuses) and best friend Josh Austin gave one of the keynotes at DS World and the two had a falling out around the time of the meeting. They get back together and talk about stuff on this emotional and entertaining episode of the Alan Mead Experience. As an aside...I didn't edit much here. It's long. Probably not safe for work, either. Some politically incorrect stuff, so be warned. It's pretty heartwarming and real. Two great people working stuff out in real time. Also...be sure to check out Josh's new podcast: Working Interferences (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/working-interferences-podcast/id1318822887?mt=2).

Al talks about his love/hate relationship with February, the Chicago Midwinter and the Voices of Dentistry meeting