Two Reds are Better than One

Brain fog, exhaustion and the pressure to carry on as normal. For women experiencing perimenopause and menopause, working in a busy dental practice can bring challenges that colleagues may never see. In this week's episode of Two Reds Are Better Than One, Chris and Ashley are joined by two guests for an honest conversation about menopause, its impact on working life and what dental teams can do to offer better support. Eve Waters, Practice Manager at Newcastle Advanced Dentistry, reached out to suggest the topic and bravely offered to share her own experience. We also invited Poppy Dunton, certified Menopause Coach and founder of Hormones and Handpieces, to bring her insight and practical advice to the discussion. It took both Chris and Ashley outside their comfort zones - and resulted in one of our most inspiring episodes yet. In this episode, we discussed: The challenges we don't always see: How perimenopause and menopause can affect confidence, concentration and day-to-day working life, and why women may feel uncomfortable asking for help. Creating a culture of support: Why open conversations and compassionate leadership matter, alongside practical adjustments such as flexible responsibilities and an agreed "safe word" when someone needs a break. Keeping experienced people in your team: How greater understanding and support can help valued colleagues continue to feel confident and fulfilled in their careers. Poppy shared the story of a UK business that lost a court case and was ordered to pay £64,000 in compensation. Getting the right guidance: How Poppy's consultancy, Hormones and Handpieces, offers tailored training and resources to help dental teams better understand menopause and support their colleagues. And much more. Whether you're experiencing symptoms yourself, supporting a colleague or leading a practice, this is a conversation for everyone who wants to create a more understanding, supportive and thriving workplace. Listen to this week's episode and help get the conversation started in your practice.

What does it take to open a dental practice from scratch, attract your first patients and keep going when life gets difficult? In this episode of Two Reds Are Better Than One, Chris Barrow and Ashley Latter welcome Rupchhen Tamang, co-founder of Mapperley Dental Studio in Nottingham, for an honest conversation about ambition, resilience and building a business on your own terms. Born in Nepal, Rupchhen moved to the UK aged ten. His father's military career initially pointed him towards the army, but a series of decisions about further education led him to dentistry at Sheffield. What began as an unexpected career choice became the perfect combination of practical work and working with people.  Alongside his wife and business partner, Nitu, he pursued the dream of opening a squat practice. After years spent searching for suitable premises, they opened in March 2025 with one surgery and a commitment to creating something of their own.  Eighteen months later, the practice has around 500 registered patients. Rupchhen explains why splitting his week between an associate position and the new business was holding him back, and what changed when he committed to the practice full time.  The conversation explores the practical reality of attracting patients without bringing across a list from a previous practice. Social media, Google reviews, word of mouth, a bus advertisement and even a wedding fair have all featured. The approach is refreshingly straightforward: try things, learn from the results and do more of what works.  There is also a valuable discussion about pricing. Having experimented with half-price examinations, Rupchhen realised that filling the diary was not the same as attracting patients who valued the practice. He explains why he stepped away from introductory discounts and chose a slower, more deliberate route to growth. At the heart of that decision are two priorities: trust and comfort. Patients may not understand the technical details of dentistry, but they know whether somebody has listened, explained their options and allowed them to make decisions without pressure.  In a personal part of the interview, Rupchhen reflects on a serious challenge he and Nitu faced during the build. Without sharing private medical details, he explains how their partnership helped them through and changed his perspective on business difficulties.  Looking ahead, the ambition is a fully functioning three-surgery practice, beginning with hygiene recruitment and, later, an associate. His advice to aspiring owners is clear: make sure you genuinely want the responsibility, prepare for sustained hard work, and establish systems and organisation early.  Along the way, Ashley shares news from his American speaking trip, Chris reflects on joining The Campbell Academy, and the usual Manchester United frustrations provide a familiar backdrop. Then comes a late revelation involving a Liverpool mug, which threatens to undo all of Ashley's compliments! An encouraging listen for prospective practice owners and anyone building a business where the patient experience matters as much as growth. This is a story about commitment, partnership and the determination to create the practice you want to run. Listen via the player below or your favourite podcast streaming service.

A few years ago, on reaching the milestone age of 50, Harry Singh found himself at a turning point. A casual remark from his wife about his physique sparked a transformation that would go on to affect far more than just his fitness. Once known for late nights at the bar and eating junk food, Harry committed to a much more disciplined way of living. He transformed his diet, prioritised his health and made eight hours of sleep each night non-negotiable. The results have gone far beyond the physical, significantly improving his performance at work as well as his income. Remarkably, Harry maintains this lifestyle while managing a demanding career teaching dentists Facial Aesthetics and Property Investment. If you want to improve your health, eat better or simply find a way to stay fit alongside a hectic schedule, this episode is packed with practical ideas and inspiration. In this episode, you'll discover: How Harry fits two gym sessions into his daily routine despite a busy schedule. The positive influence his lifestyle has had on his children and the changes he has seen in them. His unique "3-2-1 formula" for bedtime and how it helps him consistently achieve eight hours of quality sleep. The impact his disciplined lifestyle has had on his professional performance and annual income. An insight into his diet, including meal sequencing and the supplements he uses to support his healthy lifestyle. Why strict discipline plays such an important role in Harry's life. And much more. Listen via your favourite podcast streaming service or the player below.

In this episode of the Two Reds Podcast, Chris Barrow and Ashley Latter welcome back Julia Riese, Director of Marketing and Operations at Coastal Dental Care in Australia, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, systems, practice growth and the practical use of AI in dental business management. The first part of the conversation focuses on Julia's book, Beyond Dentistry: Mastering the Four Pillars to Succeed with Your Dental Practice. Remarkably, Julia wrote the first draft in just 30 days while continuing to work full time, committing to a disciplined daily writing target and completing around 80,000 words. The book is built around four pillars that Julia believes determine the long-term success of a dental practice: Team, finding, developing and retaining the right people. Marketing, generating a consistent flow of suitable patients. Systems and processes, documenting how the business operates so that knowledge does not remain trapped inside one person's head. Planning and analysis, understanding the numbers, reviewing performance and knowing when to adjust course. The discussion explores why team remains the foundation of everything else. Julia explains how one high-performing but behaviourally disruptive individual can quietly damage morale and performance across the wider practice. She also shares the importance of structured performance improvement plans, regular check-ins and clear expectations. Chris and Ashley then discuss one of the most common barriers to delegation, the belief that it is quicker to do the job personally than to teach somebody else. Chris shares a holiday story about training his daughter's partner to drive a powerboat, demonstrating that a short investment in teaching can create freedom, confidence and capability for everyone involved. The second half of the episode introduces Levara, Julia's new AI course for dental practice managers and owners. The 12-session programme is designed to help practices build their own bespoke AI management system using platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. Participants will create practical tools for recruitment, job descriptions, onboarding, one-to-one meeting records, performance tracking and standard operating procedures. A central feature is the development of a searchable practice knowledge base. Instead of important information living only in the head of the owner or long-serving manager, the team can ask the practice's AI assistant how to complete a task and receive the agreed process immediately. The potential benefits are significant, more consistent management, faster onboarding, improved delegation, less administrative pressure and a business that is less dependent on the owner. Julia also explains why well-documented systems increase the value of a dental practice. A business that can operate successfully without its principal is more attractive, more scalable and easier to sell. The episode closes with reflections on discipline, personal wellbeing and Julia's formidable daily fitness routine, beginning with 4.00am training sessions and ending with an accepted CrossFit challenge for Chris and Ashley when Julia next visits the UK. The conversation is practical, thoughtful and highly relevant for any dental owner or manager looking to build a better-run business, make greater use of AI and create more time for patients, leadership and life.

Jodie Loveday is an accountant with over 38 years of experience. She now works with Hesketh Consultancy, where her eye for detail has helped uncover significant accounting errors in 100% of new dental clients. These errors can often cost practices tens of thousands of pounds and lead to poor business decisions. In this stimulating interview, Ashley and Chris speak to Jodie about three common mistakes she frequently discovers when taking on new dental clients. The three key areas discussed are: 1. Income recognition Jodie explains how income is posted to the accounts and why recording income in the wrong month can distort profits, affect decision-making and potentially lead to unnecessary tax payments. 2. Cost allocations Costs are often posted directly from bank statements without invoices being properly checked. Jodie shares an example where a purchase was incorrectly allocated, meaning the client missed out on a 130% super allowance claim. 3. Directors' loan accounts Strict rules apply to limited companies, and overdrawn directors' loan accounts can trigger unnecessary 37.5% tax bills, often with very short notice. Jodie shares another real-world example of how this can happen. Jodie may be humble, but her no-nonsense approach will inspire you to examine how you run your own practice, review your numbers more closely and make sure your accounts are truly working for you.