The DOC Podcast

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Melissa Methven - a former flight attendant turned dental hygienist, widow, author, and breathwork facilitator - to discuss the hidden mental health crisis in dentistry. Melissa shares the story of her husband Scott, a beloved dentist in Wasilla, Alaska, who died by suicide in March 2022 after years of suppressing the pressures of the profession: student debt, perfectionism, emotional labor with patients, chronic pain, and escalating substance use. Melissa opens up about her own suppression and the physical toll it took on her body, the signs she wishes she'd seen sooner, and how she found healing through community, faith, and breathwork. She also reads from her book The Truth Behind the Smiles and offers actionable solutions for dental schools, including mental health education, peer communities, and a dental-specific crisis hotline. This is a raw, important conversation about breaking the silence around depression and suicide in the dental profession, and the hope that comes from living your truth.Timestamps:0:00 — Introduction & Content Warning2:41 — Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story3:50 — The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs9:33 — Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms13:28 — The Common Dental Struggle16:19 — Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion19:51 — Scott's Fear & Writing the Book25:30 — Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward34:50 — Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond42:41 — Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession47:15 — Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids57:59 — Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing73:06 — OutroLINKSTo Purchase Melissa’s Book: https://a.co/d/8nYzyTO Melissa on FB: https://www.facebook.com/tremblaymel/ Melissa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissamethven/Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Website: theorthocoach.comYouTube: @theorthocoachInstagram: @theorthocoach (00:00) - Introduction & Content Warning (02:40) - Welcoming Melissa & Scott's Story (03:49) - The Pressures of Dentistry & Early Signs (09:33) - Hiding Behind the Smile & Physical Symptoms (13:27) - The Common Dental Struggle (16:18) - Why We Suppress — Roots & The Perfect Illusion (19:51) - Scott's Fear & Writing the Book (25:29) - Feeling Stuck, Faith & Moving Forward (34:49) - Faith vs. Religion & Signs from Beyond (42:40) - Dental Statistics & Solutions for the Profession (47:14) - Tools for Healing & Helping the Kids (57:58) - Being of Service, Fulfillment & Closing (01:13:05) - Outro

I'm excited to welcome Nicole Vento back to The DOC Podcast for the fourth installment of our five-part series with the Vento family on creating generational wealth. Nicole is a financial advisor, CPA, and CFP who leads the investment committee at her family's firm, and she brings a rare dual perspective with her CPA background combined with institutional trading experience at Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan Private Bank. In this episode, we dig deep into the investment and tax-efficiency side of wealth planning, breaking down retirement accounts, ETFs vs. mutual funds, estate planning, 529 plans, the student loan crisis, Trump accounts, charitable giving strategies, and the discipline and mindset it takes to achieve financial freedom. Whether you're just starting out or you've been building wealth for decades, Nicole delivers practical insights you can apply to your own financial journey. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Vento family's book, *The Generational Wealth Code*, linked in the show notes below.**Chapters & Timestamps:**- 0:30 — Episode Intro- 3:06 — Welcome Back, Nicole- 11:09 — Why You Need a Fiduciary- 16:50 — Understanding Retirement Accounts- 47:02 — ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: Tax Treatment- 54:46 — Estate Planning & Step-Up in Basis- 1:03:35 — Education Planning & 529 Plans- 1:10:05 — The Student Loan Crisis- 1:22:44 — Trump Accounts: A New Savings Vehicle- 1:27:36 — Charitable Giving Strategies- 1:33:11 — Discipline, Delayed Gratification & the Margin Mentality- 1:37:39 — Closing & Contact Info- 1:38:54 — Disclosure**Links & Resources:**The Generational Wealth Code: https://a.co/d/0iHwEITGJoin The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Connect w/Dr. Mike:Website: theorthocoach.comYouTube: @theorthocoachInstagram: @theorthocoachConnect w/Nicole:Web: Ventotaxandwealth.com  Email: [email protected]: 718-980-9000

Dr. Bret Christensen is an Army veteran, orthodontist, and one of only five orthodontists in the country board-certified in sleep medicine through the American Sleep & Breathing Academy. He owns and operates Christensen Orthodontics with locations in Lewiston, Grangeville, and Moscow, Idaho. In this emotional and wide-ranging episode, Bret opens up about losing his son, surviving a widow-maker heart attack at 45, undergoing open-heart surgery and getting a pacemaker, all while transforming his practice from traditional extraction-based orthodontics to a data-driven, airway-focused approach. He shares thousands of patient records showing that skeletal expansion dramatically improves nasal airway volume, his discovery that toddlers as young as two-and-a-half can be treated, and why he believes the AAO is standing in the way of progress. Plus, a surprise visit from his granddaughter Everly - the child who changed everything.⏱️ Timestamps / Chapters0:00 — Cold Open0:13 — Introduction & Guest Bio2:53 — Farm Kid Roots & Education7:16 — Military Career & Orthodontics11:32 — Building a Practice from Scratch13:48 — The Shift from Extraction to Expansion17:05 — Discovering Sleep Apnea Through His Father21:02 — Surviving a Widow-Maker Heart Attack25:55 — Training in Sleep Apnea & The Rhinometer31:35 — Meeting Kevin Boyd & Airway Health Solutions33:38 — Adult Expansion: Schwartz to MARPE43:12 — Patient Transformations56:34 — Host's Reflection on the Journey68:46 — The AAO Pushback & Speaking Out78:52 — Everly's Story: Treating Toddlers89:58 — Orthodontists Need to Become Doctors1:43:59 — Surprise Visit from Everly1:49:34 — Closing & What's NextKEY TOPICS: Early orthodontic intervention • MARPE for adults • Rhinometry data on thousands of patients • Nasal volume changes (3-8 cubic centimeters) • Treating children as young as 2-3 years old • The connection between sleep apnea and heart disease • Overcoming professional opposition • The future of orthodontics CONNECT:Dr. Brett Christiansen - Christiansen Orthodontics (Lewiston, Grangeville, Moscow, ID): https://christensenbraces.com/Dr. Mike DeLuke - TheOrthoCoach.com | [email protected] The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC website: https://theorthocoach.com/  (00:00) - Cold Open (00:13) - Introduction & Guest Bio (02:53) - Farm Kid Roots & Education (07:15) - Military Career & Orthodontics (11:31) - Building a Practice from Scratch (13:47) - The Shift from Extraction to Expansion (17:05) - Discovering Sleep Apnea Through His Father (21:02) - Surviving a Widow-Maker Heart Attack (25:55) - Training in Sleep Apnea & The Rhinometer (31:34) - Meeting Kevin Boyd & Airway Health Solutions (33:38) - Adult Expansion: Schwartz to MARPE (43:12) - Patient Transformations (56:33) - Host's Reflection on the Journey (01:08:45) - The AAO Pushback & Speaking Out (01:18:52) - Everly's Story: Treating Toddlers (01:29:58) - Orthodontists Need to Become Doctors (01:43:58) - Surprise Visit from Everly (01:49:33) - Closing & What's Next

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Erick Galindo, a pediatrician from Guadalajara, Mexico, whose approach to caring for children has evolved dramatically over his 20+ years in practice. After beginning as a traditional pediatrician focused on sick visits, vaccines, and growth charts, Dr. Galindo's discovery of the importance of tongue ties and oral function launched him down a rabbit hole that fundamentally changed how he sees his patients. Today, he works closely with dentists, orthodontists, myofunctional therapists, chiropractors, and other specialists to understand the whole child from their very first breath.The conversation covers why standard pediatric screening protocols omit airway and breathing assessments, how the current medical system prevents physicians from spending meaningful diagnostic time with patients, and what a truly comprehensive pediatric consultation looks like - from pregnancy and birth history through craniofacial evaluation, posture analysis, and nervous system regulation. Dr. Galindo shares powerful patient stories, including a one-month-old with fascial tension and a 12-year-old with chronic bedwetting linked to craniofacial dysfunction, illustrating how early detection and interdisciplinary care can change a child's entire health trajectory. The discussion closes with a deeply personal reflection on what it will take to transform pediatric medicine, not just systemically, but by reconnecting with our shared humanity.**Timestamps**0:00 — **Cold Open**Dr. Galindo highlights how young children are losing interdental space and why snoring is a late-stage sign of airway dysfunction.0:38 — **Introduction**Dr. Mike introduces the episode and Dr. Galindo's background, from traditional pediatrics to a holistic, interdisciplinary approach focused on breathing, sleep, and craniofacial development.3:22 — **Connecting Through Social Media**How an Instagram connection over a white paper review brought the two doctors together, and the power of social media to educate and empower patients.5:16 — **From Traditional to Transformational**Dr. Galindo shares his career journey from conventional pediatric training in Mexico City to a transformative discovery of the importance of tongue ties, oral function, and breathing.9:43 — **Seeing Patients Differently**The fear and excitement of learning new things mid-career, how early intervention with infants can prevent cascading dysfunction, and the emotional impact on families when their child's trajectory is changed.17:42 — **The Pediatric Screening Gap**Dr. Mike walks through the AAP's recommended well-child screening list and highlights what's glaringly missing.29:47 — **Breaking Free from the System**How private practice and opting out of insurance allows Dr. Galindo to spend 45–60 minutes per visit, and why conventional medicine's "prescribe and see what happens" model is losing ground.40:20 — **Inside the Consultation Room**A detailed walkthrough of what a first visit looks like.43:31 — **The Power of Bodywork**Why Dr. Galindo considers bodyworkers (chiropractors, craniosacral therapists, OTs, PTs) essential collaborators, and how fascial tension, torticollis, and container baby syndrome impact feeding, breathing, and nervous system regulation.56:50 — **Screen Time & Modern Parenting**The compounding effects of screen addiction, poor feeding practices, pacifier overuse, and lack of movement on children's neurodevelopment and sleep, and why being healthy has become a privilege.1:04:24 — **Colleague Pushback & Professional Isolation**Dr. Galindo's candid account of feeling isolated from his pediatric peers, facing skepticism and ego-driven resistance, and finding kinship instead with dental specialists and bodyworkers.1:08:10 — **Changing Trajectories: Outcomes & Early Detection**How treating root causes rather than symptoms leads to children tapering off ADHD medications, and why early detection matters more than chasing outcomes for already-complex cases.1:16:37 — **Reconnecting with Our Humanity**Dr. Galindo's deeply personal answer to how we change the system: by reconnecting with what makes us human, trusting our instincts, and finding the inspiration to keep learning and growing.1:23:17 — **Closing & Contact Info**Final thoughts and how to connect with Dr. Galindo on Instagram.1:26:26 — **Outro**Closing remarks and information on The Doc Podcast resources, CE courses, and community.LINKS:Contact Erik Galiendo on IG:  @drerick.pediatraRegister for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ The Generational Wealth Code: https://www.vtwmg.com/our-booksJoin The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Website: theorthocoach.comYouTube: @theorthocoachInstagram: @theorthocoach

Episode Description:Join me for an in-depth conversation with sleep medicine specialist and quadruple Board Certified Physician (Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Sleep Medicine), Dr. Sima Tahir, as we discuss the critical role that sleep plays in overall health. Dr. Tahir shares her journey from working on the COVID-19 frontlines to opening her own boutique sleep practice in Manhattan, and why she believes sleep should be at the forefront of medical care.Key Topics Covered:Why Sleep Medicine MattersThe lack of sleep education in medical schools and residenciesWhy sleep disorders are missed by traditional healthcare systemsHow sleep affects every aspect of health, from mood to chronic diseaseRecognizing Sleep DisordersWarning signs in children AND adults (headaches, jaw pain, teeth grinding, brain fog, irritability)Why children should NEVER snoreThe connection between sleep disorders and ADHD/behavioral issuesHow sleep problems manifest differently in kids vs. adultsThe Diagnostic ChallengeLimitations of polysomnography (sleep studies)Why a normal AHI doesn't rule out sleep disordersUnderstanding upper airway resistance syndromeThe importance of reviewing raw sleep study dataThe Multidisciplinary ApproachWhy "sleep takes a team" - collaboration between physicians, dentists, orthodontists, and specialistsHow dental providers can detect sleep and breathing issuesThe role of orthodontics in addressing airway problemsBreaking down silos between medical and dental Sleep Quality vs. QuantityWhy 7-9 hours isn't enough if quality is poorUnderstanding sleep architecture and circadian rhythmsHow weekend sleep schedule changes affect your entire weekThe one-hour-per-day recovery rulePractical Sleep HygieneThe importance of consistent sleep/wake timesHow hormones (especially in perimenopause) affect sleepWhy waking up multiple times per night is NOT normalRed flags that indicate you need a sleep evaluationPerfect For:Healthcare providers (medical and dental)Parents concerned about their children's sleepAnyone experiencing chronic fatigue, brain fog, or sleep issuesProfessionals interested in the intersection of sleep and overall healthTimestamps:0:00 – Intro and highlight reel3:35 – Welcome, Dr. Tahir's background and path to sleep medicine5:08 – Life on the COVID front lines and how it changed her priorities8:12 – Why she left the hospital system to open her own sleep practice9:12 – Why sleep is multifactorial and requires a team-based approach14:20 – The gap in sleep education in medical school and residency19:09 – Do pediatricians get trained to spot sleep-disordered breathing?23:03 – Warning signs of sleep disorders in kids and adults (head-to-toe rundown)28:36 – The dentist's role in catching what pediatricians miss32:11 – Talking to skeptical dental colleagues about sleep and airway35:00 – Why sleep studies (polysomnography) can miss real problems, especially in kids38:07 – What to do when the sleep study says "normal" but symptoms persist45:59 – Hormones, aging, and why primary care doesn't ask about sleep52:35 – Why doctors reach for another prescription instead of asking about sleep55:23 – What "good sleep" actually means (quality vs. hours)57:33 – How sensitive your circadian rhythm really is62:13 – Nighttime awakenings: what's normal and what's not64:43 – Why snoring is never normal — in kids or adults67:34 – The future of at-home sleep diagnostics and wearables for kids69:31 – How to reach Dr. Tahir71:22 – Closing thoughtsLINKSConnect w/Dr. Tahir: https://drsaematahirmd.com/Register for the In-person Early Treatment Comprehensive: https://www.earlyorthotreatment.com/ (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!)Join The DOC Community on Facebook for more great content and discussions: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Cb9rkQVde/Check out the DOC CE Courses: https://theorthocoach.com/ce-courses/Website: theorthocoach.comYouTube: @theorthocoachInstagram: @theorthocoachEmail: [email protected] (00:00) - Intro and highlight reel (03:35) - Welcome, Dr. Tahir's background and path to sleep medicine (05:07) - Life on the COVID front lines and how it changed her priorities (08:12) - Why she left the hospital system to open her own sleep practice (09:11) - Why sleep is multifactorial and requires a team-based approach (14:19) - The gap in sleep education in medical school and residency (19:09) - Do pediatricians get trained to spot sleep-disordered breathing? (23:02) - Warning signs of sleep disorders in kids and adults (28:35) - The dentist's role in catching what pediatricians miss (32:11) - Talking to skeptical dental colleagues about sleep and airway (35:00) - Why sleep studies can miss real problems, especially in kids (38:06) - What to do when the sleep study says normal but symptoms persist (45:58) - Hormones, aging, and why primary care doesn't ask about sleep (52:35) - Why doctors reach for another prescription instead of asking about sleep (55:23) - What good sleep actually means (quality vs. hours) (57:32) - How sensitive your circadian rhythm really is (01:02:12) - Nighttime awakenings: what's normal and what's not (01:04:42) - Why snoring is never normal (01:07:34) - The future of at-home sleep diagnostics and wearables for kids (01:09:30) - How to reach Dr. Tahir (01:11:22) - Closing thoughts