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Next Level Dentist

Author: Dr. Richard Low

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“What now?

If you’re a dentist who’s "Made It"—more money, patients, and success than you ever dreamed—and you still feel empty… or if you’ve hit the wall with stress and burnout… this podcast is for you. Real stories. Raw conversations. No fluff. This is the Next Level Dentist podcast.

Stories from dentists who’ve faced the crash, chased success, and asked what’s next—and found answers in their health, marriage, practice, and purpose.

I’m Dr. Richard Low—founder of Shared Practices, the #1 rated dental podcast with over 3 million downloads, and ex-CEO of a 35-office group. I’ve lived both the success and the breakdown. This podcast is about the next level beyond both.
12 Episodes
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👉 Free training for burnt‑out dentists who want to get in the best shape of their life and lead at home: https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJsLimited Spots - 6 per monthDM me RIP6 on IG - instagram.com/dr.richard.low/ORtext (219) 245-7050 for availability:: Resources mentioned ::▶️ Alex Hormozi’s original mental toughness talk (highly recommended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avp3xh3Y1Ic&t=168s:: Continue the series ::▶️ Part 1 – Hormozi’s Mental Toughness Framework Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrtElAIqnv4▶️ Part 2 – Hormozi’s Mental Toughness Map To Break Any Bad Habit (Without Starting Over Monday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4TJN4W6clY&t=190s▶️ Part 3 – Change Any Habit By Changing Your Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltV54Z-XoxUIn Part 4 of this series, we take Alex Hormozi’s mental toughness framework and turn it into a full system for behavior change using 7 levers:- Personal motivation- Personal ability- Social motivation- Social ability- Structural motivation- Structural ability- And, for me, divine help as the foundationI show you how to plug these levers into tolerance, containment, and recovery speed so you stop relying on willpower alone and start engineering change around food, porn, alcohol, your phone, gaming, anger, and more.I’m Dr. Richard Low:- Dentist & former CEO of 35 dental practices- Founder of the #1 rated practice‑ownership podcast in dentistry- Burned out, rebuilt my life around faith, family, and fitness- Now coaching 50+ male practice‑owner dentists inside Next Level Fathers to lose weight, reconnect with God, and lead better at homeIn this episode, you’ll learn:1. The 7 levers of habit changeHow personal, social, and structural forces each affect whether you break, how far you fall, and how fast you bounce back.2. Why motivation alone isn’t enoughAnd how simple skills and environment tweaks (like changing how you eat cereal, or removing triggers from your house) quietly do more work than “trying harder.”3. How to use people and structure as force multipliersCoaches, peers, accountability, gamification, rules, and tech that remove decisions and make the right thing the easy thing.4. How faith fits into this frameworkWhy, for me, divine help is the amplifier underneath every other lever.5. How to run a 30‑day experiment on your #1 problem behaviorUsing this map plus journaling / ChatGPT prompts to do a post‑op on every slip and keep upgrading your plan.If you’re a male practice‑owner dentist🚀 Watch the full Next Level Fathers Framework:https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJs🧠 Try the personal change reflection / strategy tool (built with ChatGPT): (DM me on IG if you want this. I'll make it if one person really wants it)Connect with me📸 Instagram (daily content & behind the scenes): instagram.com/dr.richard.low/
👉 Free training for burnt‑out dentists who want to get in the best shape of their life and lead at home: https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJsLimited Spots - 6 per monthDM me RIP6 on IG - instagram.com/dr.richard.low/ORtext (219) 245-7050 for availability:: Resources mentioned ::▶️ Alex Hormozi’s original mental toughness talk (highly recommended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avp3xh3Y1Ic&t=168s:: Continue the series ::▶️ Part 1 – Hormozi’s Mental Toughness Framework Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrtElAIqnv4▶️ Part 2 – Hormozi’s Mental Toughness Map To Break Any Bad Habit (Without Starting Over Monday): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4TJN4W6clY&t=190sIn Part 3 of this series, we take Alex Hormozi’s mental toughness framework and add the most powerful layer yet: the stories you tell yourself.I break down how your internal narrative in each phase of the framework (tolerance, containment, recovery speed, adaptability) either:- Gives you permission to binge, hide, and start over Monday, or- Helps you drop shame, realign fast, and actually change long‑standing habits around food, phone, porn, alcohol, anger, and more.I’m Dr. Richard Low:- Dentist & former CEO of 35 dental practices- Founder of the #1 rated practice‑ownership podcast in dentistry- Burned out, rebuilt my life around faith, family, and fitness- Now coaching 50+ male practice‑owner dentists inside Next Level Fathers to lose weight, reconnect with God, and lead better at homeIn this episode, you’ll learn:1. Why your story matters more than your willpowerHow the meanings you attach to slip‑ups (“I always do this,” “I suck at this”) quietly drive your behavior.2. The narrative running through each phase of the toughness map- Tolerance: “This is hard” vs “This is easy and I’m capable.”- Containment: “I blew it, might as well go all‑in” vs “This is my chance to practice stopping.”- Recovery speed: “I’ll fix it tomorrow” vs “I can realign right now.”- Adaptability: “I’m broken” vs “This is data I can learn from.”3. How shame keeps you stuckWhy secrecy and self‑judgment feed the spiral, and how confession, accountability, and honesty with others break it.4. A simple reflection process to rewrite your storyHow to look back on a bad day, identify the lies you believed, and create a new narrative you can actually live out.If you’re a male practice‑owner dentist🚀 Watch the full Next Level Fathers Framework:https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJs🧠 Use the personal change reflection tool I’m building with ChatGPT: (DM me on IG. If just one person DM's me, I'll make it)Connect with me📸 Instagram (daily content & behind the scenes): instagram.com/dr.richard.low/
👉 Free training for burnt‑out dentists who want to get in the best shape of their life and lead at home: https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJsLimited Spots - 6 per monthDM me RIP6 on IG - instagram.com/dr.richard.low/ORtext (219) 245-7050 for availability:: Resources mentioned ::▶️ Alex Hormozi’s original mental toughness talk (highly recommended): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avp3xh3Y1Ic&t=168s:: Continue the series ::▶️ Part 1 – Hormozi’s Mental Toughness Framework Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Avp3xh3Y1Ic&t=168sIn Part 2 of this series, we take Alex Hormozi’s mental toughness framework and turn it into a practical map for breaking bad habits: binge eating, late‑night cereal, doom‑scrolling, gaming, alcohol, porn, anger, and more.I show you how to use the 4 parts of your stress response (tolerance, containment, recovery speed, adaptability) to stop the “I messed up, so I might as well start over Monday” spiral and actually build a different identity over time.I’m Dr. Richard Low:- Dentist & former CEO of 35 dental practices- Founder of the #1 rated practice‑ownership podcast in dentistry- Burned out, rebuilt my life around faith, family, and fitness- Now coaching 50+ male practice‑owner dentists inside Next Level Fathers to lose weight, reconnect with God, and lead better at homeIn this episode, you’ll learn:1. How to apply Hormozi’s mental toughness map to any bad habitUsing the same graph from Part 1, but now focused on binges, slips, and “old you” behavior.2. The 4 levers of change (without perfectionism or shame)- Tolerance: what it takes to break you- Containment: how bad the binge gets- Recovery speed: how fast you realign- Adaptability: how to actually learn from each slip instead of quitting3. Why all‑or‑nothing thinking destroys your progressAnd how to reframe every “mess‑up” as a rep to practice containment and recovery.4. Real examples from my own life and the dentists I coachHoneycomb at 11pm, donuts on the counter, TikTok doom‑scrolling, and the simple environment changes that make willpower almost irrelevant.If you’re a male practice‑owner dentist🚀 Watch the full Next Level Fathers Framework:https://youtu.be/cYhvSAeAbJsConnect with me📸 Instagram (daily content & behind the scenes): instagram.com/dr.richard.low/
👉 Free training for burnt‑out dentists who want to get in the best shape of their life and lead at home: How dentists have lost 450+ lbs playing th... Limited Spots - text (219) 245-7050 for availability OR DM me on IG instagram.com/dr.richard.low/:: Resources mentioned ::▶️ Alex Hormozi’s original mental toughness talk (highly recommended): If You Have a Hard Life, Watch This Most people think “mental toughness” is about trying harder.Alex Hormozi gave us a better map: how you respond to stress, how fast you recover, and whether you come back weaker, the same, or stronger.In this video, I break down Hormozi’s mental toughness framework and refine the language so you can actually use it for real behavior change in your life: food, alcohol, phone, porn, work, and how you show up for your family.I also share my own story:Dentist and former CEO of 35 dental practicesBuilt the #1 rated practice‑ownership podcast in dentistryBurned out hard… and rebuilt my life around faith, family, and fitnessNow I coach male practice‑owner dentists to become Next Level Fathers: fitter, calmer, more present leaders at home and at workIn this episode, you’ll learn:The 4 parts of your stress responseTolerance: what it actually takes to break youContainment: how bad things get when you do breakRecovery speed: how fast you get back to baselineAdaptability: whether you come back weaker, the same, or strongerHow this explains burnout and traumaWhy repeated stress without adaptation makes you more fragile over time.How to use the framework for personal changeSo you can stop “starting over Monday” and actually build a different identity day by day.Real examples from the dentists I coach:Guys giving up alcohol, losing weight, fixing their marriages, and leading their families with more patience and presence.If you’re a male practice‑owner dentist🚀 Watch the full Next Level Fathers Framework:How dentists have lost 450+ lbs playing th... Connect with me:📸 Instagram (daily content & behind the scenes): instagram.com/dr.richard.low/
Dental Egos Ruin Marriages (Here’s How It Happens)Dentistry doesn’t ruin marriages, unchecked egos do.When your entire office revolves around YOU, it’s easy to start expecting your marriage to work the same way, and it just doesn’t.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to talk honestly about what we see over and over again in dentistry:• Why dentists get validated at work and resentful at home • How “being the provider” quietly turns into entitlement • Why resentment is the real gateway drug to affairs • How dead bedrooms usually start long before sex stops • The warning signs you’re crossing boundaries you’ll later regret • What actually helps prevent resentment, affairs, and emotional withdrawalWe also get into uncomfortable but necessary ideas like: - why your spouse sees the real you (and why that’s so threatening) - how avoidance and numbing destroy intimacy - why marriage is supposed to confront you, not comfort you - and how high-achieving men can grow up instead of blowing up their livesThis isn’t about blaming dentistry.It’s about taking responsibility before your marriage becomes collateral damage.If you’re a dentist who: - feels disconnected at home - brings your best self to work and your leftovers to your spouse - or knows something needs to change but isn’t sure whatThis conversation is for you.
Get the Success & Burnout Score GPThttps://nextlevelfathers.kit.com/d0909c28ebDentists are constantly moving the goalpost of success & happiness. If I can just push through this season, everything will be better.Even worse is the assumption that more = better. More practices, more procedures, more collections.Are you actually living the life you want to live? Or just playing the game of dentistry mindlessly because it's your default?0:00 Introduction and Personal Story00:16 The Hidden Struggles of Success00:57 The Cost of More 01:59 Redefining Success04:00 The Right Game and Leverage05:50 Surrounding Yourself with the Right People09:01 Taking an Honest Audit10:10 Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Crisis resources (U.S.): Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If in immediate danger, call 911. Outside the U.S., search your country’s suicide hotline.Topic: Healing after suicide—grief that’s angry, guilty, complicated…and hopeful.I bring back Steven Kalas to walk us through what survivors actually face. We talk about the implicit family pact—we don’t give up—and how suicide shatters that, why guilt can feel “safer” than helplessness, how to forgive the right person for the right thing, and how to turn a broken heart into service without sentimentalizing the truth.You’ll learn:Why suicide grief is uniquely complicated (anger + guilt, both valid)How to separate real ownership from false guiltWhat honest, non-sentimental compassion sounds likePractical ways to forgive, remember, and move forwardHow vulnerability and community interrupt isolationNeed help or want to talk?• Steven Kalas: stevenkalas57@gmail.com | (702) 845-7993• DM me on IG @DrRichardLow• Join our FB community: Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout (anonymous posting available)We can’t change the past, but we can change how we live, how we show up for each other, and how we break isolation—today.
Trigger & Explicit-Language Warning:This conversation contains strong language and detailed discussion of suicide, depression, faith, and trauma experienced by first responders. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (U.S. & Canada) or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support.In this deeply raw episode, Dr. Richard Low sits down with his mentor and friend Kyle Carnahan—founder of Superhuman Fathers and a former firefighter who has witnessed hundreds of deaths—to talk about suicide, identity, faith, and redemption.Kyle and Richard go all-in on what it really means to walk through darkness as a man, husband, and father. They discuss:• What firefighters really see when suicide hits close to home• Why so many high-performing men—especially dentists—feel trapped in success• How Kyle helped Richard out of the darkest season of his life• The link between authenticity, discipline, and spiritual transformation• What to say (and not say) when someone you know is suicidal• How Jesus and radical honesty can reframe even the darkest storyThis is not a polished conversation. It’s real, unfiltered, and meant for men ready to stop hiding, start healing, and lead with courage.00:00 Trigger Warning and Introduction00:56 Meet Kyle Carnahan01:38 Joining Superhuman Fathers02:34 Personal Transformations and Struggles06:13 The Dark Side of Dentistry06:37 Kyle's Unfiltered Perspective08:26 The Journey to Authenticity13:18 Kyle's Personal Story25:55 The Birth of Superhuman Fathers34:46 Addressing Suicidal Thoughts with Tough Love36:09 The Importance of Responsibility and Purpose37:55 The Power of Christianity in Overcoming Darkness38:31 Reframing Negative Stories Through Faith40:56 The Unique Struggles of Dentists44:28 The Role of Authenticity in Healing46:17 The Concept of Unworthiness and Redemption49:26 Personal Struggles and the Path to Transformation51:35 The Power of Vulnerability and Support55:13 Intervening in Suicidal Situations01:02:11 Embracing Trials and Trusting in God01:07:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This episode is a practical, compassionate walkthrough of what to say and do when someone hints at suicide—especially in high-stress clinical settings. Counselor and spiritual leader Steven Kalas joins me to unpack clear steps you can use right away: how to make the covert overt, ask direct safety questions, assess plan → means → intent, remove access to means, and when/how to request a welfare check. This is education for prevention and immediate help—not sensational content.You’ll learnThe exact phrasing to turn vague comments into a real conversation (“Are you going to kill yourself tonight?”)How to quickly gauge plan, means, and intent—and what to do at each levelScripts for setting loving boundaries (“I can’t carry this alone; your spouse has to know by Sunday”)What not to do (no promises of secrecy, no graphic method talk)How dentists can act as gatekeepers for colleagues and team members under pressureIf you’re in crisis or supporting someone who is:U.S.: Call or text 988 (24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)Canada: Call or text 988 (24/7)UK & ROI: Samaritans 116 123 (24/7)Australia: Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7)If you’re elsewhere, search your country’s suicide/crisis hotline. If someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services now.Disclaimer: This content is for education and support. It’s not medical, psychological, or legal advice. Seek professional care when needed.Guest: Steven Kalas — counselor, author, spiritual leaderHost: Richard Low, DDS — Next Level Dentist
Transforming Marriages and Tackling Dentist Suicide with Steven Kalas | Next Level Dentist PodcastIn this episode of the Next Level Dentist Podcast, host Richard welcomes Steven Kalas, a seasoned couples counselor who has profoundly impacted Richard's own marriage. Steven shares insights from his extensive work with couples and his experience as an ordained Episcopal priest. The conversation delves into critical and heavy topics, including tackling suicide within the field of dentistry. Steven discusses the overlap between spirituality and depth psychology and his personal background in suicidology, an area that has deeply affected his family. They also touch on prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies for dealing with suicidality. This episode seeks to shed light on the importance of addressing mental health in high-stress professions and fostering meaningful conversations around difficult issues.Join our private community, "Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout" on Facebook.If you or someone you know is struggling or thinking about ending their life, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please look up the local crisis hotline in your country. You don’t have to go through this alone.00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:04 Steven's Background and Spiritual Framework01:06 Exploring Suicide in Dentistry02:03 Depth Psychology and Spirituality03:54 Steven's Journey into Suicidology05:02 Understanding Suicide Prevention and Postvention06:55 Systems Theory and Suicide11:14 The Pain of Ambiguity and Guilt19:42 Personal Stories and Reflections26:01 The Great Wallendas: A Family of Daredevils27:17 The Thrill and Danger of High-Risk Entertainment27:59 Subintentional Suicide: The Hidden Desire for Death29:46 Victim Precipitated Homicide: Death by Cop31:35 The High Suicide Rates Among Dentists39:31 The Gender Differences in Suicide Methods41:56 The Reality of Hardcore Suicide48:34 The Importance of Suicide Prevention and Support00:00 Ep2 - Suicide in Dentistry: Navigating Shadows Through Counseling w Steven Kalas - Pt 1
Overcoming Loss: Understanding Suicide in DentistryJoin us in Next Level Dentist: Rising Beyond Burnout if you want a community where you're safe to talk about your struggles.If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re outside the U.S., please look up the local crisis hotline in your country. You don’t have to go through this alone.In the first episode of 'Next Level Dentist' podcast, host Richard Low explores the heavy and important topic of suicide within the field of dentistry. He interviews Michiye Harper, who shares her journey following the passing of her husband, Mike Harper, by suicide in early 2024. The conversation delves into the pressures and mental health struggles that many dentists face, examining Mike's experiences with anxiety, career changes, and the feeling of losing one's identity. Chiye provides insights into coping with grief, the importance of community support, the challenges of continuing to manage a dental practice, and emphasizes the need to confront and accept pain rather than resist it. The episode aims to shed light on the mental health issues prevalent in the dental profession and highlights the significance of authentic connections and support systems.00:00 Introduction to Next Level Dentist00:22 Understanding Suicide in Dentistry01:24 Interview with Michiye Harper03:43 Chiye Harper's Journey in Dentistry05:52 Challenges and Growth in Practice08:17 Military Service and Mental Health11:40 Transition to Civilian Life32:52 COVID-19 and Personal Struggles38:44 Coping with Loss and Moving Forward39:24 Faith and Identity in Dentistry41:36 Coping with Loss and Community Support47:37 Understanding and Forgiveness59:41 The Pressure of Growth in Dentistry01:11:37 Embracing Pain and Moving Forward01:18:48 The Power of Connection and Sharing
Crash & Burn - Success and Burnout in Dentistry: Episode 0Welcome to the first episode of the Next Level Dentist Podcast, hosted by Dr. Richard Low. Dr. Low, founder of the Shared Practices Podcast, shifts focus from dental practice ownership to the challenges stemming from success in dentistry. This episode delves into important topics like burnout, mental health, and the alarming rate of suicide in the dental profession. Upcoming episodes will feature personal stories and professional insights, addressing the hard questions successful dentists face, such as whether to open another practice, sell to a DSO, or dive into real estate. Additionally, Dr. Low introduces his men's group, Next Level Fathers, aimed at enhancing personal fitness and accountability. Tune in as we explore these complex issues and more, offering valuable insights for everyone in the dental field.00:00 Introduction to the Next Level Dentist Podcast00:37 The Problem with Success in Dentistry01:18 Addressing Mental Health and Burnout02:46 Themes and Future Episodes03:52 Next Level Fathers: A Side Project04:38 Conclusion and Stay Tuned
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