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© 2026 Straight Up With Steph
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Your podcast for real tips on healthy posture, healthy habits, and a healthy life!
90 Episodes
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Constipation, bloating, gas, and poop—these are topics people rarely talk about, but they can reveal a lot about what’s happening inside your gut. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I continue my conversation with gastroenterologist and bestselling author Will Bulsiewicz. If you listened to Part 1, we talked about the gut microbiome, inflammation, and why fiber is so important for gut health. In this second half of the conversation, we dive into the digestive symptoms people struggle...
Your gut microbiome affects far more than digestion. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I’m joined by gastroenterologist and bestselling author Will Bulsiewicz to talk about the science behind the gut microbiome and why fiber may be one of the most important nutrients most people are missing. Dr. B has spent years researching the gut microbiome and helping people understand how the trillions of microbes living inside our digestive system influence inflammation, chronic disease, and o...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, we’re talking about something I get asked about all the time—career options in dentistry outside of clinical practice. After more than 17 years as a dental hygienist and building my company Polished Posture, I’ve learned there are far more opportunities available to dental professionals than many of us realize. If you’ve ever thought: “I’m just a hygienist or dentist”“I don’t know what else I could do.”“I want something different but I don’t know wh...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with dental hygienist, educator, and entrepreneur Dana Paladino, RDH, to talk about a topic that impacts millions of women yet is still widely misunderstood—endometriosis. Dana shares her personal 20-year journey to diagnosis, the medical gaslighting she experienced, and how chronic pain shaped her mental health, career path, and ultimately her decision to have a hysterectomy. We also dive into how endometriosis shows up in the workplace, ...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Maggie Topham, integrative health coach and passionate advocate for helping women thrive in midlife. Maggie shares her powerful personal journey—from feeling lost, exhausted, and “fluffy” in her 40s to rebuilding her health through blood sugar awareness, strength training, and a muscle-centric approach to living. We talk about why what worked in our 20s stops working in perimenopause, how endless cardio can backfire, and why protein +...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. Meredith Broderick, a neurologist and board-certified sleep and behavioral sleep medicine specialist, to break down what actually matters when it comes to sleep. We talk about why waking up at 2–3 a.m. is so common, how sleep architecture really works, and why chasing “perfect” sleep scores can backfire. Dr. Broderick also explains sleep apnea beyond the outdated stereotype, why women are often underdiagnosed, and what treatment opt...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a functional optometrist and founder of MyVisionFirst, to talk about something most of us never learned: the difference between eyesight and vision — and why it matters far more than we realize. We dive into how the eye–brain connection impacts everything from driving anxiety and dizziness to screen fatigue, learning challenges, ADHD-like symptoms, and even athletic performance. Dr. B explains why 20/20 eyesight d...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. David Rice—dentist, coach, and founder of Ignite DDS—for a real, honest conversation about leadership, practice ownership, hygiene value, and the future of dentistry. Dr. Rice shares what he would do differently if he were starting over as a practice owner, why leadership is the missing link in most dental practices, and how both dentists and hygienists can create practices that are profitable and healthy to work in. We also dive in...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined again by registered dietitian and perimenopause expert Laura Berger for a deeper dive into muscle, metabolism, fat loss, and the biggest mistakes women are making with nutrition and training—especially in their 30s, 40s, and beyond. We unpack why muscle truly is the organ of longevity, why women are not “bulking up” from strength training, and how hormonal shifts during perimenopause change the way we need to eat and exercise. Laura also b...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, hearing instrument specialist Madison joins me to unpack the surprisingly deep connection between hearing, cognition, memory, balance, and longevity. We talk about why hearing loss sneaks up on people, the common early signs that get ignored, and how untreated hearing loss dramatically increases the risk of dementia, falls, and social withdrawal. Madison also explains why dental clinicians are especially vulnerable to high-frequency noise exposure an...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by registered dietitian and creator of The Perimenopause Diet, Laura Berger, for a deeply validating and eye-opening conversation about body changes in your 30s and 40s, perimenopause, weight fluctuations, insulin resistance, and why traditional “eat less, move more” advice stops working during this chapter of life. Laura breaks down: Why fat gain and “fluffiness” can happen even when diet and exercise haven’t changedHow declining estrogen...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with clinical trichologist Dorian White to talk about all things hair and scalp health. We cover everything from tight hairstyles and traction alopecia to the science behind scalp care, proper shampoo techniques, and what really causes hair loss. You’ll learn: The real difference between scalp serums and oilsHow to properly wash your hair for optimal scalp healthWhy you might be losing hair at your temples or crownThe truth about supplemen...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m diving into the most common ergonomic mistakes dental clinicians make — and the exact corrections that will help you start the new year with less pain, better posture, and more confidence in the operatory. This solo episode breaks down years of assessment experience and everything I personally struggled with early in my career—the same habits that led me straight into chronic pain. If you want to feel better in 2025, these are the habits to stop ...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Gary Bird, founder and CEO of SMC National, to talk all things marketing in dentistry. Gary shares eye-opening insights on where dental practices lose potential patients, how to track what’s actually working, and all about AI being used in marketing. We cover: The #1 marketing metric most practices ignore (and how it’s costing you new patients)Why 35% of dental calls go unanswered — and what that means for your ROIThe real diffe...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Sofie, a dental hygienist who transitioned from clinical care to the world of dental technology and AI. Now working at Overjet, Sofie shares her journey from the operatory to dental sales, what it’s like being the only clinician on her team, and how AI is transforming patient communication, diagnosis, and insurance efficiency in dentistry. We talk about: Sofie’s transition from hygiene to dental tech and salesHow Overjet helps clinici...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge — we dive into what life looks like after dental hygiene school. From first-day nerves to finding the right office fit, we cover everything new grads wish someone had told them before starting. Whether you’re just entering private practice or a few years in and still finding your rhythm, this one’s packed with wisdom, laughter, and encouragement. We discuss: What t...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygiene Edge, to talk all things dental hygiene students. From dealing with perfectionism to navigating stress and keeping perspective, Melia shares her top five tips to help students not just survive, but thrive in hygiene school. We discuss: How to handle self-doubt and negativity while in schoolThe importance of kindness and professionalism with instructorsTop 5 student tips that make a big differ...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Misty Mattingly, RDH—Chief Dental Hygiene Officer, innovator, and host of Hygiene Happy Hour—to talk about innovation in dentistry and her latest project, SmileSip, the fluoride-free drink that’s reshaping preventive oral care. We discuss: How innovation and technology are helping dentistry “catch up” with the scienceThe science behind SmileSip and how it supports oral and gut healthThe role of xylitol and prebiotics in reducing plaqu...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Stephanie sits down with a former military dental hygienist (who has chosen to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of her previous employment) to share an inside look at how dental care works within the military system. This open and informative conversation explores how the military dental model operates — from patient classifications and readiness requirements to the structure of the Prophy Tech (X2) program that inspired today’s Oral Prev...
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Joe Damiani, PT, DPT, who has worked with over 1,000 patients struggling with persistent TMJ disorder, dizziness, headaches, and neck pain. We dive deep into how posture, ergonomics, and the nervous system all play a role in chronic pain—and why traditional treatments often aren’t enough. You’ll learn: Why TMJ, neck pain, dizziness, and even brain fog are more connected than you thinkHow the nervous system can keep you “stuck in a...
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