The Freedom Founders Podcast - Investing and Financial Freedom for Dentists

You’ll hear why profits follow ownership, not employment, how to balance competence with confidence, and why common sense—not the status quo—should drive your business decisions. Whether you’re fresh out of school or approaching the finish line, this episode is your blueprint for building a practice and life that serves

Whether you're a fresh dental grad wondering if ownership is worth it, or a seasoned doc questioning your next move, Steve's insights will help you reframe your mindset around profitability, leadership, and long-term sustainability. This isn’t about “grinding harder”—it’s about building smarter, staying profitable, and maintaining clarity on what success truly mean...

If you’ve ever avoided conflict or struggled to express yourself in high-stakes conversations, this episode is your wake-up call. Greg Stephens, executive coach, author, and founder of Alignment Resources, joins David to discuss why so many leaders unknowingly limit their influence, connection, and freedom—because they’ve never been taught how to have the right con...

Many dentists are great producers—but still struggle to understand why their bank accounts don’t reflect that success. This week, David welcomes back Barb Stackhouse, a former dental hygienist turned Profit First coach, who helps practice owners finally bridge the gap between production and real profit. In this episode, Barb reveals how one report, 10 minutes a wee...

Joining us today is bestselling author, Mike Michalowicz, to tell us about his upcoming, and most personal book yet, The Money Habit. Mike shares how past failures led him to rethink profitability,  and expounds on the “four-week vacation test” from Clockwork, and how most entrepreneurs mistakenly equate growth with success, and how to break through the marketing noise by doing the opposite of what ev...

What does it truly mean to lead in an era of rapid change and uncertainty? Today we're joined by Tony Rubleski, leadership strategist and author of Trailblazers, to explore real leadership and inspiring others to take action, especially when the world is filled with confusion and distractions. Tony shares that successful leaders must be willing to be misunderstood, even by those closest to them, and t...

Does your dental practice or business bring you joy? Dr. Robert "Cree" Hamilton is an orthodontist whose journey spans a small-town upbringing, a career in the Air Force, and a dental practice in Las Vegas. His story embodies the principles of intentional design and purpose-driven leadership. Cree shares his insights on bringing an associate into the dental practice, and the need for transparency and ...

After 30 years running a solo dental practice with no breaks, no vacations, and no exit in sight, Dr. John and Joy Russo decided to do things differently. In this episode, they share how they transitioned from burnout and uncertainty to true time and financial freedom—without giving up clinical autonomy. Discover what they did differently that opened the door to passive income, alternative investing, ...

Joining us today is Dr. Chris Phelps, dentist, entrepreneur, and CEO of the Cialdini Institute. We explore the evolution from clinical practice to scalable, self-managing businesses. Chris shares how his first entrepreneurial breakthrough came from simplifying dense dental school material into condensed study guides—eventually monetizing his problem-solving ability. Listen in to gain powerful takeaway...

What happens when a successful endodontist redefines success—not by the size of his practice or his net worth, but by the depth of his relationships and the culture he creates? Today, Dr. Jerry (Gerald) Gray joins Dr. David Phelps to share his journey from burnout to transformation, and how coaching, family wake-up calls, and a renewed vision for leadership helped Jerry pivot from a transactional, hig...

Want to know more about leadership, culture, and creating a business that thrives? Joining the show today is Dr. Matt VanderMolen. From starting his dental career in the Navy to building a top dental practice in Springfield, Illinois, Matt talks about why your team comes before the patient and the importance of defining a clear mission within your business. Dr. Va...

What do dentists need to increase profitability in their business and create time freedom? Jake Conway, founder of Custom Practice Analytics, is back for an in-depth conversation on future-proofing businesses in an era of uncertainty. We dig into the financial stressors facing dentists and entrepreneurs today and how knee-jerk decisions often compound the problem. 

Joining us today is Chris Litzler, Senior Managing Director at Marcus & Millichap, for an insider look at the current state of real estate capital markets. We dive into the world of refinancing and acquisition lending. With interest rates significantly higher than just a few years ago, most refinancing today is "involuntary." Listen in to hear Chris explain what p...

Are dentists missing a critical opportunity when it comes to investing in their own technology? Dr. Jeremy Krell, Managing Partner of Revere Partners (the first independent venture capital fund dedicated to oral health) brings his experience from years of building and exiting startups and clinical expertise, and makes a compelling case for why dentists should consider investing not only in their pract...

Mark Drager has helped over 300 companies across 29 industries sharpen their brand positioning and marketing strategies, and he joins us to unpack hard-won lessons about entrepreneurship, branding, and navigating radical business shifts. Mark shares his journey from building a multimillion-dollar ...

Is traditional retirement keeping you trapped instead of setting you free? Joining us today is Russ Morgan, co-founder of Wealth Without Wall Street. Russ shares his powerful journey from certified financial planner, turned real estate investor, and reveals why traditional financial planning often leads to frustration, and not freedom. Russ dives into understandi...

Today, I'm sharing a recent and powerful conversation I had with Jeremy Knauff, a friend and public relations and marketing expert, unpacking the dramatic shifts underway in the global economy and how everyday Americans can prepare. In this conversation, we make sense of macroeconomic chaos, including inflation, tariffs, the demise of the dollar standard, and the risks of a debt-fueled financial syste...

David McAlvany, CEO of McAlvany Financial Companies, joins us for a deep dive into today’s volatile economic environment. He shares his insights into the growing risks tied to overleveraged hedge funds, private equity, and private credit markets, which are increasingly unstable in the face of rising interest rates. We also discuss the need for active management, i...

Dr. Bill Jordan, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, shares his unexpected and life-altering journey from a thriving practice to a sudden retirement due to a tremor in his hands that impacted his ability to perform surgery. Bill dives into the emotional toll of this unplanned exit and the urgent need to reevaluate his and his wife's financial readiness. What followed was a radical shift—from traditiona...