Straight Up With Steph

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 e...

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 practice...

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 perimenop...

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 ...

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 e...

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 oils
• How to properly wash your hair for optimal scalp health
• Why you might ...

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 y...

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 u...

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 transitio...

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...

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 school
• The importance of kindness and professio...

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 science
• The science behind SmileSip and how it supports oral an...

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...

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 connect...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Priya Mistry, also known as The TMJ Doc, to dive deep into TMJ and TMD. Dr. Mistry shares her journey from general dentistry to running a TMD-only practice and breaks down what every clinician (and patient) needs to know about this complex disorder.

We discuss:

• What TMJ/TMD really is and how it’s diagnosed
• The difference between a night guard and an orthotic
• Disclusion ...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Crystal Spring, dental hygienist, public health advocate, and founder of Smiles Across Montana. Crystal shares her journey of bringing minimally invasive dentistry to underserved communities and what it really takes to integrate medical and dental care.

We talk about:

• How SDF, glass ionomers, nanofluoride, and Curadont are changing dentistry
  
  
  
• The challenges a...

Bullying in dentistry isn't always obvious—but it's real, it's damaging, and it's more common than many realize. In this powerful episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Alan Stern joins me to talk about professional bullying in the dental field—from subtle jabs to outright disrespect—and how we can respond with assertiveness, kindness, and emotional intelligence.

We discuss:

• What bullying can look like in clin...

Is social media shaping our brains more than we realize? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Kent Howard—educator, researcher, and wellness speaker—to explore the science behind social media use, doom scrolling, attention spans, sleep disruption, and the impact on kids and adults alike. 

We talk about dopamine, FOMO, and how algorithms are literally rewiring how we think, focus, and even socialize. Most import...

Today’s episode is something a little different—and really special. I’m sharing a crossover episode from when I was a guest on Sober Life Rocks. It was one of the most honest conversations I’ve had publicly about my sobriety journey and why it matters—especially as a healthcare professional.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be “high-functioning” or felt like stress, burnout, and alcohol were just part of the job—you’re not alone....