Just a Couple of Dentists

You know Mark Costes as the dentist behind the Dental Success Network and one of the most respected voices in the profession. But instead of asking him what makes him successful, we went to the source: his team.

We interviewed the people who work with him every day and asked what actually sets Mark apart. Then we took those answers and turned them into five core traits that we shared with Mark live on the podcast. 

In this episode,...

We’ve been through enough crappy contracts and smooth-talking “experts” to know better...so we brought on Sean Hamel from Art of Dental Marketing to break down how to spot the difference between someone who actually knows how to grow your practice… and someone who just knows how to sell you a retainer.

In this episode:

• Why most marketers obsess over visibility instead of conversion (aka, why your phone still isn’t ringing)

• ...

30% of your calls go unanswered — and that’s killing production. So, can AI actually do a better job than your own team? Kevin Tallman, CEO of Mango Voice, joins us on this week's episode to discuss:

✅ How AI can pick up missed calls and document them straight into your PMS ✅ Where AI shines and where it still falls short ✅ The biggest red flags when choosing a company that offers AI solutions

If you’ve ever wondered whether an AI...

Josh Carpenter is a dentist in Washington who decided to shake things up: he built a restaurant and pickleball courts — a passion project that turned into a $5 million community hub.

In this episode, we break down:

• How he juggled a startup dental practice and a surprise military investigation

• The real challenges of the restaurant biz vs. running a dental office

• What makes pickleball so addictive (and expensive)

• Why Josh...

In this episode, we sit down with our longtime friend Dr. Trent McCord—who didn’t just build a successful practice near Bentonville, Arkansas… he also started a nonprofit arm that now sees 50+ patients a day, giving away hundreds of thousands in dentistry to those who need it most.

We talk about everything from bourbon-fueled CE courses (yes, really) to the time Trent was so nervous he threw up before his very first patient. He sha...

What’s harder—building a practice or building a building?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Josh Cochran, a dentist who built and acquired 6 practices in just 8 years—all while developing a 16,000 sq ft medical plaza to house one of them. Today, Josh is involved in over $170 million in real estate development and shares the exact mindset shifts and financial frameworks that helped him scale.

Josh breaks down:

• Why you shou...

We’ve been through almost as many dental marketing agencies as hygienists—and that’s saying something. So this week, we brought on Michael from Wonderist to answer the question every dentist asks: “Is my marketing actually working?”

We cover:

• Why dentists keep switching agencies

• What ROI actually looks like (and how to measure it)

• The $88 new patient offer trap

• Why tracking your leads matters more than the ads themselve...

Last episode, we sat down with Carrie and Tessa from Dental Insurance Services to talk about how insurance saved us when we got hacked. But what actually causes these attacks? And how do you prevent them in the first place?

This week, we’re keeping the “we got hacked” theme alive and bringing on Reuben Kamp, founder of Darkhorse Tech and our go-to IT expert, to walk us through exactly how dental practices get hacked—and what you ca...

What happens when your dental office gets hacked five months into your startup—and you’re staring down a $50,000 ransom? In this episode, Eric and Alex share the real story of how a cyberattack locked Eric's entire practice out of Open Dental, and how he found out the hard way that relying on your IT company isn’t enough. Joined by Carrie and Tessa from DIS, we dive into wild (and very real) stories of cyberattacks, lawsuits, and u...

This was one of the very first episodes we recorded — back when we were still figuring out how to turn the mic on and not talk over each other (still working on that, honestly). We’ve only been doing this podcast thing for 4 months, so naturally, this one’s from... 3 months ago. Basically prehistoric.

We look back on our dental school days — what we wish we knew, what we definitely didn’t need to stress about, and what actually mat...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," Eric and Alex dive deep into the evolving landscape of dental hygiene and practice management, particularly in light of recent legislative changes in Arizona. We kick off the conversation by discussing the newly passed law that allows Oral Prevention Assistants (OPAs) to perform cleanings under the supervision of a dentist or hygienist. This change aims to address the ongoing shortag...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," Eric and Alex dive into the traits that contribute to success in the field. We kick off the conversation with a light-hearted exchange about Eric's recent haircut, which leads to a discussion about the hair care industry and the inspiring story of John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Paul Mitchell. His journey from living in his car to building a billion-dollar brand serves as a backdrop ...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," Eric and Alex dive deep into the concept of mediocrity and how to overcome it in both personal and professional life. They kick off the conversation with a motivational mindset, encouraging listeners to seize the day and approach their work with focus and determination rather than just hard work.

Eric shares a personal story about a time he experienced burnout and how Alex challenged...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," we dive deep into the complexities of organized dentistry and the ongoing challenges faced by dental professionals in navigating the insurance landscape.

Dr. Erik Zundo, who has been practicing in Indiana since 2013, brings a wealth of knowledge about organized dentistry, a topic that many younger dentists seem to overlook. We discuss the American Dental Association (ADA) and its loc...

In this special bonus episode, we’re guests on the Stress-Free Dentist Show podcast with Dr. Eric Block, sharing the wild ride that led us into dentistry and the even wilder one that followed. From literal sewage leaking through the floor five weeks into Alex’s startup, to Eric getting hit with a cybersecurity attack just four months into his, to navigating COVID while running two practices—we don’t sugarcoat anything.

We talk abou...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," hosts Eric and Alex dive into the evolving landscape of dental technology and the implications of outsourcing within the field. The episode kicks off with a light-hearted discussion about a recent Facebook ad featuring a robot dentist, prompting a broader conversation about the future of dental procedures and the potential for automation in dentistry.

As the hosts reflect on their ex...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," Eric and Alex welcome Dr. Cory Ball, a recent dental practice owner who shares his journey of purchasing a practice a few months ago. The conversation dives deep into the challenges and realities of practice ownership.

Cory recounts his initial excitement about buying a practice that was only open two days a week, highlighting the potential he saw for growth. However, he quickly lear...

In this episode of "Just a Couple of Dentists," we dive into a serious and often overlooked issue in the dental industry: embezzlement. Alex and I share a personal experience from one of our practices, where we discovered a case of embezzlement involving a former employee. The episode begins with a discussion about the importance of dentists taking control of their financial reports and not relying solely on staff to filter inform...

In this episode of our podcast, we dive deep into the art of storytelling and its significance in the field of dentistry. Inspired by a recent episode of "My First Million," I reflect on how storytelling can transform the way we communicate with patients. Often, dental professionals focus heavily on technical jargon, explaining procedures like crowns and root canals without considering the emotional journey of the patient. I share...