The idea for the podcast came to me during one of those quiet moments between patients—the kind where you’re in between appointments and your mind starts wandering to bigger questions. I found myself thinking about all the conversations I wished I’d had when I was starting out. The real conversations. The ones that don’t happen in dental school lecture halls or sterile conference rooms.

The Silence That Spoke Volumes

As a young dentist, I spent countless hours scrolling through Facebook groups, silently observing discussions about everything from difficult cases to practice management struggles. I watched peers share their challenges in carefully worded posts, always maintaining that professional veneer that our industry seems to demand. But between the lines, I could read the real story—the uncertainty, the imposter syndrome, the financial pressures, the burnout that no one wanted to name.

“We’re supposed to be the saints,” I realized. “We can’t talk about profit. We can’t admit when we’re struggling. We can’t acknowledge that sometimes, despite all our training, we still feel lost.”

That silence was deafening. And it was exactly what I wanted to break.

Finding My Voice in an Echo Chamber

The dental podcasting space felt saturated with the same polished content—technical discussions that, while valuable, missed the human element entirely. Where were the conversations about the emotional toll of perfectionism? Where was the discussion about building confidence when you’re fresh out of university with crushing debt and a BMW payment you probably shouldn’t have taken on?

I kept thinking about Ben—that composite character representing so many young dentists I’d met. Twenty-five years old, brilliant academically, but drowning in the reality of professional life. Managing demanding bosses, navigating clinic politics, trying to balance clinical excellence with financial survival. Where was his podcast? Where was the content that spoke to his reality?

“I wanted to create what I wished existed when I was starting out,” I reflect now. “Something warmer, braver, and more honest.”

The Courage to Be Vulnerable

The decision to start the podcast wasn’t just about filling a content gap—it was about modeling the kind of vulnerability that our profession desperately needs. I wanted to show that you could be successful and still admit your struggles. That you could be an authority and still be learning. That you could be professional and still be human.

My first few episodes felt terrifying. Here I was, a relatively young dentist, presuming to offer guidance to peers who might have more experience. But then the messages started coming in. Young dentists thanking me for saying what they’d been thinking. Established practitioners admitting they’d felt the same way early in their careers. Suddenly, I realized I wasn’t presuming—I was providing.

Breaking the Taboos

One of the most powerful aspects of the podcast has been addressing the topics that are often considered taboo in our profession. We talk about money—not just how to make it, but how to think about it ethically. We discuss the pressure to constantly upskill and provide better service, and how that pressure can become overwhelming. We explore the reality that dentistry is both a healthcare profession and a business, and how to navigate that duality with integrity.

“We speak honestly, not to provoke—but to connect,” has become one of my core values, and it’s never been more relevant than in these podcast conversations. No ego, no sugar-coating, just real conversations that move people forward.

Creating Community Through Conversation

What started as a way to share my own journey has evolved into something much larger—a community of dental professionals who are committed to growth, authenticity, and supporting each other. I wanted the podcast to become a platform where experienced dentists share their wisdom, where young professionals ask their burning questions, and where everyone can admit that this career is both incredibly rewarding and incredibly challenging.

The guests I’d like to have on are remarkable—not because they’re perfect, but because they’re real. I would like them to share their failures alongside their successes. I’d like them to talk about the moments when they questioned everything, and how they found their way through. I would like them to prove that there’s no single path to success in dentistry, but there are common threads of resilience, continuous learning, and genuine care for patients.

But perhaps most importantly, I’d like the podcast to create permission—permission to be imperfect, permission to ask for help, permission to prioritize mental health alongside clinical excellence. It’s shown that vulnerability isn’t weakness; it’s the foundation of authentic leadership.

Looking Forward

As the podcast continues to grow, my vision remains the same: to create the kind of mentorship and community that I wished existed when I was starting out. To offer the insight every young dentist wishes they had. To prove that success in dentistry isn’t just about clinical skills—it’s about building a career you believe in, creating patient experiences that matter, and supporting each other along the way.

“This is a space for people to grow into their next chapter,” I often tell my listeners. And that’s exactly what it’s become—a place where the next generation of dental professionals can find their voice, build their confidence, and create careers that align with their values.

Behind the mic, I’m still that young dentist with big dreams and occasional doubts. But I’m also someone who’s learned that sharing those doubts, those struggles, and those victories creates something powerful: a community where everyone can thrive.

The dental industry is ready for reinvention, and it starts with conversations like these. One episode, one story, one honest moment at a time.

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*Beyond The Smiles, Dr. Aya Najmaldeen’s podcast, creates space for authentic conversations about the realities of building a dental career. New episodes feature candid discussions with dental professionals about their journeys, challenges, and insights for the next generation.*