Straight Up With Steph
Episodes
Ep 90: Dermatologist Explains Why Your Skin Changes During Perimenopause
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Wrinkles, hormonal acne, melasma, and dry skin can suddenly appear in your 40s — and hormones may be the reason.In this episode of Straight Up With ...
Ep 89: Constipation, Gas, and What Your Poop Says About Your Gut Health
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Ep 88: How To Heal Your Gut With Dr Will Bulsiewicz
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Your gut microbiome affects far more than digestion.In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I’m joined by gastroenterologist and bestselling au...
Ep 87: Alternative Careers in Dentistry: Opportunities Beyond the Operatory
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Ep 86: Endometriosis Symptoms Every Woman Should Know Plus Tips for Hygiene Students
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep 85: Your Best Years Aren’t Behind You In Midlife (Here’s Why)
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep 84: Sleeping but Still Exhausted? What’s Really Disrupting Your Sleep
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. Meredith Broderick, a neurologist and board-certified sleep and behavioral sleep medici...
Ep 83: Why Screens Are Ruining Our Vision (And What To Do About It)
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a functional optometri...
Ep 82: Why Most Dental Practices Struggle—and How To Fix It
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. David Rice—dentist, coach, and founde...
Ep 81: Muscle, Metabolism & Perimenopause: What Women Need to Know
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined again by registered dietitian and perimenopaus...
Ep 80: Early Signs of Hearing Loss You’re Ignoring — And How They Affect Your Brain
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, hearing instrument specialist Madison joins me to unpack th...
Ep 79: Why Your Old Diets Don’t Work Anymore: The Real Reason Women Gain Weight
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by registered dietitian and creator of The Per...
Ep 78: Hair Myths Debunked: What Actually Works for Healthy Hair Growth
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with clinical trichologist Dorian White to talk ...
Ep 77: Top Ergonomic Mistakes Dental Clinicians Must Stop Making
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m diving into the most common ergonomic mistakes dental...
Ep 76: Is Dental Marketing a Scam?
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Gary Bird, founder and CEO of SMC National,...
Ep 75: Tired of Patients Not Understanding Their Treatment? Here’s How AI Can Help
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Sofie, a dental hygienist who transitioned ...
Ep 74: Thriving in Your First Years as a Dental Hygienist
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph — part two of my two-part series with Melia Lewis, MEd, RD...
Ep 73: Top Tips on Thriving in Dental Hygiene School
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Melia Lewis, MEd, RDH, co-founder of Hygien...
Ep 72: The Drink That Prevents Cavities: SmileSip
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Misty Mattingly, RDH—Chief Dental Hygiene...
Ep 71: Understanding Military Dentistry: The Model Behind the OPA
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Stephanie sits down with a former military dental hygienist...
Ep 70: Understanding TMJ, Dizziness & Chronic Neck Pain
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Joe Damiani, PT, DPT, who has worked wi...
Ep 69: TMJ & TMD Demystified: Diagnosis, Treatment & Patient Care Tips
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Priya Mistry, also known as The TMJ Doc...
Ep 68: Healing Over Drilling: The Future Of Minimally Invasive Dentistry
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Crystal Spring, dental hygienist, public he...
Ep 67: How to Handle Bullying in Dentistry
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Bullying in dentistry isn't always obvious—but it's real, it's damaging, and it'...
Ep 66: Social Media and the Brain: Doom Scrolling, Dopamine, and Digital Detox
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Is social media shaping our brains more than we realize? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I ...
Ep 65: How I Got Sober While Working in Dentistry | Stress, Burnout & Recovery Journey
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today’s episode is something a little different—and really special. I’m sharing a crossover epis...
Episode 64: Dental Insurance Fraud: Red Flags Every Clinician Must Know
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Do you really know how to avoid dental insurance fraud—or are you just hoping you’re not on the ra...
Episode 63: Desiccation Therapy in Dentistry: What You Need To Know
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up with Steph, I sit down with Annie to talk about desiccation therapy—a...
Ep 62: Why We Need a PR Campaign for Dental Hygienists: The Oral Health Awareness Project
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Lisa, a passionate dental hygienist and vol...
Ep 61: Salivary Testing in Dentistry: How Spit Samples Are Transforming Preventive Oral Health Care
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Dr. Dave, founder, CEO, and chief scientifi...
Ep 60: Myofunctional Therapy Explained: Breathing, Oral Health, and Sleep from Childhood to Adulthood
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Ever wonder how your tongue and facial muscles impact your breathing, sleep, and even posture? In thi...
Ep 59: Biological Hygiene Unpacked: Exploring Fluoride, Ozone Therapy, and Microscopes in Modern Dentistry
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with biological dental hygienist Barbara Tritz a...
Ep 58: Pediatric Hygiene: Tools, Tips, and Common Misconceptions
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by An Chih to dive into the world of pediatric...
Ep 57: Debunking Popular Dental Myths and Handling Misinformation on Social Media
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by returning guest and online dental educator ...
Ep 56: ADHA Leaders Speak Out On Moves To Replace Hygienists
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sat down with Erin and Lancette, the President and Presid...
Ep 55: Mastering Case Acceptance: Real Strategies to Connect and Communicate Better with Dental Patients
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Kim McGuire to discuss case acceptance, a t...
Ep 54: What To Know About Guided Biofilm Therapy: Protocol, Patient Education, And Practice Growth
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! I get so many questions about Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT), and truthfully, I don’t know as much abo...
Ep 53: Workforce Shortages, Hygiene Autonomy, and ADA's Vision for the Future
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Associa...
Ep 52: Maximizing Your Dental Practice Value & Navigating Industry Shifts
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Dr. Tony Stefanou for a wide-ranging and ca...
Ep 51: The Oral Preventive Assistant Debate: What Dental Assistants Actually Want
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Kevin Henry, a longtime advocate, speaker, a...
Ep 50: Dental Anesthesia: Managing Patients, Myths, and New Techniques
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by dental hygienist and anesthesia educator Tin...
Ep 49: GLP-1 Warning Signs to Look for in Dental Patients
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Tom Viola, a renowned pharmacologist and nat...
Ep 48: How to Identify and Regulate Stress and ADHD Symptoms for a Healthier Lifestyle
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling on your phone, procrastinating on your to-do list, or...
Ep 47: The True Cost of Dental Insurance and Why It's Time for Reform
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Did you know that dental reimbursement rates and deductibles have not increased since the 70s? It’s ...
Ep 46: Transform Your Dental Experience Into A Lucrative Speaking Career
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever considered breaking into the world of professional speaking, but weren’t sure if you w...
Ep 45: Flossing Made Easy with the First Electric Flosser, Flaus
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Samantha Coxe, the creator and founder of Fl...
Ep 44: Osteoporosis And Oral Health: What Dental Professionals Need To Know
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by dental hygienist and educator Kristin Evans ...
Ep 43: How Tongue Mapping Opens the Door for Comprehensive Patient Care
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever wondered what the tongue tells us about our overall health? In this episode of Straight ...
Ep 42: Nano-Hydroxyapatite: A New Frontier in Preventive Dental Care
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Mark Burhenne, famously known as “Ask the Dentist,”...
Bonus: Oral Cancer Awareness: Masterclass in Screenings and Early Detection
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In honor of Oral Cancer Awareness Month, I wanted to bring you a special bonus episode of Straight Up ...
Ep 41: The Crucial Role Hygienists Play In Dental Practice Success
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Dr. Marc Liechtung and I are unpacking the critical role th...
Ep 40: Maximize Your Chair Time: Time Management Tips For Dental Hygienists
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Kathryn Gilliam and I are tackling one of the most pressing...
Ep 39: Insights Into The Untapped Potential of Using Microscopes in Dentistry
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, certified biological hygienist Kristen King joins the podca...
Ep 38: The Future Of Remineralization: Nano-Hydroxyapatite's Potential In Dentistry
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth (aka Dr. Jen, Founder...
Ep 37: Empowering Dental Hygienists to Branch Out on Their Own
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Sade Morel, another dental hygienist who made the leap from...
Ep 36: The Truth About Starting an Independent Hygiene Practice
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, dental hygienist and entrepreneur Jazmine Chavez shares her...
Ep 35: How ADA’s Dental Access Model Act Will Impact Dentistry
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by returning guest Alyssa Aberle to take a clos...
Ep 34: Navigating PCOS, Perimenopause, and More: Nutritional Tips from a Hormone Dietitian
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Melissa Groves Azzaro and I are unpacking the intricate rel...
Ep 33: Career Transitions Outside of the Operatory
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I am joined by Dr. Laura Brenner, a dental career coach, to...
Ep 32: Expert Tips for Enhancing Sleep Quality for Better Rest and Overall Health
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I’m joined by Teresa Power to explore how better sleep ca...
Ep 31: Stress, Depression, and Loneliness: Brain Health Tips You Need Today
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, brain health expert and dental hygienist Anne Rice returns ...
Ep 30: Tips to Lose Fat and Increase Strength
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, Hannah Hutson and I are unpacking the number one reason peo...
Ep 29: Teaching, Entrepreneurship, and Opportunities Outside the Op
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Tina, a dental hygienist, educator, and ent...
Ep 28: From Dental Hygienist to Tech Entrepreneur: The Birth of CE Zoom
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode, I chat with Sarah Thiel, the co-founder of CE Zoom, about her incredible journey buil...
Ep 27: How Janet Built a Thriving Mobile Holistic Dental Hygiene Practice
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, we dive into the inspiring journey of Janet, a trailblazi...
Ep 26: From Perimenopause to Hormone Therapy: What You Need to Know
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, we dive into the often-overlooked topic of menopause and it...
Ep 25: Spreading Smiles and Knowledge Through Mobile Dentistry & Hygiene Edge
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, we dive into the journey of a hygienist turned entrepreneur...
Ep 24: Leveraging Clinical Skills for Business Success and Debunking Implant Myths
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Join us for a deep dive into the career journey of Lynn, a trailblazing hygienist who’s leveraged he...
Ep 23: Scaling New Heights: From Assistant to Educator with Jess of Hygiene Edge
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode, Jess shares her journey from dental assisting to becoming an educator and content cre...
Ep 22: How Internationally-Trained Dentists Could Impact U.S. Hygienists
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In our latest episode, Steph and Alyssa Aberle tackle a significant shift in the dental field: the ADA...
Ep 21: From Fun Videos to Business: Teeth Talk Girl Whitney's Journey
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I catch up with Whitney, known to many as Teeth Talk Girl! ...
Ep 20: Unmasking Imposter Syndrome & People Pleasing
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode, Machele takes us on her journey into life coaching, sharing how she transitioned into...
Ep 19: From Polishing Teeth to Perfecting Lips: What’s It Like?
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Ever wondered how dental clinicians can expand their careers into aesthetics? On this episode, Katie t...
Ep 18: Being a Male Hygienist & Navigating Non-Traditional Career Paths
19 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with Rafael, a dental hygienist who has navigate...
Ep 17: Disability Insurance 101: Tips For Protecting Your Future
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode, I sit down with Susan to discuss her personal injury journey and the crucial role dis...
Ep 16: Brain Power: The Keys to Cognitive Health
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode, I sit down with Anne, a brain health expert and dental hygienist, to explore the esse...
Ep 15: Wellness, Leadership, and Recovery: With ADA President-Elect Dr. Brett Kessler
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this special episode of Straight Up with Steph, I sit down with my former boss and friend, Dr. Bret...
Ep 14: Hygiene Wages, Assisted Hygiene, Scaling Assistants, and the Future of Dental Teams
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! In this episode of Straight Up With Steph, I sit down with a fellow dental hygienist and entrepreneur ...
Ep 13: Breaking Myths: Posture Bras, Bulking Up, and Smarter Exercise
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today, in part two of a two-episode series with my friend and corrective exercise specialist Brianne, ...
Ep 12: Preventing Pain & Injury Through Corrective Exercise With Brianne Novaes
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today, in part one of a two-episode series with my friend and corrective exercise specialist Brianne, ...
Ep 11: Attending Dental Conferences and Creating Content with BrushwithBritt
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today, my friend Britt and I chat about how we met, the ups and downs of dental conferences, being a c...
Ep 10: Tips on Patient Positioning
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today, I give you tips on patient positioning to reduce your pain and increase good ergonomics and eff...
Ep 9: Alternative Careers in Dentistry
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Hi!I have had many questions from followers about doing something outside of the operatory.I'm sh...
Ep 8: Alcohol Myths and Truths
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today, we're dispelling myths about alcohol and discussing how it affects our physical and mental...
Ep 7: Tips for New Grads
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! As a dental hygienist of 16 years, I'm excited to share what I wish I would have known as a new g...
Ep 6: Products You Need in Dentistry!
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today's episode we are discussing my favorite ergonomic products for dental clinicians!To watch o...
Ep 5: Top 5 Ergonomic Mistakes
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Today's episode is covering the Top 5 ergonomic mistakes I've seen doing assessments over ...
Ep 4: How to Reduce Hand, Wrist, and Forearm Pain
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Hi, I'm Stephanie, a practicing dental hygienist and ergonomics specialist. I help dental and o...
Ep 3: Which Dental Stool is Right for You?
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Hi, I'm Stephanie, a practicing dental hygienist and ergonomics specialist. I help dental and o...
Ep 2: All About Ergonomic Loupes
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Hi, I'm Stephanie, a practicing dental hygienist and ergonomics specialist. I help dental and off...
Ep1: The One About Posture
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Send me a message, I’d love to hear from you! Hi, I'm Stephanie, a practicing dental hygienist and ergonomics specialist. I help dental and off...