Today’s guest is Dr. Bob Margeas, a dental professional in Des Moines, Iowa, a professor of Operative Dentistry at the University of Iowa, and the Editor-in-Chief of Inside Dentistry.  Described as the “dentist’s dentist”, Bob has achieved so much in his field, but always embraces his failures, seeing them as a valuable learning opportunity. He sees teaching as a privilege - and never takes his position as an educator for granted. As he puts it -  “There are a lot of amazing people out there...

When we think of oral cancer, we often picture a seasoned smoker or a long-time tobacco user. But did you know that a growing number of cases are affecting young, non-smokers?  Over 20% of oral cancer diagnoses occur in people under 55, and the culprit might not be what you expect. The rise in instances is linked to Human papillomavirus (HPV) from unprotected oral sex, not tobacco.  During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we want to take some time to spotlight the extraordinary dentists and...

Head and neck cancer is the 7th most common cancer globally. Symptoms may include a lump in the neck, a sore in the mouth, or a sore throat that doesn’t go away. During Oral Cancer Awareness Month, we want to take some time to spotlight the extraordinary dentists and practitioners who have taken on this little-understood cancer and survived. Today's guest is Dr. Michael R. Sesemann, a dentist, educator, and Nebraska Institute of Comprehensive Dentistry founder. Michael has been described as...

Close to 54,000 Americans will hear the words “You have oral or throat cancer” in 2024. Shockingly only about half of them will survive beyond 5 years. April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and we want to take some time to spotlight the extraordinary dentists and practitioners who have taken on this little-understood cancer and survived. Today's guest is Dr. Mike Milligan, a dentist who has served the community of Bloomington Illinois for over 45 years. He's also the Founder and President of...

This episode marks the first anniversary of Contrary to Ordinary. Thank you so much to all of our amazing guests, and to the listeners that have made this show extraordinary.  It’s also CariFree’s 20th birthday! Another big thank you to everyone who has been a part of our amazing journey over the last two decades. In the last episode, we began our conversation with Dr. Betsy Bakeman, a private practice owner and expert in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Betsy is included in an elite...

Dentists want every single one of their patients to walk away from a treatment with a smile that they can be proud of. If a practitioner can also make their patients feel comfortable in the alien world we inhabit, they must be doing something extraordinary, right? Today's guest is Dr. Betsy Bakeman, a private practice owner and expert in restorative and cosmetic dentistry. Betsy is included in an elite group of less than 300 dentists worldwide who are Accredited by the American Academy of...

Compassion, Altruism, Respect, and Excellent are the tenets that have guided Professor Hien Ngo throughout his career. He’s currently the Dean and Head of the Dental School and Director of the Oral Health Centre at the University of Western Australia. Indeed, Hien is a prolific educator who has taught thousands of students about minimal intervention dentistry and cariology all over the world.  He was instrumental to the establishment of the Minimal Intervention 2020 projects in Adelaide and...

Letting go of the past can be hard. So hard in fact that it’s easy to become defined by it. However, there are some extraordinary people out there who have rewritten the narrative around themselves, inspiring others to do the same. Today's guest is Bonnie Milletto, a motivational speaker, author, and youth advocate. As a lonely child who was in and out of foster homes, Bonnie was often told that she wasn't good enough and that she would never have a voice. She was labeled 'high-risk' by her...

In the last episode, we began speaking with pastor and author Laura O’Brien. Laura has served the congregation at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Albany, Oregon, and was about to move on to new opportunities at the time of this conversation. In part 1, Laura discussed her upcoming book Hell Hope on Wheels, which charts her incredible journey across the US, Europe, and eventually to her career as a pastor. Laura wasn’t brought up in a religious household and encountered many ways of...

Faith is an important tool that many people use to navigate the world. Today’s guest, Pastor Laura O'Brien has had an unconventional journey to finding hers. Laura is a Lutheran Pastor, who has worked all over the world. Her book Hell Hope on Wheels charts her incredible journey across the US, Europe, and eventually to her faith. Laura wasn’t brought up in a religious household and was even exposed to some elements of faith that she didn’t agree with on her epic journey.  In part 1, we’ll be...

Welcome to a very special holiday episode of Contrary to Ordinary. Today, we’re taking a look back over some extraordinary conversations from across 2023. The mission of this podcast has been to figure out what makes a person extraordinary. Are they born with it? Can it be taught? Is work/life balance even possible for people who have made extraordinary strides in their careers?  Extraordinary people come in many shapes and sizes, but this show has identified a few common traits that they...

People who show grace and poise during stressful times are often compared to a swan drifting across the water. You might not see it, but a lot is going on under the surface to maintain that calm exterior. They rehearse, they plan, and they still get the jitters, even if they are very experienced and talented. Today's guest is Dr. Amanda Seay, an accomplished and accredited dentist and private practice owner who also educates through her training organization, imP.R.E.S. After graduating in...

In the last episode, we began speaking with Dr. Simon McDonald, CEO and co-founder of Rhondium. Simon is a "serial inventor and entrepreneur", who has brought a number of groundbreaking inventions into the field of dentistry. You might be familiar with the V-Ring and the Tri-Clip, but his other notable inventions include the One Visit Crown and the Grip Tab.  In part 1, Simon talked us through his inventive process and stressed that each of his creations have taken countless hours to be...

Today’s guest is Dr. Simon McDonald. He's been described as a "serial inventor and entrepreneur", who has brought a number of groundbreaking inventions into the field of dentistry. You might be familiar with the V-Ring and the Tri-Clip, but his other notable inventions include the One Visit Crown and the Grip Tab.  Simon studied dentistry in the UK at King's College in London but moved to New Zealand when his first child was still young. He fell in love with the country and set up his own...

Today’s guest Dr. Bobby Birdi is unique in many ways. However, many people know him for being one of North America’s very few Certified Dual Specialists in Periodontics and Prosthodontics. He is an adjunct Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Minnesota, where he is involved in multiple dental implant research projects and clinical trials. He also actively lectures both nationally and internationally in the fields of implant surgery and prosthetics....

In this episode we're speaking to someone who "helps guide high achieving women to write their own permission slip and live the life of their dreams". Carmen Ohling, a keynote speaker, Flow Academy founder, and holistic life Coach. After 16 years in the corporate world, Carmen made the decision to follow her passion to help others be their best selves. Everyone who meets Carmen is inspired by her and I'm excited to share our conversation with you today. At 25 Carmen found out that she had...

In this episode, we're going to be talking to a person who helps people who are nice for a living thrive - Stephanie Staples. Stephanie is a prolific motivational speaker and coach who shares her positive message with busy professionals. She has a background in nursing, but after a moment of extreme burnout, she decided she wanted to dedicate her life to helping other people realize their full potential.  Her coaching style is magnetic. You'll find her mingling with her audience, encouraging...

The first working laser was operated by Theodore Maiman on May 16 1960 at the Hughes Research Laboratory in California. Maiman may have been the first person to operate a laser, but the theory behind them dates back to Einstein in the early 20th century. He was already thinking about a way to amplify light and its source before we had the means to do it. After their pioneering use in the 60s, it didn’t take long for medicine to take note and start testing lasers. Today's guest is Bill Brown,...

What do Albert Einstein, Coco Channel, and Thomas Edison have in common? During their studies, they were all seen as 'difficult students'. They looked at the rigid systems that they were part of and rejected them. Now we see them as innovators and pioneers whose achievements ring through history. Questioning education paradigms is something that Dr. Graeme Milicich is all too familiar with. He’s practiced dentistry for over 40 years and began challenging existing practices during his time at...

Pets are, in many ways, a mirror to ourselves. If we care for and invest time in them, you're going to see that reflected back at you ten-fold. And today's guest certainly understands the complex world of animals and how to keep them happy. Dr. Rick Cambell, the owner of Willow Creek Pet Center, the largest veterinary group practice in the United States. In the world of veterinary medicine, Rick is extraordinary. He's treated thousands upon thousands of animals across his career and was one...

"We all know that art has monetary value but its true value is much deeper. Art transcends race, religion, wealth, status and age. It is connected to us at a soul level. The need for artful expression has always been and will always be. It is for everyone, by everyone." These are the words of today's guest Colt Idol, a painter who is described as the “new face of the Old West”. Colt uses dazzling color and plays with form in his work to bring to life the freedom and nostalgia of a time long...

In his 1841 essay Self-Reliance, philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson tells us to “trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”. In other words, we should all trust in the sacredness of ourselves and our own path, and not try to imitate the road others are destined to travel. Emerson wrote extensively about individuality, self-reliance, and non-conformism, and it makes sense that today’s guests would have a quote from him hanging on his refrigerator. Professor John...

In the last episode, we introduced Professor Philip D. Marsh, Professor Emeritus of Oral Microbiology at the School of Dentistry at the University of Leeds in the UK. Across his incredible career, he's published over 300 research papers and review articles and is co-author of a leading textbook on oral microbiology.  In Part 1, Phil walked us through his early experiences as a penniless Ph.D. student in London and on to his first graduate job. We also discussed the alienation Phil felt as he...

If you're going to be a trailblazer, then you're going to have to take down a few trees along the way. You have to be willing to follow your nose and believe in what you're doing enough to embrace your critics with open arms. Today’s guest is Philip Marsh, Professor Emeritus of Oral Microbiology at the School of Dentistry at the University of Leeds in the UK. In his impressive career, he's published over 300 research papers and review articles and is co-author of a leading textbook on oral...