Why do some relationships feel easy and secure while others leave us overthinking every text, questioning ourselves, or constantly needing reassurance? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I’m joined by psychotherapist Emma Mead for a conversation about relationships at every stage—from navigating the early days of dating to building healthier, more secure long-term relationships. We talk about dating apps, texting anxiety, ghosting, red and green flags, communication, people-pleasing,...

Stop waiting until you feel "ready." In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I'm joined by executive coach Thomas Passalacqua to explore one of the biggest obstacles standing between dental professionals and the career they actually want—not lack of talent, but limiting beliefs. If you've ever thought "I'm just a hygienist," "I'm not qualified enough," or "Maybe someday when I'm more confident..." this episode is for you. Together, we unpack the difference between a fixed mindset and a ...

Hormones don't just affect your mood—they can completely change your oral health. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, Stephanie sits down with returning guest Barbara Tritz, RDH, to discuss one of the most overlooked topics in dentistry: how hormones influence the health of our gums, teeth, saliva, and supporting bone throughout every stage of life. In this episode: Why hormones affect oral health more than most clinicians realizePuberty, pregnancy and menopause through the...

Could the solution to the hygiene shortage actually create new legal problems for dental practices? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I'm joined by Dr. Derik Sven for one of the most thought-provoking conversations we've had on the podcast. We dive into the legal, ethical, and regulatory issues surrounding Oral Preventive Assistants (OPAs), but the conversation quickly expands into something much bigger—the future of dental hygiene and why autonomy matters. One of my biggest t...

Assisted hygiene - could it actually be one of the best solutions to today's hygiene shortage? In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I sit down with hygienist and practice consultant Courtney Wager, RDH, to break down one of dentistry's most controversial topics. After practicing assisted hygiene for over 20 years, Courtney shares why she believes the model has been misunderstood—and how, when done correctly, it can improve patient care, reduce scheduling bottlenecks, increase practice ...

Your stool might be costing you more than you realize. Most dental professionals spend more than 1,500 hours per year sitting, yet very few of us think about whether our stool is helping or hurting us. In this solo episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I share my personal journey with chronic low back pain, the ergonomic mistakes I made early in my career, and the one equipment change that completely transformed the way I practice dentistry. We'll discuss the science behind sitting posture, w...

Dentistry is changing—and whether you love it or hate it, the conversation needs to happen. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I welcome back former ADA President Dr. Brett Kessler for an honest discussion about the future of dental hygiene, practice ownership, and the profession as a whole. From the hygiene shortage and assisted hygiene to insurance reform, burnout, leadership, and medical-dental integration, we tackle some of the most controversial topics in dentistry today with th...

Hair thinning, collagen loss, and aging skin can feel like they happen overnight in midlife—but there’s actually a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, dermatologist and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Dr. Corinne Erickson returns for part two of our conversation to answer listener questions about hair loss, collagen decline, red light therapy, skin treatments, and the lifestyle habits that impact how we age. We discuss why so many women notice...

In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I’m joined by certified nurse midwife and menopause specialist Sarah Shealy, CNM, MSCP, for a deep dive into one of the most talked-about—and misunderstood—topics in women’s health: hormone replacement therapy (HRT). If you've ever wondered whether your anxiety, poor sleep, body aches, brain fog, gut issues, or lack of confidence could be related to perimenopause, this episode is for you. Sarah explains what’s really happening to our hormones during...

Leaking when you sneeze? Constantly running to the bathroom? Feeling pressure, heaviness, or disconnected from your core? These symptoms may have more to do with your pelvic floor than you realize. In this episode of Straight Up With Steph®, I sit down with pelvic floor specialist Emma Bromley to discuss one of the most overlooked aspects of women's health: pelvic floor dysfunction. Like many women, I never gave much thought to my pelvic floor until I started experiencing issues myself. After...