002: You Never Know Who’s Listening: How Radical Honesty Changes Everything

In this deeply moving kickoff to The Real Talk of Dental, I'm joined by Dr. Brett Kessler—dentist, Ironman athlete, and the current president of the American Dental Association—for a conversation that cracked me wide open.We talk about sobriety, burnout, addiction, and leadership in an industry that often demands perfection at the expense of our humanity. Brett’s recovery journey didn’t just transform his life—it helped give me permission to live mine out loud, too.This episode is a soul-level invitation for every dentist, team member, and leader quietly struggling behind the scenes: you’re not alone, and help exists. We cover staggering mental health stats, the stigma around addiction, the power of peer support, and how real leadership begins with presence—not performance.You’ll learn:The behind-the-scenes truth of addiction and mental health in dentistryWhy I kept my sobriety hidden—and what changed after hearing Brett speakHow Brett is pushing to normalize recovery, change licensing stigma, and lead with radical transparency though his personal missing and work at the ADAWhat the IDAA is and how it's helping professionals and families heal togetherPractical advice for team members worried about someone at workThe 5 dimensions of wellness Brett uses to stay grounded in high-pressure roles🔗 Join the community and submit your anonymous questions: https://www.therealtalkofdental.com 🔗 Learn more about The Empowered LeadHERship Program for Women in Dental: https://leadhershipexperience.com/ #DentalPodcast #MentalHealthInDentistry #BurnoutRecovery #SoberLeadership #RealTalkDentistry #DentistWellness #WorkplaceBurnout #AddictionAwareness #EmpoweredLeadershipWe talk about:00:00 Welcome + Why This Podcast Exists01:20 Why Sobriety Was My Secret03:10 How I Met Brett & Why It Changed Everything06:50 The Gift of Recovery & Brett’s Relapse Journey10:30 Staggering Stats in Dentistry13:00 Why There's Still So Much Shame15:10 Enabling Culture in Dental Teams17:30 Real Resources from the ADA19:45 What to Do If You’re Concerned About a Colleague22:00 How Brett’s Leadership Is Fueled by Recovery26:00 IDAA, Family Healing & Sobriety as a Superpower32:30 The 5 Pillars of Dentist Wellness35:40 The Realest Answer to Burnout You’ll Ever Hear38:50 Brett’s Final Message to Dentists Struggling Right NowConnect with Dr. Bretthttps://www.instagram.com/bikodds/Phone: 720-989-7960Email: [email protected] for help:https://www.idaa.org/https://www.ada.org/resources/practice/wellnesshttps://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol-drug-hotlineConnect with meLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandimarzolino/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandi.marzolino/ https://courageandjoyatwork.com/ https://leadhershipexperience.com/ Phone: 616-682-6222