Why Dentists Are Ditching the Drill (ft. the "Podfather" Dr. Alan Mead)

In this episode of our podcast, we dive into the evolving landscape of dentistry and the motivations behind the increasing trend of young dentists pursuing side gigs and alternative careers outside of clinical practice. We kick off the conversation by reflecting on our own experiences since graduating in 2013. Both Alex and I share our feelings of burnout and a waning passion for traditional clinical dentistry, which leads us to question why so many of our peers are exploring side hustles. We reminisce about the early days of our careers, where podcasts like Dental Hacks and Thriving Dentist provided us with both clinical insights and a sense of camaraderie during our long commutes. Our guest, Alan Mead, a seasoned podcaster, joins us to provide his perspective on the current state of dental podcasting and the rise of side gigs among younger dentists. Alan shares his journey in the podcasting world, highlighting how the landscape has changed since he first entered it, with a significant increase in the number of dental podcasts available today. We discuss the appeal of side hustles, including the allure of social media influencing and the challenges that come with it. Alan points out that while clinical dentistry offers a stable and lucrative career, many younger dentists are drawn to the flexibility and creativity that side gigs provide. As the conversation progresses, we engage in a fun segment where we play a "Kiss, Marry, Kill" game with various potential side gigs. Each of us shares our preferences and reasoning, leading to some humorous and insightful discussions about the realities of these roles. It was an honor to bring on one of the "OG's" of dental podcasting and hope to have him on future episodes!