Best Contrary To Ordinary Podcasts (2025)

1
45. Unwavering Compassion and Fearlessness with Dr. Bradley Bale 33:26

5M ago33:26

33:26

Today's guest is Dr. Bradley Bale, a pioneering cardiologist and co-founder of the BaleDoneen Method. In this episode, we explore Brad’s fearless approach to life, the driving force behind his groundbreaking practice, and dive into why he’s willing to take a few arrows in the back for what he believes in. The BaleDoneen Method is a personalized app…

1
44. Global Citizenship with Dr. Sandra Hulac 29:15

6M ago29:15

29:15

Today's guest is Dr. Sandra Hulac, co-founder of Tam, Hulac & Partners, a cutting-edge interdisciplinary dental practice in Hong Kong. In this episode, we dive into what it means to be a global citizen and business owner. We’ll also get a rare, inside look at how someone as accomplished as Sandra handles challenges - and even navigates moments of s…

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43. The Strength of Reaching Out with Sheena Hinson Pt2 31:48

6M ago31:48

31:48

Today's guest is Sheena Hinson, Senior Marketing Manager at Philips. Sheena's journey began as a dental hygienist, but she quickly uncovered a passion for business development. Since then, she’s not only launched her own ventures but also built a vast expertise in entrepreneurship. This is part two of Sheena’s interview. In this episode, she opens …

1
42. The Accidental Expert with Sheena Hinson Pt1 29:29

7M ago29:29

29:29

Today's guest is Sheena Hinson, Senior Marketing Manager at Philips. Sheena's journey began as a dental hygienist, but she quickly uncovered a passion for business development. Since then, she’s not only launched her own ventures but also built a vast expertise in entrepreneurship. In this episode, Sheena shares insights on the importance of human …

1
41. Accountability and Growth with Dr. Tracey Nguyen 28:11

7M ago28:11

28:11

Today's guest is Dr. Tracey Nguyen, the owner of Lansdowne Dental Care in Leesburg, Virginia. In addition to her general practice, Tracey specializes in airway health, with a particular focus on pediatric care. She is also among an elite group of only 350 individuals worldwide accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Tracey’s journ…

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40. Stop and Smell the Roses with Dr. Steve Lamberg 26:52

8M ago26:52

26:52

This week's guest is the phenomenal Dr. Steve Lamberg, one of the world's leading experts in dental sleep medicine—a field that explores the critical roles sleep and breathing play in maintaining our health and well-being. Steve has been practicing dentistry on Long Island for over 45 years, where he runs the Snoring and Sleep Apnea Dental Treatmen…

1
39. Chasing Innovation with Dominik Lysek 29:14

8M ago29:14

29:14

This week’s guest is Dominik Lysek, an entrepreneur with over 15 years of impactful contributions to the dental and pharmaceutical industries. He is the CEO of PharmaTrail, a Swiss company specializing in blockchain-based software solutions for capturing and managing clinical trial data. Dominik also serves on the board of several companies, includ…

1
38. Active Listening with Dr. Kelly Blodgett 28:25

9M ago28:25

28:25

This week's guest is Dr. Kelly Blodgett, a man who has made it his life’s mission to challenge the “negative stereotype of dentistry.” Kelly Blodgett founded Blodgett Dental Care in 2001 where active listening plays a crucial role in the patient experience. Kelly was also one of the first within dentistry to recognize the significance of the mouth-…

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37. Proactive Problem Solving with Dr. Tina Saw 30:15

9M ago30:15

30:15

This week's guest is Dr. Tina Saw, a dentist and serial entrepreneur. She founded Light Solutions Company, which creates wireless lights for dentists, Harmony Health Foundation, an organization supporting healthcare in underserved communities, and Oral Genome, which uses saliva testing to identify potential health issues before they arise. Tina is …

1
36. Choosing the Extraordinary Path with Dr. Doug Thompson 27:51

9M ago27:51

27:51

This week's guest is Dr. Doug Thompson, a pioneer in understanding the connection between oral health and overall well-being. In 2016, he founded the Wellness Dentistry Network to encourage dentists to adopt this more holistic approach, moving beyond the traditional focus on drilling and filling teeth. Doug also serves on the American Academy of Sy…

1
35. Incremental Change with Leon Hermanides 26:18

10M ago26:18

26:18

This week's guest is the rebellious Leon Hermanides, Owner and President of Protea Dental Studio in Redmond Washington. He’s also a Clinical Instructor and Scientific Advisor at the Kois Center. Leon's journey began in his native Zimbabwe, where his father was a prominent figure in the dental space who had vowed never to leave the country. However,…

1
34. Spotlighting the Extraordinary with Melissa Turner 31:05

10M ago31:05

31:05

This week's guest is the vibrant and multi-talented Melissa Turner. She is the Senior Executive Consultant and Chief Hygiene Officer at Cellerant Consulting Group, an incubator and accelerator for dental companies. Melissa is also the co-founder of the Denobi Awards, which celebrate the positive impact of dental professionals worldwide. Additionall…

1
33. Humor and Candor with Dr. Mark Benavides 28:49

11M ago28:49

28:49

Today’s guest is Dr. Mark Benavides, a dentist practicing in Ottawa, Illinois. Mark is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He also uniquely serves as the Scientific Advisor for Computer Technology at the Kois Center. Mark is th…

1
32. Consistency and Grit with Minal Sampat 31:42

11M ago31:42

31:42

Today’s guest is Minal Sampat, speaker, marketing strategist, coach, and bestselling author. Minal is the definition of a third culture kid - she began her life in India and moved to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands as a child. Her final relocation was to the US. where she still lives today. Those early years left an impression on Minal and ta…

1
31. The Privilege of Teaching with Dr. Bob Margeas 33:58

12M ago33:58

33:58

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…

1
30. Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Dr. Scott Edison 33:30

1y ago33:30

33:30

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 u…

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29. Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Dr. Michael R. Sesemann 36:17

1y ago36:17

36:17

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'…

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28. Oral Cancer Awareness Month: Dr. Mike Milligan 24:31

1y ago24:31

24:31

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 gu…

1
27. Dr. Betsy Bakeman on Excellence 27:27

1y ago27:27

27:27

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 c…

1
26. Dr. Betsy Bakeman on Learning, Teaching, and Evolving Pt.1 30:52

1y ago30:52

30:52

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 restorativ…

1
25. Professor Hien Ngo on C.A.R.E 33:47

1y ago33:47

33:47

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 interventio…

1
24. Bonnie Milletto on Finding Her Voice 34:03

1y ago34:03

34:03

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…

1
23. Pastor Laura O’Brien on Leading with Care Pt.2 31:56

1+ y ago31:56

31:56

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 a…

1
22. Pastor Laura O’Brien on Finding Faith Pt.1 41:16

1+ y ago41:16

41:16

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 broug…

1
21. A Look Back at an Extraordinary Year 20:02

1+ y ago20:02

20:02

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 extraord…

1
20. Dr. Amanda Seay on Adversity and Grace 47:58

1+ y ago47:58

47:58

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 ac…

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19. Dr. Simon McDonald on Being Grateful Pt.2 28:48

1+ y ago28:48

28:48

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…

1
18. Dr. Simon McDonald on the Inventors Spirit Pt.1 38:31

1+ y ago38:31

38:31

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 …

1
17. Dr. Bobby Birdi on Being Grateful 31:24

1+ y ago31:24

31:24

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 resea…

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16. Carmen Ohling on Asking Better Questions 41:27

1+ y ago41:27

41:27

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 sel…

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15. Stephanie Staples on Being ‘Nice for a Living’ 38:56

1+ y ago38:56

38:56

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 l…

1
14. Bill Brown on the Power of Lasers 37:40

1+ y ago37:40

37:40

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 …

1
13. Graeme Milicich on Going Against The Grain 37:45

1+ y ago37:45

37:45

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…

1
12. Dr. Rick Campbell on Understanding 'The Two Legged Animal’ 36:32

1+ y ago36:32

36:32

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 S…

1
11. Colt Idol on the Utility of Art 35:41

1+ y ago35:41

35:41

"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 t…

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10. Professor John Featherstone on Forging Your Own Path 42:29

2y ago42:29

42:29

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-r…

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9. Professor Philip D. Marsh on Dealing with the Dogma Pt.2 31:56

2y ago31:56

31:56

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 throug…

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8. Professor Philip D. Marsh on Challenging the Orthodoxy Pt.1 34:27

2y ago34:27

34:27

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…

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7. Rella Christensen on a Life of Two Halves Pt.2 29:44

2y ago29:44

29:44

In the last episode, we introduced Rella Christensen of TRAC Research, a nonprofit institute dedicated to in-depth long-term clinical studies of restorative materials, preventive dentistry, and dental caries. Rella took us on a journey through her incredibly busy life - raising three children and pursuing her career as the director of the Clinical …

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6. Rella Christensen on Following Curiosity Pt.1 35:08

2y ago35:08

35:08

Sometimes to forge the path ahead, you need to create the tools to do so from scratch. Having the courage to blaze a trail using your own resources and time is something that only genuinely extraordinary people will attempt. Today's guest, Rella Christensen, has taken on that risk and has come out on the other side with fresh ideas and strategies t…

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5. Angus Walls on Being a Rebel 37:06

2y ago37:06

37:06

Breaking away from tradition and challenging the status quo are the hallmarks of an extraordinary person. Today’s guest is Angus Walls, who, across his forty years in the field, has excelled at finding better ways to care for his patients. Since 2013, Angus has worked as the Director of the Edinburgh Dental Institute at the University of Edinburgh …

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4. Machell Hudson on Resilience and Compassion 35:42

2y ago35:42

35:42

Having a patient's best interests at heart is critical to the work that dentists do. This means training every single member of the dental team, empowering them to feel compassion for and respond to their patient’s needs holistically. This is a philosophy that Machell Hudson practices, not only in her work as a hygienist but in everything she does.…

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3. Dr. Susan Maples on Breaking the Mold and Mentoring 37:00

2y ago37:00

37:00

You can't have a healthy body if you don't have a healthy mouth. After all, it is the gateway into the body. Dr. Susan Maples is a leader in the area of total health with over 30 years of experience in dentistry. As a child, Susan was exposed to large quantities of secondhand smoke and suffered from severe allergies. Through mentorship and guidance…

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2. Doug Young on Building a Vision, and Revolutionizing Dentistry 26:59

2y ago26:59

26:59

Tooth decay, or dental caries, is the number one disease dentists treat. Yet, the common practice of drilling teeth does not cure the disease. Dr. Doug Young was one of the first to ask a seemingly simple question: If drilling does not cure the disease, why does it remain the first, and often only, option? Finding the answer led him to establish on…

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1. John Kois on Enriching The Heart, The Mind, and Dental Industry 52:59

2y ago52:59

52:59

It may be hard to believe today, but opinion was the root of most dental practice in years past. Not in evidence-based research. When the Kois Center opened in 1994, it ushered in a revolutionary approach to dental care. It was the first center to provide a graduate program for practicing dentists that implemented a structured science-based curricu…

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Introducing Contrary to Ordinary: Exploring the Extraordinary with Dr. Kim Kutsch 2:00

2y ago2:00

2:00

Welcome to "Contrary to Ordinary," where Dr. Kim Kutsch showcases thought leaders in the dental industry - and beyond - who push the boundaries of what's possible. Hear conversations with innovators who blend art and technology, chase curiosity, and create the truly extraordinary. From cutting-edge tech to creative approaches to game-changing innov…

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Episode 72 - New members 26:33

3+ y ago26:33

26:33

In the 72th episode of Humans of SDU, you can meet the people behind the new voices of the podcast: Emma and Ludivine! In this episode, they take the time to discuss a bit more about their experience at SDU and hobbies beside (stalking people for) the podcast. Hopefully, it will inspire some of you to come share your stories with us! Listen to the …

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Episode 71 - Thomas 32:56

3+ y ago32:56

32:56

In the 71th episode of Humans of SDU, we met the coordinator of the Citizen Science Center of SDU: Thomas. Did you have a look at the Citizen Science Talent Programme? He is one of the co-creators and came to share his passion about this new way of doing science and engaging the public in research. Listen to the episode to find out the opportunitie…

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Episode 70 - Julian 29:54

3+ y ago29:54

29:54

In the 70th episode of Humans of SDU, we introduce you to Julian. Most of us arrived in Denmark by plane or train. But Julian arrived BY BIKE. Yep, you read that right. He cycled through Scandinavia before starting the semester here at SDU. Listen to the episode to find out about his trip! Today's hosts are Emma and Navina. https://humansofsdu.dk/p…

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Episode 69 - Alix 21:08

3+ y ago21:08

21:08

In the 69th episode of Humans of SDU, we met an alumni of SDU: Alix. Alix came from France to study marketing and decided to put what she learned into practice by creating the non-profit Junior Entreprise of Odense. She shared with us her excitement about this project and how it helps her shape her future. Listen to the episode to find out the oppo…

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