Voices from The Bench

438: Shawn Nowak & Jude Grayson: What Does a Karate Guy Know About Dental Labs?

August 17th, 2026  |  1 hr 4 mins

3d printing, 3d printing dental laboratory, actionable advice, adaptability, adapting, adapting to technology, ai, ai dental laboratory, ai in dental labs, ai in dentistry, artificial intelligence, automation, barb, board breaking, breakout session, business adaptability, business challenges, business coach, business coaching, business coaching for dental labs, business decisions, business development, business education, business evolution, business failure, business growth, business growth strategy, business innovation, business leadership, business lessons, business lessons from karate, business mindset, business mindset for dental labs, business opportunities, business opportunity, business performance, business pivot, business planning, business resilience, business strategy, business success, business transformation, calculated risk, change for dental labs, change management, coach, coaching, coaching mindset, company culture, competing on value, competition, competition and business, competition mindset, competitive advantage, competitive business, competitive mindset, confidence, confidence building, continuing education, decision making, dental 3d printing, dental automation, dental business, dental business future, dental business podcast, dental ce, dental ce courses, dental conference, dental conference 2026, dental education, dental education 2026, dental education podcast, dental entrepreneurship, dental event, dental family business, dental industry, dental industry business, dental industry community, dental industry conference, dental industry disruption, dental industry education, dental industry events, dental industry future, dental industry innovation, dental industry leadership, dental industry networking, dental industry podcast, dental industry podcast episode, dental industry speakers, dental industry technology, dental industry trends, dental innovation, dental keynote, dental lab, dental lab ai, dental lab automation, dental lab 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leadership, fighting analogy, finding opportunities, five year old board break moment, future of dental laboratory industry, future of dental labs, future of dental technology, future of dentistry, future proofing, future proofing your dental lab, future trends, growth for dental labs, growth mindset, identifying opportunities, industry challenges, industry change, industry disruption, industry evolution, industry networking, industry trends, innovation, innovation for dental labs, innovation in dentistry, innovation mindset, inspiration, jude grayson, jude grayson nola labfest, karate, karate and business, karate at dental conference, karate business lessons, karate instructor, karate teacher, keynote speaker, knowing when to pivot, laboratory growth, laboratory leadership, laboratory management, laboratory success, leadership, leadership coaching, leadership development, leadership for dental labs, leadership lessons from martial arts, leadership mindset, leadership transformation, 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Shawn Nowak from Nowak Dental Supplies joins Elvis and Barb to talk about NOLA LabFest and the unexpected connection between martial arts and the dental laboratory industry with speaker Jude Grayson. They discuss leadership, business, knowing when to pivot, and how lessons from competition and martial arts can help lab owners navigate a rapidly changing industry. Plus, Shawn gives a preview of what’s coming to NOLA LabFest, including education, networking, and plenty of New Orleans fun.

437: Phillip Gold: The Gold Standard of Dental Technology

August 10th, 2026  |  1 hr 4 mins

3d printing, account management, account retention, ai education, ai for dental technicians, ai in dentistry, ai learning, analog dental laboratory, analog dentistry, artificial intelligence, barb, barb and elvis, behind the scenes dental lab, business development, business growth, business relationships, business succession, business transition, by design, by design dental studio, cal lab, career development, career longevity, casting, cdt, cdt certification, cdt exam, cdt exam preparation, ceramic technician, ceramics, ceramics cdt, certification advocacy, certification preparation, certified dental technician, chatgpt, client relationships, client retention, clinical excellence, color science, continuing education, corporate dental laboratory, corporate dentistry, crown and bridge, crown and bridge cdt, crown and bridge technician, customer relationships, customer service, customer service philosophy, decades in dentistry, decades in the dental lab, dental ai, dental anatomy, dental anatomy and occlusion, dental artistry, dental associations, dental boards, dental business, dental business development, dental cad, dental cad cam, dental cam, dental career, dental career story, dental casting, dental ceramics, dental certification, dental certification exam, dental certification study, dental community, dental community support, dental conferences, dental craftsmanship, dental diagnostics, dental education, dental education community, dental education history, dental entrepreneur, dental entrepreneurship, dental equipment, dental exam preparation, dental excellence, dental family, dental family business, dental history, dental history stories, dental industry, dental industry career, dental industry community, dental industry education, dental industry history, dental industry leadership, dental industry legacy, dental industry mentorship, dental industry networking, dental industry podcast, dental industry relationships, dental industry stories, dental industry veteran, dental innovation, dental innovation history, dental lab, dental lab acquisition, dental lab culture, dental lab customer service, dental lab education, dental lab equipment, dental lab history, dental lab management, dental lab owner, dental lab ownership, dental lab podcast, dental lab quality control, dental lab relationships, dental lab stories, dental laboratory, dental laboratory business, dental laboratory career, dental laboratory certification, dental laboratory community, dental laboratory education, dental laboratory equipment, dental laboratory expert, dental laboratory growth, dental laboratory history, dental laboratory innovation, dental laboratory leadership, dental laboratory legacy, dental laboratory owner, dental laboratory podcast, dental laboratory sales, dental laboratory standards, dental laboratory stories, dental laboratory team, dental laboratory veteran, dental laboratory workflow, dental leadership, dental legacy, dental manufacturing, dental 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leadership, industry mentors, industry networking, ivoclar, jacket crowns, knowledge sharing, lab management, lab sales, laboratory acquisition, laboratory culture, laboratory entrepreneur, laboratory growth, laboratory history, laboratory leadership, laboratory legacy, laboratory management, laboratory operator, laboratory ownership, laboratory relationships, laboratory stories, laboratory succession, laboratory team, laboratory transition, leadership, learning, learning from experience, learning from mentors, legacy business, life in the dental lab, lifelong learning, lifetime in dental laboratory, lifetime in dentistry, master cdt, master dental technician, master technician, mentorship, milling, nadl, national board for certification, national dentex, nbc, ndx, next generation, next generation dental technicians, occlusion, oral arts, partial dentures, partials cdt, pfm, philip gold, philip gold cdt, philip gold dental laboratory, philip gold dental technician, philip gold interview, philip gold podcast, porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, practical exam, professional certification, professional development, professional growth, professional legacy, professional networking, professional standards, prosthodontics, quality control, quality dentistry, raymond gold, relationship business, removable prosthetics, restorative dental technology, restorative dentistry, sales, sharing knowledge, six cdt certifications, six certifications, skills development, study for cdt, succession, succession planning, supporting technicians, team building, technical excellence, technician advocacy, technician development, technician education, technician leadership, technician stories, troubleshooting, voices from the bench, voices from the bench podcast, wax-up, williams gold, williams gold refining company, work ethic

This week we sit down with Philip Gold to hear the incredible story of growing up in a dental laboratory, taking over his family’s lab, and building a career centered around relationships, education, and giving back to the industry. Philip shares stories from his journey, the evolution of dental technology, and what drove him to earn an impressive six CDT certifications—including digital. It’s a great conversation about family, legacy, leadership, and the people who make this industry so special.

Episode 435: Matt Everatt is Making the Invisible Profession Visible

July 27th, 2026  |  58 mins 50 secs

3d printing, 3d printing dentistry, adaptability, adapting to change, additive manufacturing, agile business, agile dental laboratory, ai and dentistry, ai dental technology, ai future, ai in dentistry, ai trends, airway appliances, airway health, amazon prime, anaplastology, anti-snoring devices, artificial ears, artificial eyes, artificial intelligence, artisan, artistry, artistry in dentistry, attention to detail, attracting technicians, audible, audiobook, audiobooks, author, barb, behind the restoration, behind the scenes, behind the smile, better future, better health, better patient outcomes, better sleep, bite splints, bleaching trays, blockbuster, book recommendation, book review, book writing, brand positioning, british dental technician, building a business, building teams, business agility, business book, business coach, business coaching, business disruption, business efficiency, business excellence, business exit, business growth, business identity, business innovation, business lessons, business marketing, business mindset, business opportunities, business ownership, business processes, business profitability, business resilience, business strategy, business sustainability, business systems, cad cam, cad cam dentistry, career book, career change, career development, career inspiration, career journey, career stories, ceramist, change management, changing customer expectations, changing dental industry, changing lives, changing the narrative, changing the profession, client service, clinical excellence, clinical expertise, clinical partner, clinical partnership, clinical workflow, collaboration, collaboration over competition, commercial dental laboratory, communication, community support, company culture, competing on price, competitive advantage, content marketing, convenience, corporate dental laboratories, corporate dentistry, covid impact, covid-19, craftsmanship, craftsmanship in dentistry, cranial implants, cranioplasty, creativity, crown and bridge, custom appliances, custom dental appliances, customer expectations, customer service, delegation, dental artisans, dental business, dental cad cam, dental career, dental ceramics, dental community, dental conferences, dental expertise, dental healthcare, dental industry, dental industry author, dental industry history, dental industry networking, dental industry podcast, dental industry regulation, dental innovation, dental insurance, dental journalism, dental lab, dental lab acquisitions, dental lab book, dental lab business, dental lab entrepreneur, dental lab future, dental lab industry podcast, dental lab innovation, dental lab leadership, dental lab management, dental lab marketing, dental lab modernization, dental lab networking, dental lab owner, dental lab perspective, dental lab pricing, dental lab profitability, dental lab success, dental lab workflow, dental laboratory, dental laboratory business, dental laboratory communication, dental laboratory evolution, dental 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Matt Everatt joins Elvis and Barb to talk about his incredible journey through the dental laboratory industry, from maxillofacial prosthetics and sleep apnea appliances to co-founding a successful dental lab and eventually writing The Invisible Profession. They dive into the challenges facing dental technicians, the dangers of becoming a "busy fool," and why embracing technology, standing out, and becoming a true clinical partner are essential for the future of the laboratory industry.

Episode 431: exocad Insights 2026 Part 5: Beth Collington, Josh Jakson, & Robert Norton

June 29th, 2026  |  56 mins 10 secs

3d design, 3d modeling, advanced dental technology, advanced workflows, ai crown, ai dentistry, ai in dental labs, ai-assisted dentistry, ai-powered design, artificial intelligence, automotive parts design, bench talk, beth collington, cad design, cad designer, cad workflow, cad/cam, clinicians, continuing education, creative cad applications, crown and bridge, crown design, crown finalization, crown production, custom grills, custom jewelry, custom restorations, dental automation, dental business, dental cad, dental cad community, dental cad experts, dental cad software, dental cad training, dental collaboration, dental community, dental conference, dental craftsmanship, dental design, dental design innovation, dental design software, dental design techniques, dental discussion, dental education, dental educators, dental engineering, dental expertise, dental future, dental industry, dental industry leaders, dental industry podcast, dental innovation, dental innovation summit, dental jewelry, dental lab, dental lab future, dental lab professionals, dental lab technology, dental laboratory, dental laboratory management, dental laboratory podcast, dental laboratory workflows, dental leadership, dental manufacturing, dental manufacturing technology, dental podcast, dental professionals, dental prosthetics, dental restorations, dental scanning, dental software, dental software experts, dental software innovation, dental software platform, dental software training, dental software updates, dental solutions, dental technician, dental technician life, dental technician training, dental technology, dental technology conference, dental technology education, dental technology experts, dental technology trends, dental trends, dental workflow efficiency, dental workflow management, dental workflow solutions, dental workflows, digital dental education, digital dental laboratory, digital dental revolution, digital dental solutions, digital dentistry, digital dentistry podcast, digital design solutions, digital impressions, digital lab, digital manufacturing, digital prosthetics, digital restoration design, digital solutions, digital tools, digital transformation, digital workflows, emerging technology, exocad, exocad america, exocad community, exocad ecosystem, exocad innovations, exocad insights, exocad training, exocad users, exocad users meeting, exohub, freeform design, future of dentistry, future-ready dentistry, industry insights, industry leaders, industry networking, innovation in dentistry, intraoral scanning, josh jackson, lab technology, lab-to-clinic communication, laboratory best practices, laboratory conversations, laboratory digital transformation., laboratory education, laboratory education and training, laboratory efficiency, laboratory excellence, laboratory growth, laboratory innovation, laboratory management, laboratory operations, laboratory perspective, laboratory productivity, laboratory support, laboratory technicians, laboratory technology, laboratory technology trends, mallorca, mallorca conference, modern dental laboratory, modern dentistry, next generation dentistry, podcast, production laboratory, production workflows, professional development, restorative dentistry, restorative technology, restorative workflows, robert norton, software development, software flexibility, technician education, technician insights, technician perspective, technician training, technician-led innovation, technology adoption, technology and dentistry, technology in dentistry, vftb, voices from the bench, workflow automation, workflow improvements, workflow integration, workflow optimization, workflow technology

While at Exocad Insights in Mallorca, Elvis and Barb catch up with Beth Collington, President of Exocad America, to discuss the continued growth of digital dentistry, the importance of education, and how Exocad is helping make digital workflows more accessible across the industry.

Then Josh Jackson and Robert Norton join the conversation to share insights from the lab and training side of Exocad. From AI Crown and Crown Finalization to creative applications beyond dentistry, they discuss the latest innovations, real-world workflows, and where digital technology is taking the profession next.

425: DLAT 2026 Part 2 with Tony Aliatim, Rebekah Serrago, Chris Wilson, Antoine Coppens, & Christian Saurman

May 18th, 2026  |  1 hr 13 mins

3d printed models, 3d printing, 3shape, ai calibration, ai dentistry, ai design, ai learning, ai scan analysis, ai workflow, aligners, amann girrbach, apis, artificial intelligence, automated design, automated workflows, axis dental, barcoding, biomedical engineering, cad/cam, calibration, cam software, cbct, ceo, chairside milling, clinicians, cloud workflow, crown design, ct scan, custom solutions, customer support, customization, dental ai, dental ai software, dental automation, dental business, dental business growth, dental cad, dental community, dental conversations, dental conversations podcast, dental craftsmanship, dental culture, dental e-commerce, dental education, dental engineering, dental entrepreneurship, dental equipment repair, dental excellence, dental future, dental implants, dental industry, dental innovation, dental innovation podcast, dental lab, dental lab technician, dental labs, dental manufacturing, dental materials, dental milling, dental nerds, dental networking, dental ovens, dental parts, dental podcast, dental prescriptions, dental printing, dental repairs, dental scanners, dental scanning, dental service, dental service center, dental software, dental support, dental systems, dental technician, dental technology, dental tools, dental trends, dental workflow, design presets, detroit, digital cases, digital dentistry, digital impressions, digital lab, digital manufacturing, digital models, digital orthodontics, digital transformation, digital workflows, dlat, doctor portal, e.max, engineering, engineering solutions, equipment service, exocad, family business, fda compliance, fda validation, future of dentistry, garland dental, handpiece repair, hyperdent, implant abutments, implant crowns, implant milling, implant workflow, in-house lab, industrial milling, intraoral scanner, invisalign, lab automation, lab efficiency, lab equipment, lab growth, lab life, lab management software, lab operations, lab productivity, lab solutions, lab systems, lab workflow, lms, lmt chicago, machine learning, mandibular canal, manufacturing technology, margin lines, michigan, midwinter meeting, milling, milling accuracy, milling burs, milling centers, milling machines, milling tools, modjaw, mri, neolab, nesting software, new england orthodontic laboratory, night guards, online dental sales, orthodontic appliances, orthodontic lab, orthodontics, ovens, panoramic radiograph, pediatric dentistry, plug and play, pmma, pnp, preventive maintenance, production workflow, productivity, relu, repair technicians, repeatability, resin printing, restorative dentistry, robotic surgery, roland, rxwizard, scan alignment, scan quality, segmentation, silicone printing, smart mills, social media marketing, splints, stem cells, stl files, stl workflow, straumann, surgical guides, surgical planning, takema, tech support, technician workflow, tissue printing, titanium, trade shows, training, validated workflows, versamill, vhf, voices from the bench, women in dentistry, workflow automation, workflow efficiency, workflow integration, workflow optimization, workflow solutions, zirconia, zirconia crowns

At the Dental Laboratory Association of Texas Meeting 2026, Elvis and Barb sat down with Tony Aliatim from Axis Dental Milling, Rebekah Serrago and Chris Wilson from Garland Dental Services, and Antoine Coppens from Relu alongside orthodontic lab owner Christian Saurman from New England Orthodontic Laboratory. The conversations covered everything from industrial dental milling and equipment repair to AI-driven workflows that are changing how labs design and manufacture restorations. From preventive maintenance and milling strategies to fully automated AI design systems, this episode is packed with insight into where dental technology — and the lab industry — is headed next.

360: Escape Some Workload with Dentscape AI - Ryan Axelson, Bill Chou, & Dr. Sylvie Liu

February 17th, 2025  |  1 hr 6 mins

ai, algorithm, amazon, artificial intelligence, aws, bridges, dental, design, drag and drop, ids, intuitive, lab day, laboratory, learning, margins, meta, podcast, preferences, solve problems, splints, staff shortages, supervised learning, technician, user friendly, voices from the bench

Let's get into what is and what makes AI work when designing crowns. This week brings us the people behind Dentscape AI. Bill Chou, Dr. Sylvie Liu, and Ryan Axelson all talk about what it takes to design 100 crowns in 10 minutes

334: Optimizing Your Workflow Through Automation with Kris Wouters & OQCAM

August 19th, 2024  |  1 hr 6 secs

3d printing, ai, artificial intelligence, automation, belgium, cloud based, computer power, dental, implants, labels, laboratory, optimize, organize, orientation strategy, podcast, prioritize, scaling, simplant, technician, value, voices from the bench

Nobody enjoys the boring work in a lab. This week we meet Kris Wouters, the CEO of OQCAM. OQCAM is looking at using AI to help automate many of the tasks associated in a dental lab's digital workflow and allow labs more time to do better work. All size labs can benefit from this service.

322: The Full "Arch-Bishop" of 3shape Design with Cole Bishop

May 27th, 2024  |  1 hr 4 mins

1600, 3shape, ai, all-on-x, arrowhead, artificial intelligence, asia, cnc, cosmetic, costa rica, dental, full contour, laboratory, lmt, lucid, management, menu, model, phoenix, podcast, post and core, preferences, profiles, public speaking, quality, redesign, technician, treasure dental studio, voices from the bench, waxing

This week we chat to the Global Head of Design Quality with 3Shape Design Services, Cole Bishop. Cole talks about his journey into digital design, his time at Full Contour, the transition to 3shape, and being a part of the team that developed their AI services called Automate.

308: Harvesting Your Lab's Value with Rob Laizure and Sasha Der Avanessian

February 19th, 2024  |  1 hr 3 mins

ai, artificial intelligence, brand identity, cal-lab, communication, dental, differentiate, engaging, ez gum, intangible, journaling, lab day, laboratory, leadership, lmt, logo, marketing messaging, pizza, podcast, rescheduling, solving a problem, strength, tangible, technician, therapist, value, voices from the bench, whiteboard

This week we talk to two giants in our industry, Rob Laizure and Sasha Der Avanessian. They have come together to help labs find their value and to create a message that will allow labs to differentiate themselves in an industry of commodity products.

254: The Full Story of Full Contour with Rob Laizure

February 6th, 2023  |  1 hr 12 mins

3shape, argen integration, artificial intelligence, cole bishop, dental, dental wings, dentures, digital, dropdental, family, itero, laboratory, lmt lab day chicago, milling centers, night guards, outsource, partials, photography, podcast, relationships, surgical guides, technician, training, trios, value, voices from the bench

One of the largest design services in our industry is Full Contour and the president Rob Laizure comes on the podcast to tell us the story of scaling and growing to become what they are today along with their new partnership with 3shape