Welcome to The Shawn Zajas Show, where we dive into the stories of innovators, industry disruptors, and entrepreneurial pioneers who are challenging the status quo and making a lasting impact. Each episode, we explore the journeys of remarkable individuals who have the courage to follow their hearts, shine their unique light, and create positive change in their industries and lives. From groundbreaking ideas in dentistry to game-changing strategies in business, we uncover the secrets to success, the power of resilience, and the beauty of authenticity. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative, or someone passionate about personal growth, this podcast is for you. Join me as we engage in candid conversations that inspire, educate, and empower you to unlock your own brilliance and elevate your impact. Subscribe now and be part of a community that’s committed to pursuing excellence, embracing the unknown, and shaping a brighter future. Ready to take the leap? Let’s get started.
Listen to episodes
60 recent
April 24, 20261 hr 57 min
92 : Dino Watt: Why He Walks Different (And Why That Became His Superpower)
Dino Watt grew up in a broken home. His parents divorced when he was eight. He lived in a five-by-ten trailer with no running water as a teenager. He has dyslexia. He never went to college.He is also one of the most respected relationship coaches in the dental industry, a keynote speaker, an author, and a man who has been married to his wife Shannon for 33 years.In this conversation, Dino shares the frameworks, stories, and hard-won truths behind a life that looks nothing like a straight line. You will hear the moment his wife came out of the bathroom after a year-long road trip and told him she could not do another year of financial uncertainty. The stranger at a dental event who looked at him and said "you walk different" and changed everything. The talk where he apologized for not having a college degree and his wife met him backstage with four words that stopped him cold.This is a conversation about marriage, money, meaning, and why in a world of curated perfection, the messy is what makes you relatable.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 Why Dino Watt stands out 01:00 Growing up in a broken home 02:30 Dyslexia and learning from television 05:00 The day his dad drove away 09:00 The braces story and becoming his mother's protector 11:30 Living in a trailer with no running water 16:00 The early calling to teach marriage 22:00 The Attribution Model: Being, Output, Outcome 27:00 The night Shannon said she couldn't do another year 30:00 Building a culture before a marriage 33:00 The adult children years nobody warns you about 37:00 Security and validation: the two drivers for women 44:00 Money, shame, and praying over the toilet 50:00 Experience over things 55:00 The gift of range and a multi-skilled career 01:00:00 "You walk different" 01:08:00 His son's suicidality 01:11:00 The character we choose to play 01:13:00 Tom Brady as a case study in meaning 01:16:00 Why we diminish our own success 01:20:00 The Dental Town talk and Shannon's rebuke 01:28:00 Dino's real gift: helping people feel seen 01:35:00 The hair transplant that gave doctors permission 01:44:00 Authenticity in the age of AI 01:48:00 The sailboat that never leaves the harbor 01:52:00 The 12-year-old eulogy 01:54:00 The only eyes that matter🔗 CONNECT WITH DINO WATTWebsite: dinowatt.com Instagram: @dinowatt Email: dino@dinowatt.com🎧 CONNECT WITH SHAWN ZAJASWebsite: shawnzajas.com Subscribe to weekly insights for 5,000+ leaders at shawnzajas.com Book Shawn to speak: shawnzajas.com📺 ABOUT THE SHAWN ZAJAS SHOWThe Shawn Zajas Show illuminates the human journey behind dental innovation and entrepreneurship. Through authentic conversations with pioneers, innovators, and transformation experts, Shawn explores how breaking free from conventional wisdom creates unprecedented results and empowers listeners to trust their unique vision and make their greatest impact.New episodes every week. Subscribe so you don't miss the next conversation.🔔 If this episode moved something in you, hit subscribe and leave a comment with the quote that landed hardest. I read every one.
January 16, 20261 hr 4 min
91 : The Swagger Strategy: Why Playing Small Guarantees Failure with Jeffrey Hayzlett
Jeffrey Hayzlett moved out at 16, worked multiple jobs through college, and made his first million by age 26. Today he stands as a four-time business hall of fame inductee, former CMO of Kodak, and founder of the C-Suite Network. But none of that defines him.In this conversation, Jeffrey shares the foundational belief that shaped his trajectory: the things that define you must be decided by you, not by others. Growing up in a trailer park with a military father and bookkeeper mother, he never knew the unwritten rules about who you can and cannot contact in business. So he picked up the phone and called Trump directly. He walked into Bloomberg and offered to write a check on the spot to buy airtime for his show.Jeffrey challenges the popular "fail fast" philosophy. His counter: win fast. Failure sucks. The goal is to get through the failures quickly so you can reach the wins.For dental professionals and entrepreneurs listening, Jeffrey delivers a direct message: you need to become a content company. Stop relying on rented land like Google ads. Trust is the new currency. The way to build it is through authentic content that shows people who you are, what you stand for, and why they can count on you.The conversation reveals a man who has dined at the Oscars and keynoted Fortune 100 events, yet would rather be on a tractor in South Dakota listening to country music. A man who drives a 20-year-old truck with bullet holes because he has nothing to prove. His advice to his 15-year-old self: do it faster, do it bigger, do it bolder.www.shawnzajas.comhttps://studio.bynd.media/
August 29, 20252 hr 32 min
90 : Breaking the Silence: The Prostate Cancer Truth Every Man Needs to Know with Joe Dooley
Men Over 40: This Extensive 150-Minute Interview Could Save Your Life - A Patient's Complete Journey Through Prostate CancerCRITICAL VIEWING: One in Eight Men Will Get This Disease - Learn What Doctors Won't Tell YouBlack Men & Men With Family History: Your Risk Is Even Higher - Watch This NowIn this powerful, comprehensive interview, prostate cancer patient Joe Dooley shares his entire journey from diagnosis through metastatic disease, revealing critical information that could save your life or the life of someone you love. Drawing from his personal experience with advanced prostate cancer treated at Mayo Clinic, Joe breaks his silence about the disease that kills 35,000 men annually while most stay quiet. As a patient advocate on a mission to save lives through early detection awareness, Joe provides the education and insights that men desperately need but rarely receive from their doctors.This isn't just another medical interview - it's a life-saving conversation between a survivor and men who need to hear the truth about prostate cancer before it's too late. From the moment his PSA jumped from 2.75 to 4.2, through surgery, radiation, and the brutal reality of hormone therapy, Joe shares every detail with unprecedented honesty and clarity.What This Interview Covers:Critical Information You'll Learn:✅ Why your "normal" PSA result could actually mean you have cancer (Joe's 4.43 PSA showed "NORMAL" while he had confirmed cancer)✅ The complete timeline from first PSA test to metastatic disease diagnosis✅ How active surveillance became Joe's biggest regret and nearly cost him his life✅ The brutal truth about hormone therapy (ADT) that doctors don't prepare you for✅ Why "you'll die WITH it, not FROM it" is a deadly lie (35,000 men die FROM prostate cancer annually)✅ The PSMA scan breakthrough that found Joe's tumor at Mayo Clinic✅ Real conversations about erectile dysfunction and incontinence that men need to hear✅ How Joe diagnosed a friend's cancer at dinner - and saved his life✅ The shocking connection between breast cancer in female relatives and prostate cancer risk✅ Why younger men face MORE aggressive cancer, not lessKey Topics & Timestamps:Understanding PSA tests and why "normal" means nothing without knowing your numberThe asymptomatic nature of prostate cancer - why you'll feel nothing until it's too lateFamily history's critical role (2.5x higher risk with paternal prostate cancer)Black men's devastating 1 in 4 diagnosis rate and higher mortalityThe active surveillance trap for younger menComplete breakdown of treatment options: surgery vs. radiationThe 18-month hormone therapy nightmare: 50-pound weight gain, hot flashes, zero testosteroneBreaking the silence: why men don't talk about prostate cancerEarly detection strategies that actually workWho MUST Watch This Interview:Every man over 40, especially those who feel healthyBlack men who face quadruple the average riskMen with ANY family history of cancerPartners and wives trying to understand what their loved one facesRecently diagnosed men making treatment decisionsMen on active surveillance questioning their choiceHealthcare providers wanting to understand the patient perspectiveAnyone who thinks prostate cancer is an "old man's disease"Men whose doctors say their PSA is "normal"Joe's Journey By The Numbers:Age 58: PSA jumps from 2.75 to 4.2 (both considered "normal")October 2019: Diagnosed with Gleason 6 prostate cancerAugust 2020: Upgraded to Gleason 7 during active surveillanceNovember 2020: Prostatectomy reveals metastatic disease18 months: Hormone therapy causing 50-pound weight gain, metabolic disorder0.25 PSA: When Mayo Clinic's PSMA scan found his tiny tumor35,000: Men who die FROM prostate cancer every year1 in 8: Lifetime risk for all men1 in 4: Risk for Black menThe Turning Points That Changed Everything:When "Low Risk" Became Life-Threatening:Joe's initial diagnosis was "low risk" Gleason 6 cancer. His doctor recommended active surveillance - watching and waiting. This decision, which Joe now deeply regrets, allowed his cancer to escape the prostate and become metastatic. The friend Joe later saved by insisting on immediate surgery? His tumor was hours from breaking through the prostate wall.The Hormone Therapy Nobody Prepares You For:Eighteen months of chemical castration - that's what hormone therapy really is. Joe gained 50 pounds despite working out constantly. Five to fifteen hot flashes daily. Testosterone at zero - lower than a woman's level. Insulin resistance requiring five times normal insulin doses. This wasn't a side effect - it was torture that Joe describes as worse than the cancer itself.Finding the Tumor Others Missed:When local doctors wanted to blindly radiate Joe's pelvic floor without knowing where the tumor was, he found Dr. Eugene Kwon at Mayo Clinic. Using groundbreaking PSMA scan technology, they found a tumor the size of a pinky fingernail at just 0.25 PSA - earlier than anyone thought possible.Critical Warnings From Joe's Experience:About PSA Testing:"Your doctor says it's normal because it shows up on a range. Mine said normal when I already had cancer. Know your number. If your doctor won't tell you, make them look it up while you're sitting there."About Active Surveillance:"If you're in your 40s or 50s and they're offering active surveillance, the answer is no. I knew I'd eventually have surgery but procrastinated. That procrastination likely caused my metastatic disease."About Family History:"My friend's father died from prostate cancer, yet he'd never been tested. I diagnosed him at dinner. His PSA was 5.6. He had cancer. The surgeon later said he got it out just in time - the tumor was hours from breaking through."About Being "Healthy":"You can be six feet tall, 185 pounds, doing triathlons, thinking you're the healthiest man in the world. Inside your prostate, cancer could be growing. You won't feel a thing."The Message Every Man Needs to Hear:This disease is completely curable when caught early but incurable once it metastasizes. The difference between cure and lifetime treatment often comes down to a simple PSA test and the knowledge to understand what those numbers really mean. Joe's mission is simple: ensure no man suffers from ignorance about a disease that's completely preventable with early detection.Resources Mentioned:Dr. Patrick Walsh's "Surviving Prostate Cancer" (4th Edition)Dr. Eugene Kwon's annual patient lectures at Mayo ClinicTake Action Now:Get your PSA tested - especially if you're over 40, Black, or have family historyKnow your actual number - never accept "normal" as an answerTrack changes over time - PSA velocity matters more than absolute numbersShare this video - Joe gave up his privacy to save lives, help him reach more menBreak the silence - talk about prostate cancer like women talk about breast cancerThis interview could be the most important 150 minutes you spend this year. Don't wait until you have symptoms - by then it's too late. Watch now and share with every man over 40 in your life.Subscribe for more life-saving content about prostate cancer awareness and early detection from a patient who's lived through it all.#ProstateCancer #PSATest #MensHealth #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #MetastaticCancer #ProstateCancerAwareness #PatientStory #MayoClinic #CancerJourney #BlackMensHealth #CancerSurvivor #PatientAdvocate #HormoneTherapy #ActiveSurveillance #PSMAScans #CancerTreatment #MensHealthOver40 #FamilyHistory #BreakTheSilenceAbout Joe Dooley:Joe Dooley is a prostate cancer patient and advocate who broke his silence about living with metastatic disease to save other men from the same fate. After keeping his diagnosis private until his cancer metastasized, Joe now shares his complete journey to promote early detection and awareness. His mission is simple: ensure men get tested early when prostate cancer is still curable, not after it becomes a lifelong battle with metastatic disease.Medical Disclaimer:This interview shares one patient's personal experience with prostate cancer. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers for medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment decisions. Every cancer case is unique, and what worked for one patient may not be appropriate for
July 25, 202553 min
89 ::: Ground Marketing: How Michael Arias Pioneered a New Approach to Dental Marketing
Michael Arias shares his journey from being a nutritionist to becoming a pioneering figure in dental marketing. He coined the term "ground marketing" and developed it into a sophisticated approach for dental practices to connect with their communities. The conversation explores his evolution as a podcaster, his philosophy on learning and growth, and how he overcame initial fears in business development. Michael provides deep insights into effective community engagement strategies and the importance of taking action despite uncertainty.
May 28, 202541 min
88 ::: From Dental Assistant to Leadership Coach: How Angela Davis Sullivan Pioneered Authentic Change in Dentistry
Angela Davis Sullivan's transformative journey from dental assistant to sought-after leadership coach reveals the power of authentic brilliance emerging through gradual courage. Over two decades in dentistry, Angela discovered that her introverted nature wasn't a limitation—it was her secret weapon for connecting with quiet team members whose voices often went unheard.Her story illuminates a profound truth: you don't need a title to lead. Through vulnerable conversations about overcoming limiting beliefs, Angela demonstrates how authentic leadership creates sustainable practice transformation. She emphasizes that every practice already has a culture—the question is whether it's the culture you want.Angela's methodical approach to career transition offers hope to dental professionals feeling called to something more. By maintaining her "safety job" while gradually building her coaching skills, she proves that transformation doesn't require reckless leaps—just consistent courage to step outside your comfort zone.Her work focuses on helping dental practices recognize that profitability flows from people, not just systems. When leaders invest in their teams' growth and create cultures of trust and accountability, remarkable transformations occur that extend far beyond the practice walls.
May 26, 202552 min
87 ::: The Power of Connection: How Dawn Scott is Transforming Dental Patient Care
Dawn Scott's journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a master of patient connection reveals how authentic brilliance emerges from embracing our most difficult experiences. Raised in an environment where she learned to "read between the lines" due to her mother's anxiety and depression, Dawn discovered her superpower: the intuitive ability to understand people's unspoken needs.Despite initially pursuing international business, dentistry kept finding her—from working at a front desk at 18 to creating Business Intelligence departments, to ultimately becoming a revolutionary voice in patient communication. Her story illuminates how personal struggles can become professional strengths, transforming not just individual practices but entire approaches to healthcare connection.Through raising a daughter with anxiety and writing her children's book "Go Away Ick," Dawn demonstrates that true innovation in dentistry isn't just about technology—it's about creating spaces where patients feel seen, understood, and genuinely cared for. Her EMOTION framework offers dental professionals a systematic approach to building authentic connections that drive both patient satisfaction and practice success.
May 23, 202550 min
86 ::: Ai in Dentistry: Dr. Shah's Vision to Return Power to Practitioners
Dr. Kianor Shah illuminates the human journey behind his remarkable transformation from immigrant to global healthcare pioneer. Born amidst revolution in Iran and witnessing historic moments across three countries, his authentic brilliance emerged from these unique experiences, fueling his mission to return healthcare control to doctors. Despite fierce resistance when launching World's Top Doctors in 2020, his wholehearted commitment never wavered. As founder of the Dental Artificial Intelligence Association, Dr. Shah envisions AI not as a threat but as a powerful tool to eliminate corporate middlemen and restore the doctor-patient relationship. With organizations spanning six continents, his journey reveals that when you bet on yourself and embrace risk, your authentic brilliance becomes your evolutionary advantage in transforming an entire profession.
May 21, 20251 hr 2 min
85 ::: Permission to Dream: How Cassie Tallon's Fractional Leadership Model Is Transforming Dental Practices
In this compelling conversation, Cassie Tallon shares her journey from hospitality marketing to becoming a fractional CMO/COO in the dental industry. She discusses her unique approach to leadership, combining operational excellence with deep empathy for team members' individual strengths and aspirations. Cassie emphasizes the importance of giving people permission to dream and breaking down limiting beliefs. The conversation explores themes of purpose, authenticity, and the power of servant leadership in transforming dental practices.
May 19, 202554 min
84 ::: Data-Driven Dentistry: How Dr. Matt Allen is Transforming Dentistry With Different Kind
In this illuminating conversation, Dr. Matt Allen shares his authentic journey from dental director to founding Different Kind, a dental technology company transforming how practices collect and utilize patient feedback. The episode explores Matt's sabbatical year that created space for his authentic brilliance to emerge, his experience navigating uncertainty without guarantees, and his vision for revolutionizing dental data collection. Through powerful metaphors about rivers, boats, and placing stones one at a time, Matt reveals how embracing his unique path led to creating technology that helps practices improve both patient outcomes and business performance. His story exemplifies how stepping beyond clinical dentistry can lead to unprecedented impact when we trust our vision even without seeing the full road ahead.Connect with Matt Allen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/differentkind/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imdifferentkind/X: https://twitter.com/imdifferentkind
May 16, 202555 min
83 ::: From Dental Chair to Digital Empire: Dr. Paul Goodman's Dental Nachos Story
In this captivating episode, Dr. Paul Goodman, founder of Dental Nachos, shares his remarkable journey from practicing dentist to creating one of dentistry's most influential communities. With infectious energy and authentic transparency, Paul discusses the challenges of dental practice, the importance of communication in healthcare, and how a simple Facebook group evolved into a movement that's changing how dentists learn and connect. From his early days working with his father to building a multi-faceted business empire, Paul offers invaluable insights about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of dental education.
Is this your show?
Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.
