The Bloom Effect with Cassie Kellner is a podcast for teams who care about how they lead and how they grow along the way. Cassie sits down with guests to talk about the things that don’t always get said out loud: the messiness of leadership, building culture from the inside out, and learning to show
"The lesson is that you are never there. You're always on this journey." Every high achiever knows the feeling: when I finish this, when I hit that number, when the house is done, then I'll feel like I made it. Dr. Mary Cooke has learned that "there" doesn't exist, and she keeps relearning it. Cassie sits down with Dr. Mary Cooke, an orthodontist, practice owner, wife, and mom she's known for ten years. Fresh out of residency and looking for an associate job, Mary sent out letters. One orthodontist wrote back that he was selling. Her response: Okay, I'll buy it. Within weeks she owned a…
"I was not building my practice for the past. I was building it for the future." -Dr. Jacquee Schieck 🎙Every practice owner eventually hits the same wall: the way you've always done it is working, and it's quietly holding you back. In this episode, Cassie sits down with Dr. Jacquee Schieck, orthodontist, practice owner, speaker, part-time musician, and mother of four, on her actual birthday! For a conversation that starts as a digital-transformation masterclass and turns into something much bigger. Dr. Schieck has run a fully digital practice since 2020 and has been scanning since she opened…
"Get this out of people's heads and somewhere. This also cannot live in a binder." Your best team member is also your biggest liability — because everything they know lives in their head, and the day they leave, it walks out the door with them. In this episode, Cassie pulls back the curtain on Everbloom and brings in Shantal Terry, Everbloom's Director of Operations and dental division coach, for a rare inside look at how the team actually builds practice playbooks. Shantal has spent 16 years in dentistry and sat in nearly every seat — chairside, front desk, management, multi-practice,…
“Before people come see me, if they find me online, they've already watched my videos… They already know about me.” In this energizing and honest conversation, host Cassie Kellner is joined by Dr. Sable Staller, orthodontist, content creator, and founder of The Staller Socials Academy, to talk about what it really takes to build trust before a patient ever walks through your door. Cassie and Dr. Staller unpack why social media doesn't require fancy equipment or a production team, how trust is now built on the screen long before the first appointment, and why younger patients skip your…
"We've always done it this way." It sounds harmless. But in 2026, it might be the most expensive phrase in your practice. In this episode, Cassie gets honest about the quiet belief that is holding more practices back than any staffing issue, any technology gap, or any communication breakdown. The idea that the way you've always done something is still the right way to do it. And what it's actually costing you in rework, retention, and the slow erosion of a team that eventually stops telling you the truth. This one is not about a software overhaul or a six-month implementation plan. It's…
Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “They make it look easy?” This episode reminds us that what we see isn’t always the full story. I’m sitting down with Dr. Farah Kar, aka @the.ortho.queen, and we’re getting real about the grit it takes to keep going, the power of being fully yourself, and what it’s like to rebuild after loss. Farah shares everything from starting over in her career to growing a bold personal brand (and navigating motherhood and grief in the midst of it all) with humor, honesty, and a whole lot of heart. "One of the biggest misconceptions is that when people see or…
"They become the single point of failure. And that is an enormous amount of invisible pressure to carry." May is wild. Recitals, field trips, sports, class performances, Teacher Appreciation Week. And the women on your team are showing up through all of it, managing your front desk, building patient relationships, holding your team culture together, all while carrying everything that comes with being a mom outside of work. Orthodontics and dentistry are female-dominated industries. A big portion of your team are moms. And most practices are not actually built with that reality in mind. This…
“We built our systems around the things that have to get done every single day.” In this grounded and energizing conversation, host Cassie Kellner is joined by Dr. Jorden Mortensen, dentist, entrepreneur, and founder of MintChecklist, to talk about what it really takes to build something that works inside a growing practice. Dr. Mortensen shares his journey from sleeping in his car and an empty operatory after dental school to owning and leading multiple practices across small-town Texas. What started as a drive to pay off student loans quickly turned into a deep commitment to building…
If you’ve ever found yourself fixing things for everyone or feeling like the only one who cares, this episode explains why that dynamic shows up and how to change it. Cassie sits down with Certified Life and Relationship Coach Christine Brondyke to explore the Drama Triangle, a powerful lens for understanding conflict and communication breakdowns in orthodontic teams. You’ll learn how the Hero, Victim, and Villain roles keep teams stuck, and how shifting out of these patterns can spark true connection and collaboration. “If there's a glitch—work, home, friendship—this can help us understand…
"A bad system will break every great person in your practice. Every single time." In this solo episode, Cassie talks about one of the most frustrating patterns in orthodontic practices: losing great people and not understanding why. After 22 years in the industry, she shares what she sees over and over again. It’s not a people problem. It’s a systems problem. This episode walks through what’s really happening behind team turnover and how small shifts in hiring, onboarding, culture, and growth can change everything. “You cannot find the perfect candidate and drop them into chaos and expect…
“Indirect bonding is a hurdle you have to clear to get the benefit of custom.” In this candid and thought-provoking conversation, host Cassie Kellner sits down with Dr. Brandon Owen, an orthodontist, innovator, and founder of KLOwen Braces, to talk about why orthodontics is overdue for change. Dr. Owen shares the frustration that led him to build a custom braces system designed to reduce stress, eliminate unnecessary detailing, and remove the doctor bottleneck that slows down so many practices. What began as a search for work-life balance turned into a deep dive into biomechanics,…
“It's only embarrassing until you're famous.” In this real and energizing conversation, host Cassie Kellner sits down with Dr. Sable Staller, an orthodontist at Eastside Orthodontics in New York City, to talk about what it looks like to build your voice before you feel fully ready. Dr. Staller shares her journey from small-town Indiana to practicing orthodontics in Manhattan, and how posting on TikTok during residency quietly changed the trajectory of her career. What started as a creative outlet became a powerful tool for connection, confidence, and opportunity. Cassie and Dr. Staller…
“Busy teams are often compensating for broken systems.” In this honest and practical conversation, host Cassie Kellner sits down with Mandy Madeline, Champion of Practice Transformation and founder of Bite Sized Solutions, to talk about what is really happening inside busy dental practices and why effort alone is rarely the issue. Mandy shares her journey from chairside dentistry into operations and leadership, and how years of working inside practices revealed a common pattern. Production was strong, teams were working hard, but systems were unclear. Handoffs broke down, expectations lived…
“Pain is your body’s way of telling you something needs to change.” In this candid and eye-opening conversation, host Cassie Kellner sits down with Stephanie Botts, BS, RDH, CEAS, founder of Polished Posture, to talk about a topic that quietly affects nearly every orthodontic and dental team: ergonomics, pain, and the long-term cost of pushing through. Stephanie shares her personal journey as a clinical dental hygienist who loved her work but found herself struggling with chronic pain, and how a breaking point during COVID led her to rethink what “normal” had become in dentistry. What…
"Your word of the year only works if your team actually uses it." In this first solo episode of 2026, Cassie talks about why most words of the year start with excitement and quietly disappear by spring, and what to do differently if you want real change. This episode is about slowing down, reflecting honestly on the year you just lived, and choosing a shared word that helps your team make better decisions, communicate more clearly, and stay aligned when things feel busy or messy. "You don't need a perfect word. You need one your team can come back to." Cassie shares: – Why words of the year…
"Reactive leadership always, 100% of the time, leads to resentment." In this final solo episode of the year, Cassie gets honest about a pattern she sees again and again in orthodontic practices — leaders who feel exhausted, frustrated, and quietly resentful of the very business they worked so hard to build. This conversation is about what happens when clarity is missing, systems fall behind growth, and leaders slowly become the bottleneck without realizing it. Cassie breaks down why resentment rarely comes from your team, and almost always comes from reactive leadership, unclear roles, and…
“Discomfort is the tuition for growth.” In this thoughtful and refreshingly honest conversation, host Cassie Kellner sits down with Dr. Melanie Wang, DDS, MSD, to explore what she calls her “midlife practice season” — the chapter where clarity deepens, courage expands, and life experience becomes your greatest leadership tool. Melanie shares what it has meant to grow a practice while raising three kids, evolve through multiple seasons of identity, and learn to build a culture rooted in trust, safety, and genuine care. From creating buffer systems to protect her team to making the bold…
“There’s a moment when everything shifts — when you realize you’re allowed to choose what serves you and let go of what doesn’t.” In this honest and grounded conversation, host Cassie Kellner reconnects with longtime friend and former lead assistant Janna Nelson, now an integration specialist with Ulab. Janna shares her two-decade journey in dentistry — from becoming a young mom and finding her way into the dental field, to building a career in ortho, to stepping into a role she once never imagined she could hold. Cassie and Janna talk about the self-doubt so many assistants carry, the…
“You can create your own reality if you want it… you just have to reset your priorities to understand what’s authentic to you.” In this moving and deeply real episode, host Cassie Kellner reconnects with longtime friend and former colleague R. Baker Rawlins II, DMD, MS, for a conversation that spans more than a decade of growth, trust, and transformation. From their early days working side by side in a small, outdated practice to the health scare that reshaped Baker’s entire perspective, this episode reveals what leadership really looks like behind the scenes. Cassie and Baker share stories…
“You don’t have to cancel friendships. You can work it out if both people want to solve it.” In this heartfelt and unfiltered episode, host Cassie Kellner sits down with lifelong friend Devin Lombardi for a conversation 40 years in the making. From kindergarten to motherhood, trauma to therapy, and everything in between, Cassie and Devin open up about what it really takes to sustain a friendship through every season of life. They talk about growing up in a small town, navigating grief and change, setting boundaries, and doing the work, individually and together, to build something that…
“You’re not aging, you’re maturing. And that means becoming more of something, not less.” In this inspiring reunion episode, host Cassie Kellner welcomes back her longtime friend and collaborator, Lindsay Quinn, founder of Heartwise Collective. From their early days side by side in a high-standard San Diego ortho practice to building their own thriving companies, Cassie and Lindsay share the lessons, pivots, and leadership moves that continue to shape their work and lives today. They talk about how investing in yourself changes your business, what it really means to evolve as a leader, and…
“You’re never going to know unless you just do it.” In this lively and heartwarming episode, host Cassie Kellner sits down with her niece, Jillian Locvich, to talk about growth, grit, and what it really means to show up. From starting her career in the middle of the pandemic to leading a thriving ortho team by 25, Jillian shares how curiosity, consistency, and coachability helped her break the mold and redefine what Gen Z leadership looks like in dentistry. Cassie and Jillian unpack generational stereotypes, lessons learned chairside, and how mindset, not age, sets the tone for success. This…
“Gratitude changes everything. It turns what we have into enough.” In this heartfelt solo episode, host Cassie Kellner takes a pause from the usual leadership conversations to reflect on gratitude — the unseen force that fuels connection, culture, and growth. With November marking her birthday month and a season of thankfulness, Cassie shares personal stories, lessons, and gentle reminders about the power of appreciation in life and leadership. You’ll hear reflections on friendship, mentorship, and family — the people who shape who we are and remind us that we don’t bloom alone. Cassie also…
“It's a miracle we're here.” For Dr. Emily Taing Watson, orthodontics is more than a career — it’s a reflection of resilience, gratitude, and legacy. The proud daughter of Cambodian refugees who survived the Khmer Rouge regime, Dr. Watson’s journey is rooted in the lessons of strength, sacrifice, and faith passed down from her parents. In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Watson opens up about her new book, Roots of Resilience: Lessons in Courage, Family, and the Power of Showing Up Every Day. She shares how her family’s story shaped her leadership, mindset, and purpose as both a doctor and a…
“If you’re doing your best to your ability, then you’ve done enough.” For Julie Varney, dental assisting is more than a career — it’s a calling. With over 30 years of experience, she’s worn nearly every hat in the profession, from chairside assistant to educator and mentor. Today, she continues to inspire the next generation through teaching and advocacy, and her platform, Dental Assistants Rock, where she connects and uplifts thousands in the field. In this episode, Julie shares her journey from learning the ropes under old-school mentors to becoming a trusted advocate for assistants…
“Growth breaks things, and that’s how we learn to rebuild better.” For Dr. Jeff Kwong, leadership didn’t start with a title. From his early days in Toronto to running a thriving practice in Sacramento, Dr. Kwong has always been guided by curiosity, structure, and heart. As he steps into his new role as President of the California Association of Orthodontists, he’s reflecting on what it really means to lead with systems that support people and self-awareness that drives growth. In this episode, Dr. Kwong and Cassie talk about his journey from clinician to leader, the lessons he’s learned…
“Orthodontics isn’t an individual sport, it’s a team sport. You can’t build lasting growth without trust.” For Dr. Sean Holliday and Brianna Fuentes, what started in a makeshift laundry-room office turned into four thriving practices, a leadership partnership built on trust, and eventually OrthoMasterClass, an education platform shaping orthodontic teams worldwide. In this episode, Dr. Sean Holliday and Brianna share their journey of building practices, investing in people, and learning how to let go of control. From the early struggles of subleasing space and managing debt to creating…
“Your brand is how people feel when they interact with you, inside and outside the practice.” For Brenda Ashwell, what started with grassroots contests and referral slips has grown into three decades of shaping culture-driven experiences in orthodontics. From co-founding Patient Rewards Hub to leading growth and success at Culturello, Brenda has seen how brand, culture, and consistency fuel long-term growth for both teams and practices. In this episode, Brenda shares her journey from working inside practices to building tools that support them, what she’s learned about leadership and…
“You have to show up as yourself in leadership. Support carries more weight than power.” What looks like a straight path often starts with an unexpected turn. For Kristin Lennarson, seven years behind the chair as a hairstylist led her into orthodontics — a field she’s been part of for nearly a decade. In this episode, Kristin shares her journey from chairside assistant to head lab tech to clinical lead, and what it takes to step into leadership in a growing practice. We talk about the loneliness of leadership, the pressure of being likable, and why uncomfortable conversations are often the…
What begins at the chair doesn’t always stay there. For Tara Mayo, a career built on patient care, problem-solving, and chairside confidence turned into a company reshaping how families manage orthodontic care at home. In this conversation, Tara and I talk about what it really means to be a great assistant, why communication matters more than speed, and how a FaceTime call during the pandemic inspired her to reimagine emergency care at home. Tara shares the lessons she’s carried across practices, states, and seasons of life and why she believes patients and parents deserve better tools to…
About The Bloom Effect with Cassie Kellner
The Bloom Effect with Cassie Kellner is a podcast for teams who care about how they lead and how they grow along the way. Cassie sits down with guests to talk about the things that don’t always get said out loud: the messiness of leadership, building culture from the inside out, and learning to show
The Bloom Effect with Cassie Kellner is a English business podcast from Cassie Kellner. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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