In a world where self-doubt and societal pressures can crush ambition, LaToya Gordon shares the powerful journey of transforming insecurity into strength. As a four-time self-published author and founder of Toya Simone, LaToya reveals the secrets to self-publishing and marketing your writing while tackling the deeper issues that prevent aspiring authors from sharing their stories.

Join co-hosts Dr. Sarah Harding and Dr. Erin Sheffield as they dive into LaToya's insights on the importance of leveraging personal strengths over societal expectations. Discover how tackling the inner critic can empower not only writers but anyone striving to pursue their passions. LaToya's vibrant discussion uncovers the reality that everyone, even seasoned entrepreneurs, is just figuring it out as they go along.

You'll discover:

• How to embrace your unique voice and let go of perfectionism that hinders creativity.
• The crucial marketing tactics every author should master to reach their audience effectively.
• Real-life stories that highlight the emotional battles women face in pursuing their dreams.
• Practical advice on building self-confidence that resonates with young girls, particularly in a world obsessed with external validation.

This episode is essential listening for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating the challenging waters of self-image and ambition. If you’ve ever felt held back by doubt or societal standards, LaToya's empowering message will inspire you to take bold steps toward your goals.

Tune in to learn how to validate yourself and harness your strengths, because your voice deserves to be heard. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that could change the trajectory of your creative journey!

In this episode, Toya shares her journey into self-publishing, marketing, and empowering women through her books. We discuss the importance of confidence, overcoming societal standards, and leveraging books to build a business.

Keywords

self-publishing, book marketing, confidence, women empowerment, entrepreneurship, social media, personal development

Key Topics

• Toya's journey into self-publishing and marketing
• The importance of confidence and self-image for women
• Leveraging books to generate leads and build a business
• Impact of societal standards on women's self-esteem
• Strategies for effective book marketing and sales

Sound Bites

• "Confidence is a skill, not a personality trait."
• "If you can learn to ride a bicycle, you can learn entrepreneurship."
• "Find who did it and go learn from them."

Chapters

00:00

Introduction to Toya and her background

02:19

Toya's journey into self-publishing and marketing

05:06

The motivation behind Toya’s fourth book on self-image

08:45

Societal standards and their impact on women

12:19

Overcoming self-doubt and building confidence

16:23

The importance of internal validation and self-love

20:01

Biblical perspective on women building empires

24:31

Experiences with snow and adjusting to new environments

26:53

From desire to publication: How Toya published her books

29:10

The impact of Amazon and print-on-demand on self-publishing

32:43

Marketing strategies for authors and entrepreneurs

36:14

Building confidence through small steps and community

40:37

The power of internal dialogue and self-belief

44:51

Learning from others and staying humble

Connect with LaToya Gordon

Instagram: @Toya_Simone77
Find her book here: Rising Above It By LaToya Gordon

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Is dentistry evolving for the better, or are we slowly losing control of our profession? 🦷

Dr. Brendan Gallagher is BACK for Part 2, and we're tackling the changes reshaping dentistry—from the rise of corporate dentistry and DSOs to shifting referral models, in-house specialists, staffing shortages, and the increasingly blurry line between clinical expertise and weekend certifications.

Are we protecting patients or protecting our turf? Can private practices compete with corporate dentistry without sacrificing patient care? And when did highly trained surgeons become interchangeable cogs in a corporate machine?

We share our experiences navigating alternative oral surgery practice models, discuss why proper anesthesia training matters, and explore how AI and professional collaboration could create new opportunities for dentists and specialists.

We also get into the realities of practice ownership, staff retention, declining reimbursements, professional autonomy, and why making more money isn't always worth giving up your freedom.

And because it's Resting Stitch Face, there are plenty of detours—including implant system gender reveals, questionable corporate social media policies, and whether Erin has been pronouncing her own name wrong her entire life. 😂

Dentistry is changing whether we like it or not. The question is: Are we shaping its future or just along for the ride?

Join Dr. Sarah Harding, Dr. Erin Sheffield, and Dr. Brendan Gallagher for an honest, funny, and occasionally uncomfortable conversation about the future of dentistry.

• Corporate dentistry, DSOs, private equity, and professional autonomy
• The rise of in-house specialists and changing dental referral patterns
• Private practice survival and competition with corporate dentistry
• Sedation safety, surgical training, and the risks of weekend certifications
• Dental staffing shortages, retention, and team culture
• Alternative oral surgery practice models and locum tenens
• AI-driven innovation and opportunities for dental professionals
• Practice profitability, insurance reimbursement, and specialist fees
• Work-life balance, flexibility, and knowing your professional worth

00:00 – Who's Really Running Dentistry?

00:22 – Are Doctors Replaceable?

02:16 – Alternative Oral Surgery Practice Models

03:05 – The Dental Staffing Crisis

04:15 – AI & Dental Staffing Solutions

05:07 – When Staff Training Impacts Patient Safety

06:53 – Oral Surgery Inside General Dental Practices

09:03 – Learning Practice Operations From Scratch

11:02 – Building Professional Relationships

12:22 – In-House Specialists & Changing Referrals

14:04 – Private Practice vs. DSOs

14:53 – Weekend Courses & Surgical Standards

16:14 – Sedation Training & Anesthesia Safety

20:37 – Balancing Surgery, Parenting & Life

22:11 – Corporate Social Media Restrictions

24:14 – Team Culture & Creative Practice Models

25:50 – The True Cost of Losing Good Employees

26:24 – Specialist Fees & Insurance Reimbursement

29:07 – Rapid-Fire Questions & Unexpected Tangents

34:10 – Corporate Changes & Career Security

35:53 – More Production, Less Freedom?

Is dentistry moving in the right direction? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Future of dentistry, corporate dentistry, DSOs, private equity dentistry, private practice dentistry, oral surgery, in-house specialists, dental referrals, dental staffing, sedation safety, AI in dentistry, dental practice management, professional autonomy, Dr. Brendan Gallagher, Dose of Dental Podcast.

Follow Along with Us

Instagram:

@restingstitchfacepodcast

@drerinsheffield

@avocadodontist

@thedoctorisallin

@drgallagher

@doseofdentalpodcast

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Brendan Gallagher, DDS

• 0:05 – Welcome back, Brendan
• 0:33 – Two new jobs and the commute (13–15 hours a week)
• 5:17 – Turning drive time into admin time, and the oral boards web app Brendan built
• 6:24 – Erin's new AI agent, Muse
• 8:10 – TikTok vs. Instagram: what works on each
• 10:35 – Why TikTok SEO content, like dry socket videos, keeps earning
• 12:53 – What it takes to be a multi-platform creator
• 13:44 – Brand deals, discount codes and why companies won't pay
• 14:25 – Using AI to build better, cheaper tools for dental practices
• 15:13 – Dental supply catalogs vs. shopping on Amazon
• 17:47 – Ambassador asks and protecting your credibility
• 21:05 – TMJ consults and night guards
• 25:14 – Wedding planning
• 26:55 – Buying a house, and a Hamptons investment property
• 30:41 – Transition: why your first job may not be your forever job
• 35:51 – Lessons from the first job, and finding a better-fit practice
• 38:17 – Erin's contract advice: give yourself an "in" and an "out," and watch non-competes
• 40:07 – Thursdays working with Dr. Amrita Patel
• 42:34 – Bosses who bring out your talents vs. bosses who want control
• 44:05 – Cliffhanger: "Have you ever been told you were replaceable?"

• Don't plan your life around a first job. Be hopeful, but pay attention to what's happening behind the scenes.
• Negotiate both a path in and a way out in your contract.
• Doctors on social media can reach people who need real information. Don't expect it to make you rich.
• A good boss works with you instead of trying to control you.

Dr. Amrita Patel, the Muse AI agent, Brendan's oral boards web app

Part 2 drops next week.

Links for you!

Instagram:

@restingstitchfacepodcast

@drerinsheffield

@avocadodontist

@thedoctorisallin

@drgallagher

YouTube:

@doctorgallagher

@therestingstitchfacepodcast

TikTok:

@doctorgallagher_

LinkedIn:

Brendan Gallagher, DDS