The Patient Is Always Right

Episode 15: Unfortunately, Dentists Are Mostly Ill-Prepared for Business with Andy Acton

Andy opens up about why most dentists are completely unprepared for business, from being taught zero finance at dental school to being thrown into ownership without a clue about HR, marketing or tax. He shares why he tells most dentists to buy, not build, and why so many reach breaking point eight years in, quietly wondering if it’s all worth it. From spotting the first signs of Owner Fatigue, to setting boundaries with your team, to the emotional load of caring for patients, staff and family all at once, Andy gets brutally honest about the pressures behind the polished practice. Honest, relatable, and full of lightbulb moments, this episode shows the reality of running a practice and the mindset needed to stay the course.
 
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Episode 14: One fine day it all shatters with Dr Nisha Menon

Dr Nisha Menon opens up about the moment that changed everything – the sudden death of her business partner that left her rebuilding from scratch. From training in Moscow at 16 without internet or mobile phones, to managing four care homes with 200 staff, to launching Niche Clinic during a pandemic - her journey is anything but linear. She tackles the biggest misconception in aesthetics head-on: why a weekend course won't make you rich, why doctors and nurses fail to plan their aesthetic businesses properly, and why multiple income streams saved her career. From the business reality of being the face of your clinic to why patients are NOT always right - Dr Nisha's story is raw, honest, and packed with hard-won wisdom.
 
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.
 

Episode 13: I Haven't Had a Day Off in Seven Years with Natalie Kelly

Natalie Kelly opens up about working 16-hour days during lockdown, going back to work 48 hours after giving birth, and why she hasn't had a single day off in seven years. She also shares why she left her corporate job to build her clinic from the ground up, and she tackles the non-medic vs medic debate head-on, explaining why she's done corrections on work from doctors, dentists, and nurses – and why training matters more than titles. From setting boundaries with clients who want "too much" filler, to managing a business while pregnant with baby number two, to the reality of being available 24/7 even on holiday – Natalie's story is honest, raw, and packed with lessons for anyone building a business in aesthetics.

Episode 12: From Kicked Out of Uni to 8x Growth with Dr Khilan Shah

Dr Khilan Shah opens up about getting kicked out of university, catching dengue fever in Thailand, and rebuilding his career before launching Hampstead Dental Studio in the middle of a pandemic with a newborn at home. He shares the unconventional strategies that helped him grow the practice 8-fold in just 5 years – including why he spends 45 minutes with every new patient for free, why he never discounts or price matches, and how he positions the practice so patients have "no other reason to go anywhere else." Plus, he reveals the brutal truth about practice ownership, why he'd make more money as an associate, the marketing decisions that actually move the needle, and the physical transformation that changed his mindset as a leader. If you're a practice owner or thinking about launching your own clinic, this episode is packed with honest, hard-won lessons from someone who's done it against all odds.
 
Full episode description - comprehensive paragraph covering guest background, key insights, and practical takeaways and end with the following: If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Episode 11: Employment Is A Trap with Dr Nabil Jetha

Dr Nabil Jetha reveals why he nearly abandoned medicine completely after graduating into the pandemic, his unexpected detour to LAMDA drama school, and the brutal reality of building an aesthetics business from scratch. From being asked to "risk our lives" with inadequate PPE to discovering that "employment is a trap," Nabil exposes the shocking truths about NHS working conditions and why aesthetics saved his medical career. He shares wild NHS stories (including a patient who poured urine on a computer), explains why one-day courses are dangerous, and breaks down the technical skills that make aesthetics a true medical specialty. Plus, his controversial take on why the patient isn't always right, the trap of buying expensive devices, and how being a "micromanager" helped him build a thriving Soho clinic while mentoring the next generation of practitioners.
 
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Episode 10: I Don't Know A Business Owner Who's Never Had Difficulty With Cash Flow with Dr Hannah Moore

Dr Hannah Moore reveals the brutal reality of scaling an aesthetic business - from going through medical school to building a successful clinic while raising two young daughters. She exposes why every business owner she knows has been "sweating" about cash flow, the daily challenge of discouraging patients from unsuitable treatments, and how trusting your gut beats spreadsheets every time. Hannah shares her "one ticket ask per day" philosophy that got her a one-day-a-week position when everyone said it was impossible, why she spends most consultations discussing life rather than treatments, and the shocking story of an event crasher who downed a bottle of champagne and heckled her presentation before getting into a physical altercation with bar staff. From the ethics of private healthcare to raising body-positive daughters in the beauty industry, this episode pulls no punches on what it really takes to build an authentic wellness business.
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.
 

Episode 9: 85% of the UK Population Suffers Some Form of Burnout with Jackie G. Michaels

Jackie G. Michaels, transformational coach and "joyful disruptor," reveals why 85% of the UK population has experienced burnout and how joy - not happiness - is the key to breaking free. From her own burnout 25 years ago to coaching high achievers today, she exposes the uncomfortable truth about people pleasing, why women struggle to charge what they're worth, and how presence trumps skills every time. Jackie breaks down the difference between joy and happiness, explains why work-life balance is a myth (alignment is what matters), and shares her controversial take on why being professional doesn't mean being miserable. Plus, the shocking story of someone who wanted to become a coach after watching YouTube, why boundaries create better brands, and her simple daily joy audit that transforms how you show up in business and life.
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Episode 8: It Set Me Back Hundreds of Thousands with Dr Magdalena Bejma

Dr Magdalena Bejma delivers brutal business truths from her decade in aesthetics - why she's restarted her clinic three times, the patient who scammed her with Ferrero Rochers as a distraction, and her blunt advice for opening clinics: "Don't do it." She reveals why success is lonelier than saving lives in A&E, why she requires social media presence in staff contracts, and the device costs that patients never know. From GP side hustle to aesthetic empire, she shares the backstabbing, financial losses, and hard-won lessons that shaped her into one of Yorkshire's most recognised practitioners. This is essential listening for anyone in aesthetics.
 
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Brand Spotlight: Cutera with Sam and Leighannah

Sam Keen and Leighannah Tickner from Cutera reveal how they built their UK operation by doing something radical - actually saying no to sales when it's not right for the client. From launching AviClear for acne treatment to the American energy that transformed their British approach, they share why some clinics are doubling down during economic uncertainty, how to avoid being "everything to everybody," and why 2.5 devices per clinic proves their post-purchase support works. Plus, the surprising truth about why being "less apologetic" as Brits could change everything, how to price premium treatments confidently, and why innovation alone isn't enough to build a successful aesthetic practice.
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.

Brand Spotlight: Icoone/CosmoPro with Rachael & Zara

Rachel and Zara from Cosmo Pro reveal why their device, the Icoone, is revolutionising wellness and recovery in aesthetics. From supporting healing just three days post-surgery to being safe during pregnancy, they're breaking every rule in the industry. Plus, why they think regulations can't come fast enough, how one clinic needed three machines because of patient demand, and the surprising truth about why the UK is behind on body treatments. This episode dives into the future of non-invasive wellness tech and why traditional painful treatments are becoming obsolete.
If you're looking to get a tailored content strategy made for you and your clinic, check out Ignite and book a free strategy call.