Getting to the Root Podcast Sun, 11 Oct 2026 10:41:01 -0400 en-us © 2026 Getting to the Root Podcast yes 1cecd5e8-6337-5dd9-b838-e8ce1a5f4f64 Frank episodic false Hi, this is your host, Frank. I invite you to follow my real, unfiltered journey through dental school, while also sitting down with healthcare professionals and students along the way for honest conversations about their own paths. Part documentation, part talk show — expect real updates on what dental school is actually like, plus guest conversations covering lessons learned, career paths, and life in healthcare. Whether you're curious about dentistry, healthcare in general, or just enjoy hearing real stories from people figuring things out as they go, there's something here for you. New episodes drop biweekly. 


]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Pre-dental, dental, dentistry, dental school, medical school, pa-school, pre-pa, pre-med, pre-health, student Frank https://storage.buzzsprout.com/eibylqqc2bdmbfp96di52z8hyt6g?.jpg Getting to the Root Podcast Episode 4 Part 2: Life After Undergrad: PA vs Dental School (ft. Alex PAS2) Episode 4 Part 2: Life After Undergrad: PA vs Dental School (ft. Alex PAS2) What drives us to choose a career in healthcare, and how do those reasons evolve once we’re actually in it? In Part 2, we get into the motivations behind choosing physician assistant studies and dentistry, our experiences so far, and what we’re looking forward to next. We wrap up by reflecting on what we’ve learned along the way and the advice we’d give our undergraduate selves.

]]> What drives us to choose a career in healthcare, and how do those reasons evolve once we’re actually in it? In Part 2, we get into the motivations behind choosing physician assistant studies and dentistry, our experiences so far, and what we’re looking forward to next. We wrap up by reflecting on what we’ve learned along the way and the advice we’d give our undergraduate selves.

]]> Frank Buzzsprout-19938566 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 1555 4 full false Episode 4 Part 1: Life After Undergrad: PA vs Dental School (ft. Alex-PAS2!) Episode 4 Part 1: Life After Undergrad: PA vs Dental School (ft. Alex-PAS2!) Two friends, one undergraduate experience, and two different paths into healthcare. In Part 1, we look back at where it all started, from our college days to the decisions that eventually led us toward professional school. We reflect on the transition from undergrad to healthcare education and what it’s like to take on a new chapter with a completely different set of challenges.

]]> Two friends, one undergraduate experience, and two different paths into healthcare. In Part 1, we look back at where it all started, from our college days to the decisions that eventually led us toward professional school. We reflect on the transition from undergrad to healthcare education and what it’s like to take on a new chapter with a completely different set of challenges.

]]> Frank Buzzsprout-19938565 Sat, 10 Oct 2026 02:00:00 -0400 1254 4 full false Episode 3: Exams, Wax-Ups, and Loupes! (Weeks 4 and 5) Episode 3: Exams, Wax-Ups, and Loupes! (Weeks 4 and 5) Weeks 4 and 5 of dental school brought our first big exams, real progress at the wax-up bench, and a major milestone: getting fitted for loupes.

In this episode, I break down how I studied for the Foundations exam and how it turned out, then talk through Anatomy exam 1: what my approach looked like, what surprised me, and what I'd change next time. I also share how the central incisor veneer results and my #10 wax-up progress have affected my confidence in the lab, plus how I'm keeping my routines steady when the workload piles up. Finally, I walk through the loupes fitting process and what went into my order.

If you're a pre-dental or first-year dental student, or just curious what the early weeks are really like, this one's for you.


song:

Music: Semantics by tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

License: Creative Commons — Attribution–NoDerivatives 4.0 International — CC BY-ND 4.0

Free Download / Stream: https://links.al/ie4

Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube 

]]> Weeks 4 and 5 of dental school brought our first big exams, real progress at the wax-up bench, and a major milestone: getting fitted for loupes.

In this episode, I break down how I studied for the Foundations exam and how it turned out, then talk through Anatomy exam 1: what my approach looked like, what surprised me, and what I'd change next time. I also share how the central incisor veneer results and my #10 wax-up progress have affected my confidence in the lab, plus how I'm keeping my routines steady when the workload piles up. Finally, I walk through the loupes fitting process and what went into my order.

If you're a pre-dental or first-year dental student, or just curious what the early weeks are really like, this one's for you.


song:

Music: Semantics by tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

License: Creative Commons — Attribution–NoDerivatives 4.0 International — CC BY-ND 4.0

Free Download / Stream: https://links.al/ie4

Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube 

]]> Frank Buzzsprout-19891739 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400 1100 3 full false Episode 2: Our First Exam of D-1 (2nd and 3rd week) Episode 2: Our First Exam of D-1 (2nd and 3rd week) This episode covers our first exam of D-1 year and everything that came with it. I discuss how I prepared, what my study methods actually look like now that I'm in the thick of it, and what I'd change going forward. I also get into waxing: the wins, the frustrations, and the reality of building hand skills from scratch. Plus, how I'm figuring out a routine that doesn't fall apart by Wednesday.

Still building this thing as I go, so the format may keep shifting — thanks for sticking with it.


song:

Music: Semantics by tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

License: Creative Commons — Attribution–NoDerivatives 4.0 International — CC BY-ND 4.0

Free Download / Stream: https://links.al/ie4

Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube 

]]> This episode covers our first exam of D-1 year and everything that came with it. I discuss how I prepared, what my study methods actually look like now that I'm in the thick of it, and what I'd change going forward. I also get into waxing: the wins, the frustrations, and the reality of building hand skills from scratch. Plus, how I'm figuring out a routine that doesn't fall apart by Wednesday.

Still building this thing as I go, so the format may keep shifting — thanks for sticking with it.


song:

Music: Semantics by tubebackr https://soundcloud.com/tubebackr

License: Creative Commons — Attribution–NoDerivatives 4.0 International — CC BY-ND 4.0

Free Download / Stream: https://links.al/ie4

Music promoted by Audio Library: https://links.al/youtube 

]]> Frank Buzzsprout-19819156 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 19:00:00 -0400 753 2 full false Episode 1: D-1 Orientation Weeks (the first two weeks) Episode 1: D-1 Orientation Weeks (the first two weeks) In this first episode, Frank is sharing his real experience navigating the first two weeks of dental school at UIC College of Dentistry: the highs, the panics, and everything in between. 

From first impressions to early lessons learned, this one's all about documenting the journey as it happens.

Quick disclaimer: this podcast is very much a work in progress! Format, structure, and style may evolve as I figure out what works best — thanks for following along as it grows.


]]> In this first episode, Frank is sharing his real experience navigating the first two weeks of dental school at UIC College of Dentistry: the highs, the panics, and everything in between. 

From first impressions to early lessons learned, this one's all about documenting the journey as it happens.

Quick disclaimer: this podcast is very much a work in progress! Format, structure, and style may evolve as I figure out what works best — thanks for following along as it grows.


]]> Frank Buzzsprout-19786276 Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:00 -0400 1272 Education, Dentistry, Self-Improvement, student, Healthcare, Pre-dental, Pre-health, pre-pa 1 full false