Episode Description

Change is part of any evolving profession—and dental hygiene media is no exception. In this conversation, Jackie Sanders and Andrew Johnston reflect on Andrew’s transition from A Tale of Two Hygienists, the arrival of new co-hosts Jessica Atkinson and David Torres, and the importance of keeping the show’s educational, practical, and lighthearted spirit moving forward. RDH magazine announced the new co-hosts in January 2026 following Andrew Johnston’s more than decade-long tenure.

Jackie and Andrew also talk about their continued work together, including new editorial and video projects, and why staying connected with dental hygienists matters even as their roles change. The conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how professional relationships, new voices, and evolving platforms can keep the dental hygiene conversation going.

Related: RDH Podcast archive

A transition to new roles

Jackie Sanders: Welcome back, everyone, and thank you for joining us. My name is Jackie Sanders, chief editor of RDH Magazine. And today I am going to just hang out and visit and laugh and have fun with Andrew Johnston.

Hello, Andrew. How are you today?

Andrew Johnston: Hello, I'm really good. I mean, this is one of those things that it reminds me of kind of like when we were stepping away from A Tale of Two Hygienists. It's a bittersweet moment, but I'm really excited for what's to come. And so I also just love just chatting with you. That's one of my favorite parts of the day.

Jackie Sanders: I think one of the favorite parts of my job is when you accepted the position with DentistryIQ and now you and I get to work together and brainstorm and feed off of each other's energy and figure out the best ways to drive and bring information to our colleagues.

So here we go.

Andrew Johnston: But here's what I wanted to do, though. I do want to touch on that point a little bit, because I don't think that the listeners quite know how that all went down.

When A Tale of Two Hygienists started in 2015, I don't think it was a secret that I was going to step away at some point. And so I was like, it'd be great to get to 500 episodes. It'd be great to hit that milestone. It'd be great to get through 10 years.

I think one of our first episodes launched, I believe it was like November of 2015. So I wanted to make it through at least November of 2025 so that we had 10 years in the books.

And so I let our collective bosses know that, I think this was at Under One Roof actually last year, so it was July, that, hey, in six months I'm stepping away. Let's find some really great hosts. Let's do a good transition and let's keep that energy where it needs to be, right?

And then you and I were having our side conversations: What are you going to do with your life, Andrew?

I'm like, I don't know. Let's see. I got to grow up at some point. So let's see what happens.

And then this opportunity came up. David Rice was doing a really good job at DentistryIQ, and then he had an opportunity to do something else. And so the opportunity opened up for me to possibly get in.

So I have a sneaking suspicion you actually facilitated all of this in the background, but they came to me and they said, hey, are you interested in this position?

And I was like, yes, this sounds really good. And I wasn't 100% sold on it until you and I had further conversations.

You're like, think about what we could do together. And you got me so excited. I was like, all right, I have to do this.

Literally almost every day we still message or chat or are on the phone. We're still doing all that.

And so it has lived up to the hype. Thank goodness. But it's been a really fun little ride.

So, you know, thank you, by the way, for making sure that I stuck around because it's a great company. It's a great opportunity.

Jackie Sanders: You know, we've known each other forever. And when we started working together, what we found out is I have a totally different circle of people that I know versus the circle of people that you know. And then we started pulling them together, and it was like, this is just powerful because both of our pasts had us all over the dental industry, meeting and working with different groups and schools and associations and organizations.

And then you bring us together, and our knowledge and our humor just kind of feed off of each other because we work hard, but we also know how to laugh a lot.

So it's just been great, but now we're facing another change. So here we go.

A new chapter for A Tale of Two Hygienists

Jackie Sanders: For our listeners, Andrew and I are only recording a couple of more RDH podcasts, and we're going to focus more on our editorial and bringing you the information you need to continue growing, while our new hosts on A Tale of Two Hygienists are going to continue growing and bringing you the powerful content that they are.

And if you haven't listened to them, our new co-hosts are, who are they, Andrew?

Andrew Johnston: Jessica Atkinson and David Torres, which I think a lot of people know Jessica, especially if you've been in the professional organizations circle or if you were a fan of Hygiene Edge, which is a video content that they've been pushing, I think, is almost as long as A Tale of Two Hygienists, if not maybe a little bit longer, actually.

Related: A Tale of Two Hygienists welcomes new co-hosts David Torres and Jessica Atkinson

I think that we all kind of got our starts around the same time. And so she's who she is, for sure.

David is a lesser-known individual. The moment I met him, I fell in love. He has a heart of gold. He is such a family guy. He loves his wife and kids. He loves the profession almost at that same level. And you can feel it because one of his jobs before was working at one of the larger DSOs.

And he would go around to all the schools and basically try and get them amped up for the profession, like what they're moving into.

And we went to a dental hygiene seminars event one time, and all of these students came up to him like, hey, you were at my school. Oh, you were at my school. They all knew him. They all loved him.

And if you listen to A Tale of Two Hygienists, you're going to really feel that kind of same passion, the same energy that he brings. And so you put those two powerhouses together and you're going to have a great show.

I can tell you also on the back end, they are way more organized than I ever was. They have content, I think, recorded through the end of the year already. They have their spreadsheets all filled out.

I can't fill out a spreadsheet to save my life. I don't know how many times Jackie told you I was going to fill out our spreadsheet and, like, nope, didn't do it, did he?

Jackie Sanders: Yeah, no, we all have our strengths, Andrew, you know, so that's us, right?

Andrew Johnston: Yin and yang.

Jackie Sanders: Yeah, yin and yang.

But that is, you know, I know Jessica, I know David, I listen to the podcast, but when we were at RDH Under One Roof and I actually got to sit and watch their energies together as they were interviewing people, recording the ATOF podcast, it was just magical to watch because they've been together a short amount of time.

When did we actually build that new team? Was it March?

Andrew Johnston: I mean, it was the beginning of this year.

Jackie Sanders: Was it the beginning there?

So six months, they've—

Andrew Johnston: I say, I think we had some intro episodes in December saying, hey, they're coming in the new year. And then they took it off the first Wednesday in January. And ever since then, they haven't had to look back.

So it's been great.

Keeping the conversation going

Jackie Sanders: And to our listeners, so you know what's coming, we also have A Tale of Two Hygienists newsletter that comes out. So you know what the episodes are, you know what's going to be on them.

So ATOF was brought in underneath the RDH umbrella. To find them, all you have to do is type in ATaleofTwoHygienists.com and it'll drive you right to the site. You can sign up and start hearing them every week because their content is magical.

It's very educational. They have people on there that are new voices that we need to hear. They often have topics for the month. So this month might be about education. This month might be about something else.

But they cover all aspects each month. So it really keeps you enthralled and ready for the next week of what's coming.

Andrew Johnston: Yeah. I mean, they've done such a good job of picking up, making it their own, but still staying true to kind of the roots of A Tale of Two Hygienists, which is, I think, a little bit of lighthearted education.

It was never—I don't think we ever got, sometimes we got a little bit deep in the weeds on some topics, but generally it's just, hey, this is what you're going to need to know for patient care and/or for taking care of yourself as a clinician.

And I think that's really important, that they cover all those.

Yeah, I'm just excited for them.

What’s next for Andrew and Jackie

Andrew Johnston: But I mean, you kind of teased us before, but you and I have a lot of really great projects also that I think, if the audience is missing out a little bit on you, they can still find you in other places.

I know for DentistryIQ, we're doing more video content, which is kind of what's going to take my time a little bit more. We have a new series called Dentin or Dent-Out that is kind of a takes show, I guess.

I don't know. I kind of have an opinion and stand by it.

I have one coming out here that's going to ruffle a little bit of feathers because it has to do with ALARA. And should we be following certain principles or should we not anymore?

And so that's an interesting one.

And I think it always kind of just—it's that fun, light debate that we usually have at the conferences and we're all kind of around like, hey, did you hear about this one thing? What do you think about it?

Oh, you hear about something? What do you think about it?

And just volume-wise, we're putting out so much more content between the two of us on our different platforms.

And so if you're going to miss us, I mean, we're still going to be around. You'll be able to find us for sure.

Jackie Sanders: Yeah, we're just going to be popping up in new places, and probably be more than our voices. It's going to be our faces.

So you're going to be seeing more of me and maybe, well, you'll—yeah, you'll, if you're hearing me, you're going to be seeing me as well.

Is that what I'm trying to say?

Yeah. I think that's what I'm trying to say.

I guess what has happened is they have finally convinced me that I have to show my face because I don't like to be on video.

I'm not just a voice anymore. Now I have to be a face.

So that's why you'll see me doing funny reels in my backyard with my sunglasses and some with my dog, and my videographer is my husband, and he tells me when I'm doing good or when I'm doing bad.

Andrew Johnston: I wish his voice would make it into the video, though. He's got a smooth voice.

Jackie Sanders: Maybe that's what I'll do. I'll just—we'll do a voiceover.

We had really fun, if anybody saw it, we did these videos with this gigantic dinosaur that is outside where I get my car serviced. And so he was mimicking and making noises like the dinosaur, which we should have included in the video.

So maybe I can get him to do some stuff. I don't know. We'll see.

Andrew Johnston: I think it'd be fun. He's also a kind of a fun, fun person. He's a fun hang, as I like to say. He makes the videos.

Jackie Sanders: Yeah, I need somebody that's fun to hang out with. So yeah, I'm glad I found him.

Transitioning while staying connected

Jackie Sanders: So anyway, with that being said, transition is part of yours and my roles. And we just keep growing and bringing our audience the things they need and knowing when to step away from some of the things that they don't need, but always making sure they've got some place to go.

And that's A Tale of Two Hygienists.

Andrew Johnston: Absolutely, absolutely.

So make sure you guys check that out. If you haven't already, if you're podcast listeners, make sure you, whatever podcast app you like to use, make sure you put it on there. It's on everywhere. It's on Apple and Spotify and everywhere.

Jackie Sanders: Yep.

And if you need to share anything with Andrew or I, you can find us at Endeavor Business Media at DentistryIQ or RDH. And we're here to take care of you and listen to your needs.

Everybody have a great day and take care.

See you soon. Bye-bye.

Andrew Johnston: See you.