Podcast Episode #557: Building a Life by Design: From Dental Burnout to Lifestyle Freedom - Becky Steinbach & Schuyler Van Gorden
Episode #557: Dentist Freedom Blueprint Podcast
Building a Life by Design: From Dental Burnout to Lifestyle Freedom - Becky Steinbach & Schuyler Van Gorden
What if you could hit pause on your career, sell everything, and rediscover what freedom really means? That’s exactly what Drs. Rebecca Steinbach and Schuyler Van Gorden did. After years of burnout, nonstop staff turnover, and feeling trapped by their own success, they sold their practices, packed their bags, and spent a full year traveling through Central and South America—with no plans to return.
In this inspiring conversation, the husband-and-wife dental duo share how that year reshaped everything they thought they knew about success, happiness, and work. They reveal what it’s like to rebuild a practice from scratch with intention, give themselves permission to pivot every decade, and design life and career around fulfillment—not obligation. Whether you’re craving a mid-career reset or simply looking for proof that you can rewrite your story at any stage, this episode will challenge how you define freedom and success.
Minute Markers:
- 00:00 – Intro
- 03:15 – How Becky and Sky first met—and the bold decision to sell it all
- 05:44 – From burnout to one-way ticket: leaving dentistry behind
- 07:10 – Traveling 17 countries and discovering how little you really need
- 08:49 – Minimalism, happiness, and what “enough” really means
- 12:38 – Rebuilding a new practice from scratch together
- 16:24 – When enthusiasm fades and burnout reappears
- 17:59 – Facing the seven-year itch and planning their next chapter
- 20:45 – The fear of losing income vs. the value of time freedom
- 25:05 – Becky’s next act: regenerative and aesthetic medicine
- 27:20 – Sky’s evolving focus—sleep dentistry, outdoors, and freedom work
- 30:03 – Marriage dynamics, money, and redefining roles
- 31:14 – The high cost of indecision and fear of change
- 35:26 – Advice for doctors five years from transition
- 37:59 – Rediscovering identity beyond the practice
Featured on the Show:
P.S. Whenever you’re ready, here are some other ways I can help fast track you to your Freedom goal (you’re closer than you think) :
In this episode, we finish up the second part of my interview with Rob Swanson and his eight rules of investing. (If you haven’t listened to part 1, be sure to go back and give that a listen before jumping into this one.) Today, we pick up where we left off, covering rules four through eight and talking about everything from decision-making to cash flow and risk reduction.
Listen in as Rob shares his incredible insight and experience in real estate and investing to give us a few rules that help make our decisions and investments more solid. You will hear about the importance of looking at margins before buying and what boxes need to be checked when it comes to predicting a solid income stream. Rob also discusses how to define and mitigate the different risks involved so that you can come out on top.
Alastair MacDonald is a private advisor to established entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners, as well as a TEDx speaker who lectures on economic, social, and financial forecasts. Join me today to hear part two of our conversation at the Freedom Founders Mastermind, where we dive into the concept of certainty, how to hedge against a volatile economy, and why the abdication model is no longer one that works.
Listen in to learn the reasons why Alastair is not worried about consumer price inflation (and what he’s really worried about instead) and why the 401(k) is not always the investment that it is made out to be. You’ll learn why he is most concerned about the issue of division and polarity in the Western world, why your business is your best asset in a volatile economy, and how you can maintain its viability to weather the most intense economic storm.
1. Get Your Free Retirement Scorecard:
Benchmark your retirement and wealth-building against hundreds of other practice professionals, and get personalized feedback on your biggest opportunities and leverage points. Go to www.FreedomFounders.com/Scorecard to take the 3 minute assessment and get your scorecard.
2. Attend A Workshop:
If you’re committed to Freedom, but still building a practice, paying down school debt, or growing investment capital, our hands-on Freedom Blueprint Workshops are your entrance ramp onto the fast track! Visit www.freedomfounders.com/workshop to claim your seat!
3. Apply To Visit The Mastermind:
If you’d like to join dozens of dentists, docs, and practice professionals on the fast track to Freedom (5-7 years max), visit www.freedomfounders.com/step-1 to apply for a seat.
4. Want to Work Directly with Me?
If you’d like to work directly with me and a small group of my closest investment colleagues, with direct access to the dealmakers and asset classes that I invest in, just send a message to my Executive Assistant (Lindsey@FreedomFounders.com), and put “Fast Access” in the subject line. Or, call (972) 203-6960 Ext 144 and leave a brief voicemail for Lindsey. Let her know you’re interested in the Fast Access program – we’ll set up a time with you to talk, find out about your goals, and see if there is a fit.