Jessica: with my Lagom method, I use my four pillars, the breathing, sleeping, eating, and moving as my foundation.
To speak with people about and their overall health, oral health. But the funny thing is If I had known what I know today. And I'd use it as a golfer, I would've been so much better.
Anne: Wow. '
Jessica: cause it's like the foundation for everything. I mean, if you don't sleep well as an athlete or if you don't do the breathing correct, even in golf, ' cause you can be sort of high up breathing and then you get stressed.
Hi everyone. It's Anne Duffy and welcome to the Just DeW It podcast. I'm so happy that you're with me today because I have,like a new friend and she's so yummy and I can't wait to introduce her to you. But let me tell you a little bit about her. Before we get started. Jessica is a Swedish dentist and public health advocate focused on the mouth body connection.
Anne: She's the founder of the. Lagom Method. Inspired by the Swedish philosophy of living in balance and supports people in optimizing how they breathe, sleep, eat, and move through practical habit shifts. Former pro golfer and what Grandmother of 11. Please help me welcome Dr. Jessica Lederhausen
Thank you. And thank you for having me. So fun.
Always. I'm so, so glad you're here. You found me through another DeW that introduced you to me. Who was that? Do you remember?
Jessica: Yeah, Maria. So now in
Anne: New York. Oh my gosh, yes. she's a force. Yes. Maria, I hope you're listening to this podcast because we love you all dos Jessica are like running million miles a minute attacking every task that comes in front of them. Starts things, finishes them. I mean, it's just incredible the women that we find that come to this community.
It's, women are pretty darn amazing, aren't they?
Jessica: Yeah. I really feel grateful to her to introduce me to you and the whole, everybody, it's been everyone I meet Yeah. Are amazing. And I'm so glad. I really am.
Anne: Yeah. Well, thank you for joining us because you, you're just so cool.
And I mean, just the fact that you were, played college, golf, and then pro golfer in, Europe and Sweden and beyond. First of all, that's really cool too. I, can't wait to hear more about that. But you've had such a diverse career starting with pro athlete dentistry, coaching habit shifts, and entrepreneurship.
So how has bringing those worlds together shaped how you think about prevention and healing today?
Jessica: Well, I really tried to take everything I've been going through or done in one bucket like 10, 12 years ago, the kids were out. I sold the business. I actually had a startup and we, I realized, no, that is not going anywhere fine.
So I sat down and thought about it, but I find that from the golf piece, I really learned that. Passion process. Progress is what you need. I mean, you need to find what you really wanna do.
Anne: Mm-hmm. And focus on it. And just hone in. not the whole time for 50 years, but you have to really go right into it.
Jessica: And then it's a process. Nothing happens overnight. If it's gonna be really good, then it's too easy or not big enough. And, uh, then the progress part. I mean, it's hard work and you doubt yourself and you show up with persistence and it's like a Jin yang. You go back and forth. But in the golf world. A big learning is that I mean, it's 18 holes.
I don't know how much you know, but 18. Oh yeah, you're in golf course. So 18 holes, and if you make the same mistake 18 times, I mean, you can try to shift small things.
Anne: Yeah.
Jessica: And the biggest thing is if you have a bad shot, first of all, don't worry about until you see where it actually is. And number two is what really matters is what you do next.
And I think that's a good life lesson. forget about what you did. It is what it is. But what to do next is gonna be who you become, kind of if you, go down deeper or if you move up and lift your eyes up further. So I think those are good learnings. And then I'm thinking, in my work today with my Lagom method, I use my four pillars, the breathing, sleeping, eating, and moving as my foundation.
To speak with people about and their overall health, oral health. But the funny thing is If I had known what I know today. And I'd use it as a golfer, I would've been so much better.
Anne: Wow. '
Jessica: cause it's like the foundation for everything. I mean, if you don't sleep well as an athlete or if you don't do the breathing correct, even in golf, ' cause you can be sort of high up breathing and then you get stressed.
it's kind of a joke on myself that I can combine those two worlds
Anne: Have to, you have to live a little bit, right? I mean, first of all, I think my mind goes to like, you should be coaching professional young golfers. you've got the experience there.
That's pretty cool. And you're in the dental world also. That's very precise. But, You know, I love the fact that you have learned so much and now you, can, share it with others, but also your life is even better because you've actually developed this model and say it again.
It's, is it lagging?
Jessica: Hang on the a, a little bit. Logum.
Anne: Logum.
Jessica: Yeah. In Swedish. This means not too much or too little, but just enough
this is a old thing in Sweden.
They. If I call my mom today, she might say it's log on warm today, which means nothing to me, but it means everything to her. Okay, so it's kind of confusing. What does that mean? Are you, I mean, do I need a hat? Do I need a jacket? It's kind of funny.
Well, Well, what do you think it means to her, if you could guess?
But she's comfortable at the temperature.
Anne: Yeah. So it's just, just about right, just about right. I love that. So I'm gonna remember that because that's,so interesting. And,and you know, the other thing that I was thinking about we got started is we have your four strengths here, which I love talking about.
So, learner, arranger election. Activator and belief, but arranger, I was thinking about when I was preparing today, Jessica, like as a golfer, you find the way to get to the hole. And so actually one of your strengths in your top five is being an arranger. Do you arrange which pattern?
what path you're going to take to reach the destination?
Jessica: I take that as a compliment because I think more of that as being a little artistic. Like artsy to see the shots and the turns and, I have to say though, I was very not into the Gallup when I first arrived the first time.
Mm-hmm.
Anne: Yes.
Jessica: But now I think it's fascinating. Everything fits in the arranger. I'm a TEDx organizer. Are you kidding? I mean, all of them make sense.
Anne: you know, I'm so glad you said that because when you dive into it, you, you know, like it's not something you put in a drawer. It's something that you really take on.
And we talk about that at the retreat, like learn dive in the first due principle is look for opportunities to build on your strengths. And then it's funny because you don't even know it sometimes. 'cause I didn't take it till I was in. late fifties.
Yeah. And then it's kind of just started to make sense. So it's so cool that you see that going on now, and now you can even lean into it even more. Back. And then the activators, you start something, you start it really fast like you said, you started and, business and then you saw that it wasn't going the way you wanted to go and you just could pivot.
It's not that hard to pivot, but I think an entrepreneur is somebody that is an activator and can arrange things for the right reason, and then learner is so key. You're learning all the time And when you're a learner, you can communicate really well and so that really helps with your coaching.
And then, you know, you're smart as a whip. I have strength 70 when I think about that one. I'm like, oh, I love intellectual. I think it's super neat to be able to, learn and then again, just always be curious and then belief, that's a beautiful. strength to have because you're executing.
So belief and arranger are in the executing domains and learner. And in election or in strategic, activator is in influencing. So you have something in every domain. In your strengths, which is really cool. So you're, influencing, executing relationship building and strategic in your top five, which is really nice.
I don't get anything strategic until number 11, so that's why when I'm hiring somebody or somebody's on my team. But
Jessica: yeah, you have some great people. That's good.
Anne: Yeah. And thank God they're strategic, but also made me think of you as just a golfer and,so good at that. And then you didn't even know it, but that's part of, you know, who you are and who God made you to be, which really, really cool.
Jessica: I do love, um, helping people I play with, I love that. I think it's so fun and I can see if I just say little thing, it's gonna change a lot. So I, I do that.
Anne: Isn't that so funny? That's a natural talent that you have it brings you joy, which is, is really cool.
But you know, you've done a lot of things clinically and personally that made the mouth body connection. Impossible for you to ignore. And I'd like you to tell us a little bit more about that because you, you've got, you've got so many,talents and you've excelled in so many different arenas. But what made you get and really zone in right now on the, on oral systemic connection?
Jessica: Well, it's a little more Philosophical way, is that I just turned 60, my book I started working on, not 10 years ago, but let's say eight, with the intention to stay in the lane of the foundation of the. Coaching and hopefully be part of changing healthcare somewhat from being silos, the medical and dental, which is happening actually I think
Anne: slow, but Sure. Yes.
Jessica: Yeah, exactly. But I wanna be part of that, so I feel like I do something meaningful. But what triggered me to actually write the book was during the TEDx Chicago years, I always looked for speakers and one amazing person had a presentation on gut microbiome, let's say, almost 10 years ago.
And I ran there, of course, to listen to it and everything were cool until the slide was headless. And just a torso. I'm like, oh my God. Obviously whatever you put in your mouth and it goes down through the system.
Anne: Okay. Yeah.
Jessica: Okay, so that made me actually more in, actually, I'm gonna write this book.
We need to have the whole picture. And then I have a really good friend in Chicago. We go for walks and she told me her dad was so sick. This is within a few weeks, typically things happens.
Anne: Mm-hmm.
Jessica: At the same time. And she told me he's so sick he can't move. He's on the couch, he's 75, he's always been climbing the trees, kind of thing.
What's going on? They don't know. And it took months before they looked in the mouth and had an infection and it was messing with this whole system. again, oh my God. I mean, why can't people communicate?
Anne: Wow. And
Jessica: then, these two made me start the writing process, which is a long process before you actually start writing.
But I had a meeting with a, friend in Sweden who is a doctor and he's a word leader in mucus. And I told him about the gut microbiome and the oral microbiome. We know more, but yeah, that's the only other then place we talk about leaky. You know, leaky gut. Leaky mouth. And he got excited for me. This is interesting, he said, I'm like, okay, maybe this is a book to be.
I felt so,
Anne: yeah.
Jessica: Belittled and insecure before that maybe. But yeah, so that pushed me in the direction. So I got going. It's been, I think it's been very rewarding and fun. So tell
Anne: us what the name of the book is and when's it out.
Jessica: Oh, the book is out since two years now. So Oral, ORALI explain how the connection is and then I give practical tools to optimize your everyday habits so you can, uh, what optimize your health through your habits.
And it's small leader shifts you can do
Anne: well. I love that. And who did you write the book for? who is the one person you wanna reach with this book? Is it the clinician, is it the doctor? Is it humans? Is it everybody? who do you think your, Main audience is for this book.
Jessica: Yeah. So when I wrote it, I had some people I spoke with, of course, to learn from and you have to write to who's your group. And so finally I decided to write to a friend of mine. She doesn't even know yet. I should tell her maybe.
Anne: Oh
Jessica: yeah, yeah. So if she doesn't like this, this is too much information, she won't listen.
Whoop out. But the actual book, I hope all clinicians take it on and give it out as gifts to their patients and I, I want people to be empowered to ask the right questions.
Anne: Yes.
Jessica: You know, and be in the discussion, you know, what is this microbiome gut?
Oral And the dentist. If they don't are equipped to answer, that's fine. You just say, I don't know. I'll let you know. I'll figure it out. Or, or if there are, it would be a wonderful discussion, what can be done and if it's gonna make a difference for this specific patient or not. So that's where I wanna see it more.
So I just wanna push it for that reason.
Anne: Well, I, first of all, a couple things. I love the name. It's so cool. Just, I mean, you've got that oral, you know what it's about. The other thing that is so cool, now, I haven't seen this yet 'cause I just got home. I was,in fact, it's funny, my husband had a colonoscopy today.
I'm gonna be very frank on this. call is in very interesting. What happened? He, you know, had a, a,an event four years ago where his stomach just kind of blew up and his whole colon burst. So getting his colonoscopy today, after the doctor came in and said, you know, he's fine, whatever. I said, well, you know, he almost died with this bursting of his colon, you know, four years ago.
He goes, really? I'm like, uh, yeah. did you read the history of my husband? No. Which makes me think, to your point Jessica, we have got to start taking care of our own health and knowing what questions to ask. So your book is going to bring valuable information that I can understand.
Anyone that's not in the dental arena can understand. So when they go to the doctor or they have a dad that's on the couch, you can't figure it out. We'll be able to ask those questions and I love this, gastroenterologist. actually is a dear friend of ours, but I think they're busy.
They're busy, and we can't depend on other people taking charge of our own health. So that you've got a pain point there for me right now for your book, and then also we're gonna have it on the book. Nook in the DeW Life crew, but I also love the fact that. That connection is being missed that's your activator.
Dang it. I'm gonna do something to make a difference. When you saw the gut biome without the head. And then the other thing I wanted to tell you this morning, when this is a podcast, but we're having a conversation here. Everybody. I was reading the Wall Street Journal, where I flipped through it when I was in the waiting room.
And there was a whole article about young moms are really into gut biome right now. It's a trend. It's a huge thing. So yes, go to the Wall Street Journal, click on it. I'll read it. I'll read it and I'll send it to you if I can get the digital.
Jessica: Thanks. No, I can find it. Thanks.
Anne: Because you know, isn't that crazy?
It's a big thing and nobody was talking about that a couple years ago. Nobody even understood it.
Jessica: in my little bubble, it's been a huge thing for the last 10 years. But I hope they, yeah. Let the kids play out in the dirt and all that. 'cause that's part of it.
Anne: Yes. Well, we talked
Jessica: about that, that they give the kids what they need and not sterilize things.
left and right.
Anne: They'll, well, yeah, but you know how many, we need to get that out to the masses. We need to get that, just like we say, let the kids have a babysitter that might not wash their hands after,playing outside in the dirt. As long as they're breathing, we thought they would be good. You and I and our kids are still alive and well.
Oh my gosh, that's so cool. I can't wait to share this, book. So you bring all that in together to really make sense for us, not only for our own health, but for the health of our loved ones.
Jessica: Yeah, that's the intention. And uh, yes, there are very few books out on, oral Health, it's a handful and some are more technical and some are more for the dentist, I guess, or, but this is really for everyone, which is made a little hard 'cause everybody kept saying you have to focus on an audience,
Anne: Yeah.
we wanna make it easy to read, easy to understand. Yeah. I think that's genius. And that was just on your heart for your friend. I love the fact that you said, I'll think I'll write it for my friend. Which brings me to like, kind of our follow up question on that is about, I just wanna talk about the TED Talks in Chicago.
Yeah. Because you came up to me at the retreat I love a short little talk and then little conversation after the fact. But as the. Founder, you were the founder. This is another thing. You're such a leader too. Like okay. I'll just found the, uh, founder and executive producer of TEDx Chicago.
Okay. That's huge. And you've coached and curated a lot of talks again, dentist entrepreneur, write a book about oral and then you also say, oh, I think I'll just be the founder of the TED Talks in Chicago. Really good. I That's such a slacker. Unbelievable. but you are the one person to let us know what do most people get wrong about giving a powerful talk and what exactly creates the real impact?
Because even if you're not a. A speaker on stage, you have to give a talk to your kindergartners or to your church group, or to your corporate table or to your friends. Tell us what made it wrong about giving a powerful talk?
Jessica: Actually, I'm still amazed that I did say yes when somebody asked if I wanted to do this.
'cause there was no Ted at Chicago. But, it's been. Amazing. I think it also helped me to be bold enough to write the book. 'cause I met all these amazing people. I mean, we had 400 people apply the first years and then we tighten it up a little bit. But, but anyway, to do a talk I mean, according to Ted's way of doing things, and I mean, there are billions of viewers I'm just following and learning from what they're doing.
And I would say the first thing to think about is, don't give the gallery, you know, you. Just bring one painting and keep at it. Uh, keeping it short in minutes is also a good idea. 'cause when you start going on and on and on, it's like on tv, you know, those, talk shows.
Everybody just wanna have seconds of words. I mean, in my mind.
Anne: Yeah.
Jessica: And this is so the opposite. Every word counts. people can suck it in or get it in and really understand. And you actually take audience on a journey from maybe believing something to actually seeing it in a different way. And it's not like you're promoting, but you're just telling what your view of I tried to get a guy who's, making, three dimensional kidneys in Chicago? I mean, people are amazing that I've been reaching out to,
Anne: okay. How
Jessica: can I grasp that? I mean, so that person had, didn't come and speak at my stage, but let's say he did. Okay. So he needs to explain what a kidney does, what you need for, and so on.
we need to know, okay, when, what, what's gonna happen? So people start thinking instead of listening, if you don't move them along in a good pace okay. And actually give them what they need.
Anne: so this is good because I'm gonna do a panel, that this week at the Hinman.
And so we've got two questions to answer and because I have communication, I think I need to give them every single thing. About the answer that I have had in my tool chest forever. Okay. Instead of like picking one profound statement or takeaway for them and then like have a mic drop, right?
I mean, you
Jessica: what? Why don't you and I you can run it through me and I can see if I can help you. That would be really fun.
Anne: Oh, that would be really fun.
Jessica: Yeah. So let's find a time. That would be fun.
Anne: Okay. So maybe we should,film that also, because, you know, that would be, well, that could be fun.
That would be really helpful because, you know, all of us wanna be able to be succinct and I,I just always have so much I wanna say, and even when you're talking to your kids, this is helpful for like, even. Your relationships in general, not just on the TED Talk stage, right, because when you're speaking to someone, you're trying to get a point across.
If you go too far and I get off tangents, you know, I'm like all over the place. Half the time to like stay focused on the one point that I'm trying to make and make it well is that,
Jessica: but remember there's some people who are the opposite. So then I had to really work with some people to.
Tell more about you. Why would I trust you standing up there?
Anne: Okay?
Jessica: It doesn't matter if you have a degree or, you know, how do you own this and why do I trust you? So that's a big one too. And why is this important? I mean, if you don't even tell me that this is so important, why would I think it's important listening to you?
so it depends who the person is. So it's not who wants a one stop shop. everybody's unique in the way they wanna talk and how, so it's really fun. But these are sort of the foundation of it and you up and down different parts depend of the person.
Anne: Wow. So when they came to you as, with their talk, then you saw their talk and then you gave them feedback and helped them kind of whittle it down
Jessica: You, you come to me and have a, it's gonna be on my stage or. Another state, I guess. If you have already talked, I would say, okay, let's put that aside and we'll just talk today. So I try to get to know the person and, this way they're communicating and the way they carry themselves.
Some are shy and some are the opposites. You need to tame people or boost them or, and then I wanna really understand what your idea is what the. center of what you're gonna say is, and sometimes don't know. so then we have to start from the beginning.
Anne: you gotta find out what their message is.
Like what is your message? What do you really wanna say?
Jessica: Core of
Anne: it. Yeah. In the core. And I probably, that really helped you, that discipline probably really helped you when you were writing the book. ' you would. Know yourself. Like, what do you really wanna get across? And What are the words every word was precious.
Jessica: Yeah. And that helped me with my think of my friend. 'cause when you write, you get a little, yeah. Too much words here and there, which is not my problem, but still. I'm think she is not gonna care about this. Boom out.
Anne: That's, that is
Jessica: too much information,
Anne: that's so cool.
Then everything in that book is, you know, there's nothing in the book that you don't think needs to be there, which is really cool. It's another reason why we need to,that book. So you guys make sure you go to your side. How do we get in touch with you if we wanna get the book?
Jessica: Yeah.
Yeah, my name is my website, Jessica leader house and.com or the Lagom method, and I have the book there where I sign. It's a hardcover that is only on available there and I would love to send those out, which I do. And then Amazon has the book, of course, and some random stores and such.
Anne: But it would be better to go ahead and get it from you, I would imagine. Yeah. More who, doesn doesn't wanna sign copy of a book for you with all your accolades and you're, you got, and who knows what you're up to next. I mean, you've, you know, you're still young and you're just.
had a mile marker of a birthday, but, you know, we start and don't stop and we never retire. So, you know, we got it in us. I would love to, get with you on, my talks because I who doesn't wanna be more profound when they're up in front of somebody.
I mean, and that is, a gift that you have given, and the other thing is you've lived it, you got the experience. not many people have, listened to 400 talks or, got them on a stage. So kudos to you and so we can find you that way. And then I just wanna say thank you so much for being part of dub, because we were so lucky that, Maria but
Jessica: I'm happy I, she. presented you to me, which was a gift. I'm really, truly happy. Everybody are fantastic.
Anne: Yeah. we do learn from each other. I,I am always amazed, but I'm just so thankful for Maria, because I wouldn't know you otherwise. And I have,I have loved knowing you and have all the time that we've had to, spend together.
So thank you so much for being here today. I know we'll see you at the retreat in November. We got that going in the 12th. To the 14th in Charlotte. And then of course, you know, if you're listening to us today, just know the most important thing you can do is to keep doing you. So thank you so much, Jessica.
I hope to see you before November. But, if not continued success for you in the book and all that you're doing for the world and beyond. So thank you.
Jessica: Thanks.
Anne: Yeah, my pleasure.
Jessica:
