In partnership with Beyond the Mask, AANA offers two podcasts for the nurse anesthesia community, Grade 1 View and Airway Exchange, which publish on alternating Tuesdays. Listen online or subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Grade 1 View, the award-winning podcast for future CRNAs, explores the challenges, milestones, and learning curves that shape the journey to becoming a CRNA, with conversations covering topics including study strategies, clinical rotations, professional development, and navigating CRNA school.
Airway Exchange, the award-winning podcast for nurse anesthesia educators, covers diverse topics including admissions, testing, mentoring, well-being, technology and AI, and more, while building connections and fostering a supportive community.
The podcast FOR future CRNAs, BY future CRNAs
Grade 1 View, the award-winning podcast for future CRNAs, by future CRNAs, gives RRNAs a platform to speak directly to their peers about the realities of anesthesia training. Hosted by current residents, this podcast series explores the challenges, milestones, and learning curves that shape the journey to becoming a CRNA, with conversations covering topics including study strategies, clinical rotations, professional development, and navigating CRNA school. By sharing honest experiences and insights, the hosts offer encouragement – and perspective – for students navigating the same demanding path.
The Grade 1 View podcast is a collaboration between the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and Beyond the Mask. Grade 1 View is published every two weeks with an occasional bonus episode, and is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Grade 1 View on Instagram @grade1viewpodcast!
We love to hear your show ideas! Submit your suggestions for topics and guests or request to share your story on air.
Nicolas is originally from Colorado, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Colorado Anschutz after working as an exercise physiologist. He began his nursing career in the Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit at the University of Colorado Hospital, where he worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this time that his interest in anesthesia grew. Now calling Arizona home, Nicolas is currently a second-year student in Midwestern University’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice (DNAP) program and plans to graduate in 2027. His professional interests include anesthesia education, mentorship, and student advocacy. In his free time, Nicolas enjoys working out, creative projects, spending time with his dog, Rio, and, when possible, nothing compares to a good nap.
Levi is a third-year Nurse Anesthesia Resident in the Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program through Ursuline College, with an anticipated graduation in December 2026. He began his healthcare career as a paramedic before transitioning into emergency nursing and later spending over a decade in high-acuity critical care and rapid response. Levi is passionate about advocacy, resident wellness, and having honest conversations about the realities of anesthesia training, from clinical growth to OR culture and professional identity. As a host of Grade 1 View, Levi hopes to create thoughtful, relatable discussions that inform, encourage, and remind nurse anesthesia residents they’re not alone on the journey. Levi is a proud dad who runs on caffeine, curiosity, and controlled chaos while serving in the Army Nurse Corps as a Captain.
Mackenzie is excited to dive into all things nurse anesthesia. She is a first-year student at Florida State University, with anticipated graduation in May 2028. Mackenzie completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia and earned her BSN from Augusta University. She began her nursing career in Labor and Delivery, which turned out to be a pivotal experience. Working in the obstetric OR was where Mackenzie first discovered nurse anesthesia and realized it was the path she wanted to pursue. After transitioning to the ICU, gaining critical care experience, and earning additional credentials, that goal became a reality. Mackenzie is getting married this May, and her fiancé is officially along for the wild ride that is anesthesia school. She’s also a big college football fan – Go Dawgs!
Kelsey is a Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetist (RRNA) in the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Nurse Anesthesia program at Villanova University and is anticipated to graduate in December 2026. She received her undergraduate nursing degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after spending five years in Colorado as a ski-patroller. Nursing is a second degree, and her non-traditional path into healthcare has made her grateful for the opportunity to pursue a career in anesthesia. Outside of the operating room, she enjoys staying active, spending time with her dog, and rooting for all the Philadelphia sports teams!
Each year, AANA will open applications for the next season’s resident host team.
Production Credits
Grade 1 View launched in January 2025. The contributions of our founding hosts were crucial to the podcast’s mission to bring the RRNA perspective to the microphone and build a community that reminds future CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists they are not alone in their journey.
Empowering Educators. Inspiring Future CRNAs.
Airway Exchange, the award-winning podcast for nurse anesthesia educators, covers diverse topics including admissions, testing, mentoring, well-being, technology and AI, and more, while building connections and fostering a supportive community. On Airway Exchange, you’ll enjoy first-person insights, actionable takeaways, and memorable anecdotes. Join us in meaningful conversations that elevate practice, inspire learning, and connect our community.
The Airway Exchange podcast is a collaboration between the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and Beyond the Mask. Airway Exchange is published every two weeks and is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow Airway Exchange on Instagram @airwayexchangepodcast!
Dr. Greg Collins serves as Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Texas Christian University School of Nurse Anesthesia and maintains an active clinical practice in the Fort Worth area. He has over 18 years of independent nurse anesthesia experience, with most of that time spent in a high-acuity, high-volume obstetric practice. Greg is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, providing down-range anesthesia in support of both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. He is a Past-President for the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists and currently serves on the AANA Board as Region 5 Director.
“After almost 16 years of anesthesia experience in both clinical practice and group management, I chose to commit to CRNA education. This allowed me to carry the professional attributes from previous experiences directly to the classroom. The ability to effectively communicate was important in all areas of my practice prior to making that jump, but has been paramount in the academic setting.”
Dr. Nickie Damico is Chair of the Department of Nurse Anesthesia and the Herbert T. Watson Endowed Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she teaches and guides one of the nation’s longest-standing nurse anesthesia programs while bringing energy and vision to its future. With over 25 years of teaching experience—11 years as a clinical educator and 15 in full-time academia—she combines practical expertise with academic innovation. Nickie is passionate about launching new initiatives and dedicated to exploring new approaches to teaching, integrating technology into education, and strengthening the nurse anesthesia community. Outside of work, Nickie can be found outdoors hiking, training for her next half-marathon, or planning another travel adventure with her family.
“Generally, educators practice in silos. Every time we gather at meetings and have the chance to chat informally about challenges of all kinds, we learn that our issues aren’t usually unique to our institutions. The isolation and overwhelm we feel is one of the primary reasons I’ve seen excellent educators, especially new ones, run away from academia. Podcasts are an amazing medium for building connections and community.”
Dr. Erin Martin grew up in Iowa, and after obtaining her nursing degree from Allen College, started her nursing career at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. She attended the Mayo Clinic Nurse Anesthesia Program where she earned her MNA, and later Winona State University where she obtained her DNP. Shortly after graduating from anesthesia school, she began to provide lectures for the Mayo Clinic Nurse Anesthesia program and eventually joined the core faculty. She was part of the core team who facilitated the transition of the program from a Masters to a Doctoral program in 2014, and assumed the role of Associate Program Director in 2015. In 2020, she became the Program Director.
Erin maintains her clinical practice at the Mayo Clinic and enjoys providing lectures outside of the classroom at anesthesia meetings across the country, with specific interests in social media and professionalism, generational diversity, and neurodivergence. Outside of work, Erin most enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers. With the time that’s left over, she proudly embraces her love of “granny hobbies” like knitting, embroidery, jigsaw puzzles, and reading.
“Educators have the most complex and often underappreciated role in the discipline of anesthesia. Educators must navigate clinical issues, stay abreast of clinical and education best practices, legal issues in education, accreditation challenges, along with maintaining our own clinical expertise. Every year when I leave ADCE, I feel energized and supported from being with a group of like-minded professionals who are navigating the same challenges that I am. This podcast tailored to educators will provide that same type of support, education and validation for CRNA educators year-round.”
Dr. Louisa Martin earned her Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, in 2015. After graduation, she returned home to Augusta, GA, where she has since practiced as a CRNA. Motivated to expand her career into teaching and research, she pursued doctoral studies and earned her PhD in Nursing Science from Augusta University in August 2022. Her doctoral studies included coursework at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York, and her dissertation examined workplace incivility in the operating room.
Since September 2022, Louisa has served as a full-time faculty member in the Nurse Anesthesia Program at Augusta University (AU NAP), where she is currently an Assistant Professor. In March 2025, she was named Assistant Program Director for Didactic Instruction. Clinically, she practices PRN at Piedmont Augusta, with a strong interest in vascular anesthesia. On a personal note, Louisa has been sober and in long-term recovery from substance use disorder since May 10, 2007, and she is passionate about addressing stigma and advancing wellness initiatives among healthcare professionals. She also enjoys podcasting and has been a two-time guest on Grade 1 View.
“I began serving as adjunct faculty in a Nurse Anesthesia Program in 2019 and transitioned to a full-time educator position in 2022. I still consider myself relatively new to the field, which allows me to offer a fresh perspective on Nurse Anesthesia Education. I see areas in need of revision, innovation, or expansion as well as aspects of the field that remain underexplored or underdeveloped.”