Awakened Anesthetist – Details, episodes & analysis

The 2026 AAAA* President had a marketing undergrad degree, years in hospitality as a bartender, one EMT night class, and a long stretch of prerequisites. This might not sound like the “perfect” route into the CAA profession, but it can be the exact training ground to build a great CAA and an even better leader. We recorded this LIVE Season 5 Finale on April 10th, 2026 from the AAAA National Conference main stage (my podcasting dream come true). It also ended up being one of my favorite conversations, not only because Emily openly discusses her imposter syndrome and test anxiety, but because it will make your big dreams feel possible again.

*American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants

Connect with Emily Mycyk, 2026 AAAA President

A HUGE Thank You to my Season 5 PROCESS sponsor, Harmony Anesthesia Staffing.

Harmony is CAA-owned, clinician-forward, and leading the way in the CAA locums market. Schedule your free 15-min consult and see how locums can work for you. Say 'hi' to Rad and Sasi for me when you do!

Drop me a quick voice note!

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for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

In this AA student PROCESS episode, I sit down with 2025 AAAA Diversity Scholarship winners Brashe' Webster and Lindsey Glenn to tell the truth about underrepresentation, code switching, and what it costs to “perform” in the OR. We talk through access, mentorship, program fit, and the practical questions pre-AAs can ask so they choose AA school with their eyes open.

Follow Lindsey Linkedin or glindsey.1010@gmail.com

Follow Brashe' Linkedin or w.brashe@yahoo.com

Key Links

• 2024 Scholarship Winners PROCESS episode 60
• Email the 2025 Diversity Committee Chair
• Join the AAAA (must be AAAA member to apply for Diversity scholarship)
• DONATE NOW Diversity Scholarship - AAAA
• LEARN MORE Diversity Scholarship Requirements

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A denied $10 raise shouldn’t define a career, but it can redefine one. When Rad hit a wall advocating for fair market pay, he realized the problem wasn’t personal, it was structural. So he built leverage instead of waiting for permission, and Harmony Anesthesia Staffing was born.

Connect with Rad radzamani@harmonyanesthesia.com

Great Resource HERE to understand all the terms in this episode (1099, W2, Locums, etc)

A HUGE 'Thank You' to the Season 5 PROCESS sponsor, Harmony Anesthesia Staffing.

Harmony is CAA-owned, clinician-forward, and leading the way in the CAA locums market. Schedule your free 15-min consult and see how locums can work for you. Say 'hi' to Rad and Sasi for me when you do!

Drop me a quick voice note!

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- 
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

Curious about what it truly means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA)? You're in the right place! From nearly two decades of experience, I share a clear and comprehensive breakdown of the CAA profession. Think of me as your older sister or best friend, guiding you step-by-step through the essentials—from what CAAs actually do to how much money we make, no topic is off limits. Whether you're an aspiring AA student or simply exploring a career in medicine, this guide equips you with the insights you need to understand the CAA profession.

In Part 5 I am answering the question, "How to Land and Leverage Those Darn Shadowing Hours?"

Other Popular Episodes in this Series

• Pt. 4 How Much Do CAAs Make?
• Pt. 3 Where Can CAAs Work?

Totally New to the Pre-AA Journey? Start Here with AspiringCAA.com

Previous episodes with Sarah Whitfield, CAA HERE and HERE

Great Book for Shadowers HERE

Links to all State AAAA Component Academies HERE

Sarah's IG

Sarah's Linkedin

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Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

***@ 14:42 my podcast software thinks "voo-ing is a "removable background noise" so this episode may be best experienced on YouTube

Have you ever searched for wellness resources that truly understand what it means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant? You're not alone. Wellness Wednesday are candid conversations about the unique challenges and opportunities facing CAAs in their pursuit of sustainable wellbeing.

In this episode I relate how OR life can jack your nervous system into overdrive... constant alarms, literal hammering, a sudden “patient’s moving", and yet our role as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant demands we have steady hands and a clear head. I unpack three discreet, science-backed techniques you can use behind the drape to quiet the buzz without calling attention to yourself. Think long, quiet exhales that nudge your vagus nerve, a quick dose of tension-then-release to steady your hands, and a soft “voo” on the breath that taps the laryngeal branches of the vagus for an extra parasympathetic boost.

Whether you're a practicing CAA, AA student, or prospective applicant, this episode marks the beginning of a community-centered approach to wellness that finally names and validates your experience. Welcome in. 

FYI "To "regulate" means to monitor and adjust one’s internal state—such as emotions, thoughts, or physiological responses—in order to maintain balance and support adaptive behavior." so says ChatGpt

Attention AA Program Leaders and Educators. Learn More about bringing CAA Matters to your AA program HERE

Drop me a quick voice note!

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for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

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Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

In this episode, we trace Kate’s path from engineering to CAA, the messy middle of finding her voice, and the work of turning loss into a children's book about anesthesia. Along the way, we unpack her New Mexico CAA advocacy journey and what it means to live by design. Hear Kate's CAA story and be expanded in this Season 5 PROCESS episode.

and a HUGE Thank YOU to our Season 5 PROCESS sponsor, Harmony Anesthesia Staffing.

Harmony is CAA-owned, clinician-forward, and leading the way in the CAA locums market. Schedule your free 15-min consult and see how locums can work for you. Say 'hi' to Rad and Sasi for me when you do!

also mentioned in this episode

• Kate's NYC Billboard
• Anesthesia Dreamland website
• Night Night Sweet Child: Safe Blastoff to Anesthesia Dreamland on Amazon
• Previous PROCESS ep. 36 detailing New Mexico SB 35 (ft. Lindsey Diaz)

Drop me a quick voice note!

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for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

Have you ever searched for wellness resources that truly understand what it means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant? You're not alone. Wellness Wednesday are candid conversations about the unique challenges and opportunities facing CAAs in their pursuit of sustainable wellbeing.

In this episode, we discuss the quiet tug-of-war between boundless ambition and a life that actually feels good (especially for high-achieving CAAs, SAAs, and pre-AAs trained to do more, faster, and better). We unpack the core idea, “you can do anything, but you can’t do everything”, and sit with the grief inside it. Every 'yes' creates a cascade of invisible no’s, and pretending that doesn’t hurt keeps us stuck. Naming seasons changes the game. 

Whether you're a practicing CAA, AA student, or prospective applicant, this episode marks the beginning of a community-centered approach to wellness that finally names and validates your experience. Welcome in. 

Attention AA Program Leaders and Educators. Learn More about bringing CAA Matters to your AA program HERE

Drop me a quick voice note!

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- 
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

What happens when you refuse to choose between two seemingly opposite dreams? Brooke Ferris, CAA knows firsthand. As both a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and a six-season veteran of the Atlanta Falcons cheerleading squad, she's lived in two worlds that many insisted couldn't coexist. Hear her story and be expanded in this Season 5 PROCESS premiere.

A HUGE 'Thank You' to the Season 5 PROCESS sponsor, Harmony Anesthesia Staffing.

Harmony is CAA-owned, clinician-forward, and leading the way in the CAA locums market. Schedule your free 15-min consult and see how locums can work for you. Say 'hi' to Rad and Sasi for me when you do!

Drop me a quick voice note!

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- 
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

Have you ever searched for wellness resources that truly understand what it means to be a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant? You're not alone.

Wellness Wednesday debuts with a candid conversation about the unique challenges and opportunities facing CAAs in their pursuit of sustainable wellbeing. As I share my personal journey from burnout to balance, I reveal how my frustration with the lack of CAA-specific wellness resources became the catalyst for creating what our profession desperately needed.

Whether you're a practicing CAA, AA student, or prospective applicant, this episode marks the beginning of a community-centered approach to wellness that finally names and validates your experience. Welcome in. 

Attention AA Program Leaders and Educators. Learn More about bringing CAA Matters to your AA program HERE

Drop me a quick voice note!

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- 
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist

Can you believe we are starting the 5th season?! I am honored to host the first ever podcast for the CAA community, thanks for being! If you want more, listen to my 3 original PROCESS episodes to hear all the nitty gritty details of my journey.

• [PROCESS] Part 1/3. My Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Journey from Full-Time to Part-Time
• [PROCESS] Pt 2/3. My Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Journey from Full-Time to Part-Time
• [PROCESS] That time I got fired. Pt. 3/3 My Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Full-Time to Part-Time Journey

If you love this episode, please share it with another CAA, SAA, or Pre-AA in your life. You can also visit AwakenedAnesthetist.com to join the Mindful Connections mailing list, which restarts in September, or connect on Instagram @AwakenedAnesthetist. Talk soon!

Drop me a quick voice note!

Stay Connected by subscribing to the Awakened Anesthetist Newsletter- 
for more CAA specific resources, exclusive content and offers.

Watch episodes of Awakened Anesthetist Now on YouTube!

Let's Chat! awakenedanesthetist.com  or on IG @awakenedanesthetist