Don't Eat Your Young: A Nursing Podcast

Episode Summary: In this rich, conversation-forward episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with Dr. Melissa Eisenhauer — CRNA, nurse anesthesia educator, program administrator, and co-founder of Pinnacle Preceptor Academy. Melissa brings 24 years of CRNA practice and a growing body of research to a topic that touches every corner of clinical education: preceptorship. From the barriers preceptors face...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with Lexi Urman, a current MICU nurse and future SRNA set to begin her DNP in Anesthesia program in 2026. With over four years as a bedside RN — across surgical progressive care, same-day surgery, PACU, and MICU — plus six years as a CNA before that, Lexi brings a grounded, experienced perspective to the CRNA journey.  It was du...

Episode Summary: Running a 1099 business as a CRNA or healthcare professional can feel overwhelming — from tracking mileage and invoices to managing tax deductions, credential renewals, and scheduling across multiple facilities. In this episode of Don’t Eat Your Young, host Beth Quaas sits down with CoryAnn, CRNA, entrepreneur, and founder of 1099 Pro LLC and the 1099 Hub app, to break down exactl...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with nurse, author, and wellness expert Giovanna Navarro to unpack the real science behind burnout, stress, and healing in nursing. With nearly three decades of clinical experience and deep training in neuroscience and behavioral health—including mentorship under Dr. Joe Dispenza—Giovanna explains why traditional “self-care” isn’...

Episode Summary: Resilience is more than completing mandatory wellness modules. In this episode of Don’t Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas welcomes nurse anesthetist, educator, and author Richard Wilson to explore a practical, real-world approach to building resilience in nursing and healthcare education. Richard shares how resilience directly impacts wellness, patient safety, leadership effectiven...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Don’t Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas talks with Abby Kent , a board-certified nurse coach in Raleigh, North Carolina, about stepping off autopilot after post-COVID burnout, rebuilding self-trust, and creating lasting change through empowerment. Abby shares her 14-year nursing path (including a unique role as the RN for the North Carolina Highway Patrol) and ho...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode, host Beth Quaas sits down with emergency nurse and ZooMates founder Laura Siwinski, a mom of five who transformed her personal journey with her autistic son into a powerful visual-communication tool. ZooMates is a free, ad-free platform using real animal photography to support communication for children, people with autism, patients with aphasia or demen...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode, returning guest Amy Siple provides an urgent update on her legal battle with the Board of Nursing. What started as a missed license renewal during a family crisis has escalated into a years-long fight revealing major problems in nursing oversight and disciplinary systems. Amy explains her recent administrative hearing loss, her upcoming judicial appeal, a...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Don't Eat Your Young , host Beth Quas sits down with Dr. Misty Wilkie, PhD, RN, and Director of the Center of Indigenous People Health and Nursing at the University of Minnesota. Misty shares her inspiring journey from being a young single mother to becoming one of the few American Indian nurses with a PhD. We explore how her Ojibwemowin heritage shaped...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Don’t Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas sits down with nurse practitioner, educator, and healthcare leader Amy Siple to share her shocking story. After 30+ years of spotless nursing service, Amy’s career was nearly destroyed due to a clerical licensing error during her husband's cancer treatment. Together, they uncover the harsh realities of board invest...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Don’t Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas sits down with nursing leader Connie Delaney , Dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, to explore transformational leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and the future of healthcare. Connie shares how her early experiences shaped her philosophy of leading with love, the impact of nursing infor...

Episode Summary: In this eye-opening episode, host Beth Quaas welcomes Dr. Beth Sanford, a seasoned nurse educator and passionate advocate for vitamin D awareness, to explore the critical role vitamin D plays in physical, cognitive, and emotional health . From personal stories to evidence-based research, Dr. Sanford shares powerful insights about how vitamin D deficiency affects not just the gener...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of Don't Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas sits down with author and professor Melissa Pritchard to dive deep into the life and legacy of Florence Nightingale — the true original "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) in nursing. Melissa shares the incredible story behind her novel Flight of the Wild Swan and how a serendipitous visit to the Florence Nightingale Mu...

Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Don't Eat Your Young , host Beth Quaas sits down with Megan Carter—nurse leader turned consultant—to unpack the harsh realities of nurse leadership, burnout, and bullying in healthcare. Megan opens up about her own journey from bedside nurse to associate chief nursing officer, the toll it took on her well-being, and how a six-month sabbatical led to the...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Don't Eat Your Young , we sit down with Maureen Metzger, a passionate advocate for nurse well-being and resilience. Maureen shares practical strategies to help nurses maintain their mental, emotional, and physical health while navigating the challenges of the profession. From self-care and mindfulness to workplace support and professional boundaries, we explore...

Episode Summary: In this exciting episode, Beth Quaas welcomes Richard Wilson, a knowledgeable DPA, CRNA, FAANA and educator, to discuss how generational differences impact communication, education, and mentorship in the healthcare field. From the challenges of teaching across generations to the evolving landscape of clinical training, Richard shares invaluable insights into fostering collaboratio...

Welcome to Season 5 of "Don't Eat Your Young," the podcast dedicated to empowering nurses and fostering a supportive healthcare community. In this premiere episode, host Beth Quaas reflects on the journey so far and sets the stage for an exciting new season focused on growth, resilience, and innovation in nursing. Connect with Us: Website: Don't Eat Your Young Instagram: @donteatyouryoung Facebook...

Jenn Johnson has been an ER nurse in Canada for many years. Through those years she was bullied and had to leave jobs because the toxic people she was working with were never dealt with, so she decided to move on. Jenn takes us through three different times she was bullied and how she dealt with each one based on her past experiences and how she grew every time it happened.  With all of her experi...

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Crow, RN, a dedicated nurse with over a decade of experience in the healthcare field. Jennifer’s journey began in 2013, and through the challenges of nightshifts and the demands of her profession, she developed a vision to empower and support her fellow nurses. This vision gave birth to Nurses for Nurses, a dynamic community set to launch in September 202...

Karen Doiron knows that we don’t have to keep living with the stress we are used to and she wants to help nurses live healthier lives. In this episode, Karen shares some simple strategies that we can incorporate immediately to help us feel better today. Summary: Karen Doiron is The Rest RN and her goal is to improve the lives of nurses by teaching them to recognize and decrease their stress levels...

Kasey Pacheco believes that collaboration is the key to improving healthcare and bringing nurses together. In this episode, Kasey talks about what she is doing to bring nurses success by teaching them about holistic health and guiding them to pivot into their passion.  Summary: Kasey is a nurse and loves caring for patients, but found that her nursing colleagues also needed care. She helps others...

Beth Ramer empowers ambitious women to go from unfulfilled and burnt out to expanding their passion for possibility without blowing up their lives and careers. She is a speaker, coach, workshop facilitator and host of the Design your Vibrant Life podcast. Beth knows that we can get caught up in the busy-ness of life and work, constantly spinning, always doing everything for everyone else and feeli...

Kerry Johnson has worn many hats in her time as a nurse: bedside nurse, FNP, and Functional Medicine NP. What better person than her to teach the new nurses coming into the profession. Listen today to hear how Kerry got into education and how her passion for health turned her to functional medicine. ABOUT KERRY Kerry Johnson had been working as a nurse for several years when she decided to get her...

Alex Whitefield knows what it’s like to be an exhausted bedside nurse. It isn’t ok for nurses to do the work that they do without a break away from their patients. So he decided to change that. Listen this week to hear what Alex is working on to help manage the complexities of scheduling our breaks. Alex Whitefield was an ER nurse before becoming a nurse leader. During the time he was working at t...

Ryan George, an experienced ICU nurse, offers a candid account of his decision to leave his job due to workplace bullying, ultimately leading him to exit the nursing profession altogether. As a gay man in a predominantly female field, Ryan sheds light on the reality of toxic workplace dynamics, particularly the "mean girls" phenomenon. Despite his proficiency as a nurse and dedication to teaching,...