Core Anesthesia

In Part Two of our financial deep dive with Vinny Cagungun, we tackle four of the most-requested topics from our listeners: debt payoff strategy, the real financial differences between W2 and 1099, tax planning for high-income CRNAs, and how to find the right advisors for your team. Vinny, Cole, and Tanner share their personal journeys — including what they'd do differently in hindsight — and break down practical frameworks like the three-bucket tax system, the 1.3x rule for comparing W2 to 1099 offers, and often-overlooked strategies like QBI deductions and self-directed 401(k)s. Whether you're a new grad staring down six figures of student loans or an experienced CRNA looking to level up your financial game, this episode delivers actionable insight at every stage. As Vinny says, clarity comes from doing — so take it one step at a time and enjoy the journey.

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To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

In this episode we welcome LocumTenems.com to give us a current market update.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

What happens when both you and your significant other are on the CRNA journey? In this episode, Cole and Tanner sit down with Connor and Shayla to talk about what it’s really like navigating anesthesia school as a couple.

From supporting each other, overlapping in school, managing stress, finances, and the day-to-day reality of building a future together in anesthesia, they share what this experience has really looked like behind the scenes. Honest, relatable, and a great reminder that anesthesia school may test a relationship, but it can also strengthen one.

Follow along with Connor and Shayla’s journey on socials @connorpatrick12 & @shaylaminiter

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

Cole and Tanner walk through the origin story and growth of their platform—from two anesthesia students recording study conversations during commutes to help themselves retain material, to realizing listeners nationwide were benefiting too. They share how a low-budget podcast (cheap mics, DIY editing, and a $5 logo) evolved into a paid subscription model, then into a full-featured app built to make anesthesia education and CEUs more accessible and mobile-friendly. Along the way, they reflect candidly on the trial-and-error of building a business without formal experience: pricing decisions, clunky early tech, the realities of “passive income,” customer support growing pains, and how their partnership helped them push through burnout. The episode ends with how their reach expanded to students and practicing CRNAs worldwide, why they eventually partnered with Archer Review to scale with more resources, and what they’ve learned about finding a real need, starting messy, and improving as you go.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

Most anesthesia providers spend years building a highly specialized skill set, then assume the only path forward is “more OR.” But what if your CRNA degree could open doors beyond the head of the bed?

In this episode, Cole and Tanner sit down with Randy Moore for an honest conversation about the broader world of anesthesia careers. 

Together, they explore:

• What “beyond the head of the bed” really means for CRNAs
• Career opportunities outside traditional OR roles
• How to think about your CRNA skill set as transferable (leadership, education, consulting, and more)
• Why exploring non-traditional paths can add flexibility, longevity, and fulfillment to your career

Whether you’re early in your CRNA journey, starting to feel the pull toward something different, or just want to expand your perspective, this conversation will help you see the profession with wider angles.

Subscribe to Randy's free resource, Inside Anesthesia, at https://randymoore.substack.com

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

Thinking about locums but unsure where to start? Tanner sits down with Gavin and Chase, CRNAs and co-founders of Krewe Anesthesia, to break down what locums really looks like—myths, red flags, lifestyle flexibility, credentialing, and how to find assignments that actually fit your goals. Whether you’re a new grad, a seasoned CRNA, or just locums-curious, this episode gives you a grounded look at what it takes to make the jump with confidence.

Visit kreweanesthesia.com to learn more and follow them at @krewe_anesthesia!

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

Perioperative antibiotics are part of nearly every anesthetic — but how often do we stop to ask why a specific antibiotic was chosen? In this episode, Cole and Tanner break down perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis from an anesthesia perspective, including selection, timing, common contraindications, and what to do when allergies or red flags arise. A practical discussion to help you move beyond “that’s just what we give” and make more informed, patient-specific decisions in the OR.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

You’ve probably been earning CEUs and studying way harder than you need to. In this episode, we walk through the Core Anesthesia app and show you how to turn your commute, dog walks, and dishwashing sessions into Class A credits, smarter studying, and less stress. If you’re a CRNA, SRNA, or ICU nurse thinking about CRNA school, this walkthrough will show you how to make your studying and CEUs fit into your real life, not the other way around.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

In this episode, we talk about how the competitive mindset that gets us into CRNA school can actually work against us once we’re there. We share honest experiences with comparison, insecurity, and trying to look like we have it all together. We’ve learned that being open about our struggles, supporting each other, and focusing on the team makes the journey healthier and more sustainable. Whether you’re an SRNA or a CRNA, this conversation is about choosing community over competition.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected] 

In this episode we welcome Ray Ramos, USAP CRNA to discuss how to navigate through clinical sites with various preceptors. This is often what people say is the hardest part of anesthesia school- how to deal with various personalities and preceptors.

Support the show

To access all of our content, download the CORE Anesthesia App available here on the App Store and here on Google Play.

Want to connect? Check out our instagram or email us at [email protected]