About the Rest

Joe Rodriguez

— SERIES PREMIERES JUNE 22, 2026 — I'm Joe Rodriguez, CRNA. After co-hosting the podcast Anesthesia Deconstructed for years, I kept running into the same problem. I was told that if I stayed clinically excellent and kept my head down, the rest would take care of itself. If you're reading this, you know all too well… IT DOES NOT. Unfortunately, time and time again, I discovered that the most impactful tools to leverage throughout my career in anesthesia (e.g. money, influence, deal negotiations, power) are never taught to us in school or in practice. I had to pick it all up at dinners, off the record, wherever the valuable conversations take place but go unheard. Honestly, my issue with every other podcast in our field is that clinical teaching and polite leadership talk are…are a little boring. I figure if it bores me, it bores you. So then, where can we learn how groups do or don't make money? How do hospital deals get structured? Why do subsidies keep climbing? What separates a holding company from private equity? What does it take to build leadership that holds up under pressure? The list goes on. Which brings us here. I present to you the show I've been wanting to see and got tired waiting around for. About the Rest is a twice-monthly inside baseball podcast for the people who run things. Join me as I sit down with fellow anesthesia business leaders Randy Moore and other key voices from the field to take real positions and hash out the big questions, warts and all. If it's in the public record, it's on the table: announcements, policy changes, lawsuits, the big RFP nobody will explain, the conference moment everyone clocked. If you want to learn how to get into the OR, this isn't it. About the Rest is about, well, the rest! Learn More: www.abouttherest.com About the Rest is a Human Content Production

  1. Anesthesia Deconstructed: I Thought We Were Winning. Then, We Got Fired: Essentials of Anesthesia Leadership

    08/21/2025

    Anesthesia Deconstructed: I Thought We Were Winning. Then, We Got Fired: Essentials of Anesthesia Leadership

    In this powerful and unfiltered episode, Dr. Joseph Rodriguez — CRNA, former state and national leader, faculty member, and host of Anesthesia Deconstructed — takes us inside the real lessons of anesthesia leadership. From COVID-era disruption to contract losses, difficult boardroom conversations, and the relentless financial pressures of today’s anesthesia market, Joe shares stories that few leaders are willing to tell. Each story carries a hard-won lesson: why leadership is never just a title, how executive presence shapes outcomes, why data transparency can backfire, and how accountability transforms teams from fragile to high-performing. We also dive into the frameworks that shaped his leadership journey — from Crucial Conversations to The Four Agreements and Five Dysfunctions of a Team — and how every leader can apply them to grow themselves, their organizations, and the people they serve. This isn’t theory. It’s frontline leadership, with all the scars, pivots, and resilience required to survive in one of healthcare’s most disrupted specialties. Whether you’re a CRNA, SRNA, or a healthcare leader navigating change, this conversation is a masterclass in turning setbacks into systems, failures into frameworks, and words into lasting impact. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Business, Executive Presence, Leadership Lessons, Nurse Anesthesiology, Organizational Growth, Accountability, Professional Development, Anesthesia Contracts, No Surprises Act, Healthcare Strategy, Team Building, Crucial Conversations, Five Dysfunctions of a Team Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    55 min
  2. What If the AANA Disappeared? Inside the CEO’s Role with Bill Bruce

    08/12/2025

    What If the AANA Disappeared? Inside the CEO’s Role with Bill Bruce

    In this candid and wide-ranging episode, we sit down with Bill Bruce — CEO of the AANA, representing over 65,000 CRNAs and SRNAs nationwide — to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to lead the profession’s largest and most influential organization. From balancing the competing demands of members, boards, and limited resources, to navigating constant political, clinical, and industry noise, Bill explains how the CEO’s role is equal parts strategist, mediator, and pressure point. We explore how the AANA sets priorities, allocates resources, and adapts to both internal ambitions and external threats — and why the organization’s absence would have an almost immediate impact on CRNAs across the country. Bill also shares his perspective on maintaining focus in an environment of relentless change, the leadership qualities that matter most in high-stakes healthcare advocacy, and how the AANA is positioning the profession for the future. Whether you’re a CRNA, SRNA, or simply curious about the forces shaping nurse anesthesia, this conversation offers a rare inside look at the operational, strategic, and political realities of leading at the top. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Advocacy, Professional Associations, Strategic Planning, Workforce Advocacy, Organizational Leadership, AANA, Healthcare Policy, Nursing Leadership Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min
  3. Inside Anesthesia: What (Really) Broke the Anesthesia Market

    08/04/2025

    Inside Anesthesia: What (Really) Broke the Anesthesia Market

    In this bold and revealing episode, we sit down with Randy Moore — former military CRNA, past CEO of the AANA, and now a top executive at one of the country’s largest anesthesia organizations — to explore how the anesthesia market unraveled, and why no one stopped it. From workforce blind spots to failed strategic planning, Randy walks us through the early warning signs that went unheeded, the flawed assumptions that fueled collapse, and the slow-motion crises that turned into full-blown disruption. We break down the shift from hospital dominance to ASC migration, the chilling effects of the No Surprises Act, and how private equity’s playbook fell apart. But we don’t stop at systems. Randy also gets personal — reflecting on the cost of unchecked ambition, the value of thoughtful leadership, and the non-negotiables he now looks for in partners and teams. Whether you lead a group, manage hospital operations, or just want to understand the business forces reshaping anesthesia, this conversation pulls no punches — and offers rare clarity from someone who’s led on every side of the table. Keywords: Anesthesia, CRNA Leadership, Healthcare Strategy, No Surprises Act, Workforce Crisis, Private Equity, Surgical Services, Hospital Operations, ASC Growth, Healthcare Leadership Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  4. Anesthesia Leadership Is Changing - and Not Everyone Will Make the Cut

    06/06/2025

    Anesthesia Leadership Is Changing - and Not Everyone Will Make the Cut

    Anesthesia is evolving — and so are its leaders. In this special episode of Anesthesia Deconstructed, we dive into the dynamic shifts happening across the anesthesia landscape, where Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and anesthesiologists are stepping into new leadership roles across clinical, operational, and educational domains. Our expert panel — including leaders from Norstar Anesthesia, Rutgers University, Sound Physicians, Guide Anesthesia, and BPI Anesthesia — explores what it takes to lead in today's high-pressure, resource-constrained environment. From managing subsidy pressures and navigating insource vs. outsource models, to developing provider culture, expanding service lines, and building sustainable clinical partnerships — this discussion gets candid about the real challenges and the bold leadership required to address them. Whether you're a CRNA aiming for a leadership role, a physician looking for collaborative models, or a healthcare administrator tasked with rebuilding an anesthesia department, this episode offers practical insights, real-world experiences, and a clear call to action: it's all about the culture, the teamwork, and the long-term vision. Check your politics at the door — this is about building the future of anesthesia, together. Keywords: Leadership, Collaboration, Culture, Anesthesia, Innovation Send us Fan Mail Follow us at:InstagramFacebookTwitter/X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m

About

— SERIES PREMIERES JUNE 22, 2026 — I'm Joe Rodriguez, CRNA. After co-hosting the podcast Anesthesia Deconstructed for years, I kept running into the same problem. I was told that if I stayed clinically excellent and kept my head down, the rest would take care of itself. If you're reading this, you know all too well… IT DOES NOT. Unfortunately, time and time again, I discovered that the most impactful tools to leverage throughout my career in anesthesia (e.g. money, influence, deal negotiations, power) are never taught to us in school or in practice. I had to pick it all up at dinners, off the record, wherever the valuable conversations take place but go unheard. Honestly, my issue with every other podcast in our field is that clinical teaching and polite leadership talk are…are a little boring. I figure if it bores me, it bores you. So then, where can we learn how groups do or don't make money? How do hospital deals get structured? Why do subsidies keep climbing? What separates a holding company from private equity? What does it take to build leadership that holds up under pressure? The list goes on. Which brings us here. I present to you the show I've been wanting to see and got tired waiting around for. About the Rest is a twice-monthly inside baseball podcast for the people who run things. Join me as I sit down with fellow anesthesia business leaders Randy Moore and other key voices from the field to take real positions and hash out the big questions, warts and all. If it's in the public record, it's on the table: announcements, policy changes, lawsuits, the big RFP nobody will explain, the conference moment everyone clocked. If you want to learn how to get into the OR, this isn't it. About the Rest is about, well, the rest! Learn More: www.abouttherest.com About the Rest is a Human Content Production