In this episode of Airway Exchange, the team explores the transition from clinician to educator and the role mentorship plays in the process. Becky Motykiewicz, DNAP, CRNA joins Nickie Damico, Erin Martin, and Greg Collins to discuss what drew her to teaching, how mentorship shaped her journey, and the emotional realities that come with stepping into academia. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 👩‍🏫 Mentorship matters — a simple tap on the shoulder can change a career. 🌱 Identity shift is real — moving from expert clinician to novice educator brings imposter syndrome. 🧠 You don’t have to be perfect — your first lecture won’t be your best, and that’s okay. 💬 Students are the reward — watching their confidence grow is what keeps educators going. 💼 Work–life balance takes intention — boundaries, breaks, and movement are essential. 🩺 Keep your clinical practice — maintaining skills supports credibility and satisfaction.   Didactic Educator Micro-Credential Information: https://crnaeducationedge.aana.com/Public/Catalog/Details.aspx?id=mEigQMFxphlUI%2fEvoRx8Fg%3d%3d&returnurl=%2fUsers%2fUserOnlineCourse.aspx%3fLearningActivityID%3dmEigQMFxphlUI%252fEvoRx8Fg%253d%253d  Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246