Security Clearance Careers Podcast

For decades, the cleared workforce followed a fairly predictable path: long tenures, stable programs, and careers built within a single agency or contractor. But today, cleared professionals are moving faster between roles, contracts, and even employment models. Some are chasing better pay, others are seeking flexibility, and many are responding to the realities of contract-driven work. To help un...

What happens when the uniform comes off—or your federal service ends—and the identity that once defined you suddenly shifts? In this episode of Security Clearance and Security , host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Lisa Parmeter, Executive Director of Merging Vets and Players (MVP), to explore the often-overlooked challenges of transition for veterans, active duty service members, and former profession...

Transitioning out of the military is often framed as a career decision — finding the next job, updating a resume, or navigating the cleared workforce. But for many service members and their families, it’s much more than that. It’s an identity shift, a lifestyle change, and a redefining of purpose. In this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast , we had the opportunity to sit down with H...

One of the most common questions we hear from job seekers is: How do you get your first security clearance if you don’t already have one? It can feel like the ultimate catch-22. Many roles require a clearance, but you need an employer to sponsor you before you can get one. So today we’re digging into exactly how that works and how candidates can actually convince a company to take that step. Joini...

The security industry is evolving rapidly — and it’s no longer just about guards, gates, and access badges. In this episode, Lindy Kyzer speaks with Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA) , about how emerging technologies, federal policy, and workforce development are transforming the modern security ecosystem. Representing more than 1,700 companies across the global security...

Welcome back to the Security Clearance Careers Podcast , where we explore the people, stories and strategies shaping the national security community. Today’s guest brings a perspective few can claim — years inside the CIA, operating in high-risk environments where awareness wasn’t optional… it was survival. Tim Beard is a former CIA officer and security expert who has spent his career thinking abo...

The unfiltered guidance recruiters talk about internally—but don’t always say publicly. Recruiters spend their days reviewing resumes, navigating hiring manager expectations, managing candidate emotions, and balancing timelines that rarely cooperate. In between interviews and offer letters, there are quiet conversations recruiters have with each other — the honest, unfiltered kind. Tune in to this...

What happens when the federal career you expected no longer exists? Lindy Kyzer speaks with Love Rutledge, host of the FedUpward podcast and longtime advocate for federal employees, about navigating unexpected career transitions in government. Love shares her own experience retiring earlier than planned through deferred resignation — and the identity shift that comes with stepping away from lifelo...

Your first impression often isn’t a handshake. It’s a subject line. Recruiters spend hours crafting the perfect message to candidates, only to see it go unopened. The truth? Even the most compelling opportunity won’t matter if your email never gets clicked. A strong subject line can be the difference between a missed connection and your next great hire. Jay Schwedelson, founder and CEO of GURU Med...

If you’re hiring cleared talent, you already know the market is moving fast—AI, clearance timelines, technical recruiting pressure…Today we’re breaking down why ClearanceJobs Connect West is the event recruiters should prioritize this year. Tune in to learn about Connect West in one word and what kind of recruiter gets the most value from attending. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping national security missions—but real AI readiness goes far beyond adopting new tools. On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, host Lindy Kyzer is joined by Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, for a deep dive into what it truly means for the federal government to be AI-ready. Together, they explore why AI r...

Breaking into cybersecurity or AI can feel overwhelming—especially with so much conflicting advice online. In our latest podcast episode, we sat down with Dr. Gerald Auger , a cybersecurity leader, educator, and founder of the Simply Cyber community, to cut through the noise and focus on what actually works. With over 20 years of experience across cybersecurity operations, leadership, and higher e...

Remote work is a major factor in how professionals choose roles, companies, and even long-term career paths. But for cleared professionals, the remote work conversation comes with a unique set of questions: Is remote work even possible with a clearance? Which roles can actually be done off-site? How do you find real remote jobs, and avoid the ones that aren’t what they seem? A recent FlexJobs repo...

The  Security Clearance Insecurity  podcast welcomes new legal contributors Elisabeth Baker-Pham of Kalijarvi, Chuzi, Newman & Fitch, P.C. and John Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC to the mic. In this episode, the panel breaks down how security clearance decisions intersect with employment law, why agencies handle cases differently, and what cleared professionals should know before f...

In the male-dominated world of international espionage, the stories of the women who quietly shaped history have too often been overlooked. Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg brings those stories into the spotlight, revealing how courage, resilience, and grit helped women redefine what it means to be a spy. A New Lens on Intelligence History For decades, pop...

Polygraphs, often called “lie detector tests”, have long been surrounded by mystery, pop culture myths, and a fair amount of anxiety. While they’re frequently portrayed as foolproof truth machines, polygraphs are better understood as tools that measure physiological responses rather than lies themselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does flexibility really mean for the national security workforce—and why does it matter now? In this episode, Lindy is joined by workforce strategist and former federal executive Mika Cross for a timely conversation on the future of federal and cleared work. Drawing from congressional testimony, workforce data, and decades of public service experience, they unpack how telework, hybrid models,...

For cleared professionals, the recruiter phone screen is often the deciding factor in whether you move forward. In just 20–30 minutes, a recruiter is assessing one thing: alignment. Stephanie Holman, a technical recruiter who has likely conducted hundreds, if not thousands of phone screens, joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to share her tips for job seekers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...

From breaking through burnout to mapping new career paths, we are diving into the realities of change in a mission-driven world. And because growth is not only professional, our lifestyle stories tap into the season’s spirit: giving back, decluttering the noise, and setting fresh goals for the year to come. ClearanceJobs' Content Director and Graphic Designer discuss the magazine and where to lear...

For this episode of the Security Clearance Careers Podcast, we we explore leadership, ethics, and excellence in high-stakes environments. Today’s episode will reshape how you think about leadership, especially leadership where character and trust are at the foundation of leading groups in national security missions. Today we are thrilled to be joined by Harry Wetherbee, a former senior executive o...

Lindy Kyzer and Jill Hamilton talk about holiday party rules of engagement when working federal contracts. Would you normally dance to Cotton Eyed Joe if you didn't have that wine at the holiday party? Learn in this episode about other alcohol issues and your security clearance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women have been integral to the intelligence community since its earliest days, yet for decades their contributions remained obscured—hidden not only by secrecy but also by policy and silence. In her recent book, The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA , author Liza Mundy brings these untold stories to light. She traces the journeys of pioneering women who entered the CIA at pivotal...

Charles Luftig, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Policy and Capabilities, joined the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to discuss the National Security Data and Policy Institute (NSDPI). He shared insights on the origins of the institute, why UVA was a natural match for this partnership, and the interdisciplinary nature of the NSDPI’s work. The National Security Data and Policy Instit...

In today’s mobile-first world, organizations juggle a tough balancing act: enabling employees to use personal devices while safeguarding sensitive data.  BYOD, which stands for Bring Your Own Device, is a policy that allows employees to use their personal devices (like smartphones, laptops, and tablets) for work-related tasks. This practice has become increasingly common, offering c...

There are many law practices in the DMV that proudly champion the workplace rights of federal employees, supervisors, and senior executives across agencies nationwide—helping preserve what is often their most valuable asset: their government career. Shehan Legal joins the Security Clearance Careers Podcast to talk about the current state of affiars for federal workers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...