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 about threats most of us never see. Now, he’s translating those hard-earned lessons into practical guidance for everyday life through his new book series, Look Twice, beginning with Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World. His message is simple but powerful: safety isn’t about fear — it’s about preparation.

In this conversation, we’ll go beyond the headlines and beyond the book to talk about real-world situational awareness, travel security, everyday OPSEC, transportation risks and the mindset shift intelligence professionals use to stay one step ahead.

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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 episode where the Director of Talent Acquisition and HR at STEMBoard, Casey Talley, shares some of the advice recruiters wish they could give every candidate.

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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 lifelong civil service. Together, they unpack the emotional and financial realities of leaving federal employment, how to translate federal resumes for private-sector roles, and why outcomes matter more than duties in today’s job market.

They also highlight grassroots resources supporting transitioning federal employees, including community-led initiatives, networking strategies, and professional organizations that are helping fill gaps left by traditional support systems.

Finally, they discuss an important countertrend: federal hiring isn’t gone. Agencies are rehiring. Budget cycles still drive opportunity. And for some professionals, the next move may be a return to government service — this time with clearer strategy and broader perspective.

If you’re transitioning, underemployed, job searching, or simply reassessing your path in public service, this episode offers clarity, realism, and practical next steps.

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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 Media Hub, has built and led businesses that have generated over $400 million in revenue, all by doing what most marketers are too afraid to try: breaking the so-called “best practices.” He joins the podcast to talk about what subject lines actually increase open rates and what best practices you should ignore.

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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.

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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 readiness must start with mission readiness, not technology procurement; why digital literacy is no longer optional for the federal workforce; and how human judgment, accountability, and ethical decision-making become even more critical in an AI-enabled environment. The conversation also examines the growing overlap between AI and cybersecurity, the cultural and bureaucratic barriers slowing adoption, and the risks government faces if it fails to adapt.

This episode offers practical insight for clearance holders, hiring leaders, policymakers, and technologists navigating the realities of AI, governance, and workforce transformation in national security.

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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 education, Dr. Auger shared practical guidance for anyone looking to launch or level up a technical career. We talked about the foundational skills employers care about most, how AI is reshaping cybersecurity roles, and why hands-on experience and community involvement often matter more than chasing every new certification.

Dr. Auger also offered honest insights into common mistakes job seekers make—from relying too heavily on job boards to underestimating the power of personal branding and networking. For veterans and career switchers, he emphasized translating experience into business value and treating the job search like a mission with clear objectives and accountability.

Whether you’re just starting out, transitioning from the military, or navigating the next step in your tech career, this episode delivers clear, actionable advice to help you move forward with confidence.

🎧 Listen to the full episode to learn how to build a cybersecurity or AI-adjacent career that lasts.

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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 report, Top 100 Companies to Watch for Remote Jobs in 2026, includes several major defense contractors, and that’s a signal worth paying attention to. While many cleared roles still require on-site work, the presence of defense employers on a remote-focused list shows that flexibility is becoming part of the broader defense hiring conversation.

In this episode, we break down what remote work really looks like in the cleared space, what job seekers should know before applying, and how to stay competitive as hiring trends evolve.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

For decades, popular culture has portrayed female spies as glamorous sidekicks or exotic figures. But the real history of women in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) tells a very different story: one of trailblazers who fought systemic bias, navigated dangerous operations, and forged paths in one of the most secretive institutions in the world.

Agents of Change charts that history from the 1960s “secretarial era” through decades of steady progress toward leadership and influence. Along the way, Hillsberg weaves together firsthand accounts from female CIA officers who broke barriers, tackled espionage missions, and reshaped the agency from within.

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