Security Clearance Careers Podcast

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.

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 filling out an SF-86, responding to investigators, or facing a statement of reasons. A must-listen for anyone navigating the cleared workforce this year.

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 HistoryFor 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.

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.

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, and strategic flexibility directly impact mission readiness, talent retention, and national security outcomes.The discussion explores:Why flexibility is a national security imperative, not a workplace perkThe real costs of losing high-performing cleared professionalsMilitary spouse employment and its impact on readinessWhat the President’s Management Agenda signals for the federal workforceHow national security agencies can lead on agility, trust, and innovationThis episode offers critical insight for cleared professionals, federal leaders, recruiters, and policymakers navigating the evolving realities of government work.

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.

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 learn more.

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 officer of the CIA, and author of The Character of a Leader: Lessons on Honor and Integrity in Command. In this short but powerful book, Harry draws on decades of work at the intersection of national security, intelligence, and moral responsibility to show what truly separates fleeting authority from enduring leadership.