What makes a great boss—and why do so many get it wrong?

In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer sits down with former CIA Chief of HR Mike Mears to unpack the real driver behind employee engagement, retention, and performance: certainty at the local level.

Drawing on decades of experience inside the intelligence community—and insights from his book Certainty—Mears explains why employees don’t leave missions, they leave managers. He breaks down how the brain responds to uncertainty, why psychological safety is critical in high-stakes environments, and how small leadership habits can dramatically improve team performance.

From fixing broken clearance processes to building trust in ambiguous environments, this conversation offers practical tools for leaders across government and industry.

Plus: what cleared professionals should know about insider risk, disengagement, and why “soft skills” may be the most critical national security asset.

If you lead people—or want to—this is a must-listen.

Purchase Certainty: www.certaintyleadershipbook.com

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What happens when the uniform comes off—or your federal service ends—and the identity that once defined you suddenly shifts?

In this episode, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Lisa Parmeter, Executive Director of Merging Vets & Players (MVP), to explore the often-overlooked challenges of transition for veterans, active duty service members, and former professional athletes.

From the loss of identity and purpose to the need for intensity, structure, and community, this conversation dives into what it really takes to rebuild after high-performance careers. Parmeter shares how MVP helps individuals rediscover meaning through peer support, whole-health approaches, and mission-driven community.

The discussion also tackles mental health stigma, the importance of vulnerability in leadership, and the real risks of isolation—along with practical ways to navigate change, build resilience, and find your next chapter.

Plus, in the second segment, security clearance attorney John Berry joins Lindy to break down one of the most common clearance pitfalls: misuse of IT systems. From downloading unauthorized software to AI-related risks and repeat violations, they unpack what can jeopardize your clearance—and how to avoid it.

Whether you’re transitioning careers, supporting someone who is, or navigating the evolving clearance landscape, this episode offers critical insights you won’t want to miss.

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The security industry is evolving far beyond its traditional image of guards, guns, and gates. Today, it sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, federal policy, and critical infrastructure protection.

In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer speaks with Don Erickson, CEO of the Security Industry Association (SIA), about how emerging technologies are transforming the physical security landscape. From AI-enabled surveillance systems to cybersecurity integration and supply chain protections, the industry is playing a growing role in national security.

They also discuss how SIA works with federal policymakers to promote responsible innovation, the challenges of navigating evolving AI regulations, and why workforce development is critical as the industry competes for talent.

Plus, the conversation explores career pathways into the security industry—including opportunities for veterans, transitioning federal employees, and professionals with skills in engineering, cybersecurity, project management, and analytics.

In the second segment, security clearance attorney Elisabeth Baker-Pham joins Lindy to discuss a growing trend: people turning to AI tools for legal guidance on clearance issues—and why relying on AI instead of a qualified attorney can create serious risks.

Topics discussed:

• The growing role of AI in physical security
• Ethical frameworks for surveillance technologies
• Workforce development and new security career paths
• Challenges of AI policy and regulatory patchworks
• Why AI is not your security clearance lawyer

If you work in national security, technology, or the broader security ecosystem, this episode offers insight into where the industry—and its workforce—is heading next.

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Career disruption and side hustles are increasingly common — but how do they impact your security clearance?

In this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer of ClearanceJobs sits down with federal career coach and FedUpward host Love Rutledge to discuss navigating unexpected federal career pivots, translating government experience for the private sector, and the emotional impact of leaving civil service.

They also share transition resources for federal employees, including:

• Volcker Alliance — https://www.volckeralliance.org
• Partnership for Public Service — https://ourpublicservice.org
• FormerGov — https://www.formergov.com
• FedUpward Podcast — https://www.fedupwardcoaching.com/podcast

Later, security clearance attorney John Berry joins the show to break down how job hopping, gig work, outside employment, tax issues, and timecard fraud can raise clearance concerns — and what to do to stay compliant.

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The federal government can no longer treat artificial intelligence as optional—but what does true AI readiness actually look like?

On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, host Lindy Kyzer sits down with Jennifer Ewbank, former Deputy Director of the CIA for Digital Innovation, to unpack how AI is reshaping national security missions, workforce expectations, and accountability across government.

Rather than focusing on tools or pilot programs, Ewbank makes the case for a mission-first approach to AI—one that prioritizes readiness, governance, and human judgment. The conversation explores why digital literacy must become foundational for the entire federal workforce, how AI and cybersecurity skills are increasingly intertwined, and why uniquely human skills like critical thinking, ethics, and adaptability matter more than ever.

They also dive into the realities holding agencies back—from messy data environments and compliance-driven culture to slow hiring pipelines and outdated talent systems—and why the greatest risk to government may be standing still while technology accelerates.

Whether you’re a clearance holder, hiring leader, policymaker, or technologist, this episode offers a clear-eyed look at what it will take to responsibly scale AI across federal missions—without losing accountability, transparency, or trust.

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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.

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What does flexibility really mean for the national security workforce—and why does it matter now?

In this episode, ClearanceJobs’ Lindy Kyzer 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 perk
• The real costs of losing high-performing cleared professionals
• Military spouse employment and its impact on readiness
• What the President’s Management Agenda signals for the federal workforce
• How national security agencies can lead on agility, trust, and innovation

This episode offers critical insight for cleared professionals, federal leaders, recruiters, and policymakers navigating the evolving realities of government work.

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On this episode of Security Clearance Insecurity, Lindy Kyzer sits down with Elisabeth Baker Pham, attorney and federal employment expert, to unpack how government shutdowns trigger far more than political drama, they create real financial strain that can jeopardize a cleared worker’s livelihood and their security clearance.

Elisabeth breaks down the most immediate financial impacts she sees when federal employees and contractors suddenly lose income, from missed paychecks to debt that spirals faster than many expect. She explains how those shutdown-driven money problems often resurface later in a clearance file - late mortgage payments, credit card delinquencies, even tax complications - and how adjudicators typically view financial issues that clearly started during a lapse in appropriations.

For clearance holders staring down bills they can’t pay, Elisabeth offers practical, actionable steps: how to talk to creditors, what to document for future mitigation, and how to communicate with your agency during the shutdown itself. And with shutdown threats becoming a regular occurrence, she outlines the long-term financial and legal strategies every cleared professional should put in place now so the next disruption doesn’t put their bank account or their clearance at risk.

Whether you’re a federal employee, a contractor, or a security-clearance professional supporting a cleared workforce, this episode delivers the guidance you need to navigate financial uncertainty without compromising your national-security career.

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