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Fed Thread

Federal News Network | Hubbard Radio

We pull the thread on the questions you’re asking, with experts who can actually answer them

Am I making a million-dollar TSP mistake?

How can I tell if I’m burning out, and what should I do about it?

Should I start a GLP-1—and would it be covered?

Am I better off in or out of a union?

Do those workplace step challenges actually make anyone healthier?

The Fed Thread podcast pulls the thread on topics that matter most to the federal workforce, uncovering practical insights and sharing stories you can relate to.

Each episode explores real-world situations shaping federal careers, benefits, wellbeing, finances, leadership and life on and off the job. In a series of candid conversations with government leaders, subject-matter experts, researchers and the people living these experiences, Fed Thread weaves together fresh perspectives, community highlights and useful takeaways, whether you're a new hire or a seasoned civil servant.

Join host Alex Witt for a smarter, more human conversation about what it means to work in public service—only on Federal News Network.

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30 episodes
Avg 42 min
English

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#18
August 26 · 39 min
The Levers Behind Federal Work: Who’s really making the rules?
Federal employees hear about new laws, executive orders, OPM policies, reorganizations and changes to the workforce all the time. But who makes those changes happen, and how can feds tell the difference between a sensational headline and a policy that could affect their careers? On this episode of Fed Thread, Jason Briefel, manager of U.S. government affairs at the Project Management Institute, pulls back the curtain on who has a hand in shaping federal workplace rules, why the traditional federal career “ladder” may no longer apply, and what employees can do when the ground beneath their career keeps shifting. The conversation also gets into workplace AI adoption, job stability, the challenge of keeping up with rapid organizational change, and how leaders can give their team clarity when priorities are shifting. If you’re wondering where your federal career grows from here in a future that looks uncertain, give this episode a watch See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#17
August 25 · 57 min
ARPA-H's Big Bets on Medical Moonshots: What feds can learn from an agency built to take risks
What if “impossible” isn’t necessarily impossible? What if the problem just hasn’t been approached the right way yet? That’s the question at the heart of this Fed Thread episode featuring Dr. Kimberley Steele, a surgeon, researcher and program manager at the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). Steele's path to ARPA-H is deeply personal. After her son Michael developed an ultra-rare lymphatic disease that doctors struggled to diagnose and treat, she saw firsthand what happens when a complex problem falls between silos and when the system doesn’t have the tools, funding or urgency to tackle it. Now she and the federal government are making big bets on the lymphatic system through programs designed to make what’s invisible visible and develop new therapies for lymphatic dysfunction. If you’re wondering how to make progress when the deck feels stacked against you, this conversation isn’t just about medical research. It’s about how everyday feds can take smart risks to make meaningful changes in a system designed to play it safe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#16
August 24 · 42 min
Who you gonna call? Finding the right fed when your problem crosses agencies
When a problem doesn’t fit neatly inside one agency, who gets it solved? Former FEMA Region 3 Administrator MaryAnn Tierney spent more than 25 years in emergency management, where she faced that question regularly, coordinating people and organizations she didn’t directly control, while the clock was ticking. This episode of Fed Thread explores what federal employees can learn from high-stakes disaster response about solving problems that cross agency lines, from finding the right people, to building trust before you need a favor, to aligning people who don't share the same priorities, and knowing when to stop chasing the perfect solution. We also pull the thread on why the most difficult problems often live in the “seams” between organizations, and why one of the best things you can do today is build the network you’ll need tomorrow. What can feds borrow from emergency management when the path forward isn’t clear, and nobody is technically in charge? Watch now to find out. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#15
August 21 · 36 min
Think you'd never fall for it? Modern cybercriminals are counting on that
Federal employees are targets of cybercrime for the information and systems they have access to, who they know, and how much personal information they innocently make visible online. Retired Secret Service cyber expert Matt O’Neill and retired Homeland Security Investigations cyber leader Sean Fitzgerald explain how criminals “hack the human,” why urgency is one of their most powerful weapons, and how AI is changing the game. Plus, the experts share the scams that fooled even them, and the simple steps feds can take to make themselves harder targets. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#14
August 20 · 21 min
It pays to think preventively: Easy health plan money most feds miss out on
With Open Season around the corner, this episode of Fed Thread features David Yoder, SVP of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, explaining where cost, value, and predictability intersect; the multiple ways you can access care; how to make the most of your benefits year-round; and how preventive care is one of the most overlooked means to save money and protect your health. From routine checkups to managing blood pressure and blood glucose, taking action early comes with discounts, rewards and incentives for federal employees, while helping avoid bigger problems—and potentially bigger bills—down the road. There’s a lot to take advantage of, so don’t wait until the last week of Open Season to watchthis one. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#13
August 19 · 37 min
The safety net you didn’t know you had: FEEA’s lifeline for federal workers
Federal employees may have steady jobs and benefits, but that doesn’t make them immune to financial emergencies. On this episode, Robyn Kehoe, Executive Director of the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), joins Fed Thread to talk about the hidden financial vulnerabilities facing federal workers, and why the people who spend their careers helping others can be especially reluctant to ask for help themselves. You’ll hear what FEEA can help with, what stays private, how its emergency hardship and disaster assistance programs work, and how coworkers and managers can recognize when someone may be struggling—even when they’re trying hard not to show it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#12
August 18 · 36 min
Your Next Mission: Preparing for a successful second career after federal service
Your rank, title and agency may be impressive, but outside of government,your accomplishments and accolades may not translate directly into clear business value for non-federal employers. In this episode, Misty Cook, retired Marine officer and founder and CEO of Next COC, joined Fed Thread to explain why senior military and civilian leaders should start planning their next professional chapter years before they retire. She shares how to: build a network before you need it, translate government accomplishments into language the private sector understands, develop a personal brand without becoming a cliché, and figure out what you truly want to do next. If you have no intention of federal retirement being your final retirement, give this episode a watch. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#11
August 17 · 26 min
The Retirement Promise: What changes, what doesn't, and what actually matters
Federal retirement has felt increasingly uncertain in recent years. Proposed benefit changes, shifting policies, agency upheaval and a constant stream of headlines can make it hard to know what you should listen to and what’s just noise. On this episode of Fed Thread, John Hatton, staff vice president of policy and programs at NARFE, explains how federal retirement changes happen, which threats deserve your attention, and when a headline should (and shouldn’t) change your retirement strategy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#10
August 14 · 49 min
After the Farewell Party: The hidden traps and opportunities for new federal retirees
Retirement Day is supposed to be the finish line. Yet federal employees may discover some of the biggest financial surprises come after they leave. On this episode, Fed Thread brings back James Campbell of FEBA, Katelyn Murray of Serving Those Who Serve, and Chris Campbell of CJC Wealth Management and DC SOFA to pull the thread on the hidden traps and overlooked opportunities facing feds who are about to retire or have already left federal service. The panel gets into challenges nobody necessarily warns you about, like: delays in your first pension payment unexpected tax consequences Social Security timing Medicare costs survivor benefits and becoming too conservative with your investments Are you saving so aggressively for retirement that you risk missing some of the best years to enjoy it? You’ll want to hear what the experts are saying on this episode, where the conversation starts after the farewell party. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#9
August 13 · 59 min
The Retirement Playbook Has Changed: Is your strategy keeping up?
In a financial landscape where many things are changing, some of the old assumptions about federal retirement strategy may no longer serve you. On this episode of Fed Thread, James Campbell of FEBA, Katelyn Murray of Serving Those Who Serve, and Chris Campbell of CJC Wealth Management and DCSOFA help tomorrow’s federal retirees rethink the assumptions that can cost them later on. What can you control when it comes to building your retirement? This panel of experts tackles that very question. If retirement is still years away, this is an episode you’ll want to hear. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Showing 21–30 of 30 episodes