Best Employment Background Check Podcasts (2026)

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New Year Politics Roundup | New State Laws | Central Sierra Snow Lab

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15h ago

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New Year Politics Roundup The state Capitol is back in full swing, with a new legislative leader set to be sworn in this afternoon. Today on Insight we’ll check in on some of the major political happenings this week, including the surprise military action in Venezuela over the weekend and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final State of the State scheduled Thurs…

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Sac County Grand Jury | EdSource Older Adults Finish College | SacramenKnow Year-Ender

19d ago

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Sac County Grand Jury Have you ever been interested in investigating criminal indictments or complaints submitted by the public? How about providing oversight of the county, its cities, public schools and special district agencies? The Sacramento County Grand Jury is looking for you. Applicants are still being sought for new jurors to serve startin…

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Safety Concerns for LGBTQ Community | Cal Fire’s Camp Cinder | How a Snow Drought Impacts Ski Resorts

20d ago

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Safety Concerns for LGBTQ Community Safety concerns have been raised recently from Sacramento to Nevada County, following attacks involving the LGBTQ community. The Sacramento LGBT Center held a forum on safety for Lavender Heights in response to “recent hate-motivated attacks in the area.” In the foothills, a string of attacks have shaken their co…

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Sac State President | Student Speaks on University’s Direction | Snoopy in Sacramento

21d ago

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Sac State President Sacramento State has experienced record-breaking enrollment this fall, and has big plans for what university life will look like in the future under the leadership of Sacramento State President Luke Wood. He joins Insight to talk about his plans for a new housing requirement for first-year students, athletics and more to make Sa…

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POLITICO’s California Playbook | Center for Employment Opportunities | Peter Petty’s Yuletide Revue Celebrates 10 Years

22d ago

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POLITICO’s California Playbook 2025 has been a whirlwind year in California politics, from the creation and passage of Prop 50 to a growing field of gubernatorial candidates. The state has also been impacted by major decisions on the federal level, including an ongoing battle over extending certain healthcare subsidies to prevent premiums from skyr…

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Menopause Legislation | Could Waymo Come to Sacramento? | December ‘Arts Talk’

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Menopause Legislation Roughly half the population will go through menopause in their life. In recent years, lawmakers have been working to close the gaps in care that many women are running up against. But although these bills have received widespread support at the state Capitol, they’ve hit roadblocks with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto. Assemblymember…

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Pandemic Spike in Sac Home Values | Overdose Deaths in Sac Shelters | Be Brave Bold Robot’s 20th Anniversary Album

27d ago

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Pandemic Spike in Sac Home Values It’s probably little surprise that home values across Sacramento have gone up since the pandemic. But a new look across the four-county region is telling us just how much real estate has skyrocketed, finding there are now 18 zip codes surpassing the $800,000 mark - back in 2019 there was just one. Mengyuan Dong is …

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CA Polling on Trump’s Immigration Crackdown | Sac Hispanic Business Check-in | Capitol Pops Concert Band Holiday Show

28d ago

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CA Polling on Trump’s Immigration Crackdown President Trump has made good on a promise to crack down on immigration. The first year of his second term is marked by a wave of mass deportations - that his administration says are noncitizens with criminal convictions or pending charges. And polling has gauged California voters’ evolving attitudes on t…

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City Council Approves Natomas Basin Development | Conserving Battle Creek Ranch | Best of: The Philharmonik

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City Council Approves Natomas Basin Development CapRadio Local Government Reporter Riley Palmer joins us to talk about the Sacramento City Council voting 5 to 2 in favor of a commercial warehouse district to be developed on protected land in the Natomas Basin. The project has drawn lots of public comment both for and against, pitting economic devel…

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Highlands Community Charter School Hearing | CA Scraps NextGen 911 System | CPUC Vote on Undergrounding Rule

1M ago

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Highlands Community Charter School Hearing An embattled charter school for adults based in Sacramento could soon face closure following a devastating state audit released in June. It found ‘Highlands Community Charter and Technical School’ received more than 180 million dollars in K-12 funds that it was not eligible to collect and must now repay. N…

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Flu, COVID and RSV Season Update | Sacramento’s Refugees and Asylum Seekers | 'Yosemite Wildlife'

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Flu, COVID and RSV Season Update Last year was the most severe flu season in over a decade in the United States. And this year, a new strain of the flu is fueling concerns of another rough winter. Today on Insight, we’ll talk with Dr. Dean Blumberg from UC Davis about what we need to know about the flu and other respiratory viruses as we head into …

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Young CA Dem Challengers | ‘Forging Latino Power’ Book | Hunt for the Jeffrey Pine

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Young CA Dem Challengers The Matsuis are a Sacramento political dynasty. Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui has been in office since 2005, preceded by her husband, the late Congressman Bob Matsui, who held the seat for 26 years prior. This upcoming election, Rep. Matsui is facing a challenger within her own party - Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang.…

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Episode 55: Mike Coffey on Building a Purpose-Driven Business, Podcasting, and Finding Joy in the Hard Way 54:40

1M ago54:40

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Send us a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Mike Coffey, founder of Imperative, host of the Good Morning HR podcast, and a familiar force in the background screening world. If you think you know Mike—think again. From his early days managing chinchillas and tearing up carpet with P90X, to founding one of the industry’s mos…

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POLITICO California Playbook | Checking in with NorCal Food Banks | ‘In a Nutshell' Year-Ender

2M ago

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POLITICO California Playbook The latest budget forecast from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst Office shows California facing an $18 billion shortfall in 2026-27, following a series of deficits that lawmakers have needed to close in recent years. The state has also seen a new candidate, billionaire Tom Steyer, join the 2026 governor’s race with o…

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Sac State’s New Freshman Living Requirement | State of Sacramento’s Flood Control | Holiday Music & Wine

2M ago

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Sac State’s New Freshman Living Requirement Sacramento State is instituting a two-year on-campus living requirement for first-time students starting in Fall 2026. President Luke Wood announced the requirement over the summer as a way to provide for students’ basic needs and academic success. But the plan has also drawn criticism about the potential…

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Why Covered California May Get More Expensive | New Statewide e-Bike Coalition | ‘100 Years of Palestine’ Exhibit

2M ago

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Why Covered California May Get More Expensive Enrollment for Covered California - the state’s health insurance marketplace created under the Affordable Care Act - is now open. But Obamacare tax credits for the majority of recipients are at risk of expiring at the end of the year, if Congress doesn’t approve an extension. Some worry that customers w…

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Push to Axe Landlines in California | Audiology Program Celebrates Milestones | ReCreate and ‘The Secret Life of Leaves’

2M ago

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Push to Axe Landlines in California Hundreds of thousands of rural Californians rely on landlines for emergencies. AT&T is the largest copper landline provider in the state, known as the state’s last-resort phone service, and is pushing to retire these landlines nationwide. Yue Stella Yu is a politics reporter with CalMatters and traveled to the No…

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Episode 54: Lessons in Leadership, Legacy, and Listening – A Conversation with Mary Poquette 52:30

2M ago52:30

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Send us a text "If you're going to call yourself an expert, make sure you are one." In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Mary Poquette, a pioneer in the background screening industry, co-chair of PBSA in its earliest years, and recipient of the Mike Sankey Lifetime Achievement Award. What follows is a rich, funny, and deeply insig…

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Gov. Newsom’s Ex Chief of Staff Arrested by FBI | Stockton City Council Drama | ‘Mark Twain Tonight!’ | Dmitri Klebanov’s Debut

2M ago

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Gov. Newsom’s Ex Chief of Staff Arrested by FBI A former Chief of Staff for Governor Newsom, and major political player in California, has been arrested in an FBI public corruption probe. Dana Williamson was indicted in a Sacramento federal courthouse yesterday, on charges including bank and wire fraud tied to a dormant political campaign account f…

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California Fire Insurance Investigation | Thien Ho Golden State Killer Book | SNAP Food Benefit Fragility

2M ago

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California Fire Insurance Investigation If you’re one of the hundreds-of-thousands of homeowners in California who have lost their insurance recently, you know the state is in a crisis. And it’s only gotten worse despite efforts by the state to reign it in. One of those efforts included new regulations that were supposed to make coverage available …

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement | New Law Guarantees Admission to CSUs | Annual ‘State of Lung Cancer’ Report

2M ago

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Rep. Nancy Pelosi Retires A powerhouse in California politics is retiring. Former House Speaker and longtime San Francisco Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi says she will not seek reelection next year, ending a Congressional career that began in 1987. Her impending departure comes as some within the Democratic Party have called for a change in leadership,…

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Episode 53: From Pager Sales to Legal Powerhouse in Screening with Kellie O’Shea 52:13

2M ago52:13

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Send us a text She sold beepers from a car trunk—and now she shapes the future of background screening law. This is Kellie O’Shea’s journey. In this unforgettable episode, I sit down with Kellie O’Shea, General Counsel at Creative Services, Inc. (CSI) and PBSA Board Member, to talk about hustle, heart, and the “it depends” moments that make up life…

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Navigating DSO Deals How Dentists Can Protect Themselves in Transitions 8:07

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By Stuart Oberman

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What’s Next After Prop 50 | Investigation into CA’s DUI Laws | ‘A Titillating Cabaret’

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What’s Next After Prop 50 The special election to redraw California’s congressional maps was really just a pitstop to the Midterm. Campaigns are now recalibrating and more states may join the redistricting battle that started between Texas Republicans and California Democrats. Mindy Romero is the Director of the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy, …

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Episode 52: The Path to Purpose: Carl Cogdill on Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Public Records 36:05

2M ago36:05

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Send us a text In this engaging episode of Behind the Screens: Conversations with Background Screening Pros, I sit down with Carl Cogdill—longtime industry veteran, founder of Astute Public Records, and one of the sharpest minds in the business. From his beginnings with dreams of becoming a Maryland State Trooper to his unexpected journey into the …

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What to do Before Acquiring a Business 7:30

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By Stuart Oberman

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Episode 51: Dynamic Leadership and Strategic Growth – A Conversation with Bianca Lager 1:00:38

3M ago1:00:38

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Send us a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Bianca Lager, a respected strategic growth consultant, former CEO, and longtime thought leader in social media screening. Bianca takes us through her fascinating career—from building one of the first social media background screening companies to becoming a LinkedIn Learning inst…

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Episode 50: Inside PBSA: Melissa Sorenson on Leading the Global Background Screening Movement 39:27

3M ago39:27

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Send us a text In this milestone 50th episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Melissa Sorenson, Executive Director of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), for a candid conversation about the past, present, and future of our industry. Melissa opens up about her journey from law school to leading PBSA through some of its b…

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Episode 49: Behind the First Background Check: A Conversation with Industry Pioneer Steve Brownstein 41:19

3M ago41:19

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Send us a text Before databases were a click away, Steve Brownstein was already connecting the dots. In this episode of Behind the Screens, I’m joined by Steve Brownstein—a true pioneer whose work helped shape the background screening industry as we know it. From manual county searches to international screening strategies, Steve’s story is one of …

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Episode 48: Alice Quinones's Global Journey Through Law, Purpose, and Background Screening 38:40

3M ago38:40

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Send us a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Alice Quinones, a dual-qualified attorney in France and the U.S., who’s helping shape the future of privacy and compliance in the background screening world. We discuss Alice’s cross-continental legal education, her journey from Deloitte to building her own firm, and how she view…

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Episode 47: Transforming Background Screening in India with Chetan Desai 36:17

4M ago36:17

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Send us a text What do background screening, the Indian Army, and vinyl records have in common? On the surface, nothing—until you meet Chetan Desai. From serving in the military and as a mountaineer to founding one of India’s first background screening firms, Chetan’s story is proof that discipline, curiosity, and just a little obsession (with both…

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Episode 46: Behind the Screens with PBSA Chairs: What Really Happens Behind PBSA’s Gavel 55:08

4M ago55:08

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Send us a text Think carrying the PBSA gavel is all formality and boardrooms? Think again. When three Chairs sit down together, you get a mix of wisdom, war stories, and a few moments that prove even industry leaders don’t take themselves too seriously. In this episode, I bring together Tim Gordon, Chad Ascar, and Scott Maloney—the current chair, t…

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Episode 45: How Catherine Aldrich Brame Shaped Accreditation & Industry Standards in Background Screening 42:52

4M ago42:52

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Send us a text What if the very foundations of background screening—the databases, the processes, the standards—were shaped by someone who once started out answering phones as a young mom just trying to make it work? That’s the story of Catherine Aldrich Brame. From building the first national criminal databases at CDB Infotech, to scaling Accurate…

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Episode 44: She Said ‘Short-Term Stop’, Background Screening Said ‘Lifetime Contract’ – Susie Thomson’s Journey 48:35

4M ago48:35

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Send us a text What does leadership look like when it’s built on resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in people? For Susie Thomson, it looks like a career that has taken her from the ground floor of her family business to the top ranks of global background screening. She helped create Security Watchdog, guided its growth through acquisit…

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Episode 43: Dare to Disrupt: Four Innovators Share Bold Visions for the Future of Screening 52:29

4M ago52:29

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Send us a text What happens when you take four professionals from different corners of the background screening industry—each with unique expertise, bold ideas, and a willingness to shake things up—and put them together on one stage? You get disruption. In this special episode, I sit down with Andrew Cashman, Tressa Fullard, Kevin Horval, and Oakle…

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Episode 42: From “Temporary Job” to Lifelong Calling: Bobby Shank’s Journey in Background Screening 41:36

5M ago41:36

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Send us a text What if the path you thought would be temporary turned out to be the foundation of a lifelong calling? That’s the story of Bobby Shank. With a degree in finance and even a chapter of life spent in Costa Rica, Bobby never expected that joining his family’s business, Roundstone, would anchor him in the background screening industry for…

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Episode 41: Michelle Leblond: The Strategic Mind Behind Background Screening Excellence 55:17

5M ago55:17

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Send us a text Imagine a professional who lives and breathes accuracy, thrives under the weight of compliance, and leads teams through constant industry evolution—then drop her into the challenging arena of public records and high-stakes client expectations. That’s Michelle Leblond, a master at turning complexity into clarity. In this episode, Mich…

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Episode 40: The Screening Industry Through Les Rosen’s Eyes 1:02:15

5M ago1:02:15

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Send us a text How does a criminal defense attorney end up transforming the background screening industry? In this special 40th episode, I take a turn in the guest seat to share my unexpected journey—from representing clients in the courtroom to founding Employment Screening Resources and writing one of the earliest FCRA compliance manuals. Along t…

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Episode 39: Summa McCosker: Building a Global Background Screening Empire from the Ground Up 40:43

5M ago40:43

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Send us a text What kind of person can turn a local startup into a global standard-setter—navigating legal landscapes, scaling teams, and staying human through it all? That’s the kind of trailblazing journey we explore in this episode. In this episode of Behind the Screens, I had the privilege of sitting down with Summa McCosker, a dynamic force in…

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Episode 38: The Man Behind the Screening Curtain: Curt Schwall’s Legacy on Education and Compliance 44:05

6M ago44:05

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Send us a text Can one person transform background screening by mastering compliance, reshaping operations, championing public access, and still give back through mentorship and public service? Meet the man doing exactly that, and discover how leadership is built one deliberate choice at a time. In this episode, I sit down with someone I’ve known s…

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Episode 37: Nancy Alt Explains Why Compliance Begins with People, Not Paper 48:08

6M ago48:08

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Send us a text What does it take to shape an entire industry from the inside out—while mastering compliance, leading operations, and serving the public good? It takes vision, grit, and a whole lot of hats—and this episode is proof of exactly that. In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Alt, founder of Tweak the Core, who’s spent decades navigating …

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Episode 36: Dawn Standerwick: The Powerhouse Who Knows Every Corner of Background Screening 31:57

6M ago31:57

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Send us a text What do you get when you combine relentless curiosity, unmatched versatility, and a passion for people? You get Dawn Standerwick—a powerhouse in the background screening industry whose career defies simple titles. From onboarding and marketing to compliance and criminal records, she’s worn every hat and rocked them all. In this episo…

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Episode 35: The Background Screening Puzzle: How Kathleen Nottingham Turns Complexity into Career Growth 41:40

6M ago41:40

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Send us a text How do you transform operations, compliance, and public records into a career you love—and lead others to love it too? Kathleen Nottingham didn’t just find her path in background screening; she built it brick by brick, puzzle by puzzle, from public record researcher to SVP at ScoutLogic and a seat on the PBSA Board of Directors. In t…

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Episode 34: Just Get It Done — Larry White on Leadership, Legacy & the Future of Screening 34:55

7M ago34:55

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Send us a text From rural Oklahoma to boardroom strategy sessions—how does one man turn old-school values into modern industry influence? In this episode, I sit down with Larry White—a man whose title should come with the initials GSD (Gets Stuff Done). Larry is the current COO at JDP and has been a leader at some of the most influential names in t…

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Episode 33: Behind the Fine Print: Rebecca Kuehn on the Legal Heart of Background Screening 49:21

7M ago49:21

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Send us a text Ever wonder how the perspective of a former FTC insider could reshape your understanding of compliance in background screening? In this episode, I talk with Rebecca Kuehn, who’s journeyed from enforcing federal consumer protection laws at the FTC to guiding companies through the ever-evolving maze of FCRA compliance. With a sharp leg…

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Episode 32: The Original Screening Attorney: Lessons from 40+ Years in the Legal Trenches with Larry Henry 48:46

7M ago48:46

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Send us a text What if the unsung architect of your industry was never after the spotlight—just the truth? In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Larry Henry—the very first lawyer dedicated to background screening compliance under the FCRA, dating back to 1981. Who was defending FCRA compliance before most of us knew what that even …

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Episode 31: Born Into Background Screening, Built for Leadership: Conversation with Brittany Bollinger - Boyle 27:04

7M ago27:04

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Send us a text Have you ever met someone who knew what they wanted to do with their life at age 12—and then actually did it? Almost every guest on this podcast has shared how they stumbled into background screening by accident. But not Brittany Bollinger Boyle. While most kids were dreaming about being astronauts or rock stars, Brittany was dreamin…

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Episode 30: Learn, Grow, Expand: How Laura Randazzo Turned Curiosity into a Successful Career in Background Screening 28:17

8M ago28:17

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Send us a text Meet Laura Randazzo—a powerhouse professional whose journey from entry-level verification specialist to Chief Operating Officer and national voice in background screening is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, we trace her path through the rapidly changing landscape of screening technology, regulatory hurdles, and leadership…

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Episode 29: The Man Behind CRA Zoom: Derek Hinton on Accreditation, Innovation, and the Evolution of Screening 46:02

8M ago46:02

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Send us a text I sat with Derek Hinton for this week’s episode—a pioneer who’s been shaping the screening industry since 1984. From helping launch the first digital driving records to building CRA Zoom and co-authoring the Criminal Records Manual, Derek has played a pivotal role in how compliance, accreditation, and innovation collide. This episode…

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Episode 28: Sachin Aggarwal on Building a Global Background Screening Powerhouse—One Country (and Mango) at a Time 35:01

8M ago35:01

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Send us a text What happens when a tech-savvy engineer with a passion for mangoes, a background in global consulting, and an MBA from New York turns his attention to building one of the most respected background screening companies in the world? In this episode, I sit down with Sachin Aggarwal, Director at AMS Inform, to explore how a career that s…