Empathy Affect
On Empathy Affect, we explore the human side of government. We get to know the real people in government who serve us. We learn about their missions, the people they serve, and the true impact of their work. In each episode, we'll speak with real people about how they weave empathy into the policies and programs of government.
Episodes
29 episodes
S2E12: Vote with Confidence: One Agency's Work to Secure Every Vote
The 2024 election season brings fresh and complex challenges to election systems across the country—from mis- and disinformation to threats to security. The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) serves as a federal election hub, providing resour...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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39:34
S2E11: NCI's Research to Prevent Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women behind skin cancer, with approximately 13.1% of women estimated to receive a diagnosis of breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is pioneering r...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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34:09
S2E10: Recruiting for a Purpose: The Value of Public Service
The federal government is the United States’ biggest employer, with more than 2.1 million Service members and over 2 million civilian employees. Behind those millions of professionals, federal human capital leaders provide resources, benefits, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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40:42
S2E9: Policy for the Planet: EPA's Role in Protecting Our Communities
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s policies have been key to keeping our country's people and environment healthy and safe. The agency's Office of Policy has been hard at work with some new updates though, taking new steps to strengthe...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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39:42
S2E8: Partnering for a Healthier Planet: Where Health and Climate Action Meet
The warming climate is having an impact on our health, both physically and mentally. So, what do we need to do to protect our health and the planet's wellbeing? The Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Climate Change and Health Eq...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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47:43
S2E7: Moving the Needle on Mental Health Through Research
For the last 8 years, Dr. Joshua Gordon has served as director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)—the leading federal agency in mental health research. Next week, Dr. Gordon will depart NIMH and continue the next step of his care...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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32:18
S2E6: How Evidence-Building Strengthens HHS Policymaking
The 2019 Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act—or Evidence Act—aims to improve federal programs applying data, evidence, and evaluations in decision-making. Five years later, how are agencies meeting the requirements of the legislatio...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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34:39
S2E5: Inside FDA's 10-Year Campaign to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) longest-running tobacco public education campaign, The Real Cost, is marking its 10th anniversary this year. The campaign aims to prevent youth from using tobacco through powerful messaging...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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29:45
S2E4: Motherhood + Modernization: USDS is Shaping Equitable Post-Natal Care
For many mothers, the immediate postnatal period is a vulnerable one, often filled with financial, social, physical, and mental challenges while caring for a young child. Our federal government is working to provide better resources and service...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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28:53
S2E3: Serving to Build Purpose: How Volunteering Empowers Older Adults to Connect and Grow
As adults age, many retire, become empty nesters, and are trying to figure out their next chapter in life. AmeriCorps Seniors has helped 140,000 people discover that next chapter through volunteer opportunities across the country. Learn more ab...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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39:06
S2E2: Beyond the Ballot: Rebuilding Trust in Elections
It’s the start of a presidential election year. Caucuses and primaries are approaching, and the country is readying to vote. We are taking on elections and speaking with former senior election security advisor at the Cybersecurity and Infrastru...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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31:54
S2E1: Turning the Tides: Inside the EPA’s Fight to Combat Environmental Injustice
The Inflation Reduction Act provided a historic amount of funding and opportunity for the federal government to make meaningful investments in environmental justice programs across the government. As we enter season 2 of Empathy Affect...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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37:08
S1E13: Transforming Your Taxes: How New IRS Online Services Will Make Filing a Breeze
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) received about $80 billion in additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to make sweeping improvements—including how taxpayers interact with the agency. The IRS's Office of Online Services (OLS)...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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37:48
S1E12: How Your Workplace Can Support People in Recovery
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in the Executive Office of the President is coordinating with other federal agencies to release a Recovery-Ready Workplace Toolkit that can guide organizations big and small toward helping peop...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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33:33
S1E11: One Step at a Time: VA's Mission to Prevent Veteran Suicide
Suicide has been a rising public health crisis in America, and veterans are some who are at the highest risk. In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month this September, we're joined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Direct...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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30:38
S1E10, Pt. 2: From Mentee to Peer: Creating Diverse, Strong Government Leaders Through Mentorship
In part 2 of our episode on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in the federal workforce, we get personal and chat about the roles of mentorship and sponsorship in raising diverse leadership across the government. Our guests,...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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34:25
S1E10, Pt. 1: Building a Better Federal Workforce: The Power of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility
The United States is a diverse nation, and the federal government needs to reflect the faces and minds of the country to deliver its best services. In part one of this month’s Empathy Affect, we dive into the broad strokes the federal ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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35:06
S1E9: Dismantling the Digital Divide: How the Digital Equity Act Aims to Connect All Americans
Internet connectivity has become a necessity in our lives, but many in America lack quality, affordable, high-speed internet access. To bridge the digital divide, the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established the Digital Equity Act, which ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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31:05
S1E8, Pt. 2: How the HEALing Communities Study Aims to Reduce Opioid Overdose Deaths
Welcome back for part 2 of our discussion on the National Institute's of Health HEALing Communities Study—a bold research effort that looks to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths across highly impacted communities by 40% over three years. Con...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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28:01
S1E8, Pt. 1: How the HEALing Communities Study Aims to Reduce Opioid Overdose Deaths
In 2018, the National Institutes of Health launched the HEALing Communities Study, a research endeavor to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths across highly impacted communities by 40% over three years. The study bridges science-driven interve...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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25:53
S1E7: Inside HHS’s 358 Objectives to Improve Health Promotion and Equity
Every decade since 1980, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set ambitious, measurable goals to make progress across public health—from improving quality health care access to reducing tobacco use. This decade’s iteration, Hea...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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34:48
S1E6: AmeriCorps' Role in Reinvigorating the Public Health Workforce
The COVID-19 pandemic took a significant toll on an already strained public health system in the United States, pushing many front-line workers to leave the field or retire. AmeriCorps—a federal agency that provides opportunities for national s...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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38:23
S1E5: Building More Climate-Resilient Communities With HUD
Our communities’ resilience has been tested amid exacerbated natural disasters and extreme weather from climate change. As we face a reality shaped by climate change, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is playing its own role...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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31:31
S1E4: Inside the National Science Foundation's Push to Diversify Federal Research Grants
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is known for being one of the government's top funders of federal research grants to institutions of higher learning to advance progress in the fields of fundamental science and engineering. Now, the agency...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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34:30
S1E3: How People in Recovery are Developing a Recovery-Ready Nation
A new year marks a moment to set new goals, and for many, that means embracing recovery from substance use and mental health conditions. At the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Office of Recovery provides ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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34:08