Sometimes a Great Podcast

A Visit to the Home-DePOD! Oct 22, 2025

Season 1, Episode 18 · October 22, 2025 · 41 min

Grab a cart and roll down the aisles—this week’s episode is stocked with socket sets of strategy, power tools of purpose, and the people turning small fixes into solid frameworks across ODHS.

What’s inside:

Deadline: ODHS (06:35) & FACT of the Week (9:00)

Safety, Health & Well-Being Forums (Oct 20–24) – Practical tools, resources, and discussions to strengthen workplace safety and personal well-being. Topics include threat management, de-escalation, emergency prep, and coping with burnout.

Data Equity Summit (Oct 28–30) – Free, all-virtual event themed “Learning and Implementing Data Equity During Uncertain Times,” featuring keynote speaker Dr. Luhui Whitebear and sessions by Oregon data equity leaders.

FACT of the Week (Oct 15) – Missed the Oct 13 FACT webinar on federal changes? Recording and slides are posted on the OWL. Lists key program contacts and reminds staff to coordinate community engagement through FACT, not independently.
Designed, Real, Delivered (11:35)

OEP staff save a life (Sept 17) – Eligibility worker Michele Stewart and colleague John Manning intervene in a crisis call, guiding emergency responders to a client in time. The experience now informs OEP’s crisis response training.

OEP earns national honors (Sept 15) – OEP receives two APHSA awards: Best Use of Technology for the Oregon GenAI “EligiBot,” and Excellence in Leadership for Director Nathan Singer’s integration-focused leadership.

VR success story (Oct 6) – With help from Vocational Rehabilitation, Eugene notary Christy Albin relaunches her business, Legal Eagles of the Lake, using a wheelchair-accessible van and adaptive tools.

ODDS leadership update (Oct 7) – Deepika Sidhu joins ODDS as Quality & Compliance Administrator, bringing 12+ years in disability operations and equity-focused oversight.
The Big Picture (18:54)

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) in action – ODHS Communications Officer Diane Navarrete shares how Vocational Rehabilitation and voice-recognition tech helped her continue her communications career while living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

So grab your toolbelt and cue the theme music—it’s an ODHS renovation special for the ages! From hammers of hope to wrenches of wisdom, every segment proves that when we work together, transformation is more than blueprints—it’s built to last.

Credits:

Hosts:

Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications
Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10

Produced by: Dr. Bethany Grace Howe

Contact:

Questions / feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov

Four Minutes for the Fed: Why the SNAP Payment Error Rate Matters Oct 20, 2025

This time, we’re tackling something that doesn’toften make headlines but has major consequences—the SNAP payment error rate. It’s one of the key measures the federal government uses to judge how accurately states deliver food benefits, and under House Resolution 1, it’s tied directly to how much Oregon will have to pay.

Four Minutes for the Fed: Food Support and the State Budget Oct 20, 2025

This time, we’re looking at what happens after eligibility—how House Resolution 1 changes the way SNAP is funded and what it means for Oregon’s budget. HR 1 doesn’t just adjust who qualifies; it rewires how food support is paid for and administered across every state. For decades, SNAP’s costs were shared evenly: the federal government covered half of administrative expenses and all of the food benefits. HR 1 upends that balance. By 2027, states must pay 75 percent ofadministrative costs, leaving the federal share at just 25 percent.

Four Minutes for the Fed: Changes in SNAP eligibility Oct 20, 2025

This time, we’re talking about one of the most immediate shifts from House Resolution 1—the changes to SNAP eligibility. These updates reach deep into how food benefits are determined and who continues to receive them. Under HR 1, the biggest change affects able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs—people ages 18 to 64 who don’t have a child under 14 in their home

Four Minutes for the Fed: An Overview or H.R. 1 Oct 20, 2025

H.R. 1: it's what’s at the root of all these changes: House Resolution 1. Also known as “The Big Beautiful Bill,” it is reshaping the work of the Oregon Department of Human Services. As a new federal law it makes some of the largest structural changes in decades to programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

Director's message: Reminder about Oregon’s sanctuary promise Oct 17, 2025

Together with Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement DirectorJessica Ventura, we want to remind you about Oregon’s Sanctuary Promise — what it means for all of us, our shared responsibilities under the law, and ways to support and stand with our communities.

For more information, see the Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 email "Director's message: Reminder about Oregon’s sanctuary promise."

Transformers: A Podcast (Not) in Disguise! Oct 15, 2025

Season 1, Episode 17 · October 15, 2025 · 55 min

It’s a high-octane ride through deadlines, federal updates, and program rollouts—gears shifting fast, communication systems humming, and every segment more than meets the eye.

This week:

Deadline: ODHS (05:56) and FACT of the Week (16:07)
Ready, Staffer One (19:43): Federal webinar highlights featuring Acting Deputy Director Dana Hittle, HR 1 Co-Leads Jessica Amaya Hoffman and Josh Harlukovich, OHA Medicaid Director Emma Sando, and Chief Data Officer Samantha Khan breaking down how HR 1 is reshaping SNAP, Medicaid, and data privacy in Oregon.
The Big Picture (25:08): A conversation with Kyle Romstad about how from the line level up, ODHS teams are transforming together—aligning leadership, implementation, and innovation to keep services rolling smoothly through change.
Celebrity Pod-lic Service Announcement (38:05): A “Stark” reminder of how great you are.

So buckle your seat belts, charge your energon, and cue the synth drums—because in this episode, deadlines aren’t just dates, they’re destiny. The circuits are alive, the microphones are hot, and transformation … is in motion!

Credits

Hosts:

Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — Communications

Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10

Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe

Contact

Questions/feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov

Great British Brilliance! It’s a Pod-off! Oct 07, 2025

Season 1, Episode 16 · October 8, 2025 · 53 min

It’s a British Bake Off–style tour through deadlines, federal updates, and program wins—proofed, laminated, and finished with a Discover glaze!

What’s inside

Deadline: ODHS (06:44) and FACT of the Week (15:22)
The Magnificent 7 (17:42): Parent Advisory Council guide (Douglas Co.); OEP national awards & EligiBot; North Bend mobile van outage response; Relative Pathway recognized.
The Big Picture (25:50): A south coast conversation with Sarah Kacell about community, identity, service, and small-town partnerships.
Our Weekly Celebrity Pod-lic Service Announcement (40:44): Let’s play the Feud!

So, it’s into the human services tent we go—fast Technicals proofed and perfect, a Showstopper Magnificent 7 you can slice and share, and a Big Picture Signature that rises to the challenge. No soggy bottoms—just even bakes, Hollywood Handshakes, and service served hot.

To access the referenced Discover stories away from the OWL, go to your web browser, search for “Newsroom: Oregon Department of Human Services” and click on “Podcast Stories: Oct. 8, 2025.”

Credits

Hosts:

Dr. Bethany Grace Howe — ODHS Communications

Shenika — Community Partnership Coordinator, District 10

Produced by Dr. Bethany Grace Howe

Contact:

Questions/feedback: bethany.g.howe@odhs.oregon.gov

We Don’t Pod No Stinkin’ Badgers! Oct 01, 2025

We Don’t Pod No Stinkin’ Badgers!

Season 1, Episode 15 — October 1, 2025 · 54 mins

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast we open with origin beats and the platform drop. The pod is now available iTunes & Spotify— including all of our previous episodes. Then we’ll suit up for Deadline: ODHS (5:12) beginning with guidance on how ODHS is responding to the partial shutdown of the federal government. Then, we’ll power up with reminders about Trauma Aware Workforce Support & Community Connection Groups and a six-month Service Equity Manager rotation. In FACT of the Week (10:10) we’ll preview the Federal Actions Coordination Team’s October 13 webinar on federal changes. While in Survivor, Oregon (11:57) the field team assembles for seven rapid-response vignettes—from Texas flood deployments to SATRunner internet restores and EBT-theft prevention—showing how ODHS staff keep communities safe. And finally, The Big Picture (23:04) lands in Burns and District 14 for a front-line conversation about distance, creativity, and community.

No capes, no CGI—just ODHS staff as the real superheroes: resilience, tools, and teamwork on full display.

To access the referenced Discover stories away from the OWL, go to (or search in your web browser for):

Newsroom: Oregon Department of Human Services and look for
“Podcast Stories: Oct. 1, 2025.”

TGIP! It’s Must-See OD-TVI Sep 30, 2025

Season 1, Episode 14

September 17, 2025 · 44 mins

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, we bring a full ’90s sitcom lineup—without the canned laughter. Acting Director Liesl Wendt opens the show (2:01), followed by Deadline: ODHS, it’s a clips-show mix of Out of the Darkness community walks, Orange Shirt Day, the PMA fall conference, and Disability Employment Awareness webinars. (5:42) FACT of the Week highlights the Oregon Eligibility Partnership, making benefits easier to access with dignity (10:37). In Mission: In Policy, we cover Trauma Aware’s growth, Transformation alignment, and a leadership transition at ODDS. (12:30) Finally, the Big Picture is a very special episode: a reflective conversation with retiring director Fariborz Pakseresht on curiosity, dignity, and leading with humanity (17:01).

No sharks jumped. No spinoffs launched. Just stories worth coming back for.

“P”s - and a bunch of other letters - in a Pod! Sep 30, 2025

September 17, 2025 · 44 mins

Season 1, Episode 13This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast,

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, we’re packed with Oregon-grown goodness. In Deadline: ODHS we’ve got three dates poking their heads up into your calendar, (7:52) while the FACT of the Week blooms bigger than ever as part of The Big Picture (24:29). But first, there’s “Design, Real, Delivered,” where we’ll be harvesting stories from across the state. From Bend Pride to Polk County’s Relay for Life, then into Salem, for their co-location partnership with Union Gospel Mission. Then we’ll make time to plant some trauma-informed seeds in North Portland, and onto leadership transitions in Public Records —stories that show how ODHS values come alive in real time through staff action and community connection. (12:13)

EEEEK! It's a Podcast! Sep 30, 2025

September 10, 2025 · 50 mins

Season 1, Episode 12

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, we get our “E” on in both FACT of the Week, and Deadline ODHS. There’s the everyday things you need to know - even if we need you to do something a little abnormal to find them. (4:38) Then, we’ll preview next week’s interview with one of the leaders of the Federal Action Coordination Team—aka the folks behind the FACT of the Week. (6:40) Then, in Mission: In Policy, we’ll break down two key updates: the expansion of Service Equity Councils across ODHS, and the newly approved $7.5 billion General Fund budget for 2025–27. (8:20) Finally, in The Big Picture, we return to our conversation with Sylvia Ceron from the Office of Resilience and Emergency Management. From evacuation to empowerment, Sylvia shares what true recovery looks like—and why preparedness is personal. (13:03)

Whether you’re looking for deadlines, disaster plans, or just a place to submit that one burning question, this episode is your friendly reminder that no matter the inquiry this is the pod to be.

It’s Pod to School Time! Sep 30, 2025

3 Sept · 53 mins

September 3, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 11):

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, Deadline: ODHS rings the bell on two key dates — the agency-wide Rebranding Webinar happening today and Florence’s “Beat the Wave” Tsunami Evacuation Quest coming September 7 (4:59). In FACT of the Week, we highlight how you can be a part of the messages we share with our communities. (13:52) Then in The Magnificent Seven, we showcase three stories of teamwork and creativity: the launch of the new SAGE Employee Resource Group, a community mural project at Portland’s Alberta office, and major updates to ODHS workload models. (16:54) Finally, in The Big Picture, we sit down for the first of two interviews with Sylvia Ceron, a Social Services Emergency Liaison, to talk about resilience in the wake of the 2020 wildfires and what recovery really looks like five years later. (24:25)

From deadlines to data, murals to models, this week’s episode is all about sharpening our pencils, comparing notes, and showing how ODHS learns, adapts, and grows — together.

ODHS Poad Trip! Sep 30, 2025

27 Aug · 40 mins

August 27, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 10):

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, Deadline: ODHS drops some dates for a virtual Spanish-language emergency-preparedness event. (6:01) In FACT of the Week, we unpack the potential $15 billion federal budget cut announced by Governor Kotek, what it could mean for Oregon programs, and the reassurance that SNAP benefits and ODHS staff positions remain steady for now. (7:01) Then in Ready: Staffer One, we roll through three big digital updates: smoother meetings in Microsoft Teams, faster and smarter searches in OWL, and new multi-factor authentication options to keep accounts secure. (9:28) Finally, in The Big Picture, Bethany sits down at the Bipartisan Café in Portland with Monique Woods, a Resource Parent Retention and Recruitment Champion for District 2. Together they talk about why retention is the best recruitment, how cultural humility shapes engagement, and why simply showing up makes all the difference. (16:30)

From clear roads to new routes, this week’s episode is all about navigating change with confidence, consistency, and care.

Pod-laaaaaaaaxxxxx! Take it Cheesy! Sep 30, 2025

Relaaaaaaax! Take it cheesy!

This week in “Sometimes a Great Podcast: The Voices of ODHS” have all kinds of news for managers, and those hoping to become one or just a better one. We’ll also head down the river and down the beach, where we’ll pop the Cork on life in a rural - but not definitely not small - district.20 Aug · 41 mins

August 20, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 9):

This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, Deadline: ODHS has reminders about upcoming Transformation Project Office Hours and the Hiring Manager Recruitment Series. (5:20) In our FACT of the Week, we continue to connect the dots between federal actions in Washington, D.C., and the work we do in Oregon. (6:39) Then, in Survivor: Oregon, we look at new wellness tools on tobacco cessation, stress management, and harm reduction, plus the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) training and iChill app, all designed to strengthen staff readiness in emergencies. (10:05) Finally, in The Big Picture, we head to District 1 to talk with District Manager Tim Cork about leadership in a diverse region, how the Transformation is taking shape on the ground, reducing burnout, integrating Vocational Rehabilitation and making resource shifts that change lives. (14:09)

Bring Pod a HIRED Love! Sep 30, 2025

Bring me a HIRED love!

All kinds of news for managers, and those hoping to become one or just a better one.This week in “Sometimes a Great Podcast: The Voices of ODHS”13 Aug · 50 mins

August 13, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 8):This week on Sometimes a Great Podcast, Dateline: ODHS includes the search for a permanent head of the Developmental Disabilities Services, and some quick reminders about upcoming All-Staff Office Hours and Hiring Manager Recruitment Series events. (5:43) In our FACT of the week, we’ve got more updates from D.C. (8:36) Then we’re off to “The Head of the Class,” with reminders and updates about all kinds of things for careers in ODHS. Including more information about ODHS’s four-part Hiring Manager Recruitment Series, and Hiring Manager Office Hours. There’s also info on the fall sessions of Career Advocate Office Hours designed to teach you about résumé-building and interview prep. Finally, we’ll show you how to learn about self-care via the New Trauma Informed Care Video Series Offers Flexible Learning (10:08). Then, we’ll close as we always do, with The Big Picture. This week, we’re headed down to Gold Beach and Brookings, where Mike Leaver and Teri Moore are making Family Preservation work and showing that at ODHS, our best resources are the people we work with. (18:25)

Another Week on the Pod Because There's an Awesome Truck! Sep 30, 2025

WOWI That’s an awesome truck! It’s another week on the roads to TransformationSometimes a Great Podcast – The Oregon Department of Human Services 6 Aug · 52 mins

“Sometimes a Great Podcast:” August 6, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 7):We kick off “Deadline: ODHS,” with a retiring director and a VERY exciting truck in Roseburg, (3:26) followed by our “FACT of the Week,” (6:37), we’ll roll into “The Magnificent Seven,” where stories range from a wellness truck in Roseburg and a statewide rebrand to new trauma-informed offices in Astoria and Portland and the launch of a new peer-to-peer video series, “Real Questions, Lived Answers.” (7:38) Then, in “The Big Picture,” we head back to District 15 to speak with District Operations Officer Dani Harris. It’s a conversation about shifting culture, empowering staff, and what it actually takes to transform a system—not on paper, but in practice. (16:30)

We're one Pod-dy Family! Sep 30, 2025

Christine Warner: One Family Coach, Two Programs, No Wrong Door

Sometimes a Great Podcast –

The Oregon Department of Human Services 23 Jul · 46 mins.

“Sometimes a Great Podcast:” July 30, 2025 (Season 1, Episode 6): After our regular “Deadline: ODHS,” (4:23) and “FACT of the Week,” (6:09) segments, we’ll get into the next edition of “Survivor, Oregon.” This month: Emergency Kits for In-Home Medicaid Recipients, a New EBT Skimming Prevention Toolkit, and more information about upcoming Trauma Aware Community Groups. (7:15). Then, in “The Big Picture,” we’ll talk Transformed, cross-district collaboration between the beach and the Portland ‘burbs, as we follow up with last week’s interview by chatting with Victoria Neal, a Child Welfare case worker in Astoria who practiced real-world integration, as she and a family coach navigated issues of consent, funding boundaries, and family-centered teamwork to make a difference. (11:33)

Every-pod-y ready? Get Set... Tech! Sep 30, 2025

Deadline: ODHS

Hiring Manager Office Hours – July 30 Virtual Q&A with Recruitment, Classification & Compensation, and Workday teams Topics: full-cycle recruitment, post-reference check steps, documentation, Bench List Covered in: Discover, July 9 Next session: September 24

Email Retention Changes – August 1 Automatic deletion of non-compliant emails begins Originally set for July 1; postponed for final checks Guidance and links in: Discover, June 30

FACT of the Week Topic: ODHS response to federal changes Includes:

Director Pakseresht’s July 11 email to staff (search: “ODHS & Federal Changes”)
Upcoming OHA/ODHS community partner webinar on federal changes – July 22
Ongoing updates and guidance posted to OWL by the Federal Actions Coordination Team

Ready Staffer One: Tech Updates Windows 11 Rollout – In Progress New smart screen sharing now available Hover on taskbar, click “Share this window,” go live More features to roll out over time Covered in: Discover, June 16

OWL Feedback Button Launch – June 23 Website feedback link added to all Hub-associated pages Allows users to flag errors or suggest improvements Covered in: Discover, June 30

🧩 The Big Picture – Time Cue: 13:05 Interview with Christine Warner – District 15 Family Coach Cross-program, cross-district collaboration with Child Welfare peer in District 1 Co-case planning to support a family navigating eligibility, services, and safety Focus on real-time teamwork and transformation-driven system navigation Themes: Relational coordination, SSP–CW alignment, and dignity-centered service

Houston, We Have a Podcast! Sep 30, 2025

Deadline: ODHS

Transformation Office Hours – August 13

Updates from design workshops, including alignment across CW, SSP, and APD
Embedding ICWA/ORICWA and service integration
Staff Q&A with Maria Ross and Sherrelle Jackson

ADA 35th Anniversary Webinar Series

July 22: Squirmy and Grubs on disability and access
July 29: Oregon’s journey toward inclusion
Fully accessible sessions with ASL, Spanish interpretation, and captions

EAP Orientation Sessions

30-minute trauma-informed sessions for teams
Covers counseling, legal/financial help, wellness coaching
Available to staff and household members

Includes summarization of FP’s Friday email

2,400 Hygiene Kits Assembled by ODHS ERG
2024 Family Preservation Year in Review
ODHS Podcast: Free Food Markets in Washington County

Podcast:

Interview with Jesse Barger, APD Adult Protective Services Investigator (North Bend)

FACT of the Week

The Magnificent Seven – Collaboration in Action

The Big Picture: Time Cue: 19:02

Podville Pride Has a Bestseller! Sep 30, 2025

Dateline: ODHS

SSP and OEP Eligibility Transition

Published June 23, 2025

ODHS Remains Strong in Its Commitment to Our Equity North Star

Published June 25, 2025

Congratulations Director Fariborz Pakseresht on winning the APHSA's 2025 Impact Award!

Published June 9, 2025

Announcing Sonya Faulkner as Interim District 16 Manager

Published June 30, 2025

Farewell Gayla Andresen, Welcome John Fleming

Published June 30, 2025

BIg Picture Interview:

Begins at 15:32

The FACTs of LifeDesigned, Real, Delivered

Pod Fun in the Summer Time! Sep 30, 2025

Deadline: ODHS

Webinar series for 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act launches July 8

Discover Post Date: June 11, 2025

Registration for Trauma Informed Workplace Support and Community Groups is open

Discover Post Date: May 28, 2025

Inclusive Hiring Advocate Program – Final Application Reminder

Discover Post Date: June 25, 2025

We are Oregon: Upholding the State's Sanctuary Promise

Discover Post Date: June 11, 2025

Adjustment to Gender Identity and Expression Basics training credit

Discover Post Date: June 4, 2025

New required training: Generative AI at ODHS

Discover Post Date: June 11, 2025

OHSE Soundbite your monthly check-in for safety, health and well-being

Discover Post Date: June 11, 2025

The FACTs of LifeSegment: Head of the ClassThe Big Picture Interview: 9:39

There's a New POD(HS) in Town! Sep 30, 2025

Sometimes a Great Podcast: Season 01, Episode 01

✅ 1. Inclusive Hiring Advocate program

Published on Discover: June 2, 2025
Segment: Deadline ODHS
Summary: Launch of the Inclusive Hiring Advocate (IHA) Program to promote equity and accountability in hiring decisions. Open to ODHS staff with 1+ year of service.

Published on Discover: June 11, 2025
Segment: The FACTs of Life
Summary: Clarifies current status of SNAP and OHP under federal review. Provides talking points, emphasizes no changes yet finalized, and reinforces data protection protocols.

Published on Discover: June 2, 2025
Segment: Mission: In Policy
Summary: Training available in June; retention policy begins July 1, 2025. Emphasis on compliance with state records management policy.

Published on Discover: May 5, 2025
Segment: Mission: In Policy
Summary: Deadline reminders for fiscal year-end closeout. Key dates include June 30 for receipt of goods/services and August 18 for invoice submissions.

Published on Discover: June 16, 2025
Segment: Mission: In Policy
Summary: New intake process for position classification reviews takes effect July 1. Requires submission of three updated documents (Form 2118, PD, and org chart).

OWL PAGE
Segment: The Big Picture

✅ 2. FACT of the Week from the Federal Actions Coordination Team: Approved talking points

✅ 3. Email Retentional Initiative: Training updates and resources

✅ 4. Important dates as the end of biennium nears

✅ 5. Easier Classification Review Process and what you’ll need
✅ 6. ODHS Transformation Project Summary: The place to find everything you need to know about the ODHS Transformation.

So, why is it called "Sometimes a Great Podcast"? Sep 29, 2025

"Sometimes a Great Podcast" is not just a podcast about the people of ODHS. It's also about appreciating the state in which they live and work, and most importantly, the people they support. That starts with our title, one based in the literary, cinematic, pop culture and lived history of our state itself.

Meet the Hosts of Sometimes a Great Podcast Sep 29, 2025

If you're interested in knowing more about the hosts of "Sometimes a Great Podcast," Dr. Bethany Grace Howe and Shenika, this is a quick introduction to both of them.

Your Guide to "Sometimes a Great Podcast" Sep 17, 2025

Each week on Sometimes a Great Podcast there segments that run every time, and others that run some of the time. All of them, however, are based in titles from 50 years of pop culture titles and fun. This show is your guide to knowing what's what - and why we chose the names in the first place.

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