AFSPA Talks

Hosted by AFSPA

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Episodes

110

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

This is an informational and educational podcast by the American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA), featuring Chief Executive Officer, Kyle Longton. AFSPA Talks covers a range of topics across a multitude of categories, from mental wellness, to dental care, to speech and hearing awareness. This podcast is intended for all listeners, not only AFSPA members. This podcast is not intended to give out medical advice, please seek a professional for medical questions.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

September 14, 2026Episode 1528 min

AFSPA Talks Senior Living Foundation

For almost 40 years, the Senior Living Foundation has helped meet the needs of the Foreign Service community. We do this with professionalism and dignity while maintaining our clients' privacy. Today, we'll look at how SLF works, who we can help, and what that help looks like. SLF Social Work Consultant Joan Parrish, MSSW, LGSW, joins us to share her role in the process. For more information on SLF, please visit www.slfoundation.org. Follow SLF on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@seniorlivingfoundation) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/seniorlivingfoundation). To join us for our Next Chapter Conversation on September 23, please visit https://www.youtube.com/live/V7PLC7fdnXc?si=aVA59SQhO4Wc-eO9. You can submit your questions for the event here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/KNUsfShw0r To explore other upcoming events from AFSPA and our partners, please visit www.afspa.org/events.

August 24, 2026Episode 1433 min

AFSPA Talks Back to School with the Truman Group

August is a time of change for many. For families with children, it's back-to-school time. For many AFSPA members, it's also PCS season. This can all combine to make for a challenging period. To help us talk through ways to manage these changes, we're talking with Catherine McLean, MSW, LCSW, from the Truman Group. She shares her knowledge as a licensed clinical social worker and her experience as an expat and a counselor to many other expats. To help after the episode ends, she's also shared an infographic available here . Upcoming events: www.afspa.org/events Truman Group: www.trumangroup.com

July 27, 2026Episode 1331 min

AFSPA Talks Hidden AIP Programs

Many of you know that AFSPA offers more than the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. But did you know that we go beyond traditional insurance? In this episode, AFSPA's Sr. Director for Ancillary Programs walks us through some of the hidden treasures she manages, including travel insurance, members-of-household plans, and professional services partnerships. There's something for everyone at AFSPA. For more information on AFSPA's ancillary programs, please visit www.afspa.org/aip .

June 22, 2026Episode 1228 min

AFSPA Talks Teladoc Care Options

In today's episode, we continue our focus on men's health but expand it to care options for everyone. Removing barriers to care makes it easier for everyone to get the support they need, and that's exactly what we discuss today. Members of the Foreign Service Benefit Plan have access to a variety of telehealth and chronic care management options through our partnership with Teladoc Health. Chris Eastburn from Teladoc provides us with an overview of the various programs and how they can help all our members. For more information on FSBP care options, visit www.afspa.org/fsbp. To see our upcoming events, visit www.afspa.org/events. Join us for AFSPA Live on June 25. Submit your questions in advance at: https://forms.office.com/r/9FuRJC76sN. Don't miss open enrollment in AFSPA's disability insurance program through June 30. Learn more and enroll at www.afspa.org/aip/disability.

June 8, 2026Episode 1143 min

AFSPA Talks Men's Health

Statistically speaking, men are less likely to seek care, both for prevention and treatment. This applies to physical health and mental/behavioral health. In recent years, this discrepancy has led to a widening gap in life expectancy between men and women. We discussed these differences, the importance of care for men, and even dived into some trends with Dr. Kelly Ruel, Sr. Medical Director for Aetna/CVS Health. To learn more about topics discussed in today's episode, please visit: AFSPA Events - https://www.afspa.org/events FSBP Preventive Care, Virtual Care, and Wellness Programs - https://www.afspa.org/fsbp/wellness-programs/

May 18, 2026Episode 1029 min

AFSPA Talks Maternity Journeys

National trends indicate that more people are waiting until a bit later in life before considering their options. Some plan months or years in advance before starting the journey, while others make plans quickly when they find out a new addition is on the way. Growing a family looks different for each of us. Last year, more than 700 FSBP members gave birth and grew their families in locations around the world. For FSBP members at any stage of the fertility, maternity, or parenting journey, they can access support through Maven Clinic. As part of Maternity May, we welcome Dr. Kathleen Green from Maven to talk about their support program and how members can benefit from this free, global offering. You can ask your own questions to Dr. Green during this month's AFSPA Live on May 28 at 11 am ET. To enroll in Maven Clinic, please visit www.mavenclinic.com/join/FSBP To learn more about our upcoming programs, please visit www.afspa.org/events.

May 4, 2026Episode 925 min

AFSPA Talks Long Term Disability Insurance

AFSPA is happy to announce that we recently launched a new long-term disability insurance plan in partnership with Prudential. This new plan offers a variety of ways to customize coverage based on your salary and how long of a benefit period you want. To learn the ins and outs of the new plan, we welcome back Nicole Devlin from Prudential to the program. To learn more about the new plan, please visit www.afspa.org/aip/disability . To see all of our upcoming events, please visit www.afspa.org/events .

April 27, 2026Episode 837 min

AFSPA Talks FSBP Claims

We continue All about AFSPA April with a deep dive into claims. Last year, the Foreign Service Benefit Plan processed more than 2.28 million claims from members all around the world. These included more than half a million overseas claims and thousands of massage therapy claims. If you've ever wondered how we do it, this episode is for you. Kelli Rath from Aetna walks us through the processes, challenges, and successes of processing claims from our unique, worldwide membership. For more information on claims, please visit www.afspa.org/fsbp/claims . For all of AFSPA's upcoming events, visit www.afspa.org/events .

April 13, 2026Episode 723 min

AFSPA Talks Foreign Service Benefit Plan

Welcome to All About AFSPA April! In today's episode, we are discussing the Foreign Service Benefit Plan. With AFSPA's Sr. Director of Health Operations, Igor Cherevko, we visit some of the most frequently asked questions and common topics that our Health Benefits Officers encounter. Drug Pricing Tool: https://www.express-scripts.com/frontend/commercial-open-enrollment/afspaforeignservicebenefitplan/plans/68c2cfb07c0b92001c878c32/apps/medication#/ Lyra Health: Call 1-877-505-7147 or visit https://www.lyrahealth.com/. Truman Group: https://trumangroup.com/ For more information on FSBP, visit www.afspa.org/fsbp.

March 30, 2026Episode 632 min

AFSPA Talks Medicare Advantage

To close out Medicare March, we're taking some time to look at the most popular Medicare program in the country: Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPs). Dr. Ali Khan, Chief Medical Officer, Medicare at Aetna, joins us to talk about the plans in general and dive into the specifics of the FSBP - Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan. Join us for a great conversation about the ins and outs of MAPs, how FSBP members can take advantage of savings and support opportunities, and for some general tips on care as we all age. For more information on the FSBP - Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan, please visit www.fsbphealth.com/retiree . For more on how FSBP works with Medicare generally and other options available, please visit https://www.afspa.org/fsbp-and-medicare/ . To learn more about our upcoming events, go to www.afspa.org/events .