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First Thursday

Richard Poulson, LRIS
Public Safety Labor Relations
Weingarten Rights
Brady Giglio
Economy
Take-Home Vehicle Policy
Ohio Marcy's Law
Ganley V. Upper Darby Township
Privacy and Speech In Public Sector
United States V. Hemani
Supreme Court
Sports Betting
Tax On Overtime / One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Equal Employment Opportunity
Second Amendment
Social Media In Public Sector
Brady Giglio Rule
Overtime Tax Deduction
Robust Union Leadership and Political Engagement
Probationary Employees
Compton Fire Department

A monthly podcast from LRIS that provides in-depth coverage of trends in public sector labor relations.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes184Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for First Thursday

Latest Episodes

The Brady Rule affirms that the government, because of its obligation to provide defendants with a fair trial, must turn over favorable, exculpatory evidence to a criminal defendant. Over the years, Brady has become as impactful on public safety labo... more

The Supreme Court has wrapped up its 2026 docket, and, in this podcast, Rick covers three decisions that impact public safety employees.

US v. Hemani (03:19)

Margolin v. National Association of Immigration Judges (32:13)

Trump v. Slaughter (45:40)... more

YouTube

Rick Poulson covers a potpourri of cases from across the country, including two involving police take-home vehicles.

Cases:

New Mexico Labor Relations Board Finds Police Take-Home Vehicles Policy A Mandatory Subject Of Bargaining, Village of Hatch ... more

The rise of gambling apps has created an multitude of issues, and the public safety labor environment has not been immune from its effects. In this episode of First Thursday, Rick Poulson explores this rapidly growing issue and its implications for p... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Matt Cunningham
President of the Memphis Police Association
Memphis Police Association
Episode: First Thursday, November 2025
Jessica Caggiano
Partner at Willow, Williams and Davidson, labor law attorney
Willow, Williams and Davidson
Episode: First Thursday, October 2025
Bob Brooks
President of the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association; former president of IFF Local 735 in Bethlehem, PA
Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association
Episode: First Thursday, September 2025
Jesse Bernstein
Philadelphia union lawyer and frequent LRIS contributor
Labor Relations Information System / Philadelphia Union
Episode: First Thursday, July 2025

Host

Rick Poulsen
Executive Director of LRIS; host of First Thursday; long-standing LRIS contributor

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 60 ratings
  • Great podcast

    This is such a great show. It’s so informative to union members and leaders. I can’t recommend this enough

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mojavejohn1
    United Statesa year ago
  • Please go back to the old format and content. STOP interviewing people.

    Listened LRIS for YEARS! Educational, informative, amazing content. Will’s replacement, Rick is not it. Get back to the format Will had for years. Please stop interviewing people and get back to discuss cases and rules that are relevant to Labor Relations on the state level and the national level. With so much going on right now with attacks on Unions and bargaining rights, TALK about whats going on.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Drgnburn
    United Statesa year ago
  • Copaganda

    Hard pass on Will’s replacement

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Keef Justice
    United States2 years ago
  • Great for any HR professional

    I recommend this podcast to anyone in Human Resources that deals with Public Safety. Great information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NaeaRae
    United States6 years ago
  • Easy to listen to and learn

    Great podcast full of interesting news that pertains to public safety professionals.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The terrible taco
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, timely labor-relations insights for public safety.
People find the host's balanced, impartial analysis valuable for understanding complex disputes.
Some listeners want more case-focused content and fewer guest interviews.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#104
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Thursday, July 2025
Q: What can you tell us about US v. Clanton?
It involved home invasions where the government sought to suppress certain information about police officers under Brady Giglio; the discussion focused on how such information is treated, its probative value for truthfulness, and how courts balancing test governs admissibility.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About First Thursday

What is First Thursday about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show consistently covers how public sector labor relations shape bargaining, discipline, and policy for police, firefighters, and other first responders. Episodes frequently analyze court decisions, arbitration outcomes, and statutory interpretations, with practical guidance for unions and management on topics like take-home vehicle policies, direct dealing, Weingarten-style rights, and the evolving role of social media in the workplace. Notable strengths include a focus on real-world bargaining implications, a blend of legal context with case examples, and behind-the-scenes context from LRIS seminars and events that help practitioners plan strategically. The format tends to feature host-led analysis with expert guests providing on-the-... more

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Which podcasts are similar to First Thursday?

These podcasts share a similar audience with First Thursday:

1. Huberman Lab
2. The Tucker Carlson Show
3. The Ben Shapiro Show
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Joe Rogan Experience

How many episodes of First Thursday are there?

First Thursday launched 13 years ago and published 184 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on First Thursday?

Recent guests on First Thursday include:

1. Matt Cunningham
2. Jessica Caggiano
3. Bob Brooks
4. Jesse Bernstein

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