Shows / GovCon Unscripted
GovCon Unscripted
Welcome to GovCon Unscripted, where we dive into the unfiltered stories and strategies from all around the world of government contracting. Join host Chelsea Roberts as she explores how to navigate, thrive, and win in this complex but rewarding industry.
Episodes
GovCon UnscriptedStop Running Your Company from Your Checking Account | Bud McDonald
Your bank account cannot tell you what next month looks like. A forecast can. Bud McDonald has spent 35 years proving the difference is the whole ballgame.Most…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Capital Stacking Playbook: How Defense Founders Fund Hard Tech Without Losing Equity | Mollie Jahner
Hard tech is hard, and the money you raise to build it can quietly decide which customers you are allowed to serve. This week on GovCon Unscripted, Mollie…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Money Isn’t Where You Think: How to Read Federal Contract Data | Eileen Kent
Everyone reaches for the free federal databases. Almost nobody reads them correctly, and the wrong read sends a whole pursuit in the wrong direction.In this…
GovCon UnscriptedThe $50M Company That Almost Couldn’t Be Sold | Robert E. Jones
A $50 million company with 600 employees almost fell out of its own sale. Not because of revenue, but because every decision still ran through two people.Most…
GovCon UnscriptedDesign-Time vs. Runtime AI in Government: Why Most Agencies Get It Backwards | Doug Averill
Your AI pilot probably isn't failing because the model is weak. It's failing because you pointed it at the wrong end of the process.Doug Averill has spent half…
GovCon UnscriptedYou Don't Control Innovation. You Manage It. | Harlan Bennett & Rick Fernandez
Kodak's own engineers built the first digital camera, and its executives shelved it to protect film. The gap between having ideas and managing innovation is…
GovCon UnscriptedManufacturing Is Not a Dirty Word: Reframing the Jobs Rural Communities Need | Chrissy Marrucci
Say the word manufacturing and a lot of people picture something old and dirty. For rural communities, Chrissy Marucci argues, it is something else entirely…
GovCon UnscriptedSame Work, Different Words: Why Federal Contractors Misread State and Local | Jonathan Santana
A multimillion-dollar services contract, awarded in two weeks, with every I dotted and every T crossed. It was not federal, and that is exactly the point.This…
GovCon UnscriptedSubstance Over Glitter: What Makes the HUBZone Conference Worth the Trip | Eric Coffie
In federal contracting, most conferences give you a polished keynote you could have read in a press release. Eric Coffie goes to a lot of them, and he keeps…
GovCon UnscriptedThe 8(a) Program Isn't Being Killed. It's Being Starved. | Steven Koprince
The SBA hasn't let a single new company into the 8(a) Program in over 250 days. Federal contracts attorney and educator Steven Koprince explains what that…
GovCon UnscriptedYour Network Is Your Net Worth: Why Nobody Wins Federal Work Alone | Tim Hagerty
In federal contracting, your network is your net worth, and most small businesses are working with one far too small to win what they are capable of winning.On…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Last All-Human Workforce | Paul Serotkin
A federal workforce leader recently told a room of executives they would be the last generation to manage an all-human team. Paul Serotkin has spent 40 years…
GovCon UnscriptedShow Up or Stay Invisible: Why HUBZone Advocacy Can’t Wait in 2026 | Michelle Burnett
Most people file HUBZone under “niche set-aside.” It was designed as an economic development engine for the communities America left behind, and it is sitting…
GovCon UnscriptedThe CSO Before CSOs Were Everywhere | Adam C. Grant
Everyone has a CSO now. Almost nobody runs one the way the people who built the first ones did.Adam C. Grant was in the room when some of the first commercial…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Vehicle Is Not the Sale | Shene Commodore
Landing a spot on a GSA schedule feels like the win. It is really just permission to start competing, and the clock starts the day you sign.Most small…
GovCon UnscriptedSame Mission, Different Uniform: Why a 24-Year Sergeant Major Chose GovCon | Josh Brandt
Twenty-four years in, retired as a sergeant major out of JSOC, and the hardest part of leaving wasn't the job market. It was turning in the badge and trusting…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Resume Is Dead. So Are Job Boards. Here's What Federal Hiring Looks Like Now. | Richie Lampani
A cleared-defense billet drew 350 applications in 24 hours. Every resume looked perfect. Most of them weren't real.That's where the federal hiring market…
GovCon Unscripted$30 Million, One-to-One Match, Five Agencies: Inside the Strategic Breakthrough Award | Jerry Hollister
The SBIR reauthorization is done. Public Law 119-83, signed April 13, in force through September 30, 2031. The headlines focused on the $30 million Strategic…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Proposal Doesn't Win the Contract | David Stearman
The proposal doesn't win the contract. The offer wins. And the offer is built on strategy, and strategy is built on relationships. By the time the RFP shows up…
GovCon UnscriptedWhy Defense Sales Cycles Kill Startups: A Venture Insider's Diagnosis | Geoff Orazem
Your runway isn't measured in dollars; it's measured in pivots. And in defense, every pivot takes forever.Geoff Orazem has spent 15 years inside the defense…
GovCon UnscriptedThe Pilot Trap: Why Most Government Innovation Never Ships
Most government innovation never reaches the warfighter. Bryon Kroger has spent a decade explaining why and shipping software anyway.In this Success After…
- GovCon Unscripted
How to Actually Influence the NDAA (Without Being a Lobbyist)
If you're waiting until the RFP drops…you're already too late.The real influence happens before the budget is written.In this new episode of GovCon Unscripted…
GovCon UnscriptedFed vs. SLED: The Marketing Mistake Costing Contractors Millions
You can’t market to SLED the way you market to the Fed. And assuming you can is draining budgets fast.In this new episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts…
GovCon UnscriptedDefense Innovation at the Speed of Relevance with Graham Plaster
Defense innovation is no longer a slow, deliberate process, it’s a race against time.Discover how AI, venture capital, and emerging technologies are…
GovCon UnscriptedImagining the Fight: How Storytelling, Simulation, and Strategy Drive Real-World Outcomes
This Success After Service (SAS) episode features Daniel Gomez, Founder & CEO of First Person Xperience and 23-year Army veteran, returning to GovCon…
GovCon UnscriptedContract Ceilings, RFIs, and Other GovCon Myths That Cost You Wins
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Guy Timberlake, Co-Founder of The American Small Business Coalition, to talk about the…
GovCon UnscriptedSpeed vs Compliance: The Real Battle Inside Defense Acquisition
In this Success After Service (SAS) episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Matt MacGregor, Founder and COO of Creative Defense Network…
GovCon UnscriptedPolicy vs Execution: Why GovCon Can’t Afford Slow Acquisition Anymore
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Dr. David Bray to discuss why modern threats are moving faster than government acquisition…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Noise to Authority: How to Cut Through in a Crowded GovCon Market
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts interviews Eric Coffie, Founder of GovCon Giants, about authority-building in federal contracting, 8(a)…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Special Operations to Scenario Architect: Rebuilding Defense Thinking
What happens when a Special Operations veteran decides the future of national defense depends on creativity?In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode…
GovCon UnscriptedAI, Orals & Ownership: The New GovCon Playbook
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Rebecca Link, Chief Growth Officer at OneGlobe, to unpack what is changing and what is not…
GovCon UnscriptedDCAA Problems Aren’t About Fraud, They’re About Documentation
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Jeff Shapiro, Partner at CohnReznick, to unpack what DCAA audits actually focus on and…
GovCon UnscriptedWhy HUBZone Was Never About Contracting and Was About Community
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Michelle Burnett, President and Founder of Rooted in Resilience Wellness and newly…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Jet Engines to Brand Strategy: Translating Military Precision into GovCon Marketing
Join Chelsea Roberts on GovCon Unscripted for our new Success After Service special episode as she sits down with Brittinay Shaw, Marketing & Communications…
GovCon UnscriptedServing Without the Uniform: Rethinking Innovation from Air Force to MITRE to Founder
In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Dan Ward, Author and Co-founder of The SparkLit Group…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Prototype to Program of Record: What It Really Takes to Transition in GovCon
Turning innovation into operational capability is where most GovCon efforts stall. In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Sumner…
GovCon UnscriptedWhy Certifications Don’t Save You in GovCon and What Actually Does
In this Success After Service (SAS) Special Episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Roberts sits down with Michelle Gardner-Ince, retired Air Force Colonel…
GovCon UnscriptedServing Without the Uniform: Luke Shabro on Defense innovation and GovCon Reality
Welcome to the first GovCon Unscripted episode of the year, and a special Success After Service conversation. Chelsea Roberts sits down with Luke Shabro to…
GovCon UnscriptedStrategic Pricing Is Not An Afterthought with Marsha Lindquist
Strategic pricing is not a spreadsheet exercise; it is a leadership decision that affects risk, profitability, and execution long after award.In this episode…
GovCon UnscriptedServing Without the Uniform: Lawrence 'Larry' Pokroy on Transition and Growth
In this special 'Success After Service' episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea sits down with Lawrence "Larry" Pokroy, Vice President of Business…
GovCon UnscriptedGovSignals AI and the Future of Procurement with Derek Hoyt
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea sits down with Derek Hoyt, CEO of GovSignals AI, to explore how AI is transforming federal acquisition…
GovCon UnscriptedDavid Schiff on Strategy, Pivoting, and Surviving DoD Shifts
In the GovCon Unscripted Podcast's another special episode of 'Success After Service', Chelsea sits down with David Schiff, a Navy veteran and VP of Navy…
GovCon UnscriptedInside Federal Quality Control with Renee & Greg Glendenning
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea welcomes Renee and Greg Glendenning of Quality Control University, construction educators and QC experts with…
GovCon UnscriptedWinning in Washington with Gene Moran: Strategy, Timing and Process
In this 'Success After Service' special episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea sits down with Gene Moran, Founder of Capitol Integration, Navy veteran…
GovCon UnscriptedLeading with Integrity, Building Process, and Finding Grit in GovCon
In this episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea sits down with Katie Bigelow, Founder & CEO of Mettle Ops, to talk about ethics, resilience, and the hard truths…
GovCon UnscriptedFlipping the Script: An inside Look at GovCon Unscripted
In this special introductory episode, we'll be adding a twist to our usual episode setting. This time, Chelsea Roberts, CEO of Collaborative Compositions and…
GovCon UnscriptedMichael Allison Breaks the Bottle on Purpose, Pain, and Leadership
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Michael Allison, a Marine veteran, entrepreneur, and founder of Adversity Academy…
GovCon UnscriptedGovCon in Crisis or Opportunity? 2026 Spending, GSA Shifts & Contractor Strategy
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Kevin Plexico, Senior Vice President of Information Solutions at Deltek, to unpack…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Navy Service to Financial Freedom: Building Legacy Through Discipline & Purpose
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In our special 'Success After Service' episode, Chelsea sits down with Brian Pultro, Navy Reservist, financial advisor, and…
GovCon UnscriptedGovCon Grifters, FAR Overhauls & Surviving Pipeline Reality Checks
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this special cross-collaboration with Tan’s Two Cents, Chelsea sits down with Tan Wilson, President & CEO of Entellect…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom Army to Prime Contractor & Building Beyond VA Contracts
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Jena Jones, CEO and Founder of PGT Solutions and the Molly Jones Foundation.Jena…
GovCon UnscriptedDark Corner Solutions, Mission Cultivate & Discreet GovCon Networking
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Robert Fehlen, Managing Principal of Dark Corner Solutions.Robert shares how his…
GovCon UnscriptedGiles Walger: From Marine Corps to OODAx & Fast-Tracking Dual-Use Tech
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Giles Walger, CEO of OODAx, who transitioned from 20 years in the Marine Corps to…
GovCon UnscriptedFrom $7B in Contracts to Integrity, Ethics & GovCon Training
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Melinda Milheim, founder of Phoenix Canyon and Christopher Zebra…
GovCon UnscriptedRecruiting, AI & Culture Shifts in GovCon Talent Strategy
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Al Vega, CEO of Clerco, to discuss the realities of recruiting in government…
GovCon UnscriptedAI, LinkedIn Advantage & Authentic GovCon Networking
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea talks with Al Kushner, award-winning author of "The AI LinkedIn Advantage" about how AI is…
GovCon UnscriptedState, Local, Federal & AI Shifts in GovCon Proposals
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Natasha Velez, CEO of NVS Strategic Solutions, proposal expert, and capture…
GovCon UnscriptedLessons from Army Futures, Acquisition Hurdles & GovCon Reality
Welcome back to GovCon Unscripted! In this episode, Chelsea sits down with Art Trevethan, a serial entrepreneur, former Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Army…
GovCon UnscriptedAI in GovCon, Tool, Threat, or Total Hype?
AI isn’t here to replace you, but it might replace how you work.In this special episode of GovCon Unscripted, Chelsea Meggitt is joined by David Neal, known as…
GovCon UnscriptedBranding, Messaging & Marketing Maturity for GovCon Growth
Why do so many great GovCon companies struggle to stand out?In this episode, Chelsea is joined by Kris Brinker, Co-founder of Ocean 5 Strategies, to talk about…