Best Scorecontracts Podcasts (2025)

1
Federal Contract REJECTION: The #1 Mistake That Gets You Deleted Instantly! 9:56

Play Pause

18h ago9:56

9:56

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I break down how billions in government contracts go unclaimed every year—and how to make sure your business isn’t part of that statistic. We walk through the pitch deck process, TRL levels, and the exact details you need to win over DoD evaluators. You’ll also learn why following formatting instructions (yes, d…

1
Stop Ignoring This Red Flag in Government Contracting Before It’s TOO LATE! 11:43

1d ago11:43

11:43

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I dive into what separates struggling government contractors from the ones winning consistently—it’s not luck, it’s relationships. We uncover how transparency, community, and the right financial partners can make or break your business. I share why visibility matters (Encore’s team hit 24 conferences nationwide)…

1
296: $260B Navy, 100,000 Jobs: The Government Contract Gold Rush (Before It’s Gone) with Erik Raven 1:02:48

3d ago1:02:48

1:02:48

In this Govcon Giants episode, I sat down with Eric Raven, former Under Secretary of the Navy (2022–2024) and longtime defense budget insider, to uncover how a $260B department with nearly 900,000 people actually buys from tens of thousands of small businesses—and where the next wave of Government contracting dollars is headed. From small-business …

1
Government Contracting EDGE: Why PMP, Lean & Six Sigma Separate Winners From Losers 7:45

4d ago7:45

7:45

By Eric Coffie

1
The UGLY Truth: Why Your GovCon Loan Costs DOUBLE the Rate You Signed For 11:27

5d ago11:27

11:27

On this Daily Windup, Craig Cohen returns to break down one of the biggest landmines in government contracting finance: the “up to” trap. That line on your term sheet might sound generous, but it’s designed to keep you jumping through hoops while banks nickel-and-dime you with endless hidden fees. Eric shares his airline analogy that makes the whol…

1
Why Your Government Contract May Be TERMINATED Before It Starts 9:15

8d ago9:15

9:15

On today’s episode of The Daily Windup, we dive into the costly mistakes small businesses make when jumping into government contracting too soon. Our guest breaks down why rushing to bid without preparation backfires, the importance of aligning opportunities with your long-term strategy, and how proper market analysis and patience can make or break…

1
Government Contract WARNING: Banks Deny You Even When You Win $20M! 10:39

9d ago10:39

10:39

In today’s Daily Windup, I sit back down with Craig Cohen, VP of Business Development at Encore Funding, to uncover the hidden ways banks quietly deny small businesses—even when you’re holding multi-million-dollar government contracts. From rejecting companies for being “too liquid” to charging an “unused line” fee when you don’t even borrow, Craig…

1
295: Government Contracting WARNING: Old Systems, New Wars, ZERO Opportunities? 1:02:57

10d ago1:02:57

1:02:57

On today’s episode of the Govcon Giants Podcast, I sit down with Andrew Hunter, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, to unpack the realities of how the government buys—and where opportunities exist for contractors. With nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, years in the think tank space, and direct l…

1
14-Hour Days, 17 Years in GovCon—What Small Businesses STILL Get Wrong 9:32

11d ago9:32

9:32

On today’s Daily Windup, I’m addressing one of the most overlooked deal-killers in government contracting: poor follow-up and lack of preparation. My guest, with 17 years in supplier diversity and small business programs, shares behind-the-scenes insights from grueling conference days to procurement readiness training at DIA. Together, we highlight…

1
From $30M to $40M: Government Contracting Secrets Revealed! 9:11

12d ago9:11

9:11

On today’s Daily Windup, I dive into how certifications can be the catalyst for massive growth in government contracting. From real-world success stories like Sarah scaling her 8A business to $30M, Marcus building his SDVOSB to $25M, and Lisa cracking $40M through combined certifications, this episode reveals why credentials aren’t just paper—they’…

1
Stop Saying This or Lose Your Shot at Government Contracts 8:21

15d ago8:21

8:21

On today’s Daily Windup, I’m revealing what it truly takes for small businesses to break into the supply chain of a major defense contractor like BAE Systems. With 17 years of insider experience, my guest explains why market research, industry days, and knowing the forecast are non-negotiable when 99% of contracts tie back to the DoD. We cut throug…

1
Government Contract Disaster: $128B Program Almost Failed! 13:20

16d ago13:20

13:20

On today’s Daily Windup, I dive into the Community Care Network (CCN) and how it transformed the way the VA delivers care to veterans nationwide. My guest Lori Smith shares her journey from stepping in to support Region 4—spanning 14 Western states—to managing a staggering $128 billion healthcare contract portfolio that covers everything from IVF a…

1
294: New $10B FEMA Pipeline: Government Contracting Gold Rush (Move NOW) with Rachael Lee 42:31

17d ago42:31

42:31

On today’s episode, I sit down with Rachael Lee—my pick for the “Queen of FEMA”—to pull back the curtain on how small businesses can truly break into FEMA contracting. From her 8 years in the Army and roles with KBR to helping clients land multi-billion-dollar contracts, Rachael brings unmatched clarity on what it really takes to succeed. We cover …

1
The Dangerous Mistake Costing You $800,000 in Government Contracting! 9:29

18d ago9:29

9:29

In today’s episode of The Daily Windup, I break down how the consultant approach in government contracting can put $50,000 to $250,000 in your pocket per deal—without waiting five to seven years to “grow organically.” Instead of grinding it out on small projects, I show you how to partner with established companies that already have bonding, teams,…

1
How a $25,000 SBA Loan Nearly Crushed This Business Before It Took Off! 7:38

19d ago7:38

7:38

On today’s episode of The Daily Windup, I sit down with an entrepreneur who launched a blue-collar oil company in Boston with nothing more than grit, sacrifice, and a risky SBA loan. Starting with just $7,000 in cash and a $25,000 SBA loan, he went all-in during the worst possible timing—the 2007 financial downturn—when everyone thought he was craz…

1
Are IDIQ Loopholes Destroying Small Business Opportunities? 8:15

22d ago8:15

8:15

On today’s Daily Windup, I hammer home one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—concepts in government contracting: the Rule of Two. If there’s a reasonable expectation that at least two small businesses can bid at fair market prices, agencies are required to set contracts aside. Yet too often, agencies sidestep this by funneling work into I…

1
Contract Actions Down, Awards Bigger—Are Micro Firms Getting Squeezed Out? 9:42

23d ago9:42

9:42

Today on the Daily Windup, I get real about why so many one-to-three-person shops struggle to break into government contracting. Too many “rice bowl” programs run in silos, too many events promise the world and deliver confusion, and folks get pressured to “share it with your network” before anyone vets the content. I only put my name on things tha…

1
293: A Shocking $1.7B in Government Contracting Money at Sandia (67% to Small Biz!) with Zach Mikelson 25:01

24d ago25:01

25:01

On today’s episode of the Govcon Giants Podcast, I sit down with Zach Michelson, Small Business Program Manager at Sandia National Laboratories. Sandia is more than just a research and development hub — it’s a $5.2 billion operation that spent nearly $1.7 billion in subcontracts last year. Even more shocking, over $1 billion went directly to small …

1
Stop Ignoring Business Development—It’s Why Small Firms Fail 10:33

25d ago10:33

10:33

On today’s Daily Windup, I break down the reality behind recent reports on the federal contracting market. While confidence is up thanks to the $2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the truth is small businesses are struggling more than ever. We’re seeing 30% fewer small business entrants into the federal marketplace and 40% fewer fir…

1
The Hidden Dangers of Overseas Contracts Nobody Warns You About 9:51

26d ago9:51

9:51

On today’s Daily Windup, I sit down with Corliss Uduema—who proudly calls herself the “365 24/7 Veteran Supporter”—to hear her incredible journey from managing government contracts overseas in Italy and Japan to launching her own business back home. Corliss shares what it was like to operate with limited resources abroad, why being mission-focused …

1
Are You Missing Out on $Millions in AI & Blockchain Contracts? 8:28

29d ago8:28

8:28

On today’s Daily Windup, I sit down with the founder of Triforce, a company that has been delivering IT solutions for nearly 22 years. What started as an idea with friends turned into a solo journey fueled by excellence, integrity, and hard work. Triforce has grown into a powerhouse in software development, IT staffing, cybersecurity, and systems i…

1
Small Business in Name Only: How the Feds Keep You Out of Big Contracts! 9:23

30d ago9:23

9:23

On today’s Daily Windup, I’m breaking down one of the biggest misconceptions in government contracting—what it really means to be considered a “small business.” You might think $20 million in annual revenue makes you a big player, but under federal rules, you’re still classified as small. In fact, construction companies don’t lose that “small busin…

1
292: How a $100/Week Janitorial Gig Led to a $20M Government Contract with Kitson Walker 36:38

1M ago36:38

36:38

I brought on a Service-Disabled Veteran who went from a $250 local gig and an $8,000/year federal janitorial contract (paying $100/week to a tech and buying supplies out of pocket) to landing a $20,000,000 federal award that instantly added 50+ new hires and pushed his team to 90 employees. We break down why early past performance matters more than…

1
Why We Turn Away 50 Clients: Government Contract Quality Over Chaos 6:59

1M ago6:59

6:59

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I get real about what keeps Government contracting relationships for the long haul: truth first, fix fast, and operate with excellence. I share why I tell clients “bad news doesn’t get better with time,” how a “six-month” award turned into 10 years of renewals through consistent delivery, and why we intentionall…

1
$50,000,000 in Year One?! The Government Contract JV Shortcut 7:16

1M ago7:16

7:16

In this episode of The Daily Windup, I take you to the whiteboard and show why the “slow, organic staircase” rarely works in Government contracting—especially if you’re doing this part-time. 10,000 hours at 40 hrs/week is ~5 years; at 20 hrs/week it’s ~10 years, and real businesses zig-zag with downturns. Then I reveal the faster path: joint ventur…