Google used to be the answer. Now it’s… TikTok?

In this episode of The GovCon Show, we take on the rise of social search—and why people are trusting 30-second videos over actual research. What happens when confidence replaces competence, and contractors start learning compliance from influencers instead of sources?

Bad decisions. Weak files. And a procurement trail built on shortcuts, vibes, and confidently wrong hot takes.

We’re talking about the death of real research, the rise of confidently wrong contractors, and why “I saw it on TikTok” is not a compliance strategy.

If you’ve ever heard “I saw it online…” and immediately felt your soul leave your body—this episode is for you.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

Everyone signs them when things feel optimistic.

Everyone rereads them when things fall apart.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why most teaming agreements are written for the proposal… not reality

• The clauses that matter when workshare, pricing, and awards get complicated

• Where enforceability actually becomes an issue

• And how bad assumptions get locked in early

Think of it like a prenup.

It doesn’t matter when things are going well.

It matters when they’re not.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

“Let’s loop Contracts in.”

Translation:

This is about to get interesting.

Contracts is often brought in too late — and immediately sees the problems.

In this episode:

• Why Contracts gets pulled in late

• What they identify instantly

• Risk vs momentum conflict

• Real-world contracting breakdowns

If you’ve ever been “looped in”… you know.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

Everyone signs NDAs.

Almost no one reads them.

Everyone assumes they’ll hold up in court.

NDAs are everywhere in government contracting — but most are poorly written, misunderstood, or unenforceable.

In this episode:

• What NDAs actually do
• Common clause mistakes
• Overly broad vs enforceable agreements
• Real-world NDA failures

If you rely on NDAs… you need to hear this.

AND If your NDA strategy is “we have one”…
You’re already behind.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

Public laws drive government contracting — but most people don’t understand them.

In this episode:

• Law vs regulation

• Key public laws in procurement

• Real-world application

• Why this matters for compliance

If you use the FAR… this affects you.

Because if you don’t know where the rule came from…

You don’t really understand what it’s asking you to do.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

The Sacred Ceremony of the kickoff meeting.

A beautiful ritual where everyone nods…

And no one says what they’re actually thinking.

In this episode, we take a hard look at what kickoff meetings are supposed to be—and what they usually turn into:

• The gap between optimism and execution reality

• The risks nobody wants to bring up in the room

• How misalignment gets baked in on Day One

• And what contracting professionals are really listening for during the meeting

Because kickoff meetings don’t create clarity.

They expose whether clarity already exists.

If you’ve sat through one of these sacred ceremonies… you’ll recognize it immediately.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

Sole Source Justifications.

Where “only one vendor can do this” meets… uncomfortable silence.

In this episode, we unpack the art, and abuse, of SSJs:

• The “magic words” people think make a justification valid

• The difference between real justification and creative writing

• Why reviewers give you that look when they read certain phrases

• And how weak logic shows up instantly to experienced eyes

If your SSJ relies on phrases like “unique capabilities” with no backup…

We need to talk.

Because saying it doesn’t make it true.

And auditors can smell that from a mile away.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com

Let’s be honest.

Government contracting has… moments. And several of them are truly Bull$&!*.

In this episode, we count down the Top 10:

“The Meeting After the Meeting"

"Last-Minute Fire Drill”

“Contracts Will Catch It”

“The “Quick Agreement” Myth”

And several others you’ve definitely heard (and probably survived)

Each one gets unpacked with real-world context, what it actually means, and why it should immediately trigger your internal alarm.

Because once you know what these moments sound like… You can’t unhear them.

Check out more resources and courses on government contracting at

www.govconshow.com

www.govconadvisorygroup.com

www.contractsclassroom.com