FedUpward Podcast - Tips for Federal Government Employees
The FedUpward Podcast gives federal employees and friends of feds strategies and tips for navigating everyday problems. This is a place for federal employees to network, share ideas and get better. Don't get fed up. Get FedUpward!
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241. Leading Like a Wingman: Lessons in Leadership, Trust, and Teamwork in Government
<p >What does it mean to be a wingman, and how can that mindset help federal employees navigate uncertainty, build stronger teams, and become better leaders?</p> <p >In this episode of FedUpward, I welcome my longtime friend and colleague, Dr. Eric Jorgensen, a retired Air Force colonel, former federal civilian employee, executive coach, and author of Wingman Life: Living and Leading Like a Fighter Pilot.</p> <p >Drawing on his decades of military and civilian service, Eric shares leadership lessons from the cockpit and the Pentagon, including the importance of trust, accountability, continuous learning, and simply showing up for...
240. Finding Strength in Community: SisterFeds with Monique Fortenberry
<p >What happens when your federal career takes an unexpected turn? For Monique Fortenberry, the answer began with community.</p> <p >In this episode of FedUpward, we welcome Monique Fortenberry to the show, former federal senior executive and founder of SisterFeds, a new online community for Black women across the federal ecosystem.</p> <p >After her federal position was abolished, Monique reached out to fellow public servants navigating similar challenges. What began as an informal Zoom gathering grew into SisterFeds, a space dedicated to connection, belonging, restoration, and moving forward together.</p> <p >Monique discusses navigating federal workforce changes, finding...
239. Decorative Gourd Season = Open Season - Pick the Right FEHB Plan
<p >Federal employees are facing another year of rising healthcare costs, with FEHB premiums increasing an average of 10.9% in 2027. But that's only part of the story.</p> <p >In this episode we welcome back Kevin Moss of Consumers' Checkbook to break down the biggest changes coming to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and what federal employees and retirees need to know before Open Season.</p> <p >From significant premium increases and disappearing plans to new GLP-1 coverage requirements, Kevin explains why sticking with your current health plan could cost you more than you think.</p> <p >In this...
238. Beyond FEGLI: Life Insurance Options for Federal Employees
<p >When was the last time you reviewed your life insurance coverage?</p> <p >In this episode of the FedUpward Podcast, Love welcomes back Tony Zerante, Chief Strategy Officer at WAEPA, to talk about why federal employees should regularly reevaluate their coverage—especially as their families, careers, incomes, and financial responsibilities change.</p> <p >Tony breaks down how WAEPA coverage differs from FEGLI and shares details about newly expanded coverage options, including up to $2 million in term life insurance for eligible members under age 60 and up to $800,000 for eligible spouses.</p> <p >They also explore some of the benefits federal em...
237. Federal Firing: Can It Be Fast and Fair?
<p >What does it actually take to remove a federal employee for serious performance or conduct issues—and can the process be improved without sacrificing due process?</p> <p >We welcome Maureen Klovers of We the Doers back to the FedUpward Podcast to discuss the organization's new report, "Fast but Fair Federal Firing," which examines the experiences of federal managers who have navigated the removal process firsthand.</p> <p >Their research found that removing an employee took an average of 21 months in the cases studied, consuming hundreds of hours of supervisors' time before accounting for the work of HR, legal te...
236. How to Translate Your Federal Experience Into Your Next Career - FedsForward
<p >Federal service builds a unique set of skills—but figuring out how those skills translate to your next opportunity isn't always easy.</p> <p >Karen Lee, founder of FedsForward, joins the podcast to discuss how federal employees can navigate career transitions without leaving their public service identity behind.</p> <p >Karen shares how FedsForward is helping current and former federal employees better understand their value, identify career pathways across government, industry, nonprofits, academia, and beyond, and connect their experience to real opportunities. She also gives listeners a preview of the next generation of the organization's free career technology platform, co...
235. The Future of Federal Service: Resilience, Identity & the Workforce in Transition
<p >The federal workforce has changed dramatically over the past two years—but what do those changes mean for the people behind the mission?</p> <p >In this special episode, I join WUSA9's Larry Miller to discuss the human side of today's federal workforce. From navigating career disruptions and identity shifts to finding new purpose after public service, we discuss what I've learned through six years of interviewing federal employees and the organizations supporting them. We also explore the need for civil service modernization, the challenges facing recruitment, and why community matters now more than ever.</p> <p >Whether yo...
234. Proposed OPM Rule Could Rewrite Federal Employee Discipline: What Every Fed Needs to Know
<p >A proposed rule from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) could significantly reshape how federal agencies handle employee performance, discipline, and removals. But what do these changes actually mean for federal employees and supervisors? You need to know so you can comment officially via the Federal Register by August 3, 2026.</p> <p >Former MSPB executive Raymond Limon joins the FedUpward podcast to break down the proposed rule and explain why it has sparked concern across the federal workforce. They discuss the potential elimination of the long-standing Douglas Factors, the legal framework that has...
Federal Leadership Teaching Legend Bob Tobias Reflects on Leadership, Labor, and Life After Service
<p>For decades, Bob Tobias has helped shape the federal workforce—from fighting landmark legal battles on behalf of federal employees to founding the renowned Key Executive Leadership Program at American University. In this episode of FedUpward, Bob reflects on his remarkable career, the leadership principles that continue to influence thousands of federal managers, and why trust, vulnerability, and relationships are the foundation of effective leadership.</p> <p> Bob also shares the deeply personal story behind his transition to writing poetry after retirement, discussing how childhood experiences, leadership, and self-reflection inspired his new collection, "What Lives in Me." Whether you're an...
232. National Association of Future Federal Executives - Breaking Into the SES with Kelly Foster
<h3 >What does it take to reach the Senior Executive Service (SES) in today's federal workforce?</h3> <h3 >In this episode of the FedUpward Podcast, I sit down with Kelly Foster, Director of Mentoring for the National Association of Future Federal Executives (NAFFE), to discuss the resources, mentorship, and leadership development opportunities available to aspiring federal executives. Kelly shares her remarkable journey from starting as a GS-1 student employee to serving nearly 39 years in federal government before transitioning into entrepreneurship and executive mentoring.</h3> <h3 >The conversation explores how NAFFE helps federal employees prepare for SES careers through mentoring, ECQ...
