Forking Off

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Mike Johnson is a Game Changer Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Mike Johnson would make an excellent first base coach for the Boston Red Sox. As an Interior Communications Electrician in the Navy, he honed the skills necessary to protect sensitive communications under stress. He also learned to foster growth and build high functioning teams—a skill he carried forward while mentoring veterans at the State Department and now as a civilian. He's no stranger to celebrities either. Mike worked with high ranking diplomats, and even met former Vice President Kamala Harris. Not to mention, he's got prior experience coaching first base with the Fairfax Little League.

As a Public Affairs Specialist with the Bureau of East Asian & Pacific Affairs, Mike managed crisis communications for high-visibility policy issues ranging everywhere from the Burmese military coup and North Korean missile launches to natural disasters and COVID. As a Program Analyst, he advised presidential appointment candidates on clearance and vetting processes and coordinated with the White Hose to manage all State Department presidential nomination packages.

In January 2025, Mike made the move to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations Office of Policy and Program Analysis and prepared to lean into his leadership background before learning that he was being terminated as part of a Reduction-in-Force despite having tenure, veterans preference, and a stellar performance record.

Since leaving government, Mike has continued to mentor veterans, while also advancing his own professional interests. Mike is exploring opportunities in project management and corporate government affairs, as well as educational opportunities in Artificial Intelligence Management. Whether you're managing a Major League Baseball team or a communications program at a Fortune 500 company, Mike would make a great addition to your team.

Cheer Mike on via LinkedIn.

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The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the United States, or any past or current employers.

Christina Mesesan is Policing the Police Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Growing up, Christina Mesesan always knew she wanted to help people; she just wasn’t sure what that would look like. In the years following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and driven by the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Report, Christina heeded the call to public service with the goal of integrating the FBI's national security workforce. During Christina's first assignment as an Intelligence Analyst at the FBI's New York Field Office, Christina leveraged her Masters degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall to advance counterintelligence investigations, while also using her Romanian language skills to support the FBI’s organized crime investigations.

Operation Ghost Stories: In June 2010, Christina’s intelligence work—along with the work of many special agents, intelligence analysts, linguists and professional staff—resulted in the disruption and arrest of ten Russian sleeper agents in the United States. Much to Christina’s dismay, she learned that one of her classmates from Seton Hall had been part of the spy ring and named publicly.

Throughout her years with the FBI, Christina saw the intelligence cadre slowly gain a seat at the table with decision-makers, just as the 9/11 Commission had hoped. In the early years of 45's first administration, the FBI’s Intelligence Program gradually started losing that seat. Although the FBI seemed to consider allowing intelligence personnel more growth and promotion opportunities, executives kept adding more requirements and more check boxes, while the favoritism and blue flaming of the “good old boy network" of special agents bled over to promotion decisions in the intelligence program.

After bearing witness to former FBI Director Comey's unceremonious firing during his visit to the Los Angeles Field Office in 2017, Christina was disheartened and losing steam. In 2021, she left her work at the FBI for the County of Los Angeles. Since 2023, Christina has served as a Police Special Investigator in the Office of the Inspector General for the Los Angeles Police Department with hopes of one day becoming an Inspector General herself.

Now watching the mayhem of 47's second administration as an outsider, Christina reflects on early lessons learned from her mentor at the FBI, retired Executive Assistant Director Arlene Gaylord. Christina continues to follow Arlene’s advice by "putting on lipstick" and "serving drinks."

For more information about this episode, ⁠visit our website⁠.

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Patty Hartman is Speaking Up Against Injustice Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Patty Hartman began her public service career as a member of the fourth estate 37 years ago as a news radio reporter in Wilmington, Delaware. In July 2007, after nearly twenty years in radio and TV journalism, Patty was drawn to federal service by her love of the law. She spent the next 18 years serving in various public affairs roles with the Department of Justice before being fired by Attorney General Pam Bondi on July 7, 2025.

Between 2019 and 2021, Patty worked as a public affairs specialist at the FBI Newark Field Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Since late 2022, Patty oversaw media engagement with the US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, which included the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, and press releases related to the 1,500 domestic terrorists who attacked the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

Within days of the beginning of the second Trump Administration, Patty's duties changed drastically, and she spent most of the next four months feeling alienated by her leadership. By May, Patty had observed a morale shift following the obliteration of the separation between the White House and DOJ, but a change in leadership at the USAO gave her hope that her situation would improve.

Hours after a July meeting with her new Director of External Affairs who had recently joined the office from Fox News, Patty was abruptly terminated and left scrambling to collect her personal effects before her last long train ride home.

Now, Patty is calling on former federal employees to run for public office and restore faith in the legislative branch's constitutionally-mandated checks and balances of the executive. Patty is still seeking opportunities to continue her career of service, volunteering with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and getting certified along with her beloved pup to do therapy visits for others in need.

Patty remains a beloved part of the extended FBI and DOJ family, and we're outraged and devastated by the administration's decision to politicize her role as a dedicated public servant. The January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol remains the single largest attack against the US Capitol since the British siege of Washington, DC during the War of 1812. Patty's role sharing information with the public about DOJ's effort to defend democracy should be admired not punished.

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Watch Patty's interview with CBS News about her unlawful firing.

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Learn more about Patty from her hometown paper, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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Read about former feds running for public office on the Federal News Network.

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For more information about this episode, visit our website.

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Bryan Janick Swings for the Fences Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

Former Pentagon Police Officer Bryan Janick is about to be the star player in a whole new ball game as he opens Goatz Sportz Cardz in Herndon, Virginia.

Bryan began his career in public service by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. During his four year enlistment, Bryan completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a radio operator with 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. After his enlistment, Bryan returned to Michigan, finished his college degree, then made his way to Washington, DC, with a job offer from the Pentagon Police.

Bryan enjoyed his 16 years in public service, but during the pandemic, Bryan rekindled his love for collecting baseball cards. Bryan spent many socially distanced evenings opening card packs with his neighbors and building a community of baseball card and Pokemon card fans.

After attending multiple trade shows, Bryan realized he and his neighbors had more than enough cards to set up their own table and booth. Bryan and his neighbors started setting up at these shows. Bryan also found success selling cards and collectibles online through his eBay storefront.

In January 2025, Bryan decided to take a deferred retirement from federal service to pursue his passion by opening a brick and mortar cards and collectibles store in Northern Virginia.

On Saturday, November 1, 2025, Goatz Sportz Cardz will host its Grand Opening!

If you are in DC Metro area, go check it out at 208 Elden St., #102, Herndon, Virginia.

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Follow Goatz Sportz Cards on Facebook, Instagram, or check them out on eBay.

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Read about Bryan's ultimate trade with Bobby Witt, Jr. in Topps Ripped.

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Learn more about the Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) process and how collectible grading works.

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Catch 'em all and check their stats in the Pokémon Trading Card Game database.

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Learn more about Becket Collectibles, another top grading company and PSA alternative.

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Learn more about James Spence Authentication, an autograph authentication service.

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Watch for Goatz Sportz Cardz events at Carpool Herndon.

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Dr. Ana Mitchell is Starting a Cultural Revolution Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

From January until April of 2025, Dr. Ana Mitchell lived in fight or flight mode, not knowing each day if she would be part of the layoffs or Reduction-in-Force (RIF) actions of the new administration. On April 1, 2025, Ana lost her dream job as a Project Officer/Public Health Advisor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Chronic Disease Center. In the midst of uncertainty and confusion, Ana turned her despair into action and rebranded herself as "Ana Fired Fed."

After her RIF notice, Ana spent a month recentering and acknowledging her anxiety and grief. At the urging of her friends, Ana shared her story of resilience through social media and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Ana quickly gained a following of other former federal employees looking for ways to continue making a difference in their communities.

Now, Ana is on a mission to make civic engagement a part of people's everyday life. Ana is using social media to start a cultural revolution, making civic action accessible, authentic, and sustainable. Ana is determined to make civic engagement a lifestyle by helping people become civically fit and strengthening democracy.

Ana is taking to the internet to guide people on their civic fitness journeys whether they are beginner, intermediate, or advanced. One easy way to start is by practicing digital resistance. Digital resistance can be as simple as sharing information that is important to you on social media or commenting on posts for community reach.

Follow Ana on Instagram and TikTok to learn how taking consistent, small actions over time can make big impacts on your community.

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After April Fools’ Day purge, U.S. health agencies spiral into chaos

Science, Vol 388, Issue 6743

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Read the notice terminating the Presidential Management Fellows Program

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Learn more about the ADKAR model

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Find ways to get civically engaged with the 5 Calls app

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Contact your elected officials all at once with Resistbot

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Sign the petition to Protect Public Health Employees from Continued Threats, Harassment, and Targeting

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Learn more about Heal the Bay

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Learn more about the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica

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Dr. John Cordle Charts a New Course Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

As a retired Navy Captain, Dr. John Cordle knew the impact of fatigue management on force readiness. Following his retirement, Dr. Cordle completed his Doctorate of Engineering in Human Systems Engineering and rededicated himself to serving the Navy as a Human Factors Engineer. As a civilian employee, Dr. Cordle set out to identify signs of stress and fatigue and built systems to prevent future collisions at sea. In May 2025, Dr. Cordle left government service after finding that his moral compass no longer aligned with that of the current administration.

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To learn more about Dr. Cordle's experience and his former job, check out his recent CIMSEC article.

https://cimsec.org/dont-forget-the-lessons-of-the-2017-comprehensive-review/

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Read Dr. Cordle's op-ed in the Navy Times about why he chose to retire from government service.

https://www.navytimes.com/opinion/2025/06/18/why-i-left-government-service-my-moral-compass-no-longer-aligned/

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If you enjoy Dr. Cordle's writing, consider subscribing to his Substack.

https://substack.com/@johncordle573317

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Connect with Dr. Cordle on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cordlejp

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"Going Circadian: The United States Navy's Slow Road to Change" by Dr. John Cordle

https://www.amazon.com/Going-Circadian-United-States-Change/dp/B08924C38G

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"Oscar P. Dog: A Deployment Story and Guidebook for Military Kids 6-12" by Dr. John Cordle

https://www.amazon.com/Oscar-P-Dog-Deployment-Guidebook/dp/B088BGLGDS

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"Black Officer, White Navy: A Memoir" by Keith Green

https://www.kentuckypress.com/9781985900295/black-officer-white-navy/

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Watch out for John's next book coming out later this year, titled "Letters to Myself" from StoneTower Press

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If you're enjoying Forking Off with us, please help us reach our goal of improving our hosting infrastructure through a small contribution on Ko-fi!

https://ko-fi.com/forkingoff/goal

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The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals providing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the FBI, the DOJ, the US Navy, the United States, or any past or current employers.

Jordan Mathews Says the True Thing Out Loud Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

Jill and Philip sit down with former DOJ employee, Jordan Mathews, to hear why she decided to leave her dream job. In this episode, Jordan shares her journey from serving with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic to the Rotary Peace Fellowship in Uppsala, Sweden. As a Presidential Management Fellow, Jordan found her dream job working at the U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service, America’s Peacemaker. Now, Jordan is saying the true thing out loud and building community on The Fed Up.

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Find Jordan on LinkedIn, on Substack at The Fed Up, or contact her at thefedupcommunity[at]gmail[dot]com.

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“An Inside Job: Writing Your (True)Story and Why That Matters” by Jordan Mathews on October 8th

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Peace Corps

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Rotary Peace Fellowships

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Presidential Management FellowsProgram: “Termination of the PMF Program”Posted on February 19, 2025.

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we are wellfed

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Justice Connection

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Reuters, “New Justice Department Policy Cracks Down on Social Media Posts”, April 15, 2025 by Sarah N. Lynch.

"The new policy represents another unwarranted attack on DOJ employees - one that stifles their free speech in their private lives and creates new ways for the administration to oust career public servants who don't toe the party line," said Young.

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How the Fork Did We Get Here? Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to Forking Off! We're Jill & Philip Fields. We took the government's deferred resignation because our morals and our ethics were being pushed to the limit by changes in the new administration. We created this podcast to share our story and the stories of other former feds who said no to “Just following orders." We will explore the very personal experience of leaving federal service—whether by choice, or by force. Every departure has a story, and we’re here to share them.

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"Fork in the Road" was the title and subject line of a memo sent on January 28, 2025, by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to all federal employees.

OPM, Original Email to Employees, dated January 28, 2025

https://www.opm.gov/about-us/fork/original-email-to-employees/

OPM, Fork in the Road

https://www.opm.gov/about-us/fork/

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Washington Post article cited stating: about 6.7% of the federal civilian workforce resigned under the program, with more than 154,000 drawing a full salary for more than 6 months.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/07/31/federal-workers-doge-buyout-paid/

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Washington Post article detailing the Trump administration's desire to put federal employees in trauma subsequent mental health impacts of federal employees.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2025/05/20/federal-workers-trump-mental-health/

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ProPublica clip of Russell Vought at the Center for Renewing America referring to federal employees and stating "We want to put them in trauma."

https://youtu.be/oBH9TmeJN_M

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NPR's Podcast Start Up Guide by Glen Weldon

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635199/nprs-podcast-start-up-guide-by-glen-weldon/

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Trailer: Assault on LA Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

2025 has seen unprecedented change in the United States. This is Forking Off. Join us on this journey beginning October 1st as former feds share their stories of why they left government service. Learn more at forkingoff.com.

Trailer: Disdain Sep 26, 2025

Show notes

2025 has seen unprecedented change in the United States. This is Forking Off. Join us on this journey beginning October 1st as former feds share their stories of why they left government service.

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