Why Executive Trust Makes or Breaks a CISO | Guest: Zachary Lewis
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
Release Date: 01/22/2026
AI Is Failing Companies and CISOs Need to Speak Up
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
Everyone is racing to adopt AI, but almost nobody is talking honestly about the damage it can cause. In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down why companies do not need a Chief AI Officer and why AI belongs under cybersecurity leadership. From hallucinated answers and broken automation to the dangerous hype surrounding agentic AI, Dr. Cole explains why businesses are moving too fast and trusting systems that are not ready for critical decision making. Dr. Cole shares why cybersecurity is now at the center of the AI conversation and why CISOs must take ownership...
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Protecting People in a World No One Is Coming to Save | Guest: Eva Galperin
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Eva Galperin to confront one of the most uncomfortable truths in cybersecurity today: that no one is coming to save us. This conversation goes far beyond firewalls and frameworks and dives straight into the human impact of technology, exposing how innovation without intention is quietly putting lives at risk. Eva shares raw insight from nearly two decades of protecting vulnerable populations, from journalists and activists to survivors of abuse, revealing how the real battle in cybersecurity is not just technical but...
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The AI Hacking Tool So Dangerous They Won't Release It (But You Don't Need to Panic)
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
Anthropic just dropped a bombshell, claiming their new AI hacking tool is so powerful it could take down companies and critical infrastructure. But Dr. Eric Cole isn't buying the hype, and in this episode he breaks down exactly why. The truth? This isn't magic. It's Cybersecurity 101 being automated. If attackers can use this tool against you, it's because the basics have been neglected, not because some AI cracked an unbreakable system. Eric explains how critical infrastructure like power grids and water systems became vulnerable the moment convenience replaced common sense, and what air gaps...
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Cyber War Has Already Started… And Your Company Is Next
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
The war isn’t coming. It’s already here. In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down the reality no one is talking about. While the world focuses on bombs and military power, a far more dangerous battlefield is unfolding quietly in the background: cyber warfare. Nation-state attackers are no longer testing their capabilities. They are actively penetrating systems, targeting infrastructure, and exploiting the weakest points in organizations every single day. And the scariest part? Most companies have no idea how exposed they really are. This episode dives into what it truly...
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Cybersecurity Is About Risk Not Tech | Guest: Carlos Lobato
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with guest Carlos Lobato to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in cybersecurity today: it is not about technology, it is about risk. Carlos shares his journey from accounting and auditing into cybersecurity and explains how understanding business, finance, and communication gives professionals a major edge. Together, they reveal why many organizations remain exposed despite having security tools in place and how failing to communicate risk properly is often the real problem. They also dive into real-world challenges like lack...
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Building a Modern CISO Career in Cybersecurity | Guest: Jesse Scott
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
What does it really take to build a successful cybersecurity career in today’s fast-changing world? In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Jesse Scott, a cybersecurity leader whose career spans NATO, Ernst & Young, CrowdStrike, Barclays, Amazon, Databricks, and startup leadership. Together, they break down what aspiring CISOs need to know about navigating big companies, fast-moving startups, and even launching a company of your own. Jesse shares lessons from working across seven countries, leading in both enterprise and startup environments, and staying ahead in...
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AI, Threat Hunters, and the New CISO Playbook | Mary Kotch on the Future of Cybersecurity
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
What does it really take to lead in cybersecurity today? In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with longtime cybersecurity executive and educator Mary Kotch for a sharp, honest conversation about the future of the industry. From breaking into the field to building a career that lasts, Mary shares why continuous learning, technical depth, and real-world experience matter more than ever. Together, they unpack the growing role of AI in both cyber defense and cyber attacks, why ethical hacking may be one of the most valuable skills professionals can develop, and what aspiring...
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How CISOs Become the Trusted Authority in the Boardroom
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
What separates an average CISO from a world-class cybersecurity leader? In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why the most influential security leaders don’t just manage technology—they become the trusted authority executives rely on to make critical business decisions. Dr. Cole shares how CISOs can gain influence with the board, communicate cyber risk in business terms, and guide organizations through major decisions around AI, data security, and emerging cyber threats. If you want executives to listen to cybersecurity—not ignore it—this episode shows you how.
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How CISOs Should Prepare for AI and Cloud Risks in 2026 | Matt Lea
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with cloud and AI expert Matt Lea to unpack the real risks and opportunities shaping cybersecurity today. They dive into AWS outages, cloud resiliency strategies, and how organizations should think about redundancy instead of blindly trusting a single provider. The conversation explores how CISOs can balance cost versus risk when designing cloud architectures and why insider issues, burnout, and knowledge silos often pose bigger threats than external attackers. Matt shares practical insights on AWS AI tools like Bedrock and SageMaker,...
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Why CISOs Must Lead the AI Conversation Before It’s Too Late
Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
As 2026 begins, security leaders are facing growing uncertainty across technology, economics, and global risk. In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole challenges the fear-driven narrative around artificial intelligence and explains why CISOs must take the lead in guiding AI adoption, not reacting to it. Dr. Cole breaks down why AI is not here to replace people, but to eliminate repetitive, low-value work so humans can focus on creativity, judgment, and leadership. He explains the danger of allowing AI to make decisions without emotional and human context, and why unmanaged AI tools...
info_outlineRansomware isn’t a technical problem—it’s a leadership test.
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole welcomes back bestselling author and cybersecurity leader Zachary Lewis to break down the real-world realities of responding to a ransomware attack. Drawing from firsthand experience, they discuss why executive relationships, preparation, and credibility matter more than tools, how CISOs survive high-pressure incidents, and what separates leaders who thrive after a breach from those who don’t.
If you’re a CISO, security leader, or aspiring executive, this episode offers practical insight into what ransomware response really looks like when everything is on the line.