Ep. 315 - The Doctor Is In Series - Love at First Sight, Is it Possible?
Release Date: 08/04/2025
Ep. 343 - The Human Element Series - Spark Your Mental Fitness with Todd Bertsch
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Today we are joined by Todd Bertsch. Todd is a keynote speaker, mental fitness coach, and creator of the Spark Framework—a system rooted in neuroscience and behavioral psychology that focuses on building resilience, leadership clarity, and sustainable personal growth through small, consistent changes. After overcoming early struggles with addiction and pivoting from entrepreneurship into coaching during the COVID pandemic, Todd now helps leaders strengthen their “mental muscle” by identifying negative thought patterns and shifting into a more constructive, resilient...
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Ep. 342 - The Doctor Is In Series - How Does Decision Fatigue Affect You?
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. In today’s episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie discuss decision fatigue—how making too many choices throughout the day drains mental energy and affects judgment. They explain how stress and lack of sleep make it worse, how it differs from burnout, and why leaders and parents are especially vulnerable. The episode also shares simple, practical strategies to reduce daily decisions, protect mental energy, and prioritize...
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Ep. 341 - The Security Awareness Series - Cognitive Bias in InfoSec with Josten Pena
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris Hadnagy is joined by Josten Pena for an in-depth discussion on cognitive biases and their impact on cybersecurity. Together, they explore how inherent mental shortcuts can increase susceptibility to social engineering attacks. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and owning these biases, rather than trying to eliminate them, and highlights practical mitigation strategies like hands-on training and fostering critical thinking. [Feb 16, 2026] 00:00...
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Ep. 340 - The Human Element Series - Is AI Changing Human Behavior with Jacob Ward
The Social-Engineer Podcast
In this episode, Chris Hadnagy is joined by Jacob Ward, a veteran technology journalist who has reported for NBC News, Al Jazeera, CNN, and PBS, and previously served as editor-in-chief of Popular Science. Jacob is the author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices—and How to Fight Back, a book that anticipated today’s commercial AI moment. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is shaping human behavior, decision-making, and autonomy, along with the ethical and societal challenges that come with an increasingly AI-driven world. ...
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Ep. 339 - The Doctor Is In Series - Are You An Imposter?
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. In today’s episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie explore imposter syndrome, examining what it is, why it occurs, and how cultural and professional pressures can intensify it. They discuss common symptoms, personal experiences, and the psychological roots behind feeling undeserving of success. Through scientific insight and practical strategies, they share ways to recognize, reframe, and manage imposter...
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Ep 338 - The 4th Monday Series - Playing Chess With Your Taxes
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news. In this episode, Chris and Mike are joined by Jeff Lareau, CPA and partner at , a third-generation, family-owned firm in Central Florida. Jeff helps individuals and business owners simplify complex tax laws while focusing on long-term planning and confidence—not just...
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Ep. 337 - Security Awareness Series - Using Social Engineering on Yourself with Rosa Rowles
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Rosa Rowles. Together, they explore the nuances of social engineering, focusing on the critical role of pretexting and impersonation in security assessments. Their conversation underscores the significance of preparation and adaptability, highlighting how embodying different personas can enhance the effectiveness of security operations. [Jan 19, 2026] 00:00 - Intro 00:27 - Rosa Rowles Intro - LinkedIn: 00:55 - Intro Links: ...
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Ep. 336 - Human Element Series - Helping Successful Leaders with Mitchell Osmond
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Today we are joined by Mitchell Osmond. Mitchell is a leadership consultant, executive coach, and host of the Dad Nation Podcast, ranked in the top 5% globally with over 33,000 listeners. With 15+ years in senior leadership, Mitchell helps high-performing men find success where it matters most: at home, in their health, and in their happiness, all while strengthening their careers. [Jan 12, 2026] 00:00 - Intro 00:29 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - ...
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Ep. 335 - The Doctor Is In Series - Is That Person Really a Psychopath?
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. In today’s episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie explore psychopathy, focusing on its clinical definition and common misconceptions. They discuss how the term is often misapplied to various behaviors, stressing the importance of understanding its roots in empathy and fear. By highlighting the need for accurate knowledge, they aim to prevent stigmatization and promote a deeper understanding of mental health. [Jan 5, 2026] 00:00 -...
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Ep. 334 - The 4th Monday Series - Travel Hacks and Tips with Christie Hudson
The Social-Engineer Podcast
Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news. Today, Chris and Mike are joined by Christie Hudson, a resident travel expert and head of global PR for Hotels.com. Christie is adept at transforming travel data into actionable insights, helping travelers maximize their experiences. With a background in PR from the University of Prince Edward Island’s...
info_outlineWelcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.
In today’s episode, Chris and Abbie explore the complexities of attraction and the concept of love at first sight. They discuss the biochemical responses associated with attraction, the importance of understanding cognitive biases, and the role of familiarity in relationships. [Aug 4, 2025]
00:00 - Intro
00:35 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro
01:15 - Intro Links
- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/
- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/
- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/
- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/
- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb
- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/
- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/
03:14 - The Topic of the Day: Love at First Sight
03:22 - Pulling Apart the Fairy Tale
04:26 - Knowledge is Power
05:49 - Why Can't This Be Love?
07:12 - More Than a Feeling
09:28 - May Impair Your Ability
10:59 - The Rickety Bridge Study
13:20 - Head or Heart?
15:04 - Cognitive Biases
16:16 - The Halo Effect
17:19 - Prototypical Matching
18:51 - I Want You to Want Me
21:54 - Retrospective Bias
23:34 - Feels Like Home
28:44 - Keep One Eye Open
30:32 - A Responsibility to Self-Awareness
32:53 - Wrap Up
33:11 - Next Month: Intuition
33:31 - Outro
- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
Find us online:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd
- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy
References:
Dutton, D. G., & Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 510–517.
Fisher, H. E., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2006). Romantic love: A mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1476), 2173–2186.
Fletcher, G. J. O., Simpson, J. A., & Thomas, G. (2000). The measurement of perceived relationship quality components: A confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(3), 340–354.
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524.
Marazziti, D., & Canale, D. (2004). Hormonal changes when falling in love. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(7), 931–936.
Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. (1977). The halo effect: Evidence for unconscious alteration of judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(4), 250–256.
Sprecher, S., & Metts, S. (1989). Development of the "Romantic Beliefs Scale" and examination of the effects of gender and gender-role orientation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 6(4), 387–411.
Sternberg, R. J. (1986). A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review, 93(2), 119–135.
Zeki, S. (2007). The neurobiology of love. FEBS Letters, 581(14), 2575–2579.
Zsok, F., Haucke, M., De Wit, C., & Barelds, D. P. (2017). What kind of love is love at first sight? An empirical investigation. Personal Relationships, 24(4), 869–885.