The Social-Engineer Podcast

The Social-Engineer Podcast is about humans. Understanding how we interact, communicate and relay information can help us protect, mitigate and understand social engineering attacks

Ep. 320 - Human Element Series - Using Gestures To Enhanced Communications with Lauren Gawne 09/08/2025

Ep. 319 - The Doctor Is In Series - Can You Trust Your Gut? - All About Intuition 09/01/2025

Ep. 319 - The Doctor Is In Series - Can You Trust Your Gut? - All About Intuition 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 Abbie delve into the fascinating world of intuition and gut feelings. They explore whether these instincts are rooted in biology or shaped by past experiences and discuss the science behind how our brains process environmental cues to make quick decisions. [Sept 1, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 01:02 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:23 - New Book Announcement - - Dr. Abbie Maroño 03:34 - The Topic of the Day: All About Intuition 06:04 - Is Intuition Always Right? 10:39 - Training Over Instinct 13:56 - Teaching Autonomy 16:39 - Facing Hard Truths 20:19 - Lack of Self Trust 24:06 - Intuition or Trauma Response? 26:16 - Wrap Up & Outro - - Find us online: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - LinkedIn: References: American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Intuition. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). Deciding advantageously before knowing the advantageous strategy. Science, 275(5304), 1293–1295. Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). Exploring intuition and its role in managerial decision making. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 33–54. Gigerenzer, G. (2007). Gut feelings: The intelligence of the unconscious. Viking. Hodgkinson, G. P., Langan-Fox, J., & Sadler-Smith, E. (2008). Intuition: A fundamental bridging construct in the behavioral sciences. British Journal of Psychology, 99(1), 1–27. Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Lieberman, M. D. (2000). Intuition: A social cognitive neuroscience approach. Psychological Bulletin, 126(1), 109–137. Sadler-Smith, E., & Shefy, E. (2004). The intuitive executive: Understanding and applying 'gut feel' in decision-making. Academy of Management Executive, 18(4), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.2004.15268692 /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/37892950

Ep. 318 - The 4th Monday Series - Finding Stable Employment in a Crazy Economy with Bobby Knost 08/25/2025

Ep. 317 - Security Awareness Series - Are You Ready For A Breach? with Jowan and Chris 08/18/2025

Ep. 316 - Human Element Series - Do It Scared, But Do It Anyway with Shang Saavedra 08/11/2025

Ep. 315 - The Doctor Is In Series - Love at First Sight, Is it Possible? 08/04/2025

Ep. 315 - The Doctor Is In Series - Love at First Sight, Is it Possible? 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 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 - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 - - Find us online: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - LinkedIn: 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. /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/37585710

Ep. 314 - The 4th Monday Series - What Can You Do If Your Accounts Are Hacked? with Congressman Darren Soto 07/28/2025

Ep. 313 - Security Awareness Series - The Importance of Securing Virtual Events With Trent Waterhouse 07/15/2025

Ep. 312 - Human Element Series - Having a Hunger to Serve with Doug Thorpe 07/14/2025

Ep. 311 - The Doctor Is In Series - The Scientific Keys To Happiness with Dr. Paul Zak 07/07/2025

Ep. 250 - Human Element Series - Rationalize Minimalize and Project with Agent Brad Beeler REPLAY 06/30/2025

Ep. 250 - Human Element Series - Rationalize Minimalize and Project with Agent Brad Beeler REPLAY REPLAY (Original Air Date March 11, 2024) Today we are joined by Agent Brad Beeler. Assistant to the Special Agent in Charge Brad Beeler has been with the United States Secret Service for the past 25 years. He currently serves as instructor and Secret Service liaison at the National Center for Credibility Assessment (NCCA) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Over the past 8 years in this role, he has trained agents throughout the federal law enforcement and intelligence community in credibility assessment and elicitation techniques. Prior to arriving at NCCA, he was a polygraph examiner in the Chicago and St. Louis Field Offices and served on the permanent protection detail of former President George HW Bush and numerous foreign heads of state. Over the past 17 years as a federal polygraph examiner Special Agent Beeler has secured hundreds of confessions on high-profile investigations, often leading to the identification of previously unknown victims of serial offenders of both child exploitation and homicide investigations. Agent Beeler holds a master’s degree in criminology and was previously selected as the U.S. Secret Service - Special Agent of the Year for his involvement in combating crimes against children. Widely considered a communications expert in the U.S. federal law enforcement community, Agent Beeler has provided countless domestic and international presentations to law enforcement and intelligence agencies seeking to enhance their interviewing programs. [March 11, 2024] 00:00 - Intro 00:21 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 03:05 - Agent Brad Beeler Intro 05:05 - Part of a Team 07:58 - One of Lincoln's Final Acts 08:52 - Dual Mission 11:45 - The Broadband Effect 14:38 - Team Effort 17:35 - Worst of the Worst 21:13 - Common Ground 23:36 - Letting Them Be Heard 25:51 - Lyrics, Songs and Dance 28:49 - Mental Health Mandates 35:11 - Mentors - Mrs. Bertran - Teacher - Brian Leary - DHS Program Manager 37:21 - Book Recommendations - The Interrogator - - Spy the Lie - - Captivate & Cues - 39:24 - Find Agent Brad Beeler online - Website: - Website: - LinkedIn: 40:47 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro - - /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/37112325

Ep. 310 - The 4th Monday Series - Are You Ready for the Storm? with Lisa Miller 06/23/2025

Ep. 279 - Security Awareness Series - Dodging Turkeys and Security Awareness with Stacey Edmonds REPLAY 06/16/2025

Ep. 279 - Security Awareness Series - Dodging Turkeys and Security Awareness with Stacey Edmonds REPLAY REPLAY (Original Air Date Oct 21, 2024) Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Stacey Edmonds. Stacey is a multi-disciplinary EdTech innovator and Digital Safety Pioneer, driven by a commitment to democratizing knowledge. Stacey's expertise, encompassing social science, education, EdTech, and multi-platform screen production, culminated in the founding of Lively, which we will hear all about on this podcast. Since 2002, Stacey has been designing and delivering enterprise-wide cyber safety upskilling programs. In 2023, embodying her mission to make knowledge accessible, Stacey launched 'Dodgy or Not?' – a social enterprise offering an engaging approach to digital safety education. She continues to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and practical education, driving innovation in AI ethics and digital literacy - she is also known for deepfaking herself. [Oct 21, 2024] 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Intro Links: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 03:00 - Stacey Edmonds Intro 04:18 - Teaching, Trains & Turkeys 08:43 - Toilets vs Videos 11:16 - Dodgy or Not? 15:15 - Social Engineering for Good! 17:46 - Pause for the Cause 20:17 - Training in Real Time 24:11 - Real Time Threat Detection 27:49 - Culture is Everything 30:33 - Find Stacey Edmonds online - LinkedIn: 31:28 – Mentors - - - - - 33:58 - Book Recommendations - Feel The Fear and Do It Anyway - - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - - 1984 - - Man-Made – 35:51 - Wrap Up & Outro - - /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/36801110

Ep. 308 - Human Element Series - Finding Common Ground With Lonnie Marts 06/09/2025

Ep. 308 - Human Element Series - Finding Common Ground With Lonnie Marts Today we are joined by Lonnie Marts. Lonnie is an American creator, entertainer, and host known for his magnetic charm and comedic storytelling. His unique ability to engage audiences has catapulted him to digital stardom, with nearly 3 million highly engaged fans tuning in daily for his comedic skits and feel-good content on social media. A graduate of Embry-Riddle with an MBA, Lonnie’s impact goes beyond content creation. He’s been featured in “Forbes” and “Rolling Stone” and recently earned recognition for his work in DoorDash’s Cannes Award-winning Super Bowl campaign. Lonnie continues to expand his reach and has received recognition for his work as a speaker and thought leader, representing major social platforms like TikTok, and Meta on stages like VidCon, and AdWeek. [June 9, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 01:36 - Lonnie Marts Intro 03:21 - Attention-Seeking Behavior 05:17 - Don't Tell Mom! 07:47 - From the Super Bowl to Waffle House 11:07 - Building a Community 16:00 - Finding Common Ground 17:59 - Making it Count! 21:31 - People Need People 24:56 - A Tool to Use 27:22 - Mentors - Parents - - - 29:26 - Book Recommendations - Why Nations Fail - , - The Inheritance Cycle - - A Promised Land - - Rich Dad Poor Dad - 32:16 - Find Lonnie Marts Online - Website: - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lonnieiiv - Facebook: - Snapchat: - YouTube: https://snapchat.com/add/Lonnieiiv - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonniemarts3/ - Instagram: https://instagram.com/lonnieiiv 33:00 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro - - /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/36923695

Ep. 307 - The Doctor Is In Series - Why is the Road to Self-Betterment So Lonely 06/02/2025

Ep. 307 - The Doctor Is In Series - Why is the Road to Self-Betterment So Lonely 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 Abbie are discussing why change can feel so lonely? They will talk about what triggers growth in people, the amount a person can actually change and how loneliness plays a role in this growth. [June 2, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:47 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 01:06 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:23 - Dr. Abbie Announcement 03:30 - The Topic of the Day: The Lonely Chapter 04:38 - Triggering Change 06:00 - People Don't Change? 11:30 - All Change Isn't Growth 13:15 - Why Growth Can Be Lonely 15:56 - What About Love? 17:16 - New You, Who Dis? 21:19 - Feelings Can REALLY Hurt! 22:15 - Choosing Who You Are 24:36 - Syncing Up 27:43 - A Constant Evolution 30:17 - Search For Meaning 32:31 - Making Connections 33:12 - Wrap Up 33:56 - Next Month: Love At First Sight 34:42 - Outro - - Find us online: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - LinkedIn: References: Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Williams, K. D. (2003). Does rejection hurt? An fMRI study of social exclusion. Science, 302(5643), 290–292. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1089134 Ebaugh, H. R. F. (1988). Becoming an ex: The process of role exit. University of Chicago Press. Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press. Frankl, V. E. (1963). Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. Beacon Press. Higgins, E. T. (1987). Self-discrepancy: A theory relating self and affect. Psychological Review, 94(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.94.3.319 Mass, M. (1991). The theory of "identity dissonance": Mass. Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(1), 577B. Sandstrom, G. M., & Dunn, E. W. (2014). Social interactions and well-being: The surprising power of weak ties. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(7), 910–922. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167214529799 Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Arn, I., & Magnusson, D. (2005). The psychobiology of oxytocin: An integrative review. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(7), 610–626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2005.02.008 /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/36796940

Ep. 306 - The 4th Monday Series - Changing The Game - New Sport Tech with Seth Daniels 05/26/2025

Ep. 305 - Security Awareness Series - Using Empathy to Not Become a Mushroom with Julie Chatman 05/19/2025

Ep. 305 - Security Awareness Series - Using Empathy to Not Become a Mushroom with Julie Chatman Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Julie Chatman. Julie is a distinguished cybersecurity executive with nearly two decades of experience in cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and AI governance. She began her career in the U.S. Navy, serving on active duty as a Hospital Corpsman specializing in Medical Laboratory Science & Technology. Her transition into cybersecurity began at the FBI, where strong mentorship shaped her approach to leadership, problem solving, and talent development. She currently serves as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for Finance at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA), where she is focused on driving risk reduction across state agencies. The role is part of a strategic engagement through her company, ResilientTech Advisors. Julie leads CyberPath Coaching, where she draws on her experience as an active CISO to mentor cybersecurity professionals, accelerate their growth, and prepare them for executive roles. She works with individuals breaking into the field, mid-career professionals, aspiring CISOs, and cybersecurity entrepreneurs. [May 19, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Intro Links: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:03 - Julie Chatman Intro 03:14 - A Hungry Brain 04:25 - We Are Mushroomed 05:54 - Being an Enabler 10:13 - Speak Their Language 13:33 - Assigning Responsibility 16:05 - A Tool, Not a Replacement 20:35 - Career Challenges 22:40 - Strategic Empathy 23:46 - Setting Boundaries 24:15 - Narrative Control 25:38 - Staying Positive 29:39 - The Target is the Same 32:09 - Book Recommendations - World War Z - 33:20 - Mentors - MB Kinder - Martha Williams 35:14 - Find Julie Chatman Online - Website: - LinkedIn: 35:54 Wrap Up & Outro - - /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/36520625

Ep. 304 - Human Element Series - Dr. Intergalactic and Using AI to Save The World with Dr. Jose Morey 05/12/2025

Ep. 303 - The Doctor Is In Series - Emotional Regulation in the Workplace 05/05/2025

Ep. 303 - The Doctor Is In Series - Emotional Regulation in the Workplace 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 Abbie are discussing Emotional Regulation in the Workplace. They will talk about the different strategies that can be used to help, not just at work, but in most areas of our lives. [May 5, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:38 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 00:57 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:30 - The Topic of the Day: Emotional Regulation in the Workplace 04:14 - Strategy 1: Deep Acting 14:10 - Strategy 2: Mindfulness & Acceptance 19:24 - Strategy 3: Social Sharing 26:40 - Strategy 4: Humor & Distraction 31:21 - Wrap Up 33:07 - Next Month: The Lonely Chapter 33:41 - Outro - - Find us online: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - LinkedIn: References: Kalokerinos, E. K., Résibois, M., Verduyn, P., & Kuppens, P. (2017). The temporal deployment of emotion regulation strategies during negative emotional episodes. Emotion, 17(3), 450–458. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000248 Côté, S., & Hideg, I. (2011). The consequences of faking emotions: Emotional dissonance, relationship quality, and employee well-being. Emotion, 11(4), 803–815. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023868 Lomas, T., Medina, J. C., Ivtzan, I., Rupprecht, S., & Eiroa-Orosa, F. J. (2019). The impact of mindfulness on well-being and performance in the workplace: An inclusive systematic review of the empirical literature. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 28(6), 782–804. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2019.1659420 Bono, J. E., Foldes, H. J., Vinson, G., & Muros, J. P. (2007). Workplace emotions: The role of supervision and leadership. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(5), 1357–1367. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.5.1357 Clayton, S. (2024). Working well: The simple act of taking deep breaths can reduce stress and anxiety. Associated Press. Ordali, E., et al. (2024). Exhaustion at work can lead to difficulty controlling emotions, scientists say. The Guardian. Mesmer-Magnus, J., Glew, D. J., & Viswesvaran, C. (2012). A meta-analysis of positive humor in the workplace. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 27(2), 155–190. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941211199554 Scheibe, S., & Zacher, H. (2013). A lifespan perspective on emotion regulation, stress, and well-being in the workplace. In The Oxford Handbook of Stress, Health, and Coping (pp. 291–306). Oxford University Press. /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/36393410

Ep. 302 - The 4th Monday Series - From Scam Victim to Investment Guru with Kayla Lussier 04/28/2025

Ep. 301 - Security Awareness Series - Leadership Relationships and Becoming a CISO with Travis Farral 04/21/2025

Ep. 300 - Human Element Series - Celebrating 300 Episodes of The Social Engineer Podcast 04/14/2025

Ep. 299 - The Doctor Is In Series - Why Do We Cry? 04/07/2025

Ep. 299 - The Doctor Is In Series - Why Do We Cry? 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 Abbie are discussing Why Do We Cry? They will talk about the psychological and biological influence on our crying, as well as those that cry too much, too little, and how to get support to find the right balance. [April 7, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:16 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 00:31 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:55 - The Topic of the Day: Why do we cry? 03:23 - An Emotional Release 04:50 - Biologically Speaking 06:15 - Crying Too Much? 10:14 - Chemical Reaction 12:12 - Let It Out! 15:25 - Suppression Depression 18:38 - Symptom, Not Cause 20:32 - The Hormone Effect 21:22 - Best Next Steps 23:53 - Wrap Up 24:23 - Next Month: Emotional Regulation in the Workplace 25:25 - Outro - - Find us online: - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - Twitter: - LinkedIn: References: Bagby, D. G. (1999). Seeing through our tears: Why we cry, how we heal. Augsburg Books. Bylsma, L. M., Gračanin, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. (2019). The neurobiology of human crying. Clinical Autonomic Research, 29, 63-73. Feeny, N. C., Zoellner, L. A., Fitzgibbons, L. A., & Foa, E. B. (2000). Exploring the roles of emotional numbing, depression, and dissociation in PTSD. Journal of traumatic stress, 13, 489-498. Gračanin, A., Bylsma, L. M., & Vingerhoets, A. J. (2014). Is crying a self-soothing behavior?. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 82046. Holguín-Lew, J. C., & Bell, V. (2013). “When I Want to Cry I Can’t”: Inability to Cry Following SSRI Treatment. Revista Colombiana de Psiquiatría, 42(4), 304-310. Lilley, M. (2019). Why We Cry: The Science of Tears. Compass Point Books. Millings, A., Hepper, E. G., Hart, C. M., Swift, L., & Rowe, A. C. (2016). Holding back the tears: Individual differences in adult crying proneness reflect attachment orientation and attitudes to crying. Frontiers in psychology, 7, 196642. Ramirez, S. M., Glover, H., Ohlde, C., Mercer, R., Hamlin, C., Goodnick, P., & Perez-Rivera, M. I. (2001). Relationship of numbing to alexithymia, apathy, and depression. Psychological Reports, 88(1), 189-200. Steer, R. (2011). Self-reported inability to cry as a symptom of anhedonic depression in outpatients with a major depressive disorder. Psychological reports, 108(3), 874-882. Trimble, M. (2014). Why humans like to cry: Tragedy, evolution, and the brain. Oxford University Press. Vingerhoets, A. J., & Bylsma, L. M. (2016). The riddle of human emotional crying: A challenge for emotion researchers. Emotion Review, 8(3), 207-217. Vingerhoets, A. J., & Scheirs, J. G. (2012). Crying and health. In Adult crying (pp. 227-246). Routledge. Vingerhoets, A. J., Cornelius, R. R., Van Heck, G. L., & Becht, M. C. (2000). Adult crying: A model and review of the literature. Review of General Psychology, 4(4), 354-377. Walter, C. (2006). Why do we cry?. Scientific American Mind, 17(6), 44-51. /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/35979540

Ep. 260 - The SE ETC Series - Suffering Through a Romance Scam with Nadja El Fertasi REPLAY 03/31/2025

Ep. 260 - The SE ETC Series - Suffering Through a Romance Scam with Nadja El Fertasi REPLAY REPLAY (Original Air Date May 27, 2024) *Please note that this episode contains discussions regarding abuse that some may find disturbing. Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The SE Etc. Series. This series will be hosted by Chris Hadnagy, CEO of Social-Engineer LLC, and The Innocent Lives Foundation, as well as Social-Engineer.Org and The Institute for Social Engineering. Join Chris as he discusses topics and news pertaining to the world of Social Engineering. Today, Chris is joined by Nadja El Fertasi. Nadja is a leading figure in fostering emotional resilience within the digital age. Her comprehensive expertise spans crisis management, strategic stakeholder communication, and emotional intelligence, creating a unified approach to enhance the human side of digital advancements. Having spent nearly two decades at NATO, including a significant role in the NATO Communications and Information Agency focusing on Digital Transformation & Cybersecurity, Nadja has been a pivotal figure in strategic engagement and communications. This role highlighted her commitment to navigating and leading through the complexities of cybersecurity and digital transformation. With over 15 years dedicated to cybersecurity at NATO, Nadja has emerged as a respected expert in her field. Her contribution to the cybersecurity community was acknowledged in "Hacking Gender Barriers: Europe’s Top Cyberwomen," by the Women4Cyber foundation, which recognized her as one of Europe's influential figures in cybersecurity. Today, Nadja is the voice behind the EQ Elevator Podcast, where she assists businesses in cultivating leadership that's resilient and equipped for the digital age's challenges. Her work is dedicated to shaping a safer, more emotionally intelligent digital landscape, where individuals and organizations can thrive amidst technological disruptions. [May 27, 2024] 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - 2024 State of Vishing Report 01:01 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 03:11 - Nadja El Fertasi Intro 05:02 - The Importance of Sharing 07:14 - Romance Scam: Nadja's Story 13:51 - The Other Side 15:59 - The Red Flags 19:13 - A Gift and a Curse 23:22 - Taking Responsibility 25:24 - Love, Not Romance 27:05 - Navigating the Apps 32:28 - Reality Check 37:27 - Being Human 39:39 - Learning From "No" 41:28 - Where to Report 42:25 - Wrap Up 43:58 - Find Nadja El Fertasi Online - LinkedIn: - Instagram: 45:17 - Outro - - Find us online - Chris Hadnagy - Twitter: - LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/35789150

Ep. 297 - Security Awareness Series - Quantifying and Owning Risk with Roy Luongo 03/17/2025

Ep. 296 - Human Element Series - The Imagination Dilemma with Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos 03/10/2025

Ep. 296 - Human Element Series - The Imagination Dilemma with Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos Today we are joined by Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos. Dr. Kostopoulos is a globally recognized strategist that brings clarity and context as to what is on the horizon. Her unique expertise at the intersection of emerging technology, security and macro-trends has been sought by the United Nations, U.S. Special Operations, the European Commission, NATO, multi-nationals, tech companies, design agencies, academia, such as MIT and Oxford Saïd Business School, and foreign governments. She helps her clients understand new technologies, emerging value chains, and contextualizes the convergences of our time. She founded the boutique consultancy Abundance Studio and has experience working in the US, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. [March 10, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 02:10 - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos Intro 03:30 - From Counter Terrorism to Conflict Landscapes 05:35 - The Imagination Dilemma 09:13 - Technological Tit for Tat 11:38 - Four Facets of Imagination 12:18 - Facet 1) Identity 13:36 - Facet 2) Convergence 15:38 - Facet 3) Humanity 16:48 - Facet 4) Dreams 18:18 - Turning Crisis Into Strategy 22:39 - Being Human 26:04 - Future-Proofing Organizations 29:51 - Real Value Proposition 31:26 - Webinar Series - Website: - YouTube: 32:12 - Find Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos online - Website: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: 32:46 - Book Recommendations - The 100-Year Life - & - Imagination Dilemma - 37:02 - Mentors - Parents - Women Suffragists 38:15 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro - - /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/35462395

Ep. 295 - The Doctor Is In Series - Bystander Effect 03/03/2025

Ep. 295 - The Doctor Is In Series - Bystander Effect 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 Abbie are discussing the Bystander Effect. They will talk about the many different ways it presents itself as well as how to avoid it and what you can do if you find yourself victim of it. [March 3, 2025] 00:00 - Intro 00:14 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro 00:45 - Intro Links - - http://www.social-engineer.com/ - - - - - - - - - - - - 03:06 - The Topic of the Day: The Bystander Effect 03:16 - Defining the Bystander Effect 05:14 - The Smoke Filled Room 09:03 - The Advantage of CCTV 11:13 - The Ambiguity Factor 12:53 - Gender Dynamics 15:20 - Self-Construal 16:43 - Reverse the Roles 21:21 - Bystanding Online 22:59 - It's Easier to be Negative 25:34 - Fear Factor 27:53 - Assigning Responsibility 30:34 - Education is Key 31:19 - Just Ask! 32:40 - Wrap Up 32:49 - Next Month: Why Do We Cry? 33:12 - Outro - - Find us online: - Twitter: - LinkedIn: - Instagram: - Twitter: - LinkedIn: References: Bauman, S., Yoon, J., Iurino, C., & Hackett, L. (2020). Experiences of adolescent witnesses to peer victimization: The bystander effect. Journal of school psychology, 80, 1-14. Fadilah, I. N., & Ansyah, E. H. (2022). The Relationship Between The Bystander Effect and Prososial Behavior in Students Of The Faculty Of Psychology And Educational Sciences At University. Academia Open, 7, 10-21070. Ganti, N., & Baek, S. (2021). Why People Stand By: A Comprehensive Study About the Bystander Effect. Journal of Student Research, 10(1). Havlik, J. L., Vieira Sugano, Y. Y., Jacobi, M. C., Kukreja, R. R., Jacobi, J. H. C., & Mason, P. (2020). The bystander effect in rats. Science Advances, 6(28), eabb4205. Kettrey, H. H., & Marx, R. A. (2021). Effects of bystander sexual assault prevention programs on promoting intervention skills and combatting the bystander effect: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of experimental criminology, 17, 343-367. Levine, M., Philpot, R., & Kovalenko, A. G. (2020). Rethinking the bystander effect in violence reduction training programs. Social Issues and Policy Review, 14(1), 273-296. Liu, D., Liu, X., & Wu, S. (2022, June). A Literature Review of Diffusion of Responsibility Phenomenon. In 2022 8th International Conference on Humanities and Social Science Research (ICHSSR 2022) (pp. 1806-1810). Atlantis Press. Machackova, H. (2020). Bystander reactions to cyberbullying and cyberaggression: individual, contextual, and social factors. Current opinion in psychology, 36, 130-134. Madden, C., & Loh, J. (2020). Workplace cyberbullying and bystander helping behaviour. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 31(19), 2434-2458. Szekeres, H., Halperin, E., Kende, A., & Saguy, T. (2022). Aversive Bystander Effect: Egalitarian bystanders’ overestimation of confronting prejudice. /episode/index/show/socialengineer/id/35412105

Ep. 294 - The 4th Monday Series - Accidentally Wes Anderson with Wally Koval 02/24/2025

Ep. 293 - Security Awareness Series - From Banker to Spy to Cyber Security Expert with Peter Warmka 02/17/2025

Ep. 292 - Human Element Series - Rejection is Protection with Erica Rooney 02/10/2025

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