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The Social-Engineer Podcast

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Apr 21, 2025 • 30min

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

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Travis Farral. Travis has been working in information security since the 90s at places such as Nokia, ExxonMobil, and XTO Energy. He is currently VP & CISO at Archaea Energy, a bp owned, renewable natural gas company based in Houston, Texas. He has spoken at events around world on topics such as Cyber Threat Intelligence, MITRE ATT&CK, and Incident Response. Notable activities during his career include everything from programming logic controllers, building and leading SOCs, driving forklifts, standing up cybersecurity teams, developing threat intelligence programs, and handling responses to incidents, among many other things over the last few decades. [April 21, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:18 - 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/                                                02:08 - Travis Farral Intro 02:58 - A Different Path than Today 05:25 - Healthy Hacking 08:08 - Anything Can Be Weaponized 10:54 - Questionable Behavior 14:31 - Smash That Report Button!!! 18:58 - Improving Our Odds 21:00 - You Have to Keep It Simple 22:25 - Letters to a Young CISO 24:20 - Find Travis Farral online -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/travisfarral 25:01 - Mentors -          Shawn Edwards -          Jay Leek 27:02 - Book Recommendations -          R. E. Lee: A Biography  - Douglas Southall Freeman 29:34 - Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Apr 14, 2025 • 54min

Ep. 300 - Human Element Series - Celebrating 300 Episodes of The Social Engineer Podcast

Today we are celebrating our 300th episode! Chris will be joined by some friends as he discusses how the podcast got started - back in 2009, how it has evolved, including the creation of multiple series, and the direction for the future. [April 14, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:22 - 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/                                02:45 - Social-Engineer Origin Story 03:59 - The Human Element Series 05:34 - The Security Awareness Series 06:03 - The Doctor Is In Series 06:12 - The SE ETC. Series 06:28 - The 4th Monday Series 07:05 - The Future 07:43 - Amanda Drops By 08:35 - Ooof! 09:12 - SE Trivia 13:17 - A Video Celebration! 21:16 - Neil Fallon Drops By 52:50 - Wrap Up 53:56 - Outro -           www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Apr 7, 2025 • 26min

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 -          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/                                 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 -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Twitter: @DrAbbieofficial -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd -          Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy     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.
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Mar 31, 2025 • 46min

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 -          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/                                                 03:11 - 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: in/nadja-elfertasi -          Instagram: @nadjafertasi 45:17 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy
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Mar 24, 2025 • 25min

Ep. 298 - The 4th Monday Series - Top Tips for Investing Intelligently with Nancy Hecht

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 Nancy Hecht. Nancy started in the financial service business in 1983 as a registered Rep, moved to Certified Financial Group in 1988, and became a CFP in 1994. She is now a fee-based CFP where she provides comprehensive planning and investment management. [March 24, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:18 - Mike Holfeld Intro 00:46 - Today's Guest: Nancy Hecht 01:08 - Topic of the Day: Financial Advice 01:31 - The Ever-Changing Future of Taxes 02:51 - Roth IRA vs 401K 05:35 - The Difference Between Need and Want 07:54 - Prepping for Retirement 11:37 - Being Diversified 13:11 - Crypto 15:05 - Toe in the Sock Money 16:49 - The Big 5 17:41 - Pay Yourself First 18:37 - Basic Tips 19:11 - Don't Panic! 21:09 - Closing Advice 22:32 - Find Nancy Hecht Online -          Website: hechteffect.net -          Email: n.hecht@financialgroup.com -          Phone: 407-869-9800 22:52 - Wrap Up 23:19 - Next Month: Baseball Technology 24:12 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy
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Mar 17, 2025 • 35min

Ep. 297 - Security Awareness Series - Quantifying and Owning Risk with Roy Luongo

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Roy Luongo. Roy is the Chief Information Security Officer for the United States Secret Service. He leads a team in the defense and information assurance of all USSS information systems and solutions. Prior to his current role he was the Director, Joint Mission Operations Center for Cyber Command, providing oversight of mission critical Cyber Operations infrastructures. He has also served as Chief, NSA Red Team and Technical Director for Interactive Operations for the NSA. Roy is a retired Army soldier with 20 years’ service within the Intelligence and Cyber career fields. [March 17, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:17 - 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/                                                01:55 - Roy Luongo Intro 02:44 - The Path to CISO of the Secret Service 04:58 - Cybersecurity in Early Education 07:50 - The Entry Level Catch-22 12:24 - Quantifying Risk 14:27 - The Best Way Forward 16:51 - The Effects and Future of AI 20:06 - Understanding Your Needs 22:11 - Advise to Young Roy 24:56 - The Cost of Training 29:01 - Mentors -          Ed Skoudis -          Brigadier General Brian D. Vile -          Shawn Turskey 29:55 - Lollipop Moments -          TEDxToronto - Drew Dudley "Leading with Lollipops" 31:33 - Book Recommendations -          Cybersecurity Canon - Rick Howard -          Kingpin - Kevin Poulsen -          Turn the Ship Around! - L. David Marquet 33:49 - Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Mar 10, 2025 • 39min

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 -          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/                                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: imaginationdilemma.com -          YouTube: @ImaginationDilemma 32:12 - Find Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos online -          Website: abundance.studio -          LinkedIn: in/lydiak -          Instagram: @HiLydiak 32:46 - Book Recommendations -          The 100-Year Life - Andrew Scott & Lynda Gratton -          Imagination Dilemma - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos 37:02 - Mentors -          Parents -          Women Suffragists 38:15 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Mar 3, 2025 • 34min

Ep. 295 - The Doctor Is In Series - Bystander Effect

Dive into the intriguing world of the bystander effect! Discover how group dynamics and fear often hold people back from intervening in emergencies. Explore the role of technology, like CCTV, in shaping our reactions, and why online anonymity complicates cyberbullying responses. The discussion reveals how gender dynamics impact willingness to act and emphasizes the need for clear communication and education to combat apathy. Personal stories further illustrate the power of empathy in human interactions.
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Feb 24, 2025 • 22min

Ep. 294 - The 4th Monday Series - Accidentally Wes Anderson with Wally Koval

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 Wally Koval. Wally is the founder and creator of Accidentally Wes Anderson (AWA), a popular visual storytelling platform inspired by filmmaker Wes Anderson's distinctive aesthetic. Since its launch on Instagram in 2017, AWA has grown into a global community of nearly two million people, leading to multiple bestselling books, and large-scale exhibitions on 5 continents. [Feb 24, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:33 - Mike Holfeld Intro 02:25 - Today's Guest: Wally Koval 04:05 - Topic of the Day: Accidentally Wes Anderson -          Accidentally Wes Anderson - Wally Koval 08:13 - From Your Phone to a Book 09:57 - Multiple Languages, Multiple Exhibitions 12:04 - Adventures -          Accidentally Wes Anderson: Adventures - Wally Koval 12:50 - From Wes, With Love 14:08 - The Community...plus Jeff Goldblum 16:05 - Remember to Pinch Myself 18:06 - Shifting Perspective 19:12 - Find Wally Koval Online -          Website: accidentallywesanderson.com -          Instagram: @accidentallywesanderson 19:29 - Wrap Up 20:58 - Next Month: Nancy Hecht 21:34 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy
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Feb 17, 2025 • 33min

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

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Peter Warmka. Peter is a Former Senior Intelligence Officer with the CIA with over 20 years’ experience in breaching the security of organizations overseas. Peter is the founder of the Orlando-based firm Counterintelligence Institute, LLC and an Adjunct Professor at Webster University’s Masters Cybersecurity Program. Peter is passionate about using his expertise in helping city, state, and federal government entities, non-profits, academic institutes, private companies, and individuals safeguard their sensitive proprietary and/or personal data. He is also the author of two books. [Feb 17, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:21 - 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/                                                02:25 - Peter Warmka Intro 03:14 - Getting Recruited 12:11 - Working Above Cybersecurity 21:33 - Identifying Potential Candidates 23:20 - Tip to CISO's: Learn About AI 25:17 - The Importance of Guardrails 28:37 - Peter's Books -          Confessions of a CIA Spy - Peter Warmka -          Why Are You Messing With Me? - Peter Warmka 31:10 - Find Peter Warmka online -          LinkedIn: in/peterwarmka -          Website: counterintelligence-institute.com 32:18 - Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

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