The Social-Engineer Podcast

Social-Engineer, LLC
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Sep 29, 2025 • 41min

Ep. 296 - Human Element Series - The Imagination Dilemma with Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos REPLAY

REPLAY (Original Air Date March 10, 2025) 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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Sep 22, 2025 • 25min

Ep. 322 - The 4th Monday Series - Is Your Vintage Game Worth 30000? with Ryan Rosenzweig

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 Ryan Rosenzweig. Ryan is the 26 years old CEO of C10 Toys and Games, which he started when he was just 16 years old. Based out of Orlando FL, he specializes in Video games, Pokemon cards and Funko pops. [Sept 22, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Mike Holfeld Intro 00:47 - Today's Guest: Ryan Rosenzweig 01:09 - Collecting as a Business 03:25 - Something for Everyone 04:24 - Currently Hot! 04:55 - Going Vintage 06:41 - Arcade Consoles 07:33 - World Championships 08:52 - Following the Trends 10:30 - Who's the Customer? 11:40 - Inadvertent Exercise App 12:42 - Detective Work 15:30 - Road Life 16:18 - Trade-In 16:58 - Full Time Job 19:36 - Multi-Million Dollar Industry 20:28 - E-Sports 21:45 - Find Ryan Rosenzweig Online -          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c10_tng?igsh=N3pkdGl6OWFkODh2 22:15 - Beware of Fakes 23:02 - 10 Years Later 23:47 - Wrap Up 23:58 - Next Month: Carrie Hatton 24:24 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy
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Sep 15, 2025 • 29min

Ep. 321 - Security Awareness Series - Trust But Verify Even Under Abnormal Circumstances: A Red Team Story with Chris and Faith

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Faith Kent. Together, they delve into the critical role of effective communication, the art of role adaptation, and the psychological dynamics in crisis situations. The conversation highlights the importance of proactive preparedness and fostering trust within teams to tackle challenges with confidence. [Sept 15, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:42 - Faith Kent Intro 01:21 - 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/                                                03:09 - Breaking & Entering 04:45 - Blending In 07:45 - Frank's Computer 10:13 - Unusual Communications 12:17 - Cochlear Implant 14:19 - Ethical Boundaries 16:11 - Community Pride 18:00 - Leaning Into the Discomfort 21:57 - Not an Afterthought 23:08 - Diversity for Security 27:00 – Trust, But Verify (Always) 28:23 - Wrap Up -          Deaf Gain: Raising the Stakes for Human Diversity -          https://gallaudet.edu/deaf-president-now/ -          https://www.lifeprint.com/ 29:03 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Sep 8, 2025 • 33min

Ep. 320 - Human Element Series - Using Gestures To Enhanced Communications with Lauren Gawne

Lauren Gawne, a Senior Lecturer in linguistics at La Trobe University, shares her fascinating insights into the world of gestures and communication. She discusses how cultural variations can lead to misinterpretations, highlighted by amusing anecdotes of cross-cultural misunderstandings. Gawne emphasizes the innate human tendency to gesture, even among blind individuals, and explores the interplay between gestures and emojis in conveying emotions. Her research reveals how awareness of these nuances can transform our understanding in various communication contexts.
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Sep 1, 2025 • 27min

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 -          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/                                 02:23 - New Book Announcement -          Lilly the Brave Lion - 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 -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd -          Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy     References: American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Intuition. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/intuition   Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). Deciding advantageously before knowing the advantageous strategy. Science, 275(5304), 1293–1295. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.275.5304.1293   Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). Exploring intuition and its role in managerial decision making. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2007.23463682   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. https://doi.org/10.1348/000712607X216666   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. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.126.1.109   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
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Aug 25, 2025 • 29min

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

Bobby Knost, the Business Manager of Iron Workers Local Union 808 in Central Florida, shares his extensive experience as a union iron worker since 1985. He discusses the importance of stable employment in today’s economy and highlights the advantages of joining the Ironworkers Union. Bobby reveals exciting news about a new apprentice training facility aimed at providing updated resources and fostering community partnerships. He encourages people from diverse backgrounds to explore opportunities in the trades, emphasizing job satisfaction and high demand.
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Aug 18, 2025 • 23min

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

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Jowan Joseph. Chris and Jowan discuss the importance of effective communication, role adaptation, and the psychological aspects of crisis situations. The discussion emphasizes the need for proactive preparedness and building trust within teams to navigate challenges effectively.  [Aug 18, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:32 - Jowan Joseph Intro 00:44 - New Format 01:24 - 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/                                                03:08 - Tabletop...Child's Play 04:36 - Phase One: Assigning Roles 07:11 - Going Rogue 08:05 - Measuring Tone 09:22 - A Few More Twists 09:57 - Some Heads Are Gonna Roll 10:41 - Communication Breakdown 12:17 - Post Mortem                                                      13:44 - Alignment at Scale 14:57 - Divide and Conquer... Together 17:31 - Proactive Instead of Reactive 20:21 - The Communication Gap 21:22 - Trust Factor 22:15 - Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Aug 11, 2025 • 28min

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

Today we are joined by Shang Saavedra, the Founder and CEO of Save My Cents, an influential personal-finance website and social-media platform. Saavedra teaches readers the key habits and behaviors needed to become less fearful of money and live life with joy. Saavedra was named one of the "25 Most Influential New Voices of Money" by TIME/NextAdvisor in 2022 and is an Expert Reviewer and Contributor at CNET Money. She received her bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard and her MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business. Saavedra and her husband finished saving for their retirement by the age of 31 and now live a work-optional life in Southern California with their two boys and two cats. [Aug 11, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:37 - 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/                                01:27 - Shang Saavedra Intro 02:23 - Motivation for Success 04:03 - Save My Cents 07:29 - The Feelings Mutual 10:07 - It's Emotional 12:01 - Root Causes of Bad Money Habits 13:02 - Feast or Famine 13:45 - Adverse Events 15:26 - Scarce Immigrant 17:08 - Mind Over (Money) Matters 21:05 - Your Worth, More 24:07 - Book Recommendations -          The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg 25:06 - Mentors -          Therapist 25:59 - Shang Saavedra Online -          Website: https://savemycents.com/ -          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savemycents/ -          YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savemycents -          Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216282934-wealth-is-a-mindset -          Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Mindset-Change-Your-Money/dp/B0D94QCZL6/ -          Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/wealth-is-a-mindset/21633491 26:42 - Parting Advice 27:04 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org
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Aug 4, 2025 • 34min

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 -          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.social-engineer.com -          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.
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Jul 28, 2025 • 31min

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

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 Congressman Darren Soto. Darren Soto is the representative for Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, covering Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk Counties. He currently serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Additionally, Darren is the Deputy Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and a proud member of the New Democrat Coalition, Future Forum Caucus, Problem Solvers Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and others. [July 28, 2025]   00:00 - Intro 00:34 - Mike Holfeld Intro 01:32 - Today's Guest: Rep. Darren Soto 02:55 - The Shield Act 06:24 - The Take It Down Act 08:34 - A Duty of Care 12:03 - A Cat and Mouse Chase 13:12 - Violating Terms of Service 14:55 - Bad Nation States 16:02 - The Pendulum Swings 17:34 - Adjusting to the Evolution 19:08 - The SunPass Scam 20:07 - Protecting Our Seniors 22:53 - Millions a Second 24:41 - It's About Disclosure 26:40 - A Vulnerable Future 28:15 - Find Rep. Darren Soto Online -          https://soto.house.gov/ 29:53 - Wrap Up 30:27 - Next Month: Bobby Knost 31:08 - Outro -          www.social-engineer.com -          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org   Find us online: -          Chris Hadnagy -          Twitter: @humanhacker -          LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

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