x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole

The biggest threat to you and this country today is a cyber attack. Are you protected? Find out now with Dr. Eric Cole, former special agent for the CIA and current CEO of Secure Anchor.

technology

All Episodes

39:06

AI, Threat Hunters, and the New CISO Playbook | Mary...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/03/12

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

en

27:50

How CISOs Become the Trusted Authority in the Boardroom

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/03/05

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

en

30:43

How CISOs Should Prepare for AI and Cloud Risks in...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/02/26

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

en

26:52

Why CISOs Must Lead the AI Conversation Before It's...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/02/05

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

en

35:17

Why Executive Trust Makes or Breaks a CISO | Guest:...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/01/22

Ransomware 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

en

33:06

What It Really Takes to Succeed as a CISO | Guest:...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/01/15

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with cybersecurity leader Matthew Webster to explore what it really takes to succeed in the modern CISO role. Matthew shares his journey from IT into federal and commercial cybersecurity, the lessons that shaped his leadership approach, and why technical skills alone aren't enough at the executive level. Together, they discuss the importance of communication, influence, and business alignment, how CISOs can navigate compliance and legal

en

31:44

Why Intellectual Property Is the New Cybersecurity...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/01/08

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why intellectual property is becoming the most important cybersecurity priority for organizations as artificial intelligence accelerates innovation and imitation. As AI makes products, services, and content easier to replicate, traditional approaches to data security are no longer enough. Dr. Cole breaks down why trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets are now the true differentiators in the market and how failing to protect them

en

31:59

The 2026 Reset for Security Leaders

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2026/01/01

In this New Year's episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole reflects on the challenges of 2025 and delivers a powerful reset framework for CISOs entering 2026. Drawing from real-world coaching, executive leadership principles, and personal experience, Dr. Cole challenges security leaders to stop thinking like technologists and start acting like true chief officers. This episode breaks down three essential pillars every world-class CISO must define: who you need to become, your single top priority,

en

31:07

How AI, Cloud Outages, and Data Protection Will...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/12/25

As we close out 2025 and prepare for 2026, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down what it truly takes to be a world-class CISO in the year ahead. In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Cole shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, health, resilience, and why taking care of yourself is foundational to protecting your organization. From personal reflection to executive-level strategy, this episode goes far beyond technical controls. Dr. Cole then dives deep into the three forces reshaping cybersecurity in 2026:

en

32:21

Understanding the Role of a CISO

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/12/18

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why world-class CISOs must think like chief officers—not technicians. Drawing from boardroom experience and real-world cyber events, he breaks down the three threats executives are most concerned about heading into 2026: ransomware, cloud failures, and AI. Dr. Cole unpacks why the Land Rover Jaguar ransomware attack marked a turning point in cybersecurity, showing how a single breach can impact an entire national economy. He also highlights

en

31:55

Who You Must Become to Be a World-Class CISO

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/12/11

In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole shifts the focus from strategy, roadmaps, and organizational security, and puts the spotlight directly on YOU. Instead of asking what you want or why you want it, Dr. Cole explains that the real key to becoming a world-class CISO is asking: Who do you need to become? Dr. Cole breaks down the three types of CISOs, the difference between tactical and true strategic leadership, and what it really means to operate as a corporate officer. From

en

27:40

Gratitude, Giving & Becoming a World-Class CISO

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/11/27

In this special Thanksgiving episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole delivers one of his most personal and powerful messages yet. Before diving into the technical skills of executive briefings and CISO strategy, he shifts focus to something far more foundational: gratitude, giving, and appreciation—the mindset pillars that shape world-class cybersecurity leaders. Dr. Cole shares why gratitude isn't just nice to have — it's essential for peak performance, mental resilience, and long-term success in

en

31:32

CISO Priorities for 2026: Health, Leadership & Risk...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains the top priorities every CISO must focus on as we move into 2026. He begins by highlighting the importance of personal health and why nutrition, hydration, and daily habits directly impact your ability to lead and make smart decisions in cybersecurity. After facing his own health challenges and losing friends in the industry, he shares why health must be the starting point for any world-class CISO. Dr. Cole also breaks down what it means to

en

35:20

Relationships Over Firewalls with Attila Torok

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/11/13

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Attila Torok, CISO at GoTo (formerly LogMeIn), to unpack what it really takes to move from security engineer to strategic leader. Attila shares his journey, the advice that shaped his career, and why "relationships matter more than engineering skills." From mastering executive communication in three bullet points to building your personal brand and navigating AI in the enterprise, this conversation is packed with practical insight for

en

35:20

Relationships Over Firewalls with Attila Torok

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/11/13

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Attila Torok, CISO at GoTo (formerly LogMeIn), to unpack what it really takes to move from security engineer to strategic leader. Attila shares his journey, the advice that shaped his career, and why "relationships matter more than engineering skills." From mastering executive communication in three bullet points to building your personal brand and navigating AI in the enterprise, this conversation is packed with practical insight for

en

33:06

When the Cyber Alarms Go Silent

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/11/06

In this urgent and eye-opening episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives into one of the most consequential moments in U.S. cybersecurity history: the expiration of the Information Sharing Act of 2015, which quietly lapsed the same day the government shut down. Dr. Cole explains how this coincidence has effectively cut off the flow of critical cyber threat intelligence between the U.S. government and private sector, leaving organizations blind to emerging attacks and operating at a major

en

34:32

Lessons in Trust, Training, and Threat Intelligence...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/10/30

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Michael Centrella, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service turned cybersecurity executive, to discuss how lessons from protecting presidents translate into protecting digital infrastructure. Centrella shares his journey from investigating counterfeit currency to leading global cyber investigations, emphasizing how human error remains the biggest security vulnerability despite technological advances. Together, they explore the

en

29:10

From Good to World-Class: Aligning Cybersecurity with...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/10/23

In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down what truly separates good CISOs from world-class ones — the ability to align cybersecurity strategy with the core business mission. He explains that understanding what business your organization is really in is the foundation of effective security leadership. Using real-world examples, Dr. Cole highlights how CISOs must adapt their security priorities based on organizational goals, whether it’s stabilizing growth, driving acquisitions, or

en

35:43

From Race Cars to Risk: Dual CISO-CTO Leadership with...

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/10/16

In this high-speed episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole welcomes Ben Wilcox, a rare dual-role executive serving as both CISO and CTO at ProArch — and a race car driver to boot. Ben shares his 30-year journey from building websites in the early internet days to leading enterprise security and technology strategy today. Dr. Cole and Ben dive into the challenges and opportunities of balancing technical innovation with cybersecurity, how to win executive support for security investments, and how to

en

31:07

The Essential Guide to Becoming a CISO

Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole ·

2025/10/09

In this solo episode, Dr. Eric Cole steps back into the spotlight after several interview-focused sessions, responding to listeners’ requests to hear directly from him. The result is a powerful, insightful, and foundational deep dive into what it truly means to be a CISO—not just in title, but in mindset, skillset, and strategic execution. This episode isn’t just about definitions—it’s a wake-up call to the cybersecurity industry and professionals aspiring to leadership roles. Dr. Cole challenges

en

321 results

Similar Podcasts

Lead With AI

Tamara Nall

Linux in the Ham Shack

Black Sparrow Media

Data Engineering Podcast

Tobias Macey

Eye On A.I.

Craig S. Smith

Reflections

Livewire Labs