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Artwork for The Human Side of Cybersecurity

The Human Side of Cybersecurity

Dan Desko
Cybersecurity
Leadership
Artificial Intelligence
Kontoor Brands
Busy Beaver
Drata
Emotional Intelligence
Carnival Corporation
Cloud Computing
Dollar Bank
Risk
CISO
Relationship Building
KISS Principle
Platinum Equity
Data Analytics
Pittsburgh
ISAC
Navy
Third-Party Risk Management

The Human Side of Cybersecurity, hosted by Dan Desko, CEO and Founder of Echelon Risk + Cyber, features candid conversations with today’s top CISOs, cybersecurity leaders, and entrepreneurs. Each episode explores real career paths, leadership challenges, and how security and business leaders navigate risk, communication, and growth in complex organizations. The series cuts through industry noise t... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes19Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for The Human Side of Cybersecurity

Latest Episodes

In this special edition of the Human Side of Cybersecurity, Dan Desko, CEO of Echelon Risk + Cyber, sits down with a guest unlike any other: his son, Luca Desko. The conversation covers leadership and entrepreneurship through the eyes of a young lead... more

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In this episode, Dan Desko sits down with Adam Markowitz, Co-Founder of Drata, to discuss the evolution of trust in cybersecurity and how it has become a core driver of business performance. Adam shares his journey from working on the NASA Space Shut... more

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In this episode, Dan Desko sits down with Adam Gunnett, VP of Business Intelligence & Strategy at Busy Beaver Building Centers, to explore how technology, data, and cybersecurity come together to drive real business outcomes. Adam shares his journey ... more

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In this episode of the series from Cyber Intelligence Weekly, Echelon Risk + Cyber CEO Dan Desko sits down with Dawn Cappelli, former CISO at Rockwell Automation and current Head of OT CERT at Dragos. Dawn shares her remarkable journey from programmi... more

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In this episode, Dan Desko sits down with Jamie Giroux, Chief Information Security Officer at Platinum Equity. With more than 30 years in cybersecurity, Jamie shares what it was like working in the industry long before it was even called “cyber,” and... more

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In this episode of the Human Side of Cybersecurity, Dan Desko sits down with Jon Garza, a cybersecurity leader with more than 25 years of experience in IT and over a decade in security leadership across multiple industries. Jon shares how his career ... more

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In this episode of the Human Side of Cybersecurity, Dan Desko sits down with Arif Hameed, CISO at C&R Software, to talk about the path to cybersecurity leadership, the realities of the CISO role, and what it takes to build a program that actually sup... more

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In this episode of the Human Side of Cybersecurity, Dan Desko sits down with Roy Luongo, former CISO of the U.S. Secret Service and a cybersecurity leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning military intelligence, the NSA, Cyber Command, a... more

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Luca Desko
Son of the host, special guest for this episode
Family guest
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Luca Desko | A Special Episode with Dan's Son
Adam Markowitz
Founder of Drata
Drata
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Adam Markowitz, Founder of Drata
Adam Gunnett
VP of Business Intelligence & Strategy at Busy Beaver
Busy Beaver
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Adam Gunnett, VP of BI & Strategy at Busy Beaver
Dawn Cappelli
Head of OT CERT at Dragos; former founder/director of CERT Insider Threat Center
Dragos
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Dawn Cappelli, Head of OT CERT at Dragos
Jamie Giroux
Chief Information Security Officer
Platinum Equity
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Jamie Giroux, CISO at Platinum Equity
Jon Garza
CISO at PSA BDP (as discussed in episode)
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Jon Garza, CISO at PSA BDP
Arif Hameed
CISO at C&R Software (formerly at Munich Re New Ventures, Equifax Canada, TD Bank, and more)
C&R Software
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Arif Hameed, CISO at C&R Software
Roy Luongo
Former CISO, U.S. Secret Service
U.S. Government (Secret Service)
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Roy Luongo, Former CISO at U.S. Secret Service
Trebor Evans
Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Dollar Bank
Dollar Bank
Episode: The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Dr. Trebor Evans, SVP and CISO at Dollar Bank

Host

Dan Desko
Host of The Human Side of Cybersecurity, guiding conversations with CISOs and leaders

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 2 ratings
  • What makes Dan special…

    In my opinion, Dan is a very interesting host because he does things a little different. In an industry where it is very difficult to see the human side of things such as cybersecurity, Dan is very good at finding the way of doing it. Because at the end of the day, humans with a name are the ones behind everything and we sometimes forget that, but Dan does not.

    Listening to all his insights and experiences from that particular point of view is something that I find very valuable, and is somethi... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Miguell N.
    Mexico2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners likely value authenticity and mentorship in security leadership.
Guests bring deep expertise with practical, leadership-focused takeaways.
The conversations highlight real-world leadership, not just tech talks.
Dan's human-centric approach makes cybersecurity approachable and relatable.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Paul Guerra, CISO at Rackspace Technology
Q: If you walked into a brand-new organization today, what would be your big three investments to start a program, and why?
People are the difference makers; clear asset and data ownership across the business; and executive alignment on acceptable risk tolerance. These foundations enable effective risk management and enable scalable security outcomes.
The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Paul Guerra, CISO at Rackspace Technology
Q: What common misconception about being a CISO would you tell younger professionals aspiring to the role?
Being a CISO is more about leadership and influence than pure technical work. A large portion of the role involves coaching teams, communicating risk to non-technical executives, and aligning with business goals rather than just configuring defenses.
The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Paul Guerra, CISO at Rackspace Technology
Q: What would you say is the biggest overhyped trend in cybersecurity today, and what should teams focus on instead?
The biggest overhyped trends are chasing tools and buzzwords like AI or zero trust without first fixing the fundamentals. Once fundamentals are solid, then you can evaluate new solutions; focus on essentials such as clarity of ownership and decision-making processes.
The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Paul Guerra, CISO at Rackspace Technology
Q: Can you give us a quick background on your career to date and the stops you've had along the way?
I started in engineering and math with program management and Lean Six Sigma, gradually moving into security when opportunities arose. A pivotal moment was being asked to fix breaches and then build a security program from the ground up, which led to scaling security practices and developing a playbook for how to operate effectively across the organization.
The Human Side of Cybersecurity with Michael South, CISO at Dick’s Sporting Goods
Q: What strategies helped you scale security at Dick's Sporting Goods and keep your team engaged?
Focus on risk-informed decisions, invest in people and culture, and create environments that reduce burnout. Use empathetic leadership, cross-team collaboration, and structured development programs to elevate the entire security organization while staying aligned with business priorities.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Human Side of Cybersecurity

What is The Human Side of Cybersecurity about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Experts and leaders in cybersecurity are featured in extended conversations that center on leadership, human dynamics, and organizational culture within security programs. Episodes frequently explore career paths, mentorship, communication with non-technical stakeholders, and the balance between risk management and business enablement. A distinctive angle is how personal storytelling, EQ, and authentic leadership influence enterprise security, with guests spanning CISOs from manufacturing, retail, hospitality, finance, and government-related sectors. Listeners can expect practical leadership lessons, real-world governance insights, and a focus on people, culture, and collaboration as drivers of security outcomes.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Human Side of Cybersecurity?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Human Side of Cybersecurity. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Human Side of Cybersecurity and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Human Side of Cybersecurity get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Human Side of Cybersecurity?

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How many episodes of The Human Side of Cybersecurity are there?

The Human Side of Cybersecurity launched 2 months ago and published 19 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Human Side of Cybersecurity?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Human Side of Cybersecurity?

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What guests have appeared on The Human Side of Cybersecurity?

Recent guests on The Human Side of Cybersecurity include:

1. Luca Desko
2. Adam Markowitz
3. Adam Gunnett
4. Dawn Cappelli
5. Jamie Giroux
6. Jon Garza
7. Arif Hameed
8. Roy Luongo

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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