Darren Kane, Chief Security Officer at NBN, Australia’s national broadband network joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to shares insights from his unique journey through law enforcement, financial enforcement, and corporate security, and how those experiences shaped his leadership of a converged security organization that unites physical and cyber defense. He discusses the challenges of securing critical infrastructure across a vast continent, the importance of collaboration between government and industry, and how data convergence and AI are reshaping resilience strategies. Darren also reflects on the evolving role of the CSO, the value of holistic risk management, and why nurturing human resilience is just as vital as technological defenses. 

Resources:  

View Darren Kane on LinkedIn  

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Frank X. Shaw, Chief Communications Officer at Microsoft, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore the critical role of communication in cybersecurity. They discuss how transparency and trust shape effective response to cyber incidents, the importance of breaking down silos across teams, and how AI is transforming communication strategies. Frank shares insights on leadership, the power of internal communications, navigating misinformation in an era where perception matters as much as technical reality, and why building a culture of security awareness starts with clear, honest messaging—no fluff, no spin. 

Resources:  

View Frank X. Shaw on LinkedIn    

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.    

Volker Wagner, Chief Information Security Officer at BASF, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to  talk shop on what it really takes to defend one of the world’s largest chemical companies. From his early days in auditing to leading global cyber for high-stakes industrial and research environments, Volker shares battle-tested insights on resilience, Zero Trust, and the fundamentals that never go out of style. He dives into the hard lessons learned from ransomware, the realities of third-party risk, and how AI is reshaping everything from incident response to supply chain security. Most importantly, he makes the case for why trust, communication, and culture aren’t soft skills—they’re survival skills for modern CISOs. 

Resources:  

View Volker Wagner on LinkedIn          

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Matt Rowe, Chief Security Officer at Lloyds Bank, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore the future of cybersecurity. They discuss the accelerating pace of change in the industry, from AI and automation to data-driven security practices and identity management. Matt shares how Lloyds Bank is modernizing its approach by reducing friction, upskilling teams, and fostering a growth mindset, while also laying foundations for resilience and agility across the financial ecosystem. The conversation highlights why now is the moment to rethink security strategies and how optimism, creativity, and collaboration can help defenders stay ahead. 

Resources:  

View Matt Rowe on LinkedIn    

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

 Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

 Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

 Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.  

Erez Liebermann, partner at Debevoise & Plimpton and a leading voice in cybersecurity and data privacy joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Together, they unpack how legal and security teams can act as strategic partners, aligning regulatory compliance with business priorities while preparing for and responding to incidents. Erez offers actionable insights from real-world experience on breaking down silos, building trust, and balancing transparency with legal prudence during breaches. Listeners gain practical strategies for fostering cross-functional collaboration, improving incident response, and strengthening organizational resilience in today’s evolving threat landscape.

Resources: 

View Erez Liebermann on LinkedIn  

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts: 

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast 

The BlueHat Podcast  

Uncovering Hidden Risks 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.   

Amy Edmondson, Harvard Business School professor and psychological safety pioneer joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Together they discuss how creating psychologically safe environments allows teams, especially in high-pressure fields like cybersecurity, to speak up about early warnings, embrace the red, and learn from failure. Amy shares her framework for distinguishing between intelligent, basic, and complex failures, and offers practical guidance for leaders looking to build high-performing, resilient teams in uncertain, fast-moving environments.

Resources: 

View Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn            

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts: 

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast 

The BlueHat Podcast  

Uncovering Hidden Risks 

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts 

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Nasrin Rezai, SVP and CISO at Verizon joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Nasrin shares practical defense strategies for hard-to-secure legacy systems, emphasizes the importance of zero trust, and explains why cybersecurity is now a matter of national defense. Despite the challenges, she closes with optimism, believing that innovation, collaboration, and a new generation of cyber leaders will shape a more secure future. 

Resources:  

View Nasrin Rezai on LinkedIn      

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Please enjoy this encore episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea while Ann Johnson and team are taking a break.

Dr. Hugh Thompson⁠, Executive Chairman of RSA Conference and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They discuss what goes into planning the world’s largest cybersecurity conference—from theme selection to llama-related surprises on the expo floor—and how the RSA community continues to evolve. Hugh also shares how his background in applied math led him from academia to cybersecurity, his thoughts on the human element in security, and what keeps him optimistic about the future of the industry. 

Resources:  

⁠View Hugh Thompson on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠ ⁠ 

⁠View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn⁠   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

⁠Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast⁠  

⁠The BlueHat Podcast⁠   

⁠Uncovering Hidden Risks⁠  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at⁠ ⁠⁠microsoft.com/podcasts⁠  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Please enjoy this encore episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea while Ann Johnson and team are taking a break.

Jack Rhysider, the creator and host of cybersecurity podcast Darknet Diaries joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Jack shares his journey from network security engineer to self-taught storyteller, detailing how his passion for cybersecurity and relentless dedication to learning and marketing helped him build an independent media powerhouse. He discusses the challenges of growing the podcast from scratch, the intensity required to succeed, and why telling well-researched cybercrime stories keeps him motivated. 

Resources: 

⁠View Jack Rhysider on LinkedIn⁠

⁠View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn⁠  

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at⁠ microsoft.com/podcasts⁠ 

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.   

Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. Jeetu shares insights on the urgent need for machine-scale defenses, the potential for defenders to finally tip the scale against attackers, and the importance of collaboration across the industry. They discuss the evolution of agentic AI, the challenges of innovation fragmentation, and why cybersecurity must become more accessible and effective to keep pace with modern threats. 

Resources:  

View Jeetu Patel On LinkedIn  

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  

The BlueHat Podcast   

Uncovering Hidden Risks  

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.