We all know someone who seems to have it together. They’re high-performing, always reliable, maybe even admired. But beneath the surface, they’re barely holding it together.

In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, Evan Francen and co-host Matt Goodacre dive into the brutal reality of high-functioning depression and anxiety, especially in high-stress careers like cybersecurity. Based on Evan’s deeply personal blog post (https://evanfrancen.com/2025/05/06/strong-on-the-outside/), this conversation exposes what most people never see—the silent battles behind the smiles, the crushing weight behind the competence. 

We’ll talk about:

• Why “functioning” doesn’t mean healthy
• The danger of internalizing pain to keep up appearances
• How to recognize the signs (in yourself or others)
• Why the strongest people often hide the deepest pain
• What we can do to break the cycle and actually heal

If you’ve ever felt like you’re surviving instead of living—this one’s for you.
📅 Recorded live on YouTube – May 15, 2025 @ 9pm CT