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HER STORY, PART 2: Who Protects Women from the People Paid to Protect?

A shorter skirt. A lower neckline. A quieter voice. Is this really the career advice women in security should be getting?

In Episode 201 of the Security Circle Podcast, Yolanda and Debs share three anonymous accounts that challenge the industry to look hard at its own behaviour.

One woman describes discovering a male colleague earned approximately $30,000 more despite having less experience—and being laid off two weeks after reporting a partner’s sexual remark. Another recalls being advised to “drop my knickers” to win business, then being told motherhood would end her ability to sell. A third was unanimously recognised for her leadership by her peers, yet watched every other participant secure promotion while she didn’t even get an interview. She describes waiting six years for advancement while training people for the position she had been denied.

These women kept building careers, winning business and leading teams. But why should success demand surviving this much disrespect?

And what happens when the people women describe as responsible continue climbing into the industry’s most influential positions?

An industry built on protection has some uncomfortable questions to answer about power, silence and whose safety counts.

Her Story Part 2 is raw, infuriating and fiercely hopeful—a challenge to every leader who believes a policy on paper means people are safe in practice.

Listen. Recognise it. Challenge it. The silence has already cost enough.

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 200: HER STORY — Her Stories, Heard at Last | Part One

Content advisory: This episode contains personal accounts of sexual harassment, discrimination, inappropriate workplace conduct and explicit language. Contributors' identities have been protected, and the accounts represent their personal experiences and recollections.

Three extraordinary women. Stories that have waited far too long to be heard.

For the landmark 200th episode of The Security Circle Podcast, we're doing something we've never done before.

We're changing the format, sharing the microphone, and shining a light on experiences that have remained in the shadows for far too long.

Welcome to HER STORY, a special two-part series where Yoyo is joined by her wonderful friend and co-host Debs to share anonymous, firsthand accounts from women working across the security profession.

And what stories they are.

From a business trip to Las Vegas where a manager took “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” far too literally, to a rising executive whose remarkable career was repeatedly interrupted by sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse of power, these accounts will leave you shocked, frustrated and, at times, completely speechless.

We meet Kate, whose manager's inappropriate advances during a work conference forced her to confront the uncomfortable reality of reporting someone who held power over her career.

We hear Jessica's extraordinary journey, spanning multiple organisations, promotions and leadership roles. Despite her talent, ambition and success, she repeatedly encountered men who seemed more interested in her appearance than her professional abilities. Her story is an astonishing account of persistence, institutional failure and ultimately reclaiming her voice.

And then there's Gloria, whose request for a properly fitting ballistic vest was dismissed with the words:

“It's not a fashion show.”

A woman asking for protective equipment that could actually protect her. Think about that.

Throughout the episode, Yoyo and Debs react with disbelief, compassion, occasional humour and some very candid observations about the behaviours that women have been expected to tolerate.

But beneath the extraordinary incidents lies a much bigger question:

Why do successful, accomplished women still feel they must remain anonymous to tell the truth about their experiences?

These aren't simply stories about what happened. They're stories about careers disrupted, voices dismissed, opportunities lost, and the extraordinary determination of women who refused to let those experiences define their futures.

This is not about naming and shaming.

It's about listening. Reflecting. Challenging what we've normalised.

And recognising that silence should never be the price of professional success.

💜 To every woman who entrusted us with her story, thank you.

🎙️ EP 200: HER STORY — Part One

Real women. Real experiences. Stories that deserve to be heard.

Content advisory: This episode contains personal accounts of sexual harassment, discrimination, inappropriate workplace conduct and explicit language. Contributors' identities have been protected, and the accounts represent their personal experiences and recollections.

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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What makes someone cross the line from loyalty to betrayal—and how do they justify it to themselves?

This week on The Security Circle, Yoyo welcomes former CIA operations officer Bill Costanza for a fascinating journey into the psychology of treason, terrorism and betrayal.

Drawing on 25EP 199: Inside the Mind of a Traitor — Former CIA Officer Bill Costanza

 years in the CIA and his book Treason, Terrorism and Betrayal: Why Individuals Cross the Line, Bill explores the lives of figures including Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, challenging the idea that a single motive can explain why someone becomes a threat.

“We’re trying to get into the mind of the other person and see how they think, and how they make decisions, and how they look at the world.”

From his experience at Mount Weather on 9/11 to the human relationships at the heart of intelligence work, Bill takes us beyond the Hollywood version of espionage.

“Being performative, being deceptive, people figure that out pretty quickly.”

But the most unsettling insight comes when he describes how people can come to see betrayal as their only remaining option:

“It was almost, you know, like, they had no other choice in their world to cross the line but in the way that they did.”

Understanding that worldview raises a difficult question: could we recognise the path to betrayal before someone reaches the end of it?

🎙️ Join us for a conversation that will challenge how you think about trust, loyalty and the people behind the threat.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-costanza-403372b/

BILL COSTANZA retired from the Central Intelligence Agency as a Senior Operations officer after 25 years of service. He obtained a doctorate in Liberal Studies (DLS) from Georgetown University in 2012. His doctoral thesis was “A Framework to Understand the Radicalization of Youth Across Cultures. He also has a Masters degree from American University in International Relations.

He has served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Forensic and Legal Psychology at Marymount University where he created the intelligence studies concentration in their Masters program. He was also Associate Adjunct professor at Georgetown in their Security Studies Program where he created the course Treason, Terrorism and on which his book is based.

His book is an interdisciplinary behavioral investigation of individuals who have posed grave threats to U.S. national security.

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 198: Limbs in the Loch — The Clues That Caught a Killer, with Former Police Detective Alan Cotton

How do detectives turn fragments of evidence into a case that catches a killer?

In this gripping episode of The Security Circle, Yoyo welcomes former police detective Alan Cotton, who worked on the investigation into the murder of Barry Wallace, known as the Limbs in the Loch case.

Alan takes us inside the painstaking work behind the investigation: the hours spent examining footage, the courage of a key witness, and the forensic discovery that connected Barry to the killer’s home. His recollections reveal how seemingly small details can carry extraordinary weight.

“That last wee piece of the jigsaw, a little nugget. It often comes from somewhere you least expect it.”

This is also a candid conversation about the craft of detection, the changing role of forensic science, and why patient, persistent police work matters.

“DNA was the icing on the cake… DNA has become the whole cake now.”

Beyond the evidence, Alan reflects on inspirational leadership, the detectives whose difficult work rarely receives recognition, and the remarkable dignity of Barry’s family.

For true crime listeners and anyone fascinated by how investigations unfold, this episode offers a firsthand account of the clues, decisions and people behind a major murder inquiry.

Listener advisory: This episode discusses murder, dismemberment and distressing details of a criminal investigation.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-cotton-4559bb173/

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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What happens when war doesn’t look like war?

In EP 197 of The Security Circle Podcast, Yolanda welcomes Dr John Pennell, former senior US diplomat, for a revealing conversation about grey zone warfare—and how deception, disinformation, cyber threats and sabotage shape conflict beyond the conventional battlefield.

John began his Foreign Service career on 10 September 2001. His second day was 9/11. Drawing on his experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine, he shares the realities of diplomacy under pressure: adapting to dangerous environments, building resilience and delivering difficult truths to senior decision-makers.

Together, they explore how states and their proxies use influence campaigns, criminal networks and threats to infrastructure to pursue their objectives while maintaining plausible deniability. From undersea cables to social media feeds, the conversation examines how these tactics reach businesses, communities and individuals.

John also considers how drones, AI and deepfakes are changing the character of warfare, why fact-checking alone may fail to change deeply held beliefs, and what the conflict in Ukraine reveals about sovereignty, technology and the challenges of finding a peaceful settlement.

An engaging episode connecting a diplomat’s extraordinary career with the security challenges of a world where the boundaries between peace and conflict are increasingly difficult to distinguish.

BIO

Dr. John A. Pennell is a contractor with the US Department of War’s (DoW) Irregular Warfare Center (IWC) as Editor-in-Chief of PRISM: The Journal of Emerging Threats | Complex Statecraft and as an Instructor, Course Developer, and Senior Scholar. He’s a Research Fellow with Arizona State University’s (ASU) Future Security Initiative and Professor of Practice with ASU’s School of Politics and Global Studies; a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Global & National Security Institute (GNSI) at the University of South Florida (USF); a Non-Resident Fellow with the Irregular Warfare Institute (IWI)-Europe Program; and a Senior Diplomacy Fellow with Narrative-Strategies. Dr. Pennell is also an Area Studies Course Instructor (contractor) with the US State Department’s National Foreign Affairs Training Center (NFATC), where he teaches on East Central Europe, and a guest speaker and lecturer on information operations, hybrid warfare, and new technologies with US and international universities, the US government, and US professional military education institutions. He’s a published author, including a 2024 book on Russia’s irregular activities in Syria and Ukraine. He holds a PhD from King’s College London and masters degrees from the National War College and American University. Lastly, Dr. Pennell is a retired US Senior Foreign Service Officer (Minister-Counselor rank) with 25 years of experience in all regions of the world including in active combat and/or hybrid warfare zones. 

John A. Pennell, PhD
Research Fellow, Future Security Initiative
Professor of Practice, School of Politics & Global Studies
Non-Resident Senior Fellow, Global & National Security Institute (GNSI)
Non-Resident Fellow - Europe Program, Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI)
Sr. Diplomacy Fellow, Narrative-Strategies
Editor-in-Chief, PRISM: The Journal of Complex Operations
Sr. Irregular Warfare Scholar, Irregular Warfare Center

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Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 196: Ant Examines My Phone — The Hidden Risks Inside Our Everyday Apps

What do WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Waze, dating apps, QR codes and fitness trackers really know about us?

In this highly engaging episode of The Security Circle, Yolanda is joined by Cyber Security Awareness and AI Enablement Practitioner Ant Davis to examine the technology we use every day—often without giving a second thought to the information we are sharing.

The conversation culminates in the brilliantly revealing “Ant Examines My Phone” round, where Ant gives his immediate cyber reaction to the apps and technology sitting on Yolanda’s phone. Along the way, he reveals why free apps are rarely truly free, how Instagram monitors our behaviour without secretly tracking our eyes, and why Waze users may be sharing more with Google than they realise.

Ant also exposes how easily dating profiles can be investigated using basic open-source information, why moving a conversation to WhatsApp can be an early warning sign of a scam, and how fraudulent websites can appear above legitimate businesses in sponsored search results. He explains the danger of QR-code stickers, how fitness trackers can reveal where we live and when our homes may be empty, and why even security professionals can be caught out by curiosity and misplaced trust.

The episode also explores the extraordinary opportunities—and risks—created by artificial intelligence. Ant reveals how AI can now reproduce a convincing copy of a website within minutes, placing increasingly powerful tools into the hands of both legitimate creators and cybercriminals.

Funny, accessible and packed with surprising revelations, this episode is not about telling people to abandon technology. It is about helping us understand the invisible exchange taking place every time we tap, scroll, scan, share or accept.

After listening, you may never look at the apps on your phone in quite the same way again.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antdaviscyber/

Instagram = antdaviscyber 

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 195: The Gentle Art of Leadership, Why Gentle Leaders Create the Greatest Impact

What if the strongest leaders are not the loudest people in the room?

In this episode of The Security Circle, Yoyo welcomes globally recognised executive coach and two-time author Brian Donovan for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, influence and the human qualities that enable people to perform at their best.

Brian is the author of Leadership Is Changing the Game and The Gentle Art of Leadership, two books that challenge outdated leadership models and offer a more human-centred approach to achieving results.

Together, Brian and Yoyo explore the difficult transition from tactical expert to strategic leader—particularly within security, cyber and technology, where technical ability can lead to promotion without preparing someone to inspire, influence or develop others.

They discuss why gentle leadership should never be confused with weakness, how empathy and accountability can coexist, and why treating people with dignity consistently produces stronger results. Brian also explains how leaders can identify and reinvent their natural strengths, establish healthier boundaries, delegate effectively and move beyond the belief that they must carry every burden themselves.

The conversation also examines toxic workplace cultures, the importance of recognising when an environment can no longer be changed, and the personal agency required to take control of your future. Brian asks listeners to consider one deceptively powerful question: What do you want to be known for?

From integrity and emotional intelligence to reputation, resilience and the courage to say no, this episode invites leaders to look honestly at the impact they have on the people around them.

As Brian reminds us:

“Gentle is not soft. Gentle is knowing how to respect people, treat them with dignity and get the best out of them.”

“The best leaders know how to get people to step up—and how to foster other great leaders.”

“You don’t have to be loud, brash, arrogant or narcissistic to be a leader. That image of leadership is a myth.”

This is an insightful and reassuring conversation for anyone who wants to lead with greater clarity, humanity and impact—and proof that leadership does not need a raised voice to leave a powerful impression.

BIO

Brian Donovan is an executive coach, speaker and author, based in Melbourne and working globally. He helps technical experts make the transition to leadership. It's the step security and technology organisations expect of the people they promote on technical credibility and rarely train them for. 

 That transition is the subject of his first book; Leadership Is Changing the Game: The Transition from Technical Expert to Leader. It draws on both sides of his career: senior executive roles at Telstra, Australia's largest telco, and CEO of the IT Skills Hub, a not-for-profit set up to grow the supply of IT professionals. Forty years in the sector means he coaches from inside the problem rather than beside it.

Brian is a self-confessed gentleman. That belief sits at the heart of The Gentle Art of Leadership, a book he co-authored with Dean Phelan to challenge the outdated notion that leaders have to be loud, brash, or domineering. The book brings together original research and interviews with more than fifty leaders worldwide. Its argument is simple: leaders who treat people with dignity and respect get the better result. The skills and practices that make that possible are learnable.

Brian is also an accredited delivery partner for Influential U, facilitating programs in Transactional Intelligence®, a framework for building the influence a leader needs to reduce friction and get results. More on the framework in the book, HIGH TQ.
 

Website: www.donovanleadership.com

LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfdonovan1/

X: https://x.com/Briandonovan1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonovanLeadership/

Medium: https://medium.com/@brian-18714

Substack: https://substack.com/@briandonovan3

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +61 418 552 723

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 194: Beyond Wellbeing — The Workplace’s Role in Suicide Prevention

Suicide prevention is not only a personal or public-health issue—it is also a workplace responsibility.

In this profoundly important episode of The Security Circle, Yoyo is joined by Christine Clark to explore the vital role that employers, leaders and colleagues can play in recognising when someone may be struggling. Christine explains why changes in behaviour, performance or communication should never be dismissed—and why asking someone directly about suicide does not introduce the thought but can give them permission to speak.

Together, Yoyo and Christine confront the fear and discomfort that often prevent organisations from discussing suicide. They explore prevention, intervention, support following a death by suicide, and the practical guidance now available to help workplaces respond with greater confidence and compassion.

This is a candid but deeply human conversation about noticing what may be hidden, having the courage to ask the difficult question and creating workplaces where nobody has to struggle in silence.

From the host:

I want to let you know that this episode contains frank and sustained discussion about suicide, suicidal thoughts, and the impact of losing someone to suicide. Although this is an important discussion about prevention and the role that workplaces can play, some listeners may find the content distressing. Please take care of yourself and feel free to pause, skip this episode, or listen another time. If anything discussed resonates with you personally, please do not face it alone. In the UK and Ireland alone, you can contact Samaritans free at any time 116 123, or if you or somebody else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E department. If you are listening outside the UK, please contact your local crisis service or emergency number. Listener discretion is advised. Have a good day, folks

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-clark-31721518/

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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EP 193: How a Former Spy Turns Contacts into Relationships That Matter with Julian Fisher

Former spy, acclaimed author and returning guest Julian Fisher is back on The Security Circle—and he has unfinished business.

Julian’s first appearance remains one of the five most-downloaded episodes in the history of the podcast. This time, he returns to take the ideas behind Think Like a Spy even further, revealing how we can transform casual contacts into trusted, strategic relationships capable of changing our future.

At the heart of the conversation is Julian’s OTTERS framework: Objective-setting, Targeting, Trust-building, Elicitation of motivations, Recruitment and Stewardship. Drawing upon HUMINT tradecraft, acting techniques and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Julian explains why genuine relationship-building is fundamentally different from collecting business cards or adding names to a network.

Together, Yoyo and Julian explore social capital, trust, authenticity and the importance of understanding what motivates another person. They also examine Strategic Transcendence: the ability to step away from the emotional battlefield, resist an instinctive reaction and respond in a way that serves the outcome we truly want.

Through wonderfully relatable stories—from forgotten business cards to confrontational meetings—Julian demonstrates how pausing, observing and remembering our objective can preserve relationships, strengthen our influence and prevent a moment of emotion from damaging years of trust.

In an age of AI, total data and growing digital vulnerability, Julian offers a compelling reminder that the real secrets are still kept between people.

Because a contact may know your name—but a strategic relationship can change your future.

The Intelligence Maven: https://theintelligencemaven.com/

It contains details of Julians next Think Like a Spy Strategic Relations Workshop, which kicks off online on 29th September. 

LinkedIn page may be of interest to some listeners: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-fisher-67161920/

Substack page: Think Like a Spy by Julian Fisher | Substack

For anyone who might like to buy the book: Introduction - Julian Fisher

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers

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“Where we should make law is where society can’t regulate itself.”

EP 192: Forged at Sandhurst — A Life of Intelligence, Service and Purpose with Fiona Galbraith

Fiona Galbraith is an extraordinary woman whose life has been shaped by service, courage and an enduring commitment to developing others.

Commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1995, Fiona served for 25 years in the British Army as an intelligence officer. Her remarkable career included service with the Iraq invasion force, deployments to Afghanistan and the responsibility of making high-stakes assessments when accuracy, judgement and the courage to hold your ground truly mattered.

In this deeply enriching conversation, Fiona reflects on the resilience forged at Sandhurst, the power of military camaraderie and the realities of operating in some of the world’s most demanding environments. She explores how expertise and repeated experience shape our judgement:

“I learned to trust my instinct—but instinct becomes reliable only when it has been trained.”

And when circumstances demand immediate action:

“If you stop to weigh the odds, you may have already missed the moment.”

The conversation moves from military intelligence into leadership, communication, social media, violence and the changing meaning of community. Fiona offers a fascinating perspective on how young people experience patriotism, justice and service—and why their minds have become a new battleground.

Now helping to prepare young people for purposeful careers in intelligence, resilience and global security, Fiona brings wisdom, optimism and an unmistakable belief in the next generation.

This is more than the story of an exceptional military career. It is a conversation about trained instinct, moral courage, purposeful leadership and what it means to serve—whether on the battlefield, in the classroom or within society.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionagalbraith/

Security Circle ⭕️  is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers