The Social-Engineer Podcast

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.

In today's episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie explore the intriguing phenomena of dreams, the placebo effect, and déjà vu. They delve into the mysteries of why dreams can feel more emotionally intense than reality, how belief can trigger real physiological changes, and the perplexing sensation of déjà vu that leaves us questioning our memories. Through engaging discussions, they uncover what science knows and the many questions that remain unanswered about these fascinating topics. [Oct 6, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:54 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

01:14 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

03:17 - The Topic of the Day: Dreams, Placebo and Deja Vu

04:11 - Why Do We Dream?

07:01 - Information Integration

09:36 - Second-Hand Emotion

11:41 - What We Don't Know

14:28 - Uploading Your Dreams

17:26 - The Placebo Effect

22:57 - Context Dependent

26:09 - Non-Responders

28:21 - Deja Vu

30:01 - The Smell Trigger

31:31 - The Emotional Aspect

34:43 - What's Your Sign?

35:44 - Wrap Up

35:59 - Next Month: Ambition

36:34 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd

- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

References:

Barrett, D. (2001). The committee of sleep: How artists, scientists, and athletes use dreams for creative problem solving—and how you can too. Oneiroi Press.

de la Fuente-Fernández, R., Ruth, T. J., Sossi, V., Schulzer, M., Calne, D. B., & Stoessl, A. J. (2001). Expectation and dopamine release: Mechanism of the placebo effect in Parkinson's disease. Science, 293(5532), 1164–1166. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1060937

Hobson, J. A. (2009). REM sleep and dreaming: Towards a theory of protoconsciousness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(11), 803–813. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2716

Hobson, J. A., & McCarley, R. W. (1977). The brain as a dream state generator: An activation-synthesis hypothesis of the dream process. Cognitive Psychology, 5(4), 448–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-0285(77)90005-9

Platek, S. M., Critton, S. R., Myers, T. E., & Gallup, G. G. (2003). Contagious yawning: The role of self-awareness and mental state attribution. Cognitive Brain Research, 17(2), 223–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-6410(03)00109-5

Revonsuo, A. (2000). The reinterpretation of dreams: An evolutionary hypothesis of the function of dreaming. Consciousness and Cognition, 9(2), 210–218. https://doi.org/10.1006/ccog.2000.0422

Stickgold, R., & Walker, M. P. (2013). Sleep-dependent memory triage: Evolving generalization through selective processing. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(10), 501–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2013.06.003

Voss, U., Holzmann, R., Tuin, I., & Hobson, J. A. (2009). Lucid dreaming: A state of consciousness with features of both waking and non-lucid dreaming. Sleep, 32(9), 1191–1200. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/32.9.1191

Wager, T. D., Scott, D. J., & Zubieta, J.-K. (2007). Placebo effects on human μ-opioid activity during pain. NeuroImage, 35(1), 253–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.11.026

REPLAY (Original Air Date March 10, 2025)

Today we are joined by Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos. Dr. Kostopoulos is a globally recognized strategist that brings clarity and context as to what is on the horizon. Her unique expertise at the intersection of emerging technology, security and macro-trends has been sought by the United Nations, U.S. Special Operations, the European Commission, NATO, multi-nationals, tech companies, design agencies, academia, such as MIT and Oxford Saïd Business School, and foreign governments. She helps her clients understand new technologies, emerging value chains, and contextualizes the convergences of our time. She founded the boutique consultancy Abundance Studio and has experience working in the US, Europe, Middle East and East Asia. [March 10, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:19 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

02:10 - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos Intro

03:30 - From Counter Terrorism to Conflict Landscapes

05:35 - The Imagination Dilemma

09:13 - Technological Tit for Tat

11:38 - Four Facets of Imagination

12:18 - Facet 1) Identity

13:36 - Facet 2) Convergence

15:38 - Facet 3) Humanity

16:48 - Facet 4) Dreams

18:18 - Turning Crisis Into Strategy

22:39 - Being Human

26:04 - Future-Proofing Organizations

29:51 - Real Value Proposition

31:26 - Webinar Series

- Website: imaginationdilemma.com

- YouTube: @ImaginationDilemma

32:12 - Find Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos online

- Website: abundance.studio

- LinkedIn: in/lydiak

- Instagram: @HiLydiak

32:46 - Book Recommendations

- The 100-Year Life - Andrew Scott & Lynda Gratton

- Imagination Dilemma - Dr. Lydia Kostopoulos

37:02 - Mentors

- Parents

- Women Suffragists

38:15 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news.

Today Chris and Mike are joined by Ryan Rosenzweig. Ryan is the 26 years old CEO of C10 Toys and Games, which he started when he was just 16 years old. Based out of Orlando FL, he specializes in Video games, Pokemon cards and Funko pops. [Sept 22, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:25 - Mike Holfeld Intro

00:47 - Today's Guest: Ryan Rosenzweig

01:09 - Collecting as a Business

03:25 - Something for Everyone

04:24 - Currently Hot!

04:55 - Going Vintage

06:41 - Arcade Consoles

07:33 - World Championships

08:52 - Following the Trends

10:30 - Who's the Customer?

11:40 - Inadvertent Exercise App

12:42 - Detective Work

15:30 - Road Life

16:18 - Trade-In

16:58 - Full Time Job

19:36 - Multi-Million Dollar Industry

20:28 - E-Sports

21:45 - Find Ryan Rosenzweig Online

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c10_tng?igsh=N3pkdGl6OWFkODh2

22:15 - Beware of Fakes

23:02 - 10 Years Later

23:47 - Wrap Up

23:58 - Next Month: Carrie Hatton

24:24 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- Chris Hadnagy

- Twitter: @humanhacker

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Faith Kent. Together, they delve into the critical role of effective communication, the art of role adaptation, and the psychological dynamics in crisis situations. The conversation highlights the importance of proactive preparedness and fostering trust within teams to tackle challenges with confidence. [Sept 15, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:42 - Faith Kent Intro

01:21 - Intro Links:

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

03:09 - Breaking & Entering

04:45 - Blending In

07:45 - Frank's Computer

10:13 - Unusual Communications

12:17 - Cochlear Implant

14:19 - Ethical Boundaries

16:11 - Community Pride

18:00 - Leaning Into the Discomfort

21:57 - Not an Afterthought

23:08 - Diversity for Security

27:00 – Trust, But Verify (Always)

28:23 - Wrap Up

- Deaf Gain: Raising the Stakes for Human Diversity

- https://gallaudet.edu/deaf-president-now/

- https://www.lifeprint.com/

29:03 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Today we are joined by Lauren Gawne. Lauren is a Senior Lecturer in linguistics at La Trobe University. Her work focuses on understanding how people use gestures and grammar, with a particular focus on cross-cultural gesture use. Lauren also does research on emoji, scicomm and the grammar of Tibetan languages in Nepal. [Sept 8, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

01:40 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

02:40 - Lauren Gawne Intro

03:02 - Foreign Gestures

03:59 - Linguistical Mad Libs

05:37 - Universal Traits

07:47 - This Isn't Taught

10:07 - Head Shaking Confusion

12:41 - The Weirdness of Writing

14:31 - Deception Detection

17:46 - Got The Time?

21:39 - Assigning Space

23:06 - The Cross Culture Conundrum

27:31 - Find Lauren Gawne Online

- Website: https://lingthusiasm.com/

- Blog: https://www.superlinguo.com/

- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/superlinguo.bsky.social

28:48 - Book Recommendations

- The Murderbot Diaries - Martha Wells

- Gesture - Lauren Gawne

30:39 - Mentors

- Barbara Kelly

31:58 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.

In today's episode, Chris and Abbie delve into the fascinating world of intuition and gut feelings. They explore whether these instincts are rooted in biology or shaped by past experiences and discuss the science behind how our brains process environmental cues to make quick decisions. [Sept 1, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:44 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

01:02 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

02:23 - New Book Announcement

- Lilly the Brave Lion - Dr. Abbie Maroño

03:34 - The Topic of the Day: All About Intuition

06:04 - Is Intuition Always Right?

10:39 - Training Over Instinct

13:56 - Teaching Autonomy

16:39 - Facing Hard Truths

20:19 - Lack of Self Trust

24:06 - Intuition or Trauma Response?

26:16 - Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd

- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

References:

American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Intuition. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved March 29, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/intuition

Bechara, A., Damasio, H., Tranel, D., & Damasio, A. R. (1997). Deciding advantageously before knowing the advantageous strategy. Science, 275(5304), 1293–1295. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.275.5304.1293

Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). Exploring intuition and its role in managerial decision making. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2007.23463682

Gigerenzer, G. (2007). Gut feelings: The intelligence of the unconscious. Viking.

Hodgkinson, G. P., Langan-Fox, J., & Sadler-Smith, E. (2008). Intuition: A fundamental bridging construct in the behavioral sciences. British Journal of Psychology, 99(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1348/000712607X216666

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Lieberman, M. D. (2000). Intuition: A social cognitive neuroscience approach. Psychological Bulletin, 126(1), 109–137. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.126.1.109

Sadler-Smith, E., & Shefy, E. (2004). The intuitive executive: Understanding and applying 'gut feel' in decision-making. Academy of Management Executive, 18(4), 76–91. https://doi.org/10.5465/ame.2004.15268692

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The 4th Monday Series with Chris Hadnagy and Mike Holfeld. Chris and Mike will be covering cutting edge global news to help people remain safe, secure and knowledgeable in a world where it is hard to know what is real and what is fake news.

Today Chris and Mike are joined by Bobby Knost. Bobby is a proud member of the Iron Workers Local Union 808, which represents workers across eight counties in Central Florida. He has been a Union Iron Worker since 1985 and currently serves as the Business Manager of Local 808, a position he has held since June of 2018. [Aug 25, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:16 - Mike Holfeld Intro

01:02 - Today's Guest: Bobby Knost

01:28 - Let's Start with "Why?"

02:44 - Just Give Me a Chance

04:19 - The Union Advantage

06:13 - Journey to Journeyman

07:21 - What Do I Do?

- https://www.ironworkers808.com/

08:21 - Building Something

12:01 - An Act of Attrition

15:32 - Paying It Forward

17:39 - You're Gonna Want to Go Up!

19:16 - Google "Union Iron Workers"

20:17 - The Work is There

24:13 - Be A Cadillac

25:58 - Wrap Up

26:53 - Honoring Brother Mike

28:56 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- Chris Hadnagy

- Twitter: @humanhacker

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris is joined by Jowan Joseph. Chris and Jowan discuss the importance of effective communication, role adaptation, and the psychological aspects of crisis situations. The discussion emphasizes the need for proactive preparedness and building trust within teams to navigate challenges effectively. [Aug 18, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:32 - Jowan Joseph Intro

00:44 - New Format

01:24 - Intro Links:

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

03:08 - Tabletop...Child's Play

04:36 - Phase One: Assigning Roles

07:11 - Going Rogue

08:05 - Measuring Tone

09:22 - A Few More Twists

09:57 - Some Heads Are Gonna Roll

10:41 - Communication Breakdown

12:17 - Post Mortem

13:44 - Alignment at Scale

14:57 - Divide and Conquer... Together

17:31 - Proactive Instead of Reactive

20:21 - The Communication Gap

21:22 - Trust Factor

22:15 - Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Today we are joined by Shang Saavedra, the Founder and CEO of Save My Cents, an influential personal-finance website and social-media platform. Saavedra teaches readers the key habits and behaviors needed to become less fearful of money and live life with joy. Saavedra was named one of the "25 Most Influential New Voices of Money" by TIME/NextAdvisor in 2022 and is an Expert Reviewer and Contributor at CNET Money. She received her bachelor's degree in economics from Harvard and her MBA from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business. Saavedra and her husband finished saving for their retirement by the age of 31 and now live a work-optional life in Southern California with their two boys and two cats. [Aug 11, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:37 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

01:27 - Shang Saavedra Intro

02:23 - Motivation for Success

04:03 - Save My Cents

07:29 - The Feelings Mutual

10:07 - It's Emotional

12:01 - Root Causes of Bad Money Habits

13:02 - Feast or Famine

13:45 - Adverse Events

15:26 - Scarce Immigrant

17:08 - Mind Over (Money) Matters

21:05 - Your Worth, More

24:07 - Book Recommendations

- The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg

25:06 - Mentors

- Therapist

25:59 - Shang Saavedra Online

- Website: https://savemycents.com/

- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savemycents/

- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savemycents

- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216282934-wealth-is-a-mindset

- Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Mindset-Change-Your-Money/dp/B0D94QCZL6/

- Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/wealth-is-a-mindset/21633491

26:42 - Parting Advice

27:04 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we will discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology.

In today's episode, Chris and Abbie explore the complexities of attraction and the concept of love at first sight. They discuss the biochemical responses associated with attraction, the importance of understanding cognitive biases, and the role of familiarity in relationships. [Aug 4, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:35 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

01:15 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Managed Voice Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/vishing-service/

- Managed Email Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/se-phishing-service/

- Adversarial Simulations - https://www.social-engineer.com/services/social-engineering-penetration-test/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

03:14 - The Topic of the Day: Love at First Sight

03:22 - Pulling Apart the Fairy Tale

04:26 - Knowledge is Power

05:49 - Why Can't This Be Love?

07:12 - More Than a Feeling

09:28 - May Impair Your Ability

10:59 - The Rickety Bridge Study

13:20 - Head or Heart?

15:04 - Cognitive Biases

16:16 - The Halo Effect

17:19 - Prototypical Matching

18:51 - I Want You to Want Me

21:54 - Retrospective Bias

23:34 - Feels Like Home

28:44 - Keep One Eye Open

30:32 - A Responsibility to Self-Awareness

32:53 - Wrap Up

33:11 - Next Month: Intuition

33:31 - Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Find us online:

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd

- Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial

- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

References:

Dutton, D. G., & Aron, A. P. (1974). Some evidence for heightened sexual attraction under conditions of high anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 30(4), 510–517.

Fisher, H. E., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2006). Romantic love: A mammalian brain system for mate choice. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 361(1476), 2173–2186.

Fletcher, G. J. O., Simpson, J. A., & Thomas, G. (2000). The measurement of perceived relationship quality components: A confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26(3), 340–354.

Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524.

Marazziti, D., & Canale, D. (2004). Hormonal changes when falling in love. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 29(7), 931–936.

Nisbett, R. E., & Wilson, T. D. (1977). The halo effect: Evidence for unconscious alteration of judgments. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(4), 250–256.

Sprecher, S., & Metts, S. (1989). Development of the "Romantic Beliefs Scale" and examination of the effects of gender and gender-role orientation. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 6(4), 387–411.

Sternberg, R. J. (1986). A triangular theory of love. Psychological Review, 93(2), 119–135.

Zeki, S. (2007). The neurobiology of love. FEBS Letters, 581(14), 2575–2579.

Zsok, F., Haucke, M., De Wit, C., & Barelds, D. P. (2017). What kind of love is love at first sight? An empirical investigation. Personal Relationships, 24(4), 869–885.