Episode Description
Your inbox is designed for speed. Attackers know it, and too many training programs pretend we’re all making perfect choices with unlimited time and zero stress. Jackie had a great conversation with Lee Anderson, a cybersecurity professional with 16+ years of experience reducing human risk, to unpack what really drives security decisions and how better learning design can change behavior.
We get into the psychology behind social engineering, including how urgency, fear, and even excitement can trigger an “amygdala hijack” that shuts down clear thinking. From there, we shift to what instructional designers, educators, and organizational leaders can do differently: use a human-centered approach, build learner personas, add brain breaks, and create training that respects the messy reality of people’s lives. We also talk about ditching shame-based metrics and instead rewarding the behavior you actually want, like reporting suspicious messages.
Lee shares the story behind Hack Attack: Defense, his card game that teaches cybersecurity concepts through play. It’s a practical look at learning transfer: how a simple, engaging game plus well-timed reinforcement can move security from abstract rules to real habits at home and at work. We also explore how AI can help teams rewrite technical guidance into clearer, more personal messaging without adding hours to a busy schedule.
If you want cybersecurity training that sticks, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more learning designers can build safer, more human systems.
🔗 Website and Social Links:
Please visit Lee Anderson’s website and social media links below.
📢 Call-to-Action: If you want to support a cause aligned with protecting children online, we encourage you to learn more about the Innocent Lives Foundation and the work they do with law enforcement to combat child exploitation.
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