Nick Andersen, President and COO of Invictus, joins Andy Sauer to unpack the hard truths about cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and government readiness. With experience spanning the Marine Corps, DOE, and White House, Nick offers a brutally honest take on what it will take to build real resilience—starting with ruthless prioritization. From AI regulation to public utility gaps, this episode dives deep into the systems we rely on and the leadership it takes to protect them. ------ MORE FR...
Jul 15, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 27
Cybersecurity expert Dr. Chase Cunningham—aka Doctor Zero Trust—joins us for a frank, no-holds-barred discussion on the broken promises of the security industry, the myth of perfect defense, and how AI hype distorts real threats. From practical strategies for small businesses to federal policy failures, Chase brings a realist's lens to the most pressing challenges in cyber today. If you’re ready to look past buzzwords and dig into what actually works, this episode is for you. ------ MORE FROM DR...
Jun 24, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 26
Retired Lt. Gen. Mary O’Brien joins us to explore the future of national security, from modernizing combat medicine to the ethical boundaries of AI. With a career spanning cyber intelligence and joint command leadership, Mary shares insights on military transitions, critical infrastructure, and the importance of integrating technology across defense and civilian life. This episode dives deep into leadership, innovation, and the challenges facing the next era of warfare. ------ MORE FROM MARY O'B...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 25
Lucian Niemeyer joins The Watchers to break down the hidden cyber threats embedded in our infrastructure, from water systems to smart homes. He discusses why operational technology (OT) attacks are the next frontier, how digital twins and AI can change the game, and why America’s energy grid—and national defense—must evolve fast. With experience spanning the DoD to nuclear advocacy, Lucian brings clarity, urgency, and hope to one of the biggest challenges of our time. ------ MORE FROM LUCIAN NIE...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 24
Bridget Bean, Executive Director & Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), joins us to talk about cyber threats, public-private partnerships, and the federal government's new "action-first" approach to securing critical infrastructure. She shares insights on supporting small businesses, strengthening federal networks, and preparing communities for nation-state cyberattacks. With a background spanning FEMA, SBA, and...
Apr 30, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 23
Sean Stalzer, CISO, Director of Cyber Security at Dominion Energy, joins The Watchers to discuss how cyber threats from China and Russia target America’s energy grid, and what the energy sector's thankless work force is doing to combat it. We explore vulnerabilities in solar infrastructure, the growing risk of insider threats, and how utilities are adapting to cyber war realities. Sean shares insights on mutual aid, resilience, and how cyber defense protects critical infrastructure. A must-liste...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 22
In this episode of The Watchers, host Andy Sauer sits down with Scott Edwards, CEO of Summit 7 Systems, to discuss the critical role cybersecurity plays in national security. From the challenges of securing the defense industrial base to the rise of AI as the next frontier in cyber warfare, Scott shares his journey, leadership lessons, and insights on navigating evolving threats. This must-watch episode explores innovation, risk, and the future of America’s cybersecurity landscape. ------ MORE F...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 21
Kat Wang is a visionary at the forefront of cybersecurity and quantum innovation. With her background at Google and expertise in securing critical infrastructure, Kat dives into the challenges of supply chain threats, the role of AI in addressing workforce shortages, and the urgent need for public-private collaboration in the fight against cybercrime. Discover how quantum technology and bold strategies are shaping the future of data protection and national security. ------ MORE FROM KAT WANG htt...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 20
Matt O’Neill is a former Managing Director of Cyber Operations for the U.S. Secret Service and one of its most decorated agents. With a 25-year career leading groundbreaking cybercrime investigations, founding the Global Investigative Operations Center, and seizing $2 billion in illicit proceeds, Matt brings unmatched expertise to the table, and continues to dedicate his life to combatting cybercrime and protecting national security interests. Now leading 5OH Consulting, he shares urgent perspec...
Mar 12, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 18
Connie Uthoff is the Program Director of the Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management Program at George Washington University and a frequent United States Cybersecurity Magazine contributor. Connie’s global journey in cybersecurity includes leading tabletop exercises, creating scenario-based courses, and focusing on emerging technologies, cyber intelligence, risk, and nation-state threats. We discuss geopolitics, cyberwarfare, AI, privacy, and the need for proactive leadership to naviga...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 17
Ron Gula is a cybersecurity expert, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Tenable Network Security. Currently the President of Gula Tech Adventures, Ron has a wealth of experience, from his time as an NSA expert to his role as an investor 'adventurer' in cybersecurity companies. We dive into a wide range of topics, including AI, deepfakes, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity responsibility, and the Defense Industrial Base. Ron also shares the story of how he and his wife, Cyndi, launched three companies a...
Feb 25, 2025•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 16
Mark Montgomery is a retired Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy and a renowned expert in national security, defense strategy, and cybersecurity, currently serving as Senior Director at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Mark brings unmatched insights into cybersecurity policy where we explore his leadership in the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and CSC 2.0, his advocacy for a dedicated U.S. Cyber Force, and the bipartisan direction...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 15
Joyce Hunter is the Executive Director of Mission Critical and a dedicated innovator and strategic leader with experience across administrations, nonprofits, and industry boards. Appointed by President Obama as Deputy CIO of the Department of Agriculture, Joyce led efforts to bridge the agri-supply chain knowledge gap, building awareness around risk mitigation and food supply, understanding world hunger and famine on a deeper level. We discuss her Data Science Camp Inc. STEAM, now celebrating it...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 14
Carley Salmon, a cybersecurity data leader at Microsoft Federal Defense and former U.S. Army National Guard Blackhawk pilot has played a large role in shaping the DIB assessment processes within DCMA's DIBCAC, after transitioning from military leadership to cybersecurity. She shares her mission-driven approach to cybersecurity policy widely in the DoD community, is passionate about protecting the warfighter, and can provide endless insights on CMMC’s impact on the DIB. Carley offers a fresh pers...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 13
Alison King, VP of Government Affairs at Forescout Technologies, is a national security policy trailblazer bridging industry goals with government action. With a decade in federal service and key roles shaping landmark legislation like the FY21 NDAA and CIRCIA, her impact is both strategic and tangible. A 2024 FDD National Security Fellow and Senior Fellow at Auburn University, Alison champions critical infrastructure defense and OT cybersecurity awareness—leading the charge for a safer, more se...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 12
Candice Frost, a military veteran with over 25 years of service, has built an exceptional career in Military Intelligence, including roles with the 82nd Airborne, 25th Infantry, and operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans. An Iowa native and West Point graduate, Candice’s groundbreaking work in a male-dominated field led her to command the Joint Intelligence Operations Center at Cyber Command, where she oversaw intelligence critical to protecting DoD networks and national infrastructure...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 11
Diane Janosek is the CEO of JANOS and a true champion of the cyber industry. Evolving from her legal career, during which she served the Justice Department and Clinton White House, Diane has been blazing a trail of her own in the world of Cyber that includes a 12-year stint with the NSA. Her impact is immeasurable, serving as a mentor and role model to many, while uplifting several organizations that work to promote a more diverse, inclusive, and woman-friendly cyber industry. ------ MORE FROM D...
Dec 10, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 10
Glenn Gerstell is an American lawyer, technology writer, and former NSA General Counsel. Now a Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), he focuses on technology and national security. A former member of President Obama’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council and D.C.’s Homeland Security Commission, Gerstell is a leading voice on Russian disinformation, Chinese cyber threats, and securing U.S. defense supply chains. Known for op-eds in *The New York Times*...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 9
Matt Hayden is the Vice President of Cyber and Emerging Threats at General Dynamics Information Technology, or GDIT. In his role within GDIT’s Intelligence and Homeland Security division, Matt isn’t just guiding strategy; he’s building bridges—fostering trusted relationships between industry and government. During his tenure at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he played a significant role in shaping election security policy and initiatives aimed at protecting U.S. election infrastructu...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 8
Brandon Wales is the Vice President of Cybersecurity Strategy with SentinelOne, and the former Executive Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. He’s a long-standing public figure, particularly within the field of cybersecurity and U.S. government operations. Known for shaping CISA's strategic direction, Wales has been one of the leading, instrumental change agents in enhancing federal cybersecurity defenses, coordinating responses to major cyber incidents, and raising ...
Nov 05, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 7
Michael McLaughlin is an attorney and author, who served in the United States Navy and now serves as a critical advisory to industry as we face a growing list of threats in the cyber domain. His book, Battlefield Cyber, brings these threats to light and paints a stark picture of where we need to focus our attention to defend our modern society going forward. ------ MORE FROM MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-g-mclaughlin/ Battlefield Cyber: https://www.amazon.com/B...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 6
Robert Disney is a retired Air Force Pararescueman and emerging expert in artificial intelligence. After a military career that saw Robert deployed to combat, and suffering several combat injuries, Robert could have taken a quiet retirement. But as you'll find out, he's tireless in his desire to keep learning, and he's now turned toward a career as an artificial intelligence specialist. We appreciate Robert so much for sharing his story with us, and hope you'll enjoy! ------ MORE FROM ROBERT DIS...
Aug 29, 2024•1 hr 50 min•Ep. 5
Bryan Ware is an entrepreneur, innovator and technology business leader who served as the first Presidentially appointed Assistant Director of Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Bryan is deeply knowledgeable about the current threat and geopolitical landscapes, along with emerging technologies like AI. He's also a standout for his advocacy work in building a stronger, more diverse cybersecurity workforce, ------ MORE FROM BRYAN WARE LinkedIn: https://wt...
Aug 21, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 4
Robert Potter is a renowned cybersecurity expert who has spent a career advising governments and institutions on fighting the growing threats in the cyber domain. For the past several years, Robert has been on the ground in Ukraine, helping the Ukrainians defend their assets in a new age of warfare. ------ MORE FROM ROBERT POTTER LinkedIn: https://wtchs.us/c6nfxa Twitter: https://x.com/rpotter_9 ------ -------------------------------------------------------------- FOLLOW THE WATCHERS Website: ht...
Aug 06, 2024•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 3
Renee Wynn is a longtime public servant, having spent over 2 decades with the Environmental Protection Agency, before taking on the role of Chief Information Officer for America's favorite federal institution, NASA. During her four-year tenure at NASA, she oversaw some of it's biggest digital modernization work completed and established its first global cybersecurity program. Now retired, Renee continues her work as an advisor, board member, mentor, and community contributor. ------ MORE FROM RE...
Jul 23, 2024•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 2
Andrew McCabe became the Acting Director of the FBI in the midst of political controversy when then President Trump fired James Comey. While the turmoil brought him to national attention, he'd already spent over 20 years of national service in the FBI, where he participated in some of its highest profile cases including 9/11, the Boston bombings, and Benghazi. While he's retired from the FBI, he's not ready to relax just yet, and continues on serving the public through his new role as a cybersec...
Jul 16, 2024•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 1
FOLLOW THE WATCHERS Website: https://thewatchers.io LinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedin Twitter: https://x.com/Watchers_Pod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/ JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORD https://thewatchers.io/Discord GET THE AUDIO PODCAST RSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feed Episodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodes CONNECT WITH ANDY LinkedIn: https://sblu.us/Andy PRODUCED BY https://www.sentinelblue.com PRODUCTION TEAM https://www.brandready.com/...
Jul 13, 2024•3 min•Ep. 1
