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In this episode of Unspoken Security, host AJ Nash sits down with Charlotte Guiney, Cyber Threat Intelligence Manager at Toyota Financial Services. They explore what it takes to build threat intelligence programs that work for both security teams and the wider business. Charlotte cuts through the noise, stressing that buy-in is step one—and that it’s often the hardest step. She shares how understanding internal customers and their priorities leads to early wins, which are key to building trust and showing the value of intelligence. 

Charlotte explains that not every organization needs the same level of maturity. Small companies might only need basic monitoring, while larger enterprises face more complex challenges. She notes that successful programs link intelligence to business needs, not just security threats. This approach helps teams prioritize what matters most and communicate risk in ways business leaders understand. 

The conversation also dives into the future of threat intelligence. Charlotte sees a growing role for automation and AI, especially for basic tasks, but believes people are still needed to bridge gaps and build relationships across the business. She closes with a reminder to keep things in perspective, echoing a lesson from her childhood at clown camp: sometimes you need to step back and find humor, even in serious work.

In this episode of Unspoken Security, host A.J. Nash sits down with Dr. J. Lugo Santiago, Chief Operating Officer at QBRIC, to dig into how organizations actually calculate cyber risk—and why most current models fall short. Lugo explains that understanding risk is much more than looking at past incidents or relying on static checklists. Instead, he argues that real foresight comes from blending human insight, diverse data, and scenario planning to anticipate both likely and unexpected threats.

Lugo challenges the habit of focusing only on what’s already happened. He shows why leaders need to account for changing threats, business priorities, and even social trends—not just technical vulnerabilities or compliance checkboxes. The conversation underlines that effective risk management means more than patching yesterday’s gaps. It requires building a culture where leaders feel the real impact of risk and use that discomfort to drive stronger decisions.

Together, Nash and Lugo discuss why organizations must move beyond stoplight charts and generic risk scores. They call for practical, forward-looking approaches that tie risk to business value and encourage honest conversations—because seeing risk clearly is the first step to real resilience.

In this episode of Unspoken Security, host A.J. Nash sits down with Dominic Vogel, founder of Vogel Leadership & Coaching, to discuss the importance of bringing humanity back into the cybersecurity field. Dominic shares his journey from corporate burnout to becoming an advocate for kindness and authenticity in an industry often focused on metrics and technology.

Dominic explains how leading with empathy and building real, human connections can transform the workplace. He emphasizes that in a high-stress field like cybersecurity, creating positive environments is crucial for maintaining mental well-being and productivity. 

The conversation also touches on Dominic’s leadership approach, where he prioritizes relationships and kindness over traditional, rigid business strategies. Tune in to learn how Dominic is reshaping cybersecurity leadership by focusing on people first, showing that a human-centered approach can lead to long-term success in both business and personal life.

In this episode of Unspoken Security, host A.J. Nash sits down with Lauren Zabierek, Senior Vice President for the Future of Digital Security at the Institute for Security and Technology. Together, they examine how the traditional view of national security often overlooks the people it seeks to protect. Lauren shares why national security must move beyond military and government, and instead focus on the everyday risks that affect everyone—whether that’s cybersecurity, healthcare, or even climate safety.

Lauren makes a strong case for widening the lens on security. She explains why protecting people requires new thinking and fresh policies, not just more funding for defense. She also describes the need for face-to-face connections and open dialogue to rebuild trust and unity in a fractured world.

The conversation turns to software and the Secure by Design movement. Lauren outlines how changing incentives for software companies can lead to safer products. She draws on lessons from automotive and aviation safety to show paths forward, and encourages listeners to help drive demand for secure technology across all industries.