Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Dr. Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman of RSA Conference and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They discuss what goes into planning the world’s largest cybersecurity conference—from theme selection to llama-related surprises on the expo floor—and how the RSA community continues to evolve. Hugh also shares how his background in applied ma...

On this special episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea, Ann brings listeners inside the 2025 RSA Conference to explore the intersection of AI, quantum computing and cyber resiliency with two visionary experts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Vinod Vaikuntanathan and Dr. Sasha O’Connell from The Aspen Institute. Vinod shares how quantum computing poses a serious threat to current encryption methods...

Christina Morillo, Head of Information Security at the National Football League’s New York Giants joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Christina discusses the ins and outs of building a resilient cybersecurity strategy, the importance of entering organizations with curiosity—not checklists—and why listening is always her first step. Christina breaks down common cybersecurity mi...

Jack Rhysider, the creator and host of cybersecurity podcast Darknet Diaries joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Jack shares his journey from network security engineer to self-taught storyteller, detailing how his passion for cybersecurity and relentless dedication to learning and marketing helped him build an independent media powerhouse. He discusses the challenges of growin...

Ryan Field, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer at Bank of Hawaii joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. With over two decades of experience in IT and cybersecurity, Ryan shares his approach to security leadership; and the importance of fostering collaboration and diverse perspectives. He discusses the unique challenges of cybersecurity in banking and fi...

Micah Czigan, Chief Information Security Officer at Georgetown University joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. With a career spanning the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and private sector cybersecurity, Micah shares his journey from marine biology to cryptologic communications, ultimately finding his passion for cybersecurity. He discusses the parallels between military stra...

Igor Tsyganskiy, Microsoft's Global Chief Information Security Officer, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea for an engaging conversation on the challenges and optimism driving the fight against cyber threats. Igor shares insights from his diverse career and breaks down why cybersecurity is best understood as a battle of graphs versus lists, the importance of raising the cost fo...

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down—neither should you. In this podcast, Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Microsoft, sits down with top security minds to break down the risks, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the digital world. Whether it’s AI, emerging threats, or keeping up with the evolving cybersecurity landscape, these conversations wil...

The cyber landscape is evolving—are you keeping up? Join Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Microsoft, as she dives into the latest trends shaping security, AI, and digital transformation with top industry experts. From emerging threats to game-changing innovations, this is the podcast for leaders and techies who need to stay ahead. New episodes...

In this milestone 100th episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea, we celebrate with a special "Best Of" compilation featuring some of our most remarkable guests. Join us as we revisit highlights from conversations with Charlie Bell, Marc Goodman, Dr. Andrea Matwyshyn, Dr. Fiona Hill, Runa Sandvik, Hyrum Anderson and Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, MK Palmore, Marene Allison, Mike Hanley, and Theresa Payton. This ep...

Rohan Kumar and Shawn Bice join Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Both Corporate Vice Presidents at Microsoft, Shawn, who oversees Microsoft's cloud ecosystem security organization, and Rohan, responsible for security platform, data security, compliance, and governance, share their journeys in technology and the critical role data plays in cybersecurity. The discussion highlights...

Alberto Yepez, Co-founder and Managing Director at ForgePoint Capital, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Alberto shares his journey from an engineer at Apple to a pioneering entrepreneur and influential investor in the cybersecurity industry. Ann and Alberto discuss the evolution of cybersecurity, emphasizing the critical role of AI in both enhancing and securing technologic...

Katie Jenkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Liberty Mutual, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. For the past six years, Katie and her team have been responsible for ensuring the protection of company data, defending the brand, and minimizing the business impact of cyber-attacks. At Liberty Mutual Katie is the executive sponsor of multiple...

Robyn Frye, Vice President at Workday join’s Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Robin has spent the last 20 years working in security and compliance consulting and is currently the Vice President of Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance at Workday. Robyn shares her background, growing up in Silicon Valley and her journey into cybersecurity. The conversation touches on the...

Geoff Belknap, Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President of Engineering at LinkedIn join’s Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Before his tenure at LinkedIn, Jeff was instrumental in fortifying the defenses at Slack, ensuring that both physical and digital assets remained impervious to malicious intent. With a track record of leadership roles in various technology firms,...

Jason Healey, founding scholar and director for cyber efforts at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs join’s Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Jason is a seasoned speaker, analyst, and author, boasting extensive expertise in cybersecurity and risk management across diverse sectors including think tanks, finance, the White House, military, intelligence, and academi...

Podcaster, writer, and information security consultant Carole Theriault, along with award-winning cybersecurity public speaker, podcaster, blogger, and analyst Graham Cluley, join Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Graham and Carole are hosts of the Smashing Security podcast, which offers a helpful and hilarious take on tech SNAFUs, chat about cybercrime, hacking, online privacy, a...

Keren Elazari, internationally recognized security analyst, researcher, author, and speaker, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Keren writes about emerging cyber security issues and is a frequent commentator on national & international broadcast media and the press. Her TED talk has helped shape the global conversation about hackers and their growing role in our digital socie...

Mike Hanley, Chief Security Officer and the Senior Vice President of Engineering at GitHub, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Ann and Mike discuss the complexities of software supply chain security, the unique integration of security and engineering at GitHub, the role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, and explore how emerging technologies contribute to digital de...

Frank Cilluffo, Director of the McCrary Institute, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Frank is the Director for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security at Auburn University, which fuses theory with practice and policy with technology to protect and advance U.S. interests in national and economic security. Before joining Auburn, Frank served in senior roles at George Washin...

Deneen DeFiore, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at United Airlines, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Deneen shares insights into her Aviation Information Sharing and Analysis Center (A-ISAC) chairperson role, focusing on priorities such as building a trusted community, supply chain security, and global collaboration with government entities. Both Ann a...

Caitlin Sarian, known to many as Cybersecurity Girl, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Caitlin is a leading influencer with a cybersecurity-focused social presence, primarily on TikTok and Instagram, where she provides insights on data protection, privacy, and cybersecurity. Caitlin shares her journey into cybersecurity, starting from a background in aerospace mechanical eng...

Tanya Janca, head of Community and Education at Semgrep and the founder of WeHackPurple, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Tanya brings over two decades of coding and IT experience, navigating diverse landscapes from startups to tech giants like Microsoft, Adobe, and Nokia. Tanya is not just a seasoned professional; she's also the acclaimed author of 'Alice and Bob Learn App...

Lynn Dohm, the Executive Director of Women in Cybersecurity, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Lynn boasts over 25 years of invaluable experience in organizational and leadership roles, making her a prominent figure within the Women in Cybersecurity WiCyS team. Her unwavering passion lies in championing the importance of diverse mindsets, skill sets, and perspectives within...

Nadav Zafrir, co-founder and Managing Partner of Team8 joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Team8 is a pioneering venture group with profound expertise in creating and investing in companies specializing in enterprise technology, data, cybersecurity, and fintech. Nadav is pivotal in navigating Team8's global growth and is the visionary architect behind their dynamic connections...