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 Christie Hudson, a resident travel expert and head of global PR for Hotels.com. Christie is adept at transforming travel data into actionable insights, helping travelers maximize their experiences. With a background in PR from the University of Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College, she is passionate about educating clients, offering tips on trending destinations and the best times to book, ensuring travelers feel informed and empowered.

[Dec 22, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:18 - Mike Holfeld Intro

01:15 - Today's Guest: Christie Hudson

02:04 - Dream Job

03:04 - Air Hacks

05:20 - AI Enhancements

07:25 - Smart Hotels

08:45 - The Human Touch

11:34 - Comfort Tech

14:06 - MasterClass Ad

-          https://www.masterclass.com/socialengineer

15:40 - Rig Rundown

17:41 - Finding Balance

19:09 - Hotels Next Steps

21:47 - Flight Deals

25:46 - The Benefits

27:01 - Practical Matters

28:34 - My Favorite Places

29:58 - Find Christie Hudson Online

-          TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotelsdotcom

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

30:28 - Wrap Up & 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 Shelby Dacko. Chris and Shelby delve into the intricacies of social engineering, focusing on the challenges of pivoting during on-site security assessments. Their discussion highlights the importance of adaptability and teamwork in overcoming unexpected obstacles, emphasizing how diverse communication styles can enhance the effectiveness of security operations. [Dec 15, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:34 - Shelby Dacko Intro

-          LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbydacko/

01:18 - Intro Links:

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

-          Offensive Security Vishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/vishing/

-          Offensive Security SMiShing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Offensive Security Phishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Call Back Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/call-back-phishing/

-          Adversarial Simulation Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/adversarial-simulation/

-          Social Engineering Risk Assessments - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/social-engineering-risk-assessment/

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

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

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

03:42 - The Importance of Pivoting

05:42 - DISC

06:59 - A Difference in Planning Styles

10:34 - Strength Through Diversity

12:40 - Over the River...

19:29 - And Through the Woods

20:24 - Being Onsite

21:40 - Pivot! Pivot! Pivot!

24:02 - What if?

25:29 - Stray From the Path

28:25 - Strength In Numbers

29:27 - Playing Into Biases

31:43 - Wrap Up & Outro

-          www.social-engineer.com

-          www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

Today we are joined by Toby Wright. Toby is an online coach and personal trainer with a passion for mental health. Toby believes true wellness begins from the inside out. Blending evidence-based training with a focus on mental health and mindset. [Dec 8, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:26 – Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

00:51 - Intro Links

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

-          Offensive Security Vishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/vishing/

-          Offensive Security SMiShing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Offensive Security Phishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Call Back Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/call-back-phishing/

-          Adversarial Simulation Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/adversarial-simulation/

-          Social Engineering Risk Assessments - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/social-engineering-risk-assessment/

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

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

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

02:17 - Toby Wright Intro

03:09 - Having a Purpose

04:02 - The Accountability Factor

05:36 - Mindset

07:02 - Finding What Works For You

08:37 - The Happiness Scale

12:40 - When to Push Through

15:53 - Finding Balance

17:39 - Masterclass Ad

-          https://www.masterclass.com/socialengineer

19:12 - Focus on the 95%

21:33 - Know What You're Taking

23:34 - Cover Your Bases First

25:27 - You Just Gotta Go

29:54 - Find Toby Wright Online                                               

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

31:08 - Mentors

32:24 - Book Recommendations

-          SAS: Who Dares Wins - Ant Middleton

34:15 - 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 Dr. Abbie explore cognitive dissonance, focusing on its impact on self-concept and emotional regulation. They discuss how dissonance occurs when actions conflict with core beliefs, creating psychological tension. Emphasizing self-awareness and reflection, they warn against rationalizing harmful behaviors and highlight the importance of embracing discomfort for personal growth and identity development. [Dec 1, 2025]  

00:00 - Intro

00:26 - Dr. Abbie Maroño Intro

00:43 - Intro Links

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

-          Offensive Security Vishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/vishing/

-          Offensive Security SMiShing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Offensive Security Phishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

-          Call Back Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/call-back-phishing/

-          Adversarial Simulation Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/adversarial-simulation/

-          Social Engineering Risk Assessments - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/social-engineering-risk-assessment/

-          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 - The Topic of the Day: What is Cognitive Dissonance?

05:53 - A Threat to Self-Concept

07:49 - Commitment to Consistency

09:51 - Freedom to Choose

10:51 - Changing Beliefs

14:19 - Trying to Escape

18:21 - Going From Bad to Worse

21:53 - Self-Awareness is Key!

24:55 - Growth Hurts

28:49 - Everything, Not All At Once

29:43 - It's Not A Flaw

31:11 -  Wrap Up

31:36 - Next Month’s Topic: Is Everyone a Psychopath?

31:52 - 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:

Aronson, E. (1969). The theory of cognitive dissonance: A current perspective. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 4, 1–34.

Bandura, A. (1999). Moral disengagement in the perpetration of inhumanities. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 3(3), 193–209.

Brehm, J. W. (1956). Postdecision changes in the desirability of alternatives. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 52(3), 384–389.

Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press.

Kunda, Z. (1990). The case for motivated reasoning. Psychological Bulletin, 108(3), 480–498.

Schumann, K., & Dweck, C. S. (2014). Who accepts responsibility for their transgressions? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(12), 1608–1622.

Sherman, D. K., & Cohen, G. L. (2006). The psychology of self-defense: Self-affirmation theory. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 38, 183–242.

Staub, E. (1990). Moral exclusion, personal goal theory, and extreme destructiveness. Journal of Social Issues, 46(1), 47–64.

Steele, C. M. (1988). The psychology of self-affirmation: Sustaining the integrity of the self. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 21, 261–302.

van Veen, V., Krug, M. K., Schooler, J. W., & Carter, C. S. (2009). Neural activity predicts attitude change in cognitive dissonance. Nature Neuroscience, 12(11), 1469–1474.