Best High Tech High Unboxed Podcasts (2025)

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S7E8 - The Power of Shadowing Multilingual Learners 40:35

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7h ago40:35

40:35

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Tammy Unck, Maria Smith, and Uchenna Lewis about Bernal Intermediate School's work with part Partners in School Innovation on improving outcomes for multilingual learners, using techniques such as "shadow a student" and elements of the AVID curriculum. The result was remarkable: During the 2022-2023 school year, B…

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Cybersecurity at Nanosecond Speed | Securing High Frequency Trading 59:58

44m ago59:58

59:58

In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, guest Jatin Mannepalli introduces co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth the high-speed, high stakes world of high frequency trading (HFT) and its many security challenges. The conversation delves into the intricacies of high frequency trading, the stress of incident response, and the importance of redundanc…

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S7E7 - How Exhibitions of Learning Came to Lincoln High School 34:12

21d ago34:12

34:12

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Lincoln High School Principal Melissa Agudelo about the challenges of bringing exhibitions of student learning to a large urban high school, and how they made it successful by literally doing everything all at once. Want do bring exhibitions to your school, or take your exhibition game to the next level? Check out…

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AI in Cybersecurity: How CISOs Are Actually Using LLMs with Myke Lyons (Cribl CISO) 57:49

3d ago57:49

57:49

Join Security Cocktail Hour hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth for an in-depth conversation with Myke Lyons, Chief Information Security Officer at Cribl, about AI in cybersecurity operations. Discover how modern CISOs are actually using LLMs and AI tools in their daily work, handling the data explosion (28% CAGR growth in logs), and transforming securit…

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S7E6 - Building Trust with Data: A District-Wide Approach to Improving Math Proficiency 39:44

1M ago39:44

39:44

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Michael McDonald, Stephen Rinaldo, and Tarima Levine about how Yonkers Public Schools and Bank Street Education Center improved eighth grade math proficiency particularly for students who are Black, Latinx, or experiencing poverty. Learn more about the curriculum Yonkers used, i-Ready Mathematics Read this Case St…

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S7E5 - Why PBLWorks' Bryon Demerson Went from Test Prep to PBL in Math 35:31

2M ago35:31

35:31

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to PBLWorks Lead National Faculty in Math Bryon Demerson about why led him to shift from being a highly successful "traditional" math teacher to embracing project-based learning. Read Bryon's blog post: Overcoming PBL Hesitancy in the Math Classroom: A Teacher's Journey Learn more about the High Tech High Gradua…

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S7E4 - Transparency, Trust, and Tough Decisions: Leading Change in Battle Creek 45:40

2M ago45:40

45:40

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Dr. Kim Carter, superintendent of Battle Creek Public Schools in Michigan, about how her district broke a pattern of outmigration through building relationships with families and local businesses and nonprofits based on transparency and LOTS of conversations. Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate School of …

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AI cyber attacks need AI cyber defense: Ransomware's new danger and how a top expert is fighting back 57:32

2M ago57:32

57:32

Everyone's using AI, including ransomware gangs. Podcast guest Karin Lagziel, Director Cybersecurity at consulting firm Sygnia, gives us the news and her cyber defense strategies for fighting back: With more AI, as well as a focus on fundamentals. In this episode: 🔹 The first AI-powered ransomware "Prompt Lock" discovered in the wild 🔹 How Chinese …

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S7E3 - Piñata-based Learning with Paola Capó-García 45:09

2M ago45:09

45:09

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Paola Capó-García about "Politics of the Personal," the twelfth-grade English project she created in which students chose a topic of personal interest to write an essay about—and create a piñata Read more of Paola's poetry See photos from the project Learn how you can do professional development with Paola an…

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Ep. 60: Crypto Kidnappings, Lost Keys, and Million-Dollar Bug Bounties 1:05:08

3M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Forbes 30 Under 30 cybersecurity expert Yevheniia Broshevan discusses crypto security challenges, bug bounty programs, and the reality that 95% of Bitcoin has been mined while 11-18% is lost forever. 🔥 What You'll Learn: The concerning trend in crypto losses hitting $3 billion this year alone How bug bounties in Web3 can reach up to $10 million for…

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S7E2 - Building Belonging and Grading What Matters to Boost Achievement 22:07

3M ago22:07

22:07

Episode Notes Bell Middle School reduced its D/F rate from 51% in 2022 to 28% in 2024. That's a 23 percentage point reduction. Even more impressive, for low income students, the D/F rate was 67% in 2022, and Bell cut it by more than half, down to 29% in 2024. In this episode, Alec Patton talks to science teacher Teddy Meckstroth about how they did …

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Ep. 59: WiFi Pineapple Unboxing: The Hacker Device From TV Shows! 10:58

3M ago10:58

10:58

Ever wondered what that mysterious "WiFi Pineapple" device from hacker movies actually does? Today we're unboxing the Hak5 WiFi Pineapple Mark 7 - the real penetration testing tool that's been featured in countless TV shows and movies! 🔥 What We Cover: Complete unboxing of the WiFi Pineapple Mark 7 How hackers use this for man-in-the-middle attack …

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S7E1 - Postcards, Home Visits, and Public Sliming: How Hamiltion Elementary Cut its Chronic Absenteeism Rate in Half in One Year 52:37

4M ago52:37

52:37

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec Patton talks to Hamilton Elementary Principal Dr. Brittany Daley and San Diego County Office of Education Executive Leadership Coach Julia Bridi about how Hamilton cut its chronic absenteeism rate from 24% to 10% in a single year, using creative parent communication, home visits, data checks, and public sliming S…

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Ep. 58: Travel Router Unboxing: Don't Get Hacked on Vacation! 14:11

4M ago14:11

14:11

Back in Episode 54 we talked about vacation cybersecurity, including the dangers of hotel WiFi and public networks. Today we're unboxing the travel router that could save your digital life while traveling (or at least save you a lot of grief). 🚨 Why You NEED This: Hotel WiFi is a hacker's playground. From man-in-the-middle attacks to data theft, pu…

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Ep 57: Dr. Nikki Robinson: Why Security Teams Fail at Human Factors 52:50

5M ago52:50

52:50

It takes an advanced degree to understand the psychology behind why users hate security controls, so we got someone with two: Dr. Nikki Robinson, DSc Cybersecurity, PhD Human Factors. Nikki joins us to break down the real reasons security implementations fail—and how to fix them. What You'll Learn: 🔹Why vulnerability scoring goes wrong (hint: it's …

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S6E28 - Partners in School Innovation CEO Derek Mitchell's Daily Reading Rituals 13:18

5M ago13:18

13:18

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation, about his daily reading rituals.Mentioned in the episode: Arnold R. Hirsch, Making the Second Ghetto Martin Gilbert, Churchill and the Jews Jeanie Daniel Duck, The Change Monster Sheldon Eakins, Leading Equity Brian McClellan, The Powder Mage Trilogy (strictly …

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Ep. 56: From Zero-Day Hunter to Cyber Defender: Cody Pierce's Journey 1:03:54

5M ago1:03:54

1:03:54

Why would a hacker at the top of his game who found dozens of zero-days switch to defense? The answer is a lot more complicated than you think. In this fascinating episode, we sit down with Cody Pierce, co-founder and CEO of Neon Cyber and former Zero Day Initiative researcher. Cody gives us an insider view into the exploit marketplace, and tells u…

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S6E27 - Tiny Ornithologists: How a Bird Family Sparked a Year-Long Study 19:28

6M ago19:28

19:28

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec Patton talks to Maria Curtis, director of the Early Childhood Center at La Jolla Country Day School, in California, and Junior Kindergarten teacher Kristin Owen, about how they turned the discovery of a mud nest being built outside a classroom into a year-long project. You can see photos from the project, includi…

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S6E26 - How to Package a Process, with Bedtime in a Box 36:35

6M ago36:35

36:35

Episode Notes Sofía Tannenhaus talks to Jarrod Bolte, CEO of both Improving Education and Bedtime in a Box, a nonprofit that provides families with boxes containing everything you need for a positive bedtime routine. Each Box contains four age-appropriate books; bath wash, a towel, and bath toys; a toothbrush and toothpaste; pajamas; a stuffed anim…

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S6E25 - Solar for All Schools [guest episode from the Climify podcast] 51:06

6M ago51:06

51:06

Episode Notes This episode comes from the Climify podcast, which is hosted by Eric Benson, and produced by the Climate Designers Network. Benson interviews Tish Tablan, senior program director at Generation 180, about how going solar can benefit schools' budgets and provide opportunities for PBL, as well as helping us all thrive as we face an unpre…

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Ep. 55: Firmware, Fire and the Future of Cybersecurity | Smoked Manhattans with Paul Asadoorian 1:08:52

6M ago1:08:52

1:08:52

Join us for a special episode of the Security Cocktail Hour as co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth sit down with cybersecurity legend Paul Asadoorian—founder of Security Weekly and Principal Security Evangelist at Eclypsium. With more than two decades of experience, Paul brings his unique mix of deep technical knowledge and podcasting charisma to disc…

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S6E24 - Improving College Transfer Enrollment with NASH's Juliette Price 46:59

6M ago46:59

46:59

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Juliette Price, the senior Improvement Science coach at the National Association of Higher Education Systems, about how their Network Improvement Community has achieved its remarkable results on transfer enrollments from two-year to four-year colleges. You know you want to try it: David Williams’s Mr. Potato Head …

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S6E23 - Okorie Johnson (OkCello): music and education are all about conversation 47:02

7M ago47:02

47:02

Episode Notes Ben Krueger talks to cellist, composer, and teacher Okorie Johnson, who performs as OkCello, about music, teaching, and community. And, appropriately, they talk about how all three of those are, themselves, a form of conversation. OkCello Website Learn more about the PBL Leadership Academy Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate …

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S6E20 - Anthropology for Kids, with Nika Dubrovsky 25:14

7M ago25:14

25:14

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Nika Dubrovsky about Anthropology for Kids, a project she started with her husband, anthropologist David Graeber. Referenced in this Episode: Anthopology for Kids Cities Made Differently by David Graeber and Nika Dubrovsky The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow David Graeber on the Charlie Rose …

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Ep. 54: Don’t Get Hacked on Vacation | Travel Cybersecurity Tips 28:51

7M ago28:51

28:51

Got big travel plans this summer? Remember to pack some protection against cyber threats. In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour podcast, hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth break down the real cybersecurity threats you face when using hotel Wi-Fi, airport chargers, and public networks—and what you can do to stay safe. Learn about: • Why public Wi…

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S6E22 - The Big Power of Small Changes, with RISE 25:12

7M ago25:12

25:12

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Linzi Golding, Erin Asselin, and Melanie Gonzalez about keeping things simple, celebrating small changes, smart ways to share data with schools, and how to recognize and celebrate effort, even when it doesn’t lead to the outcomes we were hoping for. To see an example of a driver diagram (and get a transcript for t…

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S6E21 - The Student Voice Revolution: How Teach Plus is Transforming Math Instruction 27:00

7M ago27:00

27:00

Episode Notes Alec talks to Cary Sabados (national director of teacher leadership development at Teach Plus) and Morgan Hython (fourth grade math and science teacher at Piccolo School of Excellence, a public preK-to-8 school in Chicago) about their work in the Teach Plus Network for School Improvement. Learn more about Teach Plus Learn more about t…

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S6E19 - Liberating Learning One District at a Time 1:20:36

7M ago1:20:36

1:20:36

Episode Notes Stacey Caillier talks to Michelle Pledger and David Montes de Oca about the ways that school districts are using Michelle's book, "Liberate: Pocket-Sized Paradigms for Liberatory Learning" You can find Michelle's book, and Montes's study guide, here You can find Michelle's podcast, Unapologetic and Uninterrupted, here Learn more about…

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S6E17 - Dr. Heather Michel on How to Take Care of Yourself as a Teacher, Even When It Seems Impossible 42:36

8M ago42:36

42:36

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Deeper Learning 2025 keynote speaker Dr. Heather Michel about about her difficult experience with school as a kid, her own career as a teacher, and the strategies that she’s developed to help teachers take care of themselves. If you want to try a body scan, try this 11-minute guided body scan by meditation teacher…

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Ep. 53: The New Rules of Cyber Incident Response | New attacks, new response 51:43

8M ago51:43

51:43

In this episode of Security Cocktail Hour, we go deep into the high-stakes world of modern cyber incident response (IR) with Lisa Landau and Tim Shipp of ThreatLight—two top-tier experts redefining how breaches are handled today. Discover how IR has evolved—and why the old playbook no longer works. What you’ll learn: • Why speed is everything in br…

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S6E16 - Molodi's Jason Nious on Stepping, Body Percussion, and Connecting with Students 28:44

8M ago28:44

28:44

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Jason Nious, founder of the stepping and body percussion crew Molodi, about the journey that brought him here, and about what he’s learned from dance and body percussion about connecting to young people in school. Learn more about Molodi Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference Learn more about the High Tec…

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S6E15 - Schools Can Get Better At Unleashing Student Potential (with Ron Berger and friends) 1:06:40

8M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Episode Notes In this special live episode from the 2025 Deeper Learning Conference, educator Ron Berger talks to two Japanese educators and their two brilliant children, who have experienced education across cultures in Japan, the United States, and Europe. Learn more about the Deeper Learning Conference Learn more about the High Tech High Graduat…

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S6E14 - Improvement in Action: Leveraging Data Routines for 9th Grade On-Track Results 48:32

8M ago48:32

48:32

Episode Notes In this episode, Alec talks to Nichelle Woodson, the Chief of Network Success at RISE Eileen Mezzo, an Assistant Principal at Naugatuck High School in Connecticut. They talk about how the RISE Network has achieved remarkable gains in ninth-grade on track rates (for example, on-track for Black students has risen by 27 percentage points…

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Ep. 52: How Do You Sell Really Expensive Security Software? 58:49

8M ago58:49

58:49

Selling six-figure security solutions isn’t about flashy demos or steak dinners—it’s about trust, relationships, and delivering real value. In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, we go inside the world of cybersecurity sales with Trevor Marcotte, founder of TnK Tech and a longtime industry insider. Trevor reveals how deals actually get done…

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S6E13 - Building dog houses (and cat condos!) for adopted pets with fifth graders

8M ago

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Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to fifth grade teacher Jeff Govoni about a project he and his fifth grade colleagues did last year, in which students designed and built dog houses and cat condos for animals seeking adoption. Read Jeff Govoni's article for Unboxed, about this (and other) projects, "Deconstructing Construction Projects" For…

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Ep. 51: Agentic AI Security: Full Speed into the Unknown 56:17

9M ago56:17

56:17

Agentic AI is changing the game—but is it a security nightmare in the making? In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth sit down with Kevin O’Connor to dive into one of the hottest (and most misunderstood) topics in cybersecurity: Agentic AI Security. Join us to learn: ✔️ What agentic AI actually is—and why it’…

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S6E12 - How One District Improved On-track by Shifting Their System Towards More Student-centered Practices 30:00

9M ago30:00

30:00

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Sara DeMartino, an English Language Arts Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Learning (IFL), about how schools in the IFL's network for school improvement increased 8th grade on track for Black and Latine students by more than 25 percentage points, and improved on-track rates for Emerging Biling…

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Ep. 50: From the Battlefield to the Boardroom: High-Stakes Cyber Security 59:25

9M ago59:25

59:25

Ever wondered what it's like to lead cybersecurity on the front lines? In this episode of Security Cocktail Hour, we sit down with Keren de Via, a former IDF officer and trailblazing Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who shares her extraordinary journey from military leadership to navigating the complex world of corporate cybersecurity. Jo…

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S6E11 - A Story of Butterflies, Regeneration, and Hope 39:51

9M ago39:51

39:51

Episode Notes Alec talks to Shelley Glenn Lee, director of High Tech Elementary North County, and Durrell Kapan, a Senior Research Fellow at the California Academy of Sciences, about how the Silvery Blue butterfly is filling the ecological niche left by the extinction of the Xerces Blue butterfly in San Francisco... with some help from Durrell and …

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Ep. 49: Metawar: Winn Schwartau on How to Win the Fight for Our Minds 1:03:56

10M ago1:03:56

1:03:56

If you thought the tech industry only wanted your money, think again -- they're coming after your mind. Guest Winn Schwartau describes how in his new book "The Art and Science of Metawar: How to Coexist With AI-Driven Reality Distortion, Disinformation, & Addiction". Join us to learn what Metawar is, how we can protect ourselves with cognitive defe…

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S6E10 - Tackling Chronic Absenteeism by Asking Students What They Need 42:08

10M ago42:08

42:08

Episode Notes Sofía Tannenhaus talks to Julie Smith, co-founder of Community Design Partners, and Casey Chiofolo, an Assistant Principal at Respect Academy, an Alternative High School in Denver, about how Respect Academy dramatically improved first period attendance by talking to kids about what they wanted from school, and what was keeping them fr…

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Ep. 48: Ransomware and Hawaiian Shirts: Another Friday in Cyber Security 1:26:18

10M ago1:26:18

1:26:18

Previous guest Jennifer Gold returns for another episode, and this time she's brought friends: cyber and intelligence veterans Patrick Arvidson and Roger Hockenberry. Together, they delve into the evolving world of cybersecurity, sharing insider perspectives from the CIA, NSA, and the private sector. Hear about: 🕶 Why Fridays and holidays are prime…

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S6E9 - How to collaborate on a mural with 200 elementary-schoolers, with Scarlett Baily 48:59

10M ago48:59

48:59

Episode Notes Alec Patton and Nuvia Ruland talk to artist Scarlett Baily about her life, her art, and in particular the process of collaborating with 200 elementary school students Check out a photo gallery of Scarlett's murals here Scarlett Baily's website Kumeyaay Community College Website Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate School …

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Ep. 47: Landing Your First Cyber Security Job | The Experience Dilemma 1:00:51

11M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

You need experience to get even an entry level job, but how to do you get a job if you don't have experience? For years this classic dilemma didn't apply to cybersecurity, but times have changed. Newly minted security consultant Jerry Sinayuk of NukuDo tells us how he got trained and is lining up his first consulting engagements -- all while gettin…

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S6E8 - Improving Literacy in a Large Urban District, with Amiee Winchester and Zack Jaffe 46:33

11M ago46:33

46:33

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Amiee Winchester and Zack Jaffe about their continuous improvement work on improving literacy at Baltimore City Public Schools. Learn more about the High Tech High Graduate School of Education

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Ep. 46: Securing AI: Misbehavior Even the Experts Couldn't Predict 57:57

12M ago57:57

57:57

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing industries, and cybersecurity experts are navigating uncharted territory to keep pace. In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour podcast, Alec Crawford, Founder and CEO of AI Risk, Inc., joins co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth for a dive into the practical, technical, and ethical challenges of AI - incl…

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S6E7 - Simon Breakspear: using "the pruning principle" to achieve better outcomes through strategic subtraction 52:09

12M ago52:09

52:09

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Dr. Simon Breakspear about the book he co-wrote with Michael Rosenbrock, "The Pruning Principle: Mastering the Art of Strategic Subtraction Within Education" Our other episode with Simon Breakspear, “If It Doesn’t Work for Teachers, It Doesn’t Work” You can find great free tools (and order The Pruning Principle) a…

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Ep. 45: Holiday Scams Unwrapped | Tips to Stay Safe This Season 47:31

12M ago47:31

47:31

This holiday season, don’t let scams ruin the festive spirit! In this special holiday episode of the Security Cocktail Hour, co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth break down the most common holiday scams, from the classics to the sneaky new ones you’ve never heard of. From fake gift card requests to sophisticated AI-driven scams, we’ll teach you how to …

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Ep. 44: Breaking In and Locking Down: From Hacker to Cyber Defender 1:02:40

1y ago1:02:40

1:02:40

Are your organization's security gaps leaving the door wide open for attackers? In this episode of the Security Cocktail Hour podcast, co-hosts Joe Patti and Adam Roth sit down with seasoned penetration tester and identity security expert Jason Luttrell. Jason shares fascinating stories from his days of hacking banks, infiltrating data centers, and…

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S6E6 - Sean Mortimer (Tony Hawk’s co-author) on how to help people tell their stories 36:59

1y ago36:59

36:59

Episode Notes Alec Patton talks to Sean Mortimer, co-author of autobiographies by Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, and Joe Namath, about how to help people figure out how to tell the stories of their achievements—whether they're pro skaters or educators. Hawk: Occupation Skateboarder The Mutt: How to Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself All the Way: My Life i…