USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors Podcast

USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors

37 episodes listed below

Listen to the show on

PRESS PLAY

Find your next episode

All episodes

In their own words

The University of Southern Maine (USM) Cybersecurity Ambassadors are interviewing the top minds in the cybersecurity field. So whether you know everything about cybersecurity or nothing, you can learn something new every episode. Interested in more information or being a guest? Check out all of our links: https://linktr.ee/usmcybersecurityambassadors The University of Southern Maine sponsors this program.

Why you'd press play

One changed wire instruction, over a million dollars gone: your callback habit starts looking pretty clever.

Press play if you want

  • to hear Jackie ask a CISA advisor how a stretched organization can choose useful security fixes
  • to picture cyber training in a high school classroom, phishing simulations included
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Talks about

Best episodes of USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors Podcast

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

Silent Protectors: Solving Mysteries with the Secret Service

A Secret Service supervisor walks through wire-fraud risks, scam texts, outreach, and basic organizational security controls.

The Cybersecurity Ambassador podcast frames a Secret Service conversation around a practical problem: how ordinary trust can be turned against an organization.

Securing Beyond Policies: A Conversation with CISA Advisor Ryan Barnes

Ryan Barnes frames cybersecurity as a practical leadership task for organizations working with limited resources.

The episode treats cybersecurity less as a technical mystery than as a leadership problem that has to be managed with limited time, money, and in-house expertise.

The Next Generation of Cybersecurity Experts with Chris Saucier

A grounded look at cybersecurity's shift into business leadership and the everyday password habits that keep its risks close.

Cybersecurity comes through as a public and organizational concern, not a niche reserved for specialists in dark rooms. Chris Saucier, Director of Research Alliance Development for the Rue Institute at Northeastern University, frames the field through his work connecting…

Cybersecurity Auditing with Paul Dwyer

A retired State Street vice president traces a practical path from accounting and IT audit into compliance and information security.

Paul Dwyer's route into cybersecurity comes through less as a straight-line origin story than as a career shaped by adjacent work. Business management, finance, accounting, an internet startup, IT project management, and State Street all feed into the shift.

The Ambassador's Perspective: Connor

Connor's ambassador story frames cybersecurity outreach as a communication discipline.

Connor's account of two and a half years, or five semesters, in the Cybersecurity Ambassador program makes a student profile feel like a concise study of security work as public communication.

Podcasts like USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors Podcast

Episodes

  1. 1

    Career After the Graduation with Matt Gallaher

    This episode features an interview with Matt Gallaher, discussing his transition from U.S.

    ·22m
  2. 2

    What is Penetration Testing with Ben Strout

    This episode features an interview with Ben Strout, a cybersecurity practitioner and penetration testing manager, discussing his background and early experiences with technology that led him into the field.

    ·1h 8m
  3. 3

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Bryson

    A university student majoring in information technology discusses his academic background and how he was introduced to a cybersecurity ambassador program.

    ·18m
  4. 4

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Eden

    This episode interviews Eden, a silver tier Cybersecurity Ambassador, about his personal background, immigration from Rwanda to the U.S., and educational journey through multiple high schools before attending University of Southern Maine.

    ·24m
  5. 5

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Tom

    This episode features an interview with Thomas, a cybersecurity student and ambassador, discussing his background, commute, and passion for networking and community outreach.

    ·32m
  6. 6

    Unraveling Data Privacy Law with Scott Bloomberg

    This episode features an interview with Scott Bloomberg, a law professor specializing in data privacy, discussing his career journey and his role in teaching information privacy law.

    ·58m
  7. 7

    Securing Healthcare with Ron McKinnon

    This episode features an interview with Ron McKinnon, CIO of Central Maine Healthcare, discussing his career transition from law enforcement to healthcare technology and cybersecurity.

    ·41m
  8. 8

    Maine Information Technology with Fred Brittain

    This episode features an interview with Fred Brittain, the Chief Information Officer for the state of Maine, discussing his background and career in IT, starting from his studies at the University of Maine in the early 1990s.

    ·54m
  9. 9

    Teaching Tomorrow's Cybersecurity Experts with Andrew Hughen

    This episode features an interview with Andrew Hughen, a cybersecurity instructor at Central Maine Community College, discussing his background in computer science and mathematics and his role in teaching cybersecurity students.

    ·1h
  10. 10

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Derek

    This episode features an interview with Derek, who discusses his role as a program coordinator in the Cybersecurity Ambassador program, his work as a content strategist at a real estate investment software company, and his pursuit of a second master's degree in cybersecurity after previously earning one in English.

    ·25m
  11. 11

    Empowering Women in Tech with Jean Schaffer

    This episode features an interview with Jean Schaefer, Federal CTO for Corelight, discussing her 33-year career in the intelligence community and transition to the private sector to empower women in technology.

    ·56m
  12. 12

    Cyber Insurance with Ben Yardley

    This episode features an interview with Ben Yardley, Senior Attorney for Maine's Bureau of Insurance, discussing his background and expertise in cyber insurance regulation.

    ·40m
  13. 13

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Lucy

    This episode features an interview with Lucy, a Bronze Ambassador and future technical producer, discussing her background as a cybersecurity student at USM and how she discovered the Ambassadors program.

    ·15m
  14. 14

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Josh

    Joshua Aymana shares his journey from being a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo to becoming a cybersecurity ambassador in Maine, detailing his educational path and community impact.

    ·20m
  15. 15

    Degrees or Certifications with Mark Monnin

    This episode features an interview with Mark Monnin, a professor and department head, discussing his accidental journey into cybersecurity from networking and the overlap between cybersecurity and IT education.

    ·38m
  16. 16

    Shaping STEM for Students: A Conversation With Dean Jeremy Qualls

    This episode features an interview with Dean Jeremy Qualls about his journey into academic leadership in STEM education and his background in physics and research.

    ·36m
  17. 17

    Protecting Small to Mid-Size Businesses with Rob Simopoulos

    This episode features an interview with Rob Simopoulos, co-founder of Defendify, discussing his background and the cybersecurity platform designed to protect small to mid-sized businesses.

    ·52m
  18. 18

    The Future of Cybersecurity: Lessons from a 30-Year Veteran with Dr. Yasenchock

    This episode features an interview with Dr.

    ·57m
  19. 19

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Jackie

    Jackie discusses her unconventional career path from art and new media to cybersecurity, including her experiences with military cybersecurity in North Dakota and her current role as executive producer of the podcast.

    ·15m
  20. 20

    From Chords to Codes: Exploring the Musical Roots of Cybersecurity with Nathan Clark

    This episode features an interview with Nathan Clark, a content coordinator for the Cybersecurity Ambassador Program, discussing his role in managing digital content and researching the importance of .gov domains for municipalities in Maine.

    ·32m
  21. 21

    Craft Your Cyber Career Path with Jason Shockey

    This episode features an interview with Jason Shockey, a CISO and cybersecurity career coach, discussing his journey from military IT to cybersecurity leadership and tips for landing jobs in the field.

    ·27m
  22. 22

    Cybersecurty in the University of Maine System with John Forker

    John Forker, Chief Information Security Officer for the University of Maine System, discusses his career background and the importance of education and critical thinking in cybersecurity.

    ·48m
  23. 23

    Understanding the Benefits of Cybersecurity Competitions with Troy Jordan

    This episode features an interview with Troy Jordan, a Senior Cybersecurity Analyst, discussing his career journey into cybersecurity and the benefits of cybersecurity competitions.

    ·41m
  24. 24

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Seth

    This episode features an interview with Seth Woodman, an IT specialist and graduate assistant, discussing his background, transition from accounting to cybersecurity, and his role in the CAP program.

    ·1h 2m
  25. 25

    Being a Graduate Assistant with Zachary Leavitt

    This episode features an interview with Zachary Leavitt, a graduate assistant for the Cybersecurity Ambassadors program, discussing his role in developing a 16-week training program and his background in IT, including experiences at Geek Squad and Tyler Tech.

    ·46m·4 clips
  26. 26

    The Ambassador's Perspective: Connor

    Hidden gem

    Connor describes spending two and a half years and five semesters in the USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors program, eventually becoming the podcast’s executive and technical producer.

    ·33m·2 clips
  27. 27

    Cybersecurity Auditing with Paul Dwyer

    Hidden gem

    Paul Dwyer, a retired State Street Vice President, describes moving from accounting and finance into IT auditing, compliance, and information security.

    ·40m·2 clips
  28. 28

    Who are the USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors with Dr. Lori Sussman

    This episode introduces the USM Cybersecurity Ambassadors Podcast, explaining its origins from an internship program focused on cybersecurity outreach and research in Maine.

    ·38m·3 clips
  29. 29

    What is Ethical Hacking with Ashley Hayes

    This episode features an interview with Ashley Hayes, a lecturer at the University of Southern Maine, discussing her career path from elementary education to cybersecurity.

    ·27m·2 clips
  30. 30

    Advancing Cybersecurity Education with President Edmondson

    Hidden gem

    Jacqueline Edmondson, president of the University of Southern Maine, describes moving from preschool and kindergarten teaching to university leadership after earning a PhD from Penn State University between 1996 and 1999.

    ·21m·1 clip
  31. 31

    Interview with Senator Angus King

    Hidden gem

    Senator Angus King explains how Maine's Learning Technology Initiative placed laptops with students from roughly fifth grade through high school at a cost of about one-half of one percent of the state's school budget.

    ·32m·2 clips
  32. 32

    Silent Protectors: Solving Mysteries with the Secret Service

    Jackie hosts Michael Parsons and Peter LaRoche, who describe Secret Service work spanning presidential protection, financial crimes, cybercrime, and threat investigations.

    ·1h 35m·5 clips
  33. 33

    The Next Generation of Cybersecurity Experts with Chris Saucier

    Chris Saucier, a 22-year Air Force veteran and Director of Research Alliance Development at Northeastern University’s Rue Institute, connects military experience with cybersecurity leadership.

    ·40m·2 clips
  34. 34

    Securing Beyond Policies: A Conversation with CISA Advisor Ryan Barnes

    Hidden gem

    Ryan Barnes, a CISA advisor in Maine, explains how the agency provides no-cost cybersecurity assistance to organizations in 16 critical sectors under the principle “secure today, defend tomorrow.” He describes emerging risks from AI-generated phishing, deepfake voices and images, exposed PLCs, ransomware, and quantum computing.

    ·45m·3 clips
  35. 35

    Training the Next Cybersecurity Workforce with Nate Jalbert

    Hidden gem

    Nate Jalbert, a cybersecurity instructor at Portland Arts and Technology High School, describes a four-year program that prepares Maine high school students for certifications, college, and entry-level work.

    ·36m·2 clips
  36. 36

    Bridging the Gap: Navigating the Digital Divide with Kerem Durdag

    Hidden gem

    Karim Durda, president and chief executive officer of GreatWorks Internet, describes GWI's effort to bring fiber-optic internet across Maine and expand in Vermont.

    ·55m·5 clips
  37. 37

    Military to Cybersecurity with Max Taggett

    Hidden gem

    Max Taggett, Gartner's Senior Principal Analyst for Endpoint Security, describes moving from nearly 10 years in Department of Defense counterterrorism to cybersecurity after returning to Maine.

    ·30m·2 clips