The Social-Engineer Podcast

Today we are joined by Todd Bertsch. Todd is a keynote speaker, mental fitness coach, and creator of the Spark Framework—a system rooted in neuroscience and behavioral psychology that focuses on building resilience, leadership clarity, and sustainable personal growth through small, consistent changes. After overcoming early struggles with addiction and pivoting from entrepreneurship into coaching during the COVID pandemic, Todd now helps leaders strengthen their "mental muscle" by identifying negative thought patterns and shifting into a more constructive, resilient mindset.  [March 16, 2026] 

00:00 – Intro  00:26 - 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/   


01:27 - Todd Bertsch Intro  02:39 - Todd's Origin Story 05:47 - Trauma and the Spark 08:30 - COVID Pivot to Coaching 10:58 - Mental Fitness for Leaders 14:37 - The Spark Framework Explained 17:04 - Curiosity and Burnout 18:37 - Small Steps, Big Change 19:35 - Protein-First Plan 20:09 - Weightloss Breakthrough  21:02 - Micro-Changes for Lifestyle 21:54 - Atomic Habits and Momentum 23:44 - Accountability and Coaching 24:08 - One Inch Wins Story 24:48 - Patience, Gratitude, and the Journey 28:34 - Connect with Todd and Book Picks 

https://www.toddbertsch.com/  


https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/  


https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/  


Recommended Books: 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey 


The Go-Giver – Bob Burg & John David Mann 



32:12 - Mentors and Closing

Welcome to the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Doctor Is In Series – where we discuss understandings and developments in the field of psychology. 

In today's episode, Chris and Dr. Abbie discuss decision fatigue—how making too many choices throughout the day drains mental energy and affects judgment. They explain how stress and lack of sleep make it worse, how it differs from burnout, and why leaders and parents are especially vulnerable. The episode also shares simple, practical strategies to reduce daily decisions, protect mental energy, and prioritize recovery. 

[Mar 2, 2026] 

00:00 - Intro 

00:56 - Show Updates and Sponsors 

02:35 - What Decision Fatigue Is 

03:34 - Stress, Sleep, and Mental Energy 

05:12 - Mental vs. Physical Limits 

07:13 - Decision Fatigue vs. Burnout 

10:22 - Leadership, Empathy, and Hard Decisions 

14:33 - Prevention: Routines and Breaks 

20:43 - Advisors and AI Caution 

24:38 - Everyday Life and Parenting Load 

27:23 - Recovery Outlets and Wrap-Up 

28:49 - Closing and Next Month's Topic (Diet Culture) 

 

Find us online:   

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd   


Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial   


LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy   



References:  

Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D. M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1252–1265. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1252  

Baumeister, R. F., & Tierney, J. (2011). Willpower: Rediscovering the greatest human strength. Penguin Press.  

Danziger, S., Levav, J., & Avnaim-Pesso, L. (2011). Extraneous factors in judicial decisions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(17), 6889–6892. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1018033108  

Davidson, R. J., & McEwen, B. S. (2012). Social influences on neuroplasticity: Stress and interventions to promote well-being. Nature Neuroscience, 15(5), 689–695. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.3093  

Fleming, S. M., & Dolan, R. J. (2012). The neural basis of metacognitive ability. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367(1594), 1338–1349. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2011.0417  

Hagger, M. S., Wood, C., Stiff, C., & Chatzisarantis, N. L. D. (2010). Ego depletion and the strength model of self-control: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 136(4), 495–525. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019486  

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Today on the Social-Engineer Podcast: The Security Awareness Series, Chris Hadnagy is joined by Josten Pena for an in-depth discussion on cognitive biases and their impact on cybersecurity. Together, they explore how inherent mental shortcuts can increase susceptibility to social engineering attacks. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and owning these biases, rather than trying to eliminate them, and highlights practical mitigation strategies like hands-on training and fostering critical thinking. [Feb 16, 2026] 

00:00 – Intro 00:47 – Meet the Co-Host: Josten Pena 

01:38 – 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/  


02:26 – Innocent Lives Foundation & Music 03:36 – Diving into Cognitive Bias 06:42 – Cognitive Bias in Cybersecurity 09:26 – Real-World Examples & Practical Solutions 18:59 – Recap, Final Thoughts & Outro www.social-engineer.com www.innocentlivesfoundation.org

In this episode, Chris Hadnagy is joined by Jacob Ward, a veteran technology journalist who has reported for NBC News, Al Jazeera, CNN, and PBS, and previously served as editor-in-chief of Popular Science. Jacob is the author of The Loop: How AI Is Creating a World Without Choices—and How to Fight Back, a book that anticipated today's commercial AI moment. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is shaping human behavior, decision-making, and autonomy, along with the ethical and societal challenges that come with an increasingly AI-driven world.  

[Feb 9, 2026] 

00:00 – Intro 01:02 – 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/ 


01:33 – Meet Jacob Ward  

Jacob's Book - The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back. 


04:52 – The Impact of AI on Human Behavior 12:37 – Ethical Concerns & Emotional Attachment to AI 19:27 – The Problem with AI Integration 20:42 – AI and Human Connection 21:49 – The Value of Human Attention 24:25 – The Future of Purpose in an AI World 25:31 – Geopolitical Impacts of AI 31:06 – Mentors and Influences 33:22 – Book Recommendations 

Addiction by Design – Natasha Dow Shull 


How Reason Almost Lost Its Mind – Judy L.Klein, Paul A Erickson, Thomas Sturm, Rebecca Lemov, Michael D. Gordin, Lorraine Daston 


Exit, Voice, and Loyalty – Albert O. Hirschman 


The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back – Jacob Ward 



37:21 – Guest Wrap-Up & Outro 

www.social-engineer.com    


www.innocentlivesfoundation.org    


 

Follow Jacob Ward: 

TheRipCurrent.com   https://www.tiktok.com/@byjacobward   https://www.instagram.com/byjacobward    https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardjacob/    https://www.youtube.com/@byjacobward  

Follow Chris Hadnagy:  Twitter: @humanhacker  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy

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 imposter syndrome, examining what it is, why it occurs, and how cultural and professional pressures can intensify it. They discuss common symptoms, personal experiences, and the psychological roots behind feeling undeserving of success. Through scientific insight and practical strategies, they share ways to recognize, reframe, and manage imposter syndrome with greater self-awareness and confidence. 

[Feb 2, 2026] 

00:00 - Intro 

00:20 - Meet the Hosts 

00:54 - Upcoming Events and Announcements 

02:29 - Defining Imposter Syndrome 

06:42 - Cultural and Gender Influences 

12:26 - Personality Traits and Imposter Syndrome 

14:46 - Sponsor 

16:12 - Balancing Humility and Confidence 

19:34 - Strategies to Overcome Imposter Syndrome 

27:02 - Billy Boatwright's Story 

30:36 -  Conclusion and Next Episode Preview 

 

Find us online:  

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-abbie-maroño-phd  


Instagram: @DoctorAbbieofficial  


LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherhadnagy  


 


References: 

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.  

Bennett-Levy, J., Butler, G., Fennell, M., Hackmann, A., Mueller, M., & Westbrook, D. (2004). The Oxford guide to behavioral experiments in cognitive therapy. Oxford University Press.  

Breines, J. G., & Chen, S. (2012). Self-compassion increases self-improvement motivation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38(9), 1133–1143. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167212445599  

Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, predictors, and treatment of impostor syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1  

Clance, P. R. (1985). The impostor phenomenon: Overcoming the fear that haunts your success. Peachtree Publishers.  

Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006  

Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999