InfoSec to Insanity
by Evan Francen
Welcome to the InfoSec to Insanity Podcast, a wild, unfiltered ride through the crazy world of information security. Hosted by the legendary Evan Francen—the man on a mission to fix the broken InfoSec industry—you’ll get straight talk, insane stories, and no-nonsense advice on how we can make real change in cybersecurity.Evan is no stranger to breaking down tough topics, with over 30 years of practical InfoSec experience, founding FRSecure and SecurityStudio, and helping the world make sense of security risks. He’s also written UNSECURITY, where he tells it like it is—our industry is failing, but it’s fixable. If you’ve ever felt like InfoSec was more chaos than clarity, then this podcast is exactly what you need.Why Tune In? Candid Conversations: No fluff, no corporate BS. Just real talk about the state of security. Battle Stories: Evan’s got tales—from advising on the infamous Target breach to helping protect companies like Wells Fargo and Bl
Episodes
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Episode #47 - We’re Addicted to Short-Term Thinking (And It’s Screwing Us All)
Recorded Live on YouTube: Thursday, September 11, 2025 – 9:00 PM CT This week on InfoSec to Insanity, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre dive headfirst into a problem that’s bigger than firewalls, frameworks, or fancy AI tools—our obsession with short-term thinking. Inspired by Evan’s latest blog…
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Episode #46 - Selling Fear – Why the Cybersecurity Industry Loves the Chaos
Streamed live on Sep 4, 2025 In this episode, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre are back with Part 5 of the Accountability in Cybersecurity is Broken series: Selling Fear – Why the Cybersecurity Industry Loves the Chaos. Confusion sells. Simplicity doesn’t. And that’s not an accident—it’s a business...
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Episode #45 - Breach? Jackpot. How the Legal System Profits from Failure
Part 4 of the “Accountability in Cybersecurity is Broken” series - Recorded LIVE August 21, 2025 on YouTube. Every breach is a gold mine—but not for the victims. In this episode, Evan Francen (30+ year InfoSec badass) and Matt strip away the shiny headlines to expose the ugly truth: when cyber...
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Episode #44 - Cybersecurity Doesn’t Win Elections: So Politicians Don’t Give a Sh*t
Accountability in Cybersecurity Is Broken, Part 3 – “Cybersecurity Doesn’t Win Elections: So Politicians Don’t Give a Sh*t” Cybersecurity doesn’t win votes—so politicians don’t care. That political apathy leaves CEOs, boards, and tech giants free to make terrible security decisions with no real...
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Episode #43 – It’s Not Real Until It Hurts: Why No One Demands Change
Part 2: It’s Not Real Until It Hurts Cybersecurity doesn’t change because we know better. It changes because someone bleeds. Not until the breach is splashed across headlines. Not until patients are turned away mid-surgery. Not until your CEO’s kid finds their identity on the dark web. In Part 2…
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Episode #42 - Series Launch: “Accountability in Cybersecurity Is Broken”
Get ready—this isn’t your typical cybersecurity rant: In Part 1: Is It Really Broken?, Evan lays down the truth: accountability in cybersecurity is broken badly and has been for a long time. We’ve confused responsibility (doing the work) with accountability (owning the fallout when it fails)—and...
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Episode #40 - Leading With Vulnerability
📅 Recorded Live on YouTube: July 17, 2025 • 8 PM CT Based on: “Leading With Vulnerability” — Entry #10 of the Mental Health Without the Bullsht series (https://evanfrancen.com/2025/05/27/le...) We’ve been sold a lie: that leaders must be bulletproof—always confident, always composed, never…
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Episode #39 - Masculinity and Mental Health
Recorded LIVE on July 10, 2025 (https://www.youtube.com/@evanfrancenproject) Based on: “Masculinity and Mental Health” — Entry #9 in the Mental Health Without the Bullsht series In this episode, Evan and Matt cut through the crap and tear down toxic masculinity. We’re talking about the…
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Episode #38 - Real Help Looks Like...
📅 Recorded Live on June 26, 2026 @ 9 PM CT on YouTube In this next-level continuation of our Mental Health Without the Bullsh*t series, we’re diving deeper into what real support looks like—not just therapy or self-care lip service, but the kind of help that actually sticks. Drawing from Evan’s...
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Episode #37 - Healing Isn’t Linear
📅 Recorded LIVE on YouTube – Thursday, June 19th @ 9PM CT 🔗 https://evanfrancen.com/2025/05/20/healing-isnt-linear/ In this brutally honest episode of InfoSec to Insanity, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre dive into a truth we don’t talk about enough—healing isn’t a straight line. Whether it’s...
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Episode #36 – Check on Your Strong Friends
SPECIAL GUEST: John Harmon, CEO FRSecure They’re the ones who always show up. Always have the answers. Always say, “I’m good.” And they might be the ones hurting the most. In this deeply personal episode, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre shine a light on something we all overlook: the silent...
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Episode #35 – Burnout Looks Different Than You Think
Burnout isn’t always a breakdown. Sometimes it looks like working late, smiling in meetings, answering emails at 2am — and slowly falling apart behind the scenes. In this episode, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre dig into the real face of burnout — the version that’s high-functioning, hidden, and...
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Episode #34 – Addiction Isn’t Just Drugs and Booze
Streamed live on May 29, 2025 #Addiction #Burnout #MentalHealth When we hear the word addiction, we think of needles, bottles, and rehab. But what if the most dangerous addictions are the ones we don’t even recognize? In this raw and revealing episode, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre take on the...
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Episode #33 – The ADHD Mind in a 24/7 World
In this brutally honest and deeply personal episode, Evan Francen and co-host Matt Goodacre dive headfirst into the chaos, creativity, and constant mental noise of living with ADHD — especially in a nonstop, hyper-connected world like ours. Based on Evan’s blog post, “The ADHD Mind in a 24/7...
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Episode #32 – Strong on the Outside, Dying on the Inside: High-Functioning Depression in Infosec
We all know someone who seems to have it together. They’re high-performing, always reliable, maybe even admired. But beneath the surface, they’re barely holding it together. In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, Evan Francen and co-host Matt Goodacre dive into the brutal reality of...
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Episode #31 – We’re Not OK: Mental Health in InfoSec
In this deeply personal episode, Evan Francen and co-host Matt Goodacre confront the often-ignored mental health crisis within the cybersecurity industry. Drawing from Evan’s recent blog post (https://evanfrancen.com/2025/05/02/we..., they discuss the hidden struggles faced by professionals in a...
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Episode #30 - Are You Built For? Finding Your Path the Honest Way
In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre dive into the winding, messy, and sometimes hilarious journey of figuring out what the hell you’re actually built for in life. Spoiler: it’s probably not what your high school guidance counselor told you. Live from a cruise…
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Episode #29 – Lessons from Lanterman: The Danger of Blind Trust
In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we dive headfirst into the explosive story shaking the cybersecurity and legal worlds—the FBI investigation into Mark Lanterman, a high-profile cyber forensic expert who’s worked on over 2,000 cases. How did someone with that much influence—and trust—end up...
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Episode #28 – Freedom Ain’t Free (But the NSA’s Watching Anyway)
Two decades deep into the “War on Terror” and guess what? We’re still footing the bill—and it’s not just in dollars. It’s in surveillance, silence, and the slow death of civil liberties. In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re digging into what we’ve really lost since 9/11. From the Patriot...
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Episode #27 - The Accountability Vacuum: Why No One Pays the Price for Security Failures
Why do massive security failures happen—and nobody gets held accountable? In this raw and unfiltered episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re diving headfirst into the Accountability Vacuum that plagues the cybersecurity industry. Breaches keep happening. Sensitive data keeps leaking. Companies…
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Episode #26 - The Great Divide: Knowing vs. Doing in Information Security
The security industry is flooded with paper tigers—people who look the part, talk the talk, but can’t actually do the damn job. We’ve all seen them. The security “leaders” who push policies they don’t understand. The certification collectors who crumble when real shit hits the fan. The compliance...
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Episode #25 - The Biggest Lies in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is full of half-truths, marketing BS, and outright LIES that have misled businesses, security pros, and the general public for decades. In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re calling out the biggest offenders, exposing why they persist, and serving up a reality check that the...
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Episode #24 - Real Leadership: Get the F*ck Out of the Way!
Leadership in InfoSec is broken—hell, leadership in general is broken. Too many so-called "leaders" are just in the way, making things harder instead of actually leading. In this episode, we break down what REAL leadership looks like and why sometimes the best thing a leader can do… is GTFO of…
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Episode #23 - The Original Sin: Security Was Never Built In
Join Evan Francen and Matt Goodacre for a brutally honest, no-BS recording of InfoSec to Insanity! This episode tackles the original sin of cybersecurity—the fact that security was never built into technology from the start. From the early days of computing to the modern mess we deal with today,...
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Episode #22 - The Cybersecurity Job Market Sh*t Show
In Episode #22, we dive into the chaotic and dysfunctional state of the current cybersecurity job market. Inspired by Evan Francen's no-holds-barred blog post on the topic, we explore the absurdity of job postings, unrealistic hiring expectations, and the relentless grind faced by both job…
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Episode #21 - Message Overload: WTF Is Going On?
Is it just us, or is everyone drowning in a sea of messages? From never-ending email chains to Slack pings, alerts, and every other form of digital chaos, we’ve got one question: WTF is going on?! Join Evan (30+ year InfoSec veteran, founder of FRSecure & SecurityStudio) and his sidekick Matt as...
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Episode #20 - Under the Hoodie: Mental Health in InfoSec
The cybersecurity world is fast-paced, high-pressure, and relentless. But what happens when the stress, burnout, and anxiety take a toll on the very people working to keep us safe? In this powerful episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re pulling back the curtain—or, in this case, the hoodie—to talk...
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Episode #19 - Certified Chaos: The Role of vCISOs in Today’s Threat Landscape
In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re diving headfirst into the thrilling (and sometimes chaotic) world of virtual Chief Information Security Officers (vCISOs). What do these digital sheriffs do? How are they tackling today’s relentless cybersecurity threats? And why might your business...
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Episode #18 - Why Do People Seem So Damn Stupid?
In this episode, we’re calling it like we see it: stupidity seems to be everywhere these days, but why? From the rise of social media echo chambers to algorithms that reward bad behavior, and even the Dunning-Kruger effect in action, we break down what’s going on. We’ll explore how tech...
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Episode #17 - Crystal Balling Cybersecurity: 2025 Predictions You Can't Ignore
What’s in store for cybersecurity in 2025? In Episode 17 of InfoSec to Insanity, we’re dusting off the crystal ball to deliver bold, no-BS predictions about what’s coming next. Will AI finally live up to the hype? What new threats will keep us up at night? And how will we navigate the chaos of a...
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Episode #16 - 2024 Cybersecurity Industry Year in Review
It’s been a wild ride in cybersecurity this year, and we’re breaking it all down in Episode 16 of InfoSec to Insanity! From headline-grabbing breaches to groundbreaking advancements, shifting regulations, and industry shakeups, 2024 gave us plenty to talk about. Join us as we take a no-BS look…
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Episode #15 - After the Gifts, Here Come the Risks: Post-Holiday Security Tips
The holidays are over, the gifts are unwrapped, and the shiny new gadgets are in our hands—but are they secure? From smart home devices to the latest tech toys, the season of giving can quickly turn into the season of hacking if we’re not careful. Host Evan Francen is joined by special guest…
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Episode #14 - F*ck the Fear Factory
The cybersecurity industry loves to sell fear: fear of breaches, fear of hackers, fear of being the next headline. But is the "Fear Factory" doing more harm than good? In this unapologetic episode, host Evan Francen is joined by Matt Goodacre, a seasoned cybersecurity leader who isn’t afraid to...
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Episode #13 - Breaking Chains and Firewalls: Sobriety and Security in Cyber
In this heartfelt episode of InfoSec to Insanity, host Evan Francen and special guest Brad Nigh open up about their journeys to sobriety—Evan with 23 years of hard-earned sobriety and Brad celebrating 90 days. Together, they explore the parallels between breaking personal chains and tackling...
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Episode #12 - Bridging the IT-OT Divide: Cybersecurity Challenges in Critical Infrastructure
In this episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we dive deep into one of cybersecurity's most critical and complex frontiers: the convergence of IT and OT (Operational Technology). Our guest, the brilliant and experienced Paul Veeneman, joins us to unpack the unique challenges of securing critical...
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Episode #11 - Turkey, Tactics, and Trade-offs: A Feast of InfoSec Insights
Thanksgiving is here, and so is Episode 11 of InfoSec to Insanity! Join Evan and Ryan Cloutier for a holiday special packed with gratitude, critical insights, and actionable tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this season. We’re dishing out: What we’re thankful for in InfoSec: Progress,...
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Episode #10 - One Night Only: Security Shit Show Reunion
In Episode #10, we've brought the band back together for a "One Night Only: The Security Shit Show Reunion." It’s been a couple of years since Evan, Chris Roberts, and Ryan Cloutier last shook up the infosec world with their unfiltered takes and straight-shooting style. For one night only, we’re...
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Episode #9 - 30+ Years, Have We Made Any Real Progress?
In this episode, I’m diving into a question that’s haunted me since I started in InfoSec back in ’92: Are we actually more secure now, or have we just been spinning our wheels? With three decades of so-called "advancements," it's time to get brutally honest about what’s worked, what hasn’t, and...
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Episode #8 - Has Technology Gone Too Far? My Wife Thinks So. with My Wife
In this candid episode, I’m joined by my wife as we tackle a topic that's on everyone’s mind: Are we relying on technology too much? My wife shares her unfiltered thoughts on how tech is creeping into every corner of our lives, sometimes causing more problems than it solves. From smart homes to...
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Episode #7 - Hacks and Horrors: Why Chasing Products Won’t Save You with Lyle Melnychuk
In this eye-opening episode of InfoSec to Insanity, we're joined by cybersecurity expert Lyle Melnychuk to tackle one of the biggest traps in the industry—over-relying on products to solve security problems. Lyle brings his no-nonsense perspective on why simply chasing the latest tools and tech...
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Episode #6 - F*ck the Stigma, Be Authentic with Rachel Arnold
In this episode of Insanity to InfoSec, we're joined by the incredible Rachel Arnold for a raw and real conversation about breaking down stigmas in the cybersecurity industry. Rachel, a leader known for championing authenticity and mental well-being in tech, shares her journey and the importance…
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Episode #5 - Public Sector Cyber Challenges with Shawn Riley
In this episode of Insanity to InfoSec, Evan dives into the complex world of public sector cybersecurity with a special guest, Shawn Riley (former CIO, State of ND). With his extensive experience as a public sector IT leader and strategist, Shawn brings valuable insights into the unique…
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Episode #4 - Unf*cking Security: No More Excuses, Fixing the Basics with Chip Harris
In this episode, Chip Harris and Evan discuss the complexities of cybersecurity, personal experiences in military and tech backgrounds, the evolution of hacking, the impact of the OPM breach, and the challenges of maintaining anonymity in their line of work. They delve into the life of a private...
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Episode #3 - When the Sh*t Hits the Fan with Oscar Minks
In this engaging conversation, Evan and Oscar explore the intersections of personal experiences, professional challenges, and the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. They discuss the importance of trust, credibility, and situational awareness in both life and work, while sharing personal...
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Episode #2 - WTF Are You Doing with Michael Kennedy
In this episode of the InfoSec to Insanity podcast, Evan and Michael Kennedy discuss various themes surrounding cybersecurity, including the importance of transparency, the role of Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and the launch of Ostra, a security as a service company. They share personal...
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Episode #1 - The Inaugural Episode w/Ryan Cloutier
In the inaugural episode of the InfoSec to Insanity Podcast, Evan welcomes his longtime friend Ryan Cloutier to discuss challenges and their experiences in information security. Both of them are together in Mexico, and things don't go off without a hitch. 20 minutes before the live show was set…
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About this show
Welcome to the InfoSec to Insanity Podcast, a wild, unfiltered ride through the crazy world of information security. Hosted by the legendary Evan Francen—the man on a mission to fix the broken InfoSec industry—you’ll get straight talk, insane stories, and no-nonsense advice on how we can make real change in cybersecurity.Evan is no stranger to breaking down tough topics, with over 30 years of practical InfoSec experience, founding FRSecure and SecurityStudio, and helping the world make sense of security risks. He’s also written UNSECURITY, where he tells it like it is—our industry is failing, but it’s fixable. If you’ve ever felt like InfoSec was more chaos than clarity, then this podcast is exactly what you need.Why Tune In?
Candid Conversations: No fluff, no corporate BS. Just real talk about the state of security.
Battle Stories: Evan’s got tales—from advising on the infamous Target breach to helping protect companies like Wells Fargo and Bl
Hosted by
Evan Francen
Categories