Podcast
The Watchers
Hosted by Sentinel Blue · EN
The Watchers is a profile in the people who are looking out for the rest of us. From national security to cybersecurity, regulators to military operators, these are the people who are on the wall for us.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Phyllis Lee On Reasonable Cybersecurity, Compliance Overload, And Software Risk | Ep 45
6d ago01:32:34Tap to summarizeAfter 25 years at the NSA, Phyllis Lee now helps shape the CIS Critical Security Controls used by organizations around the world. In this episode of Sentinel Blue’s The Watchers, she explains why fear-based cybersecurity messaging fails, why compliance frameworks overwhelm defenders, and why software vendors must take more responsibility for security. The conversation also explores MSP culture, secure-by-design thinking, AI optimism, and the widening gap between cybersecurity policy and operational reality.MORE FROM PHYLLIS LEEPhyllis Lee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-lee-21b58a1a4/ FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #cybersecurity #cyberdefense #CISControls #CenterForInternetSecurity #NSA #MSP #securebydesign #cyberpolicy #infosec
Transcribe →Laura Galante On AI Competition, Strategic Infrastructure, And The Future Of Cyber Defense | Ep 44
3w ago01:27:43Tap to summarizeWhat happens when cyber risk becomes a question of national power, infrastructure, and resilience? Laura Galante joins Andy Sauer to explore how cyber intelligence evolved, why critical infrastructure is becoming strategic terrain, how AI is reshaping both defense and offense, and what leaders should do when uncertainty becomes permanent. From boardrooms to geopolitics, this episode examines the systems shaping the next decade.MORE FROM LAURA GALANTELinkedIn: Laura Galante LinkedInFOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #cybersecurity #cyberdefense #AI #CriticalInfrastructure #ThreatIntelligence #CyberPolicy #NationalSecurity
Transcribe →Vicky Pillitteri on risk management, AI security, and the future of cybersecurity standards
May 2001:07:09Tap to summarizeAndy Sauer sits down with Vicky Pillitteri from National Institute of Standards and Technology to discuss the intent behind NIST cybersecurity standards, the evolution of CMMC, continuous monitoring, and why compliance alone does not equal security. They also explore how NIST is approaching AI security, machine-readable cybersecurity documentation, and the growing challenge of managing cyber risk in an increasingly connected world.MORE FROM VICKY PILLITTERIhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriayanpillitteri/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: The Watchers WebsiteLinkedIn: The Watchers LinkedInSentinel Blue: Sentinel Blue LinkedInInstagram: The Watchers InstagramJOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDThe Watchers DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: The Watchers RSS FeedEpisodes: The Watchers EpisodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: Andy Sauer LinkedInPRODUCED BYSentinel BluePRODUCTION TEAMBrand Ready Media#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #cybersecurity #cyberdefense #CMMC #NIST #RiskManagement #AISecurity #Compliance #CyberRisk
Transcribe →Jen Sovada on OT complexity, human-centered cybersecurity, and the global skills gap
May 701:28:26Tap to summarizeJen Sovada joins Andy Sauer to explore the hidden complexity of operational technology and why securing it requires more than technical expertise. They discuss the global nature of OT systems, the role of language and culture in cybersecurity, and how technology is reshaping human capability. The conversation also dives into workforce challenges and why the biggest risks today sit at the intersection of people, process, and technology.MORE FROM JEN SOVADAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jensovada/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/Hashtags#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #cybersecurity #cyberdefense #OTsecurity #criticalinfrastructure #cyberworkforce #infosec
Transcribe →Mary Brooks on Cyber Assistance, Supply Chains, and the Fracturing of Digital Trust
Apr 2801:27:08Tap to summarizeCybersecurity isn’t just technical — it’s geopolitical. In this episode, Mary Brooks joins Andy to examine how U.S. cyber assistance, digital trust, and supply chain security are evolving. They unpack shifting government structures, leadership gaps, unpredictability in policy, and what it means for allies. From sovereign AI to interdependent infrastructure, this conversation explores where cyber strategy meets global power — and why stability matters more than ever.MORE FROM MARY BROOKShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-b-7978497b/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/#nationalsecurity #cyberpolicy #supplychainsecurity #digitalsovereignty #AIpolicy#cybersecurity #cyberdefense #cyberwarfare #criticalinfrastructure #foreignpolicy#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #marybrooks #andysauer
Transcribe →Matt Lee on the cybersecurity poverty line, insurance risk shifts, and systemic failure
Apr 2101:41:12Tap to summarizeMatt Lee breaks down a hard truth: much of the market is operating below a viable cybersecurity baseline. He explains the concept of the “cybersecurity poverty line,” how managed service agreements often mask unmitigated risk, and why insurers are shifting responsibility downstream. This conversation explores the economic realities behind cyber risk and what it means for resilience across SMBs, MSPs, and the broader ecosystem.MORE FROM MATT LEEhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/#TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #cybersecurity #cyberdefense #cyberrisk #infosec #MSP #cyberinsurance #SMBsecurity
Transcribe →Anna Wheeler on breaking barriers, leadership under fire, and cyber's evolution
Mar 2401:39:27Tap to summarizeEpisode Description (75 words)From helicopter gunner to cybersecurity strategist, Anna Wheeler’s career bridges the kinetic and digital battlefields. Andy and Anna explore her journey through the military, the lessons of leadership under pressure, and the evolving frontlines of cyber defense. She shares insight into breaking barriers, mentoring the next generation, and why optimism still drives her in a field defined by constant threats.MORE FROM ANNA WHEELERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-wheeler-ssaw/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/Hashtags:#veteransintech #cyberstrategy #womenincyber #militaryleadership #defenseinnovation #futureofwarfare #operationaltechnology #cyberresilience #thewatcherspodcast #sentinelblue #andysauer #annawheeler
Transcribe →Teresa Shea on NSA Leadership, Trust, and the Future of Cyber Intelligence | The Watchers Episode 37
Mar 1101:21:11Tap to summarizeTeresa Shea shares an insider’s perspective on national security, leadership, and trust after a 34-year career at the NSA. From surviving the intelligence failures of 9/11 to navigating the fallout of the Snowden disclosures, Teresa explains how institutions learn, adapt, and protect democratic values. The conversation also explores AI, cybersecurity, and why investing in people—through mentorship and mission-driven leadership—remains America’s greatest strategic advantage.MORE FROM TERESA SHEAhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-shea-244594113/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/Hashtags#nationalsecurity #cybersecurity #intelligencecommunity #NSA#AIandethics #cyberdefense #futureofwarfare #leadership#trustininstitutions #TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #andysauer #teresashea
Transcribe →Jonny Gannon on CIA Operations, Leadership Under Fire & AI Intelligence
Feb 2502:02:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Watchers, Andy Sauer sits down with former CIA officer Jonny Gannon for an inside look at clandestine operations, from the front lines of post-9/11 Afghanistan, to leading elite teams in the world’s most high-stakes environments.Gannon shares hard-earned lessons on trust, leadership under fire, and the realities of espionage, alongside firsthand insight into how artificial intelligence is transforming intelligence work today.It’s a sharp, unfiltered conversation about service, risk, and what it truly takes to operate, and lead, in a world that refuses to stand still.MORE FROM JONNY GANNONLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-gannon-3818bb55/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/Hashtags#nationalsecurity #cyberintelligence #CIA #intelligencecommunity #AIandsecurity#leadership #specialoperations #counterterrorism #futureofwarfare #cybersecurity#cyberdefense #TheWatchersPodcast #sentinelblue #jonnygannon #andysauer
Transcribe →Bob Skinner on Presidential Communications, Cyber Leadership, and AI Accountability
Feb 2001:37:03Tap to summarizeRetired Lieutenant General Bob Skinner joins Andy Sauer to unpack leadership at the highest levels of national security. From overseeing presidential communications to mentoring the next generation of military leaders, Skinner shares lessons on strategy, accountability, and decision-making under pressure. The conversation explores cybersecurity, identity, artificial intelligence, and why transparency and ethics will define the next era of defense and technology.MORE FROM BOB SKINNERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-skinner-1a48aa22/FOLLOW THE WATCHERSWebsite: https://thewatchers.ioLinkedIn: https://thewatchers.io/linkedinSentinel Blue: https://sblu.us/linkedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/watcherspodcast/JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON DISCORDhttps://thewatchers.io/DiscordGET THE AUDIO PODCASTRSS Feed: https://thewatchers.io/feedEpisodes: https://thewatchers.io/episodesCONNECT WITH ANDYLinkedIn: https://sblu.us/AndyPRODUCED BYhttps://www.sentinelblue.comPRODUCTION TEAMhttps://www.brandready.com/🏷️ Hashtags#nationalsecurity #cybersecurity #militaryleadership #AIandethics #cyberdefense#criticalinfrastructure #defenseinnovation #strategicleadership #futureofwarfare#TheWatchersPodcast #SentinelBlue #BobSkinner #AndySauer
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