Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Allie Mellen, cybersecurity analyst and author, joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss her new book Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield. Allie explores how cyber conflict is deeply connected to geopolitics, history, and national strategy, arguing that cyberattacks are not mysterious acts of chaos, but tools used by governments to pursue economic, military, and political goals. The conversation unpacks common misconceptions about nation-state cyber threats, why organizations of all sizes can become collateral damage in global conflicts, and how leaders should think about cyber risk in an era of increasing geopolitical tension.  

 

Resources: 

View Allie Mellen on LinkedIn   

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  


Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  


The BlueHat Podcast   


Uncovering Hidden Risks  

       

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Cybersecurity leader and author George Finney joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore how trust, communication, and culture shape effective security leadership. Drawing on his experience in higher education and enterprise environments, George explains why Zero Trust succeeds or fails based on people not technology, and how CISOs can better communicate risk to executives and boards. The conversation also dives into AI governance, relatable storytelling as a leadership tool, and why making cybersecurity approachable is essential for building resilient organizations. 

Resources: 


View George Finney on LinkedIn  


View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  


Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  


The BlueHat Podcast   


Uncovering Hidden Risks  

     

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Dawn Song, Professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley, joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore how AI is rapidly reshaping the threat landscape. Dawn shares research from projects like Cyber Gym, demonstrating how frontier AI models are increasingly capable of identifying vulnerabilities, including zero-day exploits and generating proof-of-concept attacks, while also helping defenders automate patching and strengthen resilience.  

The conversation examines adversarial AI, agentic systems, data privacy risks, and the need for science and evidence-based AI policy. Dawn closes with an optimistic vision for the future: using AI-driven formal verification to build provably secure systems and move beyond the traditional cat-and-mouse security model. 

Resources: 


View Dawn Song on LinkedIn   


View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  


Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  


The BlueHat Podcast   


Uncovering Hidden Risks  

       

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

  

  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Rob Suárez, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. In the conversation, Rob shares how his career path and personal philosophy have shaped a mission-driven approach to cybersecurity that places patient trust, safety, and privacy at the center of every decision. He discusses the unique challenges of securing a deeply interconnected healthcare ecosystem, the critical role of culture and cyber literacy across organizations, and why transparency and resilience are essential during incidents. The episode also explores secure-by-design principles, the ethical use of AI in healthcare, and how the CISO role is evolving toward a broader focus on trust, collaboration, and human impact.  

 

Resources: 

View Rob Suárez on LinkedIn   

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  


Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  


The BlueHat Podcast   


Uncovering Hidden Risks  

       

 Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

  

 Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.

David Gee, a veteran CISO, CIO, board advisor, and author, joins Ann Johnson, CVP of Cybersecurity, Microsoft, on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Drawing on decades of experience and insights from his books, Gee explores the gap between theory and reality for security leaders, the role of imposter syndrome in professional growth, and why embracing discomfort is essential to effective leadership. The conversation examines how CISOs can balance risk management with business enablement, reset expectations with boards and executives, and build resilient, team-driven security cultures. Gee also shares perspectives on mentorship, long-term sustainability in the role, and how the CISO must evolve from a control-focused operator to a strategic influencer in an era shaped by AI, regulation, and constant change. 

 

Resources: 

View David Gee on LinkedIn 

View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn  

 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:  


Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  


The BlueHat Podcast   


Uncovering Hidden Risks  

       

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

  

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network.