Season 4

#CyberChats Podcast Season 4, Episode 7: Rethinking Security Awareness Training: Encouragement Over ‘Gotchas’ with Craig Taylor


Listen to the Podcast on 4 December 2025

Episode Details

Welcome to #CyberChats Season 4, Episode 7

What if security training didn’t make you feel stupid?

In Season 4's Episode 7, host Kennedy Taylor Tibbetts sits down with Craig Taylor to talk about a radically better way to learn online safety—one built on gamification, encouragement, and zero shame.

Together, they dive into Craig's philosophy behind positive reinforcement model. Earning his CISSP in 2001, he realized early on that fear-based training doesn’t build real skills… but gamified, positively reinforced learning does.

That idea eventually became CyberHoot, a platform helping everyone—from students to enterprise teams—build better digital habits without the shame spiral. This is the episode for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed, embarrassed, or intimidated by online security - tune in now!

Mentioned CyberHoot Resources:
Main Website: https://cyberhoot.com/
Individual Registration (Free Personal Training for Life): https://cyberhoot.com/individuals/
Cybrary (Cybersecurity Library of Terms in Layperson language): https://cyberhoot.com/cybrary/

CyberHoot is excited to offer our listeners 20% off for 1 year using code "CyberChats"

Topics discussed: positive reinforcement in cybersecurity, rethinking security awareness training, human-centered cyber learning, psychology and cybersecurity behavior, gamified cyber education, reducing fear-based training, building cyber confidence, cyber literacy for schools and small businesses, MSP cybersecurity enablement, real-world digital safety habits, the human layer of security, cyber career journeys, creating a supportive security culture, Toastmasters.

Guest Details (Click on the guest photo or name for more details.)


MetaCTF Challenges

Register for #CyberChats' Cyber Challenges below to compete individually or join a team, and look for your name on the leaderboard. For more practice, register for MetaCTF's free monthly Flash CTF.

Click the button below to register via the MetaCTF site and compete.

 


Online Cyber Games

Explore the Amanita Whitehat Cyber Game Series.