Best Front Line Defenders Podcasts (2025)

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Roots of Resistance: Indigenous Women Defending Human Rights and Reimagining Power in Africa 35:41

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2d ago35:41

35:41

Send us a text Indigenous women human rights defenders in Africa face unique challenges, from standing up to patriarchal norms and fighting land grabs by extractive industries, to resisting the gendered impacts of climate change and forced evictions- In this episode, we chat to two indigenous women human rights defenders - Janepher Baitwamasa from …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 26 - Kaeli Smith 39:22

11d ago39:22

39:22

Welcome to another inspiring episode of The Defender’s Journal! This week, Kaeli Smith joins us. But how does a former graphic design student go from nearly joining the CIA to leading a 30+ person cyber risk team? In this episode, we explore the mindset shift that pulled Kaeli into tech, how she’s translated risk for executives, and what it really …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 25 - Chad Pierce 36:51

1M ago36:51

36:51

Welcome to another insight-packed episode of The Defender’s Journal! This week, Chad Pierce takes the mic. But how does a cybersecurity leader link GRC directly to $1B in revenue - while keeping 700+ global buildings running behind the scenes? In this episode, we unpack the leadership mindset that turns security into an accelerator, the invisible s…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 24 - Nate Dunning 44:27

2M ago44:27

44:27

Welcome to another gripping episode of The Defender’s Journal! This week, Nate Dunning joins us on the mic. But how does a small-town farm kid end up leading global security operations across continents? In this episode, we unpack what it’s like to handle a live DDoS attack from an airport terminal, the challenges of building a SOC across time zone…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 23 - John Terrill 48:50

2M ago48:50

48:50

Welcome to another intriguing episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, John Terrill steps up to the mic. But how does a 15-year-old hacker end up running security at Fox News and pioneering endpoint tools before the rest of the world caught on? In this episode, we dive into the question from a CTO that left him genuinely stumped, why your oper…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 22 - Matt Rathbun 49:03

3M ago49:03

49:03

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, Matt Rathbun takes the mic. But how does a political science grad become CSO Elect at the OCC? In this episode, we explore how a NIST framework changed the course of his career, why awareness training needs a reset, and what it really means when Matt says, “anything …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 21 - Nicholas Arvanitis 49:47

3M ago49:47

49:47

Welcome to another gripping episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, Nick Arvanitis takes a seat on the sofa. But how does someone go from SysAdmin to one of the most trusted voices in cybersecurity? In this episode, we unpack the mistakes that still weigh heavy, the decisions that cost him sleep, and the one sliding-doors moment in security h…

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Lithuania - A shining city on the front lines of democracy with Mantas Adomenas 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

In this episode of Active Measures, we focus on Lithuania—a frontline nation in the global struggle against authoritarian threats. As a refuge for exiled Belarusian and Russian activists, Lithuania has emerged as a beacon of democratic resilience, courageously confronting Vladimir Putin’s aggressive campaign against freedom and democracy. Marcus Ko…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Stuart Avery 39:56

4M ago39:56

39:56

Welcome to another intriguing spin-off episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, Stuart Avery joins us on the sofa... Who do you trust in a fragmented world? Are fear-based tactics slowing the industry down? And can tech alone ever be the solution? Listen now for Stuart's take. + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Ha…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Jemma Davis 37:09

4M ago37:09

37:09

Welcome to another spin-off episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, Jemma Davis joins us with a story you genuinely won’t want to miss... Jemma never planned for cybersecurity - but life had other ideas. From witnessing WannaCry firsthand to tackling AI risks for SMEs, she’s unpacking the twists, turns, and hard-hitting moments of her powerfu…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 20 - Katelyn Perna 35:54

5M ago35:54

35:54

Welcome to another fascinating episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, we’re excited to welcome Katelyn Perna to the sofa. Katelyn keeps it real and relatable. This week, we’re diving into the link between RFID chips and decentralised clothing tech. Was becoming a CISO ever her real goal? What web2 problems still hold back web3? And how can a…

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All about Digital Rights with Mona Shtaya 49:40

5M ago49:40

49:40

Send us a text Mona Shtaya is a pioneering digital rights defender with more than a decade of experience. Her advocacy and campaigning has resulted in exposing digital discrimination against oppressed people, building coalitions, and mobilising groups to hold governments and tech giants accountable. In this episode she talks about: - What it means …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 19 - Eric Freeman 41:03

5M ago41:03

41:03

Welcome to another episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, we’re excited to welcome Eric Freeman to the show. Eric’s journey is anything but ordinary. This week, he’s sharing how he went from a line chef to Head of Security in record time – and the lessons learned along the way. We’ll dive into why buy-in can be a major challenge in cybersecu…

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Taiwan Power: Taiwan's Experience & Defence Against PRC FIMI with Ben Graham Jones 27:52

6M ago27:52

27:52

In this episode, we’ll explore how one of the world’s most vulnerable nations—Taiwan, which faces a daily barrage of Chinese state information and influence operations—has successfully built resilience against PRC information warfare . We’ll delve into Taiwan’s comprehensive, whole-of-society approach to countering these threats. Joining me today i…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Amy Stokes-Waters 32:26

6M ago32:26

32:26

Welcome to another spin-off episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, we’re excited to welcome Amy Stokes-Waters to the show. Amy tells it like it is. This week, she’s cutting through the noise to reveal what’s working in cybersecurity, what isn’t, and why real change needs fresh thinking and better visibility for overlooked voices. What’s driv…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Holly Foxcroft 35:29

6M ago35:29

35:29

Welcome to another spin-off episode of The Defender's Journal! This week, we’re excited to have Holly Foxcroft on the sofa. Is the industry facing a true skills gap – or is it simply a communication breakdown? How does neurodivergence influence security posture in ways we don’t always recognise? And what lessons can recruitment teams take from it a…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Yashvier Kosaraju 24:07

6M ago24:07

24:07

Welcome to the first episode of our *fortnightly series in 2025! This week, we’re thrilled to have Yashvier Kosaraju join us on the sofa! How does chasing bounties lead to a career in cybersecurity leadership? What’s the one piece of tech he can’t live without – and was he really that much of a headache for his early managers? Tune in to find out..…

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Talia Khattak: Daughter of Imprisoned and Forcibly Disappeared human rights defender Idris Khattak, Speaks. 23:17

7M ago23:17

23:17

Send us a text Idris Khattak, a Pakistani human rights defender, was forcibly disappeared 5 years ago. He was, and remains, a single father of 2 daughters. For almost two years after his disappearance, they had no clue about his whereabouts, worried about his safety and whether he was alive. Authorities eventually revealed that he was being held in…

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Best of "Person of the Week" Jack Antonoff • Creating the Sound of Right Now 32:14

9M ago32:14

32:14

This week, 8-time Grammy award-winner Jack Antonoff joins host Charlotte Alter to talk about the indelible mark he’s left on music history. The pair discuss the magnetic pull of their shared hometown of New Jersey, the profound impact that Antonoff’s family has had on his work, and the intimate and intricate processes behind today’s chart-topping h…

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Influencers at the Gate: The Role of Influencers in Russian Info & Influence Ops 37:16

9M ago37:16

37:16

In this episode, your host, Marcus Kolga, travels to Tallinn Estonia where he meets with leading global expert on Russian influence and information operations, Molly McKew, to talk about the role of domestic US and Canadian influencers in those operations, their impact on our society, and about those nations that have successfully challenged them, …

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Georgia’s Foreign Influence Transparency Bill: realities on the ground 29:02

9M ago29:02

29:02

Send us a text In this multi-episode series, we take a look at the use of laws in Europe and Central Asia criminalising funding received by human rights organisations from foreign sources. In Georgia, Parliament adopted the ‘’Transparency of Foreign Influence’’ bill in May 2024. The Georgian government has already starting listing organisations as …

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Best of "Person of the Week" • Secretary Miguel Cardona • Evolving American Education 28:34

9M ago28:34

28:34

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has unique insight into the current state and future of American schools. This week, we’re sharing a conversation Secretary Cardona had with host Charlotte Alter last month to help shed light on this changing landscape. Cardona shared cherished memories of being an elementary school principal and the chall…

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The Frontline of Russian Deception: Defending Latvia against Russian Information Warfare 22:22

9M ago22:22

22:22

In this episode, Marcus Kolga travels to the capital of Latvia, Riga, where he chats with former Latvian Defence Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Artis Pabriks, the founder and chairman of the Northern Defence Policy Center Think Tank. Dr. Pabriks highlights Latvia's early recognition of Russian hybrid and information warfare, emphasizing …

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Nordic Shadows: Russia's Information Operations in Sweden with Patrik Oksanen 20:52

9M ago20:52

20:52

Episode 5 turns to Russia's information operations targeting Sweden. In this episode, our host, Marcus Kolga, travels to Estonia’s capital, Tallin, where he speaks with Swedish journalist and foreign policy expert Patrik Oksanen. The impact of Patrik's work has made him a significant target of Russian transnational oppression, which we will cover i…

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Best of "Person of the Week" • Henry Louis Gates, Jr. • Presenting The Past 34:50

9M ago34:50

34:50

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is a renowned historian, author, scholar, filmmaker, and is the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University. This week, Gates joins host Charlotte Alter and reflects on his formative years in the working-class mill town of Piedmont, West Virginia, his early education during …

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The West versus Russian disinfo with Jakub Kalensky (Senior Analyst, Hybrid COE in Helsinki) 29:22

9M ago29:22

29:22

In this episode, our host Marcus Kolga, travels to Helsinki, Finland, where he meets with Jakub Kalensky, a senior analyst at the European Center of Excellence for countering hybrid threats in Helsinki, who is active in the development of the EU's external action services, EU versus Disinfo at the eastern STRATCOM and now with the Hybrid COE - an i…

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Best of "Person of the Week" • Charli XCX • From Boom Clap to Brat 33:09

10M ago33:09

33:09

For over a decade, Charli XCX has been a trailblazer in the pop and electronic music scenes, captivating audiences with hits like “I Love It” and “Boom Clap,” and acclaimed albums such as "How I'm Feeling Now" and "Crash." Her music has underscored iconic TV shows and films, from “GIRLS” in the 2010s to the recent hits “Bottoms” and “Barbie.” This …

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NATO and cognitive warfare with Jay Janzen 29:22

10M ago29:22

29:22

Welcome to the third episode of Disinfo Watch and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute's Active Measures podcast. Over the past two episodes, we've looked at the history of Moscow's information and influence operations. In this episode, our host Marcus Kolga travelled to Helsinki, Finland, where he met with former Canadian Brigadier General Jay Janzen, …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 18 - Tom Baxley 35:25

10M ago35:25

35:25

Welcome to another episode in our *fortnightly series. This week, we’re excited to welcome Tom Baxley to the sofa! Ever wonder how a 12-year-old tinkerer with computers grew up to become a CISO at one of the world’s top asset management firms? Listen now… + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Harrod or Cameron Wenham via …

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Estonia's historical experience & resilience 25:14

10M ago25:14

25:14

In this episode, we'll look at how our allies on NATO's eastern flank have been the targets and victims of Russian operations for nearly a century. Marcus Kolga travels to Tallin in Estonia to meet with Estonian Member of Parliament, Eerik-Niiles Kross, to talk about how his country has endured, how it continues to be targeted, and what we might le…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 17 - Abbas Kudrati 41:50

10M ago41:50

41:50

Welcome to another episode in our *fortnightly series. This week, we’re excited to welcome Abbas Kudrati to the sofa! How did someone who couldn’t read, write, or speak until the age of six go on to shape global cybersecurity strategies and write successful books? Listen now... + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Harrod…

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The Gouzenko Affair: Russia's Cold War information & influence operations 24:08

10M ago24:08

24:08

In this episode, we’ll look at Russia’s historic information and influence operations in the western world and specifically Canada, with renowned historian Professor Amy W. Knight who is described by the New York Times as the world’s foremost scholar on the KGB. We’re going to step back to 1945 when a soviet military intelligence cipher clerk, Igor…

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Interview with Raji Sourani, founder of PCHR 52:41

11M ago52:41

52:41

Send us a text Raji is human rights lawyer and defender from Gaza who leads a core team at the PCHR, documenting and investigating human rights violations committed under the Israeli occupation. The PCHR have contributed to important international cases at the ICJ and ICC. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlinedefenders/…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 16 - Erika Dean 38:56

11M ago38:56

38:56

Welcome to another episode in our *fortnightly series. This week, we’re excited to welcome Erika Dean to the sofa! How does someone with zero experience land a spot on the InfoSec team at Capital One? Listen now... + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Harrod or Cameron Wenham via LinkedIn or our website.…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Chenxi Wang 33:09

11M ago33:09

33:09

Welcome to a new conversational spin-off of the Defender's Journal podcast series! In these bite-sized episodes, we'll highlight broader perspectives in the technology world - offering market insights, success tips, and unique viewpoints to help you think differently and progress. Like our 'main' episodes we delve into individual expertise to shape…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 15 - Olivia Rose 41:54

11M ago41:54

41:54

Welcome to another episode in our *fortnightly series. This week, we’re excited to have Olivia Rose join us on the sofa! Why did Olivia quit her CISO role just a day after promoting it on an RSA panel? Listen now... + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Harrod or Cameron Wenham via LinkedIn or our website.…

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A Defender's Journal Spin-Off - Steve Orrin 36:42

12M ago36:42

36:42

Welcome to a new conversational spin-off of the Defender's Journal podcast series! In these bite-sized episodes, we'll highlight broader perspectives in the technology world - offering market insights, success tips, and unique viewpoints to help you think differently and progress. Like our main podcast, we delve into individual expertise to shape s…

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The Defender's Journal Episode 14 - Chelsea Jarvie 36:09

1y ago36:09

36:09

Welcome to another episode in our *fortnightly series. This week, we’re excited to have Chelsea Jarvie join us on the sofa! Curious about how she achieved a senior position in cybersecurity with only 18 months of industry experience? Listen now... + Interested in joining us on the show? Connect with either Jeff Harrod or Cameron Wenham via LinkedIn…

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#RejectFinanceBill protests in Kenya: Human rights defender testimony 15:09

1y ago15:09

15:09

Send us a text Why have Kenyan human rights defenders been protesting? What have the consequences of their human rights work during the protests been? Listen to a human rights defender on the ground in Kenya share their perspective on why they are peacefully protesting, as well as how they have been targeted and harassed during this time. Follow us…

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Bobbi Brown • Beyond Beautiful 34:48

1y ago34:48

34:48

Legendary makeup artist, author, and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown joins host Charlotte Alter for our final episode of the season. They delve into Brown's journey from her Chicago upbringing to the pinnacle of the global beauty industry. Brown candidly shares the story behind her rise to success, from the profound influence of her mother on her percepti…

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Interview with Doris Kathia 34:31

1y ago34:31

34:31

Send us a text Doris is a woman human rights defender working on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for over a decade, advocating for the rights of women, girls, and marginalized communities in Kenya and beyond. She talks about the challenges and successes of her work as a human rights defender: the difficult context for SRHR, LGBTIQ+…

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Charli XCX • From Boom Clap to Brat 33:09

1y ago33:09

33:09

For over a decade, Charli XCX has been a trailblazer in the pop and electronic music scenes, captivating audiences with hits like “I Love It” and “Boom Clap,” and acclaimed albums such as "How I'm Feeling Now" and "Crash." Her music has underscored iconic TV shows and films, from “GIRLS” in the 2010s to the recent hits “Bottoms” and “Barbie.” This …

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The Defender's Journal Episode 13 - Phil Venables 51:04

1y ago51:04

51:04

Welcome to another episode in our series! Here at The Defender's Journal, we delve into the lives and minds of leading professionals in the cybersecurity space, revealing their stories, motivations, and tips for long-term success. This week, our guest is none other than industry stalwart Phil Venables. Here is his journey... *Interested in joining …