CISO Series Podcast

If you have ever wondered how security leaders actually make decisions -- the real budget fights, vendor negotiations, and risk trade-offs that happen behind closed doors -- this is the show. David Spark produces and hosts alongside co-hosts Mike Johnson and Andy Ellis, both former CISOs who bring years of operational experience to every conversation. With 395 episodes since 2018 and a 4.8-star rating from 191 reviews, it is one of the highest-rated cybersecurity podcasts on Apple. The format is structured but never stiff. Recurring segments like the What's Worse scenario present impossible security dilemmas that force guests to reason through competing priorities out loud. 10 Second Security delivers rapid-fire tips. Guest CISOs from companies across different industries join regularly, which keeps the perspectives fresh and prevents the show from becoming an echo chamber. Episodes run 38 to 45 minutes and come out weekly. The tone sits in a sweet spot between professional and relaxed -- Spark has a media background and knows how to keep a conversation moving, while Johnson and Ellis push back on vague answers with specific follow-ups. This is not a podcast about the latest CVE or malware variant. It is about governance, organizational dynamics, and the messy reality of running a security program. Vendors and sales engineers also listen in large numbers, since the show regularly addresses the buyer-seller relationship in security. That cross-audience appeal is part of what makes it work so well.