Ep. 102 - Lions, Gazelles, and Pig Butchering // Robert Siciliano

Ep. 102 - Lions, Gazelles, and Pig Butchering // Robert Siciliano

From Adventures of Alice & Bob by Merchants Media

May 22, 2026 · 1h 2m

About this episode

James talks to Robert Siciliano about the vulnerabilities in cybersecurity and the impact of human psychology on fraud.

In this episode James talks to Robert Siciliano, certified speaking professional, bestselling author, private investigator, and creator of the Strategic Human Firewall. A man whose introduction to adversaries didn't come from a classroom but from being beat up in Boston aged 12. He has spent the 35 years since delivering the same uncomfortable truth, the biggest vulnerability in any system isn't the technology, it's the human trusting by default on the other side of the screen.Together they break down why phishing simulation training can cause a compliance trap that makes CISOs feel safe while leaving employees completely exposed, what the "human blind spot" is and why organized crime understands your psychology better than you do. Robert describes how AI has quietly turned pig butchering scams into the most lucrative fraud operation in human history. Taking us inside his personal undercover conversations with scammers, a deepfake video call with a woman named "Gloria," and the devastating real-world cost of these crimes that can cost people everything.

People in this episode

Host: James

Guest: Robert Siciliano

Topics covered

  • phishing
  • cybersecurity
  • human psychology
  • fraud
  • AI scams
  • compliance training

Keywords

  • phishing simulation
  • human blind spot
  • pig butchering scams
  • cybercrime
  • AI fraud
  • CISO compliance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Strategic Human Firewall

Places: Boston

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