Sober in Cyber

Massive thanks to everyone who came out for the Sober Sippin' & Lockpickin' event during #CyberMarketingCon2024! Attendees had a blast learning about lockpicking techniques and sampling the delicious mocktails (and the Tastykakes were truly tasty!). Thank you to our amazing trainers from TOOOL.US, to the Cybersecurity Marketing Society for supporting and promoting the event, and to our fantastic sponsors, Content Workshop 🥸 and Miscreants. We would not have been able to provide this fun, unique, alcohol-free social event without your support. 💜

Sober in Cyber proudly presents: 🍹 Sober Sippin' & Lockpickin' 🔒 A fun, alcohol-free networking event during #CyberMarketingCon, the Cybersecurity Marketing Society's annual conference! Conference attendees are welcome to join us for a unique, hands-on experience on Tuesday, December 10th, from 7-9:00 pm at the conference hotel. Get ready to unlock your curiosity and learn lockpicking techniques from expert trainers at TOOOL.US (The Open Organization Of Lockpickers). Try your hand at lockpicking while enjoying some tasty mocktails and snacks! Our heartfelt thanks to TOOOL.US for providing the training, to the Cybersecurity Marketing Society for their support of this event, and to our amazing sponsors, Content Workshop 🥸 and Miscreants. https://lnkd.in/gqtTxMR2

I'm looking forward to joining this stellar panel tomorrow with Dr. Sara Rabinovitch, PhD of Pacific Mindful Wellbeing @ Work and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at USC, and Jen Winters & Kat Reid from Pacific Hackers Association. We'll be discussing healthy ways to navigate challenges and work-related stressors in infosec (especially during the holidays). I'll be sharing insights and tips that I've gleaned through my own personal journey and through our community at Sober in Cyber. Tomorrow (Thursday), December 5th, at 2:30 pm Pacific / 5:30 pm Eastern. 🌟 Register at https://lnkd.in/g74AcMnr

Holiday parties are upon us! And that can be tricky for your sober employees. Here are some thoughts on how to both navigate that boozy event as a sober person, and how to create inclusive spaces for the awesome companies wanting to celebrate their employees. Sobrynth is here to help your workplace become recovery friendly so that all employees feel celebrated and included! For the Event Planners: 1. Offer a fun mocktail alongside the cocktail - you'll be amazed how many opt into NA when easy to grab 2. Host it at a place that isn't just a bar...maybe a cooking class and mingle, a volunteer event with dessert, or an upscale bowling / adult arcade spot 3. Gifting? Offer choice if booze is one (food basket OR bottle of wine), a donation to a favorite charity, or a cozy blanket (my all time favorite gift I received from Salesforce) For the sober employee, here's what's helped me: 1. Always have an NA drink in hand (hopefully one of those fun mocktails!) 2. Grab a sober friend to join you 3. Have an exit plan for when you're done...don't stay longer than you're comfortable 4. Make a plan for what to say when someone says "why aren't you drinking?" My go to was a simple "Oh, no thanks. I don't drink." If pressed, change the subject, say "I feel better sober" or just walk away. 5. Remember your reason for being there (meeting new colleagues, seeing friends, celebrating a great year, etc.) 6. Have fun! Waking up with no hangover, remembering every conversation, and regretting nothing is a pretty great thing to celebrate. Here's to a safe and sober holiday season. #soberspaces #recoveryfriendlyworkplaces #mocktailovercocktail

For anyone going to AWS re:Invent this year, consider running the Wednesday morning 5k. It's a really fun crowd, you get to run on some big main streets, good food after, and a t-shirt. Sign up is onsite the first day of the conference, near the arcade games, and it's free. #awsreinvent2024 #lasvegas #running Sober in Cyber

Thank you to Shannon Brewster, Jesus B., and everyone at the ISC2 Los Angeles Chapter for having me on the podcast to talk about what we're doing at Sober in Cyber! I also 💜 that we just keep getting more months... the first one I heard about was Dry January, then Dry July, and now Sober October! Honestly, anything that gives you an opportunity to pause, reflect, and try to shift towards a healthier lifestyle (even if it's incremental movements) will be time well spent. Speaking of time well spent, thank you for the heart-to-heart, Shannon! And massive thanks for being open to sharing more about your own journey. Just like our pathways into infosec & security, everyone's journey into sobriety is unique (and SO stinkin' INTERESTING!). Listen to our chat here: YouTube - https://lnkd.in/gZUYBPHj Spotify - https://lnkd.in/ghmdm-gE Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/gXDfz2CH

Thank you so much for having me on the Exploring Information Security podcast, Timothy De Block! It was such an absolute pleasure getting to chat with you about what we're doing at Sober in Cyber. I've been pushing myself outside of my comfort zone when it comes to public speaking & going on podcasts because I know this topic is very important, and hopefully, talking about my struggles helps to break some stigma and let people know that they aren't alone. You helped me to feel SO comfortable at the beginning of this podcast that it just felt like I was chatting with a longtime friend, which you most definitely ARE now. 🤗 Listen to the podcast at https://lnkd.in/gMWSksH8

We're excited to host a fun, alcohol-free meetup tonight to kick off Wild West Hackin' Fest! 🎉 Join us at the Deadwood Soda Saloon between 6-8:00 pm MT for a handcrafted root beer, sarsparilla, birch beer, or other delicious concoctions. Wednesday, October 9th | 6-8 pm MT Deadwood Soda Saloon (in the back of Miss Kitty's Mercantile) 649 Main Street | Deadwood, SD Then visit the Sober in Cyber booth on Thursday and Friday during the #WildWestHackinFest conference! https://lnkd.in/gEiw3cAu

The Black Hills Information Security / Antisyphon Training teams have been big supporters of the Sober in Cyber mission since the jump! I'm beyond excited to once again make the trek out to Deadwood for this amazing community-focused conference. (Our booth will feature the "DIY Inspiration Station" again, so get ready to make some fancy schmancy keychains, baubles, bracelets, and whatever else you can dream up!)

Join us TONIGHT in the Crystal Room on the 3rd level of the Fairmont Chicago from 9:00 pm until 1:00 am. 🎉