Ep. 328 - Human Element Series - Empathy Communication and Storytelling with Tanya Van Cott

Today we're joined by Tanya Van Cott. Tanya is a New York–based architect, industrial designer, and educator whose work explores how design and storytelling can drive social change. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Tanya has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with a Presidential Design Achievement Award and has been published for her innovative approach to interdisciplinary design. Before launching her own practice and press, WomanBecool PRESS, she honed her skills at world-renowned studios Pentagram and Lippincott.

Through both design and the written word, Tanya examines how disruptive technologies shape our lives — often through the eyes of powerful female protagonists. [Nov 10, 2025]

00:00 - Intro

00:25 - Intro Links

- Social-Engineer.com - http://www.social-engineer.com/

- Offensive Security Vishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/vishing/

- Offensive Security SMiShing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

- Offensive Security Phishing Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/smishing/

- Call Back Phishing - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/call-back-phishing/

- Adversarial Simulation Services - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/adversarial-simulation/

- Social Engineering Risk Assessments - https://www.social-engineer.com/offensive-security/social-engineering-risk-assessment/

- Social-Engineer channel on SLACK - https://social-engineering-hq.slack.com/ssb

- CLUTCH - http://www.pro-rock.com/

- innocentlivesfoundation.org - http://www.innocentlivesfoundation.org/

02:12 - Tanya Van Cott Intro

03:04 - The Path to Architecture

03:58 - Primal Screams

06:57 - Bandwidth

- Bandwidth - Tanya Van Cott

08:15 - The Human Element

10:42 - Lack of Empathy

16:51 - The Parent Trap

19:26 - Is Empathy an Action?

24:22 - We're the Problem!

29:14 - Mentors

32:50 - Book Recommendations

- Cat's Cradle - Kurt Vonnegut

35:13 - Find Tanya Van Cott Online

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyavancott/

- Website: http://www.tanyavancott.com/

36:37 - Valuing Real Connections

39:35 - Guest Wrap Up & Outro

- www.social-engineer.com

- www.innocentlivesfoundation.org