Vulnerable U’s Matt Johansen on Building Community, Consistency, and the Human Side of Cybersecurity
A longtime cybersecurity leader turned creator, with more than 300,000 followers across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, and his newsletter, Matt Johansen is redefining what influence looks like by putting honesty, balance, and community at the center of his work. After years in leadership roles and hands-on security work, he turned his attention to building something different: Vulnerable U, a platform where conversations about burnout, purpose, and growth live alongside security insights.
I recently caught up with Matt to talk about what drives his creative process, why consistency matters more than perfection, and how vulnerability became his most powerful tool.
Turning expertise into empathy
Matt’s content blends technical depth with emotional honesty. “I started Vulnerable U because I wanted to have conversations that go deeper than the latest breach or exploit,” he said. “We spend so much time protecting systems, but not enough protecting ourselves.”
He’s quick to distance himself from the “influencer” label. “In cybersecurity, credibility comes from doing the work,” he said. “I’ve been a practitioner for 18 years. That’s what earns trust.”
His goal is to make expert-level knowledge approachable without oversimplifying it. “It’s a tightrope,” he said. “If you go too basic, the experts tune out. If you go too deep, the general audience disappears. I try to sit right in the middle.”
Building structure around creativity
Matt’s daily rhythm is built to support deep work. Mornings start with school drop-off for his daughter, followed by a gym session with a friend, which includes weights, sauna, and cold plunge. “That clears my head before I touch a screen,” he said. He also uses the Opal app to block social media from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. “I’m wired for addiction. I need systems that force me to unplug,” he said.
He guards his creative time fiercely. “Corporate life was death by a thousand meetings,” he said. “You can’t make great content in 30-minute blocks.” Now, he stacks meetings on Mondays and Tuesdays. The rest of the week is reserved for writing, filming, and editing. Fridays are his recharge days. “By Friday, I’m mentally spent. That’s when I read, lift, or just do nothing. You have to protect your energy to protect your output.”
Buying back his time
After years of late-night catch-up sessions, Matt realized he needed help. “Hiring an in-person admin in Austin was the best money I’ve ever spent,” he said. “She handles my email and calendar so I can focus on deep work.” He credits the book Buy Back Your Time with shifting his mindset. “Creative work isn’t predictable. You can’t schedule inspiration into 30-minute blocks. You have to create space for it,” he said.
That structure keeps him consistent. It’s a trait he shares with his friend and fellow creator Daniel Meissler. “Daniel and I have both been writing weekly newsletters for years. Consistency is the real growth engine.”
Redefining success
Like many creators, Matt used to chase views and followers. That changed. “Now, I think like Rick Rubin, who said, ‘If I showed up and made something honest, that’s a win.’”
His current focus is on steady, sustainable creativity. “Some videos flop. Some take off. You can’t predict it. But you can control whether you keep posting.”
Building a community that gives back
Austin’s cybersecurity scene plays a big role in Matt’s work and life. “This community is my chosen family,” he said. “We share workflows, business advice, and sometimes even course-worthy material. No gatekeeping.” That local support system keeps him accountable. “My gym buddy gets me to the gym. My neighbors are founders. Everyone’s building something. It’s motivating just to be around that energy.”
Balancing ambition and well-being
As Vulnerable U grows, Matt’s proudest accomplishment isn’t his follower count. It’s creating jobs for 25 people through his business. “I grew up without money. Financial stability means a lot. It’s about creating security for others, too.”
He’s careful not to lose sight of the personal. “If I can end the week having made something meaningful and spent real time with my family, that’s success,” he said.
That balance is part of his broader message: vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s awareness. “We’re all just trying to figure it out,” he said. “If sharing my story helps one person feel less alone, then I’m doing the right thing.”
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