x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Hacker Valley Studio

Hacker Valley Media

Welcome back to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.

technology self-improvement

All Episodes

18:16

The End of Search and the Rise of AI Browsers and...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/09/25

Search engines aren’t dying quietly, they’re being replaced in real time by AI browsers and voice agents.AI isn’t just answering questions anymore; it’s acting for us. In this episode, Ron Eddings explores how tools like NanoBrowser and Comet are reshaping browsing, why Google may be in trouble, and how AI voices are becoming the new interface for productivity. From breakthroughs to risks, this is a front-row look at how AI agents are changing how we work, connect, and live online. Impactful

en

33:59

Where Automation Ends, Cyber Ingenuity Begins with...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/09/18

Some tools replace tasks. Others reshape the way we think about security.In this episode, Ron welcomes back Phillip Wylie, one of the most respected voices in offensive security, author, educator, and longtime friend of the Hacker Valley community. With over 27 years of experience across cybersecurity disciplines, Phillip has guided thousands of professionals through his books, talks, and mentorship. He shares how AI is reshaping pen testing and red teaming, the value of automating away

en

34:04

The Power of Showing Up: Daily Streams, Big Impact...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/09/11

What if showing up with consistency could spark opportunities, create careers, and build a global movement?In this episode, Ron sits down with Gerald Auger, Ph.D., cybersecurity educator, content creator, and founder of Simply Cyber. Gerald shares how his daily livestream grew into a thriving community, why consistency is the key to influence, and how AI is reshaping the way cyber professionals work. From building SimplyCyberCon to launching a new pentesting venture, Gerry’s journey is a

en

37:24

The Rise of the Autonomous Blue Team with Vineet...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/09/04

What if defenders had their own AI-powered task force, always on, always adapting, and finally one step ahead of attackers?In this episode, Ron welcomes Vineet Edupuganti, Founder and CEO of Cogent Security, to discuss how AI agents are rewriting the rules of cybersecurity. Vineet shares why traditional vulnerability management is fundamentally broken, why exposure management matters more than ever, and how Cogent is building an “AI Task Force” to give defenders the edge. From his early days in

en

22:52

Turning AI Into Your Super Tool with Ron Eddings

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/08/28

AI is neither friend nor foe, it’s both. The way we choose to use it determines whether it helps or harms.In this solo episode, Ron Eddings shares lessons from his first job at a grocery store, his early days in cybersecurity, and today’s AI-driven landscape. From productivity hacks like meeting transcription, to creative tools like content-aware editing, to the dark side of phishing and deepfakes, Ron shows why human judgment remains the ultimate defense. This is a passionate reminder that the

en

32:22

Mentorship to Mastery: AI and Community Lessons with...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/08/21

AI might analyze your logs in seconds, but only the community can put you in the room that changes your career.In this solo episode, Ron Eddings discusses the powerful balance between human connection and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cybersecurity and beyond. From the sacrifices that sparked his career to the mentors who opened doors, Ron shares personal stories that show why community will always be your ultimate competitive edge, even as AI advances into the SOC. He also runs

en

41:30

From MCP Risks to AI Jailbreaks with Marco Figueroa

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/08/14

When AI agents move faster than security teams, the game changes, and the risks multiply.Ron welcomes back Marco “Mystic Marc” Figueroa, Program Manager at Mozilla’s 0DIN Program, to continue the conversation and update on 2025’s most pressing AI and cybersecurity shifts. From the explosive rise of AI agents and OpenAI’s rumored browser to the hidden dangers of MCP implementations and prompt injection exploits like the Gemini attack, Marco shares insights that security pros can’t afford to

en

16:00

Debt vs. Risk: What the SharePoint Breach Taught Us...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/08/07

The riskiest move in cybersecurity? Playing it too safe. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings redefines the way we think about technical debt, risk, and missed opportunities, in security and in life.Ron reframes the debt vs. risk paradigm through the lens of the SharePoint breach, personal milestones, and co-founding Hacker Valley. With sharp insights, personal stories, and a call to action for every listener, he shows how curiosity and calculated risk are the true drivers of innovation. Impactful

en

23:22

The Future of Cyber Talent Is African with Confidence...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/07/31

The world’s youngest continent is also its most untapped resource. Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe, makes a powerful case for why Africa’s youth are the answer to global cybersecurity and AI innovation… if we’re bold enough to invest.In this episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader and advocate Confidence Staveley for a discussion on purpose-driven innovation, talent development, and AI-powered awareness tools. Confidence shares updates on her nonprofit work, her bold new ventures

en

24:54

Compliance Isn’t the Enemy with Jeff Man

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/07/24

Is compliance just a checkbox, or the backbone of real security?Returning to the show with decades of hard-earned insight, Jeff Man makes the case that compliance, especially PCI-DSS, isn't just a formality; it's foundational to modern security. As one of the original architects of the NSA Red Team and a 20-year PCI veteran, Jeff explains how this often-misunderstood framework has shaped everything from pen testing to vendor accountability. Ron and Jeff unpack the six core goals of PCI, how red

en

37:19

What Makes a Great CISO? A Playbook from Gary Hayslip

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/07/17

What separates a great CISO from a great one? In this powerhouse conversation, Ron invites friend and cybersecurity leader Gary Hayslip, CISO at SoftBank Investment Advisers, back on the mic to discuss what it takes to lead in today’s high-stakes digital world. Gary shares battle-tested insights on accountability, the evolving expectations of the CISO role, and how AI is reshaping leadership without replacing it.Gary shares stories ranging from military mishaps to enterprise-scale transformation,

en

32:50

Confidence, Coaching, and the S-Word with Mel Reyes

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/07/10

Want to stand out as a leader? According to our guest Mel Reyes, you need to dress like you mean it and speak like you’ve got nothing to prove.In this episode, Mel shares how he built billion-dollar portfolios, coached executive teams, and still shows up in a white hoodie when that feels right. With Ron, he unpacks how executive presence becomes a strategic weapon for breaking resistance, commanding attention, and making your message unforgettable. You’ll learn why generic resumes fail, how to

en

43:26

Purple Teaming Is the New Job Security with Maril Vernon

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/06/26

Cybersecurity isn’t just red or blue anymore... it’s purple, white, and deeply human. Maril Vernon, award-winning ethical hacker and Senior Solutions Architect at NetSPI, returns to the Hacker Valley Studio to discuss purple teaming as the most future-proof career path in cyber. She opens up about mentorship, burnout, compensation realities, and how we’re still failing the fundamentals.Together, Ron and Maril dig into what purple teaming really is (and isn’t), why soft skills matter more than ever,

en

30:44

The AI Gold Rush in Cybersecurity with Chris Cochran

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/06/19

The new cybersecurity pioneers aren’t chasing alerts, they’re building with AI. But what happens when tools meant to assist begin making decisions for us? And what skills do we lose when machines fill the gaps we used to grow into?In this episode, Chris Cochran, CEO and Founder of Commandant, returns to Hacker Valley Studio with an insider view on building in the AI boom. He shares why he’s betting on incident response over the “AI SOC,” what it means to use AI with integrity, and how this moment

en

23:43

The AI That Tried to Escape with Ron Eddings

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/06/12

What happens when AI refuses to be replaced? This episode kicks off with a chilling real-world example of an AI threatening blackmail—and only gets more intense from there.Host Ron Eddings unpacks the terrifyingly innovative ways AI is altering the cybersecurity threat landscape. From deepfakes convincing enough to fool your own family to auto-summarizing email clients acting as unintentional insiders, the stakes have never been higher. Ron also shares insights from his brand-new book Attack

en

40:15

Zero Trust Isn’t a Tool — It’s Everything with George...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/06/05

What if Zero Trust isn’t a framework, but the only viable cybersecurity strategy—more about people than products?In this episode, George Finney, CISO at the University of Texas System and author of Project Zero Trust, reveals the human-first truth behind the Zero Trust movement, and why it’s not something you buy but something you build. George shares stories from hacking a college database to launching a deepfake of himself trained on his own books, all while breaking down how AI and creativity

en

36:34

Your Two-Year Edge Starts Now with Marco Figueroa

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/05/29

You won’t be replaced by AI—you’ll be replaced by someone using it better.Returning guest Marco Figueroa is back with a frontline report on the AI agent boom. This isn’t a prediction—it’s a tactical update from someone tracking every release, every benchmark battle, and every edge worth chasing. In this episode, Ron is joined by Marco as he breaks down the rapid evolution of AI agents—from Claude Code to Codex to Google Flow. He explains why general-purpose models are leveling off, how specialized

en

37:31

Badge Cloning, Alarm Triggers & Getting Hired to Hack...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/05/22

Most people think red teaming is digital—until someone bypasses your locks, plants a Raspberry Pi in your server room, and walks out with your data. That’s not sci-fi. That’s White Knight Labs.In this episode, Ron talks with Greg Hatcher and John Stigerwalt, co-founders of White Knight Labs, a boutique offensive security firm built on real-world action. They share high-stakes red team operations—like triggering alarms and dodging police during a break-in—and explain why most companies are wide open

en

44:30

Building Cyber Resilience Through Culture with David...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/05/15

What if fixing cybersecurity wasn’t about more tools, but about unlocking human potential? In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes back David Shipley, CEO and Field CSO of Beauceron Security, for a conversation on the real force behind security resilience: people. Together they expose the failure of "reactive" cybersecurity strategies, drawing parallels with preventative healthcare — and explain why culture, psychological safety, and behavior change are the true secret weapons. Impactful

en

29:48

Ditch the Spreadsheets: Smarter Crypto Security with...

Hacker Valley Studio ·

2025/05/08

Still tracking certificates in a spreadsheet? You’re not alone—and there’s a better way.In this special episode from RSA 2025, Ron sits down with Michael Klieman, Global Vice President of Product Management for Digital Security Solutions at Entrust, to discuss how leading organizations are rethinking cryptographic security. From simplifying certificate management to preparing for a post-quantum future, this conversation covers real-world risks, surprising breach stories, and practical steps for

en

413 results

Similar Podcasts

Lead With AI

Tamara Nall

Linux in the Ham Shack

Black Sparrow Media

Data Engineering Podcast

Tobias Macey

Eye On A.I.

Craig S. Smith

Reflections

Livewire Labs