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.
Episodes
6 days ago
6 days ago
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 machine learning to reshaping the future of cyber defense, Vineet breaks down the urgent need for automation, context-driven insights, and explainable AI in security.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Vineet’s journey into AI and cyber
04:30 - Why vulnerability management is broken
06:10 - Generative AI as a defender’s edge
08:20 - Why AI agents outperform brittle automation
09:45 - The first use cases for Cogent’s agents
12:00 - Rethinking tier-one SOC analyst roles
13:30 - The rise of exposure management (CTEM)
17:10 - Cogent’s vision for an AI task force
18:30 - Early wins and insights with Cogent
20:00 - Biggest misconceptions about AI in security
23:00 - What enterprises should demand from vendors
25:00 - Why explainability is essential in AI systems
27:00 - Startups vs incumbents in cybersecurity innovation
29:30 - Why enterprises must invest in AI now
Links:
Connect with our guest, Vineet Edupuganti, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetedupuganti
Learn more about Cogent Security: https://www.cogent.security
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
Thursday Aug 28, 2025
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 real power isn’t in the tools, it’s in us.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - AI is the tool, not the toolbox
03:00 - A grocery store scam that taught a life lesson
06:00 - The irreplaceable role of human judgment
07:30 - First cybersecurity job at Booz Allen Hamilton
09:00 - How AI boosts productivity with meeting transcription
12:00 - Creative shortcuts with AI in image and video editing
15:00 - Vibe coding and generative red teaming
17:30 - AI-powered phishing and scam emails
18:50 - Testing a deepfake voice on Ron’s mom
21:30 - Why curiosity and skepticism beat AI deception
22:30 - Final challenge: don’t serve AI—make AI serve you
Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
Thursday Aug 21, 2025
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 live AI experiments on ransomware response and log analysis, revealing what AI can (and can’t) do for practitioners right now.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Why community is your first advantage
03:30 - The sacrifice that launched Ron’s career
04:40 - Meeting mentor Marcus Carey
06:00 - Early opportunities in cybersecurity
07:00 - The power of hacker spaces
09:00 - How mentors open hidden doors
10:00 - RSA and Black Hat as career accelerators
13:00 - The most underrated LinkedIn feature
15:00 - The HVS mastermind community
16:00 - Reality check on GPT-5
18:00 - AI builds an IR playbook
20:00 - Critical do’s and don’ts in incident response
23:00 - Why hallucinations matter in cybersecurity AI
25:00 - AI makes sense of raw logs
28:00 - Can AI replace tier one analysts?
30:00 - Where AI still falls short
31:00 - Final challenge: Strengthen your community
Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
Register for our livestream with Gerry Auger: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7359290642633539586/
Check out the links to the OpenAI ChatGPT threads here:
Incident Analysis Summary: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa61f-3498-8006-9989-ff8221f97b01
Ransomware Incident Playbook: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa63f-86ec-8006-8355-642d4d38808e
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
Thursday Aug 14, 2025
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 miss.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Why 2025 is the year of the agent
05:45 - MCP’s rapid adoption and security risks
10:00 - The Gemini prompt injection vulnerability
15:00 - How attackers hide malicious AI prompts
18:00 - High success rates in non-technical teams
22:00 - Rise of voice-based AI scams
25:00 - Using jailbreaks to bend AI to your needs
30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser
33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft
35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions
Links:
Connect with our guest Marco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
Thursday Aug 07, 2025
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 Moments
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Why debt vs. risk matters now
02:20 - What the SharePoint breach taught us
04:15 - Risk avoidance creates deeper debt
05:10 - Clear definitions: risk vs. debt
06:30 - Hidden costs of deferring decisions
08:15 - Leaving $200k salary to build Hacker Valley
10:00 - Long-term founder debt explained
11:08 - When comfort becomes dangerous
12:00 - Curiosity as a leadership skill
13:10 - What you’re not seeing yet
14:30 - Final thought: reflect and reassess
Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/