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
3 days ago
3 days ago
The real edge in cybersecurity isn’t found in new tools, it’s built through timeless fundamentals and a mindset that never stops learning.
In this episode, Ron sits down with Rich Greene, Senior Solutions Engineer and Instructor at SANS Institute, to uncover how true cyber value starts with skills, curiosity, and mindset. Rich shares his remarkable story of surviving a battlefield injury, retraining his brain, and how that journey shaped his approach to mastering cybersecurity. Together, they connect real-world lessons like the recent Discord breach to the core truth that even advanced systems depend on people who master the basics.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Discord breach and third-party risk
05:00 - Meet Rich Greene from SANS
06:00 - The power of mastering fundamentals
07:00 - Learning how to learn
08:30 - Rich’s story of rebuilding his memory
11:00 - Forcing the brain to grow stronger
12:00 - Top skills that get you paid
14:00 - Skills that lead to fulfillment
16:00 - Fundamentals that fuel long-term success
17:00 - The OSI model decoded
20:00 - Why operating systems matter
21:00 - Security operations fundamentals
23:00 - Why cloud is the #1 must-learn skill
25:00 - Final advice: sharpen your fundamentals
Links
Connect with our Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/secgreene/
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/
Friday Oct 10, 2025
Friday Oct 10, 2025
What if protecting your digital twin becomes the new cyber hygiene?
In this week's episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader Jason Rebholz, CEO of Evoke, to discuss how AI is reshaping the fundamentals of cyber hygiene. From data breaches and deepfakes to everyday habits that protect our digital lives, Jason shares how small actions and smarter use of AI can make all the difference. Together, they uncover how our growing digital footprints are giving rise to digital twins, AI replicas that can mirror our behaviors, voices, and even decisions, and what that means for the future of trust, identity, and security.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - The Neon app data leak story
03:00 - Why our voices are the new passwords
05:00 - How AI can strengthen cyber hygiene
07:00 - Jason’s mission to secure AI systems
09:00 - AI as a force multiplier for defenders
11:00 - Deepfakes and the new social engineering playbook
13:00 - Attackers’ use of AI and what it means for us
15:00 - The rise of digital twins and identity threats
19:00 - How to defend against “yourself” online
20:00 - Final reflection: Trust in the AI age
Links:
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrebholz/
Check out the TechCrunch article on the Neon app data leak story: https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/25/viral-call-recording-app-neon-goes-dark-after-exposing-users-phone-numbers-call-recordings-and-transcripts/
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 Oct 02, 2025
Thursday Oct 02, 2025
The biggest security threat isn’t in the cloud, it’s hidden in the code you trust the most.
In this episode, Ron sits down with Varun Badhwar, Co-Founder & CEO of Endor Labs, who shares why research shows that nearly 80–90% of application code comes from open source and third-party libraries, not your own developers. Varun discusses the unseen risks of AI-generated software, how attackers can now weaponize vulnerabilities in hours, and why precision in security matters more than ever. He also reveals how AI can be both the ultimate accelerator and the ultimate weakness in modern development.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Varun’s journey from RedLock to Endor Labs
04:00 - Why the software supply chain is broken
07:00 - AI coding assistants and insecure code risks
10:00 - The NPM self-replicating worm discovery
13:00 - Simple controls to enforce Zero Trust in code
16:00 - Pairing AI with security to prevent slop
19:00 - AI-powered security code reviews explained
22:00 - Why 88% of code goes unused
26:00 - Developer efficiency as the new security metric
29:00 - The next wave of AI-driven software threats
Links:
Connect with our Endor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbadhwar/
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 Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
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 Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - AI agents as everyday tools
02:00 - Testing AI-powered browsers
03:00 - Comet: AI browser from Perplexity
04:30 - Why Google should be worried
05:30 - Real-world tasks for AI browsers
07:00 - Automating cybersecurity inventory
09:00 - Comet in action on LinkedIn
10:00 - Testing for malicious exploits
11:00 - Risks of persuasive AI prompts
12:00 - The rise of voice agents
13:30 - First real-world AI voice experience
15:00 - Security concerns with customer data
16:30 - Double-edged sword of AI adoption
17:30 - System prompt leakage vulnerabilities
18:00 - Why voice could shrink attack surfaces
Links:
Connect with Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
Check out NanoBrowser: https://nanobrowser.ai/
Check out Comet by Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
Read the article ‘No more links, no more scrolling - the browser is becoming an AI Agent.’ here: https://venturebeat.com/ai/no-more-links-no-more-scrolling-the-browser-is-becoming-an-ai-agent
Read the article ‘How Voice AI Prompt Injection Threatens Enterprise Security’ here: https://www.teneo.ai/blog/how-voice-ai-prompt-injection-threatens-enterprise-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 Sep 18, 2025
Thursday Sep 18, 2025
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 repetitive tasks, and why the fundamentals of security will always matter. From defining red teaming in 2025 to guiding newcomers on how to break in, Phillip delivers insights that balance cutting-edge innovation with timeless wisdom.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Why Phillip keeps podcasting
03:00 - AI opportunities in pen testing
04:30 - What automation should replace
06:00 - Red teaming vs pen testing in 2025
08:00 - Defining adversary emulation
10:40 - Building the ideal AI assistant
15:00 - The best AI use cases today
18:30 - AI-driven threat modeling
21:00 - Breaking into pen testing now
25:00 - Building a portfolio and personal brand
27:30 - Why in-person networking still matters
Links:
Connect with Phillip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/
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/