Hacker Valley Studio

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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

Feb 13, 2025

Cybersecurity Meets AI: The Good, The Bad & The Janky

Feb 13, 2025

22 min

There’s no doubt that AI is changing the game in cybersecurity, but not always in the ways we expect.

In this episode, Ron Eddings shares his firsthand experience with AI-powered tools that make him a cyber superhero—when they work. From automating security tasks to turbocharging programming workflows, AI is proving its value, but also revealing its limits. Through live walkthroughs and real-world examples, he showcases how AI automates security tasks, accelerates programming, and enhances research—while also showing why some cybersecurity actions should stay human-led.

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

02:00 - The good and bad of AI in security

04:00 - Google’s AI weapons controversy

06:30 - Deepfake scams and AI-powered phishing

09:00 - How AI helps (and fails) at programming

12:00 - Automating security research with AI

18:00 - AI-generated meeting notes & productivity hacks

21:00 - What AI should NEVER do

23:00 - The future of AI in cybersecurity

Links:

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/

Feb 4, 2025

A Human-Centric Approach to Cybersecurity with Edna Conway

Feb 4, 2025

35 min

What if cybersecurity was more than just tech—what if it was about the people it serves? In this episode, Edna Conway, Founder and CEO of EMC Advisors, shares her incredible journey from law to cybersecurity and explores the human element often overlooked in technology.

Recorded live at InfoSec Nashville 2024, Edna discusses the intersection of innovation and tradition, the critical role of accuracy in AI, and her vision for cybersecurity's future. From anomaly detection to the wisdom of creating "enclaves," her insights remind us that tech is here to serve people, not the other way around.

Impactful Moments:

00:00 – Introduction
01:22 – Keynote insights: Innovation meets tradition
02:39 – From prosecutor to cybersecurity leader
07:00 – Human-first approach to AI and security
11:40 – LLMs in cybersecurity: opportunities and accuracy
16:34 – Balancing risk with AI use in business
23:06 – Bringing diverse talent into cybersecurity
32:30 – Advice on leadership and collaboration

Links:

Connect with our guest, Edna Conway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ednaconway/

Learn more about ISSA Middle TN here: https://issamidtn.org/

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/

Jan 28, 2025

Rise of the Machines: Why Your Attack Surface Has More Holes Than You Think ft Pandian Gnanaprakasam

Jan 28, 2025

38 min

Did you know nearly half of your enterprise devices are agentless—leaving your attack surface wide open? In this episode, Ron is joined by Pandian Gnanaprakasam, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Ordr, to discuss the critical risks posed by agentless devices and how orchestration can strengthen your defenses.

Pandian shares key findings from Ordr’s 2024 "Rise of the Machines" report, highlighting the risks of overlooked agentless devices. He covers the rapid growth of these devices, strategies to manage vulnerabilities, and how automation can strengthen your defenses.

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

04:15 - Why agentless devices dominate the next decade

06:30 - Insights from Ordr's “Rise of the Machines” report

08:50 - Hidden risks: 42% of devices are agentless

11:15 - Solving the "Swiss cheese" problem of security gaps

14:30 - Prioritizing vulnerabilities with business context

18:10 - Orchestration vs. automation: The harmony difference

22:00 - Why visibility is the foundation of security

27:30 - Ordr’s unique approach to securing the attack surface

Links:

Connect with our guest, Pandian Gnanaprakasam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpandian/

Check out Ordr’s Rise of the Machines report here: https://ordr.net/resources/rise-of-the-machines-report-2024

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/

Jan 22, 2025

How a Game Turned a Watchmaker into a Cybersecurity Pro with Simeon Kakpovi

Jan 22, 2025

35 min

What if cybersecurity training could be as engaging as your favorite game? In this episode, Simeon Kakpovi, founder of the KC7 Foundation, shares how his gamified approach is changing lives and reshaping the cybersecurity pipeline by making cybersecurity education accessible.

From his journey as a threat hunter to building a free online game that teaches real-world blue team skills, Simeon joins Ron to show how creativity and inclusion can unlock potential in unexpected places. Plus, listen to the remarkable story about how a watchmaker with no cyber background landed a dream job at Microsoft—all thanks to KC7.

Impactful Moments

00:00 - Introduction

01:11 - The evolution of cybersecurity

03:03 - Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions

05:38 - Meet our guest: Simeon Kakpovi of KC7 Foundation

06:00 - KC7 wins “Team of the Year” at the SANS DMAs

8:43 - Founding the KC7 Foundation

10:00 - Lessons from Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Analyst Challenge

11:46 - How KC7 gamifies real-world cybersecurity

14:52 - Bringing KC7 to high school and middle school students

16:52 - Expanding access to cybersecurity careers

25:09 - A watchmaker’s journey to Microsoft

34:00 - How to get started with KC7

Links

Connect with our guest, Simeon Kakpovi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kakpovi/

Check out the Cybersecurity M&A Roundup Article here: https://www.securityweek.com/cybersecurity-ma-roundup-37-deals-announced-in-december-2024/

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/

Jan 14, 2025

Managing and Mitigating Cyber Risks For Your Assets with Jerich Beason and Wes Wright

Jan 14, 2025

44 min

What’s the key to mitigating unseen cyber risks? In this episode, Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr and Jerich Beason, CISO at WM uncover the complexities of attack surface management (ASM) and its impact on cybersecurity.

Together with Ron, they explain what constitutes an attack surface and introduce practical frameworks like See-Know-Secure, emphasizing the need for complete visibility and data-driven risk mitigation.