Hacker Valley Studio

How will AI redefine cybersecurity in 2025? According to Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, this year is set to be the "Year of the Agent," where AI systems and integrations take a central role. 

In this special New Year bonus episode, Ron sits down with Marco to discuss the transformative role of AI in solving cybersecurity challenges. Marco breaks down AI jailbreak techniques, the impact of bug bounty programs on securing AI systems, and why 2025’s fast-evolving tech landscape demands creative thinking. Learn how tools like ChatGPT and Gemini 2.0 are reshaping the industry and why staying adaptable is essential.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

02:14 - Speed vs. safety: AI system challenges

05:30 - Why experience matters more than information

07:45 - Legal stakes for deepfakes and AI

18:36 - Marco’s creative journey in cybersecurity

28:00 - Jailbreaks: Risks and surprising AI findings

37:13 - 2025 predictions: The rise of agents

41:00 - Closing thoughts and the power of community

Links:

Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/

Chuck Brooks' 2025 Cybersecurity Predictions article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckbrooks/2024/12/24/cybersecurity-trends-and-priorities-to-watch-for-2025/

Focus Areas for the FaccT Conference News: https://facctconference.org/2025/focusareas

“Unreasonable Hospitality” by Will Guidara Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Unreasonable-Hospitality-Remarkable-Giving-People/dp/0593418573

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/

Most people think cybersecurity training is about knowledge, but what if motivation is the real key to success? David Shipley, CEO and Field CISO at Beauceron Security, shares how psychology and neuroscience reshape how we approach security awareness, reducing risks in ways tech alone never could.

In this episode, Ron and David examine why people, not technology, are at the core of effective cybersecurity. David teaches us about the SCARF model, warns us about the dangers of overconfidence in training, and explains how gamification can drive meaningful behavior change when it comes to cybersecurity awareness and risk reduction. 

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 – Introduction

02:00 – David Shipley’s journey from journalist to cybersecurity leader

06:10 – Why motivation outshines knowledge in security training

08:20 – The Dunning-Kruger effect: Overconfidence in cybersecurity

11:17 – How overreliance on tech increases click rates

17:03 – Cybercriminals’ evolving tactics and emotional manipulation

25:00 – Gamification in cybersecurity: Changing security behaviors

30:56 – Using the SCARF model to enhance security culture

39:45 – Emotional intelligence as a defense against AI threats

Links:

Connect with our guest, David Shipley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbshipley/

Learn more about Beauceron Security here: www.beauceronsecurity.com/partner

 

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/

How does a scorching July day in a van with no air conditioning lead to a career at one of the world’s top cybersecurity companies? In this episode, Cole Lisko shares his journey from landscaping to becoming the Cortex Team Manager at Palo Alto Networks. 

Joined by his bestie Cole, Ron weaves the conversation through their history of friendship with laughs and lessons learned along the way. Discussing career pivots, unexpected opportunities, and the impact of mentorship, this conversation offers relatable motivation and a candid look at the power of meaningful connections.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

03:00 - Cole’s first exposure to cybersecurity

06:30 - Pivotal moment: a call for mentorship

11:40 - Breaking into cleared work

18:30 - Lessons learned at Booz Allen

22:00 - The art of work-life compartmentalization

27:45 - Leadership insights from landscaping days

32:50 - What’s next for Cole at Palo Alto Networks

Links:

Connect with our guest, Cole Lisko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewlisko/

 

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/

What if the key to innovation is breaking the rules? Ted Harrington, Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators and a pioneering ethical hacker, explores the power of commitment, curiosity, creativity, and nonconformity to rethink cybersecurity and life itself. From hacking the first iPhone to disrupting misconceptions about security testing, Ted shows why the hacker mindset matters more now than ever.

Join Ron and Ted as they discuss strategies for using the hacker mindset to solve problems, address risks like AI-driven deepfakes, and uncover unconventional opportunities in both business and personal growth.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Intro
03:15 - The four traits of a hacker mindset
07:40 - Hacking the first iPhone and Tesla
11:50 - Why penetration testing is misunderstood
16:30 - Risks and realities of AI deepfakes
21:20 - Applying hacker traits to entrepreneurship
28:45 - Ted’s upcoming book: Inner Hacker
33:00 - Why mindset matters most

 

Links:

Connect with our guest, Ted Harrington: https://www.linkedin.com/in/securityted/

Order Ted Harrington’s book “Hackable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Hackable-How-Application-Security-Right-ebook/dp/B08MFTQ7Q4

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/

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic voices and AI in cybersecurity. 

Together, Ron and Iain discuss how adversaries are using AI to bypass human intuition. From synthetic voice calls to automating phishing attacks at scale, this episode explores how hackers leverage technology using these tactics and what you can do to stay one step ahead. 

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction
01:56 - Iain shares his journey with AI
03:29 - Demonstrating voice cloning in real-time
06:31 - Risks of automated synthetic voice attacks
09:46 - Impact of AI on social engineering tactics
11:00 - Importance of "vibe checks" in cybersecurity
15:17 - Real-world phishing and HR scam example
20:00 - Uncanny Valley: Defense against AI deception
23:37 - The future of AI in adversary emulation

 

Links:

Connect with our guest, Iain Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-j-98578a238/

Learn more about CovertSwarm here: https://covertswarm.com/

 

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/