Hacker Valley Studio

Is cybersecurity gatekeeping holding back the industry? Naomi Buckwalter, Senior Director of Product Security at Contrast Security and Founder of the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, argues that fresh talent and open doors are crucial for industry growth.

In this episode, Naomi challenges why industry hiring norms fall short, shares candid stories of her own missteps, and explains why humility and learning are just as important as technical skills in cybersecurity.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 – Introduction

03:15 – Building a genuine presence on LinkedIn

07:40 – Founding the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation

12:00 – Why hiring juniors is a win for cybersecurity

17:58 – Relationship building in cybersecurity

25:27 – Lessons from layoffs and overcoming failure

35:45 – Setting goals and attracting opportunities

Links:

Connect with our guest, Naomi Buckwalter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-buckwalter/

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation: https://www.cybersecuritygatebreakers.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/

In a world filled with AI-generated deceptions, how do we discern what’s real? Ron sits down with Perry Carpenter, author of FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions, to discuss the risks and the potential of synthetic media and human risk management.

Whether you’re worried about deepfakes or curious about AI’s role in creativity, this episode has something for everyone.

Impactful Moments:

• 00:00 – Intro
• 00:49 – Synthetic voices surprise in mastermind
• 01:42 – Perry’s new book FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions
• 03:42 – Psychology's role in cybersecurity
• 06:07 – Human risk management explained
• 09:14 – Deepfakes in fraud and scams
• 15:13 – Demo of deepfake voices
• 20:22 – Using cakes to explain large language models 
• 27:00 – AI helps overcome creative blocks
• 32:00 – Managing AI hallucinations and risks

Connect with our guest, Perry Carpenter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrycarpenter

Purchase a copy of Perry’s book FAIK here: https://www.amazon.com/FAIK-Practical-Disinformation-AI-Generated-Deceptions/dp/1394299885

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 one become a true security leader? According to Nathan Case, it’s not about titles—it’s about impact. 

In this episode, Nathan Case, VP of Cloud Security at Clarity, shares his journey through security leadership, including stories from his time at AWS and his approach to building mission-driven teams. Nathan discusses balancing family with leadership, the future of AI in cybersecurity, and what it takes to become a real leader in the security space. He also reflects on the importance of being chosen as a leader, rather than striving for the title.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 – Introduction

02:31 – Journey from AWS to Clarity

04:00 – Cyber Dominance

05:55 – Leading Through M&A

07:00 – Redefining the CISO Role

11:00 – Shared Security Responsibility

15:15 – Balancing Mission and Family

20:00 – AI in Security

28:30 – Leadership in Incident Response

32:00 – Woodworking and Perfectionism

35:00 – Leaders Are Chosen

Links:

Connect with our guest, Nathan Case: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathancase/

Check out Nathan and Ross Haleliuk's blog on Security Incident Response here: https://ventureinsecurity.net/p/a-different-take-on-security-incident

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 can AI shape the future of cybersecurity defense? In this episode, we dive into SOC operations, AI integration, and the latest in threat detection with John Hubbard, Cyber Defense Curriculum Lead at SANS.

John discusses the expansive landscape of cybersecurity defense, while sharing insights on AI's role in threat detection and the cutting-edge tools that are pushing the boundaries of cybersecurity. From automation to detecting anomalies in network traffic, this episode will bring you up to speed on the latest trends and challenges facing cyber defense teams.

Impactful Moments:

• 00:00 – Introduction
• 01:00 – Meet John Hubbard: Cyber Defense Curriculum Lead at SANS
• 02:30 – Overview of the SANS Cyber Defense Curriculum
• 03:30 – The Role of AI in Cybersecurity
• 05:30 – How AI is Shaping Threat Detection in SOCs
• 09:00 – Automation and AI: Practical Use Cases
• 15:00 – AI in Network Traffic Analysis
• 19:00 – The Future of SOC Operations with AI

 

Links:

Connect with our guest, John Hubbard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlhubbard/

Check out the SANS Cybersecurity Courses & Certifications: https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/

 

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/

Have you ever lost something important, only to find out someone moved it without telling you? The same thing happens with our personal and business data. But what if you could see what the adversary sees? 

In this episode, Jason Haddix, Field CISO at Flare, shares his experiences in red teaming, accessing dark web credentials, and protecting against malicious actors. Whether you're curious about data exposure or how threat actors operate, this conversation offers insights into the constant changes in cybersecurity.

 

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

01:11 - The Basics of the Dark Web and How Criminals Operate

07:16 - Flare's Role in Cybersecurity

11:14 - Common Security Mistakes

20:04 - Pen Testing with Flare

21:33 - Exploiting Exposed Credentials

22:19 - Reconnaissance Tools and Techniques

24:38 - Email Security Concerns

28:43 - The Power of Stealer Logs

38:21 - Dark Web Tactics and AI

39:33 - Advice for Cybersecurity Leaders

42:04 - Exploring Flare’s Platform for Threat Intelligence

44:26 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Links:

Connect with our guest, Jason Haddix: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhaddix/

Check out Flare here: https://try.flare.io/hacker-valley-media/

Check out Arcanum here: https://www.arcanum-sec.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/