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
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
What if Zero Trust isn’t a framework, but the only viable cybersecurity strategy—more about people than products?
In this episode, George Finney, CISO at the University of Texas System and author of Project Zero Trust, reveals the human-first truth behind the Zero Trust movement, and why it’s not something you buy but something you build. George shares stories from hacking a college database to launching a deepfake of himself trained on his own books, all while breaking down how AI and creativity are reshaping security leadership.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:16 - Cyber Hall of Fame recognition
07:00 - Hacked his college to solve mail
09:00 - Took startup job without paycheck
14:14 - Zero Trust is a strategy, not tool
17:00 - Tailoring security like a custom suit
23:29 - AI strategy through Zero Trust lens
29:30 - Built a Zero Trust voice clone hotline
36:00 - You don’t need to be a CISO
38:30 - Why weirdos make cybersecurity stronger
Links:
Connect with our guest, George Finney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgefinney/
Check out George’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01MT0C6X3
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 May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
You won’t be replaced by AI—you’ll be replaced by someone using it better.
Returning guest Marco Figueroa is back with a frontline report on the AI agent boom. This isn’t a prediction—it’s a tactical update from someone tracking every release, every benchmark battle, and every edge worth chasing.
In this episode, Ron is joined by Marco as he breaks down the rapid evolution of AI agents—from Claude Code to Codex to Google Flow. He explains why general-purpose models are leveling off, how specialized tools are reshaping the landscape, and why creativity is now your most valuable edge. Whether you're in code, ops, or content, your two-year advantage starts right here.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - AI agents are no longer hype
03:45 - Major LLM releases and what's next
05:32 - The Grok delay and pricing drama
07:30 - Why general models are losing steam
10:50 - Benchmark manipulation and model specialization
14:15 - The future belongs to creatives
22:05 - The next AI drops to watch
Links:
Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: 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 May 22, 2025
Thursday May 22, 2025
Most people think red teaming is digital—until someone bypasses your locks, plants a Raspberry Pi in your server room, and walks out with your data. That’s not sci-fi. That’s White Knight Labs.
In this episode, Ron talks with Greg Hatcher and John Stigerwalt, co-founders of White Knight Labs, a boutique offensive security firm built on real-world action. They share high-stakes red team operations—like triggering alarms and dodging police during a break-in—and explain why most companies are wide open to physical and insider threats. This isn’t a theory. It’s what’s happening right now, and it’s being executed with precision and purpose.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
02:13 - Origin story of White Knight Labs
08:56 - Why physical red teaming is broken
12:20 - Breaking into a lottery facility
16:00 - Hiding from police mid-engagement
22:30 - Getting hired to breach from inside
25:45 - Hijacking code from offshore devs
33:29 - Real difference: red team vs pen test
35:00 - Get in touch with WKL
Links
Connect with our guests!
Greg Hatcher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryhatcher2/
John Stigerwalt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-stigerwalt-90a9b4110/
Learn more about White Knight Labs: https://www.whiteknightlabs.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/
Thursday May 15, 2025
Thursday May 15, 2025
What if fixing cybersecurity wasn’t about more tools, but about unlocking human potential?
In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes back David Shipley, CEO and Field CSO of Beauceron Security, for a conversation on the real force behind security resilience: people. Together they expose the failure of "reactive" cybersecurity strategies, drawing parallels with preventative healthcare — and explain why culture, psychological safety, and behavior change are the true secret weapons.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:36 - The true meaning of "people in cyber"
03:13 - Cybersecurity’s flawed healthcare analogy
07:31 - Nutrition for cyber: proactive strategies
10:00 - MSPs: why selling tools isn’t enough
16:22 - Measuring culture, not just clicks
19:12 - Why people really click phishing emails
23:59 - Building psychological safety in security
30:30 - Celebrating human wins in security
34:00 - The future: empathy, transparency, trust
Links:
Connect with our guest, David Shipley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbshipley/
Learn more about Beauceron Security here: https:///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/
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
Still tracking certificates in a spreadsheet? You’re not alone—and there’s a better way.
In this special episode from RSA 2025, Ron sits down with Michael Klieman, Global Vice President of Product Management for Digital Security Solutions at Entrust, to discuss how leading organizations are rethinking cryptographic security. From simplifying certificate management to preparing for a post-quantum future, this conversation covers real-world risks, surprising breach stories, and practical steps for bringing order to crypto chaos—without the stress.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 – Introduction
04:00 – Three major problems with crypto today
06:45 – Certificates often missing from inventories
08:30 – Managing EV charging infrastructure with spreadsheets
11:00 – The two biggest certificate-related risks
12:50 – Expired certs can tank brand trust
14:45 – Automation usually comes after spreadsheets
16:30 – Why quantum risk grows every year
18:15 – Start with a cryptographic inventory
20:30 – Nation-state threats and critical infrastructure
22:15 – AI could fast-track quantum breakthroughs
24:45 – Entrust’s new unified crypto security platform
26:35 – One question every CISO must answer in 2025
Links:
Connect with our guest, Michael Klieman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mklieman/
Learn more about Entrust at: https://www.hackervalley.com/entrust
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/