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
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Introducing the Cyber Ranch Podcast and Allan Alford!
Allan Alford is currently the Chief Technology Officer/Chief Information Security Officer at TrustMAPP. Allan Alford is a member of the Hacker Valley family and has launched a new show called the Cyber Ranch Podcast. Allan has been a CISO at a number of different companies and has a wealth of knowledge in Cybersecurity. Has about 20 years of Cybersecurity and has a background in product security.
Allan is a tinkerer and a second generation information security practitioner. His father was a systems operator/administrator who specialized in Systems Security, his father brought their first IBM PC into the house while Allan was in middle school. Since that moment, Allan has always been interested in technology and had a group of friends who had the brand new tools of the time like the TI-99, TRS-80, IBM PC and Apple IIe. He and his friends were porting and writing games, hacking and war dialing. Allan’s mother was a school teacher and had house rules about television time, and so with an hour of TV a week Allan’s primary form of entertainment was reading.
In high school Allan took a creative writing class where he found a passion for storytelling and reading novels. Before entering college Allan was confident in his technology skills and decided that studying Humanities would make a greater impact for him. While studying, Allan learned that there were many parallels between the study of humanities and technology. There was a vocabulary, grammar, and structure by which things operated that had a consistent set of rules. Allan learned that the correct application of grammar and vocabulary helped all things work properly.
As the episode progresses, Allan shares while reading books, articles or other word based sources there’s a sort of internal voice that is within his mind that reads the words ‘out loud,’ however once he’s immersed in the book or text that the subvocalization fades and there’s a much more immediate type of onboarding of the information, the non-conscious reading voice. Chris shares that he describes this as the flow of learning. Allan also speaks of lucking into a prime slot on the KTCU college radio station and how he found his groove djing by deconstructing threads of music. He would put together his set by starting with a popular song and tracing it back from influence and inspirations.
Allan also shares his thoughts on the importance of networking - And not all networking starting points being equal. With his success now he tries to create bridges and conversations through his network that promote the exchange of ideas and further conversations for people, Allan is hoping to do the same with his podcast - The Cyber Ranch. Professionally he’s embarking on a new journey as the Chief Technology Officer at TrustMapp and is currently learning how to be a great producer of Security technologies.
Impactful Moments During the Show
0:00 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio!
01:30 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley studio and welcome to the Cyber Ranch podcast
02:30 - Allan’s Professional Adventuring Card
03:00 - Allan’s tinkering background and a second generation info security professional
04:30 - Writing and porting video games as a youth, growing up as a STEM kid
05:35 - Creative writing opening the world to storytelling
06:50 - Going to college already knowing about Computer Science
08:40 - Practices and techniques for learning rapidly and staying sharp
10:30 - Understanding the fields of vocabulary and grammar
11:56 - Conscious reading voice, non-conscious reading voice and flow
14:14 - From reading to producing work that people could consume
16:00 - DJ Deconstruction, how Allan put together a primetime radio set on KTCU
17:00 - Networking without inherited connections
19:20 - How networking works for Allan now
22:20 - Networking misunderstood, the traps of the output side
24:00 - Allan’s 70/30 rule for career advancement
25:30 - CISO and CTO parallels
27:30 - What motivated Allan to start his own cyber security podcast
29:30 - For someone entering the Cybersecurity world from a non-technical background
Links
Connect with Allan on LinkedIn Allan Alford - CISO & CTO - TrustMAPP
Check out The Cyber Ranch Podcast!
Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.
Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Learn more about our sponsor AttackIQ and enroll in The AttackIQ Academy!
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Lindsay Lee is the founder and managing member of Authentic Ventures. Authentic Ventures is an early stage VC firm based in Oakland CA. Lindsay has worked many years in the investment industries as well as venture capital and ran a direct investment fund. Authentic ventures is a new kind of firm focused primarily on women and under-represented minority founders. Authentic Ventures is focused on building its own network of women founders of more diverse backgrounds and entrepreneurs who really want to see success translate into more opportunities for their communities.
Coming from modest beginnings and raised by immigrant parents from the West Indies, his parents really solidified the importance of education. Lindsay has worked in investment banking as an analyst alongside graduates of Ivy League schools, there he learned about his own determination to excel even in tough working conditions while learning as much as possible. After graduating from graduate school Lindsay started an ill-fated technology start up in 1999; funding was hard to find in the early naughts (00’s) especially for Black founders.
After pivoting to working in asset management companies Lindsay joined a family office where he built and managed a portfolio. He reached a turning point there where he was able to look at public and private investments and assess the landscape. Lindsay decided he wanted to differentiate himself and focus efforts on really approaching investment in his own way, to invest in “early stage companies,” as opposed to series A or series B companies. A peer at another firm told him that it was going to be double the effort and twice the financing to get it off the ground. Lindsay’s drive and the network he was a part of propelled him through the challenges.
The conversation touches upon the “rules of the game” for galvanizing new ideas and bringing new products and companies into the market. He speaks about the roles that entrepreneurs, lawyers and investors have in capital markets. Lindsay found his calling as an investor was one where he was a coach, rather than an entrepreneur who is trying to score goals all the time. Lindsay describes how his focus was on cultivating relationships and community in order to grow an interconnected network that would allow for long lasting impact in the landscape while also bringing success to his firm.
He shares that the one thing he’s had to get right is finding A+ people to work with. In his approach as an investor he is trying to set the table for women of color and reserve, or build, a seat at the table that allows for success to be shared. Lindsay believes this focus will lead to more opportunities for more diverse teams. For folks interested in becoming an investor or entrepreneur Lindsay speaks about the importance of team building and utilizing the connections they already have as capital. He also urges people to not ignore the skills they’ve gained by applying themselves and that those skills plus knowledge of the space they’re focused on can create something that’s meaningful.
Impactful Moments During Podcast
00:00 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio, introducing Lindsay Lee of Authentic Ventures, a VC firm that invests in seed and early stage companies.
02:30 - Building a more diverse inclusive VC network and culture.
04:30 - What the exploration of VC was like for Lindsay and what were some of the motivations for moving in this way in that sphere.
06:45 - Why it’s important for diversity that a firm like Authentic Ventures exists in Silicon Valley and the tech community.
07:20 - How VC firms can help create more wealth across communities of color and gender.
09:30 - The journey to VC and what exploring that world looked like for Lindsay.
10:00 - Entrepreneurship as a sport: who are players, rule-makers and play callers.
11:45 - Taking the long view on cultivating good investments and finding the right people.
12:20 - Starting his own thing in VC, differentiating himself and dealing with uncertainty
14:27 - What immersion in VC is like, navigating changing landscapes
15:15 - If you’re looking for a challenge, investing is a good field; things not going to plan.
15:45 - Why you need to find A+ people.
17:20 - Staying humble and grounded in VC
18:14 - What creates success in entrepreneurial endeavors
19:30 - Why Authentic Ventures has a culture of good energy
20:45 - Studying and data in VC, compounding experience and knowledge, the value of having a community
22:40 - Trying to find ideas and company with momentum
23:20 - No free lunch in investing? What does a margin of error mean in this VC world.
24:45 - Why VC firms learn about the founders, how to scrutinize the methodology
26:00 - If you’re an entrepreneur why you should get to know a VC fund outside of funding events.
27:00 - Being an early believer in trailblazers
28:00 - Authentic Ventures tries to win together, with the right people
29:25 - Lindsay talks about not starting out on First or Second Base and making an impact that helps his community.
30:35 - Having something to prove as an analyst at investment banks
31:45 - The best lesson to learn as an investor, understanding the people, connecting with people that share your values.
33:30 - Why there’s no substitute for excellence or hard work.
37:23 - Staying power and determination: “Get your money right.”
38:30 - Staying in touch with Lindsay Lee and Authentic Ventures
Stay connected with Lindsay Lee by checking out Authentic Ventures
Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.
Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Hacker Valley Studio presents: We Are Here - an audio journey and series exploring black excellence in technology and cybersecurity. In part three of this series, Ron and Chris interview Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 9th congressional district since 2013.
Congresswoman Clarke’s parents immigrated to Brooklyn, New York in the 1950s from Jamaica. Being born from immigrant parents and witnessing the transformation of the country during the civil rights movement helped shape her worldview. Congresswoman Clarke mentions that the nurture from her family and community sparked her interest in public service at an early age. Congresswoman Clarke recalls being a child and looking up to her pediatrician, Dr. Thompson. Congresswoman Clarke could see herself being like Dr. Thompson and that led her to pursue her interests in STEM in grade school and college. When Congresswoman Clarke went away to college she made a commitment to come back to Brooklyn and use her education to help others
As the episode progresses, Congresswoman Clarke mentions her parents were engaged in the community out of necessity. They wanted to be able to navigate the United States and create community for her and her brother. Congresswoman Clarke’s mother started her community outreach at Parent Teacher Association meetings and was encouraged to run for political office after some time. In fact, Congresswoman Clarke became the first and only child to succeed a parent in political office.
Congresswoman Clarke describes community as essential and building communities is done through education. Digital transformation has enabled all generations to collaborate on common causes that they previously wouldn’t have had the opportunity to. An example that Congresswoman Clarke provides is narrowing the education gap for children of color. Through technology, parents have been working with government agencies and private organizations to provide more resources to schools in need.
Impactful Moments:
0:00 - Hacker Valley Studio presents We Are Here Pt 3
0:52 - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on Hacker Valley Studio!
1:56 - Early life and how Congresswoman Clarke made it into office
3:38 - What inspired Congresswoman Clarke to help others
7:21 - Surprises while in office and servicing the public
13:35 - Congresswoman Clarke’s story of perseverance
16:36 - The importance of community and how to influence yours
24:40 - Education and mentorship
27:51 - Using technology to course correct and amplify your voice
31:59 - Sage wisdom for embarking on your personal journey
Follow Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter
Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.
Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Saturday Feb 20, 2021
Saturday Feb 20, 2021
In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio podcast, Ron and Chris are joined by Chris Parker, creator of WhatIsMyIPAddress. His website now reaches six million monthly visitors and began as a necessity to solve a technical problem, which you can probably guess, determine his IP Address.
WhatIsMyIPAddress predates Google and was often found through the search engine AltaVista. For years, the site was simple, straightforward and didn’t have any graphics or markup (HTML). At some point, Chris stumbled upon a Content Management System (CMS) called Geek Log but quickly learned with the amount of traffic that it was best for him to manually code each page on his website. For quite some time Chris maintained the website, answered questions from users about IP Addresses, and created more content without receiving any monetary compensation. The advent of Google AdSense led Chris to realize that he could make a profit for hosting his website.
Chris’s website is in the top 3,000 websites on the Internet and was managed out of his home office for over 8 years. As you can imagine, he received traffic from users across the world and was even the target of some cybersecurity attacks. However, keeping the functionality on his website simple, the biggest threat Chris faced was Denial of Service (DoS). After moving his website from his home to a CDN provider that blocks malicious traffic and bots, Chris saw a 90% reduction in web traffic to his website. This led Chris down the path of creating content about security and configuration.
With such a large audience, Chris decided to start the Easy Pray podcast and help listeners learn how to avoid becoming easy targets for scammers and fraudsters online and in the real world. Chris recalls a story of a fraud group that scammed victims by telling the victim that they’ve won the lottery in their country but are unable to withdraw the winnings because of citizenship. This scam is not uncommon and has caused hopeful individuals to lose thousands and sometimes their entire life savings. Chris has set out on a mission to inform others of these scams and create awareness about online safety.
Impactful Moments
0:00 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio
1:44 - Introducing Chris Parker, Creator of WhatIsMyIPAddress
5:11 - Was the naming of the website intentional or was it incidental?
6:04 - Adapting and digital transformation
7:29 - Malicious traffic and cyber attacks
10:39 - Creating a more safe Internet with the Easy Pray podcast
12:43 - Unfortunate spam and scamming stories
15:18 - More about Chris’s goal to provide education to his listeners
18:40 - Learnings and takeaways to avoid being scammed
24:02 - Tools that Chris is using to grow and scale his business
26:51 - How to stay up to date with Chris Parker
Links:
Learn more about Chris Parker and visit his website and podcast.
Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.
Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
In this featured episode of Hacker Valley Studio podcast, Ron and Chris are joined by Jeff Cook, Co-Founder, and CFO of ByteChek. Jeff has over 10 years of experience in both accounting and auditing and has set out a mission to “make compliance suck less”
Jeff began his career at accounting firm, Arthur Andersen. In 2002, the firm surrendered it’s license to practice as a CPA which forced Jeff to consider working at other firms. This surprise turned out to be a blessing as it made him transition from New York to Washington DC. After his transition, Jeff worked in public accounting and auditing for 12 years and began starting IT auditing practices and SOC practices at large accounting firms.
While working at a cybersecurity firm, Jeff met his co-founder AJ Yawn. The two worked on numerous SOC engagements together - which gave them the confidence to scale their ideas and efforts to make compliance suck less. Despite 2020 being the beginning of a global pandemic, the two decided to persevere and form their company ByteChek.
As the episode progresses, Jeff describes his partnership with AJ as dynamic and fluid. Jeff brings to the table a deep understanding of accounting and auditing challenges and solutions. Jeff admires AJ’s ability to be a leader and rally the troops to ensure everyone is moving in the right direction. Besides complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses, Jeff and AJ are also great friends and check-in together to help each other grow personally outside of work.
Jeff describes his superpower as his ability to work under pressure. When there’s deadlines and a surplus of work, Jeff leans on his experience as an accountant. While working as an accountant, each year in January through April (tax season) Jeff had to practice his discipline of working under pressure with clear deadlines from his clients and the government. Additionally, Jeff has spent years practicing martial arts, and describes it as a great technique to use to clear his mind in all situations.
Impactful Moments
0:00 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio
1:41 - This episode features Jeff Cook, Co-Founder, and CFO of ByteChek
2:26 - Jeff’s background and start in accounting and auditing
5:08 - Thriving in business as a founder during a global pandemic
8:31 - Jeff’s superpower and where it began
11:16 - How to overcome your kryptonite and core emotional challenge
13:58 - How martial arts has helped Jeff as a practitioner
17:48 - Parallels between cybersecurity, chess, and martial arts
21:21 - Getting comfortable with discomfort
28:14 - Wisdom from Jeff for leveling up as a entrepreneur and practitioner
Links:
Learn more about Jeff Cook and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.
Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.
Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.
Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.
Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.