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S6 Ep 224Where Cyber Meets Content Creation with Henri Davis

Henri Davis, CEO of TechTual Consulting & host of the TechTual Talk Podcast, comes to Hacker Valley this week to talk about his history with cybersecurity incident response and the content he currently creates with the TechTual Chatter Youtube channel. From interview tips, passion vs creativity, the intersection of cybersecurity and content creation, Henri walks through the path his career has taken him on, as well as imparts advice on those looking to follow a similar journey. Timecoded Guide: [00:00] Explaining incident response’s role in cyber [07:15] Henri’s journey from incident response to TechTual CEO [14:04] TechTual Consulting’s content about interviews & breaking into cybersecurity [23:43] Marrying passions together within your career path [29:54] Career path advice, cybersecurity vs content creation Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced their asset visibility and increased their cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. That's why we partnered with them to create free cybersecurity trainings! Check it out at academy.attackiq.com If you could explain it to someone who has never been in a cybersecurity incident before, what is it like from the beginning of the incident through to closure? While the majority of Henri’s work revolves currently on content creation, Henri’s background in cyber has extensive involvement in incident response. Incident response, although vital for today’s cyber industry, is sometimes misunderstood, even by cybersecurity practitioners. Henri explains that incident response is something you don’t see the usefulness of until you do it, and that attempting to work through an incident can feel like dealing with a car crash; you always have a risk of something like this happening, and it matters how you prepare for it. “An incident is like a car wreck. A wreck is something that you have a potential risk for, but you drive with insurance hoping that if it does happen, you know what to do. And even though it happens, you're still not prepared for the actual wreck.” How are you hoping to help people, especially those breaking into cybersecurity, with TechTual’s content? Henri’s focus on TechTual has given him an outlet for content creation and he hopes to use that platform to consistently help others. With the pandemic creating many jobless and job searching people, Henri saw an opportunity to focus on cybersecurity and IT content and assist outsiders looking to transition into the cyber industry. From tips about interviews to assistance with resumes, Henri often covers the basics with the mission to empower others, no matter their background, to embrace the ever-expanding industry. “My goal is to say it's okay. Everyone has a starting place, everyone has to start from somewhere. Just build your skill set up and eventually, you won't even have to have your LinkedIn profile open for work.” When you find something that you're passionate about, and then you find another thing that you're passionate about, how do you marry those two together? A marriage between passion is definitely possible, especially when looking at someone like Henri, who combines his love of content creation with his experience in cybersecurity and his passion for helping others. However, Henri is realistic in explaining that there’s a give and a take to the decisions made around your career path and how passions impact that. Henri recommends choosing a career path not just centered around passion, but instead focused on providing for yourself and your family. When your needs are fulfilled with your job, your passions and hobbies can grow and turn into legitimate projects in your life. “If I was just by myself, I could just bet on myself, I always bet on myself. When you have that family aspect to it, you have to kind of weigh your options and see when the time is going to be right, and how you can do that.” What is that one piece of advice that you would have for somebody that's looking to take one path in their career journey, but they have many paths before them? During episodes of TechTual Talk and TechTual Chatter, Henri focuses heavily on career advice, especially when it comes to making the right decisions in your career journey and behaving professionally during the interview and job search processes. When asked about advice he would give, Henri explains that prioritizing logical paths and being honest in the work you do will always have a positive impact on job prospects. For example, lying in the interview process can lead to long term dissatisfaction between employee and employer, and building a career without a logical path is never a strong foundation for anyone’s future. “What is the most logical path for you right now? Which one is the lowest barrier to entry for you? What's going to take

Jul 19, 202232 min

S6 Ep 223Financial Independence & Freedom with Eddie Thomason

Eddie Thomason, bestselling author, speaker, consultant, and creator of the Simply Secure podcast, comes to Hacker Valley Studio to discuss financial independence, the freedom of a healthy work-life balance, and habits that have helped him succeed. As a father of two with a full-time job and a thriving content creation career, Eddie explains not only how he does it all, but also how much he cares about helping other security professionals achieve the same level of success. Timecoded Guide: [00:00] Eddie’s background & his current cyber role with Data Locker [06:07] Growing up in Baltimore City & finding his podcasting inspiration [13:10] Balancing work & life with calendar planning [19:13] 4 essential habits: reading, listening, association, & work [28:20] Advice for digital content creators & security professionals Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced their asset visibility and increased their cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. That's why we partnered with them to create free cybersecurity trainings! Check it out at academy.attackiq.com What is the connection between cybersecurity and this financial independence and freedom mindset you have? In his book, on his podcast, and throughout his career, Eddie has emphasized the importance of financial independence, especially when it comes to diversifying his income. Instead of calling his projects and revenue streams “side hustles,” Eddie prefers to think of them as baby businesses; small businesses in the infant stage that have massive professional potential. With COVID severely changing Eddie’s economic perspective, he firmly believes in having multiple sources of income and in fostering the growth of each project until he’s seeing revenue to rival the full-time income he already makes in his day job. “If you look at it as a side hustle, that's all it's ever going to be, it's just something that creates a little bit of extra income, but if you look at it as a baby business, that could really replace the income that you currently make.” How do you balance content creation, day-to-day job responsibilities, and fatherhood? Being an author and a cybersecurity consultant can both already be demanding jobs, but throwing 2 young children and an entire podcast into the mix makes Eddie’s success borderline hard to believe. However, Eddie credits his success to understanding his priorities and heavily managing his calendar. Entrepreneurs need to think of their schedules down to the minute, maybe even the second. Eddie is not afraid to set aside time for his children, even if it means he has to work in the evenings on his own entrepreneurial goals. Eddie knows that when he puts his calendar together, he is giving himself the time he needs and deserves to work and spend time on what’s important to him, even alongside all his other responsibilities as an employee. “If you're going to work for 8 hours a day for somebody else's dream, then why can't you come home on a daily basis and give yourself at least 2 hours? We're not talking about a whole nother 8, but give yourself at least two hours. From the hours of 5 to 7, what can you do to invest in yourself?” What are some successful habits you’ve picked up throughout your life and that you mention in your book, Unlock Yourself? Four successful habits guide Eddie through his busy life as an entrepreneur and full-time worker, the first of which is reading. Reading is a source of knowledge and connection with others, and Eddie has learned amazing lessons from reading books and articles. The second is listening, which, just like reading, offers Eddie the ability to learn and to connect with the world. Coming in third is association. Surrounding himself with people who inspire him and are dedicated to his goals reminds Eddie of how badly he wants this. Fourth and finally, work. Putting in the work without expecting the success to happen overnight helps Eddie with his patience and always leads to a much better payoff. “If you surround yourself with incredible people who inspire you and uplift you and encourage you, then there's no reason why you should not get to your goal. There's no reason why you should give up because you have people that understand how badly you want to accomplish your goals. They won't let you quit on yourself.” Do you have advice for those looking to achieve success similar to you? Although it may seem daunting to tackle a career as extensive as Eddie’s, Eddie is confident that his mindset around work can help anyone become successful. Most specifically, amongst all the entrepreneurial advice Eddie gives, his strongest point centers around understanding the “why.” Knowing why he does what he does not only helps keep Eddie on track for a solid work-life balance, it also allows him to see the

Jul 12, 202233 min

S6 Ep 222The Future of Artificial Intelligence with Jeff Gardner

Jeff Gardner, CISO at Germantown Technologies, comes to Hacker Valley Studio this week to talk about the future of cybersecurity and what up-and-coming hackers may encounter on their journey into an ever-evolving industry. With a specific focus and interest in artificial intelligence, or AI, Jeff’s discussion in this episode covers the current perception of AI in tech, the timeline of when we may see highly-intelligent AI come into play, and what the future of AI looks like from a cybersecurity standpoint. Timecoded Guide: [03:54] Focusing on numerous areas during his day job as CISO and understanding the necessity of a strong team of trusted cyber professionals [09:00] Getting excited about current and upcoming technology in cyber while remaining realistic about present day limitations and needs [15:53] Automating security analyst tasks and finding the quality control balance between machine knowledge and human intuition [22:50] Breaking down the concept of “bad AI” and understanding how to address the issues that may arise if AI is used for nefarious purposes [28:22] Addressing the future of unique thought and creativity for computers and for human beings Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced their asset visibility and increased their cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. Be sure to check out the Attack IQ Academy for free cybersecurity training, featuring Ron and Chris of Hacker Valley Studio, at academy.attackiq.com What are some of the things that you are expecting the next generation to be doing when it comes to bypassing security in a way that they won't get caught? Jeff, like many hackers and security pros in the industry, started his journey in cyber by hacking different systems from his own computer as a kid just because he could get away with it. While that type of hacking still exists, there are new ways for systems to manage and counteract these threats and attacks, as well as expose who is behind it. The new generation of hackers will learn in different ways on different technology, and Jeff is confident that what they choose will come because of where the security industry is already going, with devices that use machine learning and pattern learning, as well as the continuing development of AI. “When it comes to artificial intelligence and all the myriad of models and neurons and all that, we're still pretty much at single neuron, maybe double neuron systems. But, as things evolve, it's gonna be harder and harder to bypass those defenses.” What is your perspective of AI not being here and available for us yet? In Jeff’s opinion, the biggest thing missing from our current AI to really make it the intelligence we claim it is, is creativity. We have smart technology, we have technology that can automate tasks and can be told very easily what to do, all through feeding in data and processes. However, Jeff points out that most of what we call artificial intelligence in the cyber and tech industries doesn’t have the creativity or the human intuition to match the human brain. We’re in an exciting escalation of technology and intelligence, but we aren’t at true AI yet. “I think one of the things that's missing from AI, and it's being solved rapidly, is creativity. We train it through models, but those models are only the data that we give it. How smart is the system if you just give it a plethora of data and have it come to its own conclusions?” How far away do you think we are from highly intelligent AI? Although the futuristic AI that appears in science fiction movies and books isn’t here yet, Jeff believes we aren’t far off from a level of computer technology that we have never seen before. With the quantum leaps in technology that we’ve continued to see, namely in computers starting to solve math problems we’ve never even thought of or engage with art in a way we’ve never dreamed possible. What we see now is the tip of the iceberg, but the future holds massive potential for what AI will look like and what automation of certain tasks will look like, with accuracy rates for analysis technology continuing to narrow to 99.9% accuracy rates. “When you can get to that level of processing speed, you can do things we can't even dream of, and that's what they're doing now. They're solving math problems in ways that humans have never thought of, they're creating art in ways that humans couldn't imagine.” How do we create AI for good? The fear of the “evil” or “bad” artificial intelligence comes up frequently when we discuss what the future of AI may look like from a security standpoint. However, Jeff is confident that the issue is not as black and white as our fears make it. For starters, when we understand the purpose behind what “bad” AI might be programmed to do, we can put other measures i

Jul 5, 202232 min

S6 Ep 221Learning to Lead Future Tech Leaders with Dr. Stacey Ashley

Leadership expert, Dr. Stacey Ashley, joins us at the Hacker Valley Studio to talk about her journey from the corporate world of leadership to her current roles in consulting and coaching. As a speaker, author, and educator for leaders, especially executive and C-level leaders, Dr. Ashley shares foundational skills needed to go from expert to leader, mindset shifts that need to occur regarding our perspective on our own leadership responsibilities, and experiences that inspired her to become an author. Timecoded Guide: [02:58] Developing stronger leadership capabilities and understanding the value of scaling work with her decision to become an author [09:51] Jumping over the hurdles and obstacles to becoming a better leader through mindfulness, practice, and checking the privilege of your executive role [13:45] Knowing when to get off the treadmill of busyness and focusing on setting better boundaries for yourself as a leader [20:53] Cultivating the next level of leadership with a focus on mentoring, role modeling, and coaching [25:40] Providing advice for future leaders and understanding the values of awareness and of developing your listening skills Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life! Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced its asset visibility and increased its cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. That's why we partnered with them to create free cybersecurity trainings! Check it out at academy.attackiq.com What have been some of the challenges that you've seen, out of yourself or from others, to start to cultivate that leadership ability? There’s a common path to leadership in many industries, especially tech and cyber, where becoming good at your job skyrockets you into leadership spaces and executive roles. While this is often an achievement worth being proud of, Dr. Ashley warns that we rarely mentor and teach these newly appointed leaders how to lead. Expert skills are important to have, but not being able to satisfy your executive role and your leadership responsibilities with developed leadership skills leads to confusion and dissatisfaction amongst employees and clients who aren’t receiving the type of leadership guidance normally delivered by someone in that role. “It's great to have those specialist skills, but it's not enough. If you're going to lead people, if you're going to lead a program of work, if you're going to be a thought leader, or an influencer, or any of those things, you need to have more skills.” What are some of the common obstacles that people have that keeps them from being the best leader that they can be? Dr. Ashley is the first to admit that tech leadership issues and obstacles are hardly a one size fits all. However, a commonality she sees is a focus on busyness instead of on active leadership practices. Being “busy” does not translate into high levels of productivity, especially for leaders in prominent company or industry roles. She advises that a better focus for leaders and aspiring executives is to practice their leadership skills and prioritize finding a coach or mentor, instead of just filling up their schedule with unnecessary busy work. “This whole concept of busy isn't actually very effective. Busy is just doing stuff for the sake of doing stuff. One of the things that I find that great leaders do is that they're really clear about where they make a difference, where they add value, where they can make a real contribution. They don't focus on being busy, they focus on the important stuff.” What sort of creative license do you give for those people that just want to be helpful, but are over taxed when it comes to their job? We all want to better prioritize our tasks and to feel less overwhelmed by our work, but setting boundaries often feels mean or unrealistic for those used to being helpful and people pleasing. Dr. Ashley sees this a lot in her work, where she often advises people to consider how they’re saying no and what ways they’re presenting what they’re working on. By showing people that you have important tasks that rely on your focus to attend to, you’re inviting them to see your time in a much more understanding light and you will invite them to consider that they should try on their own for a solution and prioritize their own tasks before they can engage with you again. “I think if we let people know that we're doing something else, and that it has a big impact, then they're much more understanding. Also, we're giving that other person some time to see if they can figure that thing out on their own rather than relying on us.” What are some of the tenants that you follow for cultivating the next level of leadership? Dr. Ashley believes that one of our key responsibilities as leaders is to grow this next generation of leaders and help them develop the best leadership skills ima

Jun 28, 202228 min

S6 Ep 220Making Corporate Leadership Human with Ginny Clarke

We invite our friend, Ginny Clarke, to Hacker Valley this week to talk about conscious leadership and self-awareness as a way to take our organizations to the next level. Using her prior experience at tech giants like Google and her five dimensions of leadership, Ginny explains how we can better hold the leaders in our lives accountable, what will benefit our civilization the most for future generations in the workplace, and where we should focus our efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Timecoded Guide: [05:34] Losing her parents at a young age, connecting to a spiritual guide to cope with grief and stress, and getting back in touch with ourselves in order to connect with others [12:03] Seeing and validating the past experiences of our fellow humans, healing ourselves in order to heal organizations, and acknowledging the role of mental health in the health of our companies [16:34] Understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion beyond just hiring, and stopping yourself from waiting for an organization to step up to an opportunity that belongs to underrepresented communities [22:38] Shifting the metrics of how we value organizations and leadership, and seeing where the accountability issues of CEOs for what they really are [27:48] Leaving a legacy through creativity and inspiring others to recognize how they have the power to change the world Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone. With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution: uptycs.com. How do we move current leadership statistics to something much healthier? With a depth of experience in recruiting executive leaders in a variety of organizations, Ginny shares a striking and horrifying statistic with us: 18% of leaders are considered good. Only 18% feels incredibly low, especially when a large portion of companies claims to hire the best leaders based on pedigree-level qualifications. In Ginny’s opinion, leaders are not held to a high enough standard in the workplace, and aren’t measured on their performance beyond basic financials. With so much more at stake, Ginny warns that companies are only as strong as their leaders, and are even weaker when they never hold those leaders accountable. “That’s why we have organizations that are, I dare say, quite fragile. It’s because of the lack of leadership. They might have a lot of money, they might have really intelligent, well-educated people, but to the extent, those organizations don't have actual leaders for whom they are holding accountable for their leadership competencies.” How do we show up better for others and really see the whole human? We cannot improve our society as long as we continue to see ourselves as completely separate from it. This, among other world-changing views, guides Ginny towards seeing people beyond just their outward appearance, viewing them as a whole human, composed of all of their experiences. There is so much fear, anxiety, and bias, especially in the world of hiring and recruiting, and Ginny hopes to show up better for others through better accountability for our leaders and a stronger connection to ourselves. “We, as a civilization, can't fix it as long as we're seeing it as separate from ourselves. So, that's where the self-love comes from, and the support and the sharing and the non-dualistic orientation, which defies everything about tech, right? Tech is all about the binary, the ones and zeros, and here, I'm talking about something that is far more inclusive than that.” What have you learned from this big effort that we have going on with diversity, equity, and inclusion? Ginny, much like many of us in tech, cares about efforts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, but believes that many companies talk the talk without ever walking the walk. When working with recruiters in large companies, Ginny discovered that many don’t understand how to implement diversity in an impactful way in their organizations, beyond appearances and statistics. Encouraging colleagues to be true to their authentic selves in the workplace, she believes that now is the time to embrace diversity at work beyond the limitations of waiting for company leaders to embrace them. “I think there's been organizational malpractice as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I think you got a lot of people who actually don't want to understand it, they're not going to the root cause. They're throwing money at it, they're hiring a chief diversity officer and saying, ‘Okay, you fix it.’” What do you think people can do today to start to make an impact and move the world in a positive direction? The secret to changing the world?

Jun 21, 202231 min

S6 Ep 219Co-founding Revelstoke through Communication with Bob Kruse

We invite Bob Kruse, Co-Founder and CEO of Revelstoke Security, down to Hacker Valley Studios this week to talk about his journey from investment banking to cybersecurity sales to owning and operating his company with Josh McCarthy. With a focus on communication and peoples skills, Bob discusses how to be a leader in the cybersecurity community, including building strong relationships with staff members, connecting with cyber experts, and developing successful security teams. Timecoded Guide: [03:40] Selling software to cybersecurity practitioners and managing the skepticism around marketing to an audience that’s taught to doubt and question [08:12] Gaining inspiration for Revelstoke Security from the entrepreneurs in his family and his experience starting his cyber business with his partner Josh McCarthy [12:51] What being an early-stage startup looked like for Revelstoke and lessons learned from their first pitches to cybersecurity investors [15:01] Comparing and contrasting being someone in cybersecurity sales to being a CEO of his very own company [20:58] Looking towards the future of Revelstoke Security as they expand into new markets and continue to build their business around providing solid cybersecurity jobs Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone. With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution: uptycs.com. Were there any speculations like, "Hey, can this guy really go from sales to being a CEO at a tech company?" Bob’s focus throughout his career in cybersecurity has completely revolved around sales. From his first cybersecurity role at Oracle Corporation to his recent position at Demisto, Bob’s prominence and impact on the cyber industry has always had sales at the center. Co-founding Revelstoke, Bob encountered skepticism and wariness from investors, curious if he would be able to transition into a cybersecurity CEO. Thanks to his knack for knowledge and his confident partner Josh, Bob has defied expectations and built up his own confidence in his new role. “It's about having a co-founder that compliments you, that you can implicitly trust, and implicitly trusts you. You can have the best technology in the world and the best idea in the world, but if you don't have a trusted relationship…it's not going to be successful.” Between your previous life in sales, and now, being a founder and CEO, what are some of the parallels? With so much experience in sales on his resume, we were curious which parts of Bob’s journey to CEO were similar to previous positions he’s held. It turns out, just like we’ve discussed on Hacker Valley Red, communication has been a key element no matter Bob’s position in cyber. No matter who he’s talking to, or what side of the house he’s marketing towards, people skills continue to be his forte. Being able to have discussions with employees, investors, and potential clients relies heavily on honest authentic communication skills, even though his business knowledge has had to grow immensely since becoming CEO. “Today, I still lean on my people skills, and over-communicate. I try to have one-on-ones with everybody in the company. I welcome every new hire we have, and it's increasingly important, obviously, as we have a widely distributed team.” Where has your focus on introductions and networking come from? We know Bob as an introduction master, and he’s even helped us with meeting some of the biggest guests we’ve invited to Hacker Valley. With so many cyber security experts in his network from all corners of the cybersecurity industry, we had to ask Bob where he learned the value of making those connections. It turns out— it’s always been that way for Bob Kruse, from the days of his early childhood working at his father’s business. Connecting others, communicating with them, and learning how to help has been his passion for his entire life. “When somebody needs your help, it's a compliment. I've always found it as a compliment in that I have something they don't, and I can impart on them some sort of an introduction, or a reference, or some knowledge.” What impact or impression are you hoping to leave on the world with Revelstoke? There are a lot of cybersecurity startups that make their way down to Hacker Valley, but Revelstoke Security seems like a different breed, with a strong staff at its core— so strong that they’ve only grown since they began and have yet to lose a single employee. With an impact like that on the cyber job market, we asked Bob what he sees on the horizon for Revelstoke. He made it clear: more jobs. Success, for Bob and Josh at Revelstoke, relies on building strong teams and providin

Jun 14, 202228 min

S6 Ep 218Emotions In Cybersecurity with Sherianna Boyle

In the turbulent world of cybersecurity, it can be difficult to not get caught up in the emotions of it all. Fear uncertainty, doubt...not to mention, burnout. It's not surprising cybersecurity is often seen as being a highly stressful field. But is it possible we may be addressing and interpreting our emotions, as practitioners, in the wrong way? Ron and Chris are joined by author and coach, Sherianna Boyle, to talk about the role that emotions play in our daily lives and how to process them correctly. In this episode, Sherianna walks us through: -What goes into emotional detoxing -The difference between reaction and emotion -How breathwork can transform your life Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution uptycs.com/ Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022 Guest Bio: Sherianna Boyle is an author of nine books including, Emotional Detox Now: 135 Self-Guided Practices to Renew Your Mind, Heart & Body. She is also the founder of the CLEANSE Method® Emotional Detox Coaching® Cleanse Yoga® servicing clients, businesses, healthcare providers and educators worldwide, virtually or on site. You can hear more from Sherianna, and her work, on her show Emotional Detox Now Podcast. Links: Stay in touch with Sherianna Boyle on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Jun 7, 202233 min

S6 Ep 217Being THE Cyber Warrior with Derek Scheller

Making an impact in the cybersecurity community as a content creator is no easy task! Just ask Derek Scheller, aka The Cyber Warrior. Derek joins hosts Ron and Chris to talk about how he brings his unique personality and positive messages to inspire folks within, and breaking into, cyber. In this this episode, Derek shares: His passion to inspire and motivate others How to make your content stand out How the WWE has inspired his unique persona His thoughts on vulnerability and being authentically yourself Tips for making impactful and sticky content Check out Ron and Chris’ interview with The Cyber Warrior on Security Happy Hour, here! Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution Uptycs.com Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022 Guest Bio: Derek Scheller is a Senior Security Consultant for Seiso, LLC. In 2017, he retired from the US Army as a Cyber Network Defender and worked in both defensive and offensive operations. When he is not helping clients with their security needs, he is a content creator that aims to help as many people as possible enter the cyber security space. You can find him on YouTube Twitch, LinkedIn, and Facebook under Cyber Warrior Studios, where he posts weekly. Links: Stay in touch with Derek Scheller with Cyber Warrior Studios on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out more from Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 31, 202228 min

S6 Ep 216Adapt and Overcome with Amy Bream

Life is full of complexity -- just ask adaptive athlete Amy Bream, this episode's special guest. She was born with one leg, but that didn’t stop her from growing up to become a kickboxer. In 2021, she competed in the CrossFit Games, placing in the top five. And in 2022, she came in first at Wodapalooza — one of the biggest fitness competitions in the world. The key to her success? Controlling what she can. Join her, Ron and Chris as they discuss: -How self perception shapes how others interact with you -The power of showing up and believing in yourself -Amy’s viral moment at the CrossFit Games -Her partnership with Axonius -Her advice for those struggling to show up in life Check out Amy's Controlling Complexity video, presented by Axonius: axonius.com/amybream Sponsor: Thank you to our Axonius, for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex, but it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone Links: Visit Amy Bream on Instagram Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 26, 202232 min

S6 Ep 215Adventures In The Outerverse with Robin Thurston

The metaverse seems to be the hottest thing in technology today. From virtual environments to avatars, our lives are being digitized more and more. Is there even a reason to go outside anymore? Robin Thurston, CEO of Outside Inc., built his entire company around this very question. What's even more interesting is that he is using web3 technology to help get people reacquainted with the great outdoors. In this episode, Ron and Chris chat with Robin about: Why Outside decided to create the Outerverse How the Outerverse is aimed at getting people outside What the Outerverse entails (i.e. NFT marketplace, tokens, creator platform) What this means for the future of outdoor content/outdoor content creators Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution Uptycs.com Be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022 Guest Bio: Before joining Outside (previously Pocket Outdoor Media), he ran a consumer genetics company called Helix in Silicon Valley before returning to his home state of Colorado. Prior to Helix, Robin co-founded and built MapMyFitness into one of the world’s largest open fitness tracking platforms. Following the acquisition of MapMyFitness by Under Armour, he joined the innovative sports apparel organization and served as Chief Digital Officer, where he led the overall strategic direction of the company’s Connected Fitness and eCommerce business. Robin spent the first ten years of his career building a mutual fund classification and ratings platform at Lipper (a Thomson Reuters Company), as well as a risk and compensation platform at both American Century Investments and Wellington Management. He graduated with a MS in Finance from University of Colorado at Denver and lives with his wife and three children in Boulder, Co. He is a lifelong cyclist who started riding and racing in the early 1980’s. Links: Stay in touch with Robin Thurston on LinkedIn and Twitter Visit Outside Inc website Visit the Outerverse Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 24, 202226 min

S6 Ep 214Something To Say In Cyber With Jon DiMaggio

“If you believe in yourself and you're willing to put in that work, it WILL happen.” - Jon DiMaggio In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by author and Chief Security Strategist, Jon DiMaggio, to talk about the power of believing in yourself and following through on your dreams. Jon shares the story behind writing his book, The Art of Cyber Warfare, and how he learned to overcome rejection. Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and Uptycs for bringing this episode to life! Life is complex. But it’s not about avoiding challenges or fearing failure. Just ask Simone Biles — the greatest gymnast of all time. Want to learn more about how Simone controls complexity? Watch her video at axonius.com/simone With Uptycs, modern defenders can prioritize, investigate and respond to threats across the entire attack surface—all from a common solution. Check them out at Uptycs.com and be sure to stop by their booth #435 at RSA 2022 Guest Bio: Jon DiMaggio is the chief security strategist at Analyst1 and has over 15 years of experience hunting, researching, and writing about advanced cyber threats. As a specialist in enterprise ransomware attacks and nation-state intrusions, such as”Ransom Mafia: Analysis of the World’s first Ransomware Cartel”,“Nation State Ransomware” and a “History of REvil”. He has exposed the criminal cartels behind major ransomware attacks, aided law enforcement agencies in federal indictments of nation-state attacks, and discussed his work with The New York Times, Bloomberg, Fox, CNN, Reuters, and Wired. You can find Jon speaking about his research at conferences such as RSA. Additionally, in 2022, Jon authored the book “The Art of Cyberwarfare: An Investigator's Guide to Espionage, Ransomware, and Organized Cybercrime” published by No Starch Press. Links: Stay in touch with Jon DiMaggio on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 17, 202228 min

S6 Ep 213Beyond Gold with Simone Biles

Cybersecurity podcast hosts, Chris and Ron, had the pleasure of sitting down with US Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, for a very special interview! You might be wondering, “what does cybersecurity and elite-level gymnastics have in common?” - both have a strong focus on controlling complexity. Complexity comes in many forms — whether that be staying calm in the face of a malicious cyber attack or performing complex moves on the competition floor. While complexity isn’t something you can prevent, having the right team and mindset can make controlling its outcome much easier! In this episode, Ron and Chris chat with Simone about: - Her recent life changing event - How Simone controls the complexity in her life - Why doing your best is always good enough - and her partnership with Axonius! Guest Bio: Simone Arianne Biles has boundless energy, natural strength and fierce determination, taking those God-given talents to become the greatest gymnast of all time. The 4-foot, 8-inch dynamo is the most decorated American gymnast in history, with 32 medals (19 of them gold) from the World Championship and seven medals (four gold) from the Olympics. She is also the first American woman to win seven national all-around titles and first female gymnast to earn three consecutive World All-Around titles. She is a three-time recipient of the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportswoman of the Year and has received widespread recognition, including TIME 100 Most Influential, Forbes 30 Under 30, Ebony Power 100, People Magazine’s Women Changing the World, USA Today 100 Women of the Century, and two-time Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, among others. Links: Thank you to our friends at Axonius for making this episode a reality! Follow Simone on Twitter and Instagram Watch Simone content and more at Axonius+ Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Listen to more interviews like this from Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 11, 202219 min

S6 Ep 212Harness Your Anxiety in Cyber with Dr. Chloe Carmichael

Anxiety and nervous energy is palpable in cybersecurity. If practitioners allow this energy to take control, it can be stifling and paralyzing. But what if we were to use this power to do what it was intended to do? In this episode, Ron and Chris chat with Dr. Chloe Carmichael, author of the Deepak Chopra endorsed book, Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety. They discuss: -The purpose of nervous energy -When this energy enters our lives -How we can use this energy to our advantage -and how it can even become a superpower Guest Bio Dr. Chloe Carmichael, Ph.D, is a clinical psychologist, known as Dr. Chloe. She holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Long Island University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor’s degree and departmental honors in psychology from Columbia University. Her practice in New York City employs multiple therapists to serve high-functioning business executives, people in the arts, and everyday people seeking support with personal or professional goals. Dr. Chloe is the author of the book Nervous Energy: Harness the Power of Your Anxiety, endorsed by Deepak Chopra! She is a member in good standing of the American Psychological Association, as well as the National Register of Health Psychologists, an elite organization for psychologists with gold-standard credentials. She is also a consultant at Baker McKenzie, the third largest law firm in the world. She is an Advisory Board member for Women’s Health Magazine (Hearst), and a featured expert for Psychology Today. She enjoys relating with the media, as well as public speaking. She has been featured as an expert on VH1, Inside Edition, and other television; and has been quoted in the New York Times, Forbes, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, and other print media. Links: Thank you to our friends at Axonius and Uptycs for sponsoring this episode! Stay in touch with Dr. Chloe Carmichael on LinkedIn and Twitter and by her Book here! Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 9, 202225 min

S6 Ep 211The Threat Inside With Shawnee Delaney

In this episode, Ron and Chris highlight a human problem that affects every company and organization in the world – Insider Threat. Shawnee Delaney, an Insider Threat expert, cybersecurity consultant and CEO of Vaillance Group, joins the guys to provide her expertise on the topic and shares real life examples of treason and espionage. In this episode Shawnee explores: The intersection of empathy and espionage Motivations and vulnerabilities The importance of insider threat programs Protecting your trade secrets Investing in your people, and more! Guest Bio: Shawnee Delaney is an Insider Threat expert, cybersecurity consultant, and CEO of Vaillance Group - based in Washington, DC. She is a decorated intelligence officer and a licensed private investor who has spent part of her career within the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Clandestine Officer conducting Human Intelligence operations around the world. She has also supported the Department of Homeland Security, defending critical infrastructure and industrial control systems within the U.S. Her combat tours, field experience, and consulting with top Fortune 500 Companies has provided the foundation for the curriculum she offers in her Insider Threat training programs. A sought-after public speaker, Ms. Delaney shares her extensive knowledge of Insider Threats to protect clients’ assets, people, and confidential information and to educate groups about the harm that comes from both malicious and unintentional threats. Links: Thank you to our friends at Axonius and Uptycs for sponsoring this episode! Stay in touch with Shawnee Delaney on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

May 3, 202229 min

S6 Ep 210Cyber Is A Gritty Situation With David Fivecoat

What is grit? How much or little do YOU have? Can we grow it? Hosts Ron and Chris are joined by the Executive Coach and Founder of Fivecoat Consulting Group, David Fivecoat, to talk about how grit shows up in our lives and ways that we can cultivate more. Guest Bio: After 24 years as a US Army paratrooper, as well as 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Colonel David Fivecoat, US Army, Retired, founded The Fivecoat Consulting Group. He now blogs, speaks, coaches gritty leaders, and helps develop gritty organizations. A native Ohioan, David Fivecoat resides in Columbus, Georgia. Sponsor Links: Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and PlexTrac for bringing this episode to life! Axonius, the first company to solve the cybersecurity asset management problem. Give your team's time back by checking them out at https://www.axonius.com/ PlexTrac, the Proactive Cybersecurity Management Platform, brings red and blue teams together for better collaboration and communication. Check them out at plextrac.com/hackervalley Additional Links: Stay in touch with David Fivecoat on LinkedIn and His website Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Apr 26, 202230 min

S6 Ep 209Becoming Team Tech Boy with DeJuan Strickland

DeJuan Strickland (DJ) is a huge superhero fan, but when he realized there weren’t many superheroes and comic book characters that looked like him, he decided to do something about it! Enter: Tech Boy! DJ joins hosts Ron and Chris to share his unique experiences as an 13 year old author, entrepreneur, and tech enthusiast. Guest Bio: DeJuan Strickland is a 13-old scholar born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He enjoys gaming, anime, reading, and indulging in comic books. He is a long-time honor roll student who thoroughly enjoys science and technology. He has recently been appointed as a youth member of STEMSTL's Strategic Advisory Board. Tech Boy is DeJuan's debut title and his mission is to inspire other youth to become tech-savvy entrepreneurs. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Links: Stay in touch with DJ on Instagram and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Apr 19, 202219 min

S6 Ep 208And the Academy Award Goes To...With Evan Mayfield

Evan Mayfield, an award-winning 3D animator and founder of the Kingdom of Dwarves NFT project, joins Ron and Chris to talk about how his love of art allows him to experience life in new and creative ways. In this episode, Evan shares his story behind winning an Academy Award and starting a career in the film industry, what led him into creating NFT art and founding Kingdom of Dwarves NFT project, and the importance of being receptive to feedback in your career. Guest Bio: Evan Mayfield is an Academy Award winning 3D animator/Animation Director in the Film/Commercial/VideoGame/AR/VR field. He is also one of the founders of the Kingdom of Dwarves NFT project. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Links: Stay in touch with Evan Mayfield on LinkedIn , Twitter and Discord Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Apr 12, 202236 min

S6 Ep 207The Road Less Traveled with Isabel Leong

In this new age of remote work, people are able to live and work in ways that we never thought possible. In this episode Ron and Chris are joined by Isabel Leong, a full-time travel blogger and SEO marketing coach. Isabel shares how she turned her hobby into a career that allows her to fulfill her passion for travel and her tips for those attempting to do the same. Guest Bio: Full-time travel blogger and SEO marketing coach roaming the world at whim, Isabel draws energy from being outdoors. An explorer at heart, the world is her playground. She helps aspiring bloggers and brands get the most out of their online presence and financial freedom by ranking on Google faster with SEO and expose millennial travelers to experiences beyond their imaginations. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Additional Links: Stay in touch with Isabel Leong on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Apr 5, 202224 min

S6 Ep 206An Unstoppable Mind with David Pearson

In this episode Ron and Chris are joined by the co-founder and CEO of SeclarityIO, David Pearson, to talk about his experience in building a company from the ground up. David shares the challenge of “building something from nothing,” seeking help, and the importance of having a solid support system. David explores the intricacies and inner workings of his mind and his tips on tapping into creativity and innovative thought. Guest Bio: David is the co-founder and CEO of SeclarityIO, the company building NetworkSage. During his career, he has spent time on the red team, blue team, and in deep research. He was formerly the Head of Threat Research at Awake Security. David has security degrees from the Rochester Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon, and has spoken and taught workshops at many top security conferences. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Additional Links: Stay in touch with David Pearson on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Mar 29, 202232 min

S6 Ep 205Growing A Successful Podcast with Adam Adams

Anyone can start a podcast, but what about a successful podcast? What about a podcast that reaches, connects and impacts people for the better? In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by Adam Adams to talk about what it takes to create a successful podcast. Adam touches on the importance of having quality equipment, a compelling and entertaining message, and great marketing. He explores the reasons why having a broad audience isn’t the best tactic when trying to stand out and why you shouldn’t be afraid to “draw a line in the sand.” Guest Bio: After selling his first podcast and seeing everything that his show did for his business, Adam Adams founded a company to serve podcasters in a whole new way. Knowing successful business owners have already learned to stay in their lane and focus on revenue generating activities Adam founded Grow Your Show, which is the easy button for podcasters. They make having a top rated podcast as easy as pressing “record”. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Links: Stay in touch with Adam Adams on LinkedIn and Instagram & check out his podcast and website Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Mar 22, 202239 min

S6 Ep 203Risk: Black Swans Versus Gray Rhinos with Michele Wucker

Have you ever heard of the term, “Black Swans” or “Gray Rhinos”? Black Swan are events that we never saw coming, while Gray Rhinos are the things we see from a mile away. In this episode, author and strategist Michele Wucker explores the gray rhino and risk fingerprint metaphors and translates big picture trends in ways everyday folks can apply to their lives. Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Axonius, the first company to solve the cybersecurity asset management problem. Give your team's time back to work by checking out axonius.com/ PlexTrac, the proactive cybersecurity management platform, brings red and blue teams together for better collaboration and communication. Check them out at plextrac.com/hackervalley Guest Bio: Michele Wucker is a strategist and the author of four books including the global bestseller, THE GRAY RHINO: How to Recognize and Act on the Obvious Dangers We Ignore. The metaphor and principles from her book have moved markets, shaped financial policies, and made headlines around the world. It helped to frame the ignored warnings ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic and have even inspired the lyrics of the hit pandemic pop single, “Blue & Grey” by the mega-band BTS. Michele’s 2019 TED Talk has attracted over two million views. Additional Links: Learn more about Michele’s research here. Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Mar 15, 202234 min

S6 Ep 202Choosing the Right Words with Terre Short

We believe you are what you listen to -- including the personal podcast that is playing in your head every day. What is it saying to you? Our guest Terre Short excels at distilling leadership skills into actionable steps and choosing the right words to inspire others and giving ourselves the words we need to move forward. Guest Bio: Terre Short is a human potential developer who has more than 30 years of leadership experience, a Masters in Business Administration/Healthcare Management, and her Professional Coach Certification (PCC). She coaches leaders on tactics to raise engagement and improve retention. She also leans on the content in her book, “The Words We Choose: Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter in helping others become their best selves.” Sponsor Links: A big thank you to our friends at PlexTrac and Axonius for sponsoring this episode! Additional Links: Book Terre as a Speaker or Coach and purchase Terre's book Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Mar 8, 202232 min

S6 Ep 201Becoming the Maestro with Rob White

When Rob White was a child, someone called him a loser -- it wasn't until he confronted his negative talk that he rose to greatness. From humble beginnings to his current status as a real estate developer, restaurateur, world traveler, international best-selling author, Rob has distilled his life experiences into sound, practical advice. Listen carefully to this episode because it's time to bring out YOUR inner maestro. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Uptycs and Axonius Additional Links: Stay in touch with Rob White on Twitter and pick up his book, The Maestro Monologue here Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop Continue the conversation by joining our Discord Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Mar 1, 202230 min

S6 Ep 200Episode 200

In this episode, Ron and Chris take a stroll down podcast memory lane in celebration of Hacker Valley’s 200th episode. The guys reflect on their rise from humble podcast beginnings, their ever-growing fascination with human-centric stories, making a difference, and what lies ahead for Hacker Valley Media. Key Takeaways: 01:29 Celebrating episode 200! 02:47 From humble, homegrown beginnings 03:38 Scaling and growing 06:12 Facing our biggest challenges 08:21 Tapping into our inner child 13:20 Human-centric stories 17:14 Making a difference 18:45 Thanking our team 20:37 Thanking our listeners 21:39 A humbling realization 22:40 What’s to come? 25:00 Growing together 27:05 Our advice to you 29:03 Stay in touch! Sending all of our listeners a big THANK YOU for all of the love, support, and feedback we’ve received over the last 3 years! We could not have done it without you. Cheers to the next 3 years! - Ron and Chris Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at Uptycs and Axonius

Feb 22, 202230 min

S6 Ep 199Episode 199 - Sharing The Mic with Camille Stewart

In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by Camille Stewart, the Global Head of Product Security Strategy at Google and Co-Founder of Share The Mic. The trio have an honest conversation about advocacy and representation in cybersecurity, the story behind Camille’s Share The Mic social movement, how we can begin to move in the right direction, and how culture shapes the way we interact with technology. Lastly, Chris talks about Hacker Valley’s stance on representation – from award nominations to our greatest loss in listenership history. Key Takeaways: 02:47 Bio 05:43 Advocacy - it’s in my DNA 07:16 Giving a voice to the underrepresented 08:54 “Share The Mic” 12:28 The state of diversity in cybersecurity 14:28 Achieving a better tomorrow 18:94 How do we bridge the opportunities gap? 20:13 The intersection of culture and technology 22:45 Who is Camille Stewart? 26:00 The dark side of speaking up 28:53 This is a mission critical issue 30:12 Stay in touch with Camille! Links: Stay in touch with Camille Stewart on Twitter | LinkedIn |Instagram Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at Uptycs and Axonius

Feb 15, 202231 min

S6 Ep 198Episode 198 - Scaling Your Efforts with Veronica Kirin

Ron and Chris sit down with anthropologist, author, entrepreneur and coach, Veronica Kirin, to learn how she distilled her seventy hour work week down to ten. Veronica shares her knowledge on helping small businesses scale, why and which automation tools are a scaling must-have, hiring best practices, and the power of goal mapping. Lastly, Veronica shares her seventy year business plan method which helps folks actualize their long-term vision. Key takeaways: 02:53 Bio 04:39 Anthropology and business - bridging the gap 07:37 What is scaling and how do we do it right? 11:20 Tools to help you scale - Ron’s take 13:55 Veronica’s 3 Pillars of Business Scaling 16:33 Hiring woes 17:18 Hiring best practices - trip wires 20:38 How are current events changing business? 23:21 Actualizing your legacy 26:52 Creating goal maps 30:12 Get connected 31:30 Reach out for help 33:16 Stay in touch with Veronica! Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Website Veronica Kirin: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Thank you to our friends at Axonius and Uptycs for sponsoring this episode.

Feb 8, 202234 min

S6 Ep 197Episode 197 - Leading Your Tribe with Simone Knego

In this week’s episode, Ron and Chris are joined by speaker, entrepreneur, mother of six and the best-selling author of The Extraordinary UnOrdinary You, Simone Knego. The trio explore the highs and lows of parenting, while attempting to manage it all – and then some! Simone shares how believing in herself was the secret sauce behind writing a book and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, why patience truly is a virtue, and how a positive mindset can help get you through even the toughest of days. Lastly, soon-to-be-married Ron Eddings, gets advice on marriage and building a family. Key takeaways: 02:33 Bio 04:01 Staying humble 05:11 Positive role modeling 07:43 Raising a multi cultural family 09:10 Trying to manage it all 10:57 The book - sharing her story 13:35 Believing in yourself 15:29 Patience is a virtue 18:47 Mindset and daily affirmations 22:21 Social media and “mom guilt” 24:21 Advice for the soon-to-be married, Ron 26:50 Self-care and honoring your family 28:46 Stay in touch with Simone! Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Website Simone Knego: LinkedIn | Website | Facebook Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Thank you to our friends at Axonius and Uptycs for sponsoring this episode.

Feb 1, 202229 min

S6 Ep 196Episode 196 - Cybersecurity Advocates with Julie Haney

In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by Julie Haney – a computer scientist and Usable Security Researcher at NIST, to talk about the human within the technologist. The trio sit down and have a powerful discussion on ways in which cybersecurity practitioners can bring their best work to the table, the importance of empathy within the workplace, and how to empower ourselves and the security community at large. Key Takeaways: 02:55 Bio 06:46 Why research? 08:55 Bringing your best work to the table 11:28 Surprising research 12:46 What’s your superpower? 16:10 Empathy in practice 19:27 B.E.S.T.O.W. 22:22 Normalizing CS Advocacy 25:07 What’s missing in cybersecurity? 27:12 Being more intentional Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Julie Haney: LinkedIn | Website | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Thank you to our friends at Axonius and Uptycs for sponsoring this episode.

Jan 25, 202229 min

S6 Ep 195Episode 195 - Shades Of Yes with David Chislett

In this episode, Ron and Chris are joined by author, poet, musician, artist and entrepreneur, David Chislett. David dives deep into the beauty and power of creativity and the creative process. The trio explore reasons we become less creative over time, how technologists can begin tapping into their creativity and why we should start replacing “but” with “and.” Key Takeaways: 02:37 Bio 03:42 Origin as a creative 05:40 Losing creativity over time 10:23 A daily commitment to creativity 12:05 Structure in creativity 15:10 The hero’s journey 23:34 Innovation vs. Creativity 25:38 Defining creativity 28:59 Get in touch Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website David Chislett: Website | LinkedIn | YouTube Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at Uptycs and Axonius

Jan 18, 202230 min

S6 Ep 194Episode 194 - Priming the Mind for Happiness with Zahra Karsan

In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, Ron and Chris are joined by the author of 6 Weeks to Happy, success coach extraordinaire and CEO of GetZend, Zahra Karsan. The trio examine happiness and why it is so difficult to define and what role does personal freedom play in the matter. Zahra speaks on retraining your brain for success, learning the tools to thrive and recognizing your fears in order to make change. Furthermore, the group discusses energy and ego depletion and how it affects will power and overall performance. Key Takeaways: 03:03 Bio 04:19 What is happiness? 10:52 Seeking freedom 14:10 Will accomplishing goals make us happy? 17:29 Regaining control over our lives 22:20 Understanding how to change mindsets 28:42 Will power and ego depletion 33:42 Advice for an action plan 36:18 Get in touch! Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Zahra Karsan: LinkedIn | GetZend | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at Uptycs and Axonius

Jan 11, 202237 min

S6 Ep 193Episode 193 - Love is the Name of the Game with Tyrone E. Wilson

Happy Holidays from Hacker Valley Media! Tyrone E. Wilson is a passionate information security professional with 24 years of experience in information technology and has a mission to improve as many lives as possible through education in cybersecurity. Currently, Wilson is the Founder and CEO of Cover6 Solutions, LLC; which teaches companies and professionals various aspects of information security, penetration testing, and IPv6. Wilson is also the organizer of The D.C. Cyber Security Professionals. Join Chris, Ron and Tyrone as they help uncover the truth about being your true self. Key Takeaways: 02:38 Bio 07:34 The “E” story 09:16 Reality TV star?! 15:30 Opportunities from being more open in public 18:25 Doing more to be better | taking control of the moment 22:00 Getting around personal resistance 25:21 Lessons learned building communities & being yourself 27:00 “I understand.” 29:42 Get in touch Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Tyrone E. Wilson: Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at Crowdstrike

Dec 22, 202131 min

S6 Ep 192Episode 192 - Wisdom and Celebrity with Clint Arthur

Today Chris and Ron are joined by Clint Arthur. Clint is an actor, public speaker and mentor to many. He has had the pleasure of meeting some of the most influential people in the world, and has decided to use this to help people all over the world discover their meaning and drive them to self-fulfillment and success. Tune in for experiences, stories and advice from one of the most well-traveled, well-written people they’ve ever met! Key Takeaways: 02:59 Bio and beginnings 06:07 No more Hollywood 09:37 20 books?! 12:57 Finding value, giving value and feeling valued 17:32 John Travolta said fly high. What does that really mean? 20:40 Matchstick secrets 22:54 Impactful moments 33:47 Get in touch Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Clint Arthur: Website | Book Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is presented to you by our good friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Dec 14, 202134 min

S6 Ep 191Episode 191 - Listen as I Fall Out of This Window with Tyler Foley

Sean Tyler Foley is an accomplished film and stage performer and has been acting in film and television since he was 6 years old. He has appeared in productions including Freddy Vs Jason, Door to Door, Carrie, and the musical Ragtime. Tyler is passionate about helping others confidently take the stage and impact an audience with their stories. He is currently the Managing Director of Total Buy-In and author of the #1 best-selling book The Power to Speak Naked. Join Chris, Ron and Tyler for a schooling in presenting yourself and engaging with others. Key Takeaways: 03:06 Bio 04:55 The journey to now; acting to public speaking 11:07 Making safety training engaging 14:38 Re-kindling the story for the listener 18:22 Engaging remotely 22:27 The driest safety subject – fall protection 24:49 Nobody likes getting should on 25:40 Tyler’s book – The Power to Speak Naked 28:24 Getting your story out 32:06 Get in touch Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Tyler Foley: Total Buy In | Book | Website | LinkedIn | IMDb Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is presented to you by our good friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Dec 7, 202134 min

Ep 190Episode 190 - Maintaining a Fuel for Life with Nate Palmer

Nate Palmer is a fitness and nutrition expert, coach, speaker, and writer who believes that being in incredible shape gives a massive advantage in business, focus, and relationships. He also happens to be a dad, husband, and the #1 bestselling author of The Million Dollar Body Method and Passport Fitness. Nate helps business owners and entrepreneurs improve their physique, finances, and family time using fitness and nutrition as force multipliers. Join Chris, Ron and Nate to change the way you approach your mind, body and soul in this episode of Hacker Valley Studio. Key Takeaways: 03:12 Bio 06:34 Controlling your diet and exercise 08:30 Maintaining energy / Chris’ journey in weight management 10:25 Maintaining a fuel for life 13:47 Tactics for exercise and nutrition 16:58 Nutrition and fitness for the mind 22:10 Nutrition and fitness for the soul 26:14 Architecting your day 30:00 Win the morning 31:15 Get in touch with Nate Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Nate Palmer Book | LinkedIn | Twitter | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is presented to you by our good friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 30, 202132 min

S6 Ep 189Episode 189 - Head in the Cloud with Maurice Grose Jr.

Maurice Grose Jr. is an experienced Security Engineer with a background in military RF exploitation and detection, Unix/Linux administration and threat mitigation, and hardware/software integration engineering. Join Chris, Ron and Maurice to hear how a career after the military blossomed into a learning, engaging time of constant challenge and inspiration. Key Takeaways: 03:31 Bio 07:29 What does legacy mean? 09:48 The appeal of cyber 12:10 Where do you draw inspiration from? 14:07 Does legacy experience help with cloud systems today? 17:42 A takeaway from Maurice’s military career 21:35 Advice for future leaders, getting kids involved 26:19 Future prediction in technology 27:59 Advice for anyone looking to go for the next step Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Maurice Grose Jr: LinkedIn | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsor by our friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 23, 202129 min

S6 Ep 188Episode 188 - Making Friends, Spies, and Traitors with James Lawler

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James Lawler serves as a national security consultant and is the Senior Partner at MDO Group, which provides Human Intelligence training to the Intelligence Community and the commercial sector focused on WMD, CI, technical and cyber issues. Mr. Lawler is a noted speaker on the Insider Threat in government and industry. Prior to this, Mr. Lawler served for 25 years as a CIA operations officer in various international posts and as Chief of the Counterproliferation Division's Special Activities Unit. Join Chris, Ron and James for a riveting audio journey through stories and experiences from the inside of the C.I.A. Key Takeaways: 03:07 Bio 04:10 Finding a job after school – the CIA comes to campus 05:40 Clandestine Service 09:55 Can you start in two weeks? 12:40 A sociopath within lanes (laws) 14:00 Betraying company over country 17:37 Intensifying friendship development 19:54 Can you betray your country for $1k? 20:52 Why do people turn down a pitch? 27:53 Receiving overwhelming classified information 36:10 Book 40:05 Take away from Mr. Lawler Links Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website James Lawler: Book | Linkedin Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsor by our friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 16, 202146 min

S6 Ep 187Episode 187 - Keep Your &#%! Authentic with Samara Williams

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Samara Williams is a Manager of Threat Operations at Cardinal Health, focused on proactive action and defense-in-depth improvement. She specializes in threat intelligence, vulnerability management, technical risk communications as well as program design and development. Chris, Ron and Samara go deep into what it takes to be your authentic self, standing strong for what you believe and being aggressive in your thoughts and actions. Key Takeaways: 03:21 Bio 10:00 Ted talk: short, sweet and powerful 17:51 Knowing your superpower – Samara's? Authenticity 21:05 Being aggressive and using mentors & allies 25:26 Mentoring to help the future generation thrive 28:33 Advice for the person scared to be authentic 32:09 Get in touch Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Samara Williams: LInkedIn | Ted Talk | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by our friends at CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 12, 202133 min

S6 Ep 186We Are Here Finale: A Case Study of DEI at CrowdStrike

In the finale of We Are Here, Chris and Ron are joined by Emily Van Norden, branding and DE&I leader, and Nikki Thornton, Chief of Staff, both at CrowdStrike. The group talks about Diversity, equity and inclusion in this jam-packed episode. Emily and Nikki peel a layer off of the CrowdStrike brand to unveil a plethora of tips, tricks, and advice from their experience with people and standing up the DE&I function company-wide. Key Takeaways: 01:56 Bio – Nikki 02:48 Bio – Emily 04:58 The chronology of CrowdStrike 10:12 Standing up the DE&I program 15:44 From adversity comes opportunity 20:21 Executives promoting DE&I 23:23 The deeper meaning of DE&I and why it matters at CrowdStrike 34:25 Advice for new professionals; making allies 37:55 Get in touch Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Emily Van Norden: LinkedIn | Website Nikki Thornton: LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon We Are Here is proudly presented by CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 11, 202139 min

S6 Ep 185We Are Here Part 3: Allyship and Representation

On this episode of We Are Here, Ron and Chris join Dave Zawdie and Nina Padavil, two members of the team believe, CrowdStrike’s employee resource group for black professionals. The group dives deep into representation and allyship and how we can use the past to change the future for the good of the industry and its people. Key Takeaways: 01:54: Nina – Bio 03:36 David – Bio 05:25 Role models and influencers 11:24 How can the majority help the minority in the future? 14:33 Mentoring and impacting the future 17:38 Setbacks and advice for a discouraged cyber security professional 20:26 Committing to being an ally to another 22:52 The future of DE&I and how we contribute 25:14 Get in touch Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Nina Padavil: LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon We Are Here is proudly presented by CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 10, 202126 min

Ep 184We Are Here Part 2: A Tech Titans Roundtable

In this whopper of an episode, Chris and Ron join the panel again to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion. The panel includes Marianne Budnik, CMO at CrowdStrike, Shawn Henry, CSO at CrowdStrike, powerhouse educator and influencer Olivia Herriford, and MK Palmore, Director with the CISO division at Google. Stay tuned for a masterclass in DE&I, how they differ and how we can keep pushing the ball forward. Key Takeaways: 01:53 Bio- Marianne Budnik 02:34 Bio- MK Palmore 03:36 Bio- Olivia Herriford 04:53 Bio- Shawn Henry 06:20 The panel discusses their first interest in diversity 21:36 Equity & Inclusion- how is it different, and what are some ways to incorporate them? 32:25 Finding influence from all types of people 37:12 Planning for DE&I 41:23 Advice to the people who strive to make a difference 59:20 Get in touch Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Marianne Budnik: Website | LinkedIn Shawn Henry: Website | LinkedIn Olivia Herriford: Website | LinkedIn MK Palmore: Twitter | LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon We Are Here is proudly presented by CrowdStrike. Join the Crowdstrike team here.

Nov 9, 202153 min

S6 Ep 183We Are Here Season 2 Premiere with Minda Harts

Minda Harts is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Service of NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the founder of The Memo LLC, a career development company for women of color. On top of her impressive work resume, she is the award-winning and best-selling author of The Memo: What Women of Color Need To Know To Secure A Seat At The Table. Join Ron, Chris and Minda as they navigate through some of the toughest issues troubling our workplaces today. Key Takeaways: 01:58 Bio 03:08 The last straw 05:53 Minda’s journey in writing & reflecting 07:50 Staying humble and making a real difference 10:25 Workplace trauma- What is it? 14:32 Advice for businesses opening back up 17:26 Being authentic at work 19:40 The new book – Right Within 25:46 Reminding people they have a voice 28:24 Get in touch with Minda Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Minda Harts: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter Buy her new book Right Within here! Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon We Are Here is proudly presented by CrowdStrike. Join the CrowdStrike team here.

Nov 8, 202128 min

S6 Ep 182Hacker Valley Red is Back! Episode 1 Sample

Follow the new channel here: https://hackervalley.com/show/hacker-valley-red/ Christopher Hadnagy is the founder and CEO of Social-Engineer, LLC. He created the world’s first social engineering framework, as well as hosted the first social engineering-based podcast. Chris is an adjunct professor of Social Engineering for an NSA Cyber School of excellence at University of Arizona. Chris is also a well-known author, having written five books on social engineering. Chris’ new book, “Human Hacking: Win Friends, Influence People and Leave Them Better Off for Having Met You”, released January 5, 2021. Join both Chris’ and Ron for an episode of self-analyzation, empathy and understanding. Key Takeaways 02:52 Bio 06:20 Exploring the title of Chris’ book 08:40 What’s the difference between manipulation and influence? 10:36 A contract in a book. Why? 14:33 What books describe Chris? 21:48 The importance of Empathy 26:48 The science 30:57 Chris’ conference: The Human Behavior Conference Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Chris Hadnagy: Twitter | LinkedIn | Facebook | Book | Conference Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Axonius Hype Cycle

Nov 4, 202139 min

S6 Ep 181Episode 181 - The Calling of Cyber with Jerich Beason

Jerich Beason, SVP & CISO at Epiq, joins Chris and Ron to talk passion, purpose and how that plays a part in cyber. Jerich sits on panels, speaks at conferences and events & contributes to white papers and security articles. He also serves as a Board advisor to security startups. Jerich is currently the host of Epiq’s podcast, Cyberside Chats which has the mission of increasing knowledge and awareness of cybersecurity within the legal industry. Key Takeaways: 02:50 Bio 03:48 Choosing an education in cyber 05:00 Origin story – why cyber? 09:58 Jerich touches on why some cyber veterans are discouraging newcomers 12:26 Inspiring the future generation 15:20 Talking passion & calling 17:17 A day in the life of Jerich 20:10 Avoiding burnout & fulfilling purpose 23:15 Zero-Trust 26:34 The future in security program building Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Jerich Beason: LinkedIn | Podcast | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This Episode is sponsored by CrowdStrike. Find a home with CrowdStrike here.

Nov 2, 202131 min

S6 Ep 180The Pod Pack feat. Allan Alford, Dave Bittner, Graham Cluley and Jack Rhysider

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This week, we’re switching it up. We’ve invited a few friends and collogues to the studio to talk business. On the mics with Chris and Ron we have Dave Bittner from The CyberWire, Graham Cluley from Smashing Security, Jack Rhysider from Darknet Diaries, and our brother-in-arms, Allan Alford from The Cyber Ranch podcast. Want to see behind the scenes? This episode has you covered. Do you want to start a podcast? This is a master class. Get answers to questions that haunt all aspiring podcasters: What is good content and how do you keep coming up with it? What drives podcasters and why do they fail? Hear from seasoned veterans in this round table of podcasting wizardry. In addition to this content, Hacker Valley has opted to donate cash to the non-profit of the guests’ choice. Please follow the links below to support these charities. Key Takeaways: 03:12 Dave – Intro and podcasting history 04:54 Graham – Intro & podcasting history 07:08 Jack – Intro & podcasting history 09:31 Common misconceptions about podcasting 14:96 The most and least favorite part of podcasting 20:44 What does the word ‘podcast’ actually mean? 22:05 Horror stories and lessons learned 31:50 Allan Alford joins the show – Intro & podcasting history 32:50 What inspires you to podcast? What influences you? 37:19 Why being authentic is the only way 44:10 Questions from podcasters to podcasters 50:57 Realistic expectations & the drive 52:12 Stay in touch, and donate to charity! Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Dave Bittner: LinkedIn | Twitter | The Cyberwire | Donate to The Rotary Foundation Graham Cluley: Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Smashing Security | Donate to Mencap Jack Rhysider: Twitter | LinkedIn | Darknet Diaries | Donate to EFF Allan Alford: LinkedIn | Twitter | Cyber Ranch | Donate to Black Girls Code Huge thank you to our friends and sponsors Axonius and Uptycs. Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon

Oct 27, 202156 min

S6 Ep 179Episode 179 - Management VS Leadership in Cyber Major General (Retired) Brett T. Williams

Major General (Retired) Brett T. Williams is a co-founder of IronNet Cybersecurity. IronNet delivers the power of collective cybersecurity to defend companies, sectors and Nations. He served nearly 33 years in the U.S. Air Force and his last assignment was Director of Operations, U.S. Cyber Command. General Williams is a highly experienced fighter pilot with more than 100 combat missions in the F-15C. Join Chris, Ron and Brett for a jam-packed episode of leadership and purpose. Key Takeaways: 03:05 Bio 05:48 Brett’s military origin story 07:33 Transitioning from fighter pilot to cybersecurity practitioner. 14:55 Understanding strengths through experience 20:10 Advancement through leadership 22:23 Being a leader - mission vision & resources 25:44 What keeps driving you to be better? 31:20 Advice for aspiring and active leaders 35:14 Get in touch with Brett Links: Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Brett Williams: LinkedIn | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Living Security

Oct 26, 202136 min

Ep 178Metaversable: Exploring the metaverse thru NFTs, NFT Art, and Cryptocurrency

We have a new show! In episode one, Ron and Chris explore NFTs and digital art with Jason also known as 0xBanana. 1:18: What is the Metaverse? 2:04: Tumbling down the Metaverse “rabbit hole.” 3:00: What are Non-fungible Tokens (NFTs) all about? 5:55: Is this just a fad? What’s the future of NFTs? 7:44: What future technologies/art are on the horizon? 9:30: What makes NFTs so exclusive/valuable? 11:34: How do art royalties work? 12:16: How do you verify authenticity for art, media, etc? 14:20: What is Solana and how does it relate to NFTs? 15:31: What is the NFT and Solana community like? 16:55: How can we break into the Solana space? 18:33: What is the significance of a “drop?” 20:19: Flipping art 21:52: NFT art drop best practices 24:25: How does one become an artist in the space? 26:01: Life changing realization Follow this show on your favorite platform here: https://hackervalley.com/show/metaversable/

Oct 22, 202128 min

S6 Ep 177Episode 177 - Winning in a Human-Centric Cyber Market with Nathan Burke

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Welcome to this live episode of Hacker Valley Studio! Nathan Burke, CMO at Axonius, is a general in the fight to humanize cybersecurity through practical, engaging content and solid foundations. Join Ron, Chris and Nathan as they sit together for a masterclass in startups and technological advancements. In addition to an episode full of golden nuggets, learn how Chris and Ron became a part of Axonius and why they all make a great team. Key Takeaways: 2:49 Bio 9:48 Unexpected victories 15:07 Successful tendencies for a successful startup 19:04 Axonius + HVS – Why? 25:41 Keeping the momentum in technological advancement 30:21 Bleeding orange: A tattoo. A bet. 32:45 Advice for a budding marketing professional Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Nathan Burke: LinkedIn | Blog | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Axonius Hype Cycle

Oct 21, 202135 min

S6 Ep 176Episode 176 -Technical Education with Dr. SK Moreland and Terri Oropeza

We’ve switched it up again to bring you 2 guests this week on this double header masterclass in education. Chris and Ron are joined up by Terri Oropeza and Shakera Moreland, two natural teachers in their field. Shakera, also known as the HIM concierge, has used her past to shape how she teaches future professionals. Terri explains how to grow to understand your authentic self in learning and teaching while encouraging young people to never mind the stereotypes and get into cyber. With the opinions and strategies laid out by these two educators, you can be sure that you won’t leave this episode taking away nothing. Key Takeaways: Shakera Moreland 03:31 Bio 05:56 What is H.I.M.? 10:03 Connecting with others to guide and mentor 11:58 Marrying your super-power with your purpose 13:10 Shakera’s journey into podcasting 16:01 What need does Shakera’s business solve? 17:34 What’s the goal of the podcast, and why? Terri Orepeza 20:20 Intro 21:03 Bio 25:43 Influences from teachers in the past 27:05 What Terri is teaching today 28:58 What can be changed in technical education? 31:48 Empowering students to find their calling in the field 33:32 Why is it important to get involved in organizations? 37:20 Advice for a newcomer Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Shakera Moreland: LinkedIn | Podcast Terri Orepeza: LinkedIn | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Living Security

Oct 19, 202140 min

S6 Ep 175Episode 175 - Deep into the Attacking Mindset with Maxie Reynolds

Maxie Reynolds is the author of The Art of Attack, subsea engineer and R.O.V. Pilot with an interesting perspective on offense. She is an expert in understanding the mindset of an attacker and using that to mold a communicative, responsive group of blue and red professionals in the constantly-evolving cyber security playground. Join Chris, Ron and Maxie as they dive into why shifting your mindset could be the determinant for understanding an attacker's motives and next moves. Key Takeaways: 03:15 Bio 07:30 Same attacker mindset, just a different application 09:36 The mindset of an attacker; molding and shifting perspective 11:10 Encouraging curiosity - diving deep in Maxie’s past 14:22 Challenges with writing a book 17:50 Future predictions in cyber security 23:23 Why underwater? 26:38 The importance of observation and how to do it well 29:25 Defense should know about offense Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Maxie Reynolds: Book | Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Podcast Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Living Security

Oct 11, 202130 min

S6 Ep 174Episode 174 - Don‘t Do It For The Grammys with Tre Nagella

Tre Nagella is a 3x grammy award-winning studio engineer, record mixer and music producer. With decades of experience in music, he started his studio in Dallas, Texas and has flourished as a craftsperson and leader. Serving clients like Kirk Franklin, Christina Aguilera, and contributing to several blockbusters, such as “The Hate You Give” and “Hidden Figures”, Tre knows a thing or two about what it takes to become a skilled craftsperson. Listen as Tre, Chris and Ron present a masterclass in all things art. Key Takeaways: 02:47 Bio 04:20 The choice inn music- what was the reason? How did you do it? 07:35 Patience, humility and learning 08:30 Finding your own flow and following no rules 10:54 Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg…..Kanye?! 14:00 Security & Music; Keeping up with the times 16:52 Passion + discipline = success 19:54 You don’t have to motivate passionate people 21:40 Get in touch with Tre! Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Tre Nagella : Website | Instagram Luminous Sound: Website | Instagram | Facebook Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Axonius

Oct 7, 202122 min