Hacker Valley Studio

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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/

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

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

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

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

This week, join Ron and Chris as they sit down for a raw conversation with Ian Murphy. Ian is a game-changing pioneer in cyber training resourcing, adding spice to a dull, outdated training market. His company, CyberOff, is the “antidote for dull cyber training.” The three dive deep into topics like comedy, creating and sourcing content, being vulnerable and the reason for it all. Key Takeaways: 02:44 This is Rock n’ Roll 03:04 Bio 4:00 Content- where does it originate? 06:43 What is it like to be an entrepreneur in cyber? 08:20 Where does Ian draw the line? 11:55 What makes comedy? Chris and Ian deliberate 15:36 Working on vulnerability 17:23 Ian’s approach- Where did we go wrong in teaching? 20:31 The end goal 23:35 The most “popular” form 28:09 Ian’s inspiration Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Ian Murphy: LinkedIn | Twitter | Email | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Living Security

The average ransomware cost is $312,493. That number has increased 171% compared 2019. Why does it still work? What we have to do to stop it? How, in 2021, can a criminal organization have a customer service division? Yes, that’s right, customer service. Join Ron and Chris for this ransomware discussion. Note: After additional research we discovered that an investigation determined that the woman that lost her life, did not die due to the ransomware and would have perished regardless of the attack. Key Takeaways: 00:57 What is ransomware? 02:39 Who gets attacked? 04:53 Criminal service with customer service 07:43 The history of Ransomware 11:45 Immutable 14:40 Use 2-factor authentication! 16:32 Chris’ take on the future of ransomware 19:20 Ron’s future predictions 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 Axonius

Chris Hughes is the CISO and Co-Founder of Aquia and has nearly 20 years of Cyber/IT experience. He's an Air Force veteran as well as former Government civil service employee with the U.S. Navy and FedRAMP. Chris also teaches in two M.S. Cyber Programs at Capitol Technology University and UMGC. Chris is passionate about Cloud Security and is active with the Cloud Security Alliance and Cloud Native Computing Foundation and he also hosts a podcast called "Resilient Cyber". Key Takeaways: 02:52 Bio 04:24 What motivates Chris? 06:03 Time management 07:24 Failing up – lessons learned 09:09 Habits and mindset 10:59 Chris’ podcast – Resilient Cyber 13:09 Branding & persona – using your vulnerability 15:07 Using your network 19:06 Stop waiting and start working harder 20:40 Maintaining authenticity 22:22 Input vs. Output 25:13 Talking Legacy 28:12 Being resilient Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Chris Hughes: Linkedin | Podcast Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Living Security

Grace is Cofounder and COO of Pulsedive, a US-based threat intelligence startup. At Pulsedive, Grace works closely with defensive security (and in particular, cyber threat intelligence) teams to support the development of integrated intelligence capabilities and programs. Join Chris, Ron and Grace as they discuss transitioning into cyber, finding the right community to support your personality, and the beauty and purpose behind it all – as a creative in cybersecurity. Key Takeaways: 01:46 Bio 02:46 Creativity & cyber 07:34 How does modeling help Grace’s career in cybersecurity? 09:37 The beauty in cybersecurity 14:38 Making the transition with no experience 17:27 What’s the greater purpose? How do you mesh your personality into your career? 20:51 Grace’s ideas for continuing to level the playing field regarding transitioning into cyber 23:19 Humanity in cybersecurity 28:32 Understanding how to find the beauty in cyber 31:42 Get in touch with Grace Chi Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Grace Chi: LinkedIn | Twitter Pulsedive: Twitter | LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by livingsecurity.com

Among other things, Dr. Bahijja Raimi-Abraham is an award-winning researcher, lecturer and trailblazer in the world of nanotechnology. She also hosts a podcast called Monday Science, keeping listeners updated on the latest in tech, science, health and their relationship. She joins hosts Ron and Chris for a jam packed episode, where they cover nanotechnology, biohacking, the vast world of academia and much more. Key Takeaways: 02:30 Bio 04:52 The origin story: combining science and art 09:40 Nanotechnology: what’s the latest, and where is the science headed? 16:00 Biohacking? 18:00 How does nanotechnology communicate? 23:34 The path to Academia: how do you find yours? 29:45 A message to the multi-talanted; knowing yourself, your strengths and Identifying the need 33:30 Get in touch with Bahijja Raimi-Abraham Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Bahijja Raimi-Abraham: Twitter | LInkedin | Website | Podcast Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by livingsecurity.com

Hacker Valley's Hosts, Ron and Chris are speaking with Ganesh Pai, the CEO and founder of Uptycs. What is it like to be an entrepreneur in the Cybersecurity field? While learning how Ganesh started Uptycs, learn of the techniques that he uses, such as asking the right questions and using different systems to further understand security software. Key Takeaways: 01:42 Introducing Ganesh Pai. 02:30 Learning Ganesh's Background and his journey in entrepreneurship. 06:20 The Query System. 07:00 What is your professional Superpower? What time was that Evident? 07:1 Understanding the technology, working and interacting with others in the field. 10:45 Proactive and Reactive security. 12:00 How to ask the right questions. 14:10 Where does artificial intelligence play a part in Cyber Security. 19:00 Challenges Ganesh has faced in the workplace during COVID and the challenges and changes it poses. 20:20 Adapting to the evolving businesses and communities in a changing environment. 24:00 Helpful Habits 27:11 Last Advice Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Ganesh Pai: LinkedIn | Uptycs Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by Uptycs

In today's episode Ron and Chris talk to Living Security's CEO and Co-Founder Ashley Rose, speaking on breaking the mold in the workspace and how allowing your team to have fun with what they do will create a stronger, happier and healthier work environment. Tune in to find out why, and also to get a better understanding of why Living Security is a must-have resource. 01:10 Listeners are introduced to the topic of today's episode 02:10 We meet Ashley Rose and discover her role in cybersecurity 04:30 Ashley's background before cybersecurity 08:45 How she incorporated fun into training in the workplace 16:37 Training based off of an individual's unique learning technique 19:52 How the brain activity reacts when having fun, and why that matters 24:00 Interactive learning styles to keep someone captivated 27:52 Ashley speaks on what inspires her and her team to maintain a fun, healthy and inclusive environment for everyone 32:28 Discussing how to get out of the FUD: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt and to genuinely enjoy what you do. Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Ashley Rose: livingsecurity.com | LinkedIn | Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon This episode is sponsored by livingsecurity.com

Hosts Ron and Chris interview Andy Ellis, CISO for over two decades that recently started a startup. He is an operating partner at YL Ventures. Andy shares his perspective on whether there is really a skills gap or are we approaching this problem the wrong way? 0:57 – Intro 2:19 – Bio 3:12 – Andy’s personality that puts him in unique situations to win awards 4:29 – What other kind of things Andy experienced hacking in besides macro things 5:57 – The number one hack Andy did that spanned for a decade in his career 7:13 – Was Andy originally hired to do security for companies? 8:29 – Why Andy says there is no talent shortage 12:11 – If everyone started to go into security engineering team, would there be a gap to fill roles? 13:09 – Where did CISOS, managers, and recruiters go wrong in looking for security professionals? 19:55 – Andy’s number one tenet for leadership 22:42 –Andy’s philosophies on keeping the talent after investing on training programs, and having skills that can be used on other areas 24:49 – In what ways Andy is passing down knowledge 27:14 – Advice on the leadership journey that Andy gives to listeners 28::10 – Best ways to keep up with Andy Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Follow Andy Ellis Twitter | LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our sponsor Panther Labs

On this episode, Hacker Valley Studio has a very big announcement! Hosts Ron and Chris interview guest Dean Sysman, CEO and co-founder of Axonius. The values, and founder story of Dean are shared as Ron and Chris ask him very interesting questions. Dean started his journey years ago with a passion on how technology could impact the world. He has also brought many values to Axonius, helping people through growth to become a better version of themselves. Dean shares how he figured that the determining factor of success was realizing the problem that the organization needs to solve, and focusing on the customer’s experience. 0:21 – Intro 1:53 – Bio 3:24 – Ron and Chris talk about their role in Axonius and Dean Sysman shares the value he saw in them 7:26 – Dean’s founder story in Axonius 13:01 – The values that Dean has brought to Axonius and people’s lives 16:42 – Dean’s turning point where he could no longer go back from where he was 23:31 – Why Dean wants Ron and Chris to be the voice of Axonius 26:01 – Who are Dean’s inspiration for growth? 29:38 – What advice does Dean have to those that are looking for growth? 31:42 – How to stay up-to-date with Dean and all the great things at Axonius Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Dean Sysman: Axonius Website | E-mail Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon

Hosts Ron and Chris interview guest Erik Goldman, VP of Product at Panther Labs, a software engineer, expert in product and an entrepreneur. Erik is great at asking questions, that is one of his superpowers. One of his strategies to build a product is to sit down with customers, ask them what they want him to do, deeply understand their persona, and gather data. Erik builds his thesis for success, and knows how to distinguish a good company from a great company by analyzing which one has a philosophy that goes beyond the software. Erik offers advice for listeners on how to operate better on their company. 1:03 - Intro 2:37 – Bio 6:18 – The difference between building a product and building a business 7:18 – What are Erik’s strengths based on his past experiences 9:20 – How Erik stays away from tinkering with the code, and more of the technical aspects 11:48 – Erik’s power of understanding the concepts by asking questions 13:19 – The difference between a good company and a great company 15:20 – What Erik thinks about the future of technology and the cyber security of the future 19:30 – Erik’s thoughts about automating security operation 26:07 – Erik’s advice for listeners to operate better in their company’s environment 27:50 – How to stay up to date with Panther Labs. Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Erik Goldman: Panther Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our sponsor Panther Labs

Hosts Ron and Chris interview guest Keith Wilson, director of cyber security education at Attack IQ Academy. Keith is the perfect example on how to take years of experience in engineering and analysis, and turn it into something that is impactful for all people. Keith has created educational content for people in the industry and different types of learners. His trajectory is filled with success stories, and also invites people who want to get into cyber security. 1:11 - Intro 3:03 – Bio 6:13 – How Keith’s fascination with education started 9:09 – Blueprint for education: concepts, the structure of classes, and activities 12:33 – The approach to different types of learners 15:21 – Discussion about students who want to get into cyber security or transition into another aspect of it 16:51 – Keith’s creative process for building new content and sharing information 20:51 – Success story of when education is done right 22:41 – Advice to listeners about putting out educational content 24:16 – How to stay up to date with Keith and Attack Academy IQ Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Keith C. Wilson: LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter | Attack IQ Academy Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our friends and sponsor Panther Labs.

What do you call cyberspace in space? What is the evolution of cyber security in space? The expert Frank Pound, computer scientist, entrepreneur, founder and president of Astro Sec is the guest to clarify all things related to cyberspace. Space traffic control is discussed. Frank advised the Air Force, Space Force, and their contractors to help build the Hack-A-Sat competition which attracted teams from around the world to demonstrate their prowess in this blended space and cyber competition challenging them in everything from orbital dynamics to radio communications. 1:00 – Intro 2:10 – Bio Frank Pound 11:10 - Frank Pound talks about the democratization of technology 12:03 – The explosion of IOTs on the market, sensors, and rapid advancements on space launch 12:54 – The open-source hardware movement 18:04 – General excitement about space in 2019 and investment in safety 20:56 – Potential for a cascading effect making space travel impossible 23:37 – Frank Pound talks about safety measures 24:50 – A summary of Hack-A-Sat’s latest works 27:22 – Alternatives to cyber security and safety in space 37:00 – Frank answers the question on how to do missions in space 40:16 – How to find out more about Frank Pound and Hack-A-Sat’s competition, interviews and resources Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Frank Pound: Twitter | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our friends and sponsor Panther Labs

In this episode of Hacker Valley, Chris and Ron tackle a quick question. The question of the day is, “what is social networking?” Together they discuss different aspects of social media and how it facilitates connections and careers. Ron’s perspective is that social networking empowers folks to find like minded people, learn new things, self advocate and learn about others. Chris shares how social networking on LinkedIn put him in a position to build a community in cybersecurity. Timecodes 01:53 - The difference between networking and social networking and polishing profiles. 04:00 - How Ron engages with social networking mindfully. 06:30 - How LinkedIn helped Chris and Ron find their community. 08:46 - How social networks can elevate cybersecurity practitioners, researchers and businesses. 10:00 - Threat intelligence, open source intelligence and finding family on social networks 13:00 - Perspectives on the future of social networks and digital interaction. 15:45 - Making the most of social networks 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

Ken Underhill is an award-winning cyber security executive, entrepreneur, and teacher. His mission is to help others find their value and share it; ultimately leading to success both professionally and personally. Ken’s courses offer an intuitive approach to help start a career in cyber security. Whether you’re a budding cyber security professional or a seasoned veteran, Ken’s perspective can serve a purpose in your life. Join Ron, Chris and Ken to dive into what it takes to create content, help others, and thrive in your career! 01:30 Guest Intro 02:14 Bio 11:30 Ken’s journey in content creation 13:22 Why focusing on giving value first matters 16:15 Ken’s future plan for content 23:50 The path to making an impact 29:40 Connecting with your audience 37:58 Get in touch with Ken Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Ken Underhill: Courses | YouTube | Website | LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our friends and sponsor Panther Labs

In this episode of Hacker Valley, Chris and Ron are joined by a familiar friend, Valentina Palacín, who you might have heard on HVS Blue season 1. Valentina is an author, public speaker, self-taught developer, and Threat Operations lead at Marqeta Incorporated, armed with a background in translation and interpretation. Join Chris, Ron and Valentina for this round-table masterclass in all things Threat Hunting to discuss the questions you may be asking yourself: What is Threat Hunting? How do you become a Threat Hunter? What’s it like to be in the shoes of a Threat Hunter? Or work with one? Key Takeaways: 0:00 Welcome to the podcast! 1:10 Introduction/ Bio 2:55 What is Threat Hunting? 5:25 Chris’ take on working with a Threat Hunter (Ron) 7:08 Valentina’s Threat Hunting flow 9:18 Ron and Valentina talk about progressions in Threat Intelligence 12:20 The group talks about the ideal characteristics of a Threat Hunter in both junior and senior level positions 18:00 How to get into Threat Hunting 20:55 Get in touch with Valentina! Valentina Palacín: Book | LinkedIn | Twitter Hacker Valley Studio: Swag | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Email Ron & Chris | Website Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon

In this episode, Chris, Ron, and their special guest going to be talking about your table. Not the table itself, but what is on it. They are talking about food and following our passions. They've brought in Bri Van Scotter, professional Chef, author, hunter, and host of the TV series Wilderness to Table. Bri is so unbelievably talented in so many areas. Everyone is going to love this episode and learn a little bit about the food we eat. Key Moments 00:56 - Intro to Bri 02:41 - Bri’s Background 03:59 - The darker side of food production 04:57 - The hunt begins 06:13 - For the love of food 11:41 - On going deep with your craft 16:10 - Getting more in touch with your food 21:33 - Eating for Health 22:52 - Honoring our food sources 25:28 - Knowledge is power Visit Bri at her website Follow Bri on Instagram Keep in touch with Hacker Valley Studio on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Visit our friends and sponsor Panther Labs

Ron and Chris are the hosts and guests for this episode! This episode answers fundamental questions about Security Architecture. Learning about security architecture is absolutely essential for anyone on the path of becoming a cyber security expert just looking to learn more about a cybersecurity topic. Security Architecture is the foundation, the fabric and the process used to help secure your data, your privacy, and even your money. Now for a second, Imagine that you are an architect and your biggest strength is your ability to build banks. And a new client reaches out to you... We'll name this client Ray. And Ray asks you to build his company a new bank with all the bells and whistles. You're going to need to build Ray and his company something spectacular! This bank you build is going to need to serve as an office and boost productivity for the bank staff. The bank is also going to serve as a place where customers can deposit and withdraw money. But most importantly, Ray is going to want you to protect his crown jewel, his money! (Think of all those gold bricks and bars that Ray is going to want to keep under his possession ) Key Takeaways: 0:00 - Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio 1:10 - Ron's favorite topic! Security Architecture 1:45 - Security architecture is the foundation 2:21 - Where a security architecture starts and stops 4:00 - A security architect is playing a game of Tower Defense 6:27 - Using EASY Framework as a security architect 10:04 - Prerequisites for becoming a security architect 13:55 - Differences between security architect and security engineers 16:55 - Resources for learning more about security architecture 19:21 - Stay in touch with Hacker Valley Studio! Keep in touch with Hacker Valley Studio on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram Join our monthly mastermind group via Patreon Learn more about our fantastic sponsor Upytcs

In this episode, we speak to a Detection and Response expert! Our guest is Nick Hakmiller, Senior Engineering Manager at Panther Labs. Nick was first exposed to technology in High School where he took an introduction to Visual Basic programming course. When learning about multi-threaded applications Nick became curious and began exploring how to open too many threads to crash a computer. Throughout Nick’s career he’s maintained an interest and focus on attack techniques and building defensive security programs. On occasions, security controls may fail to catch an attacker. A detection is logic that is applied to logs, security controls, and alerts to notify teams and automated processes. Nick describes Python as an exceptional programming language to apply detections and create detections as code. Nick describes many aspects of security as an engineering problem. As organizations transform and adopt new technologies, security issues arise and evolve. Nick describes that the team’s that are most successful with applying detection as code have chosen to view security as a function that engineering should participate in and help solve. As an organization’s security program matures, Nick mentions that the most impactful detections will likely be written and created by someone within the organization. For instance, creating a detection that defines which users should have access to sensitive data is likely to be created by a member of the organization with knowledge of team structure. Towards the end of the episode, Nick shares his wisdom to any practitioner that wants to step into the role of creating detections and providing impact while doing so. Key Takeaways 0:00 - Welcome Back to the Hacker Valley Studio Podcast! 2:29 - Nick Hakmiller, Senior Engineering Manager at Panther Labs 4:20 - How Nick became interested in technology 6:00 - What is a detection? 7:25 - How detection as code applies to cybersecurity and software engineering 10:11 - Prerequisites to consider before applying detection as code 12:27 - Thinking beyond out of the box solutions and applying detections 15:54 - Categories of detections and which are most impactful 23:45 - Reducing alerts by engineering efforts 27:40 - Is it possible to automate everything for security? 32:56 - Advice on getting started with creating detections Keep in touch with Nick Hakmiller on LinkedIn Reach out to Nick on Panther’s Community Slack Stay up to date with Nick’s work by viewing Panther Analysis Learn more about Panther Labs

Today’s guests are our very own hosts! Ron and Chris. Together they tackle everything that surrounds threat intelligence by answering both the hard and easy questions. Between the stories they share about past experiences, and the facts behind threat intelligence, you will learn something new, and that’s a promise! In essence, threat intelligence is taking the information about threats or things that can go wrong and applying it to their network and company. It’s the processing, collection and analyzation of data to understand threat actors, motives, targets and attack behaviors. Key Takeaways 1:10 Episode starts 2:39 Threat intelligence 3:00 Ron & Chris share what threat intelligence means to them 6:33 Organizations and threat intelligence 8:39 Back in the day 12:54 Benefits of threat intelligence 15:08 Skills needed to be in threat intelligence 19:22 Networking 23:34 E.A.S.Y. Links: Email Ron & Chris Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Hacker Valley Merch!

Today in the studio, we have Olivia Herriford, whose great and exceptional work is focused on equity in technology. Olivia is the Regional Director and Employer Engagement at Bay Area Community College Consortium. Olivia’s background is in technology, and with the Bay Area Community College Consortium, they support 28 community colleges in the San Francisco Bay region. She often tells people she has what one would call an “ancient” computer science degree which she earned in 1973. Olivia takes us back to what it was like to be a black woman in the mid-70s working with hardware and software engineers in the area of hardware design. Sadly, she experienced a rather hostile work environment. In today’s world, Olivia believes one of the best things we can do for reaching out to younger people is instill confidence. These young people do not need to be swayed by comparing themselves to others, but rather realize we all bring something unique to the table. Everyone needs to understand their own capabilities and power. Key Takeaways: 2:26 Olivia’s background 6:38 How Olivia ended up where she is 15:45 How do we change the environment 17:17 Progress & future 20:42 Making an impact 23:04 Cultivating conversations 26:22 Equity in technology 29:08 Advice for awareness 32:35 Connecting with Olivia Links: Olivia on LinkedIn Olivia on YouTube Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Sponsored by Panther Labs

Welcome back to the Hacker Valley Studio podcast. I'm sure you've heard of the term personal brand, and maybe you've asked yourself, what does it mean and how do I promote it. In this episode, we speak to someone that helps others develop their personal brand. We speak to Stephen Hart, entrepreneur, marketer, and brand strategist. We've known Stephen since way back. He's been a huge supporter, and someone that's helped develop our podcast and our branding. And this episode is nothing but pure gold and entertainment. Can't wait for everyone to listen. Let's jump right into it. Our guest this episode is Stephen Hart. Stephen is the founder of Isles Media LLC, creator of Brand in Demand, and podcast host of Trailblazers.fm. podcast. Stephen always starts conversations off from a place of gratitude. He is grateful for his daughters, who have given him a “home base to run everything through. Beyond that, his is a Marketer and a podcast host for the last five, five and a half years. He is a brand strategist and the creator of an amazing program that he will talk about in a bit here. Listen in as Stephen gives some great tips, and a special invitation. 00:59 Welcome and Intro to Steven Hart 2:16 Steven shares his background 3:45 Become a brand in demand 6:06 Creating a digital footprint 8:15 Desire to start a podcast 9:08 Share others success through Trailblazers.fm 10:00 Creating a course for others 11:23 Brand Management 13:05 Business Digital Footprint vs. Personal footprint 14:39 Brand does not equal logo 16:55 Recreating himself 18:26 Getting clear on goals 19:55 Lacking clarity & how to get clear 24:00 Foundation to your vision 27:10 Entrepreneurship can live simultaneously with employment 30:46 Investment vs. spending 32:45 Getting started on your own vision 35:00 Who do you want to serve? 37:47 Discount for Hacker Valley Tribe Stephen Hart on LinkedIn Stephen Hart on Twitter Stephen Hart on Instagram Visit Stephen on his website, stephenahart.com Join Brand in Demand, brandindemand.co Coupon code: hackervalley200 Hacker Valley website, hackervalley.com Hacker Valley Studio on LinkedIn Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter Hacker Valley Studio on Instagram Sponsored by AttackIQ

It has been way too long in the making. But it's finally here! We have Hacker Valley merchandise available! We have shirts, we have hats, we have sweatshirts that you can purchase. You are in the Hacker Valley Studio with your hosts Ron and Chris. Welcome back to the show. Today in the studio, we've brought in Nikki Ivey. Nikki is a B2B revenue growth and startup culture leader. She's recognized as a 2020 LinkedIn top voice, and she is the co-founder of SDR Defenders community. For those that want to get to know Nikki and understand where she come from and what she is up to today, Nikki shares she works with Fortune 500 companies to help them make their outsides match their insides. In short, she helps folks close a gap, so everybody has access to a greater sense of belonging and purpose in the work that they do. Sadly, Nikki started down this path because she felt she often did not belong or was not often treated like she belonged. Her mom says her first full sentence was, “That's not fair.” She actually studied broadcasting and journalism but then discovered that tech sales was an outlet for all of those things that she cared about. Nikki cares deeply about culture and has experienced so many issues as she has gone through her career. The one thing she would love to change is people not being the gatekeepers rather be stewards. Nikki has a lot of advice on “cancelling the cold call” and making connections. She is full of beautiful ideas to make everyone, from top to bottom in a company feel included, important and connected. Key Takeaways: :58 Episode starts with Ron and Chris 1:40 Nikki shares her background 2:55 Bringing people into the fold 5:18 Culture issues 7:57 Nikki’s superpower 10:00 Making connections 14:20 Doubling down 19:09 Being genuine 23:11 Building your brand 26:54 Final piece of advice from Nikki Links: Email Nikki Nikki on LinkedIn Nikki on Instagram Nikki on Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Get your Hacker Valley Merch here!

Today in the studio, we have Alexis Robertson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at a large law firm and a recovering lawyer. Alexis kicks in with a bit about herself, and shares “I am director of diversity inclusion at a large law firm but spent the first 10 years or so of my career dedicated to laws, going to law school and practicing as a lawyer for about seven and a half years before leaving legal practice closing in on six years ago, I grew up in the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, spent most of my life in the Midwest, except for time spent in DC at American University for undergrad and then I went to the University of Michigan for law school. That's me in a nutshell.” Alexis shares throughout this episode how her health, exercise and food habits all became habit with some very big changes. It isn’t about getting healthy; it is about a long journey of being healthy. You will hear a little bit about her food choices and why she made them, the exercises she partakes in, and how she balances it all. Key Takeaways: 1:27 Welcome 2:23 Alexis shares her background 3:25 Serendipity 5:33 Self-improvement journey 12:41 Healthy mentality with food 17:20 Next steps 21:12 Getting back on track 24:07 Fitness journey 28:16 Looking forward 31:13 Advice to others 33:17 Staying in touch with Alexis Alexis on LinkedIn Alexis on Instagram The Path & The Practice Podcast Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.

In this episode, we talk to our special guest, Natasha Barnes. Natasha is the Associate Director and the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellow of Protiviti. She is a certified mindfulness workplace facilitator and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Natasha is part of a movement to answer the question of does corporate America have a role to play in advancing racial equity within our nation, and essentially improving our overall societal well-being. Technology serves as a way to propel the conversation forward, and recognizing global interconnectedness. Listen in for all of Natasha’s insights! Key Takeaways: 1:02 Welcome back 2:16 Natasha shares her background 3:11 Natasha’s journey through wellness 4:23 Mindfulness purpose 6:28 Instructing others 10:27 Corporate role 10:52 Four pillars 15:06 Her journey 17:24 Creating solutions 19:24 Progress 21:39 Equity through mindfulness and technology 26:48 Impact Natasha on LinkedIn CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Sponsored by ByteChek

In this episode, we've brought in a special guest, Kelsey Hightower. Kelsey is Principal Engineer at Google, and also co-author of Kubernetes: Up and Running: Dive into the Future of Infrastructure. To start the show, Kelsey shares he considers himself a self-taught engineer. He started his life out as a small business owner and then moved to a system administrator. Now, he is at Google. Kelsey’s fascination with cyber started post High School. Rather than go to college, he jumped into, tech support, consulting, dropping cat five cable, but about 2004ish he really digs into the world of open source and all the things that you can do with it as a user and as a contributor. When it comes to community and customers, Kelsey felt they were one in the same. However, in the last five years or so, he has kind of changed that a little bit, thinking everyone is probably in your community. The willing the ones that are willing to pay you money, we call those customers. And then the conversation turns to comedy, and his journey through comedy management and performances. Along with this comes discussion about acquiring skills. Finally, Kelsey shares advice to listeners! Key Takeaways: 1:00 Welcome back 2:18 Kelsey shares his background 3:31 Community and customers 4:40 Professional purpose 6:00 Retirement thoughts 10:31 Journey in comedy 14:35 Getting better 16:28 Propelling forward 20:12 Minimalism 22:18 Immersion journey 25:25 Don’t miss the moment 27:00 Exceeding expectations 37:56 It’s ok to start! 39:25 How to keep up to date with Kelsey Kelsey on Twitter Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Sponsored by Attack IQ Attack IQ Academy

In this episode, have James Hadley, CEO of Immersive Labs, and we talk about the best ways to learn in cybersecurity. James starts the show with his background and what he is doing today, which is Immersive Labs. But, he spent a lot of time in different organizations prior to that. When it came to education, James found he had quite a poor memory, so he would always learn better through doing things rather than reading about things. Things would go in one ear and out the other. In addition to learning styles, they all discuss measuring education. When it comes to measuring academics, for James it is all about the outcomes you want people to achieve. They all agree that storytelling is incredibly powerful. James shares a few of his own drawing back on his incredible journey. And, of course, they round out the show with how to stay in touch and up to date with James. Key Takeaways: 1:02 Welcome back 2:24 James’ background 5:06 Education experience 5:46 Changes 7:18 Measuring education 9:14 Balancing in testing 11:40 Biggest a’ha 13:14 Feedback 15:54 Learner vs. learner 17:37 Skill behind catching the bad guys 19:20 Applying knowledge 21:53 Geeks in the basement 23:47 The best job in cyber 26:30 Advice 27:58 How to stay in touch with James Links: James on Immersive Labs James on LinkedIn Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.

In this episode, we brought back fan-favorite, John Strand. He is owner of Black Hills Information Security, a SANS instructor, and a mentor to many in the industry. Johns starts the show sharing a little bit about his background and what he is doing today. Ron and Chris dive a little bit deeper into John’s earlier life asking what his personal superpower, personal or professional, and when did that power really came about in his life? John shares his experiences with failure, which he feels are key to where he is at today. How everyone needs to get comfortable with struggles, failures and hardships. On top of that, one needs to be able to laugh at themself. Key Takeaways 1:02 Back with fan favorite John Strand 2:21 John shares his background 3:38 John’s superpower 5:51 Going through the grind to learn 8:30 Partnerships 11:44 Getting a head start 14:58 The entertainment factor 16:36 Journey through being an instructor 19:35 Pay what you can concept 25:53 Education systems 29:18 Advice from John Links: John Strand blog. John Strand on Twitter. Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon. Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter. Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter. Learn more about our sponsor ByteChek.

This is the finale of Know Thyself. What an incredible journey, we feel like this entire experience flew by so fast, we got to talk to so many incredible people about knowing yourself, knowing your team, knowing your tech stack, knowing your environment, and even knowing your story. Make your organization better make your security posture better, strive for impact, what are the most high leverage things that you can do today to make everybody's lives easier, or more safe, and then yield the feedback, there might be some things that you might be missing, you might need to ask questions, ask for feedback, get some information from your stakeholders, what what are you thinking about that I might not be thinking about? asking these different things is how you know thyself. And this is how you get to know the people that are around you, your peers, your stakeholders, the more knowledge you have got started with that Sun Tzu quote, in the very beginning of the podcast, if you know yourself and you know your enemy, you need not fear the results of 100 battles. So if you really understand yourself, and you have good threat intelligence, understanding the externals, you have good vulnerability management that understands the externals and the internals, if you mash all that information together, I think you'll be able to do great things with your cybersecurity program. Key Takeaways 0:02 Introduction to the show 0:49 Our Sponsor, Axonius 2:09 Welcome back 2:31 Reflecting on Know Thyself 3:17 Recap This Seasons Guest 3:22 Marcus Carey 4:17 John Strand 5:05 Aaron Reinhart & Jamie Dixon 5:54 Chaos Engineering 7:12 Lenny Zeltser, asset inventory 7:54 Kevin Allison, Storytelling is a soft skill 10:19 John Strand 12:13 Can we do better? 13:54 What kind of leader are you? 14:26 Do you have unsupported devices? 17:34 Ask yourself these questions 13:33 Go back to the EASY Framework 21:50 Learning 23:29 Exploration 24:00 Immersion 27:28 Reach Hacker Valley Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter Follow Ron Eddings on Twitter Follow Chris Cochran on Twitter Supported by Axonius

In this masterclass of HVB season 2 we brought in a master story teller in Kevin Allison. The biggest thing is to get a person to understand, don't just summarize, don't just walk us through a Wikipedia like where you're just giving us a broad overview. And you're explaining; it’s important to remember sensory details that will help us see almost like movie scenes, what was happening between people. That is what brings the story alive. So that's a good case right there where the bones of the story were incredible. Like that's just on paper and an incredible overview of a story, but it's not going to work unless you can fill in all those sensory details that bring it alive and make it emotional for us. Storytelling is a soft skill that offers the ability to contextualize cybersecurity in a manner that any organization can understand to allow their business to stay safe. Key Takeaways: 0:00 Previously on the show 2:37 Kevin introduction 3:20 Episode begins 3:39 Where Kevin is today 7:58 Kevin’s origin story 12:04 Cybersecurity is performing 17:08 Storytelling for business 21:00 Engineering a story 26:12 Authentic storytelling 34:54 Speaking isn’t perfect 41:02 Where to find Kevin The Story Studio RISK!: True Stories People Never Thought They’d Dare To Share RISK! Podcast Twitter Facebook Instagram Risk Show Podcast Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter Follow Ron Eddings on Twitter Follow Chris Cochran on Twitter Sponsored by Axonius