

Hacker Valley Studio
Hacker Valley Media
Welcome back to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 2, 2024 • 35min
From ‘Hand-to-Hand Combat’ To Management in Cyber with Ofer Gayer
HVS Host Ron Eddings chats it up with guest Ofer Gayer, VP of Product at Hunters. While both of them reminisce about their first love in security research, Ofer clarifies how he diverted his path and reached the VP stage, while also helping to level up his teams. They’ll conclude by discussing how AI is the ‘zeitgeist of our time’ and how you can get better at whatever you’re doing in cyber.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:10 - Introducing guest, Ofer Gayer
03:12 - ‘Start-up’ in Research
07:55 - Security Research- First Love
10:55 - “A lot of People Want to be Product Managers”
14:46 - “I Had IT Remove My Privileges”
18:20 - Transitioning to Visionary/Zeitgeist
25:30 - Embracing AI Solutions
32:30 - One Step Better…
Links:
Connect with our guest, Ofer Gayer:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ofer-gayer/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Mar 26, 2024 • 45min
How Threat Actors Are Accessing Your SaaS Environments with Jaime Blasco
Ron Eddings and Jaime Blasco, Co-Founder and CTO at Nudge Security, discuss how well-known adversaries are taking advantage of enterprises that don’t have visibility into their full SaaS footprint, and therefore can’t secure it. Grab a front-row seat to gain a new perspective on your vulnerabilities through the eyes of an attacker.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:10 - Introducing guest, Jaime Blasco
02:30 - Real World Impact of SaaS Vulnerabilities
07:35 - Exploring AI & Security Implications
09:50 - Evolution of Threat Actors & Targeted Companies
15:45 - From our Sponsor, Nudge
17:17 - Attackers, Tokens & Ticketing Systems
22:50 - Lazarus & Malicious SaaS Apps
26:50 - The Attackers are Talking with You…
29:18 - Run it In the Cloud & Make Honey Tokens
34:04 - Future of SaaS & AI in Cybersecurity
39:00 - Increase Visibility, Reduce Risk
Links:
Connect with our guest, Jaime Blasco:
Check out our friends at Nudge:
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Mar 20, 2024 • 44min
The Future of Endpoint Threats and Why Zero Trust is the Only Option with Rob Allen
Get ready for a SPECIAL episode! Ron Eddings will take you on an inside look at Threatlocker’s rapidly growing event, Zero Trust World, and will talk with Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at Threatlocker, to discuss what you can find out from your endpoints (hint: it’s more than remote access tools you didn’t know were running!)
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:24 - Zero Trust World Sneak Peek!
02:21 - From our Sponsor, Threatlocker
03:50 - Introducing guest, Rob Allen
05:03 - What’s Zero Trust World
10:40 - Technical Executive Leaders
16:24 - Managing from the Top Down
20:33 - More Than Allow Listing
24:38 - Rubber Ducky, You’re the One…
26:59 - Assume Breach
29:30 - Some Interesting Finds
35:55 - Where Most of the Action Happens
26:30 - One Step Better…
Links:
Connect with our guest, Rob Allen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/threatlockerrob/
Check out https://www.threatlocker.com/ to learn more!
See the Zero Trust World recap portion here on our YouTube
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Mar 5, 2024 • 16min
Slugging it Out in the SOC to Find Your Niche in Cyber with Nate Malicoat
Ron Eddings sits down in-person with Nate Malicoat, Threat Intel Engineer at ContraForce, for a down-to-earth interview about entering the cybersecurity workforce from the Marines.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:20 - Introducing guest, Nate Malicoat
03:00 - Marines to Computer Life
05:13 - Importance of Mentoring & Mentors
10:04 - Participating in the Industry
12:42 - Why Aim For the CISO role?
14:40 - Be Persistent, But Not Annoying
Links:
Connect with our guest, Nate Malicoat:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-malicoat-58760a143/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Feb 27, 2024 • 32min
Creating Value in the Cyber Industry with Nick Lantuh
Nick Lantuh, CEO of Interpres Security, joins Ron Eddings on the mic at Hacker Valley’s “On the Big Screen” event to talk about how Nick’s previous career experience have given him unique insight into the cybersecurity industry. Ron and Nick discuss everything from Nick’s immigrant background and his experience with helping customers, to threat modeling and starting up companies.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:05 - Introducing guest, Nick Lantuh
03:06 - The Differentiator
06:21 - Wanting to ‘Be Your Own Boss’
10:00 - Being the Executive Chairman
12:47 - The Go-To-Market Side
15:11 - The Turnaround
18:01 - Making the Ecosystem Better
21:20 - Bridging the Gap
24:14 - Exposure Management
29:59 - One Step Better…
Links:
Connect with our guest, Nick Lantuh:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicklantuh/
Check out Interpres Security:
https://interpressecurity.com/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Feb 20, 2024 • 38min
AI & Phishing: Fighting Fire with Fire
In this episode, Host Ron Eddings is joined by Vishal Dixit, Co-founder & CTO at Graphus Inc., and Sven Bechmann, Senior Product Manager of Email Security at Kaseya to dig into how phishing attacks are evolving and how you can keep your business safe.
Get the ultimate email security software and stop phishing attacks that others miss! Request a demo from our friends at Graphus, today! -- and don't miss their 5-minute guide to phishing attacks and prevention.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
01:37 - Introducing guests Vishal & Sven
02:50 - The Current State of Phishing
06:40 - Phishing & Career Path
10:47 - From our Sponsor, Graphus Inc
12:07 - Phishing & Email Security
14:27 - “Security Is an Afterthought”
17:29 - What are Hackers Doing with AI?
23:08 - AI & Phishing Detection
31:30 - Phishing Evolution
35:30 - One Step Better…
Links:
Connect with our guests:
Vishal Dixit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dixitvishal/
Sven Bechmann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sven-bechmann-product-management/
Learn more from Graphus.ai:
https://www.graphus.ai/hackervalley
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Feb 14, 2024 • 27min
Andrew Forgie's Path From Apache Mechanic to Cybersecurity Sales Leader and Mastering Cyber Sales
In this episode, Andrew Forgie takes us on his journey from his early days as an Apache helicopter mechanic in the military to his current role as a regional sales manager in cybersecurity.
Andrew shares his trials and challenges, the significant shift from being in a service role to mastering the art of sales in the highly competitive tech industry.
His story illustrates the power of adapting to change and the critical role of personal development in achieving professional success.
00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Introduction to the episode and guest Andrew Forgie, regional sales manager at RMS.
01:29 - Andrew discusses his transition from the military to cybersecurity sales.
02:43 - Insight into Andrew's early struggles and successes in sales.
04:13 - How "Selling for Dummies" transformed Andrew's approach to sales.
06:02 - The importance of attitude and creating a buying environment in sales.
08:09 - Andrew shares his life vision exercise and its impact on his career.
12:09 - Discussion on the value of relationships in cybersecurity sales.
24:19 - Advice for those looking to enter or excel in cybersecurity sales.
Links:
Connect with our guest Andrew Forgie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewforgie/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Feb 6, 2024 • 39min
Zinet Kemal's Journey From Ethiopian Immigrant to TEDx Speaker & Cloud Security Engineer at Fortune
In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, we dive into the inspiring journey of Zinet Kamal, an immigrant from Ethiopia who has carved a niche for herself in cybersecurity. Despite starting her journey with limited access to technology and not having mentors until 2020, Zinet's resilience and passion led her to become a cloud security engineer at a Fortune 500 company. Her story is a testament to the human spirit's capability to overcome barriers and make significant strides in the tech industry.
This episode is a story of personal growth, cultural transitions, and the drive to empower the next generation through education and cybersecurity awareness. As a mother of four, a multi-award-winning cybersecurity advocate, and a best-selling author, Zinet brings a unique perspective on the importance of diversity in tech and the role of mentorship in shaping future leaders.
00:00 - Welcome
01:32 - Introducing Guest, Zinet Kemal
03:09 - Growing up in Africa
07:12 - “I Never Had a Children’s Book”
12:52 - Culture Shock
16:02 - From Legal to Cybersecurity
18:50 - CCDC Competition
21:55 - Role of Community in Resetting
24:34 - “Oh No… Hacked Again!”
30:00 - Online Safety Empowerment
34:50 - Moving up in Cyber
Links:
Connect with Zinet Kemal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zinetkemal/
Zinet’s LinkedIn Course:
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/cybersecurity-careers-build-your-brand-in-cybersecurity/grow-your-cybersecurity-career-with-personal-branding?course
Check out Zinet's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Zinet-Kemal/author/B099P5B8FD
Watch Zinet's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J61K1Gu97jM
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Jan 30, 2024 • 29min
Paving the Path for CISOs of the Future with Gary Hayslip
In this episode, Host Ron Eddings catches up with repeat guest, Gary Hayslip, CISO at SoftBank Investment Advisors and co-author of CISO Desk Reference guide. Gary explains that the varied nature of his current CISO role contrasts with the broader industry trends. He discusses how that nature plays into the CISO hiring process and career path, as well as how his books are helping to bridge the gap among professionals.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
00:59 - Introducing guest, Gary Hayslip
01:38 - The Path to Becoming a CISO
08:04 - CSO vs CISO
10:47 - “I'm firing you…”
15:03 - Interviewing for the CISO role
17:56 - Join Our Mastermind
18:39 - Being ‘Mr. Maybe’
21:41 - CISO- A Day in the Life
24:50 - Using Books to Pave the Way
Links:
Connect with our guest Gary Hayslip:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ghayslip/
Check out Gary’s Books:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gary-Hayslip/author/B01IJN838A?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord

Jan 23, 2024 • 36min
The Untold Story of Browser Risks: Pioneering Enterprise Browser Security with Or Eshed
In this episode, Host Ron Eddings and guest Or Eshed, CEO of Layer X, discuss how changes in IT infrastructure, employee behavior and malicious tech have created an era where browser security is a must. Or details how he is spearheading a movement to reposition browsers as our first line of defense.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Welcome
02:50 - Introducing guest, Or Eshed
05:27 - The Crime Scene: Where Employees Are
07:20 - Educating Users with a Browser Extension
10:13 - The Enablement Game
13:10 - How Malicious Browser Extensions Work
16:07 - From our Sponsor, Layer X
17:33 - Better Than EDR- Know Who Is Doing What
22:53 - Stop Account Takeovers- Stealthily
27:55 - Predictions & GPT Use Case
33:16 - One Step Better…
Links:
Connect with our guest :
https://www.linkedin.com/in/or-eshed/
Check out Layer X:
https://layerxsecurity.com/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional:
https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand:
https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag:
https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord:
https://hackervalley.com/discord


