

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

Aug 15, 2023 • 38min
Leadership In Cybersecurity with Marty Overman
Marty Overman, Senior VP at Imperva, discusses self-awareness and transparency in cybersecurity leadership. They talk about what makes a great sales leader, the power of asking questions, building strong team cultures, creating opportunities for collaboration, setting goals and expectations, creating team identity together, identifying areas for improvement, psychological safety in leadership, creating a safe space, the inner child, and empathy and understanding.

Aug 1, 2023 • 39min
SaaS Opportunities & Consequences of Using AI
Jamie Blasco, CTO at Nudge Security, discusses the opportunities of SaaS and the security implications of AI. He emphasizes balancing productivity and security. They also address the risks of unsanctioned SaaS apps and managing third-party risk. Jamie highlights Nudge's use of AI for threat intelligence and the importance of treating employees as part of the solution. Lastly, they explore the challenges of integrating multiple applications and offer advice on SaaS supply chain security.

Jul 25, 2023 • 38min
Mastering The Art Of Storytelling In Cybersecurity
Learn how to effectively convey technical security information by leveraging the power of storytelling. Topics include the importance of resonating with the audience, the 'Rags to Riches' framework, tailoring stories to different audiences, explaining technical concepts in simple terms, and the value of practice and refinement in storytelling.

Jul 18, 2023 • 23min
Hacking, Innovation, & the Formation of the First NSA Red Team with Jeff Man
In this episode, Chris and Ron Eddings are joined by Jeff Man, a legend in cybersecurity. The conversation begins with Jeff sharing his experiences as a member of the first NSA red team and his involvement in groundbreaking projects. He discusses his early days working with computers at the National Security Agency (NSA) in the 1980s and his role in developing a software-based encryption system. Jeff also points to the significance of the first publicly available web browser and the impact it had on the internet and cybersecurity.
Later in the episode, Jeff talks about his transition from the NSA to the private sector and his focus on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance. He explains the importance of PCI and how it provides a framework for organizations to protect sensitive data and maintain secure networks.
Impactful Moments
0:00 - Intro
01:15 - Welcome Jeff Man
01:51 - Jeff’s introduction to computing and cybersecurity
09:25 - Creation of the first NSA Red Team
15:20 - Leaving NSA and Focusing on PCI
19:41 - Advice for Those Starting in Cybersecurity
21:53 - Staying up to date with Jeff Man
Links:
Stay in touch with Jeff Man on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyeman/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio.com
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

Jul 11, 2023 • 37min
Privacy by Design: The Future of Homomorphic Encryption & Secure Data Analytics
In this episode, Chris and Ron interview Derek Wood from Duality Technologies, a leading privacy technology company to discuss the concept of homomorphic encryption and its significance in data security, privacy, and governance.
Homomorphic encryption enables users to perform computations on encrypted data without exposing it, revolutionizing the way data is used and analyzed. In this episode, the group discusses the challenges in the current data landscape, the importance of security and privacy, and the potential impact of duality's solutions in various industries such as finance and healthcare.
Check out Duality’s webinar, Why Data, Privacy, & Security Leaders are Key to Growth & Innovation
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:09 - What is homomorphic encryption?
04:03 - Misconceptions of security and privacy
06:25 - What is Duality’s mission?
10:04 - Does Google Drive use homomorphic encryption?
13:08 - What homomorphic encryption enables
22:08 - Innovations that Duality is working on
24:37 - Secure data analytics and Homomorphic encryption
31:41 - Impact of AI and LLMs on security and privacy
Links:
Stay in touch with Derek Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwood/
Learn more about Duality Technologies:
https://dualitytech.com/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio.com
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

Jun 27, 2023 • 19min
The Future of AI In Cybersecurity
In this episode, Ron and Chris explore the vast potential of AI in cybersecurity, including its ability to develop cybersecurity solutions, provide recommendations and predictions for cyber practitioners, and even assist attackers in identifying vulnerabilities and creating exploits.
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio.com
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
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
00:56 - The future of AI in cybersecurity
02:24 - Addressing the elephant in the room
03:15 - Amplifying your productivity
05:13 - AI & vulnerability management
09:00 - Remediating vulnerabilities with AI
11:41 - Join our community!
12:32 - Coding, building, & developing
18:13 - Final thoughts

Jun 20, 2023 • 24min
Vulnerability Hunting & AI with Brian Contos
In this episode, hosts Ron and Chris are joined by Brian Contos, Chief Strategy Officer at Sevco to discuss his “movie-like” career trajectory and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity. With two IPOs and eight acquisitions under his career belt, Brian expresses his passion for startups and how getting out of his comfort zone transformed his business knowledge. The group also dives into the rise of artificial intelligence and how it will revolutionize the cybersecurity landscape.
Stay in touch with Brian Contos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancontos/
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleys...
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
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Introducing Brian Contos
04:03 - Brian’s passion for startups
06:13 - Emerging tech & AI
07:50 - The intersection of AI & cybersecurity
09:50 - The future impacts of AI
10:58 - How will AI enhance cybersecurity?
15:02 - Data assessment vs data integration
17:46 - Join our community!
18:48 - Getting out of your comfort zone
21:21 - Small touches lead to big finishes

Jun 13, 2023 • 20min
Balancing Work & Parenting In Cybersecurity
In this episode, Ron and Chris discuss the challenges of balancing cybersecurity and parenting. Chris, a father of three, shares his experience of being a parent while also working in cybersecurity. They talk about the sacrifices that come with being a parent and how to prioritize family while still maintaining a career in cybersecurity. They also discuss the importance of having a plan but being flexible enough to adapt to unexpected situations.
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
Impactful Moments:
02:39 - Balancing cybersecurity and parenting
04:27- Maternity/paternity leave in cyber
08:33 - Skills in parenting for cybersecurity
10:36 - Career sacrifices
14:05 Parenting with a support system
17:31- Being more than a parent

Jun 6, 2023 • 16min
What Is Security Architecture?
In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, Ron and Chris take a deep dive into all things Security Architecture and the essential skills you need to thrive in your role. Ron shares insights from his personal journey into security architecture as well as his expert advice on how to break in and stand out in the field.
Links:
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
Impactful Moments:
01:22 - What is Security Architecture?
03:04 - Day in the life of a security architect
04:01 - Different types of security architects
06:01 - Ron’s journey into security architecture
07:49 - What skills do you need?
08:40 - Join our community!
09:21 - Ron’s best practices
10:24 - Finding the right solutions
11:36 - What is the salary potential?
12:59 - How to stand out
13:52 - Advice for those breaking into the field

May 30, 2023 • 16min
Technical Dojos: Cultivating Skills and Navigating Change in Cybersecurity
In this cybersecurity podcast episode, Chris Cochran and Ron Eddings discuss the concept of 'dojos' as environments for growth and learning, drawing on experiences from their own career paths in cybersecurity. The 'dojo' metaphor is applied to various life experiences, with an emphasis on cybersecurity communities and events. Chris describes his journey to the west coast where he lived in a hacker house, a form of dojo where he, along with his roommates, focused on cybersecurity, technology, personal growth, and development. This life-changing experience spurred the creation of their podcast.
Links: 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
Impactful Moments:
0:00 - Intro
00:55 - What is a dojo?
02:25 - Technical/cybersecurity dojos
05:17 - Getting started
07:21 - What should you look for in a dojo community?
09:06 - How to level up and give back
10:14 - Join our community!
11:36 - When is it time to move on?
12:50 - Learning hurts - embrace it!
13:59 - What’s your next dojo?


