Cyber Warfare, Digital Deception, and the Hidden Threats We Ignore with Dr. Eric Cole
We’re already in World War III—just not the kind you’re thinking of. Cyber warfare is here, and the battlefield is your inbox, your bank account, and your digital identity. So why are we still acting like it’s peacetime? Dr. Eric Cole, cybersecurity pioneer and former CIA hacker, joins the show to drop hard truths about the state of cyber warfare, AI’s role in our digital future, and why most people are sleepwalking through a war they don’t even realize they’re in. From the rise of deepfakes to North Korea’s billion-dollar hacking economy, this episode is one you can’t afford to ignore. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Dr. Eric Cole’s journey from the CIA to cybersecurity leadership 07:20 - The fundamentals of hacking and why they still matter 11:00 - AI is only as smart as the data we give it 17:00 - The rise of deepfakes and digital deception 19:45 - Cyber warfare: How North Korea funds its economy through hacking 23:50 - The problem with America’s peacetime mentality 30:00 - Should we be worried about AI replacing humans? 36:10 - The key to success: mastering people skills, not just tech skills 40:30 - Final thoughts and where to follow Dr. Eric Cole Connect with Dr. Eric Cole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericcole1/ Check out Dr. Eric Cole’s books – Cyber Crisis: Protecting Your Business from Real Threats in the Virtual World: https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Crisis-Protecting-Business-Threats/dp/B093X3YNPT Online Danger: How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from the Evil Side of the Internet: https://www.amazon.com/Online-Danger-Protect-Yourself-Internet-ebook/dp/B078WK39TT Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
8 Mars 41min
The AI Shift You Can’t Ignore with Marco Figueroa
AI isn’t just evolving—it’s sprinting, and cybersecurity needs to keep up. Ron Eddings is joined again by cybersecurity leader Marco Figueroa, Program Manager for Gen AI at the ODIN Bug Bounty Program, who called it in January: 2025 is the year of AI agents, and the early signs are already here. From Grok 3’s speed advantage to AI-powered red teaming for $25K, this is the reality check security leaders need. No more six-month security projects—it’s all about speed, automation, and staying ahead. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:45 - Breaking down Palantir’s stock drop 07:15 - Why Grok 3 is a game-changer 10:24 - The real difference between GPT-4 and Grok 17:25 - AI-powered red teaming for $25K? 22:00 - The death of six-month security projects 26:24 - OpenAI’s Operator: The future or a gimmick? 34:22 - How AI is eliminating busywork 36:55 - Next month’s prediction: Agents building agents Links: Connect with our guest, Marco Figueroa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-figueroa-re/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
28 Feb 37min
Superhuman Productivity and AI Mastery with Pedram Amini
What if you could have a conversation with yourself—years into the future? Or leave behind an AI-powered avatar that understands your thoughts, philosophies, and even your voice? In this episode, we explore the mind-blowing potential of AI and its impact on cybersecurity, productivity, and even legacy. Pedram Amini, Chief Scientist at OPSWAT, joins Ron Eddings to discuss his journey from bootstrapped startups to AI-driven innovation. Together they cover topics like the role of AI in cybersecurity, the rise of fake identities in hiring, the ethics of AI-generated content, and why mastering AI tools is no longer optional—it's essential. Pedram shares his workflow for superhuman productivity, his thoughts on deepfakes, and how AI is reshaping how we work and communicate. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Meet Pedram Amini, cyber innovator 03:07 - The $17M North Korea insider threat case 06:00 - Fake job candidates and AI hiring scams 09:28 - Deepfakes and AI-driven deception 14:00 - Future of AI-powered personal assistants 20:49 - The reality of bootstrapping vs. VC funding 26:00 - AI in cybersecurity: risk or revolution? 31:00 - “AI isn’t taking your job—someone using AI is” 35:00 - The ultimate AI-powered legacy project Links: Connect with our guest, Pedram Amini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedramamini/ Check out the entire article about the $17M North Korea insider threat case here: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/12/arizona_woman_laptop_farm_guilty/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
21 Feb 36min
Cybersecurity Meets AI: The Good, The Bad & The Janky
There’s no doubt that AI is changing the game in cybersecurity, but not always in the ways we expect. In this episode, Ron Eddings shares his firsthand experience with AI-powered tools that make him a cyber superhero—when they work. From automating security tasks to turbocharging programming workflows, AI is proving its value, but also revealing its limits. Through live walkthroughs and real-world examples, he showcases how AI automates security tasks, accelerates programming, and enhances research—while also showing why some cybersecurity actions should stay human-led. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - The good and bad of AI in security 04:00 - Google’s AI weapons controversy 06:30 - Deepfake scams and AI-powered phishing 09:00 - How AI helps (and fails) at programming 12:00 - Automating security research with AI 18:00 - AI-generated meeting notes & productivity hacks 21:00 - What AI should NEVER do 23:00 - The future of AI in cybersecurity Links: Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
13 Feb 22min
A Human-Centric Approach to Cybersecurity with Edna Conway
What if cybersecurity was more than just tech—what if it was about the people it serves? In this episode, Edna Conway, Founder and CEO of EMC Advisors, shares her incredible journey from law to cybersecurity and explores the human element often overlooked in technology. Recorded live at InfoSec Nashville 2024, Edna discusses the intersection of innovation and tradition, the critical role of accuracy in AI, and her vision for cybersecurity's future. From anomaly detection to the wisdom of creating "enclaves," her insights remind us that tech is here to serve people, not the other way around. Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 01:22 – Keynote insights: Innovation meets tradition 02:39 – From prosecutor to cybersecurity leader 07:00 – Human-first approach to AI and security 11:40 – LLMs in cybersecurity: opportunities and accuracy 16:34 – Balancing risk with AI use in business 23:06 – Bringing diverse talent into cybersecurity 32:30 – Advice on leadership and collaboration Links: Connect with our guest, Edna Conway: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ednaconway/ Learn more about ISSA Middle TN here: https://issamidtn.org/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
4 Feb 35min
Rise of the Machines: Why Your Attack Surface Has More Holes Than You Think ft Pandian Gnanaprakasam
Did you know nearly half of your enterprise devices are agentless—leaving your attack surface wide open? In this episode, Ron is joined by Pandian Gnanaprakasam, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Ordr, to discuss the critical risks posed by agentless devices and how orchestration can strengthen your defenses. Pandian shares key findings from Ordr’s 2024 "Rise of the Machines" report, highlighting the risks of overlooked agentless devices. He covers the rapid growth of these devices, strategies to manage vulnerabilities, and how automation can strengthen your defenses. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 04:15 - Why agentless devices dominate the next decade 06:30 - Insights from Ordr's “Rise of the Machines” report 08:50 - Hidden risks: 42% of devices are agentless 11:15 - Solving the "Swiss cheese" problem of security gaps 14:30 - Prioritizing vulnerabilities with business context 18:10 - Orchestration vs. automation: The harmony difference 22:00 - Why visibility is the foundation of security 27:30 - Ordr’s unique approach to securing the attack surface Links: Connect with our guest, Pandian Gnanaprakasam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpandian/ Check out Ordr’s Rise of the Machines report here: https://ordr.net/resources/rise-of-the-machines-report-2024 Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
28 Jan 38min
How a Game Turned a Watchmaker into a Cybersecurity Pro with Simeon Kakpovi
What if cybersecurity training could be as engaging as your favorite game? In this episode, Simeon Kakpovi, founder of the KC7 Foundation, shares how his gamified approach is changing lives and reshaping the cybersecurity pipeline by making cybersecurity education accessible. From his journey as a threat hunter to building a free online game that teaches real-world blue team skills, Simeon joins Ron to show how creativity and inclusion can unlock potential in unexpected places. Plus, listen to the remarkable story about how a watchmaker with no cyber background landed a dream job at Microsoft—all thanks to KC7. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:11 - The evolution of cybersecurity 03:03 - Cybersecurity Mergers & Acquisitions 05:38 - Meet our guest: Simeon Kakpovi of KC7 Foundation 06:00 - KC7 wins “Team of the Year” at the SANS DMAs 8:43 - Founding the KC7 Foundation 10:00 - Lessons from Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Analyst Challenge 11:46 - How KC7 gamifies real-world cybersecurity 14:52 - Bringing KC7 to high school and middle school students 16:52 - Expanding access to cybersecurity careers 25:09 - A watchmaker’s journey to Microsoft 34:00 - How to get started with KC7 Links Connect with our guest, Simeon Kakpovi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kakpovi/ Check out the Cybersecurity M&A Roundup Article here: https://www.securityweek.com/cybersecurity-ma-roundup-37-deals-announced-in-december-2024/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
22 Jan 35min
Managing and Mitigating Cyber Risks For Your Assets with Jerich Beason and Wes Wright
What’s the key to mitigating unseen cyber risks? In this episode, Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr and Jerich Beason, CISO at WM uncover the complexities of attack surface management (ASM) and its impact on cybersecurity. Together with Ron, they explain what constitutes an attack surface and introduce practical frameworks like See-Know-Secure, emphasizing the need for complete visibility and data-driven risk mitigation. Impactful Moment: 00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - Defining attack surface management 06:13 - See-Know-Secure framework 09:05 - Analogies for explaining ASM to stakeholders 15:33 - Building an inventory for asset visibility 20:42 - Convincing leadership: Budget strategies 25:00 - Tools and methodologies for ASM 36:57 - Managed services vs. in-house approaches 43:00 - Starting your ASM journey Links: Connect with our guests – Wes Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/4kidwes/ Jerich Beason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerich-beason/ Learn more about Ordr: https://ordr.net/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
14 Jan 44min
