Financial Independence & Freedom with Eddie Thomason
Hacker Valley Studio12 Juli 2022

Financial Independence & Freedom with Eddie Thomason

Eddie Thomason, bestselling author, speaker, consultant, and creator of the Simply Secure podcast, comes to Hacker Valley Studio to discuss financial independence, the freedom of a healthy work-life balance, and habits that have helped him succeed. As a father of two with a full-time job and a thriving content creation career, Eddie explains not only how he does it all, but also how much he cares about helping other security professionals achieve the same level of success.

Timecoded Guide:

[00:00] Eddie’s background & his current cyber role with Data Locker

[06:07] Growing up in Baltimore City & finding his podcasting inspiration

[13:10] Balancing work & life with calendar planning

[19:13] 4 essential habits: reading, listening, association, & work

[28:20] Advice for digital content creators & security professionals

Sponsor Links:

Thank you to our sponsors Axonius and AttackIQ for bringing this episode to life!

Want to learn more about how Mindbody enhanced their asset visibility and increased their cybersecurity maturity rating with Axonius? Check out axonius.com/mindbody

AttackIQ - better insights, better decisions, and real security outcomes. That's why we partnered with them to create free cybersecurity trainings! Check it out at academy.attackiq.com

What is the connection between cybersecurity and this financial independence and freedom mindset you have?

In his book, on his podcast, and throughout his career, Eddie has emphasized the importance of financial independence, especially when it comes to diversifying his income. Instead of calling his projects and revenue streams “side hustles,” Eddie prefers to think of them as baby businesses; small businesses in the infant stage that have massive professional potential. With COVID severely changing Eddie’s economic perspective, he firmly believes in having multiple sources of income and in fostering the growth of each project until he’s seeing revenue to rival the full-time income he already makes in his day job.

“If you look at it as a side hustle, that's all it's ever going to be, it's just something that creates a little bit of extra income, but if you look at it as a baby business, that could really replace the income that you currently make.”

How do you balance content creation, day-to-day job responsibilities, and fatherhood?

Being an author and a cybersecurity consultant can both already be demanding jobs, but throwing 2 young children and an entire podcast into the mix makes Eddie’s success borderline hard to believe. However, Eddie credits his success to understanding his priorities and heavily managing his calendar. Entrepreneurs need to think of their schedules down to the minute, maybe even the second. Eddie is not afraid to set aside time for his children, even if it means he has to work in the evenings on his own entrepreneurial goals. Eddie knows that when he puts his calendar together, he is giving himself the time he needs and deserves to work and spend time on what’s important to him, even alongside all his other responsibilities as an employee.

“If you're going to work for 8 hours a day for somebody else's dream, then why can't you come home on a daily basis and give yourself at least 2 hours? We're not talking about a whole nother 8, but give yourself at least two hours. From the hours of 5 to 7, what can you do to invest in yourself?”

What are some successful habits you’ve picked up throughout your life and that you mention in your book, Unlock Yourself?

Four successful habits guide Eddie through his busy life as an entrepreneur and full-time worker, the first of which is reading. Reading is a source of knowledge and connection with others, and Eddie has learned amazing lessons from reading books and articles. The second is listening, which, just like reading, offers Eddie the ability to learn and to connect with the world. Coming in third is association. Surrounding himself with people who inspire him and are dedicated to his goals reminds Eddie of how badly he wants this. Fourth and finally, work. Putting in the work without expecting the success to happen overnight helps Eddie with his patience and always leads to a much better payoff.

“If you surround yourself with incredible people who inspire you and uplift you and encourage you, then there's no reason why you should not get to your goal. There's no reason why you should give up because you have people that understand how badly you want to accomplish your goals. They won't let you quit on yourself.”

Do you have advice for those looking to achieve success similar to you?

Although it may seem daunting to tackle a career as extensive as Eddie’s, Eddie is confident that his mindset around work can help anyone become successful. Most specifically, amongst all the entrepreneurial advice Eddie gives, his strongest point centers around understanding the “why.” Knowing why he does what he does not only helps keep Eddie on track for a solid work-life balance, it also allows him to see the impact his work has on the people around him. With his wife being a stay-at-home mom and his children being young, Eddie understands the necessity of his hard work and wants to inspire his family with his continued success.

“If I don't perform, the people around me suffer. If I don't do what I need to do, then the people around me are not going to be better off. The impact that it is going to have on them is so much heavier than the impact that it'll actually have on me individually.”

---------------

Links:

Keep up with Eddie Thomason on his website, Youtube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook

Check out Eddie’s podcast, the Simply Secure Podcast, and his book, Unlock Yourself

Connect with Ron Eddings on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect with Chris Cochran on LinkedIn and Twitter

Purchase a HVS t-shirt at our shop

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord

Check out Hacker Valley Media and Hacker Valley Studio

Avsnitt(406)

Understanding the Psychology of Cyber Risk with David Shipley

Understanding the Psychology of Cyber Risk with David Shipley

Most people think cybersecurity training is about knowledge, but what if motivation is the real key to success? David Shipley, CEO and Field CISO at Beauceron Security, shares how psychology and neuroscience reshape how we approach security awareness, reducing risks in ways tech alone never could. In this episode, Ron and David examine why people, not technology, are at the core of effective cybersecurity. David teaches us about the SCARF model, warns us about the dangers of overconfidence in training, and explains how gamification can drive meaningful behavior change when it comes to cybersecurity awareness and risk reduction.    Impactful Moments: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – David Shipley’s journey from journalist to cybersecurity leader 06:10 – Why motivation outshines knowledge in security training 08:20 – The Dunning-Kruger effect: Overconfidence in cybersecurity 11:17 – How overreliance on tech increases click rates 17:03 – Cybercriminals’ evolving tactics and emotional manipulation 25:00 – Gamification in cybersecurity: Changing security behaviors 30:56 – Using the SCARF model to enhance security culture 39:45 – Emotional intelligence as a defense against AI threats Links: Connect with our guest, David Shipley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbshipley/ Learn more about Beauceron Security here: www.beauceronsecurity.com/partner   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/

7 Jan 202544min

From Landscaping to Cyber Leadership with Cole Lisko

From Landscaping to Cyber Leadership with Cole Lisko

How does a scorching July day in a van with no air conditioning lead to a career at one of the world’s top cybersecurity companies? In this episode, Cole Lisko shares his journey from landscaping to becoming the Cortex Team Manager at Palo Alto Networks.  Joined by his bestie Cole, Ron weaves the conversation through their history of friendship with laughs and lessons learned along the way. Discussing career pivots, unexpected opportunities, and the impact of mentorship, this conversation offers relatable motivation and a candid look at the power of meaningful connections.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 03:00 - Cole’s first exposure to cybersecurity 06:30 - Pivotal moment: a call for mentorship 11:40 - Breaking into cleared work 18:30 - Lessons learned at Booz Allen 22:00 - The art of work-life compartmentalization 27:45 - Leadership insights from landscaping days 32:50 - What’s next for Cole at Palo Alto Networks Links: Connect with our guest, Cole Lisko: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewlisko/   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/

24 Dec 202434min

Think Like a Hacker, Solve Like a Leader featuring Ted Harrington

Think Like a Hacker, Solve Like a Leader featuring Ted Harrington

What if the key to innovation is breaking the rules? Ted Harrington, Executive Partner at Independent Security Evaluators and a pioneering ethical hacker, explores the power of commitment, curiosity, creativity, and nonconformity to rethink cybersecurity and life itself. From hacking the first iPhone to disrupting misconceptions about security testing, Ted shows why the hacker mindset matters more now than ever. Join Ron and Ted as they discuss strategies for using the hacker mindset to solve problems, address risks like AI-driven deepfakes, and uncover unconventional opportunities in both business and personal growth.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Intro 03:15 - The four traits of a hacker mindset 07:40 - Hacking the first iPhone and Tesla 11:50 - Why penetration testing is misunderstood 16:30 - Risks and realities of AI deepfakes 21:20 - Applying hacker traits to entrepreneurship 28:45 - Ted’s upcoming book: Inner Hacker 33:00 - Why mindset matters most   Links: Connect with our guest, Ted Harrington: https://www.linkedin.com/in/securityted/ Order Ted Harrington’s book “Hackable” here: https://www.amazon.com/Hackable-How-Application-Security-Right-ebook/dp/B08MFTQ7Q4 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/

17 Dec 202441min

Hacking Trust with AI and Deepfakes featuring Iain Jackson

Hacking Trust with AI and Deepfakes featuring Iain Jackson

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic voices and AI in cybersecurity.  Together, Ron and Iain discuss how adversaries are using AI to bypass human intuition. From synthetic voice calls to automating phishing attacks at scale, this episode explores how hackers leverage technology using these tactics and what you can do to stay one step ahead.    Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:56 - Iain shares his journey with AI 03:29 - Demonstrating voice cloning in real-time 06:31 - Risks of automated synthetic voice attacks 09:46 - Impact of AI on social engineering tactics 11:00 - Importance of "vibe checks" in cybersecurity 15:17 - Real-world phishing and HR scam example 20:00 - Uncanny Valley: Defense against AI deception 23:37 - The future of AI in adversary emulation   Links: Connect with our guest, Iain Jackson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-j-98578a238/ Learn more about CovertSwarm here: https://covertswarm.com/   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/

12 Dec 202425min

Championing the Human in Cybersecurity with Julie Haney

Championing the Human in Cybersecurity with Julie Haney

What happens when cybersecurity puts people first? Julie Haney, Human-Centered Cybersecurity Program Lead at NIST, shares how designing security with humans at the center leads to greater adoption, reduced frustration, and stronger protection. In this episode, Julie discusses how to improve user adoption by simplifying complex security processes, why empathy is a game-changer for effective security, and strategies for empowering people to feel confident and secure online. This conversation will inspire you to rethink how we protect people in the digital age and shares a fresh perspective on making cybersecurity work for all. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 07:15 - Breaking down barriers in user design 15:40 - Why empathy matters in cybersecurity solutions 21:05 - Challenges in bridging tech and humanity 28:30 - Designing systems with people, not just for them 35:10 - Practical steps to empower users in security 42:45 - Final reflections on human-centered innovation   Links: Connect with our guest, Julie Haney here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-haney-037449119 Check out NIST’s Online Community of Interest here: https://csrc.nist.gov/Projects/human-centered-cybersecurity/hcc-coi Learn more about Human-Centered Cybersecurity on NIST’s website here: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/human-centered-cybersecurity   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/

3 Dec 20242min

Do You Deserve To Be Hacked? Featuring Ilan Fehler and Dahvid Schloss

Do You Deserve To Be Hacked? Featuring Ilan Fehler and Dahvid Schloss

Do you deserve to be hacked? With that bold tagline, CovertSwarm is pushing leaders to rethink how they test and defend their systems, and in this episode, they’re sharing firsthand how organizations can prepare for adversaries in the wild. Recorded at Black Hat 2024, Ron is joined by Ilan Fehler, US Sales Lead at CovertSwarm, and Dahvid Schloss, Hive Leader at CovertSwarm to explore the world of adversary emulation. From physical breaches to API exploits, this conversation covers the human, digital, and physical elements of cybersecurity. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - You Deserve To Be Hacked 03:05 - Emulating criminal behavior: The hive structure 07:55 - Social engineering tactics that really work 20:16 - Physical breaches: Pentesting in action 24:09 - Past the firewall: Second- and third-layer testing 29:14 - Digital exploits and real-world vulnerabilities 35:24 - Why organizations hesitate to invest in red teams 37:33 - Building muscle memory for security   Links: Connect with our guests, Ilan Fehler https://www.linkedin.com/in/fehler/ and Dahvid Schloss https://www.linkedin.com/in/dahvidschloss/ Learn more about CovertSwarm here: https://covertswarm.com/   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/

26 Nov 202440min

Transforming SOC Operations with AI featuring Roy Halevi

Transforming SOC Operations with AI featuring Roy Halevi

Cybersecurity is evolving fast, and AI is at the center. Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer, explains how AI automates SOC operations, improving speed and accuracy while freeing up teams to focus on critical threats. In this conversation with host Ron Eddings, Roy explains how AI automates critical tasks like alert investigation and response, reducing noise and improving accuracy. Roy shares insights on overcoming challenges in adopting AI, the future of SOC roles, and how organizations can optimize their defenses using AI driven tools.   Impactful Moments 00:00 – Intro and the AI revolution in cybersecurity 01:16 – Meet Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer 03:00 – The story behind the name ‘Intezer’ 06:14 – Key challenges facing today’s SOC teams 15:04 – Top use cases for AI in the SOC 21:27 – How Intezer automates alert triage and response 37:32 – Future predictions for SOC and cybersecurity roles 48:23 – Closing thoughts and call to action   Links: Connect with our guest, Roy Halevi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royhalevi Learn more about Intezer here: https://intezer.com   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/

20 Nov 202449min

From Shadow IT to Full Asset Visibility with Wes Wright

From Shadow IT to Full Asset Visibility with Wes Wright

Can you truly protect what you can't see? Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr, joins Ron to share how organizations can shine a light on their network and asset blind spots and take control of their digital assets. In this episode, Ron and Wes discuss the importance of asset visibility in cybersecurity, outlining the potential of CAASM (Cyber Asset and Attack Surface Management) and how it empowers teams to expose hidden vulnerabilities, streamline operations, and stay ahead of security threats, vulnerabilities, and exposures.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - Asset visibility and blind spots 03:47 - What keeps CTOs and CISOs up at night 08:45 - Bridging IT and OT: CAASM explained 12:10 - Real-world use cases for CAASM 18:37 - The power of automated asset management 25:00 - Why continuous inventory is a game-changer 35:59 - Wes’s advice for getting started with Ordr Links: Connect with our guest, Wes Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/4kidwes/ Learn more about Ordr here: 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/

12 Nov 202437min

Populärt inom Utbildning

rss-bara-en-till-om-missbruk-medberoende-2
historiepodden-se
det-skaver
alska-oss
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
johannes-hansen-podcast
allt-du-velat-veta
nu-blir-det-historia
roda-vita-rosen
sektledare
rss-sjalsligt-avkladd
not-fanny-anymore
rikatillsammans-om-privatekonomi-rikedom-i-livet
sa-in-i-sjalen
rss-max-tant-med-max-villman
rss-om-vi-ska-vara-arliga
efterlevandepodden
dumforklarat
rss-broccolipodden-en-podcast-som-inte-handlar-om-broccoli
sektpodden