George K and George A are off to San Francisco for RSAC 2025 this week. Here are some short musings on what they think they might see...

Mentioned: 

• Chase Cunningham has built an app that lets you rank vendor demos in real time! If you'd like to join the effort, you can do so here: https://10ringvendors.glide.page

“When you look at cybersecurity…we've got to be constantly thinking about how we disrupt ourselves in order to actually solve the problem."

Casey Ellis is a hacker, a founder, and an advisor and investor. Occupying a lot of different vantage points in cyber has given him a very unique perspective on the industry.

George K and George A talk to Casey about:

• How Casey went from hacker to solution architect to entrepreneur, creating a marketplace that connects ethical hackers with companies who need them
• Why security startups focused solely on acquisition are hurting the industry (and why defenders deserve better)
• The reality check on AI in security - separating hype from actual value
• Why human creativity will always be necessary in security (automation is great, but humans build systems and humans break them)

It’s real and it’s raw. As always.

👊⚡️🏳️‍🌈 

Our Pride campaign kicks off in June, and we're looking for a brave vendor sponsors! Queer communities are facing backlash and corporations are shrinking back into the shadows. 

We’re looking for courageous vendor partners and individuals who will consider matching donations to help us multiply the show's contribution. If you’d like to remain anonymous, that’s fine, too. After all it’s about getting resources to those who need it.

If you're interested, get in touch: [email protected] 

Jake Bernardes, CISO at Anecdotes, brings a uniquely adventurous spirit to this week’s show! And his ethos of “Don’t be an a**hole” is certainly one we can get behind.

George K and George A talk to Jake about:

• Jake's "inherent risk-taker" philosophy that's guided his career moves
• Why the best CISOs are "repulsed by the idea of being bored" and how that drives innovation
• The changing face of security leadership - from risk-averse consultants to today’s disruptive problem solvers
• His refreshingly honest take on how CISOs should interact with vendors: "Just don't be an a**hole"

Whether you're in the trenches, pitching security tools, or running a whole damn cyber program, Jake drops serious insights you can use.

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👊⚡️Support the show!

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!

George K and George A are out this week to keynote SecureWorld Toronto and host the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale. Catch up on interviews you may have missed with:

• Stacey Lokey-Day on collecting experiences to build your career
• Candace Williams on the keys to networking
• Allan Alford on the best ways vendors can engage with CISOs and ensure they stay in good graces
• Jessica Andree on how to build loyalty and performance through better talent acquisition
• Kate Wood on the top 3 pieces of advice for advancing your career

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👊⚡️SUPPORT THE SHOW!

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!

This week, Ads Dawson, Staff AI Security Researcher at Dreadnode, joins the show to talk all things AI Red Teaming!

George K and George A talk to Ads about:

• The reality of securing #AI model development pipelines
• Why cross-functional expertise is critical when securing AI systems
• How to approach continuous red teaming for AI applications (hint: annual pen tests won't cut it anymore)
• Practical advice for #cybersecurity pros looking to skill up in AI security

Whether you're a CISO trying to navigate securing AI implementations or an infosec professional looking to expand your skill set, this conversation is all signal.

Course mentioned: https://learn.nvidia.com/courses/course-detail?course_id=course-v1:DLI+S-DS-03+V1

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👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!

Ever wondered why cybersecurity hiring is broken? Jessica's flipping the script with a revolutionary approach to talent acquisition and development!

George K and George A talk to Jessica about:

• How she transformed the company’s hiring by focusing on building talent rather than looking for unicorns or perfect fits
• Why asking "Why are you here?" is her #1 interview question (and what she learns from it)
• How her military background shaped her approach to servant leadership
• Their "strange renegades" philosophy that's created remarkable team loyalty

"Accessibility does not equate to aptitude. Some people just don't have access, but that doesn't mean they won't be great employees."

Every company struggling with talent acquisition or employee churn needs to check out this conversation.

Jessica's transparency about Risk360's approach to compensation, benefits, and career development is refreshingly honest.

Listen now and let us know what you think! Could this approach work in your organization?

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🇨🇦 Toronto listeners! We’ll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we’ll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale!

Register for the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here

————

👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

This week, researcher Kate Wood from Info-Tech joins the show to talk about the future of security autonomization with AI.

George K and George A talk to Kate about:

• The reality of AI adoption in security beyond marketing hype (and where the hallucinations are still problematic)
• Modernizing vendor risk management beyond checkbox exercises
• A fascinating framework for "autonomization" vs. automation - and understanding your tolerance for AI decision-making at operational, tactical and strategic levels
• And Kate drops some incredibly real and raw career advice on authenticity, pursuing work you love, and finding mentors

Research mentioned: https://www.infotech.com/research/ss/build-an-autonomous-security-delivery-roadmap

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🇨🇦 We’ll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we’ll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale!

Register for the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here

————

👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!

This week we talk to Allan Alford talking about his 25 years journey from CISO to startups to consulting and now his return back to corporate America!

George K and George A talk to Allan about:

• His wild career journey - and what motivated his most recent career decision
• His new gig at NTT Global Data Centers, and why data centers are the next hot thing in security
• The truly global scope of his new gig
• Why people and process beat technology EVERY time - even in tech companies!

Allan also drops some straight FIRE about vendor relationships - including the sobering fact that in 25 YEARS, cold outreach has matched his actual needs exactly ONCE. Vendors, there’s a lot of learn here about how to stand out before and after the contract is signed.

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🇨🇦 We’ll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we’ll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale!

Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto:

• BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass
• BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass
• BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass

Register to watch the can't-miss Cyber Pitch Battle Royale in Toronto! Practitioners get in free.

————

👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!

This week Jeanette Belashov, of Anvilogic, joins the show to talk about smarter and more authentic cybersecurity marketing.

George K and George A talk to Jeanette about:

• Why the lead gen MQL mindset is total BS and hurts both your strategy AND your buyers
• Using selling signals instead of vanity metrics to actually help your sales team connect with the right accounts at the right time about the right use case
• Why marketers MUST get their hands dirty with the product and spend time understanding the day-to-day challenges of practitioners
• Creating hybrid attribution frameworks that actually make sense for today's complex buyer journeys

Jeanette drops some serious science about how successful cybersecurity marketers need to immerse themselves in the community - from Reddit threads to conference conversations - to truly understand what matters to security teams.

As the CISO said: "This has to be one of the most value-filled episodes I've ever been a part of... You could probably do an entire course based on the themes and ideas she brought up."

Check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!

The unstoppable Tennisha Martin joins the show this week! The Executive Director of BlackGirlsHack digs into what it really takes to build diverse cybersecurity talent pipelines in today's challenging environment.

George K and George A talk to Tennisha about:

• How BGH is using AI and hands-on labs to teach real-world hacking skills
• Why traditional education often falls short on practical cybersecurity training
• The economic barriers keeping talented people out of tech careers
•  Building sustainable nonprofit programs when traditional funding gets rocky

Plus we dive into some raw talk about staying focused on the mission even when external pressures try to knock you off course.

As Tennisha puts it: "Our mission hasn't changed just because the administration has changed. We're still training people, still getting folks certified, still building that workforce."

Whether you're interested in cybersecurity education, diversity in tech, or nonprofit leadership, this episode has something for you.

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🇨🇦 We’ll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we’ll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale!

Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto:

• BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass
• BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass
• BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass

Register to attend the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here: https://lu.ma/of952b1f

————

👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER

https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks

For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!

Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

We appreciate you!