Hacker Valley Studio

By Hacker Valley MediaTechnology Education Self-Improvement

Hacker Valley Studio episodes

October 02, 2025 Securing Software at AI Speed with Varun Badhwar
The biggest security threat isn’t in the cloud, it’s hidden in the code you trust the most.

In this episode, Ron sits down with Varun Badhwar, Co-Founder & CEO of Endor Labs, who shares why research shows that nearly 80–90% of application code comes from open source and third-party libraries, not your own developers. Varun discusses the unseen risks of AI-generated software, how attackers can now weaponize vulnerabilities in hours, and why precision in security matters more than ever. He also reveals how AI can be both the ultimate accelerator and the ultimate weakness in modern development.

Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Varun’s journey from RedLock to Endor Labs
04:00 - Why the software supply chain is broken
07:00 - AI coding assistants and insecure code risks
10:00 - The NPM self-replicating worm discovery
13:00 - Simple controls to enforce Zero Trust in code
16:00 - Pairing AI with security to prevent slop
19:00 - AI-powered security code reviews explained
22:00 - Why 88% of code goes unused
26:00 - Developer efficiency as the new security metric
29:00 - The next wave of AI-driven software threats

Links:
Connect with our Endor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vbadhwar/

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/

35 min
September 25, 2025 The End of Search and the Rise of AI Browsers and Voices with Ron Eddings
Search engines aren’t dying quietly, they’re being replaced in real time by AI browsers and voice agents.

AI isn’t just answering questions anymore; it’s acting for us. In this episode, Ron Eddings explores how tools like NanoBrowser and Comet are reshaping browsing, why Google may be in trouble, and how AI voices are becoming the new interface for productivity. From breakthroughs to risks, this is a front-row look at how AI agents are changing how we work, connect, and live online.

Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - AI agents as everyday tools
02:00 - Testing AI-powered browsers
03:00 - Comet: AI browser from Perplexity
04:30 - Why Google should be worried
05:30 - Real-world tasks for AI browsers
07:00 - Automating cybersecurity inventory
09:00 - Comet in action on LinkedIn
10:00 - Testing for malicious exploits
11:00 - Risks of persuasive AI prompts
12:00 - The rise of voice agents
13:30 - First real-world AI voice experience
15:00 - Security concerns with customer data
16:30 - Double-edged sword of AI adoption
17:30 - System prompt leakage vulnerabilities
18:00 - Why voice could shrink attack surfaces

Links:
Connect with Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/

Check out NanoBrowser: https://nanobrowser.ai/

Check out Comet by Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/comet

Read the article ‘No more links, no more scrolling - the browser is becoming an AI Agent.’ here: https://venturebeat.com/ai/no-more-links-no-more-scrolling-the-browser-is-becoming-an-ai-agent

Read the article ‘How Voice AI Prompt Injection Threatens Enterprise Security’ here: https://www.teneo.ai/blog/how-voice-ai-prompt-injection-threatens-enterprise-security

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/

19 min
September 18, 2025 Where Automation Ends, Cyber Ingenuity Begins with Phillip Wylie
Some tools replace tasks. Others reshape the way we think about security.

In this episode, Ron welcomes back Phillip Wylie, one of the most respected voices in offensive security, author, educator, and longtime friend of the Hacker Valley community. With over 27 years of experience across cybersecurity disciplines, Phillip has guided thousands of professionals through his books, talks, and mentorship.

He shares how AI is reshaping pen testing and red teaming, the value of automating away repetitive tasks, and why the fundamentals of security will always matter. From defining red teaming in 2025 to guiding newcomers on how to break in, Phillip delivers insights that balance cutting-edge innovation with timeless wisdom.

Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
01:00 - Why Phillip keeps podcasting
03:00 - AI opportunities in pen testing
04:30 - What automation should replace
06:00 - Red teaming vs pen testing in 2025
08:00 - Defining adversary emulation
10:40 - Building the ideal AI assistant
15:00 - The best AI use cases today
18:30 - AI-driven threat modeling
21:00 - Breaking into pen testing now
25:00 - Building a portfolio and personal brand
27:30 - Why in-person networking still matters

Links:
Connect with Phillip on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipwylie/

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/

34 min
September 11, 2025 The Power of Showing Up: Daily Streams, Big Impact with Gerald Auger
What if showing up with consistency could spark opportunities, create careers, and build a global movement?

In this episode, Ron sits down with Gerald Auger, Ph.D., cybersecurity educator, content creator, and founder of Simply Cyber. Gerald shares how his daily livestream grew into a thriving community, why consistency is the key to influence, and how AI is reshaping the way cyber professionals work.

From building SimplyCyberCon to launching a new pentesting venture, Gerry’s journey is a masterclass in community, creativity, and courage. This episode is filled with inspiration and practical takeaways for anyone ready to grow their career, brand, or business in cybersecurity.
35 min
September 04, 2025 The Rise of the Autonomous Blue Team with Vineet Edupuganti
What if defenders had their own AI-powered task force, always on, always adapting, and finally one step ahead of attackers?

In this episode, Ron welcomes Vineet Edupuganti, Founder and CEO of Cogent Security, to discuss how AI agents are rewriting the rules of cybersecurity. Vineet shares why traditional vulnerability management is fundamentally broken, why exposure management matters more than ever, and how Cogent is building an “AI Task Force” to give defenders the edge. From his early days in machine learning to reshaping the future of cyber defense, Vineet breaks down the urgent need for automation, context-driven insights, and explainable AI in security.

Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Vineet’s journey into AI and cyber
04:30 - Why vulnerability management is broken
06:10 - Generative AI as a defender’s edge
08:20 - Why AI agents outperform brittle automation
09:45 - The first use cases for Cogent’s agents
12:00 - Rethinking tier-one SOC analyst roles
13:30 - The rise of exposure management (CTEM)
17:10 - Cogent’s vision for an AI task force
18:30 - Early wins and insights with Cogent
20:00 - Biggest misconceptions about AI in security
23:00 - What enterprises should demand from vendors
25:00 - Why explainability is essential in AI systems
27:00 - Startups vs incumbents in cybersecurity innovation
29:30 - Why enterprises must invest in AI now

Links:
Connect with our guest, Vineet Edupuganti, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vineetedupuganti

Learn more about Cogent Security: https://www.cogent.security

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/

38 min
August 28, 2025 Turning AI Into Your Super Tool with Ron Eddings
AI is neither friend nor foe, it’s both. The way we choose to use it determines whether it helps or harms.

In this solo episode, Ron Eddings shares lessons from his first job at a grocery store, his early days in cybersecurity, and today’s AI-driven landscape. From productivity hacks like meeting transcription, to creative tools like content-aware editing, to the dark side of phishing and deepfakes, Ron shows why human judgment remains the ultimate defense. This is a passionate reminder that the real power isn’t in the tools, it’s in us.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
01:15 - AI is the tool, not the toolbox
03:00 - A grocery store scam that taught a life lesson
06:00 - The irreplaceable role of human judgment
07:30 - First cybersecurity job at Booz Allen Hamilton
09:00 - How AI boosts productivity with meeting transcription
12:00 - Creative shortcuts with AI in image and video editing
15:00 - Vibe coding and generative red teaming
17:30 - AI-powered phishing and scam emails
18:50 - Testing a deepfake voice on Ron’s mom
21:30 - Why curiosity and skepticism beat AI deception
22:30 - Final challenge: don’t serve AI—make AI serve you
Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
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/

23 min
August 21, 2025 Mentorship to Mastery: AI and Community Lessons with Ron Eddings
AI might analyze your logs in seconds, but only the community can put you in the room that changes your career.
In this solo episode, Ron Eddings discusses the powerful balance between human connection and artificial intelligence in shaping the future of cybersecurity and beyond. From the sacrifices that sparked his career to the mentors who opened doors, Ron shares personal stories that show why community will always be your ultimate competitive edge, even as AI advances into the SOC. He also runs live AI experiments on ransomware response and log analysis, revealing what AI can (and can’t) do for practitioners right now.

Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Why community is your first advantage
03:30 - The sacrifice that launched Ron’s career
04:40 - Meeting mentor Marcus Carey
06:00 - Early opportunities in cybersecurity
07:00 - The power of hacker spaces
09:00 - How mentors open hidden doors
10:00 - RSA and Black Hat as career accelerators
13:00 - The most underrated LinkedIn feature
15:00 - The HVS mastermind community
16:00 - Reality check on GPT-5
18:00 - AI builds an IR playbook
20:00 - Critical do’s and don’ts in incident response
23:00 - Why hallucinations matter in cybersecurity AI
25:00 - AI makes sense of raw logs
28:00 - Can AI replace tier one analysts?
30:00 - Where AI still falls short
31:00 - Final challenge: Strengthen your community

Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/

Register for our livestream with Gerry Auger: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7359290642633539586/

Check out the links to the OpenAI ChatGPT threads here:
Incident Analysis Summary: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa61f-3498-8006-9989-ff8221f97b01

Ransomware Incident Playbook: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa63f-86ec-8006-8355-642d4d38808e
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/

33 min
August 14, 2025 From MCP Risks to AI Jailbreaks with Marco Figueroa
When AI agents move faster than security teams, the game changes, and the risks multiply.
Ron welcomes back Marco “Mystic Marc” Figueroa, Program Manager at Mozilla’s 0DIN Program, to continue the conversation and update on 2025’s most pressing AI and cybersecurity shifts. From the explosive rise of AI agents and OpenAI’s rumored browser to the hidden dangers of MCP implementations and prompt injection exploits like the Gemini attack, Marco shares insights that security pros can’t afford to miss.

Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Why 2025 is the year of the agent
05:45 - MCP’s rapid adoption and security risks
10:00 - The Gemini prompt injection vulnerability
15:00 - How attackers hide malicious AI prompts
18:00 - High success rates in non-technical teams
22:00 - Rise of voice-based AI scams
25:00 - Using jailbreaks to bend AI to your needs
30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser
33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft
35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions

Links:
Connect with our guest Marco on LinkedIn: 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/
42 min
August 07, 2025 Debt vs. Risk: What the SharePoint Breach Taught Us with Ron Eddings
The riskiest move in cybersecurity? Playing it too safe. In this solo episode, Ron Eddings redefines the way we think about technical debt, risk, and missed opportunities, in security and in life.

Ron reframes the debt vs. risk paradigm through the lens of the SharePoint breach, personal milestones, and co-founding Hacker Valley. With sharp insights, personal stories, and a call to action for every listener, he shows how curiosity and calculated risk are the true drivers of innovation.

Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
01:10 - Why debt vs. risk matters now
02:20 - What the SharePoint breach taught us
04:15 - Risk avoidance creates deeper debt
05:10 - Clear definitions: risk vs. debt
06:30 - Hidden costs of deferring decisions
08:15 - Leaving $200k salary to build Hacker Valley
10:00 - Long-term founder debt explained
11:08 - When comfort becomes dangerous
12:00 - Curiosity as a leadership skill
13:10 - What you’re not seeing yet
14:30 - Final thought: reflect and reassess

Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
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/

16 min
July 31, 2025 The Future of Cyber Talent Is African with Confidence Staveley
The world’s youngest continent is also its most untapped resource. Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe, makes a powerful case for why Africa’s youth are the answer to global cybersecurity and AI innovation… if we’re bold enough to invest.
In this episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader and advocate Confidence Staveley for a discussion on purpose-driven innovation, talent development, and AI-powered awareness tools. Confidence shares updates on her nonprofit work, her bold new ventures including AI Cyber Magazine, and how she's helping shape Africa into a tech talent hub. With global budget cuts hitting nonprofits and marginalized communities, Confidence shares how Africa’s innovators, who are often excluded from the table, are building their own tables, making their impact impossible to ignore, and shaping cybersecurity’s future on their terms.

Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction
02:00 - Her Difference Makers Award speech
04:00 - Partnering with SANS for bigger impact
06:01 - Global DEI backlash and ripple effects
10:00 - Why Africa is the future of tech
13:01 - Innovation with limited resources
17:10 - AI Cyber Magazine and its mission
19:00 - Building AI-powered awareness tools
21:00 - The African adage on self-renewal
22:10 - How sharing knowledge builds trust

Links
Connect with our guest, Confidence Staveley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/confidencestaveley/

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 min

About Hacker Valley Studio

From the publisher's feed

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…