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.

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

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