Zero Signal

By Conor Sherman

Zero Signal is a podcast for CISOs and senior security leaders who are expected to have answers about AI risk before the industry has standards. We go after the strategic questions that don't yet have... more

· Business

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FAQs about Zero Signal:

How many episodes does Zero Signal have?

The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.

Zero Signal episodes:

March 13, 2026 From CISO to VC: Investing in Performance - ft. Karl Mattson
Episode Summary
Karl Mattson shares his journey from CISO to venture investor, offering practical advice on what makes founders successful in cybersecurity and how AI is rapidly changing the field. If you want to understand career transitions and what it takes to thrive in today's security landscape, this episode gives you direct insights from someone who's done it all.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

About the Guest
Karl Mattson is a cybersecurity leader turned venture investor, known for his journey from operating as a CISO at a bank to field CISO roles and now founding his own venture fund. He is recognized for his hands-on approach, deep industry insight, and commitment to backing exceptional founders in AI and security. Connect with Karl to follow his work and insights:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlmattson1/
Website: https://squaredcircle.vc/

Episode Chapters
00:00 The Journey to Venture Capital
05:01 Assessing Founders and Companies
08:40 The Role of AI in Security
16:22 Characteristics of Successful Startups
22:10 The CISO's Transition to Vendor Roles
30:39 The Reality of the CISO Role
33:08 AI's Impact on Security and Staffing
38:29 Advice for CISOs in a Rapidly Changing Environment
42:00 Embracing Strengths and Taking Risks

Subscribe & Follow
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Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
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45min
March 13, 2026Atlas Browser, F5 Breach, and How to Measure Resilience
Episode Summary
In this episode, Conor and Stuart break down the risks of new tech like OpenAI's Atlas browser, the F5 source code breach, AWS outages, and deepfakes, showing you why resilience and clear risk management matter more than ever. You'll get practical advice on handling third- and fourth-party risk, understanding the real cost of outages, and preparing your business for today's cybersecurity threats.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

Episode Chapters
00:00 Banter
01:19 OpenAI's Atlas Browser
04:34 The Implications of F5 Source Code Theft
10:53 AWS Outage and Business Resilience
18:04 The Real Cost of Service Outages
23:42 The FTC's Stance on AI Marketing and Truthfulness
30:08 The Rise of Deepfakes and Their Implications
43:45 Actionable Insights for Business Leaders
45:16 Intro Long
Referenced Links & Resources
OpenAI Atlas Browser
Brave Research on Perplexity's Comet Browser
Google Mandiant M-Trends Report
FTC Operation AI Comply
Ironscales Deepfake Report
Darktrace
Sam Altman/AP Voiceprint Authentication Quote

Call to Action
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
→ Spotify.
→ YouTube
→ Website
Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
46min
March 13, 2026Guardrails and Growth: AI's Impact on Security - ft Richard Bird
Episode Summary
In this episode, Richard Bird, Chief Information Security Officer at Singular AI, explains why the rush to adopt AI is creating new security risks and why getting the basics right is more important than ever. If you want to understand how AI is changing security and what you need to do about it, this conversation is essential.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

Guest Bio
Richard Bird is the Chief Information Security Officer at Singular AI and an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. He has held key roles at JP Morgan, Chase, Ping Identity, and Traceable, and recently launched the podcast Yippee-ki-ai, focused on operationalizing AI in the real world. Connect with Richard on LinkedIn to follow his latest work and insights.

Episode Timestamps
00:00 The AI Adoption Crisis and API Security
11:41 Corporate Showmanship and the Reality of Layoffs
15:11 The Role of the Chief AI Officer: A Critical Examination
20:11 AI's Impact on Security Dynamics
26:10 The Dangers of AI in Security
30:50 Economic Sustainability of AI Technologies
41:40 AI Ethics: Real-World Implications
45:58 The Future of AI: Optimism and Caution
48:03 The Evolution of Security Landscape: AI's Role
52:08 Intro Long - Final.mp4

Referenced Thought Leaders & Articles
Ray Dalio (referenced for modeling rise and fall of empires)
Chase Cunningham (Dr. Zero Trust, referenced as a thought leader)
David Friedman article on AI economics (referenced for economic analysis of AI)

Subscribe & Follow
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
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→ YouTube
→ Website

Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
53min
March 13, 2026Navigating AI Governance - ft. Walter Haydock
Episode Summary
Walter Haydock shares practical strategies for navigating the complex landscape of AI governance, risk management, and compliance, especially in regulated sectors.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

Guest Bio
Walter Haydock is the Founder and CEO of StackAware, where he helps organizations operationalize AI governance through frameworks like ISO/IEC 42001 and the NIST AI RMF.

→ Connect with Walter on LinkedIn
→ Subscribe to his newsletter, Deploy Securely

Referenced Laws, Frameworks, and Papers
California Transparency and Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act
California AB 2013
SB53 California
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
New York City Local Law 144
ISO/IEC 42001
Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act
Unified Control Framework

Call to Action
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
→ Spotify.
→ YouTube
→ Website

Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
54min
March 13, 2026OpenAI’s Agent Builder, Yale Budget Lab, Hiring and Mentorship - ft Jake Bernardes
Episode Summary
In this episode, Jake Bernardes, CISO at Anecdotes, joins to break down the risks and opportunities of OpenAI's AgentKit, vendor lock-in, and the real impact of AI on enterprise security and jobs.
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

Guest Details
Jake Bernardes is the Chief Information Security Officer at Anecdotes, a top GRC platform.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeleobernardes/

Referenced Links & Research
OpenAI: Introducing AgentKit+
Axios: The jobs crisis is bigger than AI
TechRadar: AI might not actually be killing off jobs like we thought
Yale Budget Lab: Evaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor Market
Challenger Gray: September Job Cuts Fall 37% from August
LockedInAI: 2025 AI Trends in US Job Markets
Sysdig: Shai Hulud: The Novel Self-Replicating Worm Infecting Hundreds of NPM Packages
Call to Action
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
→ Spotify.
→ YouTube
→ Website
Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
45min
March 13, 2026The Importance of Purple Teaming in AI Security - ft. Disesdi Susanna Cox
Episode Summary
In this episode, AI architect and security researcher Disesdi Susanna Cox explains the vast and complex attack surface of AI systems, highlighting the need for new security approaches like purple teaming and MLSecOps. Her insights help security leaders understand the unique risks and ethical challenges of AI, making this a must-listen for anyone responsible for securing modern AI-driven organizations.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

About the Guest
Disesdi Susanna Cox is an AI architect, patent holder, and consulting security researcher recognized for her work with the OWASP AI Exchange. Her frameworks and research have been adopted globally to help organizations understand and address the evolving security landscape in AI. Connect with Susanna to follow her latest insights and contributions:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disesdi/
Newsletter: https://disesdi.substack.com/
OWASP AI Exchange: https://owasp.org/www-project-ai-exchange/

Episode Breakdown
00:00 Navigating the AI Security Landscape
03:30 Understanding Adversarial Attacks in AI
06:06 The Importance of Purple Teaming in AI Security
08:49 Establishing MLSecOps for AI Systems
11:40 The Role of Chief AI Security Officer
13:03 Ethics and Risks of AI in Decision Making
26:07 The Future of Red Teaming in AI Security
35:33 Intro Long - Final.mp4

Referenced Resources
OWASP AI Exchange
Disesdi Substack: The Adversarial Subspace Problem
DO-178C (Guidance for Aerospace Software)

Subscribe & Share
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
→ Spotify.
→ YouTube
→ Website

Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
37min
March 13, 2026TTE Goes Negative, Job Redesign, Workslop, The Security Layer for MCP - ft Keith Hoodlet
Overview
Today's episode features Keith Hoodlet from Trail of Bits. We discuss how AI is rapidly accelerating both cyber threats and defenses, shrinking the time to exploit vulnerabilities and reshaping cybersecurity job requirements.

Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.
→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.
→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud the right way with agentic AI.

Guest Bio
That was Keith Hoodlet, Engineering Director at Trail of Bits, former Code Security Architect at GitHub, and winner of the DoD’s inaugural AI Bias Bounty.
LinkedIn — Keith Hoodlet
Website — Trail of Bits
Newsletter — Secure.Dev

Referenced Links & Resources
CVE Genie
Hexstrike
Buttercup
Trail of Bits: MCP Security Layer
Google/Mandiant Threat Intelligence
The Skill Code by Matt Bean
Harvard Business Review: AI-Generated Workslop

Subscribe & Follow
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
→ Apple Podcasts
→ Spotify
→ YouTube
→ Website
Follow You Hosts:
→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn
→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn
...more
1h 6min
March 13, 2026AI Revolutionizing Cybersecurity - ft. Clint Gibler
Quick Take (TL;DR)
AI is rapidly transforming cybersecurity, from automating penetration testing to reshaping how security teams and developers work. This episode examines the practical implications, risks, and future prospects of AI in security, offering actionable insights for leaders and practitioners.

Guest Spotlight
Clint Gibler is Head of Security Research at Semgrep, creator of the TLDRsec newsletter, and host of the Modern Security Podcast.
Connect:
LinkedIn — Clint Gibler
Newsletter — TLDRsec
Podcast — Modern Security Podcast

Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 AI's Impact on Penetration Testing
03:19 The Future of Junior Pen Testers
05:42 Working with AI: A New Paradigm
10:31 Trusting AI Outputs
12:31 Shifting Down: A New Security Approach
15:20 Making Security Invisible for Developers
16:44 The Role of AI in Security and Development
19:04 Integrating Security into Vibe Coding
21:21 Human in the Loop: Balancing Automation and Oversight
23:04 Model Dependency and Cost Considerations
25:27 Emerging Security Risks in AI Infrastructure
29:41 Understanding Prompt Injection Challenges
31:05 Innovative Solutions in AI Security
32:28 Risks of Model Integration and Code Execution
34:14 Navigating AI Model Adoption in Organizations
34:42 The Future of AI in Security
38:52 Career Pathways in Cybersecurity

Resources & References
TLDRsec — Security newsletter by Clint Gibler
Modern Security Podcast — Hosted by Clint Gibler
Semgrep — Code analysis tool
OWASP Top 10 — Common web security risks
Google Project Zero — Security research team
DeepMind Camel Framework — AI agent separation
Socket — Supply chain security tool
Hugging Face — Model repository
Trail of Bits — Security research and tools
Building Secure and Reliable Systems — Google book on security
GitHubComplianceAsCode/content — Automating compliance
...more
44min
March 13, 2026Frontier Risks: DeepMind, Agentic Systems, and Security Leadership ft. Jason Rebholz
Quick Take (TL;DR)
This episode explores the evolving risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, security, and leadership, featuring insights from instant response veteran Jason Rebholz. The conversation highlights why AI safety and agentic systems matter for CISOs and security teams today.

Key Topics & Timestamps

(00:00) Banter
(03:39) Guest Introduction
(04:29) DeepMind’s Frontier Safety Framework
(06:11) Manipulative AI & Enterprise Risk
(07:53) Frontier vs. Enterprise Risk
(11:24) Early Signs & Real-World Impact
(14:25) Safety vs. Security
(16:16) Implementation Context
(18:06) Expel Talent Index
(22:08) What Makes a Great Security Pro?
(29:05) Good CISO, Bad CISO
(36:43) Memo to File
(38:03) Securing AI Agents
(44:49) Actionable Advice

Guest Spotlight
Jason Rebholz is the co-founder of Evoke Security and former CISO at Corvus Insurance. He previously led incident response at Mandiant, handling nation-state threats and major breaches. Jason is a leading voice on AI security, agentic systems, and practical risk management.
Connect:
- LinkedIn
- Website
- Newsletter

Resources & References

Books
Good CISO, Bad CISO by Phil Venables

Articles / Studies
DeepMind Frontier Safety Framework
Expel 2025 Talent Index
RAND Security Objectives
Weekend Byte Newsletter

Tools / Frameworks
RAND Security Objectives

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Website
...more
50min
March 13, 2026What's Our Nuclear Meltdown? Understanding Risk in the Age of AI ft. Sandy Dunn
Quick Take (TL;DR)
This episode examines how AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape, with Sandy Dunn discussing why security leaders must reassess risk, trust, and business alignment in the era of agentic AI. Essential listening for anyone navigating the intersection of AI, security, and executive decision-making.

Guest Spotlight
Sandy Dunn is the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at SPLX, where she leads AI-driven security strategy and advises executive teams on risk and defense alignment. A 20-year cybersecurity veteran, Sandy is the creator and project leader of the OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications and the GenAI Compass, and serves as an adjunct professor at Boise State University and board member at Agentic.org.
LinkedIn | SPLX | Agentic.org

Resources & References
Books
Thinking, Fast and Slow — Daniel Kahneman
Articles / Studies
OWASP Top 10 for LLM Applications
Security Programs and Business Value
Tools / Frameworks
OWASP GenAI Compass
AI Threat Defense Compass (upcoming)
NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Call to Action
If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!
Conor Sherman — LinkedIn | Website | Sysdig
Stuart Mitchell — LinkedIn | Website
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Website
...more
38min

FAQs about Zero Signal:

How many episodes does Zero Signal have?

The podcast currently has 67 episodes available.