Hacker Valley Studio

When code meets intuition, innovation gets personal. But what happens when we let AI vibe with our ideas?

In this episode, Ron Eddings covers the rise of AI-driven development from Vibe Coding, where natural language shapes real code, to the emerging Model Context Protocols (MCPs) that redefine how apps talk to AI. He breaks down the recent Figma MCP vulnerability to discuss how creativity and security now collide in surprising wa...

The real edge in cybersecurity isn’t found in new tools, it’s built through timeless fundamentals and a mindset that never stops learning.

In this episode, Ron sits down with Rich Greene, Senior Solutions Engineer and Instructor at SANS Institute, to uncover how true cyber value starts with skills, curiosity, and mindset. Rich shares his remarkable story of surviving a battlefield injury, retraining his brain, and how that journey...

What if protecting your digital twin becomes the new cyber hygiene?

In this week's episode, Ron welcomes back cybersecurity leader Jason Rebholz, CEO of Evoke, to discuss how AI is reshaping the fundamentals of cyber hygiene. From data breaches and deepfakes to everyday habits that protect our digital lives, Jason shares how small actions and smarter use of AI can make all the difference. Together, they uncover how our growing dig...

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 h...

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 agent...

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 reshapin...

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...

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 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 re...

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 ultim...

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 atta...

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...

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. Co...

Is compliance just a checkbox, or the backbone of real security?

Returning to the show with decades of hard-earned insight, Jeff Man makes the case that compliance, especially PCI-DSS, isn't just a formality; it's foundational to modern security. As one of the original architects of the NSA Red Team and a 20-year PCI veteran, Jeff explains how this often-misunderstood framework has shaped everything from pen testing to vendor accou...

What separates a great CISO from a great one? In this powerhouse conversation, Ron invites friend and cybersecurity leader Gary Hayslip, CISO at SoftBank Investment Advisers, back on the mic to discuss what it takes to lead in today’s high-stakes digital world. Gary shares battle-tested insights on accountability, the evolving expectations of the CISO role, and how AI is reshaping leadership without replacing it.

Gary shares storie...

Want to stand out as a leader? According to our guest Mel Reyes, you need to dress like you mean it and speak like you’ve got nothing to prove.

In this episode, Mel shares how he built billion-dollar portfolios, coached executive teams, and still shows up in a white hoodie when that feels right. With Ron, he unpacks how executive presence becomes a strategic weapon for breaking resistance, commanding attention, and making your mess...

Cybersecurity isn’t just red or blue anymore... it’s purple, white, and deeply human. Maril Vernon, award-winning ethical hacker and Senior Solutions Architect at NetSPI, returns to the Hacker Valley Studio to discuss purple teaming as the most future-proof career path in cyber. She opens up about mentorship, burnout, compensation realities, and how we’re still failing the fundamentals.

Together, Ron and Maril dig into what purple ...

The new cybersecurity pioneers aren’t chasing alerts, they’re building with AI. But what happens when tools meant to assist begin making decisions for us? And what skills do we lose when machines fill the gaps we used to grow into?

In this episode, Chris Cochran, CEO and Founder of Commandant, returns to Hacker Valley Studio with an insider view on building in the AI boom. He shares why he’s betting on incident response over the “A...

What happens when AI refuses to be replaced? This episode kicks off with a chilling real-world example of an AI threatening blackmail—and only gets more intense from there.

Host Ron Eddings unpacks the terrifyingly innovative ways AI is altering the cybersecurity threat landscape. From deepfakes convincing enough to fool your own family to auto-summarizing email clients acting as unintentional insiders, the stakes have never been h...