Best Hacker Valley Studio Podcasts (2025)

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The Rise of the Autonomous Blue Team with Vineet Edupuganti 37:24

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2h ago37:24

37:24

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 br…

1
The Viral Outrage Over Peanut the Squirrel 30:04

1d ago30:04

30:04

A beloved squirrel named Peanut was seized in a raid by New York environmental officers last year. A maelstrom of online outrage ensued, upending New York wildlife enforcement in the process. In conversation with WNYC Now's Janae Pierre, our colleague, reporter Jon Campbell, unravels the saga -- revealing a story about mistaken identities and the p…

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Is America Becoming an Autocracy? 50:28

6d ago50:28

50:28

President Donald Trump’s countless executive orders and mounting deportations are testing America’s democratic institutions. On this week’s On the Media, what we can learn from Hungary’s recent backslide into autocracy. Plus, why resistance movements throughout history have succeeded with 3.5 percent of the population, or less, behind them. [01:00]…

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Turning AI Into Your Super Tool with Ron Eddings 22:52

5d ago22:52

22:52

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 …

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The Journalist Who Saw WW2 Coming 9:59

9d ago9:59

9:59

For these last couple of weeks of August we’ve been airing a miniseries from our friends at Radio Diaries.The third and final part is about a woman named Dorothy Thompson. In 1939, Time Magazine called her a woman who “thinks, talks and sleeps world problems and scares strange men half to death.” They weren’t wrong. Thompson was a foreign correspon…

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The Power of Shortwave Radio. And, What Gets Lost with Voice of America? 50:36

13d ago50:36

50:36

This month, the director of Voice of America is being forced out in the latest of many moves to dismantle the state broadcasting service. On this week’s On the Media, a history of the Voice of America, and how it’s been politicized. Plus, hear why propagandists in Russia, China, and Iran are celebrating cuts to U.S.-funded foreign reporting. [01:00…

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Mentorship to Mastery: AI and Community Lessons with Ron Eddings 32:22

12d ago32:22

32:22

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…

1
The Forgotten Shock Jock Who Paved the Way for Rush Limbaugh 9:39

16d ago9:39

9:39

This week, we're airing part two of a documentary series, courtesy of Radio Diaries, about three radio personalities who had huge audiences in their time, but today, are largely forgotten. These days, we’re used to media that thrives on conflict, that amplifies the most outrageous voices in the room. It’s something we often trace back to shock jock…

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Silicon Valley's Rightwing Roots. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky Reimagines Social Media 50:28

20d ago50:28

50:28

When Donald Trump returned to office, tech companies donated millions of dollars to his inaugural committee. On this week’s On the Media, the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley. Plus, the CEO of the burgeoning social media platform, Bluesky, on how to billionaire-proof the internet. [01:00] Micah Loewinger speaks with Becca Lewis, a postdoctoral res…

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From MCP Risks to AI Jailbreaks with Marco Figueroa 41:30

20d ago41:30

41:30

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 hid…

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The Famous Black Preacher Who Feuded With MLK 15:41

23d ago15:41

15:41

For these final weeks of summer we wanted to transport you away from the doom and gloom of the daily news with a trio of stories produced by our friends at the public radio documentary-maker, Radio Diaries. The series is called “Making Waves” and it profiles three people who pushed the boundaries of radio: one to warn, one to rile, one to preach. T…

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Trump's Fact Eradication Program. Plus, How Jubilee is Transforming Political Debate 50:20

27d ago50:20

50:20

President Trump fired the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following a weak jobs report. On this week’s On the Media, how the Trump administration is threatening government data. Plus, a viral YouTube channel raises questions about the meaning of political debate. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone situates President Trump’s recent firing …

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Debt vs. Risk: What the SharePoint Breach Taught Us with Ron Eddings 16:00

27d ago16:00

16:00

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 insight…

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Eric Adams' Latest Scandal 20:13

29d ago20:13

20:13

Here in New York we’re not due to select our next mayor till November but somehow it feels like we’re already embroiled in pre-election chaos. Eric Adams is now running as an independent, and to do so he was required to present the signatures of 7,500 New Yorkers who support him. He actually handed in around 50,000 signatures so he more than made t…

1
Images of Mass Starvation Shift Gaza Coverage. Plus, the Forgotten History of the First Sitcom. 50:30

1M ago50:30

50:30

As reports of starving children in Gaza mount, France, Britain, and Canada are preparing to recognize Palestinian statehood. On this week’s On the Media, Palestinian journalists documenting food scarcity in Gaza are themselves going without food. Plus, how Israeli tv stations are deflecting blame for the blockade on aid. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinge…

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The Future of Cyber Talent Is African with Confidence Staveley 23:22

1M ago23:22

23:22

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…

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McKay Coppins on The Murdochs 19:46

1M ago19:46

19:46

Brooke spoke in May with McKay Coppins, a staff writer at The Atlantic, about the remarkable, extensive interviews he conducted with members of the Murdoch family — particularly James Murdoch and his wife Kathryn. (Rupert and his eldest son, Lachlan, declined to participate). Hear about the infighting and sibling rivalry, and how the HBO show “Succ…

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Trump's Presidential Library Grift. Plus, the Hacker Behind the NYT’s Mamdani Story. 50:09

1M ago50:09

50:09

The FCC just approved a lucrative merger between Paramount and Skydance. Weeks earlier, Paramount settled a lawsuit with the president by paying him 16 million dollars. On this week’s On the Media, hear how that money is being funneled to Donald Trump’s future presidential library. Plus, how conservative outlets are coordinating attacks on universi…

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Compliance Isn’t the Enemy with Jeff Man 24:54

1M ago24:54

24:54

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…

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EXTENDED VERSION: Michael Douglas Movies And The Crisis Of Masculinity 32:44

1M ago32:44

32:44

EXTENDED VERSION: Brooke sits down with Jessa Crispin, critic and editor-in-chief of The Culture We Deserve, to talk about her new book What Is Wrong with Men: Patriarchy, the Crisis of Masculinity, and How (Of Course) Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything, which tracks the “masculinity crisis” through Michael Douglas films. On the Media is supp…

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MAGA Fractures Over Epstein. Plus, What Michael Douglas Movies Tell Us About Masculinity. 50:13

2M ago50:13

50:13

The Trump administration is trying to subdue fury from all angles over the Epstein Files. On this week's On the Media, how the controversy is fracturing Republicans and firing up Democrats. Plus, tracing today’s so-called “masculinity crisis” through the films of Michael Douglas. [00:00] Host Brooke Gladstone dissects the bitter division between Pr…

1
What Makes a Great CISO? A Playbook from Gary Hayslip 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

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 C…

1
Planning for Inevitable Climate Disaster 16:42

2M ago16:42

16:42

The Atlantic hurricane season is currently underway – and in fact, it was the tail end of tropical storm Barry that contributed to the deadly flash floods in Texas two weeks ago that has claimed at least 132 lives so far. As I write this, over 100 people are still missing. According to writer Nathaniel Rich, when it comes to planning for a fraught …

1
Inside the Artificial Intelligence Hype Cycle. And How AI is Making Music 50:17

2M ago50:17

50:17

Like it or not, more people are using artificial intelligence than ever. On this week’s On the Media, hear about the AI arms race between the U.S. and China, and how the tech gets overhyped. Plus, a composer wrestles with a new AI music generator – which threatens his own job. [01:00] Brooke speaks with Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast…

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Confidence, Coaching, and the S-Word with Mel Reyes 32:50

2M ago32:50

32:50

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…

1
Having a Child in the Digital Age 31:22

2M ago31:22

31:22

In Amanda Hess' new book, Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age, she explores the many apps, megamaternity brands, high-tech baby gear, and social media subcultures that have infiltrated in the process of having a baby in modern-day America. OTM producer and new parent Molly Rosen speaks with Hess about how new technologies have transforme…

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The Battle Over Public Broadcasting 49:59

2M ago49:59

49:59

President Trump is asking lawmakers to claw back over a billion dollars in federal funds for public broadcasting. On this week’s On the Media, the long history of efforts to save—and snuff out—public broadcasting. Plus, the role of public radio across the country, from keeping local governments in check to providing life-saving information during t…

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How Country Music Became the Sound of U.S. Patriotism 30:45

2M ago30:45

30:45

Today's country music industry is deeply associated with a certain jingoistic ‘rally around the flag,' ‘support the troops’ spirit. In this week’s podcast, we're re-airing a conversation with Joseph M. Thompson, author of Cold War Country: How Nashville's Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism. Micah and Joseph discuss …

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Trump Tries and (Mostly) Fails to Control the Narrative on Iran. Plus, RFK Jr. is Bad for Our Health 51:33

2M ago51:33

51:33

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s revamped CDC vaccine advisory board stopped recommending certain flu vaccines this week. On this week’s On the Media, a scientist debunks the claims that RFK, Jr.’s appointees are making. Plus, how the media covered the U.S. bombing of Iran. [02:01] Host Micah Loewinger unspools the Trump administration’s attemp…

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Purple Teaming Is the New Job Security with Maril Vernon 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

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 ho…

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The Final Unravelling of Bob Menendez 22:04

2M ago22:04

22:04

This week, On the Media shares the final episode of Dead End: The Rise and Fall of Gold Bar Bob Menendez. For WNYC, reporter and host Nancy Solomon describes how the FBI watched Menendez have a dinner with Egyptian spies, the moment they found gold bars in a closet, and more. As Menendez faces the trial of his life, Nancy asks: why would a man at t…

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MAGA Divides Over Iran. Plus, Inside the Crackdown on Student Journalists 50:24

3M ago50:24

50:24

President Donald Trump says he’ll decide whether or not to attack Iran within the next two weeks. On this week’s On the Media, hear why the right is split on what the president should do. Plus, scrutiny on student journalists has intensified. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone on the recent narratives forming around the ‘No Kings’ protest and President …

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The AI Gold Rush in Cybersecurity with Chris Cochran 30:44

3M ago30:44

30:44

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…

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Bob Menendez’s Disastrous Romance 23:48

3M ago23:48

23:48

In this week's midweek podcast, we share the next installment of WNYC's Dead End: The Rise and Fall of 'Gold Bar' Bob Menendez. Yesterday, the former senator began an 11-year prison sentence. In this episode, Nancy Solomon takes a look at a relationship that spanned a key chapter in Bob Menendez's political downfall. Nadine Arslanian was a stay at …

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Trump Deploys Troops Against LA Protesters. Plus, Journalists Under 'Less Lethal' Fire. 50:15

3M ago50:15

50:15

A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s deployment of troops in Los Angeles was illegal before an appeals court quickly overturned it. A legal battle is now underway. On this week’s On the Media, how President Trump has exaggerated crises to expand his presidential powers. Plus, a new documentary investigates who killed a Palestinian-Am…

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The AI That Tried to Escape with Ron Eddings 23:43

3M ago23:43

23:43

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-sum…

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How Gold Bar Bob Menendez Got His Start 15:35

3M ago15:35

15:35

Bob Menendez will become the first Senator to go to prison in more than 40 years when he reports to federal penitentiary next week. Most of you will, no doubt, be aware of the broad strokes of his corruption and bribery case. You know, the gold bars and cash found in his suburban ranch house. But our home station, WNYC, has produced a podcast that …

1
Lessons From Hungary’s Democratic Backsliding. Plus, What Makes a Resistance Movement Successful? 51:00

3M ago51:00

51:00

President Donald Trump’s countless executive orders and mounting deportations are testing America’s democratic institutions. On this week’s On the Media, what we can learn from Hungary’s recent backslide into autocracy. Plus, why resistance movements throughout history have succeeded with 3.5 percent of the population, or less, behind them. [01:36]…

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Zero Trust Isn’t a Tool — It’s Everything with George Finney 40:15

3M ago40:15

40:15

What if Zero Trust isn’t a framework, but the only viable cybersecurity strategy—more about people than products? In this episode, George Finney, CISO at the University of Texas System and author of Project Zero Trust, reveals the human-first truth behind the Zero Trust movement, and why it’s not something you buy but something you build. George sh…

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Ensh*ttification, Live! Micah and Cory Doctorow in Conversation 38:16

3M ago38:16

38:16

This past weekend, OTM co-host Micah Loewinger went to Seattle to sit down with an all-time favourite guest of the show: tech activist and writer Cory Doctorow. We recorded the following conversation in front of a live audience at the Cascade PBS Ideas festival. The topic was “Enshittification” – Cory’s theory of how everything on the internet got …

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An FCC Commissioner Sounds the Alarm. Plus, the Finale of The Divided Dial 51:12

3M ago51:12

51:12

On Tuesday, NPR and three Colorado public radio stations sued the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment. On this week’s On the Media, the soon-to-be lone Democratic commissioner at the FCC speaks out against what she calls the weaponization of her agency. Plus, the final episode of The Divided Dial introduces the unlikely group try…

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Your Two-Year Edge Starts Now with Marco Figueroa 36:34

3M ago36:34

36:34

You won’t be replaced by AI—you’ll be replaced by someone using it better. Returning guest Marco Figueroa is back with a frontline report on the AI agent boom. This isn’t a prediction—it’s a tactical update from someone tracking every release, every benchmark battle, and every edge worth chasing. In this episode, Ron is joined by Marco as he breaks…

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S2 THE DIVIDED DIAL EPISODE 4: Wall St. Wants Your Airwaves 40:06

3M ago40:06

40:06

EPISODE 4 In recent years, creative, often music-focused pirate broadcasting has been thriving on shortwave. But these surreptitious broadcasters are up against a surprising ideological foe: Not the FCC, but a deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme comp…

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Conspiracy Theories Come Back to Bite MAGA. Plus, Ep. 3 of The Divided Dial. 51:01

3M ago51:01

51:01

Before they were appointed, the leaders of the F.B.I. boosted misinformation about a ‘deep state.’ Now they’re in power, they’ve become the focus of conspiracy theories. On this week’s On the Media, how MAGA infighting about Jeffrey Epstein reveals a greater problem for the Republican Party. Plus, the story of one of the world's farthest-reaching r…

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Badge Cloning, Alarm Triggers & Getting Hired to Hack with Greg Hatcher & John Stigerwalt 37:31

3M ago37:31

37:31

Most people think red teaming is digital—until someone bypasses your locks, plants a Raspberry Pi in your server room, and walks out with your data. That’s not sci-fi. That’s White Knight Labs. In this episode, Ron talks with Greg Hatcher and John Stigerwalt, co-founders of White Knight Labs, a boutique offensive security firm built on real-world a…

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S2 THE DIVIDED DIAL EPISODE 3: World's Last Chance Radio 41:58

4M ago41:58

41:58

EPISODE 3 Today, in the internet era, much of the shortwaves have been left to the most extreme voices — including a conspiratorial flat earth ministry, and an ultra-conservative cult complete with everything from sexual abuse to dead infants and illegal burials. In the 737-person northern Maine town of Monticello, one of the world's farthest-reach…

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Why Trump is Welcoming White South Africans as Refugees. Plus, Ep 2 of The Divided Dial. 50:29

4M ago50:29

50:29

On Monday, dozens of Afrikaners arrived in the US as refugees. On this week’s On the Media, how a fringe group of white South Africans have been lobbying for Donald Trump’s attention for almost a decade — but refugee status was never on their wish list. Plus, the second episode of The Divided Dial, all about how rightwing extremists took over short…

1
Building Cyber Resilience Through Culture with David Shipley 44:30

4M ago44:30

44:30

What if fixing cybersecurity wasn’t about more tools, but about unlocking human potential? In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes back David Shipley, CEO and Field CSO of Beauceron Security, for a conversation on the real force behind security resilience: people. Together they expose the failure of "reactive" cybersecurity strategies, drawing parall…

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S2 THE DIVIDED DIAL EPISODE 2: You Must Form Your Militia Units 33:45

4M ago33:45

33:45

EPISODE 2 Many governments eased off the shortwaves after the Cold War, and homegrown US-based rightwing extremists edged out shortwave peaceniks to fill the void. In the 1990s, US shortwave radio stations became a key organizing and recruiting ground for white supremacists and the burgeoning anti-government militia movement. On this instantaneous,…

1
Trump Is Losing A Lot In Court. Plus, the First Episode of The Divided Dial (S2). 50:26

4M ago50:26

50:26

President Trump’s many executive orders, detentions, and deportations have triggered a host of lawsuits. On this week’s On the Media, how to understand the dozens of legal actions facing Trump. Plus, it’s the first episode of The Divided Dial, all about the battle for shortwave radio. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger talks with Chris Geidner, who has c…