Best Hacker Valley Studio Podcasts (2025)

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

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2h 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 20:09

18h ago20:09

20:09

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

5d 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

7d 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

8d 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

12d 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

14d 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

15d 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

19d 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…

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

21d 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…

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Planning for Inevitable Climate Disaster 16:42

22d 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 …

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

27d 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

28d 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…

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Having a Child in the Digital Age 31:22

29d 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

1M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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 …

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

2M 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

2M 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…

1
Ensh*ttification, Live! Micah and Cory Doctorow in Conversation 38:16

2M 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 …

1
An FCC Commissioner Sounds the Alarm. Plus, the Finale of The Divided Dial 51:12

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

3M 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

3M 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…

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Building Cyber Resilience Through Culture with David Shipley 44:30

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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…

1
Ditch the Spreadsheets: Smarter Crypto Security with Michael Klieman 29:48

3M ago29:48

29:48

Still tracking certificates in a spreadsheet? You’re not alone—and there’s a better way. In this special episode from RSA 2025, Ron sits down with Michael Klieman, Global Vice President of Product Management for Digital Security Solutions at Entrust, to discuss how leading organizations are rethinking cryptographic security. From simplifying certif…

1
S2 THE DIVIDED DIAL EPISODE 1: Fishing In The Night 34:03

3M ago34:03

34:03

EPISODE 1: You know AM and FM radio. But did you know that there is a whole other world of radio surrounding us at all times? It’s called shortwave — and, thanks to a quirk of science that lets broadcasters bounce radio waves off of the ionosphere, it can reach thousands of miles, penetrating rough terrain and geopolitical boundaries. How did this …

1
Trump’s Executive Order on Public Media Is Here. Plus, the Murdoch’s Real Succession Drama 50:26

3M ago50:26

50:26

To mark his first hundred days in office, President Trump signed three executive orders related to immigration. On this week’s On the Media, the powerful database that can help I.C.E. track down and deport people. Plus, the dramatic fight for power over Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone talks with Jason Koebler, co-founde…

1
Shari Redstone's Road to Power at Paramount Global 14:49

3M ago14:49

14:49

The Redstone family is a controlling shareholder of Paramount Global — one of the biggest entertainment companies out there. (Think CBS Entertainment, MTV, Nickelodeon.) The family is also one of the inspirations for HBO's Succession, which makes sense the more you get to know them. Shari Redstone currently has the controlling stake in Paramount Gl…

1
Brendan Carr’s F.C.C. Has Been Busy. Plus, Rewriting the History of Watergate. 50:27

3M ago50:27

50:27

The Federal Communications Commission is currently investigating CBS for “intentional news distortion” for its editing of an interview with Kamala Harris. On this week’s On the Media, what the new chairman of the FCC has been up to, and what led a top CBS producer to quit. Plus, what a growing effort to rewrite the history of Watergate tells us abo…

1
Protecting People, Not Just Perimeters with Andrey Suzdaltsev 45:21

4M ago45:21

45:21

AI is reshaping the cybersecurity battlefield, and cyber adversaries are getting smarter. In this episode, Ron Eddings welcomes Andrey Suzdaltsev, Co-Founder and CEO of Brightside AI, for a look into the evolution of social engineering, AI’s role in personalized phishing, and how Brightside is turning the tables with automation and human-centric pr…

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Left Wing Youtuber David Pakman EXTENDED VERSION 23:24

4M ago23:24

23:24

**EXTENDED VERSION** Micah spoke to left-wing YouTuber, David Pakman for last week's show. This is the long version of that conversation. On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with u…

1
Brooke and Micah Enter the MAGA-verse. Plus, Liberal YouTubers Fight Back. 51:44

4M ago51:44

51:44

Conservative influencers have captured a massive audience on the internet, boasting nearly five times more followers than their progressive competitors. On this week’s On the Media, the hosts spend twelve hours immersed in right wing media and report back on what they saw. Plus, why Democrats are struggling to compete for audiences online. [00:00] …

1
The Coding Language Caught in DOGE's Crosshairs 28:18

4M ago28:18

28:18

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has been edged out of the headlines this past week, or so, by the administration’s current flirtation with a constitutional crisis. But the DOGE team is still busy. One project on the office's agenda, originally reported by WIRED late last month, is to rewrite the Social Security Administrat…

1
The Tariff Week From Hell. Plus, the Bluesky CEO Reimagines Social Media. 50:05

4M ago50:05

50:05

The president’s on-again, off-again tariffs are wreaking havoc on the economy. On this week’s On the Media, how the press is struggling to keep up with covering the chaos. Plus, the CEO of Bluesky, an alternative to Twitter, shares her vision for a better internet. [00:00] Host Micah Loewinger breaks down a wild week in the economy–why the press ca…

1
Digital Clutter and the Death of Passwords with Collin Sweeney & Chase Cunningham 43:26

4M ago43:26

43:26

Passwords are the original digital clutter—messy, overstuffed, and way too easy to forget. Like a junk drawer full of old keys and cables, we keep tossing more into them, hoping they’ll somehow keep working. But what if it’s time to throw the whole thing out? In this episode, Ron Eddings is joined by Collin Sweeney of ZKX Solutions and Dr. Chase Cu…

1
Sen. Chris Murphy on the Crisis Facing Our Democracy 23:10

4M ago23:10

23:10

This week we’re bringing you an interview from our friends at the New Yorker Radio Hour. It's a conversation between host David Remnick and Democratic congressman Chris Murphy. Murphy is the junior senator from Connecticut and a vehement critic of leaders in his party who’ve taken a “business as usual” approach in dealing with the Trump administrat…