Show Notes
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 ultimate competitive edge, even as AI advances into the SOC. He also runs live AI experiments on ransomware response and log analysis, revealing what AI can (and can’t) do for practitioners right now.
Impactful Moments:
00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Why community is your first advantage 03:30 - The sacrifice that launched Ron’s career 04:40 - Meeting mentor Marcus Carey 06:00 - Early opportunities in cybersecurity 07:00 - The power of hacker spaces 09:00 - How mentors open hidden doors 10:00 - RSA and Black Hat as career accelerators 13:00 - The most underrated LinkedIn feature 15:00 - The HVS mastermind community 16:00 - Reality check on GPT-5 18:00 - AI builds an IR playbook 20:00 - Critical do’s and don’ts in incident response 23:00 - Why hallucinations matter in cybersecurity AI 25:00 - AI makes sense of raw logs 28:00 - Can AI replace tier one analysts? 30:00 - Where AI still falls short 31:00 - Final challenge: Strengthen your community
Links:
Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/
Register for our livestream with Gerry Auger: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7359290642633539586/
Check out the links to the OpenAI ChatGPT threads here: Incident Analysis Summary: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa61f-3498-8006-9989-ff8221f97b01
Ransomware Incident Playbook: https://chatgpt.com/share/689fa63f-86ec-8006-8355-642d4d38808e
Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams
Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio
Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com
Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord
Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/
Recent Episodes
How to See Your Organization Like a Hacker with Chris Dale
To defend like a human, you first have to think like a hacker. In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Chris Dale, Co-Founder and Chief Hacking Officer at River Security, to explore the ...
Coding by Vibe: The Future of AI-Built Security with Ron Eddings
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, ...
Learning How to Learn: Mastering the Cyber Fundamentals with Rich ...
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 ...
How AI Elevates Cyber Hygiene with Jason Rebholz
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 ...
Securing Software at AI Speed with Varun Badhwar
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 ...
The End of Search and the Rise of AI Browsers and Voices with Ron ...
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 ...
Where Automation Ends, Cyber Ingenuity Begins with Phillip Wylie
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, ...
The Power of Showing Up: Daily Streams, Big Impact with Gerald ...
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, ...
The Rise of the Autonomous Blue Team with Vineet Edupuganti
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 ...
Turning AI Into Your Super Tool with Ron Eddings
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, ...
WORK WITH US
PODCASTS + SPEAKING + EVENTS
Are you the best kept secret in cybersecurity? Let's change that by partnering together for podcast ads, social campaigns, and your next event or keynote. Send us your details to get started.
Thank you!
We will be in touch soon and reach out to you at