Episodit
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JR Cunningham, CISO at Nuspire, joins the show to talk about why cybersecurity isn't just another IT job - mentally, it's more like being a first responder.
George K and George A talk to JR about:
🤔 Why we should consider cyber teams like first responders (not just IT staff)
😵💫 The unique mental health challenges of incident response
💪 Building cultures where defenders can actually take care of themselves
🧠 Why your IR plan needs to consider the human element
💬 "The higher up you go in security, the more you get the sh*t kicked out of you. Most professions get easier - ours gets harder."
Security leaders - how are you building support systems for your defenders?
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👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER
https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks
For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!
Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.
We appreciate you!
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Andrew Owlett joins the show to talk about what actually matters in cybersecurity career development (hint: it's not your GPA)!
George K and George A talk to Andrew about:
Why "failing" early in his career shaped his approach to leadership The problem with cyber's culture of shame and how to build confidence What cross-functional skills ACTUALLY look like (and how you probably already have them) Truth about work-life balance and corporate "family"Plus we dive into real advice for career transitions, building authentic relationships, and how to craft your story.
No buzzwords, no BS - just practical insights from someone who's lived it.
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👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER
https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks
For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!
Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.
We appreciate you!
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Puuttuva jakso?
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🎙️ Veterans Day Podcast Panel!
We brought together an incredible panel of veterans who made the leap into cybersecurity:
George K and George A get into a raw and honest conversation about:
🔄 The realities of transitioning out to civilian life
😳 The culture shock of moving from military to corporate life
👏 Why military experience IS relevant experience (even if you think it isn't)
🤝 The power of networking and how to do it well
Many thanks to our panelists!
Rick McElroy (USMC) Tom Marsland (US Navy) Larci Robertson (US Navy) Rafael Nuñez (US Air Force) and George A (Canadian Army)————
👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER
https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks
For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!
Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.
We appreciate you!
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BONUS! In the last of our interviews recorded live at GoSec 2024 in Montreal, we talk to Andréanne Bergeron, PhD, Director of Research at GoSecure.
George K and George A talk to Andréanne about her unconventional foray into cybersecurity and the lessons learned, as an academic, for workforce development and educating the next generation of defenders. She discusses her studies of cybercriminal psychology as a social scientist, and what the implication might be for defense strategies.
This episode was produced with the support of GoSecure.
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Ofer Klein CEO & Co-founder of Reco AI jumps into the ring to talk about making the leap from e-commerce to cybersecurity, and why having "outsider" experience can be a superpower.
George K and George A talk to Ofer about:
🧠 The psychology behind selling to enterprises and why it transcends industry verticals
📈 Making the tough calls during rapid growth and learning to "get invited to the party"
🎯 Why admitting mistakes and building trust matters more than technical prowess
🌱 Building a lasting company culture vs. engineering for acquisition
Don't miss this episode on finding product-market fit, scaling with intention, and bringing fresh perspectives to cybersecurity!
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👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER
https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks
For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift!
Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.
We appreciate you!
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Episode 100! And this time, George K and George A are the ones in the hot seat!
Guest host, and friend of the pod, Amber DeVilbiss takes the mic to put the Georges on the spot.
They take on listener questions about:
Tech and industry trends, AI, new risks The deep, dark, and personal Selling and marketing tactics And MORE!Thank you to all the listeners who submitted questions!
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This week we step outside cyber to learn how to make sales a profession that sellers can be proud of. Lauren Palmer, VP of North America at Interlink, joins the show!
George K and George A talk to Lauren about:
Why she believes sales is a "giving profession" What sales leaders can do to equip their teams for success without relying on high pressure tactics What objectives really matter when measuring sales success Her mission to transform the operation and perception of sales -
Recorded LIVE: The Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks closing keynote at SecureWorld Denver!
Titled, "Radical Transparency," George K and George A took on the holy trinity in cyber: people, process, and technology.
For each part they break down where we need radical transparency to build trust, on both the buying and selling sides of the industry.
They also ask something new of the audience...
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All year we've been trying to rebrand "soft skills" as essential business skills for any cybersecurity professional. Evgeniy Kharam has literally written the book on it. He sat down with us live at GoSec 2024 to talk about his new book, "Architecting Success: The Art of Soft Skills in Technical Sales."
This is a great breakdown of what kinds of communication skills are needed for both buyers and sellers trying to solve security problems. Don't miss it!
This episode was produced with the support of GoSecure.
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Aaron Pritz of Reveal Risk joins us this week to deepfake George K in real-time video! Also, how to engage the workforce on new and emerging risks
👀 To see the video deepfake, check out our LinkedIn Page!
George K and George A talk to Aaron about:
🤖 Using deepfake tech for good - security awareness training that will blow your mind
🗓️ Why limiting security awareness to October is a mistake
🧠 Un-commoditizing training and making it relevant year-round
📱 Real-world advice on preventing deepfake attacks (it's easier than you think!)
For all you CISOs and security awareness pros out there - this episode is a must-listen. Aaron brings the heat with practical tips and a fresh perspective on engaging employees.
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How do you build multiple successful companies? The dynamic duo behind Knight Group, Alissa and Mel Knight, join the show to talk about their relentless entrepreneurial journey.
In this episode:
💡 How to balance multiple passion projects and determine which ideas to pursue
🤝 The challenges and rewards of working with your spouse (spoiler: therapy helps!)
🧠 How their technical cyber backgrounds inform their creative endeavors
🏥 Alissa’s recent health scare and the wake-up call that changed their approach to work-life balance
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🏆We’ve been nominated as Podcast of the Year for the SANS Difference Maker awards! Voting is open now through Oct 4. You can vote for the show here: https://www.sans.org/about/awards/difference-makers/
Thank you for your support!
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How do you know what’s a winning idea? Serial cyber entrepreneur Stuart McClure sat down with us live at GoSec 2024 to record his thoughts on go-to-market strategies.
Stuart was the founder of Cylance, the fastest company to record $100M in ARR, and he’s the lead author on a book about hacking techniques. In short, he talks the talk and walks the walk.
In this episode:
💡How to tell a genius idea from just a neat feature
🤝How to build and scale without repeating the same tired playbook
🧠 How a background in psychology equipped him with the skills for business
⚡️Why being able to make fast decisions is so important
This episode was produced with the support of GoSecure.
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🏆We’ve been nominated as Podcast of the Year for the SANS Difference Maker awards! Voting is open now through Oct 4. 🗳️ Vote for the show here: https://www.sans.org/about/awards/difference-makers/
Thank you for your support!
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Don Jeter, CMO of Torq joins the show this week to talk about his crusade against boring cyber marketing, and why that means his title is really Chief Menace Officer.
In this episode:
💡Brand leads to demand. Focus on narrative and differentiation first.
🥳 Balancing fun, irreverent branding with deep technical expertise.
🔭 Looking outside cyber for inspiration - internet culture, consumer brands, and more
⚡️Speed and authenticity matter. Be ready to capitalize on trends.
For all you marketers trying to break through the noise - take notes. This is how it's done.
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⭐️ Submit your questions for our AMA episode! ⭐️
Send your questions to [email protected] with “AMA” in the subject line.
No subject is off the table! Win prizes if we take on your question with our mystery guest host!
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September is Suicide Prevention Month. CISO Ben Howard joins the show to share his story for the first time. *Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation.*
If you are feeling suicidal, call or text 988 to get help immediately.
George K and George A talk to Ben about:
🔍 The pressure CISOs face and how it impacts mental wellbeing
🧠 Breaking the stigma around mental health
🛠 Practical steps cybersecurity leaders can take to support their teams' mental health
✍ Creating a culture of openness and vulnerability
If you are struggling and feeling suicidal, call or text 988. Help is available, speak with someone today.
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Tabletop exercises, a necessary evil or just a compliance snoozefest? This week, Kailee Miner sits down to talk about how she's revolutionizing cyber threat readiness training to make boring TTXs a thing of the past.
In this episode:
🥱 Why traditional tabletop exercises often fail to engage participants
🎭 How realistic simulations improve readiness vs. dry PowerPoint presentations
💰 Why companies should invest in communication skills for technical experts, not just certifications
💪 Building resilience through hands-on experience, not just theoretical scenarios
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⭐️ Submit your questions for our AMA episode! ⭐️
Send your questions to [email protected] with “AMA” in the subject line.
No subject is off the table! Win prizes if we take on your question with our mystery guest host!
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Welcome to Season 3! This week we’re bringing you the live recording of our talk at SquadCon during Hack Summer Camp a few weeks back. Our talk was called, “Future Proof Your Career with Cyber Threat Intelligence Techniques.” Many thanks again to the Black Girls Hack Foundation and the SquadCon crew for having us, and to Rebekah Skeete for the killer intro!
And, we’re fast approaching episode 100 of this podcast! We’re doing an AMA with a very special guest host.
So, what do you wanna ask us?
Email your questions to [email protected], with "AMA" in the subject line. If we air your question, you can expect some special swag your way!
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Season 3 of Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks is coming soon!
Same human focus in cyber. Same fire. 👊⚡️
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This week we're featuring a Best Of edition, packed with the gold from episodes past. We were away at Black Hat last week, and we're gearing up for the start of Season 3!
This episode features:
Dr. Chase Cunningham on Zero Trust Sarah Breathnach on why whitepapers need to go Chas Larios are connecting with practitioners Adrian Wood on the securing the ML development pipeline Mari Galloway on breaking into cyber Reanna Schultz on life in SOC -
Why are so many cybersecurity company founders so bad at talking about their own products?! This week we're joined by Elliot Volkman and Doug Landis to talk about how they used storytelling training to transform one company’s message to its customers!
In this episode:
🤦♂️ Why so many founders are terrible at talking about their own products
🎭 The power of storytelling vs. spewing facts and stats
💰 Why companies should invest in communication skills for operators, not just technical skills.
📊 Building trust through customer stories, not flashy banners
🗣️ Practical tips for nailing your next conference presentation
Tune in for some real talk on how to cut through the noise and actually connect with your audience. No BS, just straight advice.
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🏔️We’re coming to SecureWorld Denver! Here are some exclusive discount codes:
BKBTSWC1 Conference Pass $50.00 Discount
BKBTSWO1 Open Sessions (Free)
BKBTSWP1 Plus Pass $75.00 Discount
🔥Want a little BKBT fire for your conference? Or maybe your GTM team needs a high-test dose of buyer insight at your next SKO! Drop us a line at [email protected]
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On the show this week: Reanna Schultz, SOC Team Lead and all-around badass, talks about life in the trenches of cybersecurity operations.
George K and George A talk to Reanna about:
🎯 What vendors get wrong about SOC life (hint: it's not all about alert fatigue)
🔍 The importance of integrating new tools with existing processes
🤝 Building authentic relationships in the cybersecurity community
💪 Developing communication skills for high-pressure situations
Plus, she shares her journey of finding mentors and building her career without following the typical playbook.
Whether you're a vendor trying to connect with SOC teams or an aspiring analyst looking to level up, this episode is packed with a lotta juice!
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🔥Want a little BKBT fire for your conference? Or maybe your GTM team needs a high-test dose of buyer insight at your next SKO! Drop us a line at [email protected]
- Näytä enemmän
