From Culinary Arts to Cybersecurity: The Journey and Humor of Dan 'Haircut Fish' Rearden

Cyber Journeys: Transition, Leadership, and Trekking with Bill "The Reel Bilbo" Boston

This week we chat with Bill Boston, also known as 'The Real Bilbo,' to explore his extensive journey from IT support roles to becoming a cybersecurity professional. With over 20 years in support and a strong background in healthcare and consulting, Bill shares unique insights into overcoming mental health challenges, the importance of being fair, friendly, and firm, and how his military experience shaped his career. He also delves into the roles of generative AI in personal and professional settings and offers valuable advice for veterans transitioning into cybersecurity roles. Tune in for an engaging conversation packed with real stories, career tips, and wisdom from the trenches of cybersecurity. Connect with The Reel Bilbo! - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-boston-3860b856/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-boston-3860b856/] - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheReelBillbo [https://www.youtube.com/@TheReelBillbo] - Discord: @TheReelBilbo Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Bill Boston aka The Reel Bilbo 02:23 Bill Boston's Journey into Cybersecurity 06:08 Military Experience and Transition to IT 09:55 Advice for Veterans Entering Cybersecurity 11:59 Utilizing AI in Personal and Professional Life 16:02 Empowering IT Professionals in Cybersecurity 18:56 Creating and Sharing Knowledge through Videos 23:20 Types of Leaders and Early Career Challenges 25:54 The Three F's of Leadership 26:59 The Importance of Kindness in Leadership 27:20 Trekking as a Means of Recharging 31:48 Backpacking Logistics and Comparisons to Cybersecurity 34:40 Rapid Fire Questions 43:32 Final Thoughts and Farewell ========================================================== Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan [https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp [https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp] Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com [https://jamesmcquiggan.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp] Email: James@jamesmcquiggan.com [James@jamesmcquiggan.com] ========================================================== Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪 ========================================================== Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com [https://www.mbpod.com/] YouTube Title Graphic: London Company Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com) Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements ========================= Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group ========================= All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber [https://youtube.com/@simplycyber] https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials [https://simplycyber.io/Socials]

From Philosophy to Cybersecurity: An Unexpected Path With Christine Smoley

This week we have a captivating conversation with Christine Smoley, as she shares her journey from an academic background in phenomenology to a successful career in cybersecurity. Key topics include networking at DEFCON, the importance of language acquisition and mental models, challenges of building security teams in startups, and her unique international experiences in Russia. This episode offers valuable insights into the complexities of transitioning into cybersecurity and the importance of continual learning. Connect with Christine on LinkedIn: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-smoley-92697358 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-smoley-92697358] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Simply Secured Podcast 00:43 Meet Christine Smoley 01:09 Defcon Poker and EFF Fundraising 02:05 Christine's Cybersecurity Journey 03:29 From Academia to Cybersecurity 04:52 Skills and Knowledge Transfer 10:51 Challenges in Skill Acquisition 14:41 Building Security in Startups 18:12 Evaluating Vendors and Third-Party Risks 23:25 Cultural Perspectives on Cybersecurity 27:24 Rapid Fire Questions 34:43 Final Thoughts and Farewell ========================================================== Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan [https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp [https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp] Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com [https://jamesmcquiggan.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp] Email: James@jamesmcquiggan.com [James@jamesmcquiggan.com] ========================================================== Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪 ========================================================== Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com [https://www.mbpod.com/] YouTube Title Graphic: London Company Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com) Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements ========================= Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group ========================= All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber [https://youtube.com/@simplycyber] https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials [https://simplycyber.io/Socials]

From Bartender to Cybersecurity: Brent "CodeBrew" Buch's Unique Journey

This week we chat with Brent Buch, also known as Code Brew, to explore his fascinating transition from working in the food and beverage industry to becoming a junior database administrator and aspiring cybersecurity professional. Brent discusses the challenges he faced breaking into the cybersecurity field, the value of transferable skills from bartending, and the importance of maintaining a work-life balance. He also shares insights on certification, industry resources, and tips for managing burnout. Tune in to hear his compelling journey and advice for anyone looking to make a similar career leap. Chapters: 00:00 Discovering Cybersecurity: A YouTube Inspiration 00:48 Introduction to Simply Secured Podcast 01:30 Meet Brent Booth: From Bartender to Cybersecurity Professional 03:17 Brent's Journey into Cybersecurity 05:20 Challenges and Skills in Cybersecurity 12:15 Balancing Work and Family Life 21:43 Rapid Fire Questions and Fun Facts 27:50 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ========================================================== Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan [https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp [https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp] Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com [https://jamesmcquiggan.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp] Email: James@jamesmcquiggan.com [James@jamesmcquiggan.com] ========================================================== Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪 ========================================================== Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com [https://www.mbpod.com/] YouTube Title Graphic: London Company Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com) Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements ========================= Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group ========================= All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber [https://youtube.com/@simplycyber] https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials [https://simplycyber.io/Socials]

From Culinary Arts to Cybersecurity: The Journey and Humor of Dan 'Haircut Fish' Rearden

In this episode of Simply Secured, host James Mcquiggan engages in an insightful and entertaining conversation with Dan “The Haircut Fish” Rearden. Dan shares his unconventional journey from various odd jobs and college culinary arts to becoming a SOC analyst. Dan talks about his love for technology, self-guided learning through TryHackMe, and transitioning from IT help desk roles to cybersecurity. Known for his popular cybersecurity memes, Dan elaborates on the importance of humor in the community and how he uses it to connect and educate others. He also discusses his involvement in Capture the Flags (CTFs), current projects, the value of self-made tools in Python, and his future aspirations in detection engineering. Episode Links: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danrearden/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danrearden384 - Discord: HaircutFish - GitHub: https://github.com/haircutfish Resources Mentioned in Interview: - Security+ - https://www.comptia.org/en-us/certifications/security - ISC2 CC - https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cc - Detection Engineering - https://www.detectionengineering.net Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Early Career 00:42 Welcome to Simply Secured Podcast 01:15 Meet Dan 'Haircut Fish' Rearden 04:03 Dan's Journey into Cybersecurity 07:58 Daily Life of a SOC Analyst 10:35 Business Email Compromise Insights 16:10 Python Projects and Scripting Skills 22:29 Overcoming Roadblocks in Cybersecurity 23:01 The Origin of Cybersecurity Memes 23:55 Creative Process Behind Memes 26:55 Impact of Memes in the Cyber Community 31:31 Capture the Flag (CTF) Strategies 34:16 Certifications and Learning Paths 36:15 Rapid Fire Questions 43:23 Final Thoughts and Farewell ========================================================== Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan [https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp [https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp] Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com [https://jamesmcquiggan.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp] Email: James@jamesmcquiggan.com [James@jamesmcquiggan.com] ========================================================== Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪 ========================================================== Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com [https://www.mbpod.com/] YouTube Title Graphic: London Company Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com) Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements ========================= Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group ========================= All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber [https://youtube.com/@simplycyber] https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials [https://simplycyber.io/Socials]

From Patent Law to Product Security: A Cybersecurity Journey in the Automotive Industry

On this week’s episode we chat with Tyson Benson and explore his diverse career as a senior product cybersecurity analyst for ZFI. With a background in patent law, Benson shares his unique insights on the importance of cybersecurity in the automotive industry, particularly as it pertains to software-defined vehicles. Discover the pivotal moments that led him to this field, the legal and regulatory challenges he faces, and his perspectives on the future of cybersecurity. Don't miss this insightful conversation that digs deep into the real stories of cybersecurity practitioners making a significant impact. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity Passion 00:42 Podcast Overview and Host Introduction 01:16 Guest Introduction: Tyson Benson 01:55 Tyson's Journey into Cybersecurity 02:13 Patent Law to Product Cybersecurity 04:29 Automotive Cybersecurity Challenges 10:58 Importance of Product Security Incident Response 14:33 Supply Chain Security in Automotive Industry 17:55 Human Risk in Automotive Cybersecurity 20:49 Legal Experience in Cybersecurity 26:14 Skills for Automotive Cybersecurity 29:07 Rapid Fire Questions 36:42 Final Thoughts and Words of Wisdom Connect with Tyson: - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tysonbenson/ - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@tysonbenson - X: https://x.com/tysonbenson - Discord: **0xTyson** ========================================================== Connect with your host: James R. McQuiggan: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan [https://linkedin.com/in/jmcquiggan] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp [https://www.youtube.com/@jamesmcquiggancissp] Website: https://jamesmcquiggan.com [https://jamesmcquiggan.com/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp [https://www.tiktok.com/@jamesmcquiggan.cissp] Email: James@jamesmcquiggan.com [James@jamesmcquiggan.com] ========================================================== Simply Cyber empowers people who want a rewarding cybersecurity career 💪 ========================================================== Video Editing / Sound Engineering: Matthew Bliss, MB Podcasts - https://www.mbpod.com [https://www.mbpod.com/] YouTube Title Graphic: London Company Video Podcast graphics: Katie McQuiggan (www.katiemcquiggan.com) Music Provided by: AppleHillStudios at Envato Elements ========================= Presented by Simply Cyber Media Group ========================= All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber [https://youtube.com/@simplycyber] https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials [https://simplycyber.io/Socials]