Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Is cybersecurity still a great career in 2026? In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we break down the latest 2026 ISSA Life and Times of Cybersecurity Professionals report and compare the research to our own experience leading enterprise cybersecurity teams. Based on feedback from 380 IT and cybersecurity professionals, we discuss: • The...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Everyone is asking the same question: "Will AI replace cybersecurity jobs?" After working with AI every day in a real enterprise security program, my answer may surprise you. In this episode, I explain why AI is actually creating more work for cybersecurity teams—not less. We discuss: Why vulnerability management is exploding  How AI is acceler...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Trying to break into cybersecurity but not sure whether you should pursue a SOC Analyst role or a GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) position? In this episode of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we break down the differences between SOC and GRC careers, the skills needed for each path, and how to determine which one fits your strengths, interests,...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Too many people are getting bad advice about cybersecurity careers, and it’s hurting their chances of getting hired. In this episode of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we break down some of the biggest myths in cybersecurity today, including: • “Cybersecurity is entry-level”  • “AI is replacing SOC analysts”  • “You need to know everything before appl...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this special Q&A episode of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we answer REAL questions submitted directly by our community about breaking into cybersecurity in 2026. We cover: How to become employable in your first 90 days  The best entry-level IT and cybersecurity roles  What hiring managers ACTUALLY look for  Home labs that recruiters care abou...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! AI is changing cybersecurity faster than ever… but what does that actually mean for YOU? In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we break down the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI in cybersecurity—and most importantly, what you should be doing right now to stay ahead. We cover: How AI is becoming a force multiplier for cybersecurity teams ...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this special “ After Hours ” episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we’re switching things up. No structured teaching. No formal topics. Just real, unfiltered conversation. We’re giving you a behind-the-scenes look at what we actually talk about off-camera — from: What it’s really like hiring cybersecurity analysts What separates strong candida...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Trying to figure out which cybersecurity certifications are actually worth it in 2026? In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we break down the best certifications for every path in cybersecurity — whether you're just starting out or trying to level up. We cover: The foundational certs you should start with (and why fundamentals matte...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we sit down with Randy Marchany , longtime CISO at Virginia Tech University, to break down the biggest lessons he’s learned from 35 years in cybersecurity and over 50 years in IT. From building one of the earliest hands-on cybersecurity training labs to leading incident response and mentoring the next...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! What does it really mean to think like a hacker? In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we sit down with Ed Skoudis , President of the SANS Technology Institute and one of the most respected leaders in cybersecurity education. Ed shares how his career evolved from defense to offense—and why developing a hacker mindset is critical for anyon...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! On this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we sit down with Jeffrey Wheatman to break down one of the most underrated skills in cybersecurity: storytelling .  Jeffrey shares how he built a career helping CISOs communicate more effectively with boards, executives, and teams by shifting away from charts and data toward stories that resonate and...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Most cybersecurity candidates prepare the wrong way for interviews. They focus only on technical questions… but hiring managers are evaluating something completely different. In this episode, we break down exactly what cybersecurity hiring managers look for during interviews — based on real hiring experience building and managing security teams. You’ll l...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode, we interview Matt Osegard, a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent with over 21 years of experience in cybersecurity and counterintelligence investigations. Matt shares his journey from Army officer and classroom teacher to leading cyber and counterintelligence operations inside the FBI. We discuss: What training at Quantico is actually...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! If you’ve been applying for cybersecurity jobs and hearing nothing back… this might be why. In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, two active cybersecurity hiring leaders break down what’s actually preventing candidates from getting interviews — based on real hiring experience and large-scale resume data analysis. We cover: How to write re...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Cybersecurity doesn’t just have a talent gap — it has a leadership gap . In this episode of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast , we sit down with Dave Berke , retired Marine Corps officer, former Top Gun instructor, and Chief Development Officer at Echelon Front , to talk about why leadership is missing across IT and cybersecurity — and why technical exce...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! If you’ve been learning cybersecurity, applying for jobs, or working in the field—and your confidence has taken a hit—this episode is for you. In Season 6, Episode 3 of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast , Steve and John break down why confidence drops so often in cybersecurity and how to rebuild it in a real, practical way. We talk about: How lack of con...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! If you feel like you’ve been studying cybersecurity but not actually making progress, this episode is for you. In Season 6 Episode 2 of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, Steve and John break down how to reset your cybersecurity learning plan and stop wasting time on the wrong things. Whether you took a break, jumped between too many topics, or followed...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! Many cybersecurity professionals didn’t quit — they just got stuck. In this Season 6 premiere of The Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, we share 5 practical tactics to restart your cybersecurity career in 2026 , especially if you lost momentum, felt burned out, or fell behind in 2025. This isn’t about hype or starting over from scratch. It’s about: Reflectin...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In the season five finale of the Cyber Security Mentors podcast, hosts Steve and John reflect on the season's highlights, featuring insightful discussions with various cybersecurity experts. They recap key lessons learned, including leadership during crises, negotiation tactics, and the importance of community support. The episode also addresses lis...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cyber Security Mentals podcast, hosts Steve and John delve into effective strategies for studying cybersecurity. They discuss the importance of structured learning, hands-on labs, and consistent practice, while exploring the challenges of self-paced learning. The episode highlights the benefits of programs like ACI Learning and the...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, Eric O'Neill shares his experiences as an undercover FBI agent who caught one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history, Robert Hansen. He discusses the evolution of cybercrime, the importance of understanding cyber attacks, and the intersection of espionage and cybersecurity. O'Neill empha...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, Charles Carmakal, CTO at Mandiant, discusses the current state of cybersecurity, the evolving threat landscape, and the importance of resilience in organizations. He emphasizes the ongoing arms race between cyber attackers and defenders, the rise of ransomware and extortion tactics, and the critical t...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In Part 2, we discuss how a routine firewall rollout at ANU accidentally severed the attackers’ C2, forcing them into noisy, rushed activity that revealed their tradecraft. Suthagar explains the balance between observing for intel and acting to minimize harm, and how transparent, tightly controlled communications—culminating in a readable public breach r...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast, Suthagar Seevaratnam, a former CISO at the Australian National University, shares his journey into cybersecurity and the challenges faced during a significant data breach. He discusses the importance of addressing organizational trauma, effective leadership during crises, and the human element in cybe...

Send us Fan Mail and we can reply directly! In this episode of the Cybersecurity Mentors Podcast , we break down how to negotiate with confidence — whether you’re reviewing a job offer, asking for a raise, or chasing that next promotion. Drawing from years of leadership experience, they share real-world stories about what hiring managers actually think during negotiations, how to spot red flags in...