The Hacker's Cache

If I had to start my cybersecurity career over in 2026, there are a few things I would do differently. In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, I break down my full cybersecurity journey from joining the Air Force, earning Security+, Linux+, CCNA, CISSP, OSCP, and other certifications, becoming a penetration tester, building a YouTube channel, dealing with burnout, and pivoting into AI security. I s...

In this Q&A episode of the Hackers Cache Podcast, I answer one of the biggest questions in cybersecurity today: Is cybersecurity still worth getting into? I share my honest thoughts after a month of job hunting, interview rejections, burnout, and watching the industry change because of AI. We also take a behind-the-scenes look at what a real penetration testing engagement looks like from kicko...

Is cybersecurity really for everyone? In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache Podcast, Kyser Clark shares his personal experience with cybersecurity burnout, the realities of breaking into the industry, and why many aspiring professionals never make it. We discuss cybersecurity careers, penetration testing, ethical hacking, certifications like the OSCP, CISSP, and Security+, work-life balance, job m...

In this deeply personal solo episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark opens up about severe cybersecurity burnout, getting let go from his pentesting job, and why he disappeared from content creation for over six months. Kyser shares the reality of working 80 to 90-hour workweeks in offensive security, balancing penetration testing, certifications, content creation, AI studies, and an MBA, whil...

 In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, I sit down with Marco Figueroa, security researcher, former Intel threat hunter, and current Mozilla AI bug bounty leader, to discuss how artificial intelligence is already reshaping cybersecurity. We dive into AI powered vulnerability discovery, malware development, nation state threats, automation, burnout in security roles, and why average cybersecurity p...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache Podcast, I sit down with Tyler Ramsbey to discuss why he quit his cybersecurity job to build his own penetration testing company, Kairos Sec, and hacking education platform, HackSmarter. We dive into the reality of cybersecurity entrepreneurship, burnout, work-life balance, OSCP and PNPT certifications, AI in penetration testing, red teaming, OffSec’s “Try Har...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, Kyser Clark sits down with HD Moore, the legendary creator of Metasploit and CEO of RunZero, to discuss why relying on CVEs is putting organizations at risk in 2025. They unpack the truth about vulnerabilities that never get CVEs, the hidden dangers of SSH exposures, and why attackers are outpacing defenders through innovation. HD also shares bold takes on AI...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, Kyser Clark sits down with seasoned penetration tester Kyle Hoehn to unpack the journey from a curious teen experimenting online to a full time professional in offensive security. Kyle shares how early exposure to computer tinkering and real world troubleshooting shaped his path, why foundational IT knowledge still separates strong hackers from the rest, and...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, Kyser Clark sits down with Jim Schultz, an OSCP-certified penetration tester, cybersecurity instructor, and consultant with over 15 years of experience. Jim shares his journey from taking apart his first family computer in the 90s to teaching hundreds of students and returning full-time to the world of ethical hacking and security consulting. They discuss how...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache Podcast, Kyser Clark answers real cybersecurity career questions from whether the OSCP or Hack The Box CPTS is better for breaking into pentesting, to how to renew your Security+ the smart way, and why cybersecurity isn’t for those who hate learning. He also exposes the truth behind bootcamps, entry-level job myths, and AI’s impact on the job market. If you’re...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark sits down with cybersecurity professional and entrepreneur Bhanu Reddy to talk about how to start a cybersecurity career from anywhere in the world, even if you live outside the U.S. or in a developing country. Bhanu shares his real journey from India to the United States, including how he passed the OSCP certification, landed cybersecurity jobs,...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , I sit down with penetration tester and security researcher Trent Miller (AzureAD) to talk about the one thing that makes pentesting fun instead of stressful: genuine friendships and community. We discuss how learning from other hackers, sharing experiences, and joining groups like DEF CON DC608 can accelerate your growth far beyond certifications or labs. Tr...

Struggling to land a cybersecurity job after passing the OSCP? In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , I break down why the OSCP certification alone isn’t enough to secure a penetration testing role. From the importance of starting in entry-level IT positions and gaining real-world technical experience, to building soft skills, showcasing work ethic, and differentiating yourself in an oversaturate...

Senior penetration tester Vladimir Ichkov shares what really matters in cybersecurity job interviews from the perspective of both a candidate and an interviewer. We discuss the role of soft skills, confidence, and humor in landing a pentesting job, common red flags that turn interviewers away, and how technical experience as a system administrator can give you an edge. If you’re preparing for a cy...

Breaking into cybersecurity isn’t about being “good enough.” It’s about outworking the 1,000 other applicants fighting for the same job. In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache podcast, I share the raw truth about competing in today’s cybersecurity job market, why certifications and hands-on projects matter more than ever, and how to stand out when everyone claims to have the same skills. Whether yo...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark sits down with Carl Vincent, better known as Vyrus, to unpack the shifting realities of cybersecurity. Carl shares straight talk on the Silver Bullet ecosystem that fraud actors rely on, why today’s cybercrime is more about account access than shell popping, and how blue teams can actually turn criminal tradecraft into an intelligence advantage....

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , returning guest Ryan Daub shares his journey from IT support to offensive security and reveals practical advice on how to level up fast in your first cybersecurity role. We cover the importance of mastering fundamentals, documenting your work, learning from failures, and asking questions without fear. Ryan also opens up about leading internal pentests, prepa...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark sits down with Red Team Consultant Robert O’Connor to unpack the realities of shellcode evasion in 2025. They dive into how antivirus and EDR solutions actually detect malicious payloads, the rise of fileless malware, and why network-level detection is still overlooked. Robert shares his hands-on experience building custom evasion techniques, his...

In this Q&A episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark tackles some of the biggest questions aspiring and active cybersecurity professionals ask. From whether you should stack network pentesting certs like CPTS, OSCP, and PNPT or mix in web certifications like OSWA and CBBH, to why you really can’t choose wrong in cybersecurity as long as you keep learning and taking action. Kyser also shares...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , I sit down with penetration tester Tadi Kandango to unpack why attention is the real currency in cybersecurity. We talk about how he broke into pentesting without a degree, the role certifications actually play, and why sharing your work publicly can open more doors than quietly grinding in the background. Whether you’re trying to land your first role or lev...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark sits down with Dino Dunn, an AI security professional and cybersecurity instructor, to uncover the hidden risks most organizations overlook when adopting large language models and AI tools. From overlooked governance issues to the dangers of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and even how compromised AI preferences could enable stealthy breache...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , senior penetration tester and red teamer Nick Aures shares the skills and habits that matter most in pentesting beyond certifications. We discuss real-world experiences from breaking into the field to finding critical vulnerabilities in companies like Tesla, USAA, and Asana. Nick reveals why strong communication, report writing, and client relationships are...

Are cybersecurity certifications still worth it in 2025? Or are they just expensive pieces of paper with no real impact on your job prospects? In this solo episode, Kyser Clark cuts through the noise and tackles the growing wave of anti-certification advice circulating online. He shares what he's actually seeing in the job market, why certifications still matter, and how to think critically a...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , returning guest Josh Ragland shares how offensive security skills give blue teamers a serious edge. From building a hash-cracking rig to diving deep into C programming and assembly, Josh explains how understanding the attacker’s mindset can drastically cut triage time and help defenders spot threats others miss. We also get into the flaws of relying too heav...

In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache , Kyser Clark interviews legendary social engineer Alethe Denis to explore the ethical limits of influence in red team engagements. From her DEF CON Black Badge victory to her groundbreaking work at Bishop Fox, Alethe shares hard-earned insights on emotional manipulation, deepfakes, social engineering strategy, and why some tactics cross the line, even when th...