CYBR.SEC.CAST

Phil and Michael are joined by Kevin Pentecost, Information Security Director at SMP and co-host of the Cyber Distortion podcast, and co-host Jason Papillon, Founder & CEO of Cipher Nova.

This week Michael and Sam are talking to Bytewhisper CEO and previous HOU.SEC.CON. speaker, John Dickson! They discuss his journey from the Air Force into cybersecurity, his long-standing passion for application security, and why AI security testing isn’t fundamentally separate from traditional penetration testing. 
Things Mentioned:
John’s 2024 talk: https://youtu.be/_dYQ2aFOxGA?si=s8fK04WhUJDCutV6
John’s 2025 talk: https://youtu.be/WF9nle1BppE?si=bUbRtpXeQbU6mxWW
Do you have a question for the hosts? Reach out to us at [email protected] 
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In this episode:
Host: Michael Farnum
Host: Sam Van Ryder
Guest: John Dickson
Production and editing: Lauren Andrus
Music by: August Honey

In this episode, Michael and Sam sit down with Dr. Dustin Sachs (DCS), CEO and founder of Psybercog Labs, to explore why humans - not technology - are often the limiting factor in cybersecurity. They dive into cognitive overload, bias, and decision fatigue, and how these hidden forces shape security outcomes. Dustin also shares his unconventional path into cyber and explains how Psybercog Labs uses behavioral science to uncover decision-making blind spots and help organizations execute smarter, more effective security strategies.
Things Mentioned:
AI-Assisted Cybersecurity Team Discovers 12 OpenSSL Vulnerabilities, Claims Humans are the Limiting Factor – Some Vulnerabilities have been Around for Decades - https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/ai-assisted-cybersecurity-team-discovers-12-openssl-vulnerabilities-claims-humans-are-the-limiting-factor-some-vulnerabilities-have-been-around-for-decades
Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgement by Daniel Kahneman - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noise:_A_Flaw_in_Human_Judgment
Psybercog Labs - https://www.psybercog.com 
Do you have a question for the hosts? Reach out to us at [email protected] 
Keep up with CYBR.SEC.CON.:
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Check out our Conferences and Events:
CYBR.SEC.CON.
OT.SEC.CON.
CYBR.HAK.CON.
EXEC.SEC.CON.
CSC User Group
Support CYBR.SEC.Careers Non-Profit Efforts
CYBR.SEC.Careers
Apply to the CYBR.SEC.Careers Scholarship
Taylor Austin Broussard Memorial Scholarship
Listen to our other show:
CYBR.HAK.CAST
In this episode:
Host: Michael Farnum
Host: Sam Van Ryder
Guest: Dr. Dustin Sachs
Production and editing: Lauren Andrus
Music by: August Honey

This week, Michael and Sam chat with educator, founder, and OT.SEC.CON. opening keynote speaker Mike Holcomb! They discuss his free, in-person training coming up on March 31 in Houston, how - like many others - the movie War Games played a role in his journey into the cybersecurity industry, and how his focus has shifted toward OT/ICS security education.
Things Mentioned:
Mike’s site - https://www.mikeholcomb.com/
Mike’s YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@utilsec
BSides ICS - https://www.bsidesics.org/
Sign up for Mike’s free class on March 31, 2026 when you sign up for OT.SEC.CON. - https://www.xcdsystem.com/cybrseccommunity/attendee/index.cfm?ID=DwWuEm5
Register for Jeremiah Grossman's Webinar - https://www.cybrsecmedia.com/webinar/
Do you have a question for the hosts? Reach out to us at [email protected] 
Keep up with CYBR.SEC.CON.:
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Keep up with CYBR.SEC.Media:
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Check out our Conferences and Events:
CYBR.SEC.CON.
OT.SEC.CON.
CYBR.HAK.CON.
EXEC.SEC.CON.
CSC User Group
Support or apply to our Scholarship Program:
TAB Cyber Foundation
Subscribe to the podcast: 
Apple
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Listen to our other show:
CYBR.HAK.CAST
 In this episode:
Host: Michael Farnum
Host: Sam Van Ryder
Guest: Mike Holcomb
Production and editing: Lauren Andrus
Music by: August Honey

Michael and Sam are talking to the new VP and Editor-in-Chief of CYBR.SEC.Media, Bill Brenner! They discuss his extensive 20+ year career journey from traditional journalism to cybersecurity media, the importance of supporting the mental health of cyber defenders, and his vision for CYBR.SEC.Media. 
Things Mentioned:
Bill’s Letter from the Editor - https://www.cybrsecmedia.com/letter-from-the-new-editor-in-chief-of-cybr-sec-media/
 Do you have a question for the hosts? Reach out to us at [email protected]  
Keep up with CYBR.SEC.CON.:
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 Keep up with CYBR.SEC.Media:
LinkedIn
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Check out our Conferences and Events:
CYBR.SEC.CON.
OT.SEC.CON.
CYBR.HAK.CON.
EXEC.SEC.CON.
CSC User Group
 Support or apply to our Scholarship Program:
TAB Cyber Foundation
Subscribe to the podcast: 
Apple
Spotify
In this episode:
Host: Michael Farnum
Host: Sam Van Ryder
Guest: Bill Brenner
Production and editing: Lauren Andrus
Music by: August Honey