Cyber Threat Intelligence Podcast

Curiosity can rewrite a career—and change how an investigation ends. We sit down with Valeri Soloninka, a Russian-speaking cybersecurity professional now protecting government entities in the UAE, to trace a path from hands-on engineering to enterprise SOC work and into the high-impact world of operational and tactical cyber threat intelligence. Along the way, we unpack how fundamentals like networking, DNS, and OS internals still ...

What if your best career move starts where you least expect it? Charlotte joins us to share how a love for global history and policy, a bout of academic burnout, and a train-to-hire detour into agile software set the stage for a thriving path in cyber threat intelligence. Her story shows how curiosity, timing, and a willingness to say yes can turn scattered experiences into a focused CTI career.

We dig into the practical d...

Remember when critical infrastructure defenders had to convince people that cyber attacks were even possible? Those days are gone. Today's challenge is prioritizing defenses in a landscape where threats are multiplying faster than resources.

Sarah Freeman, Chief Engineer for Intelligence Modeling and Simulation at MITRE's Cyber Infrastructure Protection Innovation Center, takes us on a journey through the evoluti...

Imagine a criminal enterprise so sophisticated it employs lawyers, creates flashy recruitment videos, and operates its own university. Welcome to the modern ransomware ecosystem, expertly decoded by threat intelligence researcher Tammy Harper in this eye-opening episode.

Harper pulls back the curtain on the surprisingly corporate structure of ransomware operations, revealing a three-tiered hierarchy ranging from invite-onl...

"Basically, everyone just do  whatever they feel like and then call it intelligence." With these provocative words, Freddy Murre cuts straight to the heart of what's wrong with most cyber threat intelligence practices today.

Drawing from 13 years of intelligence experience spanning military operations and private sector work, Freddy exposes the critical disconnect between intelligence methodology and what ma...

Data science meets threat intelligence in this fascinating conversation with Dr. Jean Nestor Dahj, who reveals why the analytical mindset serves as the perfect foundation for effective cyber threat intelligence work. With over eight years in information security and a strong background in data science, Dr. Nestor-Dodge shares how his experience analyzing vast datasets naturally evolved into identifying patterns in threat actor beha...

The cybersecurity industry has a people problem. While we chase after the latest tools and technologies, we're overlooking what Gert-Jan Bruggink calls "the human element" – the critical factor that connects technical solutions with actual security outcomes. In this thought-provoking conversation, Gert-Jan shares his journey from security engineering to pioneering scenario-based threat intelligence, revealing how his...

What does it take to become a cybersecurity "unicorn"? According to Adam Goss, it's the rare combination of threat intelligence expertise with cross-domain skills that truly drives innovation in our industry.

Adam takes us on his unconventional journey from aspiring penetration tester to CTI specialist and educator, revealing the critical mindset shifts required when transitioning between security roles. Mos...

How does a military intelligence background translate to cyber threat intelligence? Sam Flockhart, a former UK military intelligence operator who now heads threat management at a global bank, reveals the fascinating journey and powerful parallels between these worlds.

Sam opens up about his transition from conventional military intelligence to the cyber realm despite having "absolutely no cyber knowledge" initial...

What does it take to build an effective Cyber Threat Intelligence function from scratch? In this eye-opening conversation, Bianca Miclea shatters the myth that cybersecurity is only for those with traditional technical backgrounds.

Bianca shares her remarkable journey from politics student to cybersecurity leader, revealing how her academic background became an unexpected asset in the CTI world. "It was one of those &...

What does cybersecurity look like when you're protecting the world's largest streaming service and content studio? Jason Chan, who built and led Netflix's security team for over a decade, takes us behind the scenes of securing one of the most transformative companies in modern history.

From Netflix's humble beginnings as a DVD-by-mail service to its evolution into a global streaming behemoth operating i...

From nuclear weapons research to reshaping Europe's stance on Chinese technology in critical infrastructure, Andra Rojčík's journey into cyber threat intelligence defies conventional career paths. As a principal CTI analyst who teaches intelligence analysis tradecraft, Andra brings unique perspectives from his experience at NATO, the Czech Intelligence Agency, and now Red Hat.

During his time leading the Strategi...

Ever wonder how top security teams stay one step ahead of cybercriminals? The answer lies in the ancient wisdom of Sun Tzu: "If you know yourself and know your enemy, you'll win all battles." This principle forms the foundation of effective Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI).
 
To celebrate our 10th episode, we had an insightful conversation with Kees Pouw, a veteran CISO with over two decades of cybersecurity e...

What happens when traditional intelligence methodology meets modern cybersecurity? Scott Scher, CTI Associate Director with expertise in nation-state threat actors and cybercriminal groups, reveals a powerful perspective: successful CTI professionals are intelligence analysts first and cybersecurity specialists second.

Drawing from his background in international security policy and experience across government and private...

The digital world is full of breadcrumbs that tell our stories - are you carefully tracking who follows them back to you? In this eye-opening conversation with OSINT expert Ritu Gill, we pull back the curtain on the fascinating world of Open Source Intelligence and why proper tool vetting matters more than you might think.

Drawing from her 18 years in Canadian law enforcement and extensive consulting experience, Ritu revea...

What does the future of Cyber Threat Intelligence look like beyond basic feeds and reports? Former CIA analyst John Doyle takes us behind the curtain of modern CTI operations, revealing how smart teams are delivering value across entire organizations.

With over 16 years tracking state-sponsored APT groups and now serving as a principal intelligence enablement consultant, Doyle explains how CTI roles are evolving to meet ex...

What happens when you combine the precision of open-source intelligence with the strategic focus of cyber threat intelligence? Aaron Roberts, founder of Prospective Intelligence and author of "Cyber Threat Intelligence: The No-Nonsense Guide for CISOs and Security Managers," reveals the powerful intersection where these disciplines meet.

Aaron's journey from aspiring football coach to cyber threat expert pro...

What does it take to succeed in cyber threat intelligence today? Josh Darby McLellan draws from his unique journey through geopolitical risk into the CTI space to reveal practical insights for both aspiring analysts and established professionals.

The conversation opens with Josh's unexpected path into threat intelligence, highlighting a crucial revelation for newcomers: you don't need special access or expensive ...

Cherie Burgett takes us on a fascinating journey from her days as a Radio Shack employee and avid gamer to becoming the Director of Cyber Intelligence Operations for the Mining and Metals Information Sharing and Analysis Center. Her story demolishes the myth that cybersecurity professionals must follow traditional career paths, demonstrating how life skills, natural curiosity, and a hacker mentality can translate into powerful cybe...