CyberWire Daily Dave Bittner: From puppet shows to podcasts. [Media] [Career Notes]
May 18, 2025
Dive into a fascinating journey from childhood puppet shows to a career in cybersecurity. Discover how early ambitions shaped a unique path in television and tech. Learn about the importance of mentorship and kindness in leadership. Hear about the challenges of team dynamics and the tough choices leaders face to maintain respect. It's a tale of creativity, resilience, and growth, mixing fun anecdotes with valuable life lessons.
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Childhood Puppetry Sparks Career
- Dave Bittner got into media and technology inspired by his childhood love of puppetry, especially Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.
- He started performing puppet shows, which led to a job at a local PBS station where he developed early tech skills.
Host as Everyman Mediator
- Dave sees his role as a podcast host as the 'everyman in the middle,' asking the questions others won't.
- His job is to facilitate expert sharing by putting them at ease rather than being the cybersecurity expert himself.
Early Tech Entrepreneurship Experience
- After college, Dave started a company with friends, handling tech because of his computer savvy.
- Early computing had minimal security concerns beyond rare floppy disk viruses, unlike today.