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#827: Pablos Holman — One of The Scariest Hackers I’ve Ever Met

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Sep 16, 2025

Guest

Pablos Holman

Pablos Holman, a renowned hacker and inventor, shares insights from his extensive career, including his time at Blue Origin. The conversation dives into the hacker mindset and the vulnerabilities of everyday technology, urging a more proactive approach to cybersecurity. Holman discusses innovative nuclear energy solutions and the implications of AI in various sectors. The episode also highlights the importance of creativity in problem-solving and the exciting future of deep tech investments, reflecting an optimistic vision for global advancements.

02:31:41

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Episode notes

00:00 / 00:00

Early Public Hacking Demonstrations

Pablos demonstrated real-time hacks at conferences, including breaking voicemail and reading RFID credit cards from attendees.
Those demos aimed to raise awareness about everyday insecurities in consumer tech.

00:00 / 00:00

Hacker Mindset Defined

A hacker's mindset asks not 'what does this do' but 'what can I make this do'.
That mindset prioritizes off-label use and open-ended puzzle solving over following instructions.

00:00 / 00:00

The HackerBot Public Demo

Pablos and Eric built a HackerBot that drove to conference attendees, cracked Wi‑Fi, and displayed stolen passwords.
The bot made security risks media-friendly and helped raise public awareness about insecure systems.

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Hacking the Everyday: A Journey into Technology Vulnerabilities

01:49 • 9min

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Innovative Ingredients and the Hacker Mindset

10:46 • 5min

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The Interplay of Magic and Innovation

15:18 • 5min

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The Cybersecurity Arms Race and Innovative Energy Solutions

19:57 • 19min

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Strategic Energy Solutions for Global Advantage

38:59 • 2min

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Innovating Logistics: The Deep Tech Approach

41:03 • 16min

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Embracing Risk and Innovation

57:30 • 21min

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Inspiring Innovators and Future Visions

01:18:21 • 13min

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Exploring the Innovative NewLab in Brooklyn

01:31:06 • 2min

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Navigating Technology and Humanity

01:33:20 • 17min

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Dancing Through Cultures: A Journey of Salsa and Tango

01:50:41 • 18min

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Harnessing Deep Tech for Positive Change

02:08:30 • 12min

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Navigating Startup Investments

02:20:47 • 5min

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Concluding Insights on Kindness and Time Management

02:26:01 • 6min

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#33473

Deep Future: Creating Technology that Matters

None

Pablos Holman

Deep Future: Creating Technology that Matters is a guide to deep tech, written by Pablos Holman, exploring how to create technology that addresses significant global challenges and shapes the future. The book delves into various deep tech innovations, offering insights into how these technologies can revolutionize industries and solve pressing issues. It emphasizes the importance of creativity, innovation, and problem-solving in the field of technology. It also highlights the need for ethical considerations and responsible development to ensure that technology benefits humanity as a whole. The book provides a framework for inventors, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in leveraging technology for positive change.

#11977

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

The Art of Deception

Controlling the Human Element of Security

Kevin Mitnick

William L. Simon

The Art of Deception by Kevin D. Mitnick and William L. Simon delves into the world of social engineering, highlighting how hackers manipulate individuals to compromise security systems. The book provides real-life examples of social engineering tactics and offers practical advice on how to protect against these threats through awareness, policies, and technology.

#1438

• Mentioned in 18 episodes

Breakneck

Dan Wang

In *Breakneck*, Dan Wang explores China's transformation into an *engineering state*, relentlessly pursuing megaprojects, contrasting it with America's *lawyerly society*. The book delves into China's economic ascent and the social engineering costs, such as zero-COVID and the one-child policy, offering insights into global geopolitics.

#160

• Mentioned in 90 episodes

Snow Crash

Neal Stephenson

Published in 1992, 'Snow Crash' is a science fiction novel by Neal Stephenson that delves into a future where the United States has fragmented into corporate city-states and the internet has evolved into a virtual reality called the Metaverse. The story follows Hiro Protagonist, a pizza delivery driver and part-time hacker, and Y.T. , a teenage skateboard courier, as they navigate a complex world threatened by a mysterious computer virus and a powerful drug known as Snow Crash. The novel explores themes of history, linguistics, anthropology, and computer science, and is noted for its prescient vision of the metaverse and its influence on Silicon Valley innovators.

#1559

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Cryptonomicon

Neal Stephenson

Cryptonomicon, a historical fiction novel by Neal Stephenson, follows the intertwined stories of two groups of people separated by time: one during World War II and the other in the present day. The novel explores themes of cryptography, technology, and the nature of war. Stephenson's intricate world-building creates a unique and immersive experience for the reader. The novel's complex plot unfolds through a series of interconnected events, weaving together personal stories with grand historical events. Cryptonomicon is a challenging but rewarding read for those interested in intellectual exploration and intricate storytelling.

Pablos Holman is a hacker and inventor and the author of Deep Future: Creating Technology that Matters, the indispensable guide to deep tech. Previously, Pablos worked on spaceships at Blue Origin and helped build The Intellectual Ventures Lab to invent a wide variety of breakthroughs. Pablos also hosts the Deep Future Podcast and is managing partner at Deep Future.

This episode is brought to you by:

Cresset prestigious family office for CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs: https://cressetcapital.com/tim

Maui Nui Venison, delicious, nutrient-dense, and responsible red meat: https://mauinuivenison.com/lp/tim

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Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Start.
[00:02:12] The first time I witnessed Pablos’ digital sleight of hand.
[00:04:33] How did Pablos become what he considers to be a hacker?
[00:08:04] The off-label mindset that makes a good hacker (like Samy Kamkar) great.
[00:17:07] The magic of Rodney Mullen.
[00:20:28] How Eric Johanson and Pablos gave life to adorable password thief Hackerbot.
[00:23:44] Hacker self-defense and the zero-click exploit market.
[00:27:11] International pockets of hacker density.
[00:30:13] Conventions where modern hackers congregate.
[00:30:48] Why, in geopolitics, technology is a game lost by the non-players.
[00:33:05] The case to rally behind new nuclear power.
[00:36:54] Sequencing priorities so the US can remain technologically competitive.
[00:44:49] Evaluating risk and reward in deep tech investment.
[00:50:40] Shoring up the shape of shipping.
[00:56:59] How Pablos gained his name and famous frames.
[00:58:48] Pablos is a possible-ist.
[00:59:45] What makes Pablos an attractive hire for the world’s richest people?
[01:02:06] From Silicon Valley to Seattle: the Blue Origin origin story.
[01:08:55] Why Pablos prevails over his M-dash peers.
[01:11:41] Zero Effect and WarGames: The only movies that matter?
[01:15:58] A major security malfunction exploited by Major Malfunction.
[01:18:30] The enigmatic Neal Stephenson.
[01:19:38] Long-form lessons gleaned from Jeff Bezos and the Blue Origin mission.
[01:27:15] For solving the world’s problems, communities are crucial.
[01:31:03] Newlab PSYOPS.
[01:34:44] AI and the ripple effects of China’s engineering-minded vs. America’s attorney-heavy leadership.
[01:48:20] Unearthing like-minded inventors and innovators.
[01:50:42] How Pablos learned salsa dancing via aikido vs. my own tango experience.
[02:08:27] Why you should invest or get involved in deep tech.
[02:14:45] Clearing up fusion confusion.
[02:21:17] Making progress happen is a team effort.
[02:24:19] Parting thoughts.

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