

Zero Signal
Conor Sherman
Zero Signal is a high-energy podcast for cybersecurity leaders, co-hosted by Conor Sherman and Stuart Mitchell. It uniquely blends current events with in-depth conversations featuring seasoned security executives, thinkers, and builders. The podcast addresses critical questions regarding the future of cybersecurity in an AI-driven landscape, focusing on what works, what's broken, and what's next, particularly as AI redefines trust in the digital world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 21, 2025 • 59min
Trust, Talent, and Transformation- ft. Amelia Forrest Kaye (AFK)
Episode SummaryAmelia Forrest Kaye (AFK) joins to break down how security and tech leaders can turn crises into opportunities to build trust, navigate the fast-changing risks of AI, and why building strong relationships across teams—and your own personal brand—matters more than ever.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest IntroductionAmelia, or AFK as many know her, is a Fractional Chief Customer Officer and Executive Advisor who has spent nearly two decades shaping the post-sales and customer success engines at companies like Expel, Salt Security, and Tanium. Chapters00:00 Welcome01:44 Crisis Management and Customer Trust12:43 Bermuda Triangle of AI, Security & Market Forces25:09 Understanding Customer Patience and Expectations25:36 Customer Retention in the Age of AI27:47 Ignition Metrics: The Key to First Value34:42 Transformative CISOs: Building Cross-Departmental Relationships44:21 The Importance of Personal Branding for Security Leaders55:27 Monday Morning AdviceReferenced Links & ResourcesAnthropic November Threat Report Cybersecurity budgets tighten as economic anxiety risesOver 40% of agentic AI projects will be scrapped by 2027, Gartner saysHouse of Lies (TV Show) Call to ActionIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!Conor Sherman — LinkedIn | Website | Sysdig;Stuart Mitchell — LinkedIn | Website.Add subscription links: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Website.

Nov 17, 2025 • 42min
Threat Hunting with AI ft. Damien Lewke
Episode SummaryDamien Lewke, founder and CEO of Nebulock, joins to discuss how agentic AI is rapidly changing cybersecurity, making both attacks and defense faster and more accessible. You’ll hear why proactive, AI-driven threat hunting is now essential for every organization, and how Damien’s experience at top security firms shapes his approach to democratizing these tools.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest BioDamien Lewke is the Founder and CEO of Nebulock, a Boston-based cybersecurity startup pioneering autonomous, agentic threat hunting. Before launching Nebulock, he led key roles at Northrop Grumman, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Arctic Wolf, and is now at the forefront of using AI to transform proactive defense.Episode Breakdown00:00 Banter03:22 The Evolution of Cybersecurity and Threat Hunting10:17 Vibe Hunting: A New Approach to Threat Detection16:21 Leadership as a Verb in Cybersecurity19:09 Adversaries Leveraging AI: A New Era24:38 Rethinking Security Strategies31:05 The Future of Security Teams and AI37:26 Career Advice for Threat HuntersResources & ReferencesAnthropic Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaignGoogle Threat Intelligence Team AI Threat TrackerJocko Willink: Extreme OwnershipCall to ActionIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Nov 5, 2025 • 45min
Security Operations In The Age Of AI - ft. Iman Ghanizada
Episode OverviewIn this episode, cybersecurity leader Iman Ghanizada shares insights on how AI is reshaping the security landscape, the evolving role of CISOs, and why security teams must adapt to drive business value. His experience at Google and industry perspective make this a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of cybersecurity and organizational risk.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.About the GuestIman Ghanizada is a globally recognized cybersecurity leader known for his work at Google on autonomic security systems and for helping shape the industry through published books and innovative frameworks like CDCR. He has a track record of driving security transformation and is respected for his visionary approach to both technology and business risk. Connect with Iman on LinkedIn to follow his latest work and insights.Episode Breakdown00:00 The Evolution of Cybersecurity02:54 AI and the Future of Security06:01 The Role of CISOs in Modern Organizations11:48 AI's Impact on Security and Business Growth14:49 Red Teaming and the Future of AI Security18:28 Integrating AI in Security Operations25:52 Rethinking Security Roles and Responsibilities30:48 The Future of the CISO Role36:29 Corporate Espionage and Insider Threats40:26 Navigating AI Workloads in Cloud Environments44:34 Intro Long - Final.mp4Referenced ResourcesSite Reliability Engineering (SRE) — Referenced as the foundational discipline for security engineering at Google.Pegasus Spyware — Cited as an example of advanced persistent threat tools.Subscribe & FollowIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 31, 2025 • 45min
UltraViolet Cyber Acquisition of BlackDuck Service: Cyber M&A, Unified SecOps - ft Ira Goldstein
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Ira Goldstein, Executive Chair and CEO of Ultraviolet Cyber, shares insights on the company's acquisition of Black Duck's application security testing business and explains how CISOs can drive value and manage risk during cybersecurity M&A.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest BioIra Goldstein is the Executive Chair and CEO of Ultraviolet Cyber and the Founder and CEO of Kernel Advisory. He has scaled global operations at Herjavec Group as SVP and COO. Ira also serves on boards, including Rogers CyberSecure Catalyst.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/goldsteinira/Website: https://www.uvcyber.com/Episode Breakdown00:00 Banter02:33 Guest Introduction: Ira Goldstein03:41 Exploring Cyber M&A Trends10:57 The Role of Security Leaders in M&A18:08 Ultraviolet Cyber's Acquisition of Black Duck21:13 The Impact of AI on Code Quality28:26 Navigating the Cybersecurity Market Landscape31:09 Building Trust in Cybersecurity Partnerships41:11 Monday Morning Advice for Security Leaders44:25 OutroReferenced ResourcesBusinessWire: UltraViolet Cyber Acquires Black Duck’s Application Security Testing Services BusinessUltraViolet Cyber: UltraViolet Cyber Acquires Black Duck’s Application Security Testing Services BusinessKroll: Cybersecurity Software Sector M&A Industry Insights – Summer 2025Return on Security: Security Funded #214 – Services Roll-Ups & AI Consolidation4x Velocity, 10x Vulnerabilities: AI Coding Assistants Are Shipping More RisksFollow and Subscribe→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube

Oct 29, 2025 • 45min
From CISO to VC: Investing in Performance - ft. Karl Mattson
Episode SummaryKarl Mattson shares his journey from CISO to venture investor, offering practical advice on what makes founders successful in cybersecurity and how AI is rapidly changing the field. If you want to understand career transitions and what it takes to thrive in today's security landscape, this episode gives you direct insights from someone who's done it all.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.About the GuestKarl Mattson is a cybersecurity leader turned venture investor, known for his journey from operating as a CISO at a bank to field CISO roles and now founding his own venture fund. He is recognized for his hands-on approach, deep industry insight, and commitment to backing exceptional founders in AI and security. Connect with Karl to follow his work and insights:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlmattson1/Website: https://squaredcircle.vc/Episode Chapters00:00 The Journey to Venture Capital05:01 Assessing Founders and Companies08:40 The Role of AI in Security16:22 Characteristics of Successful Startups22:10 The CISO's Transition to Vendor Roles30:39 The Reality of the CISO Role33:08 AI's Impact on Security and Staffing38:29 Advice for CISOs in a Rapidly Changing Environment42:00 Embracing Strengths and Taking RisksSubscribe & FollowIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 24, 2025 • 46min
Atlas Browser, F5 Breach, and How to Measure Resilience
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Conor and Stuart break down the risks of new tech like OpenAI's Atlas browser, the F5 source code breach, AWS outages, and deepfakes, showing you why resilience and clear risk management matter more than ever. You'll get practical advice on handling third- and fourth-party risk, understanding the real cost of outages, and preparing your business for today's cybersecurity threats.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Episode Chapters00:00 Banter01:19 OpenAI's Atlas Browser04:34 The Implications of F5 Source Code Theft10:53 AWS Outage and Business Resilience18:04 The Real Cost of Service Outages23:42 The FTC's Stance on AI Marketing and Truthfulness30:08 The Rise of Deepfakes and Their Implications43:45 Actionable Insights for Business Leaders45:16 Intro LongReferenced Links & ResourcesOpenAI Atlas BrowserBrave Research on Perplexity's Comet BrowserGoogle Mandiant M-Trends Report FTC Operation AI Comply Ironscales Deepfake ReportDarktrace Sam Altman/AP Voiceprint Authentication Quote Call to ActionIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 22, 2025 • 53min
Guardrails and Growth: AI's Impact on Security - ft Richard Bird
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Richard Bird, Chief Information Security Officer at Singular AI, explains why the rush to adopt AI is creating new security risks and why getting the basics right is more important than ever. If you want to understand how AI is changing security and what you need to do about it, this conversation is essential.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest BioRichard Bird is the Chief Information Security Officer at Singular AI and an industry veteran with over 30 years of experience. He has held key roles at JP Morgan, Chase, Ping Identity, and Traceable, and recently launched the podcast Yippee-ki-ai, focused on operationalizing AI in the real world. Connect with Richard on LinkedIn to follow his latest work and insights.Episode Timestamps00:00 The AI Adoption Crisis and API Security11:41 Corporate Showmanship and the Reality of Layoffs15:11 The Role of the Chief AI Officer: A Critical Examination20:11 AI's Impact on Security Dynamics26:10 The Dangers of AI in Security30:50 Economic Sustainability of AI Technologies41:40 AI Ethics: Real-World Implications45:58 The Future of AI: Optimism and Caution48:03 The Evolution of Security Landscape: AI's Role52:08 Intro Long - Final.mp4Referenced Thought Leaders & ArticlesRay Dalio (referenced for modeling rise and fall of empires)Chase Cunningham (Dr. Zero Trust, referenced as a thought leader)David Friedman article on AI economics (referenced for economic analysis of AI)Subscribe & FollowIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 17, 2025 • 53min
Navigating AI Governance - ft. Walter Haydock
Episode SummaryWalter Haydock shares practical strategies for navigating the complex landscape of AI governance, risk management, and compliance, especially in regulated sectors.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest BioWalter Haydock is the Founder and CEO of StackAware, where he helps organizations operationalize AI governance through frameworks like ISO/IEC 42001 and the NIST AI RMF. → Connect with Walter on LinkedIn→ Subscribe to his newsletter, Deploy SecurelyReferenced Laws, Frameworks, and PapersCalifornia Transparency and Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act California AB 2013 SB53 California California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)New York City Local Law 144 ISO/IEC 42001 Colorado Artificial Intelligence ActUnified Control FrameworkCall to ActionIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 10, 2025 • 45min
OpenAI’s Agent Builder, Yale Budget Lab, Hiring and Mentorship - ft Jake Bernardes
Episode SummaryIn this episode, Jake Bernardes, CISO at Anecdotes, joins to break down the risks and opportunities of OpenAI's AgentKit, vendor lock-in, and the real impact of AI on enterprise security and jobs. SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.Guest DetailsJake Bernardes is the Chief Information Security Officer at Anecdotes, a top GRC platform. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeleobernardes/Referenced Links & ResearchOpenAI: Introducing AgentKit+Axios: The jobs crisis is bigger than AITechRadar: AI might not actually be killing off jobs like we thoughtYale Budget Lab: Evaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor MarketChallenger Gray: September Job Cuts Fall 37% from AugustLockedInAI: 2025 AI Trends in US Job MarketsSysdig: Shai Hulud: The Novel Self-Replicating Worm Infecting Hundreds of NPM PackagesCall to ActionIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

Oct 8, 2025 • 36min
The Importance of Purple Teaming in AI Security - ft. Disesdi Susanna Cox
Episode SummaryIn this episode, AI architect and security researcher Disesdi Susanna Cox explains the vast and complex attack surface of AI systems, highlighting the need for new security approaches like purple teaming and MLSecOps. Her insights help security leaders understand the unique risks and ethical challenges of AI, making this a must-listen for anyone responsible for securing modern AI-driven organizations.SponsorsThank you to our sponsors who make this show possible.→ Hampton North. Hampton North is the premium US based cybersecurity search firm.→ Sysdig. Secure the cloud
the right way with agentic AI.About the GuestDisesdi Susanna Cox is an AI architect, patent holder, and consulting security researcher recognized for her work with the OWASP AI Exchange. Her frameworks and research have been adopted globally to help organizations understand and address the evolving security landscape in AI. Connect with Susanna to follow her latest insights and contributions:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/disesdi/Newsletter: https://disesdi.substack.com/OWASP AI Exchange: https://owasp.org/www-project-ai-exchange/Episode Breakdown00:00 Navigating the AI Security Landscape03:30 Understanding Adversarial Attacks in AI06:06 The Importance of Purple Teaming in AI Security08:49 Establishing MLSecOps for AI Systems11:40 The Role of Chief AI Security Officer13:03 Ethics and Risks of AI in Decision Making26:07 The Future of Red Teaming in AI Security35:33 Intro Long - Final.mp4Referenced ResourcesOWASP AI ExchangeDisesdi Substack: The Adversarial Subspace ProblemDO-178C (Guidance for Aerospace Software)Subscribe & ShareIf you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe!→ Apple Podcasts→ Spotify.→ YouTube→ WebsiteFollow You Hosts:→ Conor Sherman: LinkedIn→ Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn


