CyberBytes: The Podcast

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Welcome to CyberBytes: The Podcast by Aspiron Search, your go-to source for exclusive interviews with cybersecurity leaders. We explore their career journeys, industry insights, and the evolving world of cyber tech. Gain valuable knowledge from top experts and stay informed about the latest in cybersecurity. Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of cybersecurity! Aspiron Search is the competitive advantage in cybersecurity staffing, specialising in early-stage and GTM cybersecurity recruitment. We’ve supported everything from building founding teams for emerging startups to scaling glo

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    From MI5 to AI Agents: Rethinking How Model's Learn - Overmind

    In this episode, we sit down with Tyler and Sam, founders of Overmind, to unpack one of the most exciting shifts happening in AI right now.From building tools inside MI5 to launching an AI startup in the Bay Area, Tyler shares how his background in intelligence and high-stakes problem solving shaped Overmind’s approach to AI infrastructure.We dive into: • Why the future of AI isn’t bigger models, but smarter, specialised agents • The problem with relying on general-purpose LLMs • How continuous learning is becoming a competitive advantage • What it’s really like building as UK founders in San Francisco during RSA week • And why more companies need to “own” their AI instead of renting itOvermind is building the infrastructure layer that allows AI models to learn from real-world data, improve over time, and operate more reliably in production.If you’re building, investing, or just trying to understand where AI is heading next, this is one to watchTyler's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-edwards-b393a5352/Sam's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-brunt-30b5b9a8/Overmind - https://www.overmindlab.ai/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron Search - https://aspironsearch.com/

    18 min

  2. 4 DAYS AGO

    Why Securing AI Starts Before The Model - Hardshell

    In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Schoka, CEO and Co-Founder of Hardshell, live from RSA, to unpack one of the biggest challenges in AI today: how to use sensitive data without putting it at risk. Andrew shares his journey from offensive cyber operations in the military, working with the US Cyber Command, to building a startup focused on enabling safe AI adoption across industries like healthcare, finance, and defense. We dive into: • Why AI is only as powerful as the data behind it • The hidden risks of training models on sensitive information • The difference between AI for security vs security for AI • How Hardshell is tackling the problem at the data layer before models are even built • Why security should be seen as an enabler, not a blocker, for AI innovation This is a must-watch for founders, security leaders, and anyone navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape. If you're thinking about deploying AI in your organisation, this conversation will change how you think about risk, data, and what “secure by design” really means. Andrew's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-schoka/ Hardshell - https://hardshell.ai/ Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/ Aspiron Search - https://aspironsearch.com/

    18 min

  3. 6 DAYS AGO

    The $100M Phone Call: How Social Engineering Broke Cybersecurity

    In this episode of CyberBytes, we’re joined by Keith Stewart, Founder of Humanix, to unpack one of the biggest blind spots in cybersecurity today: the human layer. Fresh off the RSA Innovation Sandbox, Keith shares what it takes to distill a deeply technical product into a three-minute pitch and why that challenge reflects a much bigger problem across the industry. We dive into the infamous MGM Resorts breach, a $100M+ attack that didn’t rely on zero-days or sophisticated malware, but a simple help desk phone call. It’s a stark reminder that today’s attackers aren’t just hacking systems, they’re manipulating people. Keith breaks down: • Why social engineering continues to be the #1 attack vector • The limitations of traditional security awareness training • How attackers exploit trust, urgency, and human behavior to bypass even the strongest controls • Why the industry has been “blaming the victim” instead of solving the problem We also explore how Humanix is approaching this differently, treating social engineering as a detection and response problem, not just a training issue. By using AI to analyse conversations in real time, they aim to identify and stop attacks before damage is done. Looking ahead, the conversation shifts to the rise of AI-driven help desks and agentic systems, and why this could massively expand the attack surface if left unchecked. Keith's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithrstewart/ Humanix - https://www.linkedin.com/company/humanixai/ Steffen's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steffenfoley/ Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

    22 min

  4. 10 APR

    From Noise to Narrative: How Token Security Stood Out at RSAC

    Today on CyberBytes, we’re joined by Itamar, Co-Founder and CEO, and Russell, VP of Marketing, at Token Security.Fresh off the RSA Conference 2026, where they were named one of just 10 finalists in the prestigious Innovation Sandbox, they’re building at the forefront of one of cybersecurity’s biggest shifts: securing AI agents.While much of the industry is focused on guardrails and prompt security, Token Security is taking a different approach. Their belief? AI agent risk is fundamentally an identity and access problem. And they’re helping organisations understand, manage, and secure what these agents can actually do.Itamar brings a deep technical background, having built security products since the age of 18 and served in Israel’s elite cyber unit 8200, before going on to build and exit a startup alongside one of the founders of Waze. Russell pairs that with hands-on security experience and a track record of scaling messaging and go-to-market at high-growth cybersecurity companies.In this episode, we unpack their journey to RSA Sandbox, how to cut through the noise in a crowded AI security market, and why changing how people think about the problem is the real key to standing out.Itamar's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itamar-apelblat/Russell's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmiller/Oliver's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Nina's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-korfias-39981311/Aspiron Search - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/Aspiron Influence - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-influence/

    17 min

  5. 8 APR

    The Problem No One Is Solving In SecOps - Fig Security

    In this episode, we sit down with Gal Shafir, CEO and Co-Founder of Fig Security, fresh out of stealth and already making waves in the cybersecurity space.From leading global security architecture at Google to building and exiting Simplify, Gal brings deep SecOps expertise and a clear vision for the future of security operations.We dive into Fig Security’s journey from idea to RSA Sandbox finalist in just 12 months, and why they’re taking a fundamentally different approach to the crowded AI SOC market.Instead of focusing on alerts and analysts, Fig is tackling the real problem: the broken, complex infrastructure underneath modern security operations. The result? A new way to think about trust, data integrity, and how AI can actually work in the SOC.We also explore: • Why most AI security tools are solving the wrong problem • The growing complexity of SecOps infrastructure (and why it’s holding teams back) • What SOC modernisation really looks like over the next 2–3 yearsIf you’re a founder, operator, or security leader trying to understand where the market is heading, this is a must-listen.

    15 min

  6. 6 APR

    The $8M Bet on Securing AI Agents: Inside Manifold Security

    In this episode, we sit down with Mike McKenna (CRO & Co-Founder of Manifold Security) fresh off their $8M seed round, to unpack what’s really happening at the cutting edge of AI security.AI adoption is exploding, agents are everywhere, and security teams are being told one thing: “Get AI done.”But here’s the problem…No one fully understands the risks.Mike breaks down: • Why AI agents are creating an entirely new attack surface • The shift from securing what models say → to securing what agents actually do • How Manifold is building a low-friction approach to AI security • Lessons from scaling Protect AI during the early generative AI wave • What it takes to build and sell in a category that didn’t exist 18 months ago • Why AI security talent doesn’t exist yet… and how to hire anywayWe also dive into: • The reality of competing in a noisy “AI security” market • Founder-market fit and why this team came back together • How to win your first 50 customers in a brand new categoryIf you’re a cybersecurity founder, operator, or investor, this is a must-listen.Mike's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemckenna9/Manifold Security: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manifoldsecurity/Oliver's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverlegg/Aspiron: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-search/

    16 min

  7. 3 APR

    From 4 Weeks In to Winning RSA Sandbox: The Inside Story

    Fresh off winning Most Innovative Startup at the RSA Innovation Sandbox, we sit down with the Head of Marketing, Story Tweedie-Yates, at Geordie AI to break down what great marketing actually looks like at an early-stage cybersecurity company.Joining just four weeks before RSA, she was tasked with shaping the story, refining the pitch, and helping translate a highly technical product into something clear, compelling, and stage-ready.In this episode, we dive into: • How to turn complex cybersecurity products into simple, powerful narratives • The process of building a founder’s story and coaching them for high-stakes moments • Why positioning is still broken in most startups and how to fix it • How to think about messaging across different personas without losing clarity • The balance between demand generation, PR, and credibility in today’s market • What’s changed in marketing over the last few years, especially with AI and searchWe also explore her upcoming book, and why most technical founders struggle to communicate what they’ve built and how marketers can bridge that gap.If you’re a marketing leader, founder, or operator in cybersecurity or AI, this episode is a masterclass in storytelling, positioning, and building credibility from day one.Story's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/story-tweedie-yates-550b9234/Geordie AI: https://www.geordie.ai/Nina Korfias: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-korfias-39981311/Aspiron Influence: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspiron-influence/

    18 min

  8. 18 MAR

    AI Powered Attacks are Outpacing CISOs - Bolster AI

    In this episode, Joseph sits down with Rod Schultz, CEO of Bolster AI, to unpack how cybersecurity has evolved from its earliest days to the AI-powered battlefield we’re seeing today.Rod shares his journey from joining Cisco in the late 90s, where security was still an unproven concept, through to working on cryptography at Apple, digital rights management during the rise of iTunes, and leading product security at Zoom during its explosive growth in the pandemic.But the real focus of the conversation is what’s happening now.Rod explains why: • Cyber and fraud are now converging into one problem • Attackers are targeting humans, not infrastructure • AI is accelerating both the volume and precision of attacks • And why CISOs are being forced to rethink their role entirelyOne of the biggest shifts? Security teams are no longer just protecting the network. They’re now responsible for protecting customers, brand trust, and a rapidly expanding “human attack surface.”If you’re a cybersecurity leader, founder, or operator trying to understand where the industry is heading, this is a must-listen.Rod's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodschultz/Bolster AI - https://www.linkedin.com/company/bolster-ai/Joseph's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybercoops/Aspiron Search - https://aspironsearch.com/

    31 min
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About

Welcome to CyberBytes: The Podcast by Aspiron Search, your go-to source for exclusive interviews with cybersecurity leaders. We explore their career journeys, industry insights, and the evolving world of cyber tech. Gain valuable knowledge from top experts and stay informed about the latest in cybersecurity. Subscribe now and stay ahead in the world of cybersecurity! Aspiron Search is the competitive advantage in cybersecurity staffing, specialising in early-stage and GTM cybersecurity recruitment. We’ve supported everything from building founding teams for emerging startups to scaling glo

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  • Creator
    Powered by Aspiron Search
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    227
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Powered by Aspiron Search
  • Show Website
    CyberBytes: The Podcast

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