Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks

BKBT Productions
  • 5.0 (10)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks

Hosted by two guys named George on either side of the divide, this is a cybersecurity podcast that tackles the relationship between vendors and their customers. George Kamide is on the security vendor side, and George Al-Koura is a CISO on the customer side. Vendors gotta sell, and companies need tooling to protect their data. Tune in to hear real conversations from opposing sides of the pitch about cybersecurity marketing, sales, and go to market strategies. We go after these topics and bad practices with bare knuckles, then it’s down to brass tacks to look for solutions. Tune in to hear from guests from either side, including CISOs, SMEs, sales leaders, frontline account managers, and more!

  1. World Domination, the Process, and Gaining Real World Cyber Skills

    2 DAYS AGO

    World Domination, the Process, and Gaining Real World Cyber Skills

    The unstoppable Tennisha Martin joins the show this week! The Executive Director of BlackGirlsHack [https://www.blackgirlshack.org/] digs into what it really takes to build diverse cybersecurity talent pipelines in today's challenging environment. George K and George A talk to Tennisha about: * How BGH is using AI and hands-on labs to teach real-world hacking skills * Why traditional education often falls short on practical cybersecurity training * The economic barriers keeping talented people out of tech careers *  Building sustainable nonprofit programs when traditional funding gets rocky Plus we dive into some raw talk about staying focused on the mission even when external pressures try to knock you off course. As Tennisha puts it: "Our mission hasn't changed just because the administration has changed. We're still training people, still getting folks certified, still building that workforce." Whether you're interested in cybersecurity education, diversity in tech, or nonprofit leadership, this episode has something for you. ——— 🇨🇦 We'll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we'll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale! Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto [https://reg.unityeventsolutions.com/se/SWTOR2025/ATT/en-CA/start/Process.aspx]: * BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass * BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass * BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass Register to attend the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here: https://lu.ma/of952b1f ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    44 min
  2. From Help Desk to Detection Engineering, and Finding Your Path in Cyber

    FEB 17

    From Help Desk to Detection Engineering, and Finding Your Path in Cyber

    New episode drop! This week Chloe Burton joins us to talk about her journey from IT Help Desk to Head of Detection Engineering. George K and George A talk to Chloe about: * How she used a foray into Splunk to learn and launch her career * Why "more alerts" doesn't equal better security * Her views on consulting as a career accelerator in cyber * How she looks for and mentors new talent If you're tired of the "more alerts = more security" mindset or wondering how to break into cybersecurity from a non-traditional background, this episode is for you. ——— 🇨🇦 We'll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we'll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale! Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto [https://reg.unityeventsolutions.com/se/SWTOR2025/ATT/en-CA/start/Process.aspx]: * BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass * BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass * BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass Register to attend the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here: https://lu.ma/of952b1f ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    32 min
  3. Authentic Networking and Using Your Voice

    FEB 10

    Authentic Networking and Using Your Voice

    Candace Williams, security leader, joins the show to talk about what ACTUALLY matters in networking and professional development in cybersecurity. No BS, just real talk from someone who's lived it. George K and George A talk to Candace about: * Why your internal barriers are often bigger than external ones * The truth about transactional networking (spoiler: it doesn't work) * Why chasing certs and being a "paper tiger" might not get you the job (and what will!) * Why preparation beats perfection when opportunities arise Candace drops some serious wisdom about building authentic relationships vs just collecting LinkedIn connections. Whether you're starting out or leading teams, this episode has something for you. P.S. And no, she won't look at your resume if the first time you reach out is to ask for a job ——— 🇨🇦 We'll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we'll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale! Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto [https://reg.unityeventsolutions.com/se/SWTOR2025/ATT/en-CA/start/Process.aspx]: * BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass * BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass * BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass Register to attend the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here: https://lu.ma/of952b1f ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    38 min
  4. Breaking into Cyber, Finding Your Why, and Making the Entrepreneurial Leap

    FEB 3

    Breaking into Cyber, Finding Your Why, and Making the Entrepreneurial Leap

    Kenneth Ellington returns, one year later to talk about the changes from leaving his corporate gig to work for himself. George K and George A talk to Kenneth about: * How he's balancing running a cybersecurity academy, staffing agency, AND active security work * Real talk about the challenges of building business processes from scratch * Brutally honest advice about job hunting in cyber * Why job opportunities still exist in cyber - but you need the right mindset * Contract work vs full-time positions Favorite quote: "Be honest with yourself. Lying to yourself never is a good option." Whether you're looking to break into cyber, considering the leap to entrepreneurship, or just want some straight talk about the industry - this episode delivers valuable insights from someone walking the walk. Shout out this episode: Henry Davis, Techtual [https://www.techualconsulting.com/]

    29 min
  5. GRC Engineering: The Manifesto and Beyond!

    JAN 27

    GRC Engineering: The Manifesto and Beyond!

    This week we dive into GRC Engineering with Justin Pagano, Emre Ugurlu, and returning guest Terra Cooke, three of minds behind the new GRC Engineering Manifesto. We tackle: * Why GRC folks are engineers (yes, really!) * Moving beyond "legacy GRC" into systems thinking * Building GRC tools that engineers actually want to use * The intersection of AI and compliance automation This one gets nerdy! But if you want to understand how modern organizations can take a systems-based approach to governance while keeping engineers happy, this episode is for you. Check out the manifesto and repo at grc.engineering [https://grc.engineering/] and join the conversation! 🛠️ Manifesto authors * Ayoub Fandi * Akshay Finney * Austin Rust * Charles Nwatu * Emre Ugurlu * Justin Pagano * Terra Cooke * Varun Gurnaney ———— 🇨🇦 We'll be setting the stage on fire with the opening keynote at SecureWorld Toronto on April 8th. And…we'll be closing out the show with our signature event, the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale! Use our exclusive discount codes to save on registration for SecureWorld Toronto [https://reg.unityeventsolutions.com/se/SWTOR2025/ATT/en-CA/start/Process.aspx]: * BKBTSWC1 $50 off - BKBT Conference Pass * BKBTSWO1 $50 off - BKBT Open Session Pass * BKBTSWP1 $75 off - BKBT Plus Pass Register to attend the Cyber Pitch Battle Royale here: https://lu.ma/of952b1f ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    1 hr
  6. Cybersecurity for the Food Supply Chain

    JAN 20

    Cybersecurity for the Food Supply Chain

    Kristin Demoranville joins the show this week to talk securing the food supply chain as critical infrastructure, incidents' effect on the global economy, representation in ICS/OT, and more! George K and George A talk to Kristin about: * Dispelling misconceptions about OT security * The food industry as critical infrastructure * The need for more diverse voices in OT/ICS security to drive innovation and better solutions * How to break into OT security Plus some raw honesty about being a woman founder in the space and building community despite the challenges. ——— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    42 min
  7. Career Pivots and Forging Your Own Cyber Journey with Stacey Lokey-Day

    JAN 13

    Career Pivots and Forging Your Own Cyber Journey with Stacey Lokey-Day

    This week, Stacey Lokey-Day joins the show to talk about her career pivot from stay-at-home mom to cybersecurity analyst! George K & George A talk to Stacey about: * How she leveraged a bootcamp experience into a successful career pivot * Why she believes in "collecting experiences" early in your career, even the tough ones * How her time in the SOC built up her resilience and confidence * Finding your voice, and owning who you are in tech The lessons from her story are valuable to anyone, at any stage of their career. Turn it up! ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    45 min
  8. LIVE from Cyber Marketing Con: What "Community" Really Means for Both Practitioners & Vendors

    JAN 6

    LIVE from Cyber Marketing Con: What "Community" Really Means for Both Practitioners & Vendors

    "Community" is getting bandied about a lot. What does it really mean, for both cybersecurity vendors and practitioners? This week's episode is a roundtable discussion recorded LIVE at Cyber Marketing Con in December 2024! The panel features Dani Woolf, Ben Siegel, Bronwen Hudson, Elliot Volkman, and BKBT's George K.  Some key topics covered: * Community is not something you can just spend money on. * Successful communities are affecting change. * You can't expect instant ROI from community building. * Be passionate about your community's mission. * Listen to your community; they will guide you. * Communities are about adding value, not extracting. ———— 👊⚡️BECOME A SHOW SUPPORTER https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you. We appreciate you!

    32 min
See All (120)

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Hosted by two guys named George on either side of the divide, this is a cybersecurity podcast that tackles the relationship between vendors and their customers. George Kamide is on the security vendor side, and George Al-Koura is a CISO on the customer side. Vendors gotta sell, and companies need tooling to protect their data. Tune in to hear real conversations from opposing sides of the pitch about cybersecurity marketing, sales, and go to market strategies. We go after these topics and bad practices with bare knuckles, then it’s down to brass tacks to look for solutions. Tune in to hear from guests from either side, including CISOs, SMEs, sales leaders, frontline account managers, and more!

Information

  • Creator
    BKBT Productions
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © BKBT Production LLC
  • Show Website
    Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks

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