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.

  1. 5D AGO

    Why AI’s Real Impact Lies in How Leaders Respond—Not Just What It Achieves

    Episode Summary Conor Sherman lays out the three pillars of the Zero Signal podcast’s AI philosophy: using AI as a growth engine rather than a cost-cutting tool, designing truly human-centered systems, and treating secure, observable AI as a moral obligation for leaders.   Sponsors Thank 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 Introduction Host Conor Sherman, a cybersecurity leader with fifteen years of experience building and leading security programs, walks solo through how AI is reshaping the world and what durable, responsible leadership looks like in this transition.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Zero Signal Podcast01:23 The Courage to Grow in AI05:57 Human-Centered Systems in AI10:34 Secure AI is Responsible AI  Referenced Links & Resources Stanford Digital Economy Lab – “The Turing Trap: The Promise & Peril of Human-Like Artificial Intelligence”Goldman Sachs – “Will the $1 Trillion of Generative AI Investment Pay Off?”Acemoglu & Restrepo – “Automation and New Tasks: How Technology Displaces and Reinstates Labor”MIT Sloan – “When humans and AI work best together—and when each is better alone”Stanford HAI – “A Human-Centered Approach to the AI Revolution”Daniel Miessler – “Keep the Robots Out of the Gym”MIT & Harvard study on overreliance on AI advice  Call to Action Reflect on how your organization can use AI to create new work, design human-centered socio-technical systems, and build secure, observable infrastructure that earns and keeps trust over time.

    15 min

  2. JAN 26

    The Rise of Agentic AI: Transforming Software Development - ft. Adam Arellano

    Episode Summary Zero Signal hosts Conor Sherman and Stuart Mitchell sit down with Adam Arellano, former VP of Cybersecurity at PayPal and now Field CTO at Harness, to unpack the rise of agentic AI in software delivery and what it means for software engineers, security leaders, and the broader tech economy. They dig into real-world data on AI-generated code, the new attack surface created by agent skills, and how security and engineering teams can partner to ship faster while reducing risk.   Sponsors Thank 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 Introduction Adam Arellano is the Field CTO at Harness, focusing on AI for DevOps and automation, and previously served as VP of Cybersecurity at PayPal. In this episode he brings both security and engineering leadership perspectives to the rapid shift toward agentic coding and AI-augmented software delivery.   Referenced Links & Resources Adam Arellano – LinkedInAI Coding Becomes a Risky Norm as Use of AI Coding Assistants Takes Off and More Than 80% of Organizations Ship Vulnerable Code – BusinessWireGenerative AI Adoption and the Impact on Junior Employment – Harvard studyAgent Skills in the Wild: An Empirical Study of Security Vulnerabilities at ScaleGitHubArcanum-Sec/sec-context

    48 min

  3. JAN 19

    Moody’s 2026 Outlook: AI Attacks, Deepfakes & The New Cyber Risk Economy

    Episode Summary Conor Sherman and Stuart Mitchell break down Moody’s 2026 cybersecurity outlook through four lenses: AI agents outperforming most human pen testers, n8n’s “Ni8mare” CVSS 10.0 RCE and what it says about AI-era patching, Claude Code’s ability to recreate a complex agent orchestration system in an hour, and how always-on recording devices change the risk surface.   Sponsors Thank 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 Introduction This episode features an in-depth conversation between Conor Sherman and Stuart Mitchell, using real research and market signals to frame how AI agents, cloud concentration, and emerging tooling are reshaping the work of senior cybersecurity leaders.   Chapters 00:00 Intro + Banter02:34 AI Agents vs. Human Penetration Testing13:12 N8N Vulnerability Disclosure and Its Impact17:17 AI Productivity in Software Engineering27:35 Moody Rating Agency's 2026 Cybersecurity Outlook36:36 The Ethics of AI Recording Devices  Referenced Links & Resources Comparing AI Agents to Cybersecurity Professionals in Real-World Penetration Testingn8n Security AdvisoryJaana Dogan on Claude Code and distributed agent orchestrationMoody’s 2026 Cybersecurity & AI OutlookUnderwriting Superintelligence – AI risk & insurance

    42 min

  4. JAN 12

    Zero Signal: 2026 Predictions Unveiled

    Episode Summary Hosts Conor Sherman and Stuart Mitchell break down 2026 cybersecurity predictions from leading voices across AI, identity, supply chain, and security talent. Google SlideZero Signal | 2026 Predications   Sponsors Thank 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.   Chapters 00:00 Holiday Reflections and Podcast Introduction01:40 Madison Horn's Insights on AI and Infrastructure07:29 Nicole Kerrigan on Agentic AI as Insider Risk13:04 Greg Notch on Automated Exploits and Incentives18:52 Crystal Morne on Supply Chain Risks25:03 Daniel Measler's Predictions for Security Talent31:30 James Berthoty's Predictions36:37 Stuart Mitchell's Predictions46:28 Conor Sherman's Predictions  Referenced Links & Resources Madison Horn – 2026 Cybersecurity PredictionsAndres Andreu – Cybersecurity Predictions for 2026Nicole Carignan – AI & Cybersecurity Trends to Watch in 2026Greg Notch – Cybersecurity Predictions 2026Crystal Morin – Top 10 Ways to Get Breached in 2026Shai-Hulud Worm AnalysisAnand Singh – Top 5 AI Predictions for 2026James Berthoty – The 5 Security Features That Will Lead in 2026Daniel Miessler – How AI Changes Cybersecurity in 2026

    55 min

  5. 12/01/2025

    Creator of CVE-Genie, How AI will Transform Agentic Vulnerability Remediation - ft Saad Ullah

    Episode Summary Saad Ullah, PhD student and founder of CVE-Genie, joins to explain how AI is changing vulnerability management and why defenders need to rethink their approach as threat actors adopt these tools. You’ll hear how his research is shaping the future of cybersecurity and what it means for staying ahead of attacks.   Sponsors Thank 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 Bio Saad Ullah is a PhD student at Boston University, a founder of CVE-Genie, and a key member of the Shellfish team for DARPA's cyber reasoning challenge. His work focuses on advancing AI-driven vulnerability management and has made a significant impact in the cybersecurity research community.   Chapters 00:00 Banter 02:24 Guest Intro: Saad Ullah 05:08 AI in Cybersecurity: The Emergence of Threats 07:41 CVE Genie: Revolutionizing Vulnerability Management 10:13 The Asymmetry of Defense: Challenges Ahead 15:49 The Future of Vulnerability Remediation 18:20 The Role of Security Engineers in an AI-Driven World 20:40 Building Trust in AI Systems for Cybersecurity 23:13 Passion and Evolution in Cybersecurity Careers 26:22 Collaboration and Support in Research 33:06 Exploring Vulnerabilities: The Journey Begins 36:25 Building a Comprehensive Benchmark for Vulnerabilities 39:33 Future of Vulnerability Management and Remediation 42:39 Looking Ahead: Conferences and Future Projects 44:52 Reflecting on Season One Highlights 48:26 Outro   Resources & Links Github CVE-GenieDARPA Cyber Reasoning ChallengeShellphishArtiphishellPrompt||GTFO  Call to Action If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe! → Apple Podcasts → Spotify. → YouTube → Website   Follow You Hosts: → Conor Sherman: LinkedIn → Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

    49 min

  6. 11/21/2025

    Trust, Talent, and Transformation- ft. Amelia Forrest Kaye (AFK)

    Episode Summary Amelia 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. Sponsors Thank 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 Introduction Amelia, 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. Chapters 00:00 Welcome 01:44 Crisis Management and Customer Trust 12:43 Bermuda Triangle of AI, Security & Market Forces 25:09 Understanding Customer Patience and Expectations 25:36 Customer Retention in the Age of AI 27:47 Ignition Metrics: The Key to First Value 34:42 Transformative CISOs: Building Cross-Departmental Relationships 44:21 The Importance of Personal Branding for Security Leaders 55:27 Monday Morning Advice Referenced Links & Resources Anthropic 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 Action If 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.

    59 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    Threat Hunting with AI ft. Damien Lewke

    Episode Summary Damien 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. Sponsors Thank 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 Bio Damien 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 Breakdown 00:00 Banter 03:22 The Evolution of Cybersecurity and Threat Hunting 10:17 Vibe Hunting: A New Approach to Threat Detection 16:21 Leadership as a Verb in Cybersecurity 19:09 Adversaries Leveraging AI: A New Era 24:38 Rethinking Security Strategies 31:05 The Future of Security Teams and AI 37:26 Career Advice for Threat Hunters Resources & References Anthropic Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaignGoogle Threat Intelligence Team AI Threat TrackerJocko Willink: Extreme OwnershipCall to Action If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe! → Apple Podcasts → Spotify. → YouTube → Website Follow You Hosts: → Conor Sherman: LinkedIn → Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

    42 min

  8. 11/05/2025

    Security Operations In The Age Of AI - ft. Iman Ghanizada

    Episode Overview In 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. Sponsors Thank 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 Guest Iman 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 Breakdown 00:00 The Evolution of Cybersecurity 02:54 AI and the Future of Security 06:01 The Role of CISOs in Modern Organizations 11:48 AI's Impact on Security and Business Growth 14:49 Red Teaming and the Future of AI Security 18:28 Integrating AI in Security Operations 25:52 Rethinking Security Roles and Responsibilities 30:48 The Future of the CISO Role 36:29 Corporate Espionage and Insider Threats 40:26 Navigating AI Workloads in Cloud Environments 44:34 Intro Long - Final.mp4 Referenced Resources Site 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 & Follow If you found this episode useful, please share it and subscribe! → Apple Podcasts → Spotify. → YouTube → Website Follow You Hosts: → Conor Sherman: LinkedIn → Stuart Mitchell: LinkedIn

    45 min
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5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Conor Sherman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Conor Sherman
  • Show Website
    Zero Signal