No Password Required

Asim Fareeduddin is the Vice President of IT Security & Regulatory Controls Assurance at the RELX Group. In addition to his impressive professional resume, Asim is a guy who is never afraid to take a chance – from stand-up comedy to teaching masters-level students at Georgia State University; he’s done it all. In this episode, Asim joins the No Password Required team to talk about how he went from an accountant to Vice President of a global company, how becoming a dad has changed him, and his most cherished accomplishment – high-fiving Busta Rhymes at the 2006 B.E.T. Awards. Ernie and Jack talk about why fist bumps have officially surpassed handshakes as the coolest greeting. More importantly, they discuss cyber workforce development and why right now may be the best time for new workers to join the industry.

Winn Schwartau is a security, privacy, infowar, and cyber-terrorism expert who has been paving the way in cybersecurity since 1983. He is often referred to as the “Civilian Architect of Information Warfare” and is known for his straight-shooting, no-BS originality. In this episode, Winn joins the No Password Required team to talk about how he went from the world of rock-and-roll to cybersecurity, times when he pissed off the CIA, and why Louis Armstrong wasn’t the best teacher he ever had (you read that right!) Ernie, Clabby, and Pablo talk about the reality of cybersecurity policies and employee training. In the Positively Cyber segment, Pablo introduces Snoop Dogg as the Dark Net Intelligence Analyst of our fictitious organization.

Charity Wright is a Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst at Recorded Future who specializes in Chinese threats and disinformation. Charity is a Super Mario-loving extrovert who utilizes her research and inferencing skills in both of her full-time jobs; threat analyst and mom. Charity is a Chinese Linguist who often spends her workdays scrolling through social media searching for trolls and Chinese disinformation/propaganda. In this episode, Charity joins the No Password Required team to talk about how she came to be a linguist in the U.S. military, possibilities of where China will go in the future, and why curiosity has been one of the most essential aspects of her career. Ernie, Clabby, and Pablo talk about Clabby’s “Yahoo! news rule” and the channels they use to stay informed in the ever-changing cyber industry. In the Positively Cyber segment, Pablo introduces the sophisticated, yet mysterious, Jay Gatsby as the Chief Financial Officer of our fictitious cybersecurity organization.

Dr. Greg Hall is a Research Scientist at the Institute for Human-Machine Cognition and the University of West Florida. Dr. Hall is a Corvette-driving car lover who considers ALF to be one of the classics and has great taste in hats. He also does research in full-spectrum cyber operations and contributes to the Florida Cyber Range, a digital platform that provides training and testing solutions for academic, government, military, and industry. In this episode, Dr. Hall joins the No Password Required team to discuss his research in full-spectrum cyber operations, why the sit-and-spin has made a place in history as the best (and possibly most dangerous) childhood toy, and more. Ernie, Clabby, and Pablo discuss the government’s Rewards for Justice Program and the new $10 million reward for information. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo challenges Clabby by welcoming Harvey Specter to our fictitious cybersecurity organization as a Privacy and Cybersecurity Lawyer.

Dan Burke is the Cyber Practice Leader at Woodruff Sawyer, one of the largest insurance brokerage and consulting firms in the US. Dan is a natural optimist and family man who believes every day is going to be the best day and the next shot will always be his greatest golf shot. In this episode, Dan joins the No Password Required team to talk about his personal connection to Colby-jack cheese, the most misunderstood things about cyber risk and insurance, and his bucket-list golfing spots. Ernie, Clabby, and Pablo discuss the recent Colonial Pipeline/Bitdefender controversy and the pros and cons of publicizing intelligence that could help ransomware victims. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo introduces the iconic Winston Wolfe to our fictitious cybersecurity organization as a Data Loss Prevention freelancer.

Phillip Tarrant is the SOC Technical Manager at Compuquip Cybersecurity who is passionate about many things in life, including his pet chickens, building things both with and without a keyboard, disconnecting in nature, and welcoming people into the field of cybersecurity. In this episode, Phillip joins the No Password Required team to talk about his unique journey into the field of cybersecurity, why chicken diapers are crossing the line, why the Empire is in serious need of some data protection policies, and more. Ernie, Clabby, and Pablo discuss the presidential administration’s new cybersecurity initiatives in response to the SolarWinds attack and what they mean for the future. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo compares two members of the Mystery Incorporated gang and analyzes whether Scooby-Doo or Velma would be the better fit for our fictitious cybersecurity organization.

Rachel Tobac is the CEO and co-founder of Social Proof Security who hopes to one day work herself out of a job by improving education and awareness of social engineering attacks. In this episode, Rachel joins the No Password Required team to talk about her path from studying behavioral psychology to starting a successful cybersecurity company, why Shih Tzu’s would be the best canine cybersecurity professional, how her quirky skills serve as an asset to her company, her passion for improving diversity in the cyber and technology industries, and more. BONUS: she sings an info-sec sea shanty that is as catchy as it is informative. Clabby and Ernie talk about the recent hack on the Molson Coors Beverage Company, and in the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo analyzes why the Mandalorian would be the perfect fit for showing our new recruits “the way” in our fictitious cybersecurity organization. You should check this episode out soon; if Rachel is correct about the time travel butterfly effect, you may never get another chance…

Roger Grimes is the defense-driven evangelist at KnowBe4 who confidently defines himself as the best in the world at defending against hackers. In this episode, Roger joins the No Password Required team to discuss how being a terrible accountant led him to the world of cybersecurity, why octopi cannot be trusted, and why music is the best way to create powerful connections. Additionally, Clabby and Pablo discuss insights from the National Security Agency’s 2020 cybersecurity year in review. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo analyzes why Hermione Granger’s work ethic and determination would make her the perfect fit for Senior Director of Threat Intelligence in our fictitious cybersecurity organization.

Shane Young is a penetration tester at Rapid7 whose real-life acting and cyber skills would have been a great addition to the “Oceans 11” team. In this episode, Shane joins the No Password Required team to share some of his exciting stories as a penetration tester, how hacking his high school’s network got him into the world of cybersecurity, and why LEGO bricks are really made for adults, not kids. Additionally, Shane, Ernie, and Clabby discuss The Mandalorian and the Star Wars universe (no spoilers!) Clabby and Ernie explore the controversial GoDaddy phishing campaign and the ethical ramifications of company phishing tests. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo Torres analyzes why Mulan has the skills and dedication to be a savvy network defender in our fictitious cybersecurity organization.

LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies, which doesn’t sponsor, authorize, or endorse this podcast.

Melinda Lemke is the Head of Information Security at King & Spalding with a decade of leadership experience in the cyber industry. In this episode, Melinda joins the No Password Required team to talk about her experience as a woman and leader in this field, how professional mentors can enhance success, and the best yacht-rock bands of all time. Maybe most importantly, the team discusses the John Hughes movie universe and why Kevin McAllister is a better problem-solver than Ferris Bueller. Additionally, Ernie and Clabby explore the importance of password security and real-world ransomware attacks, including the ransomware attacks on Miami-Dade county schools. In the “Positively Cyber” segment, Pablo Torres explores the reasons why John Wick would be the perfect candidate for an elite penetration-tester position in our fictitious cybersecurity organization.