Authentically Cyber

AI is changing cybersecurity fast—and not always in the ways you’d expect. In this episode of Authentically Cyber, I sit down with Char Hunt, a security awareness advocate who’s seen the evolution firsthand—from help desk to system admin to working with AI and security awareness today. We get into the real conversation around AI in cybersecurity: how it’s helping defenders, how it’s empowering attackers, and why slowing down might be your best defense in a world moving at AI speed. This isn’t just for cybersecurity professionals. If you use the internet, this affects you. Listen as we break down how AI can be your best friend… or your worst enemy. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:20 Help Desk Role 01:58 Moving into AI 02:20 Bot Agent 03:36 Help Desk to System Admin 06:47 How AI Has Evolved Since 2017 08:30 Agentic AI & AI Agents 10:20 Benefits of AI in Cybersecurity 11:25 AI Behind the Scenes 13:30 How AI Helps Threat Actors 14:20 Why Slowing Down Keeps You Safe 15:18 The Speed of AI (and Its Downfall) 16:09 Measuring AI Risk 17:20 How SMBs Can Protect Themselves 18:05 How Non-IT Roles Can Stay Secure 20:50 When Kathy Got Fooled by a Facebook Ad 22:45 Can AI Give Us Hope? 24:51 How to Connect with Char Hunt

What does the next generation of cybersecurity look like? In this episode of Authentically Cyber, I sit down with Paola Mendiola — a college student with a clear vision for her future in technology. Paola didn’t just discover cybersecurity… she found a purpose in it. From learning tech in high school to pursuing her degree at Western Governors University, she’s focused on building a career in networking and cybersecurity — with the goal of one day returning to the classroom as a teacher. Her mission is simple: Give back. This is a fun, honest, and inspiring conversation about where cybersecurity is headed — and who’s helping shape it next.⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:05 Being Gen Z and finding her love for tech 03:02 Is it easier for Gen Z to go into cyber? 03:30 Learning technology in high school 03:56 Being a girl in technology 04:52 What inspires Paola to give back 07:08 Why she wants to teach technology 07:51 Role at Women in CyberJitsu 08:58 WGU journey and capstone project 11:00 Why networking matters in cybersecurity 14:00 Why she wants a master’s degree 17:48 Why she likes cybersecurity 18:23 Encouraging girls to go into tech 19:30 Advice for people considering technology 20:34 Why you should go to events and network 21:31 Advice for first-time conference attendees 23:00 Being a girl, a minority, and building connections

What does it take to go from the military to leading a cybersecurity company? In this episode of Authentically Cyber, I sit down with Yvonne Rivera — CEO, CISO, and Co-Founder of CyberMyte to learn about her journey. Yvonne is an Army veteran and cybersecurity leader who has been working in government and national security since 2002. After transitioning out of the military, she found herself drawn to the structure and processes within technology — and quickly realized there was a major gap. Small businesses needed help navigating federal cybersecurity requirements… without the cost and complexity designed for large enterprises. So she built the solution. Timestamps :00 Introduction 1:12 Finding technology in the Army 2:17 Technical responsibilities in the Army 6:00 Building a cyber program within a hospital 9:41 Using learned skills from the military 12:16 How to push through the fear of failure 15:30 Our love for to-do list on paper 17:30 Small businesses being left behind in federal space 17:55 The decision to build a cloud for CyberMyte 20:25 What surprises Yvonne about owing a business 21:32 What it's like to be a CEO 23:20 Hard truths about running a business 25:45 Why Microsoft isn't always safe 28:15 Small businesses are being taken advantage of 30:38 Where small businesses can begin 33:20 Advice if you're considering starting a business

In this episode of Authentically Cyber, I sit down with Teja Sane, a Data Assurance Engineer, to talk about her journey from growing up in India with no interest in technology… to building a career in cybersecurity. Teja shares how she started as a mechanical engineer, moved to the U.S. for further education, and chose to study information systems because she was interested in it—not because she had any plans to go into cybersecurity. At the time, she knew nothing about cyber. It wasn’t until a mentor encouraged her to give it a try—despite fear, self-doubt, and uncertainty—that things began to shift. We talk about imposter syndrome, the pressure to succeed, taking certifications like Security+, GSEC, and CISSP, and what it really looks like to step into cybersecurity when you don’t think you belong. Now, with experience and multiple certifications, Teja is focused on giving back and helping others find their path. If you’ve ever felt unsure about starting, changing directions, or stepping into something new, this conversation will resonate.

Burnout isn’t just about being tired. In this episode of Authentically Cyber, I sit down with Kim Mansour, Founder and Coach at Three Worlds Coaching, to talk about what burnout actually looks like—especially in technology and cybersecurity—and why so many people don’t recognize it until they’re deep in it. Kim shares her journey from software engineering to career coaching, along with real insight into the difference between stress and burnout, early warning signs to watch for, and why so many people stay in roles where they’re unhappy. We also talk about how to start taking back control, why venting can actually be helpful, and simple ways like writing things down to better understand what you’re feeling. If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re just stressed… or something more, this conversation is for you. 0:00 Introduction1:43 From software engineering to career coach5:06 Burnout in careers6:13 Burnout in technology (especially cybersecurity)7:33 Burnout vs. stress12:10 Early warning signs of burnout15:30 Unhappiness and signals of burnout18:38 Why people stay in jobs they’re unhappy in22:24 Tips for taking back control24:54 Why venting helps28:00 Writing out your thoughts29:05 Who burns out quickly?34:40 First steps to dealing with burnout

Rae McElroy didn’t start her career in cybersecurity with a technical background. In fact, when she first entered the field, she had very little technical knowledge at all.Through determination, mentorship, and a willingness to learn, Rae worked her way through GRC roles, completed a software engineering bootcamp to strengthen her technical foundation, and eventually launched her own company.But the journey wasn’t just about skills. Like many professionals in cybersecurity, Rae also faced intense imposter syndrome along the way.In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to break into cybersecurity, build confidence in your abilities, and create opportunities even when you feel like you’re starting from behind.In this conversation we discuss: • Starting a cybersecurity career without a technical background • Moving from GRC into more technical work • Why Rae decided to complete a software engineering bootcamp • Battling imposter syndrome in cybersecurity • Building the confidence to launch your own companyAuthentically Cyber explores the human side of cybersecurity careers through honest conversations with the people shaping the industry.