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Hacker History Podcast

Josh Bressers
Cybersecurity
Hacking
Internet History
Hacker Culture
Slashdot
Defcon
Linux
Computer Programming
BBS
Information Security
Usenet
Web Development
Cyberpunk Librarian
Kubernetes
Tremolo
Freestyle Rapping
Penetration Testing
Open Source
Moderation Systems
Emily Fox

Hacker History: Explore where it all began, interviews with retro hackers, the pioneers and forefathers of yesteryear. The true old school hackers amongst our societies have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. We will dive into fascinating stories that made hacker history.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes50Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationTechnology

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Artwork for Hacker History Podcast

Latest Episodes

Hacker History sits down with Michael Lenz. Michael started out in the Commodore 64 era with the usual games and BBS where many others started. His story takes a really interesting turn when he gets himself into infosec (before it's called infosec). ... more

Hacker History sits down with Jeff Man. Jeff is a legend in the security universe having worked for the NSA, Tenable, and a longtime host of Paul's Security Weekly podcast. We learn all about how Jeff ended up at the NSA, how the NSA started to red t... more

Hacker History sits down with Bill Bernard. Bill tells us of his time building and breaking things with his father. The days of TI99 and Apple IIe in school, and some great engineering in college. Bill has some pretty cool experiences working for Zen... more

Hacker History sits down with Rebecca Jones. We learn of Rebecca's journey from using early Apple computers, to an early Windows machine, to eventually her current role dealing with security and identity. Rebecca explains how she stepped away from te... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Lenz
A hacker with a long history in tech, security, and community building
Demon Bear / CypherCon community member
Episode: The history of Michael Lenz
Jeff Man
Guest, cybersecurity veteran with NSA background and early pen testing experience
Former NSA cryptanalyst, pen testing pioneer
Episode: The history of Jeff Man
Bill Bernard
Hacker historian and tinkerer, discussed career and passions
Episode: The history of Bill Bernard
Rebecca Jones
Identity and Access Management Analyst with a cybersecurity background
Critical Infrastructure Company
Episode: The history of Rebecca Jones
Luke McOmie
Hacker, aka Pyr0, with a history in DEF CON circles and security consulting
SaltCon / SaltCon organizers
Episode: The history of Pyr0
Laura Scherling
Founder of Cyber Care Institute and author of 'Future of Hacking'
Cyber Care Institute
Episode: The history of Laura, Rachael, and Ben
Rachael Tubbs
Marketing and Events Manager at Independent Security Evaluators
Independent Security Evaluators
Episode: The history of Laura, Rachael, and Ben
Ben Schmerler
Member of the ethical hacking team at Independent Security Evaluators
Independent Security Evaluators
Episode: The history of Laura, Rachael, and Ben
David Bernstein
Emergency response and crisis management consultant with extensive experience in physical emergency management and IT disaster recovery planning.
Episode: The history of David Bernstein

Host

Josh Bressers
Host guiding conversations, interview-led sessions with deep dives into hacker history and security.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Hacker History is important

    Josh is a seasoned host that really excels that diving into the guest’s stories. Hacker History is extremely important to the community as we all stand on shoulders of giants.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KingKamic
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Quality guests and insightful storytelling that highlight mentors and giants in the field.
A valuable resource for the hacker history community and broader security audience.
Dives into guest stories with a strong host-led narrative.
These episodes feel like a bridge between retro tech and modern cybersecurity practices.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#41
Ireland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#45
Poland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The history of Michael Lenz
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting in cybersecurity or building a community?
Be authentic, open up, and actively use your network to connect people; focus on community-building as a pathway to opportunities and growth.
The history of Michael Lenz
Q: What sparked your transition from a help desk role to security leadership?
Exposure to 24/7 SOC-style operations, the realization of the impact of monitoring, and formal education in computer forensics and security allowed progression to cybersecurity analyst and beyond.
The history of Michael Lenz
Q: How did your early computing experiences shape your path into security?
Early tinkering with Commodore 64/Apple II, then high school tech roles and later college forensics created a hands-on, problem-solving mindset that naturally led to incident response and security work.
The history of Jeff Man
Q: How did you get to the NSA, given you came from a time before computers were common in homes and schools?
I applied in 1985-86, scored well on aptitude tests, and was offered a position; the fit depended on on-the-job training and evolving roles, not a straight path from home computer use.
The history of Jeff Man
Q: Okay, let me ask Jeff, did you call it pen testing way back in the day or did it have a different name?
We did call it pen testing back in the day.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Hacker History Podcast

What is Hacker History Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A deep-dissolved look at early computing and security through conversations with veterans who helped shape hacker culture, security operations, and community building. Episodes emphasize personal journeys, mentorship, and the human side of tech—from retro computing roots to modern incident response, open-source advocacy, and security education. Noteworthy is the focus on community, hands-on learning, and bridging generations of practitioners, making it appealing to listeners who crave historical context paired with practical lessons for careers in security, IT, and tech advocacy.

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Which podcasts are similar to Hacker History Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hacker History Podcast:

1. Darknet Diaries
2. Hacking Humans
3. Hacked
4. Hacker And The Fed
5. Risky Business

How many episodes of Hacker History Podcast are there?

Hacker History Podcast launched 5 years ago and published 50 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Hacker History Podcast?

Recent guests on Hacker History Podcast include:

1. Michael Lenz
2. Jeff Man
3. Bill Bernard
4. Rebecca Jones
5. Luke McOmie
6. Laura Scherling
7. Rachael Tubbs
8. Ben Schmerler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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