We are lucky enough to be living through the golden age of podcasts. Whatever subject you’re into, you can bet there’s someone out there talking into a microphone about it, and cybersecurity is no exception.
In fact, when it comes to security, IT, and digital trends, there are so many choices that it can be tough to know where to start.
Luckily, we did the work for you, and we’ve come up with a list of podcast recommendations that has something for everyone. While we’re particularly proud of our own podcast, Random but Memorable (more on that later), we wanted to highlight some of our other favorite podcasts in the infosec space. Whether you’re looking for a deep dive into new tech, a juicy data breach story, or just a laugh, you’ll find something on this list worth checking out.
And while reading blog articles from your favorite cybersecurity companies (ahem) will always be a good way to stay in the know, sometimes it’s nice to give your eyes a break and listen to the news.
So buckle in, grab some headphones, and have fun discovering what might be your new favorite podcast!
In no particular order…
1. CyberWire Daily: Security’s Six O’Clock News
Hosted By: Dave Bittner
Episode Frequency: Every weekday
Average Episode Length: 20 to 30 minutes
Through host Dave Bittner’s Walter-Kronkite-like-delivery, you will find yourself immersed in the state of cybersecurity with daily breakdowns of the biggest news stories and interviews with a wide-ranging rolodex of experts. Bittner’s pace during the news portion of the podcast is steady but swift, while the interview portion slows down and focuses on fluid conversations. Although Cyberwire produces many podcasts in the realm of cybersecurity, CyberWire Daily is the flagship podcast of the network for a reason - its format and host just work.
2. Smashing Security: hot takes, real laughs
Hosted By: Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault
Website: https://www.smashingsecurity.com/
Episode Frequency: Every Wednesday
Average Episode Length: 40 to 60 minutes
Cybersecurity podcasts aren’t particularly well-known for being funny. However, hosts Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault say: away with your preconceived notions! They deliver weekly ribbings to the world of computer security by covering hacking, cybercrime, online privacy, and everything in between. Come for the latest cyber news stories and stay for the expert commentary wrapped in friendly banter.
3. Risky Business: gateway to the world of cybersecurity
Hosted By: Patrick Gray and Adam Boileau
Website: https://risky.biz/
Episode Frequency: Every Wednesday
Average Episode Length: 50 to 60 minutes
Patrick Gray and Adam Bioleau have been covering cybersecurity since 2007, and use their years of experience to discuss the latest news with authority and strong opinions. From their staunch stance against push-based 2FA to their belief in corporate responsibility regarding hacks, Risky Business' weekly download of news stories provides the ideal inbetween for security newcomers to even the most seasoned security professionals.
As Jason Meller put it: “I like Risky Business because Patrick Gray (the host) is a journalist that understands the stories at a deep level and often has unique insights versus other coverage, which is just repeating basic facts.”
4. Darknet Diaries: the “Serial” of cybersecurity
Hosted By: Jack Rhysider
Website: https://darknetdiaries.com
Episode Frequency: 1 to 2 a month
Average Episode Length: 40 to 70 minutes
“Scams going on out there today are getting…wild.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Host Jack Rhysider understands that the internet is as wide as it is deep and its underbelly doesn’t get talked about enough. Darknet Diaries' mission is to uncover and explain these little-covered stories of cybercrime, but what DD does best is how it packages the information. The podcast does an incredible job in setting a noirish ambiance with a synthesizer-heavy score to turn dry stories into compelling narratives.
1Password Rails engineer Caitlin Cabrera finds a lot of positive value in learning about these dark stories, saying: “these concepts of preventing outside intrusion and mitigating threats relate directly to our mission of Honest Security. Specifically these stories show how when employees and customers trust security products and feel valued, it can reduce intrusion.”
5. Mac Power Users: an Apple a week keeps the OS updated
Hosted By: David Sparks and Stephen Hackett
Website: https://www.relay.fm/mpu
Episode Frequency: Every Sunday
Average Episode Length: 90 to 120 minutes
Apple fans: look no further. Mac Power Users is a no-frills podcast that features the macro to the micro on all things Apple. Since 2009, hosts David Parks and Stephen Hackett have been one of the biggest authorities discussing Apple – devices, updates, best practices – all while sprinkling in helpful anecdotes on how Apple has evolved over the years.
Whether you’re looking for a history lesson on the evolution of Apple Maps, or to understand the intricacies of data storage across Apple’s fleet of devices, or simply what to expect in the next iOS/OS update, Mac Power Users is your one-stop-shop for all your Apple needs.
6. Hacked: General Interest, Genuinely Interesting
Hosted By: Jordan Bloemen and Scott Francis Winder
Episode Frequency: Twice a month
Average Episode Length: 30 to 60 minutes
Some podcasts focus on rigorous research and journalistic narratives. Others focus on two guys chatting. Hacked splits the difference. Every month, they release two episodes: one hour-ish-long deep dive into a tech topic (historical or contemporary, so long as it’s “weird”), typically featuring an interview with a guest expert. The next episode, two weeks later, will be an informal chat in which the two hosts, Jordan Bloemen and Scott Francis Winder, explore the weirder tech and cybersecurity headlines of that month.
Neither host is a security professional, so Hacked isn’t the best fit for listeners looking for in-depth analysis. But the show thrives on its accessibility and sense of curiosity (you might even convince your luddite friends to listen). For anyone looking for well-told stories from the weird side of the industry, Hacked has your back.
7. Cyber Security Headlines: News For Those In A Hurry
Hosted By: Various narrators
Website: https://cisoseries.com/category/podcast/cyber-security-headlines/
Episode Frequency: Every Weekday
Average Episode Length: 5 to 10 minutes
So many cybersecurity stories, so little time. CISO Series' Cybersecurity Headlines podcast is perfect for the busy professional looking for a quick rundown of the day’s news. Clocking in at less time than it takes to unload the dishwasher, episodes feature (admittedly dry) narrated versions of the day’s noteworthy security stories. If you’re on-the-go, prefer audio to writing, or want to accomplish the lofty goal of “multi-tasking,” this podcast provides the latest on cybersecurity in bite-sized portions.
8. Digital Citizen: The Thinking Person’s Security Podcast
Hosted By: Ricardo Signes and Haley Hnatuk
Episode Frequency: Every other Tuesday
Average Episode Length: 20 to 60 minutes
We hope it’s not too weird to plug another security company’s podcast (it’s worth saying – we have no affiliation with Fastmail), but this recommendation comes straight from 1Password’s own podcast producer, Anna Eastick. And Digital Citizen is a podcast with a mission that we can all get behind: musing on the many ways that we can all be better to each other online.
True to that mission, Digital Citizen finds strong but nuanced stances on complicated topics like productivity culture or accessibility in the tech world. Part of the trick lies in their guest experts, who come from a variety of sources both in and outside of the industry – everyone from linguistic scholars to sci-fi authors.
9. Microsoft Security Insights: The Windows Stay Shut
Hosted By: Edward Walton, Frank Grimberg, Rod Trent, and Brodie Cassell
Episode Frequency: Every Monday
Average Episode Length: 60 to 80 minutes
Remember briskly walking to the water cooler on Monday morning to discuss the latest episode of Game of Thrones with your work buddies? Mix that camaraderie with the latest news in the world of Microsoft security and you end up with The Microsoft Security Insights podcast. Filled with news, analysis, tips, and (most importantly) well-timed banter - security professionals who use Microsoft products can consider this a go-to podcast.
10. Hacking Humans: Learn The Why
Hosted By: Dave Bittner, Joe Carrigan, and Maria Varmazis
Episode Frequency: Twice a week (Once a week for [Word Notes])
Average Episode Length: 40 to 50 minutes (5 to 7 minutes for [Word Notes])
Cyber crime is about psychology as much as technology, and Hacking Humans sets out to shed light on why we fall for the scams we do. Hosts Dave Bittner and Joe Carrigan present stories from across the web along with listener submissions that dig into how sophisticated these dubious campaigns have become. What sets Hacking Humans apart from the crowd (aside from their social engineering angle) is the bonus series within their feed, titled [Word Notes] - concise episodes explaining new cyber security terms as they occur, along with real world examples.
11. The 404 Media Podcast: Tech Journalism That Dives Deep
Hosted By: Jason Koebler, Joseph Cox, Emanuel Maiberg, and Sam Cole
Website: https://www.404media.co/tag/podcast/
Episode Frequency: Every Wednesday
Average Episode Length: 40 to 60 minutes
In the year since their founding, 404 Media has earned an award-winning reputation for quality journalism and breaking news stories around all things tech. That’s no small feat for a digital media company that was independently founded by its journalists.
In their weekly podcast, the 404 Media journalists discuss the pieces they published the previous week, laying out the facts and behind-the scenes details of their stories. Whether the episode discusses AI-Powered TikTok hustlers, or provides insight on how the Ticketmaster hack occurred, you’ll walk away equally knowledgeable and skeptical of your own online habits.
Bonus! Random But Memorable: Our Shameless (but Sincere) Plug
Hosted By: Matt Davey, Sara Teare, Michael “Roo” Fey, and Anna Eastick
Episode Frequency: Every other week
Average Episode Length: 50 to 65 minutes
Forgive us for a little self-promotion, but we’re quite proud of our own in-house podcast. Every other week or so, a team of hosts from 1Password (guided by Anna, our intrepid producer) share advice, play some silly cybersecurity games, and interview industry experts about their work.
We’re biased, of course, but we like to think we strike a good balance between informal and informative while we chat about all the latest in the cybersecurity space.
Disclaimer: The following podcasts - Darknet Diaries, Risky Business, Mac Power Users, and Smashing Security are/have been sponsored by 1Password and/or Kolide.
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Kenny Najarro
Content Associate
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