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Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI
The same AI that's helping your team move faster is helping attackers move faster too. That's the tension every business leader is now living with, and it's why we made this show.
Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI is the podcast for leaders who need to make decisions about both. Each month, host Jon Waldman and expert guests break down the real-world impact of AI, cybersecurity, and emerging tech with practical guidance you can actually use.
This show is for you if you're a C-suite leader, CISO, CRO, CTO, IT director, compliance officer, or information security pro responsible for keeping your organization...
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All Episodes
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Mastering Cyber Risk & Building a Security Culture
Ever wondered why compliance isn’t enough in today’s cybersecurity landscape? In this episode of Converge Lab, Jon Waldman welcomes Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, Chancellor of Dakota State University, who shares lessons from database security to quantum computing. They tackle cyber risk, the dangers of boardroom complacency, and why building a security-first culture requires both technology and humanity. Discover how executive mindsets on cyber-maturity are evolving, which new threats keep leaders up at night, and the advanced defensive technologies that are turning the tide—from self-healing systems and multifactor authentication to the reality of AI-powered attacks. Dr. Griffiths also draws on decades of experience at the intersection of government, academia, and enterprise, sharing actionable insights on training, reporting culture, and why the next quantum leap is closer than you think. Don’t miss this conversation packed with real-world takeaways for business leaders facing the future of cyber and AI risk. Tune in now. ==== Timestamps ==== 00:00 – Introduction 00:19 – Meet Dr. José-Marie Griffiths 03:39 – Database Security and Metadata 05:39 –Compliance, Tools, and Executive Blindspots 07:11 – Ransomware, Quiet Attacks, and Liability 09:09 – Mindset Shifts, MFA, Threat Hunting, and Self-Healing Tech 13:10 – Building Security Culture 16:58 – Signs of a Healthy Security Culture 19:33 – The Next Five Years: AI, Quantum, and Ambient Technologies 23:49 – What AI Might Solve 26:04 – Quantum Computing 29:00 – Humanity in a Hyper-Connected World 31:36 – Dr. Griffiths’ Legacy and Cybersecurity Talent PipelineDefending Against AI Threats & Everyday Scams
How do you spot a scam before it’s too late? From rural beginnings to leading the charge in cybersecurity education and AI risk advocacy, Reanna Schultz joins Jon Waldman for a lively, revealing episode of Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber and AI. Hear Reanna Schultz’s unfiltered journey from tech “side quests” to national cybersecurity advocate. Discover why real-world cyber threats are often closer and more personal than you think, from $1,000 gift card scams hitting family members to kid-targeted data exploitation hiding in “innocent” apps. Learn today’s biggest AI risks, from data poisoning and hallucinations to the new frameworks and practical steps actually making a difference in defending organizations and families. Don’t miss this episode that blends personal stories, actionable insights, and the latest on AI threats. Tune in now to win against scams, risks, and what’s next. ==== Timestamps ==== 00:00 - Introduction: Cybersecurity and leadership 01:12 - About Reanna Schultz 03:39 - Early career struggles and college side quests 07:35 - First taste of programming and pivot to cybersecurity 08:40 - Discovering cybersecurity through accidental opportunity 13:27 - Lessons from scams 18:39 - Exploitation in kids’ tech and advocacy for data protection 24:51 - AI risks in the real world 30:43 - MITRE ATLAS and new frameworks for AI threat detection 36:05 - What excites and worries cyber pros about AI 37:41 - Final thoughtsStronger Security Starts With Culture
When cybersecurity is about more than just tech, organizations thrive. With evolving threats and advancing AI, the real edge in cyber risk management is human: building strong security cultures, sharing knowledge, and empowering every team member to step up. In this episode of Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber and AI, Jon Waldman welcomes Katie Shuck, Cyber Intelligence Analyst for the State of South Dakota’s Fusion Center and longtime advocate for cybersecurity as public safety. Travel with Katie Shuck from dial-up days to her leadership at the forefront of cyber defense, where people make or break your organization’s safety. Learn why information sharing is a turning point, discover what’s keeping leaders up at night, and hear actionable strategies for embedding a resilient cyber culture across your teams. Katie Shuck digs into the opportunities and pain points of advancing tech and why, in a hyperconnected world, security isn’t someone else’s job. Ready to rethink your cybersecurity playbook? Tune in now for modern strategies you can actually use. ==== Timestamps ==== 00:00 - Introduction 02:13 - Katie Shuck’s cyber journey and role in public safety 03:31 - How did you get started in cybersecurity? 06:42 - Why cybersecurity is now a public safety issue 08:33 - How has your thinking about cybersecurity evolved? 12:00 - Speed vs. security—risks of rapid tech adoption 14:14 - The power of information sharing 17:32 - What does it take to build a strong security culture? 19:19 - Humans as cyber assets, not weak links 20:30 - Security culture and information sharing 23:45 - Where is technology headed in the next five years? 28:32 - What excites you about AI’s future in security? 29:18 - AI governance and deepfake response 32:57 - Final thoughts and takeawaysLeading Secure Transformation in Financial Services
When trust and technology evolve together, banking leaders win. Accelerating digital change, relentless threats, and the need to keep customers’ trust, community bank tech leaders face more pressure than ever. In this episode of Converge Lab: Navigating Cyber & AI, Jon Waldman welcomes Chris Kreul, CTO at First Bank and Trust, for an unfiltered look at what’s working and what’s failing in modern cybersecurity strategy. Hear how Chris Kreul went from reimaging call center computers during the ILOVEYOU virus days to leading an award-winning tech team. Uncover the real value of elevating cyber programs beyond box-checking, why empathy and communication are central to a security-first culture, and how AI is unlocking operational and security wins banks couldn’t even dream of five years ago. Tune in to get inspired, rethink your approach, and drive your cybersecurity maturity forward. ==== Timestamps ==== 00:03 Introduction 02:12 Chris Kreul’s cybersecurity origin story 04:34 Early lessons from ILOVEYOU and Code Red viruses 06:27 How cybersecurity thinking has evolved 08:18 Challenges in current cybersecurity approaches 10:13 Dangers of “check-the-box” security 13:22 Opportunities and what's working in security maturity 15:23 Building a strong cybersecurity culture 17:19 Empathy and human factors in security incidents 18:43 Evolution of banking technology and threat landscape 19:43 Predictions for technology and cybersecurity in the next five years 21:56 AI’s role in unlocking value and secure automation 22:44 Real-world AI use cases reducing vulnerabilities 28:04 Measuring AI’s ROI and operational impact 30:28 Lessons learned and the importance of continual learning 33:14 Episode wrap-up