S4 - Episode 014 – CYBR.HAK.CON: The L33T DFW Hacker Conference (w/ Michael Farnum & Phillip Wylie)
About this episode
The episode explores the evolution of the CYBR.SEC.Community and the CYBR.HAK.CON conference with insights from its founders.
In this episode, we're diving deep into the evolution of one of the most respected cybersecurity community movements in the country. Michael Farnum, founder of CYBR.SEC.Community and the original force behind HOU.SEC.CON, joins us to talk about the transformation of a beloved Houston-based conference into a multi-city, multi-conference ecosystem designed to empower cybersecurity professionals, enthusiasts, and newcomers alike. With expansion plans already underway, the CYBR.SEC.Community is poised to redefine how regional infosec communities connect, learn, and grow. We're also joined by Phillip Wylie, a well-known ethical hacker, author, and educator, who will be leading CYBR.HAK.CON — the Dallas/Fort Worth chapter of this new initiative. Together, Michael and Phillip share their vision for what makes a truly impactful cybersecurity event, how they're building inclusive and technically rich experiences, and what attendees can expect from these revamped conferences. From speaker curation to community engagement, they're crafting something that's more than just a series of events — it's a movement. And of course, we'll have some fun along the way. Expect stories from past…
People in this episode
Hosts: Jason Popillion, Kevin Pentecost
Guests: Michael Farnum, Phillip Wylie
Topics covered
- cybersecurity
- community building
- hacker culture
- conference evolution
- ethical hacking
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: CYBR.SEC.Community, HOU.SEC.CON
Places: Dallas/Fort Worth
More episodes of Cyber Distortion Podcast Series
- S5 - Episode 004 – Ashley Madison: Infidelity Unmasked
- S5 - Episode 003 – Stuxnet: Zero-Day Cataclysmic Warfare
- S5 - Episode 002 – Cicada 3301
- S5 - Episode 001 – The Day that Twitter Died
- S4 - Episode 013 – The Cyber Crystal Ball: Predictions & Pitfalls (w/ Paul Furtado from Gartner)
- S4 - Episode 012 – Zero Trust, Zero Confusion (w/ Rob Allen)
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