Top 5 Threat Intelligence Podcasts in 2022

There's one thing our cyber threat intelligence experts love (almost) as much as stopping threats: learning and talking about them. Whether publishing intelligence reports, appearing on a threat intelligence podcast, or gaining insights from their industry peers, intelligence sharing leaves fewer shadows in which adversaries can hide - and we are here for it. 

We polled the ZeroFox team to discover the top five threat intelligence podcasts of 2022. If you’re looking for your next podcast download, look no further. 

Download a copy of our Threat Intelligence Buyer's Guide.

What is a Threat Intelligence Podcast?

Listening to an episode of a threat intelligence podcast is a great way to stay informed about current and historic cyberthreats. Traditional written intelligence reports have their place. But, if you’re looking for a different format that is accessible and engaging, there are quite a few threat intelligence podcasts to choose from. These podcasts offer insights from industry experts from a wide array of backgrounds and industries. This creates a more diverse commentary than you might traditionally get from coworkers on your team. For example, in one episode, you might hear about the rise of ransomware that could impact your business and in another, get historical context about a specific adversary group.  

A quality threat intelligence podcast covers a variety of topics, from the changing threat landscape to the major breaches that impact businesses. In some cases, you may gain access to new information. Further, whether the intelligence is actionable today or informational, it can provide resident knowledge that may become actionable as events unfold.  

The following five podcasts are highly recommended by the ZeroFox team of trusted experts. 

#1 CISO Series Cybersecurity Headlines

• Where to find it: Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify, streaming online here.
• Overview: CISO Series Podcast is a 35-minute weekly news and opinion podcast hosted by cybersecurity journalist David Spark and veteran CISOs Mike Johnson and Andy Ellis. The show discusses varied topics in cybersecurity leadership, dealing with security issues, and how cybersecurity practitioners work with security vendors. 
• Average Episode Length: 35 minutes
• Episode release date: Weekly on Tuesdays at 6 a.m. ET
• Why you should listen: We enjoy this threat intelligence podcast because one co-host and the majority of guests are/were CISOs. The audience gets to hear viewpoints on current events, life as a security practitioner, and dealing with security vendors from the perspective of a senior security leader. Additionally, CISOs are among the most common and critical stakeholders for threat intelligence teams and vendors. To ensure we’re providing a valuable service and improving the CISO's security decision making, this podcast is helpful in understanding the CISO's biggest challenges and how they approach them.

#2 Smashing Security

• Where to find it: Apple, Google, Spotify, streaming online here.  
• Overview: Smashing Security is co-hosted by Graham Cluly and Carole Theriaulte and features news and views from the world of cybersecurity, hacking, and internet threats. A helpful and hilarious take on the week’s tech SNAFUs. Computer security industry veterans Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault chat with guests about cybercrime, hacking, and online privacy. 
• Average Episode Length: 1 hour 
• Episode release date: Weekly on Thursdays
• Why you should listen: Smashing Security is the winner of the “Best Security Podcast” in 2018 and 2019, and the “Most Entertaining” in 2022. With over eight million downloads and past guests including Garry Kasparov, Mikko Hyppönen, and Rory Cellan-Jones, this podcast is both an entertaining listen and an informative one. This podcast offers witty commentary on current cybersecurity trends and events and doesn’t shy away from controversial topics, with a hint of humor peppered in for good measure. 

#3 Hacking Humans

• Where to find it: Apple, Google, Stitcher, Spotify, Castbox, Overcast, and streaming online here.
• Overview: A Cyberwire podcast, this show is hosted by Dave Bittner and Joe Carrigan and looks behind the social engineering scams, phishing schemes, and criminal exploits that are making headlines and taking a heavy toll on organizations around the world.
• Average Episode Length: 50 minutes
• Episode release date: Weekly on Thursdays
• Why you should listen: This threat intelligence podcast covers topics that are relevant to a broad swath of security experts and focuses on a range of industries. Guests interviewed include authors, industry leaders, and intelligence experts who talk about brand protection, domain monitoring and protection, and other topics that security professionals need to know. One of the reasons we like this podcast is because it offers a real-world, human perspective on digital crimes -- taking threats from ambiguous to understandable for a lot of people.

#4 Needlestack

• Where to find it: Apple, Google, Spotify, streaming online here.
• Overview: NeedleStack is a weekly podcast for security professionals to learn how to hone their skills, improve efficiency, and protect themselves and their businesses in the surface, Deep, and Dark Web.
• Average Episode Length: 15 minutes
• Episode release date: Monthly, the first Friday of every month
• Why you should listen: This podcast gets down to the nitty gritty, diving beyond surface-level hot topics and instead focusing on the Dark Web and specific tools needed to face the adversary. We love that this show is published in bite-sized chunks (perfect for when you need a break or take a walk). Recent topics include vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency, using OSINT, brand protection, and the differences between intelligence and raw data collection. 

#5 Darknet Diaries

• Where to find it: Apple, Google, Spotify, streaming online here.
• Overview: Created by Jack Rhysider, Darknet Diaries are stories from the dark side of the internet. This is a podcast about hackers, breaches, shadow government activity, hacktivism, cybercrime, and all the things that dwell on the hidden parts of the network.  
• Average Episode Length: 40-80 minutes
• Episode release date: Monthly, typically the last week of the month
• Why you should listen: Aside from the artwork that accompanies each episode online, this threat intelligence podcast presents stories in a more human way, exposing the impacts of breaches, social engineering campaigns, and other types of cybercrime. This show also discusses some of the less common cyberthreats and attacks that may not make mainstream news, but which are still important to know about.

How to Get Started with Threat Intelligence 

Listening to a compelling threat intelligence podcast is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to staying ahead of current cyberthreats and trends. Deploying tactical threat intelligence will help you put context around relevant threats and understand the best course of action with which to address them. 

Whether you’re starting from scratch or maturing an existing threat intelligence program, building on the right foundation is critical. Download ZeroFox’s Buyer’s Guide for Threat Intelligence to learn how to take your intelligence strategy to the next level and proactively stop cyber threats in their tracks. Download your copy here. 

Tags: Cyber Trends, Cybersecurity