The Tech Industry and Being the Role Model You Needed as a Kid

The Tech Industry and Being the Role Model You Needed as a Kid

Author: BKBT Productions July 21, 2025 Duration: 35:23
Kendrick Trotter joins the show to talk about going from Uber driver to a major account executive at a public cybersecurity company, then founding his own business that created over $70 million in annualized salaries for underrepresented professionals. George K and George A talk to Kendrick about: * How a Division I football scholarship and one life-changing Uber ride with an Amazon VP changed everything * His game-changing approach to calling CISOs * Building Us and Technology - training 13,000+ people for free and placing them at companies like Zscaler and Airtable * The harsh reality of what happened to DEI initiatives and why diversity of thought drives 30% more revenue The bottom line: Kendrick's story proves that with the right mindset, genuine human connection, and "unreasonable hospitality," you can break barriers and create opportunities for others. ———— 👊⚡️Support the show! For as little as $1 a month, you can support the show and get exclusive member benefits, or send a one-time gift! https://ko-fi.com/bareknucklesbrasstacks Your contribution covers our hosting fees, helps us make cool events and swag, and it lets us know that what we're doing is of value to you.

There’s a lot of noise in the world of technology talk, but Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks cuts through it with a focus on the people behind the products and the societal currents shaping our digital landscape. Hosts George K and George A steer conversations that are less about specs and hype, and more about real-world consequences. You’ll hear them dig into topics like the messy rollout of new AI tools, the often-invisible backbone of digital infrastructure, and why communities adopt or reject certain technologies. This podcast regularly features guests from various fields who offer unvarnished opinions on what’s genuinely functional and what’s fundamentally flawed in our tech-saturated lives. The discussions move beyond simple commentary to challenge the standard narratives promoted by the tech industry, examining the cultural and social ripples of every new development. It’s a show for anyone who feels that technology coverage often misses the human element-the frustrations, the adaptations, and the ethical dilemmas. Tune in for a grounded, critical, and consistently engaging dialogue that connects the dots between code and culture. This production from BKBT Productions lives up to its name, getting down to the brass tacks of how technology is built and used, with a bare-knuckle honesty that’s increasingly rare.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Bare Knuckles and Brass Tacks
Podcast Episodes
Authentic Networking and Using Your Voice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:58
Candace Williams, security leader, joins the show to talk about what ACTUALLY matters in networking and professional development in cybersecurity. No BS, just real talk from someone who's lived it. George K and George A…
GRC Engineering: The Manifesto and Beyond! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:39
This week we dive into GRC Engineering with Justin Pagano, Emre Ugurlu, and returning guest Terra Cooke, three of minds behind the new GRC Engineering Manifesto. We tackle: * Why GRC folks are engineers (yes, really!) *…
Cybersecurity for the Food Supply Chain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:28
Kristin Demoranville joins the show this week to talk securing the food supply chain as critical infrastructure, incidents' effect on the global economy, representation in ICS/OT, and more! George K and George A talk to…
Happy New Year from BKBT! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:08
HAPPY NEW YEAR from BKBT! to you and yours! We have big plans... We hope you have a peaceful New Year's, and we're wishing you all the prosperity for 2025! 😳 We still can't believe we won Cybersecurity Podcast of the Yea…
Happy Holidays from BKBT! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32
Happy holidays from BKBT to you and yours! Enjoy the time, and may be it restful, relaxing, and free of critical open-source vulns. 😳 We still can't believe we won Cybersecurity Podcast of the Year [https://www.youtube.c…