Translating security and tech concepts for the everyday consumer

Translating security and tech concepts for the everyday consumer

Author: BKBT Productions January 5, 2026 Duration: 34:46
When did we stop asking how things work? Rich Greene joins the show to talk about his new podcast Plaintext with Rich [https://open.spotify.com/show/2DCglwZU8zBxzZgy8iHRCa],  and we get into something that matters more than any tech: curiosity itself. Rich spent 20 years in Special Operations before becoming a SANS instructor. Now he's taking complex tech topics and breaking them down for people who need to understand, not just use. There's a tension building between the tech sector and society at large. AI promises to make everything easier, and maybe it does. But easier can become a trap when it stops us from asking the fundamental questions. When convenience replaces comprehension, we don't just lose technical skill, we lose the ability to think critically about the systems we're building and trusting. The conversation pushes on a deeper problem: we're creating a generation that believes technology is magic. That you can "vibe code" production software. That prompts replace understanding. And when everything becomes a black box, we've surrendered more than we realize. Communication and curiosity - those are the skills that matter when the tools change every six months. Find Plaintext with Rich: * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2DCglwZU8zBxzZgy8iHRCa] * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plaintext-with-rich/id1864969176] * Blog on Medium [https://medium.com/@plaintextwithrich]

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
Stalkerware Being Sold on TikTok & Monetizing our Worst Instincts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:09
A stalkerware economy is thriving on TikTok, and it's generating hundreds of thousands in sales. Journalist Rosie Thomas from 404 Media joins the show this week discuss her investigation into GPS trackers being sold as r…
Robot Brothels, AI Therapists, and the Future of Human Intimacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
This week on the show: some seriously cutting-edge territory. George A talks about what he saw at the Love and Sex with Robots conference in Montreal. Then George K and George A discuss AI companions, embodied LLMs, and…
Building a Shield for Your Mind Against Digital Manipulation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:39
Sumona Banerji, founder of MindShield [https://www.mindshield.org/] and PhD candidate in cyber psychology, joins us to discuss building cognitive resilience in an age of exponential technology and algorithmic manipulatio…
Life After the NFL: Lessons for Identity, Goals, and Team Leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:28
Former NFL player Mark LeVoir joins us this week to talk about life after pro sports, and the lessons he took transitioning to a career in tech. George K and George A talk to Mark about: * The transition from professiona…
Sex & Tech: Privacy, Power, and Human Intimacy in an AI Future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:16
This week Savannah Sly, dominatrix and sex worker rights advocate, joins the show to talk about privacy, power, and the nuances of human intimacy as generative AI takes hold. George K and George A talk to Savannah about:…
Season 4 is here! And with it, something new... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:48
Season 4 is here! While George K and George A are in Las Vegas for Black Hat and DEFCON this week, here's a preview of some changes coming to the podcast. We're grateful for every listener. Thank you for being on this jo…
The Tech Industry and Being the Role Model You Needed as a Kid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
Status Check: AI Hype, Practical Use, & Up-skilling for a New Economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:09
George K and George A went completely off-script this week and recorded their first one-on-one episode in years. Fair warning: it gets heated about some industry trends that have been grinding their gears. George K and G…