#43 Grind Now, Relax Later: The Harsh Reality of Breaking Into Cybersecurity ft. Matthew Younker (Zumi Yumi)
In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, Matthew Younker (aka Zumi Yumi) shares the raw truth about what it really took to break into offensive security, working full time, going to college, and grinding for OSCP with almost zero rest. He opens up about the unhealthy sacrifices he made, why OSWA was harder than OSCP, and how his journey from Army hazmat to pentester shaped the way he works today. If you’ve ever wondered what the grind really looks like behind the certifications and titles, this one hits close to home. Connect with Matthew Younker (Zumi Yumi) on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-y-138494200/Connect---------------------------------------------------https://www.KyserClark.comhttps://www.KyserClark.com/Newsletterhttps://youtube.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/KyserClarkhttps://www.twitter.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.instagram/KyserClarkhttps://facebook.com/CyberKyserhttps://twitch.tv/KyserClark_Cybersecurityhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyserclarkhttps://discord.gg/ZPQYdBV9YYMusic by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioAttention Listeners: This content is strictly for educational purposes, emphasizing ETHICAL and LEGAL hacking only. I do not, and will NEVER, condone the act of illegally hacking into computer systems and networks for any reason. My goal is to foster cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital behavior. Please behave responsibly and adhere to legal and ethical standards in your use of this information.Opinions are my own and may not represent the positions of my employer.
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34:29
#42 Certifications, College, or Bootcamps — What’s Worth It in Cybersecurity? ft. Channa Rajaratne
In this episode, Channa Rajaratne joins me to unpack one of the most common questions in cybersecurity: should you go after certifications, a college degree, or a bootcamp? We break down the pros and cons of each, share personal experiences, and talk about which path actually helped us get hired. Channa also shares his take on underrated skills like report writing, soft skills, and why being a well-rounded practitioner matters more than chasing every shiny new cert. If you're trying to break into pentesting or level up your career, this episode is for you. Connect with Channa Rajaratne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/channa-r/Connect---------------------------------------------------https://www.KyserClark.comhttps://www.KyserClark.com/Newsletterhttps://youtube.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/KyserClarkhttps://www.twitter.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.instagram/KyserClarkhttps://facebook.com/CyberKyserhttps://twitch.tv/KyserClark_Cybersecurityhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyserclarkhttps://discord.gg/ZPQYdBV9YYMusic by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioAttention Listeners: This content is strictly for educational purposes, emphasizing ETHICAL and LEGAL hacking only. I do not, and will NEVER, condone the act of illegally hacking into computer systems and networks for any reason. My goal is to foster cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital behavior. Please behave responsibly and adhere to legal and ethical standards in your use of this information.Opinions are my own and may not represent the positions of my employer.
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39:31
#41 How to Actually Become a Great Pentester
What separates a good pentester from a great one? It’s not just about popping shells or passing certs. In this solo episode, I break down the real-world skills that actually matter. Technical, non-technical, and everything in between. I share hard lessons from the field, my thoughts on being well-rounded vs. specialized, and why communication, client trust, and soft skills are just as crucial as finding vulnerabilities. Whether you're early in your career or already in the trenches, this episode is about pushing past the surface and leveling up where it really counts. Connect---------------------------------------------------https://www.KyserClark.comhttps://www.KyserClark.com/Newsletterhttps://youtube.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/KyserClarkhttps://www.twitter.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.instagram/KyserClarkhttps://facebook.com/CyberKyserhttps://twitch.tv/KyserClark_Cybersecurityhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyserclarkhttps://discord.gg/ZPQYdBV9YYMusic by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioAttention Listeners: This content is strictly for educational purposes, emphasizing ETHICAL and LEGAL hacking only. I do not, and will NEVER, condone the act of illegally hacking into computer systems and networks for any reason. My goal is to foster cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital behavior. Please behave responsibly and adhere to legal and ethical standards in your use of this information.Opinions are my own and may not represent the positions of my employer.
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38:25
#40 Proof You Don’t Need a Degree to Succeed in Cybersecurity ft. Zach Winchester
In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, Kyser Clark and Zach Winchester talk about breaking into cybersecurity without a college degree and why it’s not the dealbreaker people think it is. You’ll hear a real-world story of going from firewall configs to full-time pentesting with just an OSCP and hands-on experience. We also get into hardware hacking, social engineering discomfort, AI/LLM security loopholes, and why the offensive security space is far from being automated. If you’re wondering whether a degree is essential to succeed in this field, this episode is your answer. Connect---------------------------------------------------https://www.KyserClark.comhttps://www.KyserClark.com/Newsletterhttps://youtube.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/KyserClarkhttps://www.twitter.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.instagram/KyserClarkhttps://facebook.com/CyberKyserhttps://twitch.tv/KyserClark_Cybersecurityhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyserclarkhttps://discord.gg/ZPQYdBV9YYMusic by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioAttention Listeners: This content is strictly for educational purposes, emphasizing ETHICAL and LEGAL hacking only. I do not, and will NEVER, condone the act of illegally hacking into computer systems and networks for any reason. My goal is to foster cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital behavior. Please behave responsibly and adhere to legal and ethical standards in your use of this information.Opinions are my own and may not represent the positions of my employer.
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39:37
#39 Q&A: Struggling with Burnout? Here’s Why It Might Be a Good Thing
Burnout sucks, but what if it's actually a sign of growth? In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, I break down why burnout isn’t always the enemy and how pushing yourself to the limit can actually make you better. Just like lifting weights to failure builds muscle, hitting burnout and recovering makes you mentally stronger. I’ll share my own experiences with burnout, why I see it as part of the process, and how to come back even better. Plus, I answer your cybersecurity career questions, covering internships, certifications, dealing with difficult clients in pentesting, and more. If you're feeling stuck or overwhelmed, this episode is for you! Connect---------------------------------------------------https://www.KyserClark.comhttps://www.KyserClark.com/Newsletterhttps://youtube.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/KyserClarkhttps://www.twitter.com/KyserClarkhttps://www.instagram/KyserClarkhttps://facebook.com/CyberKyserhttps://twitch.tv/KyserClark_Cybersecurityhttps://www.tiktok.com/@kyserclarkhttps://discord.gg/ZPQYdBV9YYMusic by Karl Casey @ White Bat AudioAttention Listeners: This content is strictly for educational purposes, emphasizing ETHICAL and LEGAL hacking only. I do not, and will NEVER, condone the act of illegally hacking into computer systems and networks for any reason. My goal is to foster cybersecurity awareness and responsible digital behavior. Please behave responsibly and adhere to legal and ethical standards in your use of this information.Opinions are my own and may not represent the positions of my employer.
The show that decrypts the secrets of offensive cybersecurity, one byte at a time. Every week I invite you into the world of ethical hacking by interviewing leading offensive security practitioners. If you are a penetration tester, bug bounty hunter, red teamer, or blue teamer who wants to better understand the modern hacker mindset, whether you are new or experienced, this show is for you.
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