In this episode of pwn.talk, the conversation delves into the complexities of creating a certification program while maintaining the integrity of free educational content. The discussion highlights the concerns regarding monetization and the organizational structures needed to support such initiatives without compromising access to learning materials. See Initial Linux Luminarium Certificate here: https://careercatalyst.asu.edu/programs/linu-command-line-operations/
5 Nov 2025
011 — Advent of PWN!
In this episode of pwn.talk, the conversation discusses the upcoming Advent of PWN, which will feature daily challenges throughout December. Participants will compete for the Santa emoji and have the chance to win various prizes, including emojis and Discord badges. The event aims to foster community engagement and excitement.
23 Oct 2025
010 — Contributing to pwn.college
In this episode of pwn.talk, the hosts discuss the evolution and challenges of pwn.college, a platform for cybersecurity education. They explore the concept of contributions through a document called contributions.md, which aims to clarify how users can contribute to the platform while balancing the needs of education and research. The conversation delves into the importance of maintaining stability in the platform, the role of community engagement, and the future directions for pwn.college.
8 Oct 2025
009 — Belts are GONE????
In this episode of pwn.talk, the hosts discuss the evolution of pwn.college, a platform for teaching hacking skills. They explore the concept of completionism in gaming and how it relates to the educational structure of pwn.college, including the belt system that signifies progress. The conversation delves into curriculum development, community contributions, and the importance of diverse challenges in improving skills for Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions. The hosts also brainstorm ideas for enhancing the educational model and the future of pwn.college.
24 Sept 2025
008 — DDoS Post Mortem
In this episode of pwn.talk, the team discusses a recent incident involving a DDoS attack on pwn.college, which they refer to as the 'morning of a thousand requests.' The conversation delves into the ransom note received, the initial reactions from the team, and the subsequent steps taken to mitigate the attack using Cloudflare. They explore the complexities of cybersecurity, the nature of cybercrime, and the lessons learned from the incident, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and understanding the evolving landscape of online threats.
3 Sept 2025
007 — The September Effect
In this episode of pwn.talk, the hosts discuss the concept of the September Effect, which refers to the influx of new students into online communities at the start of the academic year. They explore the challenges this brings to pwn.college, particularly in terms of technical difficulties and the need for effective community engagement. The conversation delves into the historical context of the internet's growth, the impact of new users on online platforms, and the lessons learned from recent outages. The hosts emphasize the importance of adapting to the needs of new students and improving the platform's stability and performance.
20 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
006 — LIVE from DEF CON Academy
In this episode of pwn.talk recorded LIVE in front of an audience at DEF CON 33, kanak, adamd, Zardus, and robwaz discuss the ongoing DEF CON Academy, Dojo mishaps, and why you shouldn't deploy to prod at 1am.
31 Jul 2025
005 — pwn.college design philosophy: regular vs. power users
In this episode of pwn.talk, adamd, kanak, and robwaz discuss the philosophy of design in pwn.college, focusing on differences between regular users and power user. They explore the balance between making tools accessible for beginners while ensuring that power users have the features they need.
17 Jul 2025
004 — DEF CON Academy 2025
In this episode of pwn.talk, adamd, kanak, Zardus, and robwaz discuss the evolution of pwn.college, Rob's journey in cybersecurity, and the introduction of DEF CON Academy. They explore the challenges and solutions in cybersecurity education, the importance of community engagement, and the future of DEF CON Academy as a platform for learning and collaboration.
10 Jul 2025
003 — Early CS Education with Erik Trickel
In this episode of pwn.talk, adamd, kanak, and Zardus and joined by Erik Trickel (tricke), who created the new "Intro to Programming Languages" dojo. They discuss the vision and evolution of pwn.college, focusing on the importance of foundational knowledge in cybersecurity and computer science education. They explore the challenges of teaching in a post-COVID world, the role of AI in education, and innovative testing strategies to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. The conversation emphasizes the need for hands-on learning experiences and community involvement to bridge knowledge gaps and prepare students for success in the field.
3 Jul 2025
002 — Five years of pwn.college
adamd, Zardus, and kanak discuss the evolution of pwn.college, its origins, and the lessons learned over the past five years. They explore the transition from traditional classroom settings to online platforms like Twitch, the importance of community engagement through Discord, and the challenges of maintaining educational integrity. The conversation also touches on the future of pwn.college including the need for more diverse content and the vision for creating a comprehensive educational experience for all learners.
19 Jun 2025
001 — origins of pwn.college
The podcast with adamd, Zardus, and kanak, discusses the origins and evolution of pwn.college a cybersecurity education platform. The hosts explore the challenges faced in creating the curriculum, the transition from traditional Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions to a more structured educational approach, and the impact of community engagement on student learning. They reflect on the first semester's experiences, the adaptation to online learning during COVID-19, and the future directions for pwn.college
Inside a recent episode
006 — LIVE from DEF CON Academy
Published 20 Aug 2025 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I see lots of hands. Lots and lots of hands. Yeah. That's why we created DeafCon. Well, that's why we created poem college. And then that's why we created DeafCon Academy. Was so that, you know, everyone wandering the halls going to cool talks hearing about all this stuff. Could actually just like sit down in the terminal and start doing stuff. And critically based on poem college philosophy, which we talked about in past about podcast episodes. Everything in the browser. So I know a lot of people looking to get started. They're like, I got to set up a VM. And it just like, I feel like half of people just stop there. […]
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