• Bites & Bytes Podcast

  • By: AnzenSage
  • Podcast

Bites & Bytes Podcast

By: AnzenSage
  • Summary

  • Bites and Bytes Podcast explores cybersecurity, technology, and beyond in the food industry. Discover the exciting world where cybersecurity, technology, and the food industry converge on the Bites and Bytes Podcast. As one of the few shows focusing on cybersecurity in the food sector, we offer unique insights and groundbreaking discussions. Our interview-style chats and in-depth discussions reveal the challenges and innovations at the intersection of digital defenses, food protection, and systems thinking. Everything is interconnected, whether through technology, natural cycles, or systems. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or passionate about safeguarding our food supply, please tune in for conversations illuminating this dynamic and evolving field!
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Episodes
  • Tracy Brunet on the Realities of Modern Ranching: From Land to Legacy to Tech
    Apr 23 2025
    In this compelling episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville sits down with Tracy Brunet, cattle rancher, Canadian Ag media powerhouse, and host of The Impact Farming Show. Broadcasting from her family farm in Southeastern Manitoba, Tracy opens up about the realities of modern agriculture, including land pressures, succession planning, tech adoption, and how family farms are quietly being squeezed out. Together, Kristin and Tracy examine how smart farming and digital innovation are reshaping the industry, for better or worse. They also unpack the rising threat of agroterrorism and cyber-physical attacks, as well as what happens when farm automation goes wrong. This isn’t your typical farm chat; it's real talk about the challenges and resilience of today’s producers. Whether you're in ag, food, or tech, this conversation is packed with insights on business, legacy, and safeguarding our food system. Tracy’s passion for farming is contagious, and her straight-shooting perspective on the future of agriculture will leave you thinking long after the episode ends. 🎧 This is a sister episode to Tracy’s show, The Impact Farming Show—you can also watch our whole conversation on their YouTube channel: Watch here. _______________________________________________ 🎙️ Guest Information: Tracy Brunet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-brunet-53a204b/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracymbrunet/ Farm Marketer: https://www.farmmarketer.com/ 🎙️ The Impact Farming Show: The Impact Farming Show is a podcast produced by Farm Marketer, created specifically for Canadian farmers who want to thrive in the business of farming. Hosted by Tracy Brunet, a cattle rancher and the CEO of Farm Marketer, the show features conversations with leading farm advisors and industry experts. Each episode offers practical advice on topics like succession planning, financial management, mental health, and the latest in ag innovation. Designed for busy farmers on the move, the show aims to provide insights that help them build successful, resilient farms and pass them on to the next generation. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@farmmarketer3270Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/impact-farming/id1409740089Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0UwMzcGCuFKkvlzJgOmhRl?si=00dacd734e1840c3 _______________________________________________ 🎯 Episode Key Highlights (00:14:05) – Land Developers, Pressure, and Displacement of Family Farms (00:19:17) – Succession Planning & Inheritance Struggles in Ag (00:24:48) – What Happens When Cyber Risk Hits the Ranch (00:35:55) – Real Incidents: Cyber Attacks on Dairy & Meat Industries (00:42:59) – The Risk of Connected Equipment & Smart Tech on the Farm (00:47:34) – Agroterrorism & Espionage: The Physical-Digital Crossover (00:55:12) – When Cyber Attacks Lead to Loss of Life on Farms _______________________________________________ Show Notes: 🔗 Resources and Further Reading Farm Succession Planning Passing Down The Family Farm with Clint Fischer | Episode 240 Tracy discusses the intricacies of farm transition planning with Clint Fischer, emphasizing the importance of early and strategic planning. Watch the episode ​TOP 10 Farm Transition Planning Mistakes with Tracy Brunet An insightful episode where Tracy outlines common pitfalls in farm succession planning and offers practical advice to avoid them. Watch the episode​ Precision Agriculture Benefits and Evolution of Precision Agriculture An overview by USDA ARS on how precision agriculture tools enhance farming efficiency and sustainability. Read the article ​Precision Agriculture in the Digital Era A report detailing recent trends in the adoption of precision technologies on U.S. farms. Access the report​ Cybersecurity in Agriculture Ransomware Attack Paralyzes Milking Robots—Cow Dead An incident highlighting the real-world consequences of cybersecurity breaches in agriculture. Read the article ​Why the Food & Agriculture Industry Needs Cyber Insurance An overview of how cyber insurance can safeguard farming operations against digital threats. Download the PDF​ Agroterrorism and Food Security Agroterrorism: Threats to America's Economy and Food Supply An FBI investigation into the threats posed by agroterrorism to the agricultural sector. Read the article ​Agroterrorism & Cyber Threats: How Farms Are Under Attack In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, we discuss deliberately targeting farms, livestock, and food supply chains to incite fear, economic damage, or ideological change. Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify​ JBS Ransomware Attack (2021) A cyberattack in the meat industry was used to illustrate how digital risks can halt real-world production.BBC Article BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) Also known as "mad cow disease." Tracy mentions that the outbreak stalled their early plans to...
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Securing Food Systems with a Defense Mindset with Brian Schleifer
    Apr 2 2025
    💡 What can the food industry learn from 25+ years of defense cybersecurity experience? In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville talks with Brian Schleifer, a cybersecurity expert with a career spanning the U.S. Air Force, Department of Defense systems, and advanced cyber-physical risk management. Together, they unpack how the principles of defense cybersecurity, from risk modeling to system resilience, can help protect the food and agriculture sector, one of the most vulnerable critical infrastructures. This episode explores: ✅ What precision agriculture and defense systems have in common ✅ Why autonomous tractors and food processing systems are prime targets ✅ The reality of protecting proprietary food data and recipes ✅ Cyber-physical risks in modern farming and food production Whether you work in OT, IT, food safety, risk management, or supply chain, this episode is packed with real talk and relatable analogies (plus homemade tortillas and schnitzel get shoutouts). Tune in to hear why safety and security must go hand in hand — and what it really means to secure the systems that feed the world. ⚠️Disclaimer: The views expressed by Brian Schleifer are his own and do not represent the Department of Defense, his employer, or any government entity. _______________________________________________ 🎙️ Guest Information: Brian Schleifer, MBA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-schleifer/ People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.) Podcast: Hosted by Brian, the People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.) podcast explores how individuals contribute to adding value across various aspects of life. Topics include fostering and adoption, professional development, and small business insights.​ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/people-add-value-experience/id1691150774Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@P.A.V.E. _______________________________________________ 🎯 Episode Key Highlights 00:17:00) – Caterpillar as a Cybersecurity Model for Ag & Food Systems (00:19:50) – The Solar Flare That Took Out GPS on Tractors (00:24:50) – Is Food Data Secret? Yes — Here’s Why It Matters (00:14:41) – What Food & Ag Can Learn from the Defense Sector (00:21:01) – What a Strategic Attack on Food Infrastructure Might Look Like (00:29:43) – Leadership Failure & Lessons from the Peanut Corporation Disaster (00:37:54) – Why Food Cybersecurity Must Be Treated Like Safety (00:38:04) – Cyber PHAs: Planning for the “What Ifs” in Food Systems (00:45:20) – The Case for Sector-Specific Cyber Frameworks (00:52:00) – When Donuts Got Hacked: The Krispy Kreme Incident (00:52:21) – McDonald’s Onions & Public Awareness of Food Supply Risk (00:53:00) – Ukraine’s War Rippled Through the Wheat Market (00:54:30) – Fiber-Optic Drones and the Future of Cyber-Physical Warfare (00:56:10) – Meet Brian’s Podcast: People Add Value Experience (P.A.V.E.) _______________________________________________ Show Notes: 📚 Books & Documentaries Mentioned: Salt Sugar Fat by Michael Moss – A behind-the-scenes look at how processed food is engineered for maximum appeal — mentioned in Brian’s discussion about food memory and food science. https://a.co/d/byO516wThe Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg – Referenced during the conversation on safety culture, behavioral change, and leadership accountability. https://a.co/d/9YwlmM6Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck – brought up in the context of continuous learning and a growth mindset in cybersecurity and industry adaptation. https://a.co/d/9aherBXPoisoned (Netflix documentary featuring Dr. Darren Dettweiler) – Recommended by Kristin as a must-watch on food safety failures, systemic vulnerabilities, and public health. https://www.netflix.com/title/81460481Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy Greenberg – Brian mentioned the NotPetya cyberattack and its impact on global shipping and food supply chains. https://a.co/d/eWmJH8Y 🧠 Key Terms & Concepts: Risk Management Framework (RMF) – NIST SP 800-37 Referenced in Brian’s experience assessing and implementing cybersecurity controls in defense systems.STPA-SEC – System-Theoretic Process Analysis for Security (MIT) A systems thinking approach to security based on safety analysis is used by Brian in his academic and professional work.CMMC – Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Brought up during the discussion on compliance and upcoming requirements for government contractors and vendors.Cyber-Physical Systems Overview – NIST Used to frame how digital systems interact with the physical world — particularly in agriculture, food processing, and defense.IEC 62443 – Industrial Cybersecurity Standard A referenced framework used across OT/ICS environments to manage and mitigate industrial cybersecurity risk.NIST SP 800-171 Cited when talking about supply chain ...
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Cybersecurity Shouldn’t Suck: Fixing the Real Problems with Tom Sego
    Mar 18 2025
    What happens when cyber threats hit critical infrastructure? In this episode of the Bites and Bytes Podcast, host Kristin Demoranville sits down with Tom Sego, a cybersecurity leader with a fascinating background from chemical engineering to Apple to professional poker, now focused on making security simpler and more effective for critical infrastructure as CEO at Blastwave. Cyber risks in critical industries are real, but so are the solutions. Kristin and Tom discuss why current security models create more problems than they solve, how the human element is often overlooked, and what needs to change to make security actually work for the people keeping our systems running. 🔎 In this episode, we unpack: ✅ How cyber threats can disrupt production & cold storage 🚜❄️ ✅ Why critical infrastructure sectors struggle with cybersecurity adoption 🛑 ✅ The AI-powered cyber threats targeting supply chains 🤖💥 ✅ The human side of security—trust, simplicity, and keeping people safe 🛡️ ✅ Why passwords are outdated and cause more harm than good ✅ How security teams can build trust instead of friction ✅ And yes… we also talk about wine, food obsessions, and French pastries 🍷🥐 Whether you’re in OT, security, or just sick of cybersecurity being unnecessarily complicated, this episode is packed with insights, humor, and real solutions. _______________________________________________ 🎯 Episode Key Highlights 00:00:20) - Introduction to the Episode & Guest: Tom Sego (00:01:20) - Guest’s Favorite Food & Food Memories (00:05:54) - Tom Sego’s Background & Career Journey (00:09:23) - The Ukraine Electric Grid Hack: A Pivotal Moment for Tom (00:10:51) - The Importance of OT Security & Community Building (00:11:26) - How Tom & Kristin Met – A Conversation Over Wine (00:14:43) - Why Tom Founded BlastWave & His Mission (00:16:21) - The Human Factor in Cybersecurity & Biggest OT Risks (00:19:17) - The Future of Cyber Threats in OT & Supply Chains (00:24:04) - Mid-Episode Break: Celebrating 8,000 Downloads! (00:26:07) - Why Farmers & Food Producers Struggle with Cybersecurity (00:32:46) - Real-World Cold Storage Cybersecurity Risks (00:37:50) - How AI is Impacting Cybersecurity & Attack Strategies (00:40:39) - Cyber-Physical Security & Real-World Consequences (00:42:27) - Trust in Cybersecurity: Why It’s Critical for OT (00:43:26) - Final Takeaways: Tom’s Advice for Staying Secure (00:44:31) - The Role of AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities & Risks (00:45:17) - Outro & Closing Remarks _______________________________________________ Show Notes 🔹 Cyber-Attack Against Ukrainian Critical Infrastructure: https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-alerts/ir-alert-h-16-056-01 🔹 Zim Ketter’s Wired Magazine Article about Ukraine’s Power Grid Hack: https://www.wired.com/2016/03/inside-cunning-unprecedented-hack-ukraines-power-grid/ 🔹 Port of Beirut, Lebanon ammonium nitrate explosion: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7985624/ _______________________________________________ Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2025 Stakeholders Summit If you enjoyed our episode on agroterrorism and cyber threats to farms featuring the Animal Agriculture Alliance, here’s another opportunity to explore critical conversations about our food system. And if you haven’t listened yet, check it out here: 🎙 Episode Link: Agroterrorism & Cyber Threats – How Farms Are Under Attack 📢 Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify The 2025 Stakeholders Summit, happening April 30 – May 2 in Arlington, VA, will bring together industry leaders from farms, food processing, retail, and more to discuss sustainability and the future of animal agriculture. This year’s theme, “Food for Thought: Dishing on Sustainability,” focuses on collaboration and innovation to shape the future of food production. Reserve your seat at the table—register by April 25! 🔗 Learn more and register: 2025 Stakeholders Summit 🔗 About the Animal Agriculture Alliance: AnimalAgAlliance.org _______________________________________________ Wicked6 is about women coming together to play cyber games and learn about careers in cybersecurity. 🔥 March 28-30, 2025 – a three-day, global, virtual Hack & Chat event where women worldwide come together to play cyber games, compete, learn, and connect. 💡 We’ve got international speakers, technical talks, hands-on workshops, and of course…the GAMES! Think Capture the Flag, Attack & Defend, and a high-stakes team tournament—all virtually streamed LIVE! ✨ Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, there’s a game for you. Plus, there’s networking, prizes, merch, and so much more! 💻 Sign up now at Wicked6.com, and let’s LEVEL UP together! 🔥💪 🎤 Want to share your story? Call for speakers & technical workshops is OPEN! 📹 Ever wonder what cybersecurity careers look like? Submit a “Day in the Life” video! 🙌 Passionate about supporting women ...
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    52 mins
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