#45 OSWA Grind: 24 Hours. No Sleep. One Last Flag ft. Pratham Shah
He stayed up for 24 hours straight to pass one of OffSec’s toughest exams. In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, I sit down with Pratham Shah, a 21-year-old cybersecurity consultant who holds OSCE3, OSCP+, OSWA, and more. We break down his insane study grind, how OSWA pushed him harder than OSCP, and why he thinks passion matters more than paychecks. From bug bounty beginnings to expert-level certifications, this episode is packed with raw stories, certification strategy, and hard-earned advice for anyone chasing a career in offensive security. Whether you're working on OSCP, OSWA, or just breaking into hacking, this one hits deep. Connect with Pratham Shah on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prathamshah529/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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35:16
#44 How to Hack What No One Teaches ft. Noah Pack
In this episode of The Hacker’s Cache, I sit down with Noah Pack, an aerospace pentester with a ridiculous cert stack and an unconventional mindset. We talk about hacking obscure systems with no public tools or documentation, transitioning from SOC analyst to pentester, and why reading the manual might be your secret weapon. If you’ve ever wondered how to approach targets that no one teaches you how to test, this episode is a must-listen. Noah also shares insight on the value of multiple certifications, his experience with the SANS degree program, and tips for breaking into offensive security, especially when the path isn’t clearly marked. Connect with Noah Pack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahpack/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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33:17
#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.
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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