Stop Chatting, Start Building: Your First AI Agent

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, it's just Erika and Jax, and we're doing something a little different: a hands-on walkthrough of how to actually build an AI agent, live on screen.We break down the Claude ecosystem in plain English, what's the difference between Claude chat, Claude Code, and Claude Cowork, and when you'd reach for each one. Then we decode the buzzwords you keep hearing, like skills and routines, and show you what they actually mean in practice. To make it real, we run three prompts on screen, building up the context an agent needs so you can follow along and build one yourself.In this conversation, we cover topics including:Claude chat vs. Claude Code vs. Claude Cowork: what each one is actually forSkills and routines, translated out of the jargonThree on-screen prompts that take you from blank page to working agentHow to give an agent the context it needs to be genuinely usefulA must-listen for anyone who keeps hearing about AI agents but hasn't built one, and anyone who wants to stop just chatting with AI and start putting it to work.=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @TheZaraAI- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we’re joined by Dr. Michael Roman, Executive in Residence at Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering and a recognized leader in AI security, offensive and defensive AI, and emerging technology.Michael works at the intersection of physics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. A physicist by training with more than 15 years across cyber, defense, and deep tech, he runs the Applied AI-Cyber Lab at Duke, built the university’s AI-in-cybersecurity curriculum, and founded TwoTen Labs, a venture studio bringing emerging technology to market. His students made headlines inside the field for research showing exactly how much AI lowers the bar for launching cyberattacks, and he teaches the next generation to use AI on offense and defense, sometimes in the same lecture.In this conversation, we dive into:- Why he left physics, a field with fixed laws, for a field where the adversary adapts the moment you understand it- The hard call behind publishing research that shows how AI helps attackers, and where the line sits between studying a threat and handing out the roadmap- The real quantum computing timeline from someone who can actually do the math, and whether “harvest now, decrypt later” deserves your budget today- What he tells students entering cyber just as AI automates the entry-level rung, and his five-year bet on whether AI nets out for defenders or attackersThis episode is a must-listen for security leaders, educators, students breaking into the field, and anyone interested in how physics, AI, and cybersecurity come together when it matters most.Guest Information:Dr. Michael Roman, Executive in Residence, Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University; Founder, TwoTen LabsConnect with Michael on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelproman/=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @TheZaraAI- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we’re joined by Jessica Weiland of Bishop Fox — part relationship builder, part problem solver, and part professional cat herder — who spends her days helping security teams tackle challenges, reduce risk, and move their programs forward.Whether she’s coordinating offensive security testing, planning strategic initiatives, or translating security-speak into business outcomes, Jessica works to make security easier to navigate and a lot less painful. In this conversation she gets practical about cutting through the AI hype and meeting both technical teams and business leaders exactly where they are — empathy and listening first.In this conversation, we dive into:• How to separate real AI risk from AI hype when you’re actually talking to a client• Explaining AI risk so it lands with technical teams and business leaders alike• Where AI fits into offensive security testing and red teaming• The misconception about AI and cybersecurity she wishes more people understood — and how to stay innovative while leading human-firstThis episode is a must-listen for security leaders, practitioners, and anyone who wants AI security to be less about hype and more about people, clarity, and outcomes that actually move the program forward.👤 Guest Information:Jessica Weiland | Account Executive, Bishop FoxLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaweiland/=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @TheZaraAI- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, we're joined by Shawnna Hoffman, CEO of Armored Quantum and a recognized leader in responsible AI, quantum-safe security, and digital trust.Shawnna works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, quantum security, and governance, helping organizations build guardrails that hold up under real-world pressure. She co-led IBM's global Watson AI legal practice, has testified before the CFTC on blockchain, and founded Women in eDiscovery and Diversity in Blockchain — and today she runs a company focused on protecting organizations from the day quantum computing breaks the encryption everything relies on.In this conversation, we explore:- What "responsible" AI actually means when everyone is shipping it anyway- Why quantum is the threat most security teams still aren't budgeting for- What the Watson-era AI hype cycle taught us about today's genAI rush- How to build guardrails without strangling innovationThis episode is a must-listen for security leaders, AI practitioners, and anyone interested in how governance, emerging technology, and trust come together before the next break.Follow Shawnna on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnnahoffman=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @TheZaraAI- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this seaon opening episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Erika is back and it's just the two of us kicking off Season 9 with the conversation quietly reshaping every career in this industry: artificial intelligence.We get into what's actually changing on the ground and how entry-level roles have merged and been redefined, why the traditional four-year degree no longer carries the weight it once did, and what it genuinely means to harness AI rather than be replaced by it. We also get practical about securing AI through prompt engineering and guardrails, and the daily skills and routines that separate the people who talk about AI from the people who actually use it.In this conversation, we dive into:- How entry-level cybersecurity jobs have changed — and how roles are merging into something new- Why the four-year degree is being rewritten, and what's replacing it- The real power of AI — and what it means to actually harness it- How to secure AI through prompt engineering and guardrails- The skills and routines to build now, and why you need to lean in todayThis episode is a must-listen for anyone breaking into cyber, rethinking their career path, or trying to figure out how to lean into AI before it leaves them behind.=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @TheZaraAI- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Kathleen Moriarty, technology strategist, former CTO and CISO, Georgetown University adjunct professor, and one of the few people who has helped shape how internet security actually works.This is not a hype episode.Kathleen challenges the dominant narrative that AI will “fix” cybersecurity and explains why that belief may be creating more risk than it removes—especially for organizations with limited resources. Drawing on decades of experience influencing global standards, teaching cyber threat intelligence, and advising boards, she breaks down where automation helps, where it hurts, and where we’ve completely lost the plot.This conversation explores:Why AI is being oversold as a cybersecurity solutionHow automation without understanding creates hidden systemic riskThe growing divide between organizations that can afford security—and those that can’tWhat responsible AI use in cybersecurity should actually look likeThe uncomfortable truths leaders need to face before scaling AI-driven defensesIf you’re tired of buzzwords, vendor promises, and magical thinking around AI—this episode brings the clarity the industry desperately needs.Connect with Kathleen Moriarty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-moriarty-022a062Learn more about Security Bias: https://securitybias.com=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Angela Haun, Executive Director of the ONE-ISAC and a former FBI Special Agent with over two decades of experience protecting critical infrastructure.Angela brings a rare, real-world perspective on cybersecurity—one where cyber incidents don’t just mean data loss, but physical consequences, national security implications, and economic disruption. She shares what it actually takes to protect the oil and natural gas sector, why information sharing is harder than everyone claims, and where leaders continue to underestimate risk.This conversation explores:- Why cyber threats to critical infrastructure are fundamentally different- The realities of information sharing across highly regulated industries- How trust is built and broken between private industry and government- Why boards still struggle to understand cyber risk in physical terms- The uncomfortable truths leaders need to hear about preparedness and accountabilityIf you care about cybersecurity beyond buzzwords where cyber meets physical, economic, and national security this episode is essential listening.Connect with Angela:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-haunOrganization Website: https://www.oneisac.org=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyberhttps://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax and guest co-host Tasha Denose sit down with Ruby Murphy, a technical recruiter known for her sharp boundaries, zero tolerance for nonsense, and deep expertise hiring across cybersecurity and engineering.Ruby exposes what’s actually broken in tech and security hiring from AI-driven résumé black boxes to tone-deaf hiring practices that burn out candidates and recruiters alike.The conversation explores:- The recent New York Times lawsuit challenging AI “black box” hiring decisions- Whether AI is making hiring fairer—or just more opaque- Why candidates are getting rejected with no feedback and what recruiters see behind the scenes- How to stand out professionally without playing performative LinkedIn games- The hiring practices Ruby would happily burn down—and what should replace themReady for something blunt, human, and long overdue? If you’re a job seeker, hiring manager, or leader relying on AI to “scale” hiring - this conversation might make you uncomfortable. And that’s the point.Connect with Ruby:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linkedwithrubyTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/rubysrecruitingCompany: https://hamptonnorth.comNews Article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/21/business/ai-hiring-tools-lawsuit-eightfold-fcra.html=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Virginia Case, a fractional C-level executive, serial entrepreneur, and go-to-market fixer known for blending psychology, marketing, AI, and no-BS execution.Together, they unpack the tension between authenticity and awareness, why “just being yourself” can sometimes cross into tone-deaf leadership, and how perception truly becomes reality in business, careers, and cybersecurity.Virginia shares her personal journey of publicly owning her ADHD/neurospicy brain, recognizing when she’s masking, and learning how to channel that energy into a renewable leadership advantage instead of burnout.This conversation dives deep into:Why confidence without awareness can backfireHow leaders and cyber professionals unintentionally sabotage their own narrativeWhat it really means to “market your cyber self” without feeling fakeThe role of perception in hiring, leadership, and influenceHow neurodivergent leaders can design success on their own termsIf you’re navigating leadership, career growth, or visibility in cybersecurity and want to do it with integrity, self-awareness, and impact this episode is for you.Connect with Virginia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virginiastewartcaseCheck out Virginia's website: https://www.stratac.com=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber  https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials

In this episode of 2 Cyber Chicks, Jax sits down with Tashya Denose, a senior cybersecurity leader, bestselling author, podcaster, and board member of Black Girls in Cyber.Tashya has built her career securing some of the most complex environments, from the Pentagon and the U.S. Secret Service to Capital One, Google, and now Meta, where she works at the intersection of risk, governance, and emerging technology.In this candid conversation, we explore:Why compliance doesn’t always equal securityHow leaders should think about risk across government, finance, and Big TechWhat it takes to influence decisions when security isn’t the loudest voiceThe human cost of burnout—and how to build a sustainable career in cyberWhy belonging and community directly impact security outcomesThis episode is a must-listen for security leaders, practitioners, and anyone navigating the real-world tension between frameworks, risk, and reality.Connect with Tashya Denose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashya-denose-68814765=========================Connect with 2 Cyber Chicks:LinkedIn: 2 Cyber Chicks PodcastEmail us: [email protected] Scott, Founder, @OutpostGray- Jax on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/iamjax- YouTube: Outpost Gray- Twitter/X: @outpostgray- Website: iamjax.meErika McDuffie, Managing Principal, Coalfire Systems- Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-mcduffie-767394bb#2cyberchicks=========================Learn more about our Season Sponsor @ThreatLockerStop ransomware without the hassle. Allow what you need and block the rest with ThreatLocker Zero Trust Platform — simple to deploy, simple to manage. Learn more at https://threatlocker.com/2cyberchicks.=========================All the ways to connect with @SimplyCyber  https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials