Signals & Stories

A limited podcast series from The Vertex Project exploring how cyber threat intelligence has evolved over the past decade and what it takes to build intelligence teams can trust.

Signals & Stories is a technology podcast hosted by The Vertex Project, with 11 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Vertex Project hosts Signals & Stories, a technology show with 11 episodes published.

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  Episode #10

  Episode 10: Behind Synapse: Designing for Analysts’ Reality

  Sep 7, 202642 minS1

  For the final episode of this season of Signals & Stories, we’re going back to where the series began with Vertex Project co-founders visi and John “whippit” Rodgers. This time, we’re talking about Synapse itself: why it needed to exist, the intelligence problems it was built to solve, what ten years of working alongside analysts has taught us, and where intelligence analysis goes from here. We dig into why Synapse was designed as a central intelligence system rather than a traditional TIP, the cost of keeping intelligence trapped in reports and siloed tools, and what happens when analysts can turn their previous work into structured, reusable knowledge. We also look ahead at the role LLMs could play in transforming prose into structured data without replacing human analytical judgment, the growing overlap between CTI, fraud, trust & safety, and other intelligence disciplines, and what Synapse 3 represents after years of analyst feedback and lessons learned. In this episode: → Why the traditional TIP model falls short of broader intelligence analysis → How structured data allows analysts to build on previous knowledge instead of repeatedly reconstructing it → Why Synapse intentionally isn’t a data provider, SIEM, or data lake → The challenge of building a data model that provides structure without dictating the use case → How analyst pain points have shaped Synapse features and workflows → Why powerful intelligence tools sometimes come with a learning curve → Where LLMs can — and shouldn’t — fit into intelligence analysis → Why the future of intelligence may be increasingly interdisciplinary → What Synapse 3 represents after a decade of building and learning And after 10 episodes reflecting on 10 years of The Vertex Project, whippit sums up the mission pretty simply: “We’re here to help.” Thanks for joining us for Signals & Stories. Learn more about The Vertex Project and Synapse: https://vertex.link/ #ThreatIntelligence #CyberThreatIntelligence #IntelligenceAnalysis #Synapse #TheVertexProject

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  Episode #7

  Episode 7: Hard Cyber Threat Intel Pills to Swallow with Special Guest Nicole Hoffman

  Jul 27, 202636 minS1

  Every cyber threat intelligence analyst eventually encounters a few uncomfortable truths. In this episode of Signals & Stories, Kali sits down with Nicole Hoffman, Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst, creator of the Cognitive Stairways of Analysis framework, and author of the Threat Hunter Girl children's cybersecurity series, to discuss the ideas behind her viral "Hard Cyber Threat Intel Pills to Swallow" graphic. Together, they explore why the graphic resonated so deeply with the CTI community and unpack some of the profession's most enduring challenges: balancing threat research with enterprise intelligence, avoiding panic cycles, writing reports that actually influence decisions, and recognizing that more data doesn't always lead to better intelligence. Nicole also shares how her perspective has evolved over a decade in threat intelligence—from caring deeply about attribution to focusing on what truly matters for helping organizations assess and reduce risk. Along the way, she offers practical advice for new analysts, explains why tools can't replace analytical judgment, and discusses the communication skills that separate good intelligence from great intelligence. Topics covered: - The story behind the viral Hard Cyber Threat Intel Pills to Swallow graphic - Threat research vs. enterprise cyber threat intelligence - Why prioritization is one of the most important analyst skills - Escaping "panic cycles" during major cyber events - Why tools don't make better analysts - The role of attribution in intelligence reporting - Writing concise, actionable intelligence for decision-makers - Advice for analysts entering the CTI field Learn more about Nicole and her work: https://threathuntergirl.com Explore the full Signals & Stories limited series celebrating 10 years of The Vertex Project: https://vertex.link/10-year-anniversary/ Learn more about The Vertex Project and Synapse: vertex.link #CyberThreatIntelligence #CTI #ThreatIntelligence #OSINT #Attribution #CyberSecurity #ThreatResearch #SignalsAndStories #TheVertexProject #Synapse Join our community: Slack LinkedIn Twitter/X Bluesky

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  Episode #6

  Episode 6: Avoiding Common Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst Pitfalls

  Jul 13, 202645 minS1

  Even the most experienced cyber threat intelligence (CTI) analysts aren't immune to cognitive bias. In this episode of Signals & Stories , the team explores some of the most common analytical pitfalls that can quietly influence investigations and how strong analytical tradecraft helps avoid them. The conversation covers confirmation bias, premature threat attribution, and the dangers of forcing new activity to fit existing narratives. The team also examines today's intelligence "echo chamber," where repeated reporting can amplify assumptions without adding new evidence, making validation more important than ever. Along the way, the panel discusses why healthy analytical cultures encourage constructive disagreement, how mentorship and professional communities accelerate growth, and why curiosity remains one of the most valuable skills an analyst can develop. Whether you're new to cyber threat intelligence or have spent years in the field, this episode offers practical insights for improving analytical rigor, challenging assumptions, and producing intelligence that prioritizes evidence over ego. In this episode: • Recognizing and overcoming confirmation bias • Avoiding common threat attribution mistakes • Evaluating evidence without forcing connections • Building teams that embrace constructive debate • Why mentorship and continuous learning matter in CTI Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on what separates good intelligence from great intelligence and how better analytical habits lead to better decisions. Learn more about The Vertex Project and Synapse: vertex.link #CyberThreatIntelligence #CTI #ThreatIntelligence #OSINT #Attribution #CyberSecurity #ThreatResearch #SignalsAndStories #TheVertexProject #Synapse Join our community: Slack LinkedIn Twitter/X Bluesky

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  Episode #5

  Episode 5: The Evolution of Attribution in Cyber Threat Intelligence with Kamil Bojarski

  Jun 29, 202652 minS1

  <p>In this episode of Signals & Stories, Kali Fencl sits down with Jennifer Kolde (thesilence), Principal Intelligence Analyst at The Vertex Project, and cyber threat intelligence expert, Kamil Bojarski, to explore how attribution has evolved over the last decade.<br /><br />Drawing from Kamil's recent workshop at CyCon, the conversation examines how modern cyber operations increasingly rely on complex ecosystems of contractors, infrastructure providers, malware developers, and operational teams. Together, they discuss why traditional attribution models are under pressure, how regional expertise can strengthen investigations, and why collaboration across technical CTI, OSINT, and geopolitical disciplines is essential for understanding today's...

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  Episode #5

  Episode 5: The Evolution of Attribution in Cyber Threat Intelligence with Kamil Bojarski

  Jun 29, 202652 minS1

  In this episode of Signals & Stories, Kali Fencl sits down with Jennifer Kolde (thesilence), Principal Intelligence Analyst at The Vertex Project, and cyber threat intelligence expert, Kamil Bojarski, to explore how attribution has evolved over the last decade. Drawing from Kamil's recent workshop at CyCon, the conversation examines how modern cyber operations increasingly rely on complex ecosystems of contractors, infrastructure providers, malware developers, and operational teams. Together, they discuss why traditional attribution models are under pressure, how regional expertise can strengthen investigations, and why collaboration across technical CTI, OSINT, and geopolitical disciplines is essential for understanding today's threat landscape. Whether you're a threat intelligence analyst, security researcher, or simply interested in how cyber operations are changing, this episode offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of intelligence analysis. In this episode: 🔹 How cyber threat intelligence has evolved over the last 10 years 🔹 Why attribution is becoming more complex 🔹 The growing role of public-private cyber ecosystems 🔹 Why language and regional expertise matter in CTI 🔹 Common pitfalls analysts face when making assumptions 🔹 Lessons learned from building hands-on intelligence workshops 🔹 The future of attribution, collaboration, and intelligence tradecraft Learn more about The Vertex Project and Synapse: vertex.link #CyberThreatIntelligence #CTI #ThreatIntelligence #OSINT #Attribution #CyberSecurity #ThreatResearch #SignalsAndStories #TheVertexProject #Synapse Join our community: Slack LinkedIn Twitter/X Bluesky

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