Security Cryptography Whatever

Interview podcast on modern computer security and cryptography, hosted by Deirdre Connolly, Thomas Ptacek and David Adrian. Running since 2021, it focuses on engineering and real-world industry practice, with guests drawn from industry, academia and government.

Who it's for

Engineers, security researchers and technically minded practitioners who want to hear cryptographers and implementers talk shop. It is most rewarding if you already know your way around TLS, key management or vulnerability research; transcripts are available on the show's website, which helps with denser episodes.

Who it's not for

Newcomers looking for an introduction to the field, or listeners who want news roundups and industry gossip. Conversations assume background knowledge and often go deep on protocols, standards and implementation detail.

Key takeaways

• The hosts come from engineering, applied cryptography and offensive security, so discussion stays grounded in what ships and what breaks rather than in theory alone.
• Standout episodes include "The IACR Can't Decrypt with Matt Bernhard" (the International Association for Cryptologic Research's election-software mishap), "Python Cryptography Breaks Up with OpenSSL with Paul Kehrer and Alex Gaynor", and "AI Finds Vulns You Can't With Nicholas Carlini".
• Recent episodes cover post-quantum cryptography policy and standardization, lattice cryptography and AI-assisted vulnerability research, making it a good way to follow where the field is heading.

Notes

Independent and video-enabled (audio and video on Apple Podcasts and YouTube). Think of it as the deeper, more technical companion to Darknet Diaries (story-driven) and Risky Business (news and industry): same security world, but centered on cryptographic and systems engineering, with a looser and funnier tone than the topic suggests.