► Tell us about you and your podcast
I'm Kim Bromley, host of ShadowTalk and a Threat Intelligence Analyst at ReliaQuest. ShadowTalk is a weekly cybersecurity podcast, made by practitioners for practitioners, featuring analytical insights on the latest cybersecurity news and threat research. The podcast features industry experts who tell you everything you need to know about the latest cyber threats and, importantly, what to do about them.
ShadowTalk airs weekly and every episode covers the biggest news stories about cyber threats from the previous seven days. We also discuss ReliaQuest's most recent threat research, answer listener questions, or debate controversial topics.
Our listeners are typically busy cybersecurity professionals who like to digest information in podcast form. We provide them with a quick round-up of everything they should be aware of that week, helping them stay up to date and informed.
► Why & how did you start this podcast?
ShadowTalk has been running since 2018, with a variety of hosts in that time. I took over the role of host in 2024 and have been on a mission to increase the number of people that we reach each week. I see ShadowTalk as an invaluable tool in the arsenal for busy cybersecurity leaders and want to help as many of them as possible.
I'd been a guest on ShadowTalk since I joined the company in 2020, so taking over the hosting spot was a big responsibility but one I was glad to take. My goal now is to make sure we are at the forefront of everyone's minds when they think about where to go to hear what they need to know about cyber threats. There are some really knowledgeable people in our Threat Research team and I want the rest of the world to know that too!
► How'd you find the time and funding to do this podcast?
I'm lucky that producing ShadowTalk is part of my day job, but finding the time to produce a compelling episode every week can still be hard. Planning and prepping for each week's episode takes a few hours, but the recording itself is usually much quicker. We try to keep each episode to less than 30 minutes so it suits people who like to listen on their commutes.
All the work I do behind the scenes takes up several hours each week as well. I'm constantly looking for new episode ideas, opportunities to promote ShadowTalk, and hunting for potential guests. Growing a show, outside of just getting listeners each week, is the hardest part.
► What do you gain from podcasting?
We don't take sponsorship and we don't make revenue from the podcast - it is produced purely to help busy professionals stay up to date with cybersecurity trends and news.
For me, podcasting offers a unique and powerful platform for sharing ideas, building connections, and growing personally and professionally. It allows me to reach a global audience (which I wouldn't be able to do otherwise), share my expertise, passions, or stories in an accessible and engaging format. I enjoy fostering discussions and providing valuable insights to listeners.
► How does your podcasting process look like?
We choose the topics for the weekly episode on a Monday, and record and release on a Wednesday. Every week. We use Buzzsprout to host the podcast and have professional microphones for everyone who appears.
Guests have been invited from within personal networks and also ReliaQuest customer CISOs. Our customers like to hear what other customers are experiencing, so it makes sense that our listeners would feel the same. We generally interview guests over video, but have done the occasional in-person episode.
► How do you market your show?
As we use Buzzsprout, ShadowTalk can be found on all the major platforms - Apple, Spotify, Amazon. Most people listen from their phone (65%) via Apple podcasts (44%). 56% of our audience is based in North America, but we have listeners from all over the world. We also list all episodes on our website - www.reliaquest.com.
We market ShadowTalk on X and LinkedIn. Each week, we make a post on X detailing what's coming up on the next episode to help drive interest in the show. LinkedIn is where we get the most engagement since it is a podcast for professionals.
► What advice would you share with aspiring (new) podcasters?
To aspiring podcasters, I would advise focusing on authenticity and passion. Start by identifying your niche—choose a subject you genuinely care about and can speak on with confidence, as this will resonate with your audience. Invest in quality equipment for clear audio, but don’t stress about perfection; your personality and unique perspective are what truly matter. Consistency is key, so establish a regular schedule and stick to it to build a loyal listener base. Prepare thoroughly by outlining episodes, but leave room for spontaneity and real conversations. Engage with your audience through social media or email, responding to their feedback and questions to foster a sense of community. Finally, promote your podcast creatively across platforms and collaborate with other creators to grow your reach organically.