Podcast Summary

Overview

Episode Title: The labor behind the labor. [Special Edition]
Podcast: CyberWire Daily (N2K Networks)
Date: September 1, 2025
Theme:
In this special Labor Day episode, host Mayan Plout (Director, Enterprise Content Strategy) pulls back the curtain to celebrate the often-unheralded team members whose “labor behind the labor” powers N2K’s trusted cybersecurity and space-industry news. Through candid interviews, the episode highlights the creative minds responsible for everything from theme music and audio production to hands-on certification test design, policy analysis, and video storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Reimagining Podcast Music: The Sound of Threat Vector

Speaker: Elliot Peltzman – Executive Director of Audio

• Elliot discusses the creative process behind crafting new theme music for the “Threat Vector” podcast with Palo Alto Networks and N2K.
  • Collaborated with guitarist Trey Hester in a “basement studio session,” infusing the track with synergy and live musical exchange ([03:08–05:49]).
  • Focused on matching the gravity and importance of the show’s subject matter—global cybersecurity threats.
  • Celebratory milestone: Chose to refresh the music after hitting one million downloads ([05:52]).
  • Key musical insight: Uses a delayed bass entry to create tension, with the baseline “avoiding the root until just the right moment” ([07:14]).

Notable Quote:

“Music really is a language and you don't get to speak it very often... My gosh, is it so much more fun to do it in real time with another person who speaks that same language.”
— Elliot Peltzman [05:11]

2. Curating Space Industry Coverage: T Minus Space Daily

Speaker: Alice Cruth – Senior Producer

• Alice describes her role producing daily programming and the strategic partnerships that expand the podcast’s reach and expertise ([08:14–12:35]).
  • Collaborates with organizations including NASA Spaceflight, Aegis Space Law (monthly “Space Law 101” segment), International Space Station National Lab, Brandon Karf (T Minus founder, covering space and cyber), Aerospace Corporation, and Integrity ISR.
  • Seeks credible partners for in-depth, wide-ranging coverage—from live launches to space law to global adversary monitoring.
  • Emphasizes objective, international coverage and making complex issues digestible for listeners.

Notable Quote:

“They do an incredible job going in depth when it comes to live launches, and we do more of their behind the scenes kind of coverage of what goes on in the industry.”
— Alice Cruth [09:20]

3. Bridging Writing & Policy Analysis: The Caveat Newsletter and Podcast

Speaker: Ethan Cook – Lead Analyst, Cybersecurity and Policy

• Ethan recounts how he transitioned from writing the Caveat newsletter to becoming a regular podcast guest after proactively asking for opportunities ([12:58–13:46]).
  • Focuses on deep dives into cybersecurity policy, moving beyond headlines to analyze substantive legal and regulatory developments ([13:52–15:23]).
  • Research process includes tracking major topics (e.g., Kids Online Safety Act), monitoring agency actions, and distinguishing between policy and politics ([15:33]).
  • Emphasizes the importance of refining thoughts through writing before translating them into podcast discussion ([17:10]).

Notable Quote:

“I cover policy, not politics... I'm looking more to address what are the things that we're actually putting in... and what are going to be the impacts of that policy.”
— Ethan Cook [16:34]

4. The “Astronauts” of Certification Content: Practice Test Design

Speaker: George Monsilvaci – Content Manager (Microsoft Certification)

• George likens his role to a “technology astronaut,” diving into new tools (Azure, Microsoft 365, artificial intelligence) often ahead of public documentation ([18:18–20:05]).
  • Learns by direct interaction and exam-taking, then distills experiences to craft relevant test content.
  • Designs case studies and multi-layered scenarios, helping learners apply knowledge contextually ([21:48]).

Notable Quote:

“We're sort of like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. We go out and seek the treasure and ensure that the Krakens and everything else doesn't bring us down.”
— George Monsilvaci [20:25]

5. The Editorial Eye: Certification Content Updates

Speaker: Ann Ling – Product Manager & Technical Editor

• Ann ensures that practice test questions align closely with vendor exam blueprints and constantly updates content based on emerging technologies ([23:47–27:44]).
  • Oversees mapping of old objectives to new ones, updates for industry changes (e.g., updating from WPA2 to WPA3 in wireless security), and eliminates outdated references (e.g., SCSI drives).
  • Advocates for strong language editing and data-driven instructional design.

Notable Quote:

“You always see what you think you wrote. You never see what you actually wrote.”
— Ann Ling [24:08]

6. Bringing Stories to Life: Video Production on T Minus

Speaker: Sorel Joppy – Production Specialist

• Details his multifaceted role as video editor, videographer, and occasional audio cleaner ([27:55]).
  • Transitioned from producing daily headline countdowns to weekly shows, allowing more creativity and time to craft engaging visual packages ([28:29]).
  • Uses public domain resources (especially NASA) for visuals and employs creative transitions and movement to keep audiences engaged ([29:36–31:08]).
  • Sees the segment as a collaborative effort involving scriptwriters, voice actors, editors, QC, and audio engineers ([32:22]).
  • Has a particular fondness for “Fun Fact Friday,” where he enjoys the most creative freedom ([33:12]).

Notable Quote:

“I try to do more, like, with the movement... Even a left or right or like a vertical type of thing just to kind of keep the audience engaged. I know it’s not much. It’s just like the little stuff, but I hope it fills the person’s head and you want to keep them more engaged.”
— Sorel Joppy [30:39]

Memorable Moments and Quotes by Timestamp

• Elliot Peltzman: Creative flow in music collaboration:
  “He can already hear what I'm describing to him before I even get the words out. It's absolutely the best.” [05:01]
• Alice Cruth: On building partnerships:
  “We really wanted to establish ourselves as the daily news source for people that work in the space industry or space adjacent industry.” [08:31]
• Ethan Cook: On the writing process:
  “If you can't articulate on paper what you want to say, it's going to be really hard to say what you want to say.” [17:12]
• George Monsilvaci: Test development approach:
  “When we design a test, we want to make sure we're designing that test based on what the goals and objectives are for that certification.” [20:25]
• Ann Ling: Managing exam updates:
  “Updates are kind of our bread and butter... you'll need to know all the specs for that. But we had a whole bunch of items that were... the most secure protocol is WPA2… So all of that had to be updated…” [24:53–26:36]
• Sorel Joppy: On creative freedom with Fun Fact Friday:
  “That is hands down my favorite thing to work on. It gives me the most flexibility… I have just our, you know, artistic freedom.” [33:12]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [03:08] Music and Collaboration for Threat Vector (Elliot Peltzman)
• [08:14] Producing T Minus Daily, Building Partnerships (Alice Cruth)
• [12:58] Caveat Newsletter to Podcast, Deep Dives (Ethan Cook)
• [18:18] Designing Certification Content, Learning New Tech (George Monsilvaci)
• [23:47] Managing Exam Updates, Editorial Approach (Ann Ling)
• [27:55] Producing Engaging Video Content (Sorel Joppy)

Conclusion

This “Labor Behind the Labor” special offers a rare, engaging backstage pass to the multifaceted expertise and meticulous care that defines N2K Networks’ productions. Through in-depth stories and technical insights, listeners gain appreciation for the craftsmanship—and craftspersons—who ensure quality, accuracy, and vibrancy in every piece of content, whether that’s a daily news segment, a podcast deep-dive, a complex practice test, or a compelling visual countdown.

For listeners, it’s both a celebration and a reminder: every trusted headline, every polished soundbite, and every up-to-date exam comes from a deeply collaborative, passionate team.