meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Shawn Ryan Show

#282 Nik Seetharaman - Former SpaceX's Head of Cybersecurity Critical Warning on AI Swarms

The Shawn Ryan Show

Shawn Ryan Show

Philosophy, Society & Culture

4.9 • 46.6K Ratings

🗓️ 23 February 2026

⏱️ 371 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Nik Seetharaman is a special operations–trained cyber leader turned founder, known for bringing an operator’s mindset to some of the most sensitive security programs in American industry. A former JSOC advance‑force operator attached to an East Coast Naval Special Warfare squadron, he ran advanced cyber warfare and close‑range reconnaissance missions before crossing over into the world of high‑stakes defense technology and enterprise security. In industry, Nik helped build and lead security at three of the most influential defense‑tech companies of the last decade. He served as head of cybersecurity operations at SpaceX and later led international cyber defense programs at Palantir, giving him a front‑row seat to how software, data, and security shape modern national power. He then became CIO and CISO at Anduril Industries, where he built the company’s cybersecurity and weapons‑system security programs from the ground up while Anduril was racing to field autonomous systems for the Pentagon. Today, Nik is the founder and CEO of Wraithwatch, a cyber defense company born from his frustration that defenders are almost always forced to react second. At Wraithwatch, he is focused on “weaponizing” AI for defense at scale—using advanced models to help blue teams pre‑empt and out-iterate attackers instead of learning only from breaches and red‑team reports. Across each chapter of his career, he has carried forward the same core idea: apply special operations discipline, speed, and clarity of mission to how software, security teams, and AI‑driven defenses are built and run. Join the Waitlist - https://theglacierapp.com/waitlist Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: Follow the market - https://polymarket.com/event/moltbook-shutdown-by-feb-28 Get started with Claude today at https://Claude.ai/srs Visit https://mauinuivenison.com/srs for a special deal for listeners of this show only. Go to https://helixsleep.com/SRS for 27% Off Sitewide. Go to https://shopbeam.com/SRS and use code SRS to get up to 50% off Beam Dream Nighttime Cocoa—grab it for just $32.50 and improve your sleep today. Try Rho Nutrition today and experience the difference of Liposomal Technology. Use code SRS for 20% OFF everything at https://www.rhonutrition.com/discount/SRS Nik Seetharaman Links: LI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikseetharaman Wraithwatch - https://www.wraithwatch.com X - https://x.com/nikseeth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Prime Video brings the best in entertainment.

0:03.1

The end of the world continues with season two of the global phenomenon, Fallout, included with Prime.

0:09.6

I defer to you about what to do in this situation.

0:11.9

Bring home the epic conclusion to the untold story of the witches of Oz.

0:15.8

Buy or rent, Wicked for Good Now.

0:17.8

I'm taking you to see the wizard.

0:20.1

There's no going back.

0:21.7

Whatever you're into, it's right here.

0:24.1

Prime Video.

0:25.1

Click or tap the banner to find out more.

0:35.1

Yeah, so kind of what we were saying in the car, you know what I mean?

0:39.3

Like, just think of it as a legacy piece for your kids, just like you were saying.

0:43.3

Like, that's kind of how this whole damn thing started.

0:47.3

Yeah.

0:48.3

So it's pretty cool some of the content that's come out that'll just be like generations yeah well i mean it's

0:58.2

pretty surreal to be in the studio man after having watched so many episodes so oh thanks dude yeah i never

1:04.7

know like who watches and who doesn't but those those uh rounds came out of the um one of the red

1:10.7

wings birds no

1:12.3

shit yeah which ones those ones up under the flag yeah that was my best friend and

1:19.3

yeah there's what else is in here who who was that on red wings uh he wasn't in there he was

1:27.3

a gay bucardi okay was his name and uh it was his

1:31.7

platoon but he he was uh at home because he got a chick pregnant that happens and he went home because

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Shawn Ryan Show, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Shawn Ryan Show and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.