Episode 143: OSINT Keynote, Training and Mistakes!

In Episode 143 of the Layer 8 Podcast, hosts welcome Micah Hoffman and Lisette Abercrombie for a deep dive into OSINT training, methodology, and real-world mistakes. The episode highlights the upcoming Layer 8 Conference in Boston (June 5–6, 2026), where Micah will deliver the OSINT keynote and co-teach a two-day hands-on class with Lisette focused on social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. The class emphasizes practical, methodology-driven learning over tool dependency, with a strong focus on understanding how tools work under the hood—especially through customizable bookmarklets. Both guests stress that while AI can assist in investigations, it cannot replace human judgment, especially in verifying sources, avoiding hallucinations, and interpreting context. Lisette shares a personal story of failing to find a TikTok profile due to omitting the '@' symbol in the URL—a common but critical error—underscoring the importance of attention to detail. She also discusses her upcoming talk on embracing failure as a learning tool, aiming to reduce imposter syndrome in the OSINT community. The episode closes with a strong message about accessibility and affordability in training, with both guests committed to making OSINT education inclusive and practical for all skill levels.