Making Data Simple

Send us a text🎙️ This week on Making Data Simple: Fred Joyal — you may know him from the iconic 1-800-DENTIST commercials. Today, Fred takes us beyond marketing genius into the art of being BOLD.Show Notes02:20 – Brand Fred Joyal19:20 – Monetization Strategy20:58 – Boldness as a Superpower23:18 – Just Show Up26:15 – Step Up with Exercises27:00 – Failures are Steps Up: Take Another Swing38:50 – 5 Steps to Lowering Anxiety41:50 – How to Better Network💡 Boldness, resilience, and practical strategies you can use today — this episode is packed with insights that will help you step up in work, leadership, and life.Find Fred Joyal @ https://fredjoyal.com/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fredjoyalTwitter: fredjoyal Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textGet ready for an insightful conversation on the future of data integration and real-time decision making with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management at StreamSets.We cover everything from the “why StreamSets” story to its secret sauce, how it plays in regulated industries, and what makes it a powerful player in data fabric, AI, and streaming use cases. If you’re passionate about the future of data pipelines, governance, and AI-driven insights, this one’s for you!⏱️ Episode Guide:02:02 | Meet Dima Spivak04:19 | Why StreamSets?06:00 | What is StreamSets?09:48 | On-Demand Expense11:34 | Regulated Industries12:36 | The Secret Sauce14:41 | A Competitive View15:50 | Data Fabric + StreamSets18:25 | StreamSets + AI21:12 | Use Cases That Matter24:02 | The Future of Streaming25:48 | Quality + Testing31:19 | For Fun 🎉🔗 Connect with Dima: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dmitryspivakWebsite: https://www.ibm.com/blog/announcement/ibm-acquires-streamSets/Want to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textReady to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker, to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential.From the Four Disciplines of Execution to Atomic Habits and the role of AI in coaching, Jacob shares practical, real-world insights you can put into action today. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or simply looking to get more out of your day, this conversation will give you the frameworks and mindset shifts you need.🕒 Episode Timestamps01:34 Meet Jacob Hicks 04:12 Mastering Time Management via WPRI 14:01 Four Disciplines of Execution 15:12 Time Management Misconceptions 21:30 What Stops People from Managing Time 23:32 Tools and Giving AI a Role 26:31 Atomic Habits 28:11 What to Stop 29:36 Coaching and AI 31:05 Jacob's Coaching Business🔗 Connect with Jacob HicksLinkedIn: Jacob HicksWebsite: jacobhickscoach.comPodcast: Purpose Driven Progress#MakingDataSimple #TimeManagement #IntentionalLiving #AtomicHabits #AIandCoaching #ProductivityHacks #Leadership #WorkflowOptimization #JacobHicksWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textEpisode Description: Taking a break doesn’t mean you miss the good stuff. Last year, while I was on a much-needed vacation, I invited one of my favorite coaches back on the mic — Lynne Snead, Principal & Owner of Talent Evolution Systems.Lynne walks us through the Three Circles Model — a powerful framework for maintaining focus, expanding influence, and leading with intention. We explore what separates managers from true leaders, the role of mindset and energy in influence, and why how you speak to yourself matters just as much as how you speak to others.If people would follow you even if they didn’t have to… that’s leadership.Timestamps: 02:47 Meet Lynne Snead Again 03:47 The Circles Model 09:30 The Circle of Personal Control 14:05 It’s the How You Say It, Also to Yourself! 20:43 Thought Management 22:53 Leadership = Influence 25:08 A Manager vs a Leader 27:05 Mindset & Energy 29:59 Stress 31:11 Atomic Habits 33:47 Mindmapping 36:19 Emotional Intelligence 39:38 Read, Study, Learn or Be Left BehindReading List:Stephen Covey – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleJames Clear – Atomic HabitsJohn A. Daly – Advocacy: Championing Ideas and Influencing OthersGuest Links:Lynne Snead on LinkedInTalent Evolution SystemsSocial: #Leadership #ReplayEpisode #MakingDataSimple #ExecutiveCoaching #Influence #Focus #LeadershipDevelopment #MindsetMatters #PersonalGrowth #AtomicHabits #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowthWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textEpisode Description (Show Notes): Step into the world of IBM Power Systems with insider insights from Tom McPherson, former GM of IBM Power. In this conversation, Tom shares leadership lessons, debunks common misconceptions, and dives deep into the innovations shaping the future of Power infrastructure. From AI integration to hybrid cloud strategies, competitive positioning to compelling client use cases — it’s a powerhouse discussion you won’t want to miss.Timestamps: 00:49 Meet Tom McPherson 03:00 Leadership Advice 04:58 Hobbies 07:53 IBM Power 10:24 Power 11 13:53 Common Misconception 14:39 Favorite Power Features 21:51 Promise to Profits of AI 25:28 Hybrid Cloud 27:34 Power Competitors 28:36 Compelling Use Cases 29:51 The Future of Power 31:20 Rapid Fire 33:51 Business Partners in Power 35:16 LeadershipGuest Links: 🔗 Tom McPherson on LinkedIn 🌐 IBM Power SystemsSocial: #IBMPower #Leadership #HybridCloud #AI #EnterpriseTech #TechInnovation #MakingDataSimple #PowerSystems #BusinessStrategy #DigitalTransformation #CloudComputing #AIinBusinessWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a text🎙 Replay Alert: Symbolic AI, QLattice, and Mind-Bending Ideas with Casper WilstrupWe’re bringing back one of our most thought-provoking episodes! Join us for a replay with Casper Skern Wilstrup, CEO of Abzu and the mind behind QLattice. We dive into Symbolic AI, the why behind Abzu, and Casper’s wild take on consciousness, simulation theory, and panpsychism. It’s science, AI, and philosophy in one unforgettable conversation. Grab a drink, sit back, and prepare to have your mind blown — again.🔹 Timestamps: • 01:39 Introducing Casper Wilstrup • 06:34 Abzu the Name • 09:09 Abzu the Mission • 12:32 Symbolic AI • 22:20 Foundational Models? • 24:42 The QLattice Explanation • 26:33 Abzu Use Cases • 30:57 More on QLattice • 32:52 The Abzu Pitch • 34:56 Reaching Abzu • 36:10 Are We in a Simulation? • 38:03 Panpsychism 🤯 • 43:03 For Fun🔗 LinkedIn: Casper Wilstrup 🌐 Website: abzu.aiHashtags: #ReplayEpisode #MakingDataSimple #SymbolicAI #QLattice #AbzuAI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIPhilosophy #Panpsychism #SimulationTheory #AIandScience #DataPodcastWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textDeep Diving into the future of AI: Join Dr. Sean Falconer — AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, software engineering leader, and developer relations expert — for a deep dive into the future of AI, data streaming, and what it really means to build at the edge of innovation. From managing multiple LLMs to testing autonomous agents and sharing his bold contrarian takes, Sean helps us simplify the complexity of today's tech.📌 Timestamps 04:38 – Meet Sean Falconer 11:11 – Lifelong Learning 12:31 – AI Entrepreneur in Residence 16:28 – Multiple LLMs in Action 21:07 – The Tech Behind Confluent 25:51 – Why Sean Chose Confluent 28:40 – Invest or Short? 36:58 – Testing Agents IRL 40:51 – The Contrarian AI Take 42:27 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI🔗 Connect with Sean:LinkedInSubstackMediumWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textShe’s the legal powerhouse behind IBM’s AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery, formerly IBM’s Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what’s now, what’s next, and what needs rethinking when it comes to trust, synthetic data, and the future of AI law.📍 Timestamps: • 01:00 Christina Montgomery! • 04:36 My Daughter and the Bar • 08:36 Chief Privacy and Trust Officer • 11:37 Keeping IBM Out of Trouble • 13:34 Client Conversations • 16:23 Where to Be Bullish and Bearish • 20:52 The Risks of LLMs • 24:21 NIST and AI Alliance • 28:26 AI Regulation • 36:13 Synthetic Data • 38:00 Misconceptions • 40:07 Worries • 41:27 The Path to AI • 43:13 Aspiring Lawyers🔗 Christina on LinkedIn 🌐 IBM AI EthicsWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textThe AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple, we’re joined by Jonathan Mast, AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™. Jonathan’s not just riding the AI wave—he’s teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it, with simple, actionable tools that unlock meaningful results from large language models.If you've ever stared at a prompt box wondering what to type—or worse, gotten garbage back from AI—this episode is for you. We talk about what works, what doesn’t, and what’s coming next (agents, anyone?). Plus, Jonathan breaks down his 4-step framework that’s helping 300K+ community members and clients scale AI with clarity and confidence.⏱️ Episode Timestamps01:34 Introducing Jonathan Mast04:13 Digital Agency05:29 Whitebeard Strategies08:06 ADD09:57 Back to Whitebeard14:51 The Perfect Prompting Framework21:36 The Four Step Method24:58 What if You Don't Use AI?28:37 Agents30:08 Whitebeard Engagements32:42 Getting Started36:39 What's True But Not a Consensus?37:23 For Fun🔗 Connect with JonathanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjmast/Website: https://whitebeardstrategies.com#MakingDataSimple #PerfectPromptingFramework #AIforBusiness #AIProductivity #JonathanMast #PromptEngineering #LLMs #AIAgents #WhitebeardStrategies #TechPodcast #DataSimplifiedWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.

Send us a textWe’re back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison, leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement.In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just charisma). Plus: how to rethink your approach to hiring and the controversial take on using AI in leadership decisions.Stick around for a surprise recap guest who brings it all home. 💥🕒 Time-Stamps: 00:12 – Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose 04:48 – How to Stop Churn 07:10 – Laying the Hammer Down 08:00 – Burnout 14:50 – Are You Using AI Wrong? 16:27 – Energy Level 17:40 – Coach Katherine Mayne's Take 19:57 – Hire for Aptitude, Fire for Attitude 22:19 – The Recap🔗 Connect with Dave on LinkedIn 📘 Explore his book, Buy-InWant to be featured as a guest on Making Data Simple? Reach out to us at almartintalksdata@gmail.com and tell us why you should be next. The Making Data Simple Podcast is hosted by Al Martin, WW VP Technical Sales, IBM, where we explore trending technologies, business innovation, and leadership ... while keeping it simple & fun.