The Analytics Power Hour
Michael Helbling, Moe Kiss, Tim Wilson, Val Kroll, and Julie Hoyer
Attend any conference for any topic and you will hear people saying after that the best and most informative discussions happened in the bar after the show. Read any business magazine and you will find an article saying something along the lines of "Business Analytics is the hottest job category out there, and there is a significant lack of people, process and best practice." In this case the conference was eMetrics, the bar was….multiple, and the attendees were Michael Helbling, Tim Wilson and Jim Cain (Co-Host Emeritus). After a few pints and a few hours of discussion about the cutting edge of digital analytics, they realized they might have something to contribute back to the community. This podcast is one of those contributions. Each episode is a closed topic and an open forum - the goal is for listeners to enjoy listening to Michael, Tim, and Moe share their thoughts and experiences and hopefully take away something to try at work the next day. We hope you enjoy listening to the Digital Analytics Power Hour.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 22, 2025 • 1h 5min
#276: BI is Dead! Long Live BI! With Colin Zima
Colin Zima, CEO of Omni and former chief analytics officer at Looker, dives into the evolving landscape of business intelligence. He shares insights on the challenges product managers face in creating user-friendly BI tools for everyone from executives to data scientists. The conversation touches on the complexities of balancing self-service access with control, the integration of AI, and the importance of effective data visualization. Zima emphasizes the need for clear communication between data and business teams to maximize the impact of analytics.
20 snips
Jul 8, 2025 • 1h 13min
#275: The Modern Data...Job Search with Albert Bellamy
Albert Bellamy, a former Marine turned analytics expert and career coach at Alteryx, shares invaluable insights on modern job searching. He discusses the nuances of LinkedIn networking, likening it to effective communication in relationships. Bellamy highlights the critical role of personal connections and the importance of crafting tailored resumes. He emphasizes the need for authentic interactions in a landscape flooded with data, along with practical tips for standing out to recruiters. Get ready to rethink your approach to job hunting!
10 snips
Jun 24, 2025 • 58min
#274: Real Talk About Synthetic Data with Winston Li
Winston Li, founder of Arima and a former data science leader at PWC Canada, dives deep into the fascinating realm of synthetic data. He discusses how synthetic data can revolutionize analytics by safeguarding privacy while providing robust alternatives to traditional datasets. The conversation covers its generation, applications in marketing mix modeling, and the balance between statistical integrity and privacy concerns. Li also shares insights on its utility in consumer research and the modern implications of AI in education and career choices.
Jun 10, 2025 • 1h 10min
#273: Data Products Are... Assets? Platforms? Warehouses? Infrastructure? Oh, Dear. With Eric Sandosham
Is it just us, or are data products becoming all the rage? Is Google Trends a data product that could help us answer that question? What actually IS a data product? And does it even matter that we have a good definition? If any of these questions seem like they have cut and dried answers, then this episode may just convince you that you haven't thought about them hard enough! After all, what is more on-brand for a group of analysts than being thrown a question that seems simple only to dig in to realize that it is more complicated than it appears at first blush? On this episode, Eric Sandosham returned as a guest inspired by a Medium post he wrote a while back so we could all dive into the topic and see what we could figure out! For complete show notes, including links to items mentioned in this episode and a transcript of the show, visit the show page.
12 snips
May 27, 2025 • 1h 4min
#272: When the Metric is Calculated and Complex with Dan McCarthy
Dan McCarthy, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Maryland, unpacks the intricate world of customer metrics. He highlights the challenges in defining metrics like Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV). The conversation reveals how multiple interpretations can lead to financial misrepresentations and regulatory hurdles. McCarthy also discusses the importance of clarity in corporate disclosures, the influence of leadership on corporate governance, and how emerging AI perceptions complicate metric calculations. A must-listen for metrics enthusiasts!
7 snips
May 13, 2025 • 1h
#271: It Might Be Irrational, but Let's Talk Behavioral Science with Dr. Lindsay Juarez
Dr. Lindsay Juarez, a behavioral scientist and director at Irrational Labs, shares her expertise on the fascinating world of behavioral science. The discussion dives into the concepts of nudging versus sludge and the importance of understanding the 'why' behind human decisions. Juarez highlights real-world applications of behavioral insights in finance and health. She also humorously breaks down a classic Seinfeld bit, showcasing her fun side. The conversation wraps up with reflections on how to effectively implement behavioral strategies in organizations.
13 snips
Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 1min
#270: AI and the Analyst. We've Got It All Figured Out.
We finally did it: devoted an entire episode to AI. And, of course, by devoting an episode entirely to AI, we mean we just had GPT-4o generate a script for the entire show, and we just each read our parts. It's pretty impressive how the result still sounds so natural and human and spontaneous. It picked up on Tim's tendency to get hot and bothered, on Moe's proclivity for dancing right up to the edge of oversharing specific work scenarios, on Michael's knack for bringing in personality tests, on Val's patience in getting the whole discussion to get back on track, and on Julie being a real (or artificial, as the case may be?) Gem. Even though it includes the word "proclivity," this show overview was entirely generated without the assistance of AI. And yet, it’s got a whopper of a hallucination: the episode wasn’t scripted at all! For complete show notes, including links to items mentioned in this episode and a transcript of the show, visit the show page.
34 snips
Apr 15, 2025 • 1h 8min
#269: The Ins and Outs of Outliers with Brett Kennedy
Brett Kennedy, a freelance data scientist and author of 'Outlier Detection in Python,' delves into the nuances of outlier detection methods. He compares identifying outliers to obscenity, noting the challenges of definition and detection. The discussion spans techniques such as z-scores and the Median Absolute Deviation, emphasizing the importance of context in data analysis. Kennedy also highlights the human touch needed in distinguishing significant anomalies from normal variations, showcasing the interplay between technology and human insight in deciphering data.
12 snips
Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 7min
#268: You Get an Insight! And YOU Get an Insight! with Chris Kocek
Chris Kocek, CEO of Gallant Branding and author of "Any Insights Yet?", joins to tackle the cringe-worthy concept of 'insights' in data analytics. They discuss the essential differences between plain data and true insights, emphasizing the importance of context and communication. Chris shares how Netflix exemplifies using customer frustrations to spark innovation. The conversation dives into the 'five whys' method, the collaborative nature of insight generation, and the critical role of curiosity in analytics, making it a lively, informative exploration.
24 snips
Mar 18, 2025 • 1h 1min
#267: Regression? It Can be Extraordinary! (OLS FTW. IYKYK.) with Chelsea Parlett-Pelleriti
Chelsea Parlett-Pelleriti, a statistician and data scientist from Recast, returns to dive deep into the fascinating world of linear regression. She simplifies complex concepts like feature engineering, multicollinearity, and overfitting, making statistics accessible. The discussion explores how statistical models can improve marketing efforts and the distinction between predictive and inferential analysis. They also share lighthearted anecdotes about pet safety and social media experiences, blending humor with insightful analytics.
