Explore Explain
Andy Kirk
Explore Explain is a long-form podcast and video series hosted by Andy Kirk and launched early 2020. It goes deep behind the scenes of data visualisation projects.
Each episode is structured around a conversation with visualisation designers, developers, or data journalists to explore the design story behind a single visualisation or a related major project. Guests explain the thought-process behind and share insights about the myriad little decisions that underpin the finished works they produce.
Audiences will gain an appreciation of the what, the why and the how, learning about the hidden problems and challenges, the breakthroughs and the eureka moments. You'll learn about the things that were done and the things that were not done, the pressures and frustrations as well as successes and failures.
Each season comprises nine episodes and always seeks to include guests representing a diverse cast of talented practitioners from across the field and around the world, showcasing a wide variety of different types of visualisation work.
Every episode is published as both an audio interview as well as an enhanced video conversation, enriched by detailed visuals that illuminate the discussions. Visit the Youtube channel to see all the recordings, including shorter highlight episodes.
To read more about each episode, and browse through the full archive of conversations, visit the Podcast page on Andy Kirk's Visualising Data website. Explore Explain is a Bethany Andrew production.
Each episode is structured around a conversation with visualisation designers, developers, or data journalists to explore the design story behind a single visualisation or a related major project. Guests explain the thought-process behind and share insights about the myriad little decisions that underpin the finished works they produce.
Audiences will gain an appreciation of the what, the why and the how, learning about the hidden problems and challenges, the breakthroughs and the eureka moments. You'll learn about the things that were done and the things that were not done, the pressures and frustrations as well as successes and failures.
Each season comprises nine episodes and always seeks to include guests representing a diverse cast of talented practitioners from across the field and around the world, showcasing a wide variety of different types of visualisation work.
Every episode is published as both an audio interview as well as an enhanced video conversation, enriched by detailed visuals that illuminate the discussions. Visit the Youtube channel to see all the recordings, including shorter highlight episodes.
To read more about each episode, and browse through the full archive of conversations, visit the Podcast page on Andy Kirk's Visualising Data website. Explore Explain is a Bethany Andrew production.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 22, 2021 • 1h 9min
S3E1 - Andrea Lau
Welcome to episode 1 of season 3 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Andrea Lau, data visualisation designer and co-founder of the Australian-based data visualisation consultancy 'Small Multiples'.
We had a detailed conversation about the design story behind a project she and her team worked on for the UNDP during 2020 titled the 'COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Data Insight Platform'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Andrea's team design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 18, 2020 • 1h 7min
S2E9 - Miriam Quick & Stefanie Posavec
Welcome to episode 9 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Miriam Quick - journalist, researcher, and author - and Stefanie Posavec - designer, artist, and author.
We had a detailed conversation about their creative process developing and designing a new book they co-authored titled 'I am a book. I am a portal to the universe.', which was published in September 2020.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Miriam and Stef's collaborative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 15, 2020 • 1h 8min
S2E8 - Craig Taylor
Welcome to episode 8 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Craig Taylor, Senior Data Visualisation Design Manager, Ito World.
We had a detailed conversation about the data, design, and production story behind a 'data art'-inspired video he created called 'Transit in Motion', which was released in June 2020.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Craig's design workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 11, 2020 • 1h 9min
S2E7 - Jen Christiansen & Moritz Stefaner
Welcome to episode 7 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Jen Christiansen, Senior Data Reporter at The Guardian (US), and Moritz Stefaner, .In this seventh episode I am delighted to welcome Jen Christiansen, Senior Graphics Editor at Scientific American, and Moritz Stefaner, self-employed 'Truth and Beauty Operator'.
We had a detailed conversation about the data, editorial, and design story behind a combined print and interactive visualisation project exploring '175 years of word usage patterns in Scientific American', published in the magazine's September 2020 issue.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Jen and Moritz's collaborative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 8, 2020 • 1h 8min
S2E6 - Alvin Chang
Welcome to episode 6 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Alvin Chang, Senior Data Reporter at The Guardian (US).
Alvin shares the data, editorial, and design story behind a long-form article titled 'We can draw school zones to make classrooms less segregated. This is how well your district does', that he wrote for Vox, published in 2018.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Alvin's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Dec 2, 2020 • 55min
S2E5 - Giorgia Lupi
Welcome to episode 5 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Giorgia Lupi, information designer and partner at Pentagram, New York.
Giorgia shares the design story behind a data-driven fashion collection she developed for '&Other Stories' in 2019.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Giorgia's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Nov 25, 2020 • 1h 2min
S2E4 - Tom Worville
Welcome to episode 4 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Tom Worville, Football Analytics Writer for The Athletic (UK).
Tom shares the design story behind a data-driven article titled 'Lionel Messi's ten stages of greatness' (£), which was published in August 2020.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Tom's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Nov 18, 2020 • 1h
S2E3 - Gurman Bhatia
Welcome to episode 3 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Gurman Bhatia, Graphics Journalist for Reuters, based in Singapore.
Gurman shares the design story behind her visualisation project 'The figures behind the faces' which was published in May 2019.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Gurman's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Nov 9, 2020 • 1h 1min
S2E2 - RJ Andrews
Welcome to episode 2 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome RJ Andrews, US-based data storyteller, author and founder of 'Info We Trust'.
RJ shared the design story behind his visualisation project 'Neil and Buzz Go For a Walk', which was published in July 2019.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of RJ's creative workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 15min
S2E1 - Anna Wiederkehr
Welcome to episode 1 of season 2 of Explore Explain, a long-form video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Anna Wiederkehr, Senior Visual Journalist at FiveThirtyEight, based in the US.
Anna shared the design story behind FiveThirtyEight's flagship US Election Forecast visualisation.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Anna's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
** Despite my introduction saying this is season 1, it is definitely season 2! **
