Explore Explain
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.
Latest episodes
Jun 9, 2020 • 1h 1min
S1E6 - Sonja Kuijpers
Welcome to episode 6 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Sonja Kuijpers to share the design story behind her award-winning visualisation 'A View on Despair', a very personal project which was published in 2019.
** Content warning: This episode discusses visualising data about suicide. If you need help, find help **
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Sonja's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
May 26, 2020 • 1h 9min
S1E5 - Simon Scarr
Welcome to episode 5 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Simon Scarr to share the design story behind his work on two Reuters visualisations about plastics: 'Drowning in plastic' and 'A plateful of plastic'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Simon's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
May 19, 2020 • 51min
S1E4 - Nadieh Bremer
Welcome to episode 4 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Nadieh Bremer to share the design story behind her work on a client visualisation for a startup company called 'alis_'.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Nadieh's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
May 12, 2020 • 1h 32min
S1E3 - John Burn-Murdoch
Welcome to episode 3 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome John Burn-Murdoch to share the design story behind his work on the visualisations for the Financial Times' evolving "Coronavirus Tracked" page, which was first released in February 2020. This episode was recorded on 27th March and so refers to the status of the visuals on the page as they were published on that date.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of John's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
May 5, 2020 • 1h 10min
S1E2 - Dr Cath Sleeman
Welcome to episode 2 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this episode I am delighted to welcome Dr Cath Sleeman to share the design story behind her visualisation 'Making sense of skills: A UK skills taxonomy', which was published on the Nesta website in 2018.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Cath's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
Apr 25, 2020 • 42min
S1E1 - Maarten Lambrechts
Welcome to episode 1 of season 1 of Explore Explain, a video and podcast series all about data visualisation design.
In this launch episode I am delighted to welcome Maarten Lambrechts to share the design story behind his visualisation 'Why Budapest, Warsaw, and Lithuania split themselves in two', which was published on The Pudding in 2019.
As well as listening to this show, you can watch the video of this conversation, illuminated by accompanying visual details of Maarten's workflow. Head over to Youtube and visit the Explore Explain channel.
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