

The Data Stack Show
Rudderstack
Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 23, 2025 • 42min
254: Context is King: Building Intelligent AI Analytics Platforms with Paul Blankley of Zenlytic
Paul Blankley, Founder and CTO of Zenlytic, joins to discuss AI's evolution in business intelligence. He believes AI is becoming an 'employee' capable of tackling complex analytical tasks. The conversation highlights how AI can process unstructured data and improve decision-making. Paul explains the importance of context in AI models and describes future BI tools that will surpass traditional dashboards. The talk also touches on the integration of structured and unstructured data, aiming for smarter insights that help businesses thrive.

Jul 21, 2025 • 4min
The PRQL: Breaking Down BI: How AI is Rewriting the Rules with Paul Blankley of Zenlytic
Discover the rapid advancements in AI technology and their transformative impact on business intelligence. The discussion dives into recent successes and the evolving AI models, signaling a change in how businesses will integrate these tools. Insights from industry experts offer a sneak peek into the future of data-driven decision-making and smarter customer experiences that AI can unlock.

Jul 16, 2025 • 59min
253: Why Traditional Data Pipelines Are Broken (And How to Fix Them) with Ruben Burdin of Stacksync
Ruben Burdin, Founder and CEO of Stacksync, delves into the complexities of data integration, especially the challenges of two-way syncing for platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot. He questions the practicality of traditional methods like zero-copy ETL and highlights how these can create more issues than they solve. The conversation introduces Stacksync's innovative real-time SQL-based synchronization as a solution to streamline data management, reduce overhead, and enhance operational workflows across varied enterprise systems.

Jul 14, 2025 • 4min
The PRQL: Zero Copy ETL: Myth vs Reality with Ruben Burdin of Stacksync
Dive into the challenges of developing a two-way syncing technology with insights from a co-founder and CEO. Discover how marketing shapes perceptions of zero copy ETL. The conversation highlights the importance of synchronization in tech and its role in enhancing data infrastructure. It's a must-listen for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of data management and product development.

15 snips
Jul 9, 2025 • 42min
252: What the Heck is Happening in Data Right Now with the Cynical Data Guy
Matt Kelliher-Gibson, the Cynical Data Guy, brings a sharp lens to the evolving world of data engineering. He dissects the hype surrounding the modern data stack and critiques the complexities and frustrations plaguing data teams today. Key conversations revolve around the shifting roles of analytics engineers and the push for open data standards to combat vendor lock-in. Kelliher-Gibson also highlights the emotional toll of job market fluctuations and rising costs, while emphasizing the importance of honesty in hiring and team morale.

Jul 7, 2025 • 2min
The PRQL: Data Engineering in 2025: Tooling, Headcount, and Survival Strategies with the Cynical Data Guy
Dive into the future of data engineering! Discover how current tools will evolve by 2025 and the potential shifts in headcount required in the industry. Explore survival strategies to navigate the changing landscape of data analytics. Get insights into the importance of remote collaboration and the vital roles within data teams. Tune in for a candid conversation packed with humor and expertise!

15 snips
Jul 2, 2025 • 53min
251: Data Teams at the Crossroads: Proving Value in a Changing Business Landscape with Ben Rogojan
Ben Rogojan, a consultant who helps companies optimize their data stacks and build communities for data leaders, shares insights on the evolving landscape of data teams. He discusses the importance of demonstrating ROI and aligning data outputs with business outcomes. The conversation covers navigating stakeholder expectations, dealing with vanity metrics, and utilizing AI for improved data workflows. Rogojan emphasizes the key skills for data professionals and the need to take risks and embrace creativity for personal and organizational growth.

Jun 30, 2025 • 3min
The PRQL: Beyond Dashboards: Selling Data Value to the Business with Ben Rogojan
Listeners dive into the journey of selling data value within businesses. Key topics include the importance of effective dashboards and transforming raw data into actionable insights. Insights from a renowned data consultant reveal strategies for building community support in the data realm. The episode also introduces an initiative aimed at empowering technical freelancers, focusing on collaborative learning and accountability.

5 snips
Jun 25, 2025 • 24min
250: The Chat Interface Debate: Is Text Really the Future?
This week’s guest is Matt, known as the Cynical Data Guy, who dives deep into the world of data, AI, and tech trends. He critically explores the debate over chat interfaces versus dashboards, advocating for user engagement improvements. The discussion introduces 'vibe revenue' as a fresh growth metric and reflects on the unpredictable evolution of AI and hardware. Matt also shares insights on the enduring relevance of SQL and the skepticism around new social networks, emphasizing authentic connections over AI-driven ones.

Jun 18, 2025 • 19min
249: Quacking Through Data: Duckdb's Emerging Ecosystem
Matt Kelliher-Gibson, known as the cynical data guy, joins to unravel the latest innovations in data analytics. The discussion kicks off with DuckDB's exciting Duck Lake announcement, emphasizing its role as a local analytics powerhouse compatible with Apache Iceberg. They dive into the complexities of data catalogs and the future of metadata orchestration, exploring how to simplify data management. Plus, a quirky demo showcases a speech-to-SQL tool while playfully quacking! Tune in for a blend of humor and insightful tech talk!