

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

Feb 26, 2025 • 25min
230: The Cynical Data Guy: Data Tech Debt, Data Mesh, and Dashboard Directives
Matt Novak, known as The Cynical Data Guy, shares his sharp insights on data technology and governance. He discusses the pitfalls of SQL complexity and technical debt, and critiques the Data Mesh approach for often leading to chaos. The conversation highlights the importance of user expectations in dashboard development and the dynamics between technical and sales teams. Novak also humorously explores AI's quirks in prompt writing, while emphasizing collaboration and the role of optimization tools in addressing data challenges.

Feb 19, 2025 • 52min
229: The Future of AI: Superhuman Intelligence, Autonomous Coding, and the Path to AGI with Misha Laskin of ReflectionAI
Misha Laskin, Co-founder of Reflection AI and a former DeepMind researcher, shares his journey from physics to AI. He discusses the transformative nature of artificial intelligence and its evolving role, particularly in autonomous coding and superhuman intelligence. Misha clarifies AGI and emphasizes the importance of effective evaluation metrics in AI projects. He also highlights the potential for AI to enhance human capabilities, offering practical insights into AI-augmented tools that assist programmers, especially beginners.

Feb 17, 2025 • 4min
The PRQL: From Theoretical Physics to AI: Misha Laskin on AGI, Superhuman Intelligence, and Autonomous Coding
Dive into the fascinating journey from theoretical physics to the world of artificial intelligence. Discover how scientific challenges shape AI's evolution and the need for robust evaluation methods. The conversation reveals insights into AGI, superhuman intelligence, and the concept of autonomous coding. It's a captivating blend of science and technology that sparks curiosity about the future of AI.

8 snips
Feb 12, 2025 • 42min
228: The Machine Learning Reality Check: When AI Makes Sense for Marketing Attribution with Lew Dawson of Momentum Consulting
Lew Dawson, an expert in marketing attribution and data stacks, shares his insights from Momentum Consulting. He discusses the conditions necessary for effective machine learning in marketing. The conversation dives into balancing simplicity with complexity in modeling, the challenge of ROI calculations, and how AI can transform customer data analysis. He highlights the importance of aligning data strategies with marketing goals, the intricacies of marketing attribution, and the hurdles of disparate API systems. It's a rich blend of practical advice and visionary thinking.

20 snips
Feb 5, 2025 • 1h 3min
227: The Art & Science of Marketing Attribution: From UTMs to Machine Learning with Lew Dawson of Momentum Consulting
In this engaging discussion, Lew Dawson, a marketing attribution expert from Momentum Consulting, dives into the nuances of data tracking and conversion measurement. He emphasizes the importance of standardizing UTM parameters to enhance attribution accuracy and tackles the complexities of identity resolution across various platforms. Lew explores the challenges posed by technical issues like ad blockers, the significance of defining KPIs, and the role of machine learning in improving attribution accuracy. His insights are invaluable for anyone navigating the marketing data landscape.

37 snips
Jan 29, 2025 • 1h 3min
226: Building Trust in Marketing Data: An Engineer's Guide to Attribution Architecture with Lew Dawson of Momentum Consulting
In this engaging discussion, Lew Dawson, a MarTech consultant at Momentum Consulting, delves into the challenges surrounding marketing data attribution. He shares insights on the 'people problem' affecting data consistency and the importance of collaboration across departments. The conversation highlights the complexities of UTM parameters and their crucial role in data reliability. Lew also tackles identity resolution and the need for unique join keys to improve attribution accuracy. His anecdotes add a compelling layer, making the intricacies of data architecture relatable and insightful.

Jan 27, 2025 • 4min
The PRQL: From Data Chaos to Marketing Truth: An Engineer's Guide to Attribution with Lew Dawson of Momentum Consulting
Dive into the fascinating world of data and marketing technology with insights from a special guest at Momentum Consulting. Discover the challenges of marketing attribution and its crucial impact on data-driven decisions. Learn how collaboration across various business sectors can enhance advertising strategies and boost conversion rates. This conversation unpacks a wealth of knowledge about navigating the complexities of data in the ever-evolving MarTech landscape.

19 snips
Jan 22, 2025 • 34min
225: The Stone Cold Truth About Data: False Hopes and Hard Truths with The Cynical Data Guy
Dive into an engaging discussion about the false hopes often faced by data professionals. Explore the naivety seen in junior analysts and the struggles with defining data in enterprise settings. Discover humorous insights on venture capital resolutions and the impact of emerging technologies on startups. Hear anecdotes about the evolution of leadership styles and the importance of analysis skills in driving data-driven decisions. This episode offers a candid look at the challenges and realities within the data landscape.

Jan 20, 2025 • 3min
The PRQL: The End of Data Silos (and Other Myths) with The Cynical Data Guy
Real talk about data management myths kicks off with some humorous anecdotes. The hosts dive into the unrealistic expectations that often plague the industry. They tackle common misconceptions surrounding data silos, debunking the belief that they can be entirely eliminated. Insights from The Cynical Data Guy add a critical edge to the conversation. Listeners gain a fresh perspective on navigating the complexities of data infrastructure while being entertained by clever banter.

22 snips
Jan 15, 2025 • 53min
224: Bridging Gaps: DevRel, Marketing Synergies, and the Future of Data with Pedram Navid of Dagster Labs
Pedram Navid, Chief Dashboard Officer at Dagster Labs and former consultant, dives into the synergies between DevRel and marketing. He shares insights on tailoring marketing for developers and the significance of quality resources. The conversation highlights Dagster's innovative asset-based orchestration approach and its advantages over traditional methods. Pedram discusses the challenges of data pipelines and the evolving role of AI in data engineering, emphasizing the need for integration and a user-friendly framework to enhance collaboration.