storytelling with data podcast

Chris Dalla Riva, a musician and data analyst, delves into the fascinating world where music meets analytics. He shares his ambitious project of listening to every Billboard No. 1 hit, revealing insights about song structure influenced by technology. Discussing misconceptions about streaming payouts and song authenticity, he highlights the impact of genre labels shaped by industry biases. Chris also addresses the ethical implications of AI in music, sparking a thought-provoking conversation on creativity and representation in the digital age.

Celebrate a decade of storytelling magic as Cole reflects on her best-selling book's 10th Anniversary Edition. Discover timeless storytelling techniques that enhance data communication, including Aristotle's three-act structure. Cole emphasizes the importance of captivating storytelling, leveraging repetition, and focusing on audience engagement. With practical tips like writing headlines first and using narrative flow, listeners can turn dry data into compelling presentations. Join Cole's journey to make data resonate through the power of story!

Allison Horst, a developer advocate at Observable and expert in data visualization with a background in environmental science, joins to talk about the lifespan of dashboards. She discusses why many dashboards fail to engage users, emphasizing the power of co-creation and early feedback. The conversation highlights the importance of balancing clarity with technical correctness and adapting dashboards to audience needs. Allison also shares insights on avoiding dashboard fatigue and encouraging continuous collaboration to foster a culture of data literacy.

Andy Cotgreave, a seasoned data communication expert and co-author of prominent dashboards books, dives into the evolution of data visualization. He shares how his early days creating Excel dashboards influenced his later work and discusses the balance between efficiency and emotional impact in design. Andy candidly explores semantic drift in terminology, debates from Chart Chat, and his journey to hosting the Iron Viz competition. He offers insights into presentation skills, including his foray into magic, emphasizing community and curiosity in mastering data storytelling.

Asking good questions can help improve our own and others’ work: both when exploring and explaining data. In this rebroadcast of episode 19, Cole covers five smart queries to pose and answer during the analytical process and five more to consider when getting ready to explain that data to others.We’re sharing this popular episode again as we look ahead to what’s next: Before and After, the fifth book from storytelling with data, comes out September 23, 2025 — pre-order now wherever you buy books!If you want to put these strategies into practice, join one of our upcoming 2025 sessions:Virtual half-day workshops: August 21 and November 68-week online course: September 15–November 9In-person workshop in NYC: October 14Links:Register for upcoming ⁠workshops and courses⁠Pre-order Before and AfterQuestions? email ⁠askcole@storytellingwithdata.com⁠Follow ⁠@storywithdata⁠ | share via ⁠#SWDpodcast

Data storyteller Alex talks with Nadieh Bremer, an award-winning data visualization practitioner, about her new book, Chart: Designing Creative Data Visualizations from Charts to Art. Nadieh talks about her data visualization journey, from losing passion while creating dashboards to finding joy as she pushed the boundaries of data art. During this journey, she shares her tips for becoming a freelancer, suggestions for adding creativity to your work, and discusses the difference between data viz and data art. Tune in to learn Nadieh’s process for creating a visual and hear her advice on how to be more creative with your work.Follow Nadieh: website | Instagram | LinkedInBook: Chart: designing creative data visualizations from charts to artNadieh’s creations that were mentioned during the episodePatchwork KingdomsGenCoopAdyen’s Shareholder ReportWhy do cats and dogs…?Olympic feathers

In this founder series edition of the storytelling with data podcast, Randy sits down poolside in Antalya, Turkey with Fares Ksebati—CEO and founder of MySwimPro, YouTube creator, and author of Swim Like a Pro and How Not to Drown. From humble beginnings as a walk-on college swimmer to building one of the world’s most recognized swim coaching platforms, Fares shares the behind-the-scenes journey of scaling a global remote company, navigating the tech startup ecosystem, and staying relentlessly curious along the way.They talk about what it means to democratize swimming, using storytelling to build product and community, and how AI and human connection will shape the future of sport. Fares opens up about teaching his mom to swim at 62, launching MySwimPro with zero funding, and the lessons learned from crashing his app right after being named App of the Year by Apple. It’s a candid, inspiring conversation about growth—personal, professional, and everything in between.Check out Fares’s work:swim like a pro the best swimming app myswimpro.comYouTube: MySwimProLinkedIn: Fares Ksebati

Odun Odubanjo, CEO and founder of Insight7, shares his inspiring journey from Lagos to Zurich and beyond. He reveals how a Google internship catalyzed his entrepreneurial path. Odun discusses the lessons learned while building startups in Africa and how storytelling is vital in connecting with customers. He delves into the transformative power of AI for businesses and the democratization of technology, emphasizing now is the best time to innovate. Ultimately, his passion for turning qualitative data into actionable insights shines through.

Discover the secrets to confident communication and captivating presentations. Learn how to eliminate filler words and command attention through vocal variety and body language. Hear personal stories and real-world strategies that make a difference, especially for students and emerging leaders. Explore the power of posture and presence in shaping audience perception. Finally, uncover tips for crafting memorable self-introductions that leave a lasting impression. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to enhance their speaking skills.

In this engaging discussion, Donny Priliandi, founder of HappyFive—an employee engagement platform from Indonesia—shares his remarkable journey into the U.S. market. He reveals how storytelling has been his superpower, helping to attract support and navigate challenges. Donny discusses the importance of compassion and listening in business negotiations, along with effective time management strategies to balance intense work demands with personal life. His insights on resilience and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship make this conversation both relatable and inspiring.