If good graphs empower us to pose good questions, what happens on the dark side of data viz? In this episode, Cole talks with Alberto Cairo about his new book, How Charts Lie. Their conversation delves into how information designers and consumers are both to blame as well as how mindfulness relates to chart making and interpretation. Tune in also to hear tips to keep from spreading misinformation, why “essay” is a beautiful word, and Alberto’s optimism for the future of data visualization. LINKS: Order How Charts Lie Follow Alberto: albertocairo.com | @albertocairo Book: Factfulness (Rosling) Book: For Argument’s Sake (Stafford) Book: How to Lie with Maps (Monmonier) Book: Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) (Tavris & Aronson) Book: Naked Statistics (Wheelan) Book: Picturing the Uncertain World (Wainer) Book: The Enigma of Reason (Mercier & Sperber) Book: The Righteous Mind (Haidt) Book: Thinking Fast & Slow (Kahneman) Visual essays: The Pudding

The sloppy copy, picture power, and more about Cole’s new book in this special episode of the SWD podcast. LINKS: Pre-order storytelling with data: Let’s Practice! Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

Broadcasting from Seville, Spain—a city where modern and traditional meet in design—in this episode, Cole chats with three designers from digital production studio, Z1. The conversation flows from empathy in design to the importance of research and user feedback for de-risking projects and building thoughtful products to approaches when your client doesn’t know what they want (or wants everything!). You’ll also hear great tips on fostering a critique mindset, applying Fitts’s law, using constraints to prioritize, and being adaptive to new technologies.

Asking good questions can help improve our own and others’ work: both when exploring and explaining data. Tune in to hear Cole cover five smart queries to pose and answer during the analytical process and five more to consider when you are getting ready to explain that data to others. Cole also answers listener questions on collecting requirements for good data viz, what to do when asked to prove something with data that doesn’t pan out, and strategies for effectively presenting remotely. Links: Register for final 2019 public workshop Pre-order storytelling with data: Let’s Practice! Questions? email askcole@storytellingwithdata.com  Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

While recently in Copenhagen, Cole had a great chat with dataklubben podcasters Søren Christian Søndergaard Poulsen and Jens-Jacob Aarup. Tune in to hear about how story can help save us from death by data, the importance of starting low tech, and ideas for shifting organizational culture to become truly data-driven. Cole also talks about her soon-to-be-released second book, storytelling with data: let’s practice!  LINKS: Register for final 2019 public workshop Pre-order storytelling with data: let’s practice! Check out the dataklubben podcast  

It sounds like a simple question, yet it’s one with which many people grapple: how do I best visualize my data? In this episode, Cole reviews the most common types of data visualizations used in a business setting and discusses use cases and considerations with each. Tune in also to hear Cole address listener questions on graphing survey results, Tableau vs. PowerBI and how to influence a client who wants default graphs rather than a data-driven story. LINKS: SWD blog post: grables and taphs #SWDchallenge recap: plots with dots #SWDchallenge recap: 88 annotated line graphs Curved Discussion post: lines vs. bars Flourish graph: GOT bar chart race Data Revelations post: rethinking the divergent stacked bar BBC Video: Hans Rosling bubblegraph Tweet: bubblegraph GIF Map: 100 years of platypus sightings Map: pasture and crop Resource: xeno.graphics #SWDchallenge recap: square area graphs Twitter thread: Tableau vs. PowerBI Register: May 30th (free!) live event Register: upcoming European 1-day workshops May #SWDchallenge recap: artisanal data Questions? email askcole@storytellingwithdata.com Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

Honing your own data visualization and storytelling skills is one thing. But what about when you want to help others around you? In this episode, Cole discusses what you can do—whether a manager interested in developing your team or an individual interesting in influencing those around you—to cultivate organizational capabilities for effective data storytelling. Cole also addresses listener questions on when we should use graphs, data viz tools for beginners, and getting effective feedback. LINKS: We’re hiring! SWD careers Interesting team set ups? Email feedback@storytellingwithdata.com Article: A Framework to Give Better Design Feedback: Analyze, Discuss, Suggest April #SWDchallenge: emulate Questions? email askcole@storytellingwithdata.com Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

In this episode, Cole talks with data storyteller and author of recently published Info We Trust: How to Inspire the World with Data—RJ Andrews. They converse over coffee in his San Francisco kitchen, discussing the book, RJ’s unique creative process (including the 300+ hand drawn images that fill the book)  and sources of inspiration for data storytelling. Listening time: 1:03:57 LINKS: Buy the book! Info we Trust: How to Inspire the World with Data Follow @infowetrust | infowetrust.com Questions? email askcole@storytellingwithdata.com Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast

How did you learn to visualize data? Professionals in this space hail from a wide variety of backgrounds and in this episode, you’ll hear a dozen responses to this question, from artists, mathematicians and more. Listen to these industry leaders’ captivating stories and anecdotes—while learning lessons that you can apply to hone your own data visualization skills.   Moritz Stefaner: @moritz_stefaner | truth-and-beauty.net Andy Cotgreave: @acotgreave | gravyanecdote.com Jen Christiansen: @ChristiansenJen | jenchristiansen.com Alberto Cairo: @albertocairo | albertocairo.com RJ Andrews: @infowetrust | infowetrust.com Jeffrey Shaffer: @HighVizAbility | dataplusscience.com Shirley Wu: @sxywu  | sxywu.com Jon Schwabish: @jschwabish | policyviz.com Naomi B. Robbins: @nbrgraphs | nbr-graphs.com Steve Wexler: @VizBizWiz | datarevelations.com Robert Kosara: @eagereyes | eagereyes.org Elijah Meeks: @Elijah_Meeks | elijahmeeks.com

Why do new year’s resolutions often fail? How do we set good goals? In this episode, Cole discusses the quarterly OKR goal-setting process she learned at Google and how it can be used to foster intentional actions, help achieve major accomplishments, and contribute to success—in work, and in life! Cole also answers listener questions on graphical literacy, how to convince someone that story isn’t fluff, and tips for ensuring success when crafting data stories that someone else will present. Video: How Google Sets Goals Upcoming public workshops: 2019 schedule January #SWDchallenge: let’s try something new! storytelling with data: book downloads Questions? email askcole@storytellingwithdata.com Feedback? email feedback@storytellingwithdata.com Follow @randyknaflic Follow @storywithdata | share via #SWDpodcast