Make Data Talk
Dr Selena Fisk
Are you finding data daunting? Are you in a job where there are heaps of numbers coming in, but you don’t know what to do with them, let alone make them mean something? If so, it’s time to make your data talk! Each week Data Storyteller Dr Selena Fisk will help you turn your spreadsheets into stories, as she teaches you important data ideas and skills which help you bring your data to life. Each episode is packed with real examples and insights from Selena's experience helping people like you - to build your confidence, to make data more accessible to you, and to do so in a way that is practical and more interesting than your year 9 maths textbook! Make data talk is your weekly dose of data literacy, data viz, and data storytelling ideas that help make data doable.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 26, 2025 • 11min
#33 Data and meetings - what good practice looks like
Are you making the most of your meeting times when it comes to data? In an age of meetings for meetings' sake, don't be that person! In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk provides some strategies for the best practice when using data in your meetings, to ensure you get the most value out of this time with your team and get to the action of data storytelling. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Feb 19, 2025 • 10min
#32 Dean Boxall - reflections on elite targets and high levels of care
Who remembers the infamous hip gyrating, truly visceral celebration Dean Boxall, coach of the Australian swimming team, gave at the Tokyo Olympics after Ariarne Titmus won gold in the 400m freestyle? Well it turns out, listening to him give a keynote address is even more inspiring. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk reflects on Dean Boxall's coaching style and what elite level coaches can teach us about leadership, measuring progress and showing high levels of care for the people in our teams. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Oct 29, 2024 • 13min
#31 How data saves us time
There's no denying, it can be time consuming to ensure robust data collection processes are in place in an organisation. But often we don't stop to appreciate the time this initial investment can save us. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk gives some air time to a little talked about benefit of data plans and data collection - the time it saves us. Tune in for 4 key ways data can save you time. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Oct 22, 2024 • 10min
#30 AI and data storytelling
In the third installment of her AI and data storytelling series, Dr. Selena Fisk explores how generative AI can enhance how we tell data stories and act on the data insights we find. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Oct 15, 2024 • 17min
#29 Reflecting on your impact
How do you measure your impact? Is the stats you produce and the KPIs you hit? Is it the culture you build? Is it the legacy you leave? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk reflects on the remarkable impact coach Chris Fagan has had on the AFL premiership winning Brisbane Lions, and some key takeaways for measuring the impact of our own actions in our organisations. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Oct 8, 2024 • 12min
#28 AI and data trends and insights
Do you need help uncovering the trends and insights in your data? Maybe you know what you're looking for but you just need to save some time. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks through three ways AI and generative AI can help with this step in the data storytelling process - identifying the trends and insights. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Oct 1, 2024 • 10min
#27 Summary statistics vs small data
Have you got a grasp on your organisation's summary statistics or 'bird's eye view' data? What about the small day to day data? It's good to know and work with both! In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk takes you through her 'helicopter vs street' analogy and how looking at data from different views of your organisation can be beneficial to make positive change. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Sep 24, 2024 • 13min
#26 AI and data organisation
As AI has become more and more ubiquitous, it was only a matter of time before we started seeing its benefits for data organisation. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk highlights a number of ways AI can be used to help with data organisation, from initial data literacy questions, right through to helping visualise data to assist with data storytelling. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Aug 6, 2024 • 13min
#25 Lights. Data. Action!
Our organisations collect so much data these days. But how often are we actually getting to the 'action' part of data storytelling? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks about finding ways to understand and use the data we already have, and how to take steps to actually act on it. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
Jul 30, 2024 • 12min
#24 Evidence-based vs evidence-informed
Do you sometimes feel unable to progress past data analysis and into action because you may be lacking a traditional evidence base to support your decision? In this episode, Dr. Selena Fisk explores the distinction between being evidence-based and evidence-informed and offers invaluable insights into making informed, impactful decisions even in the absence of a robust, traditional evidence base. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
