storytelling with data podcast

In this episode of the storytelling with data podcast, Simon and Amy tackle common presentation challenges submitted by subscribers to the storytelling with data YouTube channel.

They discuss how to turn complex analysis into a clear and engaging story, why storyboarding can help you structure your message before jumping into slides, and how to decide what to include—and what to leave out—when your analysis contains more detail than...

In this episode of the storytelling with data podcast, Amy talks with Shahar Meir, a data executive with more than 20 years of experience leading data teams at companies including Meta and PayPal. Together, they explore what it really takes for data professionals to move beyond producing dashboards and reports to driving meaningful business outcomes.

Shahar shares why technology alone rarely solves an organization’s data challenges ...

How do you ensure your data visuals are consistently effective—and on brand? In this episode, SWD data storyteller, Simon Rowe chats with Maxine Graze, Senior Data Visualization Engineer at King, about the process of building data visualization style guides. They explore why “structure liberates,” how to balance aesthetics with usability, and why stakeholder feedback is critical. Whether you're designing for dashboards or decks...

What if the numbers you work with every day weren’t as neutral as you thought?

In this episode, Mike is joined by Heather Krause, founder of We All Count and longtime quantitative researcher, to unpack a powerful concept: data equity. Together, they explore how every step of a data project—from survey design to chart choices—involves hidden decisions that impact what gets measured, who is represented, and what conclusions are drawn.

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Chris Dalla Riva is a musician, data analyst, and the author of Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves. In this episode, he joins data storyteller Mike Cisneros to talk about musical myths, hidden industry incentives, chart data, and underappreciated hits, as well as the thorny questions about authenticity, categorization, and what it really means to tell an honest story with numbers.

REL...

In this episode of the storytelling with data podcast, Simon chats with Allison Horst—developer advocate at Observable, educator, and beloved data illustrator—to explore the difference between dashboards that get used and those that don’t.

They dig into why so many data products go to waste, the importance of co-creating with your audience, and the overlooked power of early feedback. Allison reflects on her experiences helping p...

Data visualization veteran Andy Cotgreave joins host Mike Cisneros for a lively, wide-ranging conversation about the evolution of dashboards, the craft of data communication, and the future of generative AI in analytics. Andy reflects on his early career building “dashboards” in Excel for a demanding boss, how that experience shaped two bestselling books (The Big Book of Dashboards and Dashboards That Deliver), and what he’s learne...

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, co...

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 creati...

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, ...

In this second installment of our new podcast series, The Founder’s Journey, we sit down with Odun Odubanjo, CEO and founder of Insight7, a platform making qualitative data instantly actionable.

Odun’s story starts in Lagos, Nigeria, where a chance internship at Google Zurich opened a door that would eventually lead to founding multiple startups, scaling a business across Africa, working at Shopify in Canada, and launching In...

Want to speak in a way that makes others want to listen? In this episode, Cole dives into the art of confident communication—how to eliminate filler words, command attention with your voice and body language, and project confidence even when you don’t feel it. She shares real-world strategies from working with high schoolers, future business leaders, and university students, plus personal lessons learned in her career.

Whether you’...

NEW SERIES: The Founder’s Journey – Stories of Building, Scaling & Storytelling

We’re launching something new on thestorytelling with data podcast! In this special series, we’ll sit down with founders who are building something remarkable—diving into their journeys, the lessons they’ve learned, and the storytelling strategies that fuel their success.

In this episode, Randy is joined by Doni Priliandi, founder of HappyFive, an emp...

Time is a finite resource, so how do you make the most of it? Cole is joined by her husband, Randy, for a conversation on the art of getting things done, both in business and in life. From balancing busy work schedules to managing a family of five, they share their strategies for prioritization, productivity, and focus. They break down their individual approaches—covering automation, delegation, scheduling, and the power of saying ...

What if a simple pause could transform the way you work? In this episode, Cole delves into the concept of statio—a meditative pause during transitions—and its potential to inspire more thoughtful, impactful decisions in data analysis and communication. From asking the right questions at the start of a project to fine-tuning your slides before a presentation, discover how small, intentional moments of reflection can ignite creativit...

What do doors, wrapping paper, and speed bumps have in common? In this episode, Cole uncovers how the design of everyday objects can inspire better graphs and slides. Through relatable stories and practical takeaways, discover how thoughtful design can transform confusion into clarity and create moments of delight for your audience.

related links:

• SWD holiday shop (use code PODCAST10 for 10% off in the shop & on workshops...

In this episode, Cole teams up with Jon Orr, co-founder of Make Math Moments, for an inspiring discussion on how to transform math education for young learners. They dive into Cole's new book, Daphne Draws Data, and explore how storytelling and visual data can empower children to approach math with curiosity and confidence. Cole and Jon share personal stories and professional insights on why sparking interest in math e...

In this special episode, Cole unveils her new children's book, "Daphne Draws Data," a vibrant adventure aimed at making data, numbers and graphs accessible to young minds. Inspired by her own children's curiosity, Cole discusses the importance of introducing data literacy early through storytelling, illustrated by the talented John Skewes. Join Cole as she shares insights into creating the book, its enchanting characte...