storytelling with data podcast

storytelling with data podcast: #97 delivering business value with data, with Shachar Meir

In this episode of the storytelling with data podcast, Amy talks with Shachar 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. Shachar shares why technology alone rarely solves an organization’s data challenges and outlines the four areas he sees mattering most: technology, people, process, and culture. He talks about trust in data, the importance of understanding your audience, and why the best data professionals learn to speak the language of the business rather than the language of tools. You’ll also hear practical advice for individuals who want to increase their impact: how to better understand the business, how to frame data work in terms of outcomes, and why stepping outside your data silo can be one of the most valuable moves for your career. This is a rich conversation for anyone who wants their work with data to be more strategic, more influential, and more closely tied to real business value. RELATED RESOURCES * Shachar’s LinkedIn [http://linkedin.com/in/shacharmeir] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@shacharmeir] * Career unblocking mini-course: career-unblock.shacharmeir.com [http://career-unblock.shacharmeir.com/] * $1M data professional [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRAz9krhAa4&list=PLf5hdm7nLNi8oheWHRxGSex2M0Ij3OpKV] presentation

storytelling with data podcast: #95 Structure Liberates – Why Your Data Needs a Style Guide with Maxine Graze

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, you'll walk away with ideas on how to bring clarity and consistency to your data storytelling. Related Links: * datavizstyleguide.com – Explore open-source data visualization guidelines * Better Data Visualizations by Jonathan Schwabish – The book that sparked Maxine’s journey * Storytelling with Data Resources [https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/resources] – Tools, tips, and templates from the SWD team

storytelling with data podcast: #96 what’s the story behind your data? demystifying data equity with Heather Krause

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. Heather shares the seven stages of the data equity framework, explains why choosing a denominator isn’t as simple as it seems, and offers practical ways to apply an equity lens to dashboards, visualizations, and more. Whether you're building a data product, making policy decisions, or designing a business presentation, this conversation will help you become more accurate, efficient, and intentional in how you generate and communicate evidence. RELATED LINKS * Learn more at weallcount.com [https://weallcount.com] * Explore the Before & After audiobook → Listen here [https://rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/9781663755681/]

storytelling with data podcast: #94 the uncharted territory of data and music with Chris Dalla Riva

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. RELATED LINKS * Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves [https://bio.site/uncharted_territory] | Chris Dalla Riva’s book  * Can’t Get Much Higher [https://www.cantgetmuchhigher.com/] | Chris’s newsletter * Audiomack [https://audiomack.com/] | Music streaming service where Chris works on analytics and personalization * Max Martin Knows How to Create a #1 Hit [https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2023/02/03/max-martin-knows-how-to-create-a-number-one-hit] | Chris’s The Economist article on song intros * Suno AI [https://suno.com/home] | Generative AI tool for music creation discussed in the authenticity segment * Follow Chris at @cdallarivam SONGS AND ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE * * “Want Ads [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0V9K0ERzRo&list=RDr0V9K0ERzRo&start_radio=1]” by Honey Cone * * “House of the Rising Sun [https://youtu.be/N4bFqW_eu2I?si=CrIzrRMjDC4AcmP1]” by The Animals * * “Hey [https://youtu.be/A_MjCqQoLLA?si=kc5s5F0QgUY-0XAc&t=41]Jude [https://youtu.be/A_MjCqQoLLA?si=kc5s5F0QgUY-0XAc&t=56]” by The Beatles * * “Blinded by the Light [https://youtu.be/Rzk3x3HZbJI?si=7wXX4YA3xbtplF6a]” (written by Bruce Springsteen, recorded by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) * * “Dancing in the Dark [https://youtu.be/129kuDCQtHs?si=8qzqOI9HuzzicSZs]” by Bruce Springsteen * * “When Doves Cry [https://youtu.be/UG3VcCAlUgE?si=h1RhG4v8S3TMgUOm]” by Prince * “Believe [https://youtu.be/nZXRV4MezEw?si=vsJbWf1FA2tuHqtC]” by Cher * * “Golden [https://youtu.be/yebNIHKAC4A?si=TTq9W01wlM5Wbpfo]” by HUNTR/X

storytelling with data podcast: #93 revisiting the magic of story

In this special episode of the *storytelling with data* podcast, Cole celebrates the 10-year anniversary of her best-selling book, *storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals*. She shares exciting updates about the newly released 10th Anniversary Edition—including refreshed visuals, updated examples, and new bonus content—along with an invitation to a live virtual event on December 2, 2025.To mark the occasion, Cole reads aloud Chapter 7: *Lessons in Storytelling*—a fan-favorite chapter that explores how story structure can be used to create more compelling data communications. From Red Riding Hood to Aristotle to Robert McKee, this episode blends timeless storytelling wisdom with practical techniques for structuring business presentations, building narrative flow, and engaging your audience through conflict, clarity, and repetition.Whether you're crafting a dashboard, pitching a recommendation, or designing a presentation, this episode is packed with strategies to help you move beyond showing data to telling *a story with data*.🔗 Get the 10th anniversary book: storytellingwithdata.com/SWD10🔗 Join Cole's live virtual mini-workshop (Dec 2): storytellingwithdata.com/swd10register🔗 Listen to the Before & After audiobook: rbmediaglobal.com/audiobook/9781663755681/