Making Data Simple

Send us Fan Mail We're joined by Ron Brill, President and Chairman of the Board, and Kris Johnson, Chief Product Officer of Anglepoint, a global leader in software asset management. From their startup origins to tackling massive compliance challenges, we'll dive into the world of SAM, licensing, and what the future holds for optimizing IT assets – a conversation essential for anyone in t...

Send us Fan Mail Unpack a groundbreaking application of IBM’s AI technology designed to revolutionize training and learning. This episode delves into how IBM’s AI-powered partner – built around IBM training – can sharpen technical knowledge, boost confidence, and help teams master every interaction, from pipeline development to closing critical deals. 02:12 Meet Paul Zikopoulos, Matt Bateson, and...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh off a high-profile appearance on CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange discussing how AI will move beyond chatbots to autonomous agents that reshape jobs and productivity! Replay this episode where Jure digs into why structured data is still lagging behind the AI revolution and what comes next for predictive AI on relational data. Data’s everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining...

Send us Fan Mail When there’s a need to re-center, stay grounded, and remember that growth is accessible to all of us, this is the episode to revisit. The Mindful Response with Estela Zuheros, Corporate Social Responsibility leader at IBM, explores how social impact, reskilling, and mindfulness come together to create a better, more inclusive world. Come for the global perspective on reskilling, s...

Send us Fan Mail Are your teams struggling with disengagement and declining performance ? What if the real problem isn’t talent or strategy, but a hidden “buy-in” gap quietly draining energy, innovation, and results? Joining us is Dave Garrison, a seasoned leadership strategist who has seen firsthand how a lack of buy-in fuels these issues – costing businesses billions every year. Dave unpacks the...

Send us Fan Mail On this replay of Making Data Simple, Manav Gupta, VP and CTO of IBM Canada, jumps straight into the world of large language models and what they really mean for businesses trying to scale AI. From how today’s models are built and tuned, to where the next generation is headed, Manav translates complex AI concepts into practical guidance for leaders, practitioners, and anyone tryin...

Send us Fan Mail Hit replay on this high-energy conversation with Ben Lowe , Founder and CEO of Lighthouse Technology, as he breaks down what it really takes to build something from scratch in a fast-changing AI world. From finding the right co‑founder and stepping into the CEO role, to navigating the toughest challenges of entrepreneurship, Ben shares practical lessons and hard‑won insights for b...

Send us Fan Mail Hit replay on one of the most thought-provoking Agentic AI conversations on Making Data Simple. GTM Account Director Megan Gallagher makes the case for Agentic AI from the Maven AGI front lines, where AI agents stop following rigid decision trees and start acting with real autonomy over enterprise workflows. “We’re still living like everything is deterministic,” Megan argues, “but...

Send us Fan Mail Dive into the powerful world of mainframes! Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Tina Tarquinio, reveals the truth behind those eight nines of uptime and explores how mainframes are evolving with AI, hybrid cloud, and future-proofing strategies for mission-critical business decisions.  Discover the cutting-edge innovations transforming enterprise computing—from on-chip AIU...

Send us Fan Mail Data’s everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is Jure Leskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who's fundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest's recommendations to tracking the spread of disease. We’ll unpack why structured data is lagging behind the AI revolution, exploring how techniques like Graph Neural Net...

Send us Fan Mail Guest: Kris Kluver, Founder of Life on Your Terms — speaker, facilitator, best-selling author, advisor, and coach helping leaders design fulfillment that matches their ambition. Summary: In this powerful replay, Kris Kluver flips the script on success. Too many high performers master their business but neglect their well-being — Kris shows how to align both. From defining what suc...

Send us Fan Mail Exploring the intersection of creativity and innovation, Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing live experiences. From personalized exhibits to universal storytelling, Geoff delves into the possibilities and pitfalls of harnessing AI to elevate our connections with others.  01:39 Introducing Geoff Thatcher  02:48 Think...

Send us Fan Mail This is one of my favorite episodes - it's all about the story! Part 2 of our conversation with Vinca LaFleur , Founding Partner of West Wing Writers . From the power of ideas to the art of delivery, Vinca shares what it takes to write words that resonate — and why every great message starts with meaning. 00:30 Tricks and tips to a presentation 04:14 Speech gotchas 07:29 Know...

Send us Fan Mail We're joined by Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai and pioneer in RAG research. From deploying AI agents at Fortune 500 companies to shedding light on data privacy and security, Douwe shares his expertise and insights on how to make data simple, effective, and secure. 00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela 01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go? 06:59 LLMs with Context 08:20 Making AI Successf...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we’re rewinding one of our most talked-about episodes! Richmond Alake, Developer Advocate at MongoDB, joins us to explore how databases power the future of AI. From RAG best practices to the truth behind AGI hype, Richmond breaks down what it takes to build systems that scale — and think. Show Notes 02:05 Meet Rich Alake  03:57 A Developer Advocate at MongoDB  05:57 Pas...

Send us Fan Mail Replay Episode: Python, Anaconda, and the AI Frontier with Peter Wang Peter Wang — Chief AI & Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda — is back on Making Data Simple ! Known for shaping the open-source ecosystem and making Python a powerhouse, Peter dives into Anaconda’s new AI incubator, the future of GenAI, and why Python isn’t just “still a thing”… it’s the thing. Fro...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Making Data Simple , join Ajay Kulkarni, CEO and co-founder of TigerData , as we dive into the rapidly evolving world of data. Ajay shares his front-row perspective on the challenges and opportunities of building and scaling time-series databases in an era of AI-driven automation. From the mechanics of managing massive data streams to the bold bets shaping the future...

Send us Fan Mail What if AI could tap into live operational data — without ETL or RAG? In this episode, Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, reveals how her company is transforming enterprise data access with intelligent data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and a governance-first approach. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the future of AI and the startup journey behind it. We explore ho...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ This week on Making Data Simple : Fred Joyal — you may know him from the iconic 1-800-DENTIST commercials. Today, Fred takes us beyond marketing genius into the art of being BOLD . Show Notes 02:20 – Brand Fred Joyal 19:20 – Monetization Strategy 20:58 – Boldness as a Superpower 23:18 – Just Show Up 26:15 – Step Up with Exercises 27:00 – Failures are Steps Up: Take Another Swin...

Send us Fan Mail Get ready for an insightful conversation on the future of data integration and real-time decision making with Dima Spivak , Director of Product Management at StreamSets . We cover everything from the “why StreamSets” story to its secret sauce , how it plays in regulated industries , and what makes it a powerful player in data fabric, AI, and streaming use cases . If you’re passion...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker , to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential. From the Four Disciplines of Executio...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description: Taking a break doesn’t mean you miss the good stuff. Last year, while I was on a much-needed vacation, I invited one of my favorite coaches back on the mic — Lynne Snead, Principal & Owner of Talent Evolution Systems. Lynne walks us through the Three Circles Model — a powerful framework for maintaining focus, expanding influence, and leading with intention...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description (Show Notes): Step into the world of IBM Power Systems with insider insights from Tom McPherson , former GM of IBM Power. In this conversation, Tom shares leadership lessons, debunks common misconceptions, and dives deep into the innovations shaping the future of Power infrastructure. From AI integration to hybrid cloud strategies, competitive positioning to co...

Send us Fan Mail 🎙 Replay Alert: Symbolic AI, QLattice, and Mind-Bending Ideas with Casper Wilstrup We’re bringing back one of our most thought-provoking episodes! Join us for a replay with Casper Skern Wilstrup , CEO of Abzu and the mind behind QLattice . We dive into Symbolic AI , the why behind Abzu, and Casper’s wild take on consciousness, simulation theory, and panpsychism. It’s science, AI,...

Send us Fan Mail Deep Diving into the future of AI: Join Dr. Sean Falconer — AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, software engineering leader, and developer relations expert — for a deep dive into the future of AI, data streaming, and what it really means to build at the edge of innovation. From managing multiple LLMs to testing autonomous agents and sharing his bold contrarian takes, Sean h...