Making Data Simple

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...

Send us Fan Mail She’s the legal powerhouse behind IBM’s AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery , formerly IBM’s Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what’s now, what’...

Send us Fan Mail The AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple , we’re joined by Jonathan Mast , AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™ . Jonathan’s not just riding the AI wave—he’s teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it , with simple, actionable tools that...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison , leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement. In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just char...

Send us Fan Mail 📝 Show Notes: What if the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t your strategy — but your people’s belief in it? In Part 1 of this powerful two-part episode, we welcome Dave Garrison , seasoned CEO, board member, and leadership strategist with over 25 years of experience driving real-world results. Dave pulls back the curtain on what employee engagement really means — and...

Send us Fan Mail From Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at Sama Episode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms at Zoox to game-changing data products at Google. Today he leads a 160-person team that’s reinventing how training data is curated, labeled, and audited so enterprise...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 Episode Description: This week on Making Data Simple , we welcome David Hirschfeld , Founder and CEO of Tekyz . With a background spanning major tech firms and startup trenches, David brings grounded, data-backed insight into what makes or breaks a startup. From tackling the #1 reason startups fail to exploring the value of validation and the real meaning of product-market fit...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Making Data Simple , we welcome Ralph Gootee, CTO and co-founder of TigerEye , a company reshaping strategic sales intelligence with a data-driven edge . Ralph’s journey spans Pixar, Sony, and PlanGrid — and now he’s building tools to help sales leaders see around corners. From the secrets behind TigerEye's intuitive reporting to the realities of entrepreneurship...

Send us Fan Mail 🎧 REPLAY ALERT: The Future of Risk, Powered by AI In case you missed it the first time — we’re bringing back this incredible conversation with Kathy Stares , EVP of North America at Provenir . Kathy dives into how Provenir’s AI-powered risk decisioning software processes over 4 billion transactions annually across 50+ countries. From fintech to traditional banking, learn how this...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back for Part 2 of our Automation deep-dive—and the hits just keep coming! Host Al Martin reunites with IBM automation aces Sarah McAndrew (WW Automation Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (App Mod & IT Automation Development) to push past the hype and map out the road ahead. 🎬 Episode Highlights 00:12 Observability – why seeing everything is half the battle 04:17 IBM C...

Send us Fan Mail Buckle up—automation is shifting into high gear! In Part 1 of our Automation mini-series, host Al Martin VP WW Technical Sales sits down with IBM insiders Sarah McAndrew (VP WW Automation, Technical Sales) and Vikram Murali (VP App Mod & IT Automation, Development) to decode the now and next of enterprise automation. 🔑 What’s inside 00:53 Meet Sarah McAndrew VP WW Automation,...