Best Data Abstract Podcasts (2025)

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246: AI, Abstractions, and the Future of Data Engineering with Pete Hunt of Dagster 48:59

16d ago48:59

48:59

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Pete's Background and Journey in Data (1:36) Evolution of Data Practices (3:02) Integration Challenges with Acquired Companies (5:13) Trust and Safety as a Service (8:12) Transition to Dagster (11:26) Value Creation in Networking (14:42) Observability in Data Pipelines (18:44) The Era of Big Complex…

1
Moments of Impact: How to Design Strategic Conversations That Accelerate Change 1:05:44

1d ago1:05:44

1:05:44

In our fast-changing world, leaders are increasingly confronted by messy, multifaceted challenges that require collaboration to resolve. But the standard methods for tackling these challenges—meetings packed with data-drenched presentations or brainstorming sessions that circle back to nowhere—just don’t deliver. Great strategic conversations gener…

1
Mara Inglezakis Owens: A People-Loving Enterprise Architect – Episode 34 30:57

2d ago30:57

30:57

Mara Inglezakis OwensMara Inglezakis Owens brings a human-centered focus to her work as an enterprise architect at a major US airline.Drawing on her background in the humanities and her pragmatic approach to business, she has developed a practice that embodies both "digital anthropology" and product thinking.The result is a knowledge architecture t…

1
248: AI and BI: The Future of Data Analytics with Michael Driscoll of Rill Data 47:51

2d ago47:51

47:51

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Michael Driscoll, Co-Founder and CEO of Rill Data. Mike discusses the transformative impact of AI on business intelligence (BI) and data analytics. He also explores the shift from traditional dashboard-based tools to more dynamic, code-driven, and AI-powered interfaces that provide deeper insi…

1
AI Predicts Dumpster Fires Before They Happen: The Smart Waste Revolution Saving Millions

3d ago

—

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall speaks with Sandeep Sankarankutty, VP of Operations at Recycle Track Systems, who reveals how AI-powered sensors are transforming the $75 billion waste management industry. Sankarankutty shares how their "Pello smart Bin sensors" can detect contamination in real-time, predict literal dumpster fires, …

1
Charles A. O'Reilly, III and Michael L. Tushman, "Lead and Disrupt: How to Solve the Innovator's Dilemma, Second Edition" (Stanford Business Books, 2021) 1:06:23

3d ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Lead and Disrupt: How to Solve the Innovator's Dilemma Second Edition 2nd Edition by Charles A. O’Reilly III and Michael L. Tushman The second edition of this classic analyzes why mature organizations find it so difficult to innovate. This question has become ever more important as organizations face continuous disruptive changes. O’Reilly and Tush…

1
The PRQL: The Metrics-First Approach: Transforming How We Understand Data with Mark Driscoll of Rill Data 2:06

4d ago2:06

2:06

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and ma…

1
Jean J. Ryoo and Jane Margolis, "Power On!" (MIT Press, 2022) 59:40

4d ago59:40

59:40

An interview with Jean Ryoo and Jane Margolis about Power On! A diverse group of teenage friends learn how computing can be personally and politically empowering and why all students need access to computer science education. This lively graphic novel follows a diverse group of teenage friends as they discover that computing can be fun, creative, a…

1
Corporate Memory, Curated 1:08:00

8d ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Stephen Chambers of the historical consulting firm The Winthrop Group earned his BA, MA, and PhD in history. Throughout graduate school, he pursued interests in applied history—often doing the opposite (his words!) of what he was supposed to be doing as a future academic. He also wrote historical fiction and science fiction as a way to reflect on t…

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247: Consulting Firms, AI Strategies, and the $100K Question with the Cynical Data Guy 31:22

9d ago31:22

31:22

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: The Cynical Data Guy Returns (1:11) Klarna's AI Shift (2:08) Sensational Headlines in Tech (4:31) Impact of AI on Jobs (8:19) Cost of AI Strategy (10:21) Consulting Strategies and Company Differentiation (12:26) Brand Recognition in Consulting (14:48) Critique of Outsourcing Thought (17:10) Future o…

1
"80% of AI Use Happens Off the Grid": How Lanai Software Reveals the Hidden World of Enterprise AI

10d ago

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In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Lexi Reese, CEO and co-founder of Lanai Software, who exposes a startling reality: 80% of AI use in companies happens completely off the radar. Reese shares a jaw-dropping story from an insurance company where sales teams unknowingly uploaded customer zip codes into AI tools - creating…

1
The PRQL: Cynical Data Guy: Unpacking Tech's Latest Hype Cycles 3:06

11d ago3:06

3:06

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and ma…

1
Big Tech monopoly maintenance: Is a ‘go and sin no more’ remedy sufficient? 42:26

11d ago42:26

42:26

Several major tech companies are facing legal challenges from antitrust enforcers who allege they have monopolized their respective markets. As courts determine proper redress in some cases, the remedies they choose might shape the future of digital competition. In this episode, guest host Bill Baer speaks with Rebecca Slaughter and Doha Mekki abou…

1
Amit Ron and Abraham A. Singer, "Everyone's Business: What Companies Owe Society" (U Chicago Press, 2024) 54:35

12d ago54:35

54:35

The ethics of the company in a highly politicized time. Businesses are increasingly social actors. They fund political campaigns, take stances on social issues, and wave the flags of identity groups. As a highly polarized public demands political alignment from the businesses where they spend their money, what's a company to do? Everyone's Business…

1
John Horn, "Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success" (MIT Press, 2023) 1:45:13

13d ago1:45:13

1:45:13

Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success (MIT Press, 2023) offers a roadmap to help leaders predict, understand, and react to their competitors’ moves. It is a valuable tool to help companies stay ahead of their competitors when the competition is intensifying. To make the right choice when a…

1
John Horn, "Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success" (MIT Press, 2023) 1:45:13

13d ago1:45:13

1:45:13

Inside the Competitor's Mindset: How to Predict Their Next Move and Position Yourself for Success (MIT Press, 2023) offers a roadmap to help leaders predict, understand, and react to their competitors’ moves. It is a valuable tool to help companies stay ahead of their competitors when the competition is intensifying. To make the right choice when a…

1
Gennifer Weisenfeld, "The Fine Art of Persuasion: Corporate Advertising Design, Nation, and Empire in Modern Japan" (Duke UP, 2025) 44:44

16d ago44:44

44:44

Commercial art is more than just mass-produced publicity; it constructs social and political ideologies that impact the public’s everyday life. In The Fine Art of Persuasion: Corporate Advertising Design, Nation, and Empire in Modern Japan (Duke University Press, 2025), Gennifer Weisenfeld examines the evolution of Japanese advertising graphic desi…

1
"40% of Your Ad Budget Goes to Products Nobody Buys": The AI Solution Retailers Can't Ignore

17d ago

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In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall uncovers a shocking truth with Nathan Werst, founder of Shoptimized AI: major retailers waste millions advertising products that never drive purchases. Werst reveals the shocking moment when clients first see their wasted ad spend, sometimes discovering 40% of their budget goes to products that gener…

1
Alex Davies, "Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car" (Simon & Schuster, 2022) 1:27:49

17d ago1:27:49

1:27:49

In Driven: The Race to Create the Autonomous Car (Simon & Schuster, 2022), Alex Davies tells the enlightening and significant story of the effort to create driverless cars and the intense competition among tech heavyweights such as Google, Uber, and Tesla to move this technology forward. Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have been one of the most hyped tec…

1
465: What is quality software with Elaina Natario 37:52

17d ago37:52

37:52

Elaina Natario returns to talk with Joël about what makes good quality product design and the priorities that shape development. The pair discuss the importance of certain elements such as security and accessibility, maintaining certain standards throughout development, as well as judging the practical applications of prototypes within a project an…

1
The PRQL: Breaking Down Silos: Collaborative Data Engineering in the AI Era with Pete Hunt of Dagster 3:20

18d ago3:20

3:20

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and ma…

1
Frank van Harmelen: Hybrid Human-Machine Intelligence for the AI Age – Episode 33 29:31

22d ago29:31

29:31

Frank van HarmelenMuch of the conversation around AI architectures lately is about neuro-symbolic systems that combine neural-network learning tech like LLMs and symbolic AI like knowledge graphs.Frank van Harmelen's research has followed this path, but he puts all of his AI research in the larger context of how these technical systems can best sup…

1
245: The Future of Data: Postgres, Iceberg, and Operational Analytics with Pranav Aurora of Mooncake Labs 44:05

22d ago44:05

44:05

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Pranav’s Background and Journey in Data (1:10) Backstory of Mooncake Labs (2:05) PostgreSQL as a Force (4:47) Curiosity in Product Management (7:33) Challenges with Iceberg (11:12) Go-to-Market Strategy (13:52) Building Community Engagement (15:56) Importance of Feedback (18:26) AI Integration in Mo…

1
Lizhi Liu, "From Click to Boom: The Political Economy of E-Commerce in China" (Princeton UP, 2024) 59:37

22d ago59:37

59:37

Alibaba. Tencent. JD. Pinduoduo. Run down the list of China’s most valuable companies and you’ll find, for the most part, that they’re all e-commerce companies—or at least facilitate e-commerce. The sector created giants: Alibaba grew from just 5.5 billion renminbi of revenue in 2010 to 280 billion last year. But how did Chinese e-commerce firms sh…

1
The PRQL: Zero to One: Navigating the Challenges of a Data Infrastructure Startup 1:48

23d ago1:48

1:48

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data. RudderStack helps …

1
How Showtime AI Plans to Reinvent Moviegoing by 2030—And Save Cinema Along the Way

24d ago

—

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Ben Arnon, co-founder of Color Farm Media, and creator of Showtime AI, to unpack the quiet crisis facing movie theaters and delves into the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in revitalizing the movie theater industry. With decades-old infrastructure and seats sitting …

1
244: Postgres to ClickHouse: Simplifying the Modern Data Stack with Aaron Katz & Sai Krishna Srirampur 34:51

24d ago34:51

34:51

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Background of ClickHouse (1:14) PostgreSQL Data Replication Tool (3:19) Emerging Technologies Observations (7:25) Observability and Market Dynamics (11:26) Product Development Challenges (12:39) Challenges with PostgreSQL Performance (15:30) Philosophy of Open Source (18:01) Open Source Advantages (…

1
464: Modelling the stars with Rémy Hannequin 42:59

24d ago42:59

42:59

Joël and Rémy draw inspiration from the stars as they discuss Rémy’s new open source Ruby gem, Astonoby. Rémy reveals the challenges he faced in taking on this project, the scientific translation work that went into making it accessible for everyone, as well as the key lessons he learnt from modelling the cosmos. — The Sponsor for this episode has …

1
What experts and the public think about AI 26:29

25d ago26:29

26:29

A recent report from Pew Research Center analyzed how U.S. adults and tech experts feel about AI, finding areas where the two groups were widely apart and where there was consensus. In this episode, co-host Nicol Turner lee speaks with author of the study Monica Anderson from Pew about these opinions on AI and where these groups want to see more po…

1
The PRQL: Data Migration Made Easy: Postgres, ClickHouse, and the Future of Analytics with Aaron Katz and Sai Krishna Srirampur 5:47

25d ago5:47

5:47

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data. RudderStack helps …

1
From Hal to Siri: How Computers Learned to Speak 54:27

25d ago54:27

54:27

Today we learn how computers learned to talk with Benjamin Lindquist, a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University’s Science in Human Culture program. Ben is the author “The Art of Text to Speech,” which recently appeared in Critical Inquiry, and he’s currently writing a history of text-to-speech computing. In this conversation, we explore:…

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243: The Data Economy: Turning Information into a Tradable Commodity with Viktor Kessler of Vakamo 34:26

28d ago34:26

34:26

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Viktor's Background and Journey in Data (1:20) Evolution of Data Architecture (4:41) The Lakehouse Concept (7:12) Open Source Innovation (11:05) Data Production and Decentralization (15:06) Governance in Decentralized Systems (18:53) Data Economy and Monetization (21:15) Security Concerns in Data Pr…

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ep32 - Anders Rantzer: robust control, IQCs, nonlinear and hybrid systems, positivity and scalable control, adaptive control 1:30:07

28d ago1:30:07

1:30:07

Outline 00:00 - Intro and early steps in control 06:42 - Journey to the US 08:30 - Kharitonov's theorem and early influences 12:10 - From Lund to KTH (Stockholm) 15:01 - Ascona and collaboration with Megretski 24:06 - The IMA year in Minnesota 33:50 - Integral quadratic constraints 46:10 - KYP lemma and meeting Yakubovich 52:35 - Piecewise hybrid s…

1
The PRQL: Governance, Flexibility, and the Future of Enterprise Data with Viktor Kessler of Vakamo 2:11

29d ago2:11

2:11

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data. RudderStack helps …

1
242: The Data Convergence: How Operational and Analytical Data Are Merging with Ruben Burdin of Stacksync 36:14

1M ago36:14

36:14

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Ruben's Background (1:14) Defining Operational Data (5:20) The Convergence of Operational and Analytical Data (10:53) Evolution from Data Warehousing to Fulfillment Centers (13:19) Challenges of API Integration (18:25) Understanding Data Complexity (22:18) Database vs. API Calls (25:32) Real-Time Da…

1
Jacquelyn Schneider and Julia MacDonald, "The Rise of Unmanned Warfare: Origins of the Us Autonomous Military Arsenal" (Oxford UP, 2023) 48:29

1M ago48:29

48:29

The Rise of Unmanned Warfare: Origins of the Us Autonomous Military Arsenal (Oxford UP, 2023) tells the fascinating story of the people, processes, and beliefs that led to the contemporary American unmanned arsenal. It takes an expansive look at automated and autonomous technologies, from mines and torpedoes to guided bombs and missiles, satellites…

1
AI-Powered Cushions That Heal: How Kalogon Is Redefining Mobility and Comfort

1M ago

—

In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall sits down with Tim Balz-mechanical engineer, high-school hero who once traded his moped to motorize a classmate’s wheelchair, and now CEO/co-founder of Kalogon-to explore the future of adaptive seating. Discover how Kalogon’s smart cushions, infused with pressure sensors and machine-learning algorith…

1
The PRQL: Two-Way Sync: The Future of Database Communication with Ruben Burdin of Stacksync 2:12

1M ago2:12

2:12

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data. RudderStack helps …

1
Jennifer Holt, "Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data" (MIT Press, 2024) 1:07:45

1M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

How the United States' regulation of broadband pipelines, digital platforms, and data—together understood as “the cloud”—has eroded civil liberties, democratic principles, and the foundation of the public interest over the past century. Cloud Policy: A History of Regulating Pipelines, Platforms, and Data (MIT Press, 2024) is a policy history that c…

1
463: All about modals with Elaina Natario 36:42

1M ago36:42

36:42

Joël strikes up a dialogue with fellow thoughtboter Elaina Natario about the various use cases of modals. Together they discuss their pros and cons, the dos and don’ts, their functionality and accessibility to the end user as well as the subtle differences you'll notice when compared to dialogs. — The Sponsor for this episode has been Judoscale - A…

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241: Marketing Meets Data: Measuring Impact and Driving Results with Pedram Navid of Dagster Labs 38:42

1M ago38:42

38:42

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Pedram’s Background and Journey in Data (1:13) Marketing vs. Data Engineering (2:30) Understanding Marketing Pressures (4:16) Attribution Models and Accountability (8:13) Balancing Marketing and Team Management (12:25) Introduction to Dagster Components (15:00) AI Integration with Data Engineering (…

1
Beaty Rubens, "Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home" (Bodleian Library, 2025) 52:57

1M ago52:57

52:57

Radio, today, can feel like a faithful old companion, but its early history was sensational. Between 1922 and 1939, British life was transformed by what was known as the Radio Craze. Listen In: How Radio Changed the Home (Bodleian Library, 2025) expresses what the radio's arrival signified at a personal level. This narrative history recounts the pe…

1
The PRQL: Shifting Gears: From Code to Marketing in the Data World with Pedram Navid of Dagster Labs 1:40

1M ago1:40

1:40

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, the CDP for developers. Each week we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data. RudderStack helps …

1
Darryl Campbell, "Fatal Abstraction: Why the Managerial Class Loses Control of Software" (W. W. Norton, 2025) 1:09:28

1M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

A tech insider explains how capitalism and software development make for such a dangerous mix. Software was supposed to radically improve society. Outdated mechanical systems would be easily replaced; programs like PowerPoint would make information flow more freely; social media platforms like Facebook would bring people together; and generative AI…

1
Darryl Campbell, "Fatal Abstraction: Why the Managerial Class Loses Control of Software" (W. W. Norton, 2025) 1:09:28

1M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

A tech insider explains how capitalism and software development make for such a dangerous mix. Software was supposed to radically improve society. Outdated mechanical systems would be easily replaced; programs like PowerPoint would make information flow more freely; social media platforms like Facebook would bring people together; and generative AI…

1
Denny Vrandečić: Connecting the World’s Knowledge with Abstract Wikipedia – Episode 32 32:34

1M ago32:34

32:34

Denny VrandečićAs the founder of Wikidata, Denny Vrandečić has thought a lot about how to better connect the world's knowledge.His current project is Abstract Wikipedia, an initiative that aims to let anyone anywhere on the planet contribute to, and benefit from, the world's collective knowledge, in their native language.It's an ambitious goal, b…

1
240: Data Council Insights from a Waymo: Postgres and the Future of the Data Stack 18:20

1M ago18:20

18:20

Highlights from this week’s conversation include: Recording from a Waymo (0:54) Future of Data Technology (2:45) AI Integration in Data Work (4:20) Speeding Up Data Experiences (5:29) Snapshot Conversations with Founders (9:52) Diversity of Perspectives on Postgres (12:37) Cultural Significance of Database Mascots (14:09) Incubation and Success of …

1
Sandra Matz, "Mindmasters: The Data-Driven Science of Predicting and Changing Human Behavior" (HBRP, 2025) 41:31

1M ago41:31

41:31

A fascinating exploration of how algorithms penetrate the most intimate aspects of our psychology—from the pioneering expert on psychological targeting. There are more pieces of digital data than there are stars in the universe. This data helps us monitor our planet, decipher our genetic code, and take a deep dive into our psychology. As algorithms…

1
AI Unlocks $5 Billion in Hidden Green Funding Your Business Could Be Tapping Into

1M ago

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In this episode of Lead with AI, Dr. Tamara Nall speaks with Dr. Anand Verma, founder and CEO of Expect AI, whose platform Una is solving a hidden crisis: 330 million small businesses contribute half of global emissions yet lack access to climate resources. Verma reveals how Una creates instant carbon profiles from public data alone, connecting bus…

1
462: Decomposition as a key developer skill with Steve Polito 42:18

1M ago42:18

42:18

Joël and Steve sit down to discuss the ins and outs of decomposition within their respective workflows and how they use it to their advantage when working on certain projects. Together they look at working with vertical slices over other decomposition methods, when and how to break down code as efficiently as possible, and Joël lays out his three k…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Data Abstract Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen