Data + Love

Zach and Blake had an informal conversation about data visualization, community engagement, and AI's impact on creative work. Blake shared his journey into the Tableau community through Makeover Monday, where he was inspired by Matt Huff and Andy Kriebel, and eventually became a co-leader of the community project. They discussed the importance of finding authentic ways to engage with the community, with Blake launching live streams of his Makeover Monday work on Fridays to be more transparent about his process. The conversation also covered the limitations of AI-generated content, with both agreeing that authentic human creativity becomes more valuable when content is easily replicable by machines.

A landmark Pew Research survey this week shows that 16% of Americans believe AI will have a positive Impact on SocietyIn this episode we explore the fear, where it's coming from, who's creating it, and why

Iron Viz Judge Mark Bradbourne returns to discuss TC26. We talk about Keynotes, Devs on Stage, Iron Viz, and get dramatically off topic quite frequently.

In this solo episode we catch up with recent trends in workplace AI

Roshni Gohil (MIT) pops in to talk about Accessible Design, our shared experiences in fundraising strategy and analytics, and wrist trauma stories All the Tableau User Groups: https://usergroups.tableau.com Accessibility TUG: https://usergroups.tableau.com/accessibility-tableau-user-group/ Higher Education TUG: https://usergroups.tableau.com/higher-education-tableau-user-group/ Tableau Developer Program: https://developer.tableau.comData Guide in Tableau: https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/data_guide.htm

Roshni Gohil (MIT) pops by and we talk about her Tableau Conference 2025 Accessible Design presentation, how that ties into fractured wrists, and have a huge tangent about the ins-and-outs of fundraising from both our backgrounds All the Tableau User Groups: https://usergroups.tableau.com Accessibility TUG: https://usergroups.tableau.com/accessibility-tableau-user-group/ Higher Education TUG: https://usergroups.tableau.com/higher-education-tableau-user-group/ Tableau Developer Program: https://developer.tableau.comData Guide in Tableau: https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/data_guide.htm

Simon Rogers drops in to discuss his latest book 'What We Ask Google', available May 5, 2026Simon is Google’s Data Editor, leading a team of data journalists, analysts, and visualizers to tell stories with Google’s data. Previously, he was Twitter’s first ever Data Editor, and he is also the author of Facts Are Sacred, based on the Guardian’s Datablog which he helped launch. A lecturer in Data Journalism at Medill-Northwestern University in San Francisco, he has received the Royal Statistical Society’s award for statistical excellence in journalism. He lives with this family in San Francisco.

This week Iron Viz 2026 Finalist and Tableau Visionary Brian Moore drops inZach and Brian discussed Brian's preparation for the upcoming IronViz competition at Tableau Conference, where Brian will present his "Confection Connection" visualization about candy company conglomerations. They explored Brian's approach to creating data visualizations, including his methodical process of researching and manually building datasets, his technical design choices like using Tableau polygons for backgrounds, and his philosophy of balancing information density with storytelling clarity. Brian shared insights about his extensive Tableau Public project portfolio, revealing he spends 3-4 hours per night for months at a time on each major project, and discussed his experience networking with other community members and preparing for the live presentation format. The conversation also covered Brian's previous work, including his cryptid classifications project and Wes Anderson movie visualizations, highlighting how he approaches similar topics from different angles using varied chart types and design elements.

In this solo episode Zach talks about entering the Tableau Visionary Hall of Fame, entropy in complex processes, and persevering when work gets tough

Tableau Visionary and Iron Viz 2026 Finalist Kevin Wee stops byZach and Kevin discussed Kevin's upcoming participation in IronViz at Tableau Conference 2026, where he will present a visualization on dim sum nutrition data. They reviewed Kevin's previous IronViz entry and his creative approach to visualizing food data, including the use of ternary charts and scatterplots. Kevin shared his experience preparing for IronViz, including the challenges of long-form storytelling and the importance of engaging visuals. They also discussed Kevin's passion for food-related data visualization and his plans for future projects. The conversation touched on the broader topic of data storytelling and its potential to educate and engage audiences.

Iron Viz 2026 Finalist and Tableau Ambassador Ann Pregler is on the PodZach and Ann discussed Ann's approach to data visualization and storytelling, highlighting her use of long-form vizzes and her process of starting with a design idea rather than a dataset. They explored Ann's influences, including her background in teaching and her admiration for other designers in the Tableau community. They also discussed the challenges of finding inspiration and the importance of letting go of initial ideas when they don't work out.

In this solo episode Zach talks about the recent AI industry shakeups (and stock market responses), non-profit fundraising, getting a handle on Anxiety, and an All-Star Iron VizDon't miss it!

Makeover Monday co-lead and Tableau Ambassador Ojo Basu joins the podZach and Ojo discuss Ojo's journey from being camera-shy and an immigrant with an accent to becoming more present and social within the data community, including his experiences with Makeover Monday and Tableau video tutorials.They explored the importance of adding unique perspectives to the community and the challenges of providing feedback on submissions.The conversation concluded with discussions about productivity, creativity, and the value of structured projects like Makeover Monday for developing skills and building meaningful connections in the data visualization community.Check out Ojo's YouTube channel Data2Visuals

The infamous Will Perkins is back on Data + Love (on strict probationary parole) after his ban.Zach and Will dive into how careers in data are getting flipped upside-down by AI. Spoiler: adaptability and relentless learning aren’t optional anymore.They wrap with pro tips on communicating like a human (not a robot), what’s cooking at the upcoming Tableau conference, and some hilariously candid takes on personal rebranding and the time Will accidentally became a minor celebrity.Buckle up, this one’s equal parts spicy, practical, and slightly chaotic.

Tableau Hall of Fame Visionary, Next Level Tableau Founder, and former Makeover Monday co-lead Andy Kriebel is the final guest of season 6!Zach and Andy dive deep into the evolving Tableau community landscape. They unpack the challenges and opportunities for engagement amid major shifts, like Salesforce's acquisition of Tableau, and the migration of vibrant discussions from Twitter to LinkedIn. Andy shares his concerns about the waning emphasis on Tableau Desktop at events such as DataFam Europe, while both host and guest stress the vital role community plays in sparking innovation and keeping users inspired. The conversation also explores fresh strategies to attract and retain members in this changing era.Plus, Andy offers valuable insights from his teaching with Next Level Tableau, highlighting how it accelerates skill-building and creates a supportive space for users ready to elevate their expertise. A must-listen for anyone passionate about the future of the Tableau ecosystem!

Roshni Gohil (MIT) drops by and we revisit her excellent Tableau Conference 2025 presentation on Universal Design (and how it ties into wrist trauma!)We take a big tangent and get into both of our shared history in fundraising.All the Tableau User Groups: ⁠https://usergroups.tableau.com⁠Accessibility TUG: ⁠https://usergroups.tableau.com/accessibility-tableau-user-group/⁠Higher Education TUG: ⁠https://usergroups.tableau.com/higher-education-tableau-user-group/⁠Data Guide in Tableau: ⁠https://help.tableau.com/current/online/en-us/data_guide.htm⁠

Tableau Hall of Fame Visionary Neil Richards is on the podWe talk about the differences between Fluency and Literacy, data humanism, and innovative visualizationNeil is on the market and looking for Data Fluency work, check him out on LinkedIn

Fan Favorite Mark Bradbourne returns.We talk Five Trends in AI and each go through 5 viz projects we learned things about the real world from.

Gaming Industry analyst and #GamesNightViz co-Lead Louis Yu pops inWe talk about the rise of indie studios and collapse of major studios, dissect pricing models (some predatory, and break down player data telemetryMake sure to check out Louis LinkedIn group for the gaming industry and his show 'Secrets of the Viz'

It's a solo episode and we're talking about the current zeitgeist with AI, Data Books, and more

Joshua Milligan is a Hall of Fame Tableau Visionary and the author of the 'Learning Tableau Series'In this episode we talk about the new volume, the exciting changes coming to the product, and how we expect to work collaboratively with AI in the future.I'm giving away a copy of Learning Tableau 2025, ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠ to register to win before October 7, 2025Or order your own copy, available now

Andy Cotgreave stops by to talk Dashboards that Deliver, movie data, and moreAndy is co-author of the upcoming 'Dashboards that Deliver', co-author of 'Big Book of Dashboards' , co-host of 'Chart Chat', and former Senior Data Evangelist for TableauOrder 'Dashboards that Deliver' nowFollow Andy

Mike Cisneros of Storytelling with Data drops by to talk about their upcoming book "Storytelling with Data–Before & After: Practical Makeovers" releasing Sept 23, 2025Preorder nowAmazon:  https://amzn.to/3QNJtyV Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4oTbqFvBookshop.org: http://bit.ly/3JsdyE5

This week, YouTuber/Podcaster and Tableau Ambassador Nisar Ahmed!Zach and Nisar discussed technical confusion with meeting platforms before sharing their experiences with podcast hosting, teaching, and content creation, highlighting how these activities led to personal growth and professional opportunities despite not always providing monetary compensation. They emphasized the importance of soft skills in data careers, particularly stakeholder management and effective communication, which often distinguish successful professionals more than technical abilities alone. The conversation concluded with reflections on managing client relationships, the value of mentorship, and the importance of taking chances for growth while adapting communication styles to different environments, especially in remote work settings.Listeners to search for and follow "The Data Nerd" podcast on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or YouTube on the Business Intelligence channel.Listeners to follow and connect with Nisar on LinkedIn.

Academic Research Analyst and 3x Viz of the Day winner Kimberly Coutts drops by to talk about academic data, eclectic viz interests, and more

Tableau Community mainstay Caroline Swiger talks about her 200+ public vizzes across B2VB, Workout Wednesday, the DuboisChallenge and moreWe also talk about our community connections and inspirations, natural disasters, space camp, and more

Tableau Community Manager Britt Stanier talks about career, community, and changes to the Tableau Ambassador ProgramNominate someone making a difference right now!

Data & Tech Career Coach Eva Murry joins the show to talk all things careers, Makeover Monday, and Tableau CommunityUnstick your career with her Eva Murray | Career Coaching for Data & Tech Professionals

Tableau Ambassador and TUG co-lead Lawrence Durbin and I let our geek flags fly in this fun start-of-summer conversation. We talk ADHD, universal design, SciFi, and communityCheck him out at http://datadivergent.com/

Tableau Ambassador Victory Omovrah drops in to talk about her beginnings in public work, inspiration, and growth

Tableau Legend and Iron Viz Judge Mark Bradbourne pops in for a Tableau Conference recap. We talk hits, misses, the community and more.For more Mark check out his podcast 'Songs that Don't Suck'

2025 Iron Viz Finalist Bo McCready pops in to talk about his iconic pop culture dataviz and the path to Iron Viz

Kevin and Ken Flerlage, twin Tableau Hall of Fame Visionaries, pop in to talk about their upcoming mega-talk a Tableau Conference 2025, their personal journeys, and more.

Tableau Visionary and Ambassador Kyle Massey drops by to talk about his 2 upcoming Tableau Conference 2025 presentations, his recent Visionary recognition, and more.

Google Data Journalist and Data Editor Simon Rogers is in the house. We talk about the complexity of data, how searches reveal what people are REALLY thinking, and so much more.Check him out on simonrogers.net or tune into The Data Journalism podcast with friend of the show Alberto Cairo.

Emmy Award Winning Art Director Clint Baker (www.BakerandHill.com) talks about creative messaging, adapting with the times, and why he's not afraid of AI replacing artists

Award Winning Data Designer and Author Nadieh Bremer talks inspiration, creativity, and finding joy in growth.

Tableau Ambassador and 1/2 of HerData.Net Jennifer Dawes joins us for the first episode of season 6. We talk about her recent data art initiative and more. Check out the gallery and submit your own data art here

My IRL Movie Pal Josh and I each go down our list of Top 5 Christmas Movies. The Catch? We didn't discuss the rubric of what counts in advance. Chaos ensues.

2K Games Analyst and Games Night Viz co-Founder Louis Yu drops by for the penultimate episode of Season 5. We talk about recent projects, 'Holding Space', the gaming industry and more. Participate in the 'State of the BI Industry' Survey Nominate a Tableau Visionary

This year I'm thankful to not be using Amazon Quicksight Friend of the show (and host of 'Songs that Don't Suck') Mark Bradbourne returns to review 3 of Quicksight's Industry Dashboards

It's time to catch up on recent guests, career movies, and a truly awful BI tool. Cheers!

Data Consultant Quinn Serfass pops by to talk about his experience in the first cohort of Data School NYC, his passion for sports, and more Hire him, he's now a free agent!

Pizza perfectionist and data nerd Luke Stanke returns to the show. We talk career journeys, workplace trauma, share pizza tips, and torch any likability we had.

PolicyViz host Jon Schwabish is here to talk about conferences, data podcasting, tequilla shots, "The Document" and more

This week Tableau SVP and CMO EMAX (Elizabeth Maxson) dropped by to talk about the power of community, Tableau's Data+Movies and Data+TV initiatives powered by IMDb, AI, and Dreamforce.

Tableau Ambassador and 2024 Iron Viz Finalist Jessica Moon is in the house. We talk about inspiration, favorite data topics, and Iron Viz. Note: some moments of audio drop out, apologies

Author, Educator, and Podcaster Andy Kirk is on the show to talk about inspiration, evolution, and elevated thinking. Check out Andy on the "Explore and Explain" podcast or the upcoming 3rd edition of "Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven Design"

Fractal fan Alison Pitt drops by the show to talk about her passion for infinitely complex patterns, leading a Tableau User Group (TUG), and our time as teammates at JLL.

Only a couple years ago Heather Cox was making dentures in a lab, now she's a passionate and creative data analyst. Check out her story on this week's Data + Love