Data + Love

Hosted by Zach Bowders

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Episodes

209

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

The intersection of Data Analysis and Passion. Casual Conversations with Data Pros + Artists and Bite-Sized Data Stories

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 10, 202643 min

Data + Love = Tableau Conference 2026 Recap with Mark Bradbourne

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.

May 28, 202622 min

Data + Love = Token Maxxing, Flex Pricing, and Lexapro

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

April 30, 202626 min

Data + Love = What We Ask Google with Simon Rogers

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.

April 15, 202642 min

Data + Love = Confections, Creativity, and IronViz with Brian Moore

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.

March 24, 202626 min

Data + Love = Entropy, Complexity, and Perseverance

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

March 5, 202658 min

Data + Love = Dim Sum, Long-Form, and Iron Viz with Kevin Wee

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.

February 18, 202646 min

Data + Love = Mars Produce, Design Influences, and Iron Viz with Ann Pregler

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.

February 8, 202624 min

Data + Love = AI Drama, Market Crashes, and an All-Star Iron Viz

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!

January 21, 20261 hr 5 min

Data + Love = Commitment, Courage, and Creativity with Ojoswi Basu

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

January 7, 202658 min

Data + Love = Enhancing Communication, Data Industry Changes, and Conference Insights with Will Perkins

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.