This week Iron Viz 2026 Finalist and Tableau Visionary Brian Moore drops in

Zach 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 by

Zach 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 Pod

Zach 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 Viz

Don't miss it!

Makeover Monday co-lead and Tableau Ambassador Ojo Basu joins the pod

Zach 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.com⁠

Accessibility 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 pod

We talk about the differences between Fluency and Literacy, data humanism, and innovative visualization

Neil is on the market and looking for Data Fluency work, check him out on LinkedIn