In this forward-looking episode of Practical Significance, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein sit down with a powerhouse panel to explore where statistics is headed over the next decade. Kathy Ensor (Rice University), Lance Waller (Emory University), and Brittany Segundo (National Academies) dive into a major National Academies consensus study: Frontiers of Statistics in Science and Engineering: 2035 and Beyond.

Practical Significance focuses on the passion and commitment members bring to advancing the ASA’s mission of promoting the practice and profession of statistics. Cohosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein chat with two guests—Susan Paddock, executive vice president and chief scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago, and Bo Li, professor at Washington University in St. Louis—about the career-changing and life-enhancing impact of their service to the American Statistical Association community.

Thanks to generous support from Nan Laird, who was awarded the 2021 International Prize in Statistics in recognition of her transformative work, the ASA launched the Telling Our Stories video project to raise awareness of the profound impact of statistics and inspire a greater appreciation for its contribution to advancing science and society.

On April 22, Claire McKay Bowen will deliver the inaugural Dionne Price Public Lecture. April is also Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, so, to celebrate, Bowen joins “Practical Significance” hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to explore what “statistics awareness” truly means today.

To mark the launch of ASA Career Connect, a site that will make it easier for employers and ASA members to connect, this month’s “Practical Significance” episode focuses on career advice. ASA past presidents Sastry Pantula and Wendy Martinez, along with SPAIG Chair Satrajit Roychoudhury, join cohosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to share invaluable career advice and insights for navigating career transitions.

In this milestone 50th episode, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein continue their tradition of introducing the American Statistical Association’s incoming president. Ji-Hyun Lee, the ASA’s 120th president, joins them to share her vision for 2025, which is centered on “building bridges.”

More than a decade ago, John Bailer and Richard Campbell launched Stats+Stories. Now, after more than 350 episodes, the podcast continues to explore the “Statistics Behind the Stories and the Stories Behind the Statistics.” In this episode of Practical Significance, hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein sit down with Stats+Stories current co-hosts John Bailer and Rosemary Pennington (who joined in 2016) to talk about the next chapter. The conversation reveals how this innovative podcast has bridged the gap between statistical analysis and storytelling, making complex concepts accessible to diverse audiences.

As we conclude our fourth year of Practical Significance, we’re overflowing with gratitude and excitement! Our heartfelt thanks go to our dedicated listeners who’ve been with us throughout this journey. We are grateful for the many members of the ASA community who give their time and talent in support of our mission. Particularly, the members of our extraordinary ASA Board of Directors, whose vision and dedication have made 2024 a year of successes.

The November episode of Practical Significance features a fun twist as podcast producer Kim Gilliam takes her turn at the mic to interview her colleagues and Practical Significance co-hosts, Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein. Armed with insider knowledge and your burning questions about the ASA, Kim leads a lively conversation that’s equal parts informative and entertaining.

The American Statistical Association’s Excellence in Statistical Reporting Award recognizes media professionals for their presentation of the science of statistics and its role in public life. During the 2024 Joint Statistical Meetings in Portland, Oregon, this summer, Harry Stevens of The Washington Post was honored with this award for his Climate Lab story series—which covers environmental change in a clear, personalized, transparent, and reproducible way.