Practical Significance

By The American Statistical Association

What's Practical Significance about?

Practical Significance is a podcast to inspire listeners with compelling stories from statistics and data science and to propel data-driven careers forward with learning opportunities for all.

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Practical Significance episodes:

06.03.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 42: With a Little Help from My Friends … Mentoring and the ASA
In January 2024, ASA President Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar announced strengthening and expanding mentoring in the ASA community as one of her initiatives and launched a working group with co-chairs Carolyn Rutter and Ruth Etzioni. This month, they join Practical Significance co-hosts...
04.30.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 41: ASA Chapters: Turning the ‘Page’ on Opportunities and Initiatives
The ASA has 70+ regional chapters that organize networking events, provide continuing education, conduct outreach efforts, and promote statistics as a career. They bring local flair to the ASA. By providing support in countless ways, the Council of Chapters Governing...
04.01.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 40: How Can I Help You Today?
The title for this episode is a question familiar to ChatGPT users and signals the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the world around us. Tian Zheng, Hongtu Zhu, and Mark Glickman join co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein to...
02.29.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 39: Game On with ASA Statistics in Sports Section Leaders Denise Bradford and Guanyu Hu
March 14 is Pi Day and the International Day of Mathematics (and Statistics), which has the theme “Play with Math” this year. Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein knew there was no better way to play with math...
01.31.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 38: New Year … New Initiatives
Fortunately, 2024 is a leap year and February has an extra day because David Matteson, professor and associate chair for the statistics and data science and social statistics department at Cornell University, has a full plate. He recently took on...
01.04.2024
Practical Significance | Episode 37: Let’s Get Real World with Brian Tarran
Practical Significance co-hosts Donna Lalonde and Ron Wasserstein kick off season four by welcoming the editor of Real World Data Science, Brian Tarran, to the show. A new initiative from the Royal Statistical Society in partnership with the ASA,...
12.04.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 36: Outgoing ASA Board Members Take the Mic
As Practical Significance celebrates the end of its third year, we want to express how grateful we are for our devoted listeners. Thank you! We also mark a special podcast tradition this month by speaking with outgoing ASA board members....
10.27.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 35: ASA Around the World
The ASA is stronger because of the perspectives and experiences international members bring to our community. This month, co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein talk with Ingrid Van Keilegom, international representative to the ASA Board, and Afia Owusu-Forfie, founder and...
09.29.2023
Practical Significance – Episode 34: Exploring ASA Sections and Interest Groups
Did you know the ASA has a section or special interest group for you? These are subject-area and/or industry-related groups that provide benefits specific to your interests. This month, Practical Significance co-hosts Donna and Ron chat with three section leaders:...
08.31.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 33: Meet the ASA’s Director of Finance and Administration, Derek Curtis II
Derek Curtis II set his sights on accounting when he was in just the 8th grade. Unlike many of us, he went to college knowing exactly what he wanted to do and, today, he is the ASA’s new director...
07.31.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 32: Getting the ‘Data’ on CSAB with Andrew (Andy) Phillips
On April 21, 2021, the American Statistical Association became a full member of CSAB, joining the world’s two largest professional and technical societies for computing—the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS). This month, Practical Significance...
07.03.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 31—Talking Shop: Introducing the ASA Caucus of Industry Representatives
The ASA recently formed the Caucus of Industry Representatives to promote statistics and data science in the private and public sectors and provide resources to successfully advocate for the discipline. Ginger Holt, who is leading the effort as chair of...
05.30.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 30: Meet the Hosts of Stats+Stories
Practical Significance co-hosts Donna and Ron welcome John Bailer and Rosemary Pennington, co-hosts of Stats+Stories, a podcast about “the statistics behind the stories and the stories behind the statistics.” Their show features an eclectic mix of topics, from economics to...
04.28.2023
Practical Significance| Episode 29—A 360° View of ASA Journals and Publications with Eric Sampson
Did you know the ASA publishes or co-publishes 16 journals focusing on statistics in business and economics, biopharmaceutical research, agriculture, biology, the environment, sports, surveys, and so much more? Eric Sampson oversees production (a Herculean effort) and has served as...
03.30.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 28: What’s in a Meeting (with Apologies to Shakespeare)?
Shakespeare asks, “What’s in a name?” in the play Romeo and Juliet, the purpose of which is to focus our attention on what’s important. This month, Practical Significance explores what’s important for an ASA meeting or conference to be successful...
02.28.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 27: Donna and Ron ‘Go Live’ at CSP 2023
The Coit Tower offers a 360-degree view of San Francisco and, this month, Practical Significance offers a 360 of the 2023 Conference on Statistical Practice, recently held in the beautiful “City by the Bay.” Co-hosts Donna and Ron took the...
01.30.2023
Practical Significance | Episode 26: What’s Love Got to Do with It?
With a nod to Valentine’s Day, the February edition of Practical Significance embraces the theme, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” and features three couples who truly appreciate the perks of having a statistician as a partner. Co-hosts Donna...
12.28.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 25: Meet the New ASA President, Dionne Price
Practical Significance kicks off the new year with its January tradition of featuring the new ASA president. Co-hosts Donna and Ron welcome to the show Dionne Price, the 118th president of the American Statistical Association. Dionne—who is the deputy director of...
11.29.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 24: Looking Back with an Eye on the Future: A Conversation with Outgoing Board Members
Practical Significance is celebrating its second year, and we are grateful to our devoted listeners—thank you! Over the last 24 months, we’ve developed a few traditions, including honoring our outgoing ASA board members. For the final episode of 2022, co-hosts...
10.28.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 23: Get to Know COSSA!
Did you know the ASA is a member of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA), a nonprofit advocacy organization working to promote and advance the social and behavioral sciences in federal policymaking? COSSA member benefits are available to all...
09.28.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 22: What’s in the 2022 Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice?
In February 2022, the ASA Board of Directors approved revisions to the Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice, and this episode is a behind-the-scenes look at that process. Committee on Professional Ethics members Jing Cao and Stephanie Shipp join us to...
08.30.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 21: Building the National Data Mine Network, with Mark Ward and Kathy Ensor
This edition of Practical Significance spotlights the National Data Mine Network, a project funded by a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to the ASA. The project enables undergraduate students at minority-serving institutions to learn data science...
07.28.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 20: Ron Turns the Tables on Donna!
Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein have known each other for more than 30 years—since their days at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. In 2015, he invited her to join the American Statistical Association as the director of...
06.29.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 19: Words Matter⁠—Raising Public Awareness of the Statistics Profession
The ASA’s initiatives ThisIsStatistics and Count on Stats serve to inform and increase public awareness of statistics⁠—from educating students about a career in statistics to fostering knowledge about the federal statistics system and the impact of data on all facets...
05.31.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 18: Celebrating with the First Pride Scholarship Winners, Evan and Holly
June is Pride Month and Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show the first ASA Pride Scholarship recipients, Holly Bossart and Evan Boyle. The ASA Pride Scholarship was established to raise awareness for and support the...
04.27.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 17: A Roadmap for Change–Recommendations from the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force
The ASA Anti-Racism Task Force has developed recommendations to support positive cultural change within the association and broader community. In this edition of Practical Significance, task force co-chairs Adrian Coles and David Marker present some of those recommendations and share...
03.28.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 16: Participation Matters: Recommendations from the ASA Publications Task Force
The review process for publication in ASA journals is highly competitive and, for some, there exist barriers for participation. This month, Practical Significance welcomes two members of the ASA Publications Task Force, Rebecca Hubbard and Kelly McConville, who share the...
02.25.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 15: Meet the ASA Meetings Staff – Kathleen, Kristin, Christina, and Naomi!
Are you psyched to attend in-person conferences again? The ASA staff is! The March edition of Practical Significance features members of the ASA Meetings Department—Kathleen Wert, Kristin Mohebbi, Naomi Friedman, and Christina Link. They share with co-hosts Donna and Ron how...
01.26.2022
Practical Significance | Episode 14: The ASA Committee on Statistics & Disability Working to Improve Accessibility
The ASA Committee on Statistics and Disability (CSD) was recently reactivated, and co-hosts Donna and Ron welcome to the show two committee members: Ryan Machtmes and Erin Chapman. Together, they discuss the committee’s updated charge to serve the disability...
12.29.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 13: Leading the Way—A Look Ahead with 2022 ASA President Kathy Ensor
Practical Significance celebrates the kick-off of its second season, and we thank our listeners for their continued support of this endeavor! In 2021, we featured a diverse and engaging lineup of ASA members who shared their passions, professional initiatives, and...
11.19.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 12: Auld Lang Syne⁠—A Conversation with Outgoing ASA Board Members
The critical work of our association is accomplished by volunteers, and leading the charge are the members of the board of directors. As Practical Significance celebrates its one-year anniversary, co-hosts Donna and Ron have a warm and reflective conversation...
10.26.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 11: Statisticians Making a Difference
Service is a critical component driving the strength and vitality of the ASA, as well as some of its members. Practical Significance hosts two such members who aim to “make a difference” by lending their expertise to outside organizations striving...
09.28.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 10: Let’s Talk: Leadership, Education, and Mentorship⁠—A Conversation with Monica Jackson
Practical Significance co-hosts Donna LaLondeand Ron Wassersteinwelcome to the show Monica Jackson, who was recently named deputy provost and dean of faculty at American University, and the three discuss opportunities in undergraduate and graduate statistics education. As Monica takes on...
08.30.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 9: From Co-Host to Guest—Donna Turns the Tables on Ron
For this special edition of Practical Significance, the special guest is Ron Wasserstein. The episode is a lively and candid conversation between co-hosts Donna LaLonde, the ASA director of strategic initiatives and outreach, and Ron Wasserstein, the ASA’s executive director....
07.27.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 8: The Life of an ASA Conference Program Chair
Serving as the program chair for an ASA meeting can seem like a mammoth undertaking, but Nicole Lazar, chair of the 2021 Joint Statistical Meetings Program Committee, and Claire Bowen, who heads up the organizing team for the 2022 Symposium...
06.29.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 7: Turning the Tables on Glen, Richard, Roger, and John!
Along with Practical Significance, does your listening library include ASA-sponsored podcasts like ASA Biopharm’s Podcast, Data & Science with Glen Wright Colopy, Stats + Stories, and one of the first data science podcasts—Not So Standard Deviations? If the answer is...
05.28.2021
Practical Significance | Episode 6: ASA Pride
June is Pride Month, and the ASA is strong in its commitment to and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. As one way to participate in Pride Month, Practical Significance hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show Suzanne...
04.26.2021
Practical Significance Episode 5 | What a Year! Celebrating the Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 and its teachers had a year no one could have imagined. Adaptable, determined, and resilient are just a few adjectives often attributed to students and educators this year. For our May podcast, hosts Donna LaLonde and...
03.26.2021
Practical Significance Episode 4 | Data Science – What’s the Buzz?
April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month and, to celebrate, hosts Donna LaLonde and Ron Wasserstein welcome to the show Mine Çetinkaya-Rundel and Kathy Ensor to discuss data science education, high-impact projects they are working on, what keeps them up...
02.25.2021
Practical Significance Episode 3 | Celebrating the History of Women in Statistics and Data Science
Celebrating women’s history in statistics and data science honors the impact and influence of the women who first broke barriers in a then male-dominated field and those who followed in their footsteps to make their mark on the profession. Our...
02.09.2021
Practical Significance Episode 2 | How to Become a JEDI!
Episode 2 How to Become a JEDI! In a mindful and reflective response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the ASA committed to driving cultural change. We formed the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force to better align the association’s leadership, organizational structure,...
01.01.2020
Practical Significance – Episode 1 | Making Meaningful Statistics: An Interview with ASA President Rob Santos
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Practical Significance, the American Statistical Association’s new monthly podcast. Co-hosts Donna LaLonde, the ASA’s director of strategic initiatives and outreach, and ASA Executive Director Ron Wasserstein welcome Rob Santos, the 2021 ASA president, to the...

What's Practical Significance about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Practical Significance episodes:

Practical Significance | Episode 42: With a Little Help from My Friends … Mentoring and the ASA

Practical Significance | Episode 41: ASA Chapters: Turning the ‘Page’ on Opportunities and Initiatives

Practical Significance | Episode 40: How Can I Help You Today?

Practical Significance | Episode 39: Game On with ASA Statistics in Sports Section Leaders Denise Bradford and Guanyu Hu

Practical Significance | Episode 38: New Year … New Initiatives

Practical Significance | Episode 37: Let’s Get Real World with Brian Tarran

Practical Significance | Episode 36: Outgoing ASA Board Members Take the Mic

Practical Significance | Episode 35: ASA Around the World

Practical Significance – Episode 34: Exploring ASA Sections and Interest Groups

Practical Significance | Episode 33: Meet the ASA’s Director of Finance and Administration, Derek Curtis II

Practical Significance | Episode 32: Getting the ‘Data’ on CSAB with Andrew (Andy) Phillips

Practical Significance | Episode 31—Talking Shop: Introducing the ASA Caucus of Industry Representatives

Practical Significance | Episode 30: Meet the Hosts of Stats+Stories

Practical Significance| Episode 29—A 360° View of ASA Journals and Publications with Eric Sampson

Practical Significance | Episode 28: What’s in a Meeting (with Apologies to Shakespeare)?

Practical Significance | Episode 27: Donna and Ron ‘Go Live’ at CSP 2023

Practical Significance | Episode 26: What’s Love Got to Do with It?

Practical Significance | Episode 25: Meet the New ASA President, Dionne Price

Practical Significance | Episode 24: Looking Back with an Eye on the Future: A Conversation with Outgoing Board Members

Practical Significance | Episode 23: Get to Know COSSA!

Practical Significance | Episode 22: What’s in the 2022 Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice?

Practical Significance | Episode 21: Building the National Data Mine Network, with Mark Ward and Kathy Ensor

Practical Significance | Episode 20: Ron Turns the Tables on Donna!

Practical Significance | Episode 19: Words Matter⁠—Raising Public Awareness of the Statistics Profession

Practical Significance | Episode 18: Celebrating with the First Pride Scholarship Winners, Evan and Holly

Practical Significance | Episode 17: A Roadmap for Change–Recommendations from the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force

Practical Significance | Episode 16: Participation Matters: Recommendations from the ASA Publications Task Force

Practical Significance | Episode 15: Meet the ASA Meetings Staff – Kathleen, Kristin, Christina, and Naomi!

Practical Significance | Episode 14: The ASA Committee on Statistics & Disability Working to Improve Accessibility

Practical Significance | Episode 13: Leading the Way—A Look Ahead with 2022 ASA President Kathy Ensor

Practical Significance | Episode 12: Auld Lang Syne⁠—A Conversation with Outgoing ASA Board Members

Practical Significance | Episode 11: Statisticians Making a Difference

Practical Significance | Episode 10: Let’s Talk: Leadership, Education, and Mentorship⁠—A Conversation with Monica Jackson

Practical Significance | Episode 9: From Co-Host to Guest—Donna Turns the Tables on Ron

Practical Significance | Episode 8: The Life of an ASA Conference Program Chair

Practical Significance | Episode 7: Turning the Tables on Glen, Richard, Roger, and John!

Practical Significance | Episode 6: ASA Pride

Practical Significance Episode 5 | What a Year! Celebrating the Class of 2021

Practical Significance Episode 4 | Data Science – What’s the Buzz?

Practical Significance Episode 3 | Celebrating the History of Women in Statistics and Data Science

Practical Significance Episode 2 | How to Become a JEDI!

Practical Significance – Episode 1 | Making Meaningful Statistics: An Interview with ASA President Rob Santos