SQL Data Partners Podcast by Carlos L Chacon

04.16.2024

Episode 275: Machine Learning and Power BI

What kinds of problems are organizations solving with Machine Learning? In this episode, we explore a situation where a public works department was looking for more accurate information to predict future water levels based on rainfall to maintain water tank...

02.22.2024

Episode 274: A CMM Case Study

After discussing the Capabilities Maturity Model in our last episode, it was fate when Andy Levy reached out and suggested a topic which sounds like a case study about his experience with CMM. As the only data professional in his...

02.02.2024

Episode 273: The Capability Maturity Model for Data Professionals

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut, repeating the same tasks, while knowing there is room for improvement? The Capability Maturity Model may be a way for you to start contributing to those improvements. In this podcast episode, Kevin...

01.10.2024

Episode 272: Performance Tuning Scripts

Do you find yourself repeating the same actions when pulling SQL Server performance metrics? Performance tuning a troublesome SQL Server can be a challenge. Luckily the community continues to produce wonderful folks like Erik Darling who contribute their knowledge to...

12.29.2023

Episode 271: Pass Summit 2023 Wrap-Up

This past November, Eugene and I attended the 2023 PASS Data Community Summit (aka PASS Summit) in Seattle, while Kevin headed down to Orlando for the Microsoft Live! 360 event in Orlando. Having no remote option this year was fine...

11.21.2023

Episode 270: Medallion Architecture

Moving up the ranks in the holy technology wars is the medallion architecture, and boy are we interested in getting your thoughts. Not since the 2008 Olympics and Michael Phelps' tenth of a second win over Milorad Cavic has there...

10.19.2023

Episode 269: Why Do I Need a Managed Service Provider?

In this Episode, Carlos talks about managed services and shares some of the benefits of working with an MSP, as well as potential cons. The term manage services refers to the practice of outsourcing business administration or management responsibilities to...

09.28.2023

Episode 268: AI and the Future of the Database

We love hearing from our listeners!!! In this episode, a long-time listener asked about the future of AI in the data platform space. We thought this was a very interesting topic as Microsoft has been including Artificial Intelligence or AI...

09.12.2023

Episode 267: Microsoft Fabric

All your data, all your teams—in one place. What am I? If you said Microsoft Fabric, you win! When I interned with Cisco Systems in 2000, I supported a platform called Unified Messaging. At that time, we were talking about...

08.29.2023

Episode 266: Working with Containers

We're kicking off Season 7 with containers! Spinning up a VM may not be such a big deal anymore; however, most of us still have to request from another group one and wait. Even waiting on an Azure VM can...

06.28.2023

Episode 265: WHY and What's Next

Compañeros! In May, SQL Data Partners was acquired by Marathon Consulting. There were many moving parts to get this done and we are excited to finally bring this news to the podcast. In this episode we introduce the principles...

04.12.2023

Episode 264: Verified Backups

A backup is only helpful when you can restore the backup. This should not prove to be overly shocking; however, normally we get the satisfaction of taking a backup and feel like all is well. Ideally, we should be...

03.29.2023

Episode 263: SQL Server This ‘n That

When we couldn’t confirm a guest speaker by recording time, Eugene, Kevin, Amanda, and I decided the show must go on, so we went into the ideas vault and pulled out a couple of listener questions we hadn’t answered. ...

03.15.2023

Episode 262: Learning Azure Synapse Pt 1

Learning new technology can be difficult—especially when it’s a technology in an area you are not familiar with. In this episode, Eugene walks us through some of the challenges he has faced getting started with Azure Synapse. We hope that...

03.01.2023

Episode 261: The Data Lakehouse

It would appear Microsoft has run out of words to use for new features/products, so they are just going to recycle existing words for a bit of fun at our expense. In this episode we explore the Azure Data Lakehouse—which...

02.15.2023

Episode 260: Contained Availability Groups

We’re back with another SQL Server 2022 feature—Contained Availability Groups. Have you ever failed over to a secondary node and then found a job or login missing? This new Enterprise-only feature aims to solve this problem by ‘containing’ all the...

01.17.2023

Episode 259: T-SQL Snapshot Backups

We kick off the new year discussing a new feature in SQL Server 2022 called Transact-SQL snapshot backups. Good luck with the Google search on this feature--we know we had fun.

12.27.2022

Episode 258: Leave 2022 Enter 2023

As we close out the year, we take a look back and think about all those SQL Server 2022 episodes we didn’t record this year—and then make the goal to increase this count in the new year.

11.30.2022

Episode 257: The Business of Working for Yourself

Have you ever thought about working for yourself? It can be very enticing for some, and in this episode, we talk with John Sterrett about the pros and cons of running your own organization. We tackle some of the reasons...

11.03.2022

Episode 256: The Community Episode

Seven years ago, I started the SQL Data Partners Podcast. We have now arrived at Episode 256, and we dedicate this episode to you, the community. Thanks to everyone who has joined us along the way, and we hope to...

10.05.2022

Episode 255: Automate Complex CRUD with sp_CRUDGen

One of the biggest challenges with developers using object-relational mapping (ORM) tools is the bad queries or procedures they create. Sure, most tools can create CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete, Upsert) procedures, but what about the extremely advanced safe dynamic...

09.21.2022

Episode 254: Code Smell Checks with sp_Develop

Would you be interested in a tool to help you do code review checks and provide developers guidance on best practices? In this episode of the SQL Data Partners Podcast, we talk with Kevin Martin, the creator of sp_Develop, about...

09.07.2022

Episode 253: Go Mobile with Power Apps

In this episode, we dive into the Power Apps offering and discuss the pros and cons of using this latest Microsoft offering. Some definitions are given and hopefully this episode can orient folks on how to position Power Apps in...

08.24.2022

Episode 252: The Cumulative Update Dilemma

Knowing your SQL Server is patched when an issue occurs is worth the effort of keeping it patched. While I don’t suggest a zero-day install for most folks, setting up a regular cadence to check is a reasonable ask if...

08.10.2022

Episode 251: Azure Cognitive Services

How can you begin to integrate AI models into your environment without spending months building everything out? As we continue our march to Episode 256, we bring back our friend Sam Nasr to talk about Azure Cognitive Services. Sam walks...

07.27.2022

Episode 250: What happens before... “COMPANEROS!”

This episode we are doing a bit of a look back and are going to air some previously buried content. Some of the bloopers are pre-video and some of them have some physical comedy, which you’ll have to go to...

07.13.2022

Episode 249: Data Marts in Power BI

Data marts in Power BI have arrived and the words “data mart” mean something to data professionals. In this episode of the SQL Data Partners Podcast, we introduce the latest offering in Power BI and discuss the good, the bad,...

06.29.2022

Episode 248: Inventory Documentation

How do you keep records of your SQL Server environments? Patching levels, security accounts, configuration options, maintenance jobs and the like are some of the pieces we have to keep organized. Are you using something besides Excel to keep up...

06.15.2022

Episode 247: Pushing the Boundaries or Pushing Your Luck

IT workers will generally claim they like learning new technology—it is almost a required attribute. Why then is bringing in new technology so hard? In this episode, we explore how new technologies make their way into organizations and how we...

06.08.2022

Episode 246: Microsoft Build 2022 Announcements

While we continue to review the new features of the CTP preview of SQL Server 2022, we turn our attention to the recent Microsoft Build conference and talk about some of the announcements made. We try to separate the interesting...

04.20.2022

Episode 245: Tooling Updates

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) version 18 was introduced to support SQL Server 2019 and in this episode of the podcast, we discuss some of the new updates available in SSMS and Azure Data Studio. We talk about scenarios where...

03.30.2022

Episode 244: Extended Events vs SQL Server Audit

Who made that change? It is one of those questions that can send chills down the spine of those responsible for databases. In this episode, Josephine Bush talks with us about how we can use a combination of the native...

03.16.2022

Episode 243: Choosing What Content To Focus On

Conferences are on the uptick as COVID restrictions lift and we are excited for the upcoming year. After Eugene's return from SQLBits my thoughts revolved around what I wanted to learn this year at conferences and how you and I...

02.02.2022

Episode 242: Upgrading Your SQL Server

SQL Server 2012 is end of life later this year. I feel too young for this to be happening—it seems like only last year SQL Server 2005 came out. In this episode of the podcast, we talk about upgrading your...

01.20.2022

Episode 241: Replicating Data with Azure SQL Data Sync

Do you find you need to keep SQL Server tables in sync across multiple systems? After several projects involving syncing data, we return to the topic of Azure SQL Data Sync with some real world examples of why we choose...

01.05.2022

Episode 240: Azure Synapse Link

Azure Synapse Link is a feature coming to SQL Server in the next release. While there are few details on what the new feature will look like, we discuss how this same service is implemented in other Azure services. The...

12.15.2021

Episode 239: Bi-directional HA/DR to Azure SQL

SQL Server 2022 has been announced and we are excited to start unpacking the new features. For this episode, we start with a very interesting feature--Bi-directional HA/DR to Azure SQL. We have the ability to failover to the cloud now—the...

12.08.2021

Episode 238: Getting Started with Power BI - Part 2

Part 2 Power BI has been described as a “self-service” BI platform. While that may bring to mind an image of easy-peasy, plug-and-play, there are a few things most organizations will want to address before turning users loose with Power...

12.01.2021

Episode 237: Getting Started with Power BI - Part 1

Part 1 Power BI has been described as a “self-service” BI platform. While that may bring to mind an image of easy-peasy, plug-and-play, there are a few things most organizations will want to address before turning users loose with Power...

11.17.2021

Episode 236: Database Monitoring with SQL Sentry

Building your own scripts to monitor SQL Server seems like a very reasonable thing to do. We’re smart folks and SQL Server is what we do for a living—we should be able to figure this out. Upon further inspection, we...

11.03.2021

Episode 235: SQL Trail 2021 In-person Q&A

Live Podcast! We decided it was time to try and get together in person and reconnect. As we did, we pulled out the microphone and started recording. As a result, we break the single topic mode this week and opened...

10.07.2021

Episode 234: Communication Tips for the IT Pro

As a data pro, you are negotiating and problem-solving all the time, often without knowing it. Your success as a professional as your company evolves its Data Platform depends on how well you can communicate and influence. It’s a scary...

09.15.2021

Episode 233: ScriptDOM

Never heard of ScriptDOM? Neither had we…okay, except Kevin, who obviously knows all. Apparently, the documentation is scarce. Mala Mahadevan uses it, loves it, and graciously offered to come back to the podcast to educate us and our listeners on...

09.01.2021

Episode 232: Giving Technical Presentations

Public speaking is not fun for most; however, it can be very rewarding. Chris Seferlis chats with us about a few tips he has on being a speaker. Most of the tactical advice we defer to a toastmasters or public...

08.11.2021

Episode 231: Mental Health and Wellness in IT

Everyone has bad days; however, how those bad days develop are unique to each of us. In a special episode, we chat with Tracy Boggiano about her experiences with Mental Health, how she has dealt with it, how each of...

08.04.2021

Episode 230: RTO & RPO

No one wants to lose data when disaster strikes; however, we need to plan for some data loss and putting all the pieces in place can be tricky. There are two metrics commonly used to measure data loss and availability...

07.21.2021

Episode 229: Data Migration Assistant

The scary part of upgrading SQL Server is finding out you have a problem AFTER the fact. In this episode, Mariano Kovo joins us to discuss the Data Migration Assistant tool from Microsoft. While the name can be a bit...

07.14.2021

Episode 228: Predicting Application Problems with Database Metrics

As data practitioners, we want to get ahead of any problems that might come up and share those insights with others on our team. In this episode, Edward Pollack gives us a few scenarios we might consider as we attempt...

06.23.2021

Episode 227: SSDT Methodologies for DB DevOps

Organizations look to constantly improve and offer better services and the application tooling has been built to accommodate the process. Database tooling has been a bit slower to develop; however, in this episode Eitan Blumin, a co-host at sqlserverradio.com, brings...

06.09.2021

Episode 226: SQL Server IaaS Agent Extension

Let’s say you have completed a lift and shift VM hosting to the cloud. Great—you now use Iaas services. While you don’t have to worry about the hardware, managing the software can be problematic. The SQL Server IaaS Agent Extension...

What's SQL Data Partners Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

SQL Data Partners Podcast episodes: