In this founder series edition of the storytelling with data podcast, Randy sits down poolside in Antalya, Turkey with Fares Ksebati—CEO and founder of MySwimPro, YouTube creator, and author of Swim Like a Pro and How Not to Drown.

From humble beginnings as a walk-on college swimmer to building one of the world’s most recognized swim coaching platforms, Fares shares the behind-the-scenes journey of scaling a global remote company, navigating the tech startup ecosystem, and staying relentlessly curious along the way.
They talk about what it means to democratize swimming, using storytelling to build product and community, and how AI and human connection will shape the future of sport.

Fares opens up about teaching his mom to swim at 62, launching MySwimPro with zero funding, and the lessons learned from crashing his app right after being named App of the Year by Apple. It’s a candid, inspiring conversation about growth—personal, professional, and everything in between.

Check out Fares’s work:

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• swim like a pro

the best swimming app myswimpro.com

YouTube: MySwimPro


LinkedIn: Fares Ksebati

In this second installment of our new podcast series, The Founder’s Journey, we sit down with Odun Odubanjo, CEO and founder of Insight7, a platform making qualitative data instantly actionable.

Odun’s story starts in Lagos, Nigeria, where a chance internship at Google Zurich opened a door that would eventually lead to founding multiple startups, scaling a business across Africa, working at Shopify in Canada, and launching Insight7 in the U.S. Today, Odun helps organizations turn qualitative data—from customer calls to interviews—into meaningful business insights.

In this episode, Randy and Odun talk about:

• The surprising power of staying in touch

• Lessons learned building startups in Africa and breaking into new markets

• How Insight7 helps teams unlock the hidden value in their qualitative data

• The power of storytelling as a founder, including a “holy moly” moment with a new customer

• Navigating the AI revolution and how tools like ChatGPT and Claude are reshaping the way we build, communicate, and lead

Odun also shares his perspective on why now is the best time to be alive—and to start something new. Tune in and be inspired by the story of a founder who’s innovating across continents and categories.

• Learn more about Insight7 at insight7.io

• Connect with Odun on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/odunodu

Want to speak in a way that makes others want to listen? In this episode, Cole dives into the art of confident communication—how to eliminate filler words, command attention with your voice and body language, and project confidence even when you don’t feel it. She shares real-world strategies from working with high schoolers, future business leaders, and university students, plus personal lessons learned in her career.

Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation, an important meeting, or simply want to improve how you communicate every day, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you speak with clarity and impact.

Related links:

• Children’s book: Daphne Draws Data

• Teach kids: Daphne’s Data Detectives Program

• Worksheet: the story of you

• Book: storytelling with you: plan, create, & deliver a stellar presentation

• London event (Apr 27): Daphne Draws Data

• London event (Apr 28): storytelling and presenting with data masterclass

• Preorder! storytelling with data: before & after

• Plush Daphne on Amazon and in storytellingwithdata.com/shop (enter PODCAST10 for 10% off)
• Many more resources at storytellingwithdata.com

NEW SERIES: The Founder’s Journey – Stories of Building, Scaling & Storytelling

We’re launching something new on thestorytelling with data podcast! In this special series, we’ll sit down with founders who are building something remarkable—diving into their journeys, the lessons they’ve learned, and the storytelling strategies that fuel their success.

In this episode, Randy is joined by Doni Priliandi, founder of HappyFive, an employee engagement and performance management platform. Doni’s path is one of persistence, risk-taking, and strategic storytelling. From cold-emailing Google’s Laszlo Bock to hopping on a last-minute flight from Jakarta to Silicon Valley, Doni’s story is filled with bold moves and valuable insights. He shares how being an underdog can be a superpower, why storytelling is crucial for founders, and the lessons he’s learned while expanding into the U.S. market.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or simply someone looking for inspiration, this episode offers a fascinating look at the intersection of data, storytelling, and startup success.

Related Links:

Check out Happy5's performance management software platform

Link up with Doni on LNKD

Read Work Rules by Laszlo Bock

Time is a finite resource, so how do you make the most of it? Cole is joined by her husband, Randy, for a conversation on the art of getting things done, both in business and in life. From balancing busy work schedules to managing a family of five, they share their strategies for prioritization, productivity, and focus. They break down their individual approaches—covering automation, delegation, scheduling, and the power of saying no—to create more space for what truly matters. Packed with practical insights, this episode will help you reclaim time and boost your productivity.

Related links:

• Follow Randy: LinkedIn | Twitter
• Daphne Draws Data
• Episode 13 goals like Google
• London masterclass

What if a simple pause could transform the way you work? In this episode, Cole delves into the concept of statio—a meditative pause during transitions—and its potential to inspire more thoughtful, impactful decisions in data analysis and communication. From asking the right questions at the start of a project to fine-tuning your slides before a presentation, discover how small, intentional moments of reflection can ignite creativity, sharpen focus, and elevate your work. Ready to pause, breathe, and see things differently?

Listening time 21:15  | related links:

What do doors, wrapping paper, and speed bumps have in common? In this episode, Cole uncovers how the design of everyday objects can inspire better graphs and slides. Through relatable stories and practical takeaways, discover how thoughtful design can transform confusion into clarity and create moments of delight for your audience.

related links:

In this episode, Cole teams up with Jon Orr, co-founder of Make Math Moments, for an inspiring discussion on how to transform math education for young learners. They dive into Cole's new book, Daphne Draws Data, and explore how storytelling and visual data can empower children to approach math with curiosity and confidence. Cole and Jon share personal stories and professional insights on why sparking interest in math early is crucial. They also provide practical advice on integrating data visualization into classroom activities to make math both meaningful and engaging for kids. Whether you're an educator, parent, or data enthusiast, this episode offers a fresh perspective on teaching math in a way that sticks.

Listening time 24:41  | related links:

Related Links:

• Daphne Draws Data Official Site

• Register for the Make Math Moments Virtual Conference (Nov. 15-17)

• Make Math Moments That Matter Podcast

• Join our Daphne Draws Data Educator Community

In this special episode, Cole unveils her new children's book, "Daphne Draws Data," a vibrant adventure aimed at making data, numbers and graphs accessible to young minds. Inspired by her own children's curiosity, Cole discusses the importance of introducing data literacy early through storytelling, illustrated by the talented John Skewes. Join Cole as she shares insights into creating the book, its enchanting characters, and how Daphne the dragon helps her friends solve problems using data. Discover how you can help ignite a passion for data in the next generation and hear a sample of the audio book!

Related Links:

• Daphne Draws Data Official Site

• Order on Amazon

• Listen to the Audiobook

• Daphne Draws Data Resources for Parents

• Sign up for the Daphne Mailing List

• Follow Daphne on Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest

Cole sits down with Steve Glynn in an episode recorded for the Experience Milwaukee podcast that we’ve recast here. Tune in to hear about Cole’s path, books, and…scotch?! The pair dive into Cole’s new children’s book, Daphne Draws Data: A storytelling with data adventure, talk about life in Wisconsin, and more.

Listening time 23:45  | related links:

• Order Cole’s new book!

• Experience Milwaukee podcast

• Book: storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals

• Book: storytelling with data: let’s practice!

• Book: storytelling with you: plan, create, and deliver a stellar presentation

• Upcoming events: DaphneDrawsData.com/events

• Upcoming masterclass & more: storytellingwithdata.com/workshops