storytelling with data podcast

Cole shares low-tech planning strategies that will set you up for success in any important scenario in which you need to communicate. From crafting the Big Idea (plus a super useful worksheet to assist your efforts) to storyboarding to bringing it all into your tools, you’ll learn how a little time up front can streamline the rest of the creative process. Also tune in to hear Cole address questions on feedback, slides that don’t quite fit, filler words, and more.

Listening time 49:01 | related links

• The Big Idea worksheet

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

• Blog article 8 tips for avoiding filler words

• Podcast episode 70 prepare to present

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Premium sale through 1/31/24 in SWD community: go premium!

• University instructor upcoming event & resources

• Watch videos on the SWD YouTube channel

Consider all of the things you do in the course of your daily work from a seated position: might you benefit from changing it up? In this episode, Cole discusses the power of standing up for different reasons and across a variety of situations. Tune in to understand how standing can boost creativity and keep updates and introductions from being overly lengthy. Learn what kinds of feedback and conversations are best had with your feet on the ground, as well as how standing up to present affords you—the presenter—with greater opportunities for better communication.

Listening time 18:10 | related links

• Blog article let it sit

• Podcast episode 6 say it out loud

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

• Join our 8-week online course (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Video stand up

• Subscribe in SWD community: go premium

• Mugs, coasters, books and posters in SWD shop

• Watch the mini-workshop; more videos on the SWD YouTube channel

Alberto Cairo drops by to talk about his new book "The Art of Insight," which offers a unique take on data visualization. In conversation with data storyteller Mike, Cairo shares his Camus-inspired belief that life's meaning comes from community and work, and how that conviction shapes his own interests and endeavors. They discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on journalism, how seemingly frivolous pursuits can actually be essential, and where to find personal and professional connection amidst ever-changing online communities. Eschewing the mantle of “thought leader,” Cairo reveals why he is reluctant to wield the "soft power" he holds in the data visualization community. Tune in for a fascinating exploration of responsibility, the political nature of work, and the human aspects behind visualization.

Listening time 48:59 | related links

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Book: The Art of Insight by Alberto Cairo (in addition, don’t miss Cairo’s earlier books How Charts Lie, The Functional Art, and The Truthful Art)

• Book: The Grammar of Graphics by Leland Wilkinson

• Follow: Aaron Williams on X/Twitter: @aboutaaron

• Games: many tabletop and role-playing games were mentioned, including Twilight Struggle, Dungeons and Dragons, RuneQuest, Call of Cthulhu, Here I Stand, Gloomhaven, and Empires in Arms

• Book: Ruined by Design by Mike Monteiro

• Book: Building Science Graphics by Jen Christiansen

• Book: Joyful Infographics by Nigel Holmes

Sending slides before a meeting and asking your audience to do a pre-read has become the norm. Unfortunately, pre-reads never quite lead to the desired outcome of better questions and discussion, instead they create more challenges. Data storyteller Alex shares her thoughts on pre-reads and how she navigates requests to share content outside of a meeting. Tune in to also hear related questions on slide templates, speaker notes and more!

Listening time 24:57 | related links:

• Article: how to create an executive summary slide

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Combo chart example: diverging bar + data table

• Combo chart example: line + Gantt chart

• SWD challenge: create a clever combo chart

Cole walks listeners through her process of preparing for a recent presentation—from turning an idea into slides, to how she readied herself to present powerfully. Tune in to hear how a visual navigation scheme can help you stay on track as you present and create memorable takeaways for your audience, why building buffers into your presentation is key for staying on time, the major benefits of practicing aloud, and more. Plus learn how you can watch the presentation Cole describes preparing! (spoiler: visit storytellingwithdata.com/goodtogreat)

related links:

• Join Cole’s upcoming virtual mini-workshop: storytellingwithdata.com/goodtogreat

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

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

• Podcast ep 45: the power of post-its

• Podcast ep 37: it’s for THEM

• Resources for university instructors

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Join data storyteller office hours by going premium in SWD community

• Learn via videos: SWD YouTube channel

Whether you’ve asked for it or not, sometimes critique from others simply gets under our skin. From feel-good platitudes that lack actionability to outright requests to manipulate data—Cole covers five categories of common graph and slide feedback that people hate to receive. Tune in to learn strategies and practical tips that will help you turn undesirable feedback into useful and insightful input for better graphs and presentations.

related links:

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

• SWD challenge: rebrand it!

• Attend a workshop (use discount PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Resources for university instructors

• Learn via videos: SWD YouTube channel

What does Cole’s 7-year-old daughter have in common with the typical audience member for your data stories? Tune in to find out! In this short episode, Cole discusses a handful of specific things you can do to help set yourself—and others—up for successful data stories.

Listening time 12:29 | related links:

• Resource: the BIG PICTURE worksheet

• Related SWD community exercise: the big picture

• Podcast episode 49: become a data viz superstar

• Video series: become a data viz superstar

• Article: showing the insights vs. showing off

• Video: the final presentation

• More videos: SWD YouTube channel

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

• Book: let’s practice! (exercise 9.9)

Graphs and slides are often the first tools we reach for when we need to communicate with data—but when might storytelling withOUT data yield better results? Cole outlines numerous scenarios for alternative approaches, sharing examples from clients, workshops, and her books. 

From boardgames to baby pics, tune in to learn about humanizing data, when low fidelity solutions work best, the Picture Superiority Effect, and much more.

related links:

• Book: let’s practice!

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

• Register for debut storytelling with you virtual workshop (use code PODCAST10 for 10% off)

• Organize a workshop for your team or organization

• Access resources for university instructors

• Learn via video on the SWD YouTube channel

Mike and Alex discuss the advantages and drawbacks of designing visualizations with light and dark backgrounds, using examples from SWD community members to highlight where each approach can be preferable. Then, they dive into history and discuss the staying power of some famous graphs. What makes them memorable—and how we might be able to elevate them, using modern tools and perspectives?

Listening time 27:06 | related links:

• Challenge: Light and dark backgrounds

• Viz: Rob Reid’s gun ownership viz

• Viz: Rishi Selva’s newspaper homage

• Tool: Datawrapper

• Tool: Accessible Colors

• Viz: Mike Cisneros’s Last Words viz

• Challenge: Remake a famous graph

• Challenge: Making or missing the mark

• Join data storyteller office hours by going premium in SWD community

• Learn via video on the SWD YouTube channel

Cole draws on a recent experience that underscored the power of thoughtful EMPHASIS. Tune in for practical tactics to create contrast visually and verbally, whether for important numbers or words, focusing attention within your table or graph, or communicating clear emphasis through how you speak and move. Cole and colleague Simon also address related questions on tips for virtual presentations, eliminating filler words, preparing content for someone else to present, and more.

Listening time 41:54 | related links:

• Register for Chicago masterclass on May 5th (use code PODCAST10 for 10% off)

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

• Access resources for university instructors

• Join data storyteller office hours by going premium in SWD community

Learn via video on the SWD YouTube channel