In this episode of Data Malarkey – the podcast about using data, smarter – Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, talks to Chris Summerfield, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford. Chris shares insights into what makes human intelligence so remarkable, how AI models are both fundamentally different from AND similar to human brains, and why understanding cognitive science is critical for building better AI. They explore the future of AI-human collaboration, discuss Chris' long experience at DeepMind, and consider why prediction sits at the core of both artificial and human intelligence.

Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

What you'll learn:

• Why AI models both AND aren't like human brains

• How DeepMind trained AlphaGo to beat the Go world champion, Lee Sedol

• What cognitive science can teach AI research

• Why prediction is central to intelligence

• The benefits and limitations of current large language models

Resources mentioned:

• Chris Summerfield's University of Oxford 'Human Information Processing' lab

• These Strange New Minds – Chris's compelling 2025 book

• Chris' personal webpage

• DeepMind and the AlphaGo documentary

Want to learn more? Check out the links in the show notes and subscribe for more episodes.

In this compelling episode of the Data Malarkey podcast, Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, welcomes Caitlyn Looby - scientist, journalist, and Great Lakes reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. From conducting soil microbe research in tropical cloud forests to demystifying scientific communication for the public, Caitlyn's career bridges hard science and human stories. This episode explores her journey, the importance of accessible science, and how local storytelling builds trust.

What you'll learn:

• How Caitlyn transitioned from academia to journalism

• The hidden world of tropical montane cloud forests and their vulnerability to climate change

• Why scientists must learn to ditch the jargon

• The role of storytelling in building public trust in science

• Caitlyn's three golden rules for science communication

Resources mentioned:

• Caitlyn Looby's article in the Royal Society of Arts Journal: Trust in Science

• Caitlyn's TEDx talk: Building Public Trust in Science at TEDxOshkosh

Stay tuned for more enlightening episodes of Data Malarkey - the podcast about using data, smarter.

In this lively episode of Data Malarkey, Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, is joined by Mark Bonner, Director of Football at Cambridge United. From academy coach to leading the club to shock cup victories, Bonner's football journey is anything but typical. Together, they explore the evolving role of data in football, the emotional highs and lows of managing a club, and what it really means to find balance between intuition and insight. Pep Guardiola's wild celebrations and Carlo Ancelotti's stoic eyebrow also make cameo appearances.

What you'll learn:

• How Mark Bonner's career evolved from grassroots to head coach and back to Director of Football at Cambridge United

• The role of data and analytics in modern football decision-making

• Why balance between emotional intelligence and cold, hard stats is crucial

• Behind-the-scenes realities of coaching, scouting, and club leadership

Resources mentioned:

• Cambridge United FC

• Mark Bonner on X

• Mark Bonner on Instagram

• Mark Bonner on LinkedIn

Want to learn more about Mark Bonner or Cambridge United? Check out the links in the show notes. And remember to subscribe for more episodes of Data Malarkey – the podcast about using data, smarter; where numbers meet nuance.

Recorded live at the DataComms 2025 conference in London, this very special episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast features Nick Ratcliffe, Customer Experience Director at Volkswagen Group UK. Host and master data storyteller, Sam Knowles, delves into how Nick and his team wield data to enhance customer experience, transform brand desirability, and prepare for the automotive industry's electric future. With a career spanning leadership roles at BT, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz, Nick shares his evidence-based approach to marketing, the importance (and scarcity) of genuine insight, and a few personal stories from his eclectic selection of hobbies.

What You'll Learn: • How VW Group UK uses data to be ever-more customer-centric • Why insight is more than just data - it's about action • The impact of behavioural economics and marketing science • Nick's view on the future of automotive CX in the EV era • How storytelling and science intersect in successful marketing

Resources Mentioned:

• Volkswagen Group UK

• Nick Ratcliffe on LinkedIn

• Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard

Make sure to like and subscribe for more episodes.

We've reached 51 episodes and wrapped Season 7 of Data Malarkey! In this greatest hits episode, host Sam Knowles shares the most powerful moments from a season packed with insights—from AI ethics to data puppets, from psychology and kindness to practical business transformation.

Revisit brilliant guests like Sylvie Delacroix, Julie Holmes, Cecilia Dones, Robin Banerjee, Adam Davidson, and Scott Taylor, all of whom shared their real-world, often surprising, insights on how to use data smarter.

• How to rethink AI through the lens of humility and uncertainty

• The ethics of online trust and virtual relationships

• Why businesses need to upgrade soft skills, not just systems

• The power of kindness in society and psychology

• How satire and puppets explain data better than PowerPoint ever could

• Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard

• Guest Application Form

• Subscribe on YouTube: Data Malarkey

🧠 "Best of AI & Empathy" or 📊 "Greatest Hits: Data Gets Human"

In this energising episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast, Master Data Storyteller Sam Knowles speaks with Julie Holmes, entrepreneur, inventor, and AI advisor. Julie shares her insights into how businesses can make AI work with their people – not instead of them. She dives into creative automation, ethical AI, and the dangers of dabbling without direction.

From her practical UPGRADE Framework to her "intern not genius" approach to creating effective prompts for LLMs, Julie delivers a candid, actionable masterclass on the human side of AI.

• Why AI should be seen as an intern – not a threat.

• How to scale creativity and automation.

• What most businesses get wrong about AI readiness.

• The ethical responsibilities we must now embrace.

• How to build smarter prompts that actually deliver results.

• Julie Holmes' website: https://www.julieholmes.com

• Julie's AI readiness assessment for businesses: https://julieholmes.com/ai-readiness-assessment-2025/

• The AI prompt library and archive https://julieholmes.com/prompt/

• Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• The Insight Agents' website – Sam Knowles' business, including the archive of Data Malarkey podcast episodes: https://insightagents.co.uk

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, and don't forget to follow and subscribe for a new episode every fortnight!

In this episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast, host Sam Knowles welcomes Scott Taylor, The Data Whisperer, to break down why data storytelling is the missing business skill in the world of AI, analytics, and business intelligence.

Scott shares why he believes in Truth Before Meaning, the idea that businesses need clean, structured data before they can extract meaningful insights. He also explains why tech jargon is holding the data industry back, why business leaders don't care how data works, and how he's making the world of data more relatable through Data Puppets.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The biggest mistakes data leaders make when presenting to executives

• Why data management is the foundation for AI success

• How to tell data stories that business leaders actually understand

• The origins of Data Puppets and why humour matters in data

• Scott Taylor's book: Telling Your Data Story (Amazon)

• Scott's YouTube Channel: The Data Whisperer

• Data Puppets: www.datapuppets.com

• Scott's 2024 Big Data London keynote – "Data is the new bullsh*t" www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LRVF-1nGPQ

• "The Little Red Data Hen" www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBFwiGN3XK0

• The DataVengers: www.datacated.com/datavengers

• Data Storytelling Scorecard: data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Follow the podcast for more insights on data, storytelling, and business communication.

• Scott Taylor: LinkedIn | MetaMeta Consulting

• Sam Knowles: https://insightagents.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. It helps us reach more people who care about data and storytelling!

Is kindness just a "soft" concept, or is there real science behind it? In this episode of the Data Malarkey podcast, Master Data Storyteller Sam Knowles is joined by Professor Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement at the University of Sussex. Robin's research explores the psychology of kindness, empathy, and human connection, revealing how data can unlock powerful insights about our social world.

From leading the BBC Kindness Test – a groundbreaking study with over 60,000 participants – to his work on how fiction and television shape empathy, Robin shares fascinating insights about the science of human connection. He also explains why he finds joy in data – a phrase that might just change how you see statistics forever.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• The psychology behind kindness—what drives it, and how we measure it

• Surprising insights from the BBC Kindness Test

• How fiction and TV shape our ability to empathise

• The joy in data and why it's more than just numbers

• Why understanding human behaviour through research is so important

00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Robin Banerjee's career and research focus 07:43 - What makes someone kind? 13:53 - The BBC Kindness Test: Key findings 20:02 - The psychology of human connection 30:36 - Finding joy in data 39:07 - Empathy and storytelling: fiction vs reality 45:00 - What TV tells us about our emotions 50:30 - Where to find out more about Robin's research

Professor Robin Banerjee is a leading researcher in developmental psychology and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement at the University of Sussex. His work focuses on kindness, empathy, and social development, and he is the founder of the Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness.

Robin's research has been featured widely, including his collaboration with BBC Radio 4 on the Kindness Test, the largest study of its kind, exploring how people experience and perceive kindness across different cultures and communities.

• Sussex Centre for Research on Kindness on the University of Sussex website

• BBC Kindness Test: BBC Radio 4

• Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Sam Knowles' website: https://www.insightagents.co.uk

• Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Follow the podcast for more insights on psychology, data, and human behaviour.

• Robin Banerjee: University of Sussex profile

• Sam Knowles: LinkedIn profile

Enjoyed the episode? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us bring more thought-provoking discussions to you!

In this engaging episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast, Master Data Storyteller and host Sam Knowles welcomes Cecilia Dones, a thought leader in data, AI, and human connection. Ceci explores how technology shapes the way we interact, trust, and build relationships—both online and offline. She shares insights into AI ethics, uncertainty in machine learning, and why trust is the cornerstone of all our digital futures.

From her work in AI ethics to her philosophy on leadership and adaptability, Ceci provides fresh perspectives on the best ways to navigate the ever-evolving world of artificial intelligence. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on data, trust, and what it means to be human in the age of AI.

• Why trust in digital interactions is becoming harder to establish

• The role of AI in shaping human relationships and decision-making

• How uncertainty in AI responses from LLMs may be an advantage not a weakness

• The power of adaptability and why labels limit creativity

• Why leaders need to embrace ambiguity in the AI era

00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Cecilia Dones on connections and human-centred technology 07:43 - Why trust in digital spaces is complicated 13:53 - How AI influences our relationships and decision-making 20:02 - The challenge of uncertainty in AI models 30:36 - Leadership, adaptability, and embracing ambiguity 39:07 - No Labels: Why Ceci avoids definitions and fixed roles 45:00 - The ethical dilemmas of AI, privacy, and consent 50:30 - Where Cecilia Dones is sharing her work and insights

Cecilia Dones is a data and analytics practitioner-academic, founder of 3 Standard Deviations, with expertise spanning Fortune 500 companies and academia. She specialises in AI applications, technology's impact on human interactions, and bridging data insights across sectors. Currently, she is completing her doctoral studies on interpersonal trust in digital environments. She holds degrees from NYU Stern and Columbia University. She has taught at top business schools and authors the "Authentic Interactions" newsletter on Substack exploring technology, data, authenticity, and trust.

• Cecilia Dones' Substack: Authentic Interactions

• Ceci's LinkedIn newsletter "What is a CMO to do with AI?"

• Data Storytelling Scorecard: data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

• Follow the podcast for more insights on AI, data, and leadership

• Cecilia Dones: LinkedIn | Substack blog – https://authenticinteractions.substack.com

• Sam Knowles: LinkedIn

Enjoyed the episode? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us bring more thought-provoking discussions to you.

Check out our Data Storytelling scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

In this episode of the podcast, Master Data Storyteller Sam Knowles sits down with Adam Davidson, Head of Data Science at the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Adam shares his fascinating journey from CERN's Large Hadron Collider, where he contributed to the search for the Higgs boson, to leading data-driven efforts in advertising regulation.

💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Adam transitioned from physics to advertising regulation, with the constant drumbeat of data science

• The role of AI and machine learning in monitoring online ads

• Why data storytelling is critical for bridging the gap between data teams and leadership

• How the ASA is tackling fraudulent ads and influencer marketing transparency

• The future of real-time ad monitoring and automation

• Ethical concerns around the misuse of data in advertising

If you've ever wondered how AI is shaping the future of digital advertising and how regulators are keeping up, this episode is for you!

🎧 Listen now and discover how AI, data science, and machine learning are transforming the ad industry!

00:00 - Introduction: Meet Adam Davidson 01:27 - From CERN to Data Science in Advertising 04:32 - Bridging the Gap Between Data Science & Leadership 09:14 - The AI-Powered Ad Monitoring System 14:38 - Regulating the "Wild West" of Online Ads 18:12 - The Challenge of Influencer Marketing & Hidden Ads 25:30 - AI & Automation: Real-Time Ad Monitoring 32:02 - How AI in Advertising is Evolving 39:45 - Misuse of Data: The Dark Side of AI 45:36 - Final Thoughts & Where to Follow Adam

Adam Davidson is the Head of Data Science at the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), where he leads efforts to monitor and regulate digital advertising using AI and machine learning. His career started in particle physics at CERN, where he was involved in the discovery of the Higgs boson. Adam later transitioned to data science roles at Qubit and The Economist, before joining the ASA in 2021.

Now, he's using data and AI to bring accountability to online advertising, leading a seven-strong team of data scientists at the ASA who are ensuring that brands comply with regulations, legislation, and ethical marketing standards.

🔗 Follow Adam Davidson on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-davison-a5624815/

🔗 The Advertising Standards Authority https://www.asa.org.uk

🧠 On Data Storytelling: "Data science is useless if leaders don't understand it. Storytelling bridges that gap." – Adam Davidson

🤖 On AI in Advertising Regulation: "We built an AI system that actively monitors ads in real time – catching fraudulent content before it spreads."

⚖️ On Ethical Advertising: "Influencer marketing needs more transparency. Consumers deserve to know when they're being sold to."

🚀 On the Future of AI & Automation: "Machine learning in advertising isn't new. What's new is the scale at which we can use it for good."

🔗 Adam on BBC2's Horizon, "The Hunt for the Higgs Boson" – www.dailymotion.com/video/x621wqk

🔗 Profile on Adam in Marketing | Beat – https://www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2024/04/11/asa-harnessing-ai-technology/

🔗 "Using AI to monitor the promotion of prescription-only medicines" by Adam Davison, ASA blog, 09.11.23 – https://www.asa.org.uk/news/using-ai-to-monitor-the-promotion-of-prescription-only-medicines.html

🔗 "Our Active Ad Monitoring system" by Adam Davison, ASA blog, 14.07.23 – https://www.asa.org.uk/news/our-active-ad-monitoring-system.html

🔗 "How data science is changing ad regulation" by Adam Davison, ASA blog, 17.11.22 – https://www.asa.org.uk/news/how-data-science-is-changing-ad-regulation.html

💬 Enjoyed this episode? Let us know! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. 📢 Share this episode with colleagues in marketing, advertising, or data science. 🔔 Follow the podcast for more deep dives into AI, ethics, and advertising!

🎙 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://bit.ly/3YIh7I7), Spotify (https://bit.ly/3JafOfg), and our YouTube channel https://youtube.com/@datamalarkey