In this episode, I chat with Mandy Spaltman and Sebastian Graeff, co-leads of the data team at The European Correspondent, a volunteer-driven journalism initiative covering news across Europe. They discuss how their team of passionate designers and analysts craft daily data visualizations, their creative process, the tools they use, and the challenge of maintaining a cohesive style while allowing artistic freedom. Hear how they balance storytelling and design, and what the future might hold for interactive and multilingual content.

Keywords: data, data visualization, European Correspondent, data visualization, journalism, infographics, storytelling, media startup, volunteer, creative process, visual design, newsletters, Europe

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In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I speak with Yanni Loukissas, an Associate Professor at Georgia Tech, about the importance of context in working with data. Yanni argues that data are not universal but local—shaped by their origins, environments, and the intentions of those who collect them. Our conversation dives into how this perspective challenges dominant narratives in data science, particularly the assumption that datasets are neutral or universally applicable. We also discuss how design and storytelling can play a role in exposing the situated nature of data and how educators and practitioners can better teach and communicate these ideas.

Keywords: Yanni Loukissas, PolicyViz Podcast, data visualization, data context, data storytelling, situated data, data ethics, data science, data politics, Georgia Tech, Jon Schwabish, design and data, local data, neutral data myth, data literacy, communicating data, data education, critical data studies, data and power, podcast interview

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In this week’s episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I sit down with data visualization expert Moritz Stefaner to reflect on his journey in the field. We discuss Stefaner's work on the Data Stories Podcast, his shift from bespoke data visualization projects to scalable design systems, and his collaborations with organizations like the World Health Organization. Moritz shares insights on the evolution of data visualization trends, the importance of clear communication, and the challenges of building sustainable design frameworks.

Keywords: Data visualization, Moritz Stefaner, PolicyViz Podcast, Data Stories Podcast, Design systems, Data journalism, WHO design language, Data communication, AI transcription, Data storytellingmathematics, Al, machine learning

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Explore all of Mortiz’s amazing work on his website

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In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I chat with communication expert Davina Stanley about the power of clear and structured messaging in business communication. Davina shares insights from her books Engage and Elevate, discussing how leaders and teams can improve their communication efficiency through message mapping. She explains how a well-structured message can reduce back-and-forth revisions, build trust, and lead to faster decision-making. Drawing from her diverse career—from teaching kindergarten in Australia to working at McKinsey—Davina emphasizes the importance of outlining, visual hierarchy, and strategic thinking in crafting compelling business messages. Whether it's an email, a presentation, or a major proposal, she reveals how clarity in communication can transform workplace productivity and leadership effectiveness.

Keywords: business communication, message mapping, clarity, leadership, structured messaging, workplace productivity, presentations, effective writing, trust in communication, decision-making, corporate communication, professional development, consulting, strategic messaging

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In this week’s episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I speak with Braden Crooks, co-founder of Designing the We, about their project Undesign the Redline, an interactive exhibit that explores the history and lasting impact of redlining in the U.S. Braden shares how his background in landscape architecture and urban design led him to develop this project, which combines research, storytelling, and community engagement. He discusses the importance of making history tangible through physical exhibits, the role of public participation in shaping the narrative, and the upcoming digital expansion of the project. We also discuss how organizations can bring Undesign the Redline to their communities, using it as a tool for education, dialogue, and activism.

Keywords: data, data visualization, Redlining, Undesign the Redline, Urban policy, Structural inequality, Community engagement, Designing the We, Interactive exhibit, Storytelling in policy, Housing discrimination, Urban history, Social justice, Data visualization, Public participation, Community organizing, Historical inequities, Urban renewal, Environmental advocacy, Fair housing, Policy storytelling, Systemic racism

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Rich Harris, creator of the Svelte framework, stops by the podcast to talk about his work. Rich shares how Svelte originated from his work in newsrooms at The Guardian and The New York Times, where he developed tools for building interactive data visualizations under tight deadlines. We talk about how Svelte simplifies web development by bridging the gap between HTML/CSS knowledge and interactive applications, making it accessible to both experienced and novice developers. Our chat touches on the broader impact of Svelte, including its adoption in diverse applications like DataWrapper and smart TV interfaces. Rich reflects on the responsibility and challenges of leading an open-source project like Svelte and discusses the ongoing focus on SvelteKit, an application framework built on Svelte, and highlights accessible resources for beginners to get started.

Keywords: Svelte, SvelteKit, RichHarris, WebDevelopment, Open-Source Framework, DataVisualization, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, User Interface Framework, Interactive Applications, Newsroom Graphics, DataWrapper, Declarative Programming, Web Accessibility

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Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you’re having a great start to 2025 and are poised to have a happy, healthy, and successful year. I’m excited to start off the podcast this year with my friend Kevin Wee, a Tableau creator and visualizer, who shares his journey into data visualization. Kevin’s Tableau journey starts in 2019 at Purdue University where he faced challenges working with data, but grew in his ability to create interesting and engaging dashboards through creative projects and community involvement. Kevin and I talk about his approach to Tableau, how he incorporates other tools like Figma, PowerPoint, and Excel, and how he is using AI tools to help create better and better data tools. I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s episode of the show!

Keywords: data, data visualization, PolicyVizPodcast, JonSchwabisch, KevinWee, Tableau, DataVisualization, TableauCreator, PurdueUniversity, BiomedicalProject, DataCareer, TableauPublic, MakeoverMonday, TableauAmbassador, DataTools, PowerPoint, Excel, TableauCommunity, Figma, InteractiveDashboards, TalkDataPodcastToMe, DataPodcasts, ChatGPT, SalesforceIntegration, AIDevelopment, DataIntegrity, DataHarmonization, DataAnalysts, FutureAmbitions

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The PolicyViz Podcast wraps up 2024 with David Keyes, author of the new book, R for the Rest of Us: A Statistics-Free Introduction! We not only talk about how you can get started in R using David’s book, but also building data and data visualization workflows with R, RMarkdown, and Quarto. We also talk about how to create consistent visualizations through themes and functions in R to help new R users leverage its features without being intimidated by complex statistics.

I hope you enjoy this episode and have a great holiday season! See you in 2025!!

Keywords: data, data visualization, PolicyVizPodcast, JonSchwabish, DavidKeyes, RForTheRestOfUs, DataCommunication, DataVisualization, Quarto, RMarkdown, DataPresentation, BrandedVisualizations, Excel, SelfTaughtR, QuantitativeEvaluation, ChatGPT, QualitativeDataAnalysis, TablesInR, EfficiencyInR, SPSS, SAS, Stata, ggplot, ReproducibleResearch, BeginnerFriendlyR, QuartoVsRMarkdown, SurveyDataAutomation, Netlify, DataManagementWorkflow, LearningR, mathematics, Al, machine learning

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I’ve been super excited for this episode of the podcast for a while! This week, I speak with John Medina, author of one of my favorite books on the brain—Brain Rules! John and I talk about brain science generally and also dive into some specific aspects that are particularly important to the work of any data communicator: the importance of capturing and maintaining audience attention during presentations, emotional engagement as a way to counteract boredom and stress, and how stories can be a powerful tool for enhancing audience connection and retention. You’ll learn how the brain prioritizes meaning over details, driven by survival instincts, and how storytelling effectively taps into these instincts by involving emotional elements.

Keywords: data, data visualization, BrainRules, AudienceAttention, PresentationSkills, 10MinuteRule, EmotionalEngagement, StorytellingPower, NarrativeConnection, SurvivalInstincts, MikeGonzagaResearch, EpisodicMemory, DataVisualization, ScientificPresentations, RecallImprovement, SkepticismInScience, TheoryOfMind, MultitaskingMyth, LearningEfficiency, TechnologyDistractions, VisualMemory, AugmentedRealityEducation, VirtualRealityEducation, MentalHealthAwareness, ClimateChangeImpact, EconomicStress, PsychiatricDisorders, StressManagement

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Check out John’s amazing book, Brain Rules, and visit the Brain Rules website for more great resources!

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Dr. Laura Sikola, a cognitive linguist and communications expert, visits the podcast to talk about how to be a better presenter and communicator. Laura’s work focuses on how to have better presence, telling stories, and connecting with your audiences. We talk about communication challenges like the “expert’s curse” and how developing your “executive presence” can command attention and build rapport.

Keywords: data, data visualization, DrLauraSikola, CognitiveLinguist, CommunicationExpert, PresentationSkills, ITProfessionals, FinanceProfessionals, DataAnalytics, EffectiveCommunication, ExpertsCurse, Storytelling, AudienceConnection, ExecutivePresence, MutualUnderstanding, AudienceEngagement, ConfidenceInPresentations, SlideDesign, VocalQuality, PresentationDelivery, SelfAwareness, PublicSpeaking, ClearCommunication, ConcisePresentations, DataPresentation, EffectiveSlides, 200Rule, SlideDesignTips, PracticeAndPreparation, EngagingAudiences

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Check out Laura’s website and watch her TED Talk, “Want to sound like a leader? Start by saying your name right”

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