The PolicyViz Podcast

Welcome back to the show! In this week's episode, I sit down with Doug Elmendorf, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, to talk about the impact of government shutdowns, the challenges of fiscal sustainability, and the importance of independent statistical agencies. We discuss how shutdowns ripple through the economy and people’s lives, the tough choices facing policymakers on entitlements and deficits, and why compromise is vital to our democracy. Doug also shares his perspective on the independence of federal statistical agencies, the role of private sector data, and the optimism he sees in today’s policy students. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about economics, governance, and the future of public service.

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In this week's episode of the show, I sit down with Justin Evans, author of The Little Book of Data, to talk about what it means to truly think like a data person. Justin shares insights from his 20-year career in data and advertising, reflecting on why so many professionals struggle to embrace data and how his book helps break down those barriers. We discuss the “four layers of data denial,” the qualities that make someone a data person, and the importance of storytelling in making data engaging and useful. Justin also offers stories from Nielsen, Samsung, and beyond to illustrate how data literacy and visualization can create clarity, solve problems, and unlock value. This conversation is both inspiring and practical for anyone working with—or intimidated by—data.

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In this episode of the show, I talk with David Wessel from the Brookings Institution about the state of the US economy, the reliability of government statistics, and why trust in data matters more than ever. We cover the latest job numbers and what downward revisions mean, the pressures facing agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau, and how politics threatens the credibility of official data. David shares insights on the risks of eroding confidence, what businesses and governments might do in response, and why high-quality, transparent data is essential for policymaking and for the public. It’s a timely and important conversation about the role of data in shaping our economic future.

Keywords: David Wessel, Jon Schwabish, PolicyViz Podcast, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, Census Bureau, U.S. economy, economic data, data revisions, trust in data, survey fatigue, government statistics, job market, unemployment, economic indicators, federal data, data transparency, data integrity, public trust

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In this episode, I sit down with William Beach, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to dig into how America’s most important economic data are produced. We talk about the nuts and bolts of how the BLS jobs numbers are collected, processed, and released, as well as why revisions happen and what they really mean. Bill shares his perspective on the commissioner’s role, the challenges of falling survey response rates, and how statistical agencies can rebuild public trust in their work. We also touch on his experiences working across two administrations and his ideas for the future of federal data. This conversation sheds light on a system that is often misunderstood, yet vital for understanding the economy.

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This is a very special episode of the PolicyViz Podcast.  I’m joined by Erica Groshen, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to talk about the latest jobs report and what the numbers really mean for the state of the economy, including why revisions are an essential part of getting the data right. Dr. Groshen explains how the BLS produces its trusted statistics, the commissioner’s role, and what signals she watches for to spot potential recessions. We also discuss the importance of protecting federal statistical agencies, ensuring trust in their data, and what the future might hold for the BLS. It’s a fascinating conversation that connects technical detail with big-picture implications.

Keywords: data, data visualization, fPolicyViz Podcast, Erica Groshen, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, jobs report, labor market, economic data, employment situation, job growth, job losses, unemployment rate, data revisions, economic indicators, recession signals, federal statistics, data trust, labor economics

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Check out the BLS website for more data!

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I’m excited to kick off Season 12 of the PolicyViz Podcast! In this short premiere, I share a few personal and professional updates and preview what’s ahead on the show. This season, I’ll focus on three big themes: changes to the U.S. federal data and statistical agency ecosystem, a wave of new data visualization books and their authors, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in data analysis and visualization. With a great lineup of guests and conversations already underway, I’m looking forward to another great year of exploring how we use data to inform, design, and communicate.

Keywords: data, data visualization, PolicyViz Podcast, Jon Schwabish, Season 12, data visualization, federal data, statistical agencies, government data, data communication, data policy, AI, artificial intelligence, data tools, visualization books, data storytelling, policy and data

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Welcome to the Season 11 Finale of the PolicyViz Podcast! I’m ready for a summer break and am super excited to close the season talking with Shirly Wu—data visualization artist, technologist, and community thought leader. We talk about Shirley’s journey from creating vibrant, web-based data visualizations to developing physical, multi-sensory data art. Shirley shares what she learned during her recent graduate studies in art and technology, her reflections on data, emotion, and the role of art, and the ideas behind her widely discussed blog series on the state of innovation in the data visualization field. We also discuss how the pandemic reshaped our community, the challenge of maintaining creative joy, and the importance of making space for both functional and expressive data storytelling. From Tokyo to San Francisco, Shirley’s work bridges client projects and immersive art experiences, all grounded in data.

Keywords: Shirley Wu, data visualization, data art, scrollytelling, innovation in dataviz, physical data experiences, emotional data storytelling, PolicyViz Podcast, post-pandemic data, visual storytelling, ITP NYU, creative data design, interdisciplinary art, Jon Schwabish, data literacy, local data engagement, experimental visualization

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In this week’s episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I am reposting my 2015 interview with Edward Tufte, one of the pioneers of data visualization and author of seminal books like The Visual Display of Quantitative Information. At the time, Tufte was a well-known and hugely influential figure in the field. Over time, his influence has waned, and I find that fewer and fewer people are aware of his work and his impacts on the field of data visualization. Before closing up this season next week, I thought it worth looking back to this interview and listen to Tufte as he reflects on analytical thinking, visual reasoning, and the intersection of art and science. We discussed his sculpture work, the evolution of information design, the power of high-resolution displays, and the importance of clarity and excellence in presenting data. The conversation spans from Tufte’s early teaching days to his vision for the future of data communication, offering a rich mix of philosophy, design, and practical insight.

Keywords: Edward Tufte, data visualization, The Thinking Eye, PolicyViz Podcast, Jon Schwabish, analytical thinking, visual reasoning, sculpture, design excellence, high-resolution graphics, information design, flatland, Galileo, data storytelling, maps moving in time

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My friend Andy Kirk joins the show to reflect on the changing landscape of data visualization. We discuss the evolution of tools like Tableau and Flourish, the dispersion of social media communities, and how, how AI is reshaping workflows and data visualization. Andy shares insights from his freelance experience, the challenges of teaching data preparation, and his measured take on critique and awards in the field. This episode captures a moment of introspection in data viz—where progress is evident, but big questions remain.

Keywords: data, data visualization, flourish, graphic design, how to, information design, graphic design tutorials, graphic design portfolio, graphic design course, online learning, graphic design photoshop, graphic design trends 2024, how to draw, data scientist, Federica fragapane, accurat, AccessibilityInDesign, EngagingVisuals, Inspiration, DataNarratives, VisualizationDesign, InstagramPortfolio, BehancePortfolio, mathematics, Al, machine learning

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In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I have the pleasure of talking with Harsha Mallajosyula, Director of Data at the Black Wealth Data Center, about the center’s mission to provide accessible, high-quality data on racial wealth equity in the United States. Harsha shares insights into how the center aggregates and cleans data from public and private sources, making it easier for policymakers, researchers, and advocates to understand and address racial wealth disparities. He discusses the challenges of merging datasets with different racial classifications, the importance of data transparency, and the center’s shift toward more intuitive, mobile-friendly visualization tools. Harsha also highlights the future of the Black Wealth Data Center, including the use of AI and machine learning for data improvement, expanding user research, and developing new tools for deeper insights.

Keywords: data equity, racial wealth gap, Black Wealth Data Center, data accessibility, public policy, data visualization, data transparency, racial wealth equity, social impact, data science, policy analysis, economic disparities, AI in data, wealth accumulation, public-private partnerships

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Check out the Black Wealth Data Center

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