The Powered by Data Show, Episode 002

Ellie Fields helped shape the self-service analytics era at Tableau. Now, as CEO & co-founder of Ridge AI, she’s helping build what comes next. In this episode, Ben Jones and Ellie dig into the big question of whether dashboards are dead, where conversational AI breaks down, and how dashboards plus data agents may work together to create a better analytics experience.

In this episode of The Powered by Data Show, Ben Jones and Alli Torban introduce the podcast’s new name and vision, exploring why the conversation around data has shifted from understanding to action. They discuss what’s holding BI back from its full potential, how AI is changing the way people interact with data, and what listeners can expect from the show going forward, including real-world stories from leaders navigating the intersection of humans, data, and AI.

Show notes: https://dataliteracy.com/pbd001/

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) tackle a question they’re hearing everywhere:

“Is our data ready for AI — and what does ‘ready’ really mean?”

We introduce DF4AI (Data Foundations for AI), which is a practical 10-minute self-assessment that helps organizations understand their AI readiness without chasing perfection.

You’ll learn…

• Why you don’t need perfect data to start getting AI value

• The five key dimensions of readiness

• How weak foundations quietly derail AI initiatives

If your team is experimenting with AI (or feeling pressure to), this episode will help you move forward with clarity and avoid costly missteps.

Take the free DF4AI self-assessment: https://df4ai.com/

See full show notes here: https://dataliteracy.com/season-02-episode-02/

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, Ben Jones and Alli Torban share 12 predictions for data literacy in 2026, based on key lessons from the past year. They explore what leaders should watch for as data and AI become more embedded in everyday work — from the growing importance of measurement and human skills to the evolving role of AI, storytelling, and organizational change.

Show notes: https://dataliteracy.com/season-02-episode-01/

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) talk with Neil Richards, an award-winning data visualization expert and former Global Data Fluency Lead at JLL, about what it really takes to build and sustain a data literacy program inside an organization. 

He’ll share tips on…

• Securing early wins and leadership buy-in
• Little “data moments” to integrate data into the organization culture
• Recognizing the shifts that show your program is working

And more!

Show notes: https://dataliteracy.com/episode-12

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) share a practical framework to help you identify strong AI automation candidates, reduce risk, and keep quality high over time.

Topics covered:

• How to use the Frequency–Complexity Matrix to spot good automation opportunities

• How to evaluate a task’s exception rate and decide between full or hybrid automation

• How to estimate recovery cost so you can start automating safely

• The four categories of Automation Health Metrics every team should monitor

• Why humans still play a critical role in trusted automation

Links mentioned:
Show notes: https://dataliteracy.com/episode-11

Waitlist for our new course Enhancing Your Workflow with AI: https://dataliteracy.com/enhancing-your-workflow-with-ai/

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) share what makes a strong AI strategy and guide you through the first steps to building one for your organization.

Topics covered:

• What an AI strategy is and the seven important parts of a strong AI strategy

• Common mistakes organizations make

• The first three practical steps to take when defining your AI strategy

Links mentioned:

• ⁠The Data Literacy Score and the AI Literacy Score⁠

• Episode show notes: ⁠http://dataliteracy.com/episode-10

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, hosts Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) share the most common training styles (on-demand, live virtual, in-person, hybrid, cohort-based, and project-based) and the pros and cons of each.

Topics covered:

• Why on-demand training is great for scalability but often needs added accountability

• How live virtual sessions boost real-time engagement but can be draining if poorly scheduled

• What makes in-person workshops powerful for retention and connection, despite the higher cost

• Why project-based training is the gold standard for applied results, and when it works best

Links mentioned:

• Data Storytelling for IMPACT On-Demand Course

• Episode show notes: http://dataliteracy.com/episode-09

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, hosts Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) share 3 smart chart swaps that instantly improve the clarity and impact of your data graphics. Whether you're presenting to executives or designing reports, these quick swaps help your audience grasp what matters.

Topics covered:

• Why using two pie charts to show change over time is hard to read, and what to try instead

• How small multiples can solve the problems of cluttered stacked bar charts

• When to swap a bullet chart for a diverging bar chart to better show performance vs. target

  
  

Links mentioned:
⁠Level 1: Learning to See Data on-demand course: learn the building blocks of charts, common types, when to use them, and more.

Episode show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://dataliteracy.com/episode-08

In this episode of The Data Literacy Show, hosts Ben Jones (CEO of Data Literacy) and Alli Torban (Senior Data Literacy Advocate) introduce their newest initiative: Data Freelancers, a vetted marketplace connecting companies with trusted data and AI experts. They share why they built the platform, how it differs from traditional freelance sites, and what companies can expect when hiring top-tier freelance talent for data and AI projects.

Topics covered:

• Why the current freelance platforms don’t work for data projects

• How Data Freelancers vets and curates talent

• What kinds of projects companies can hire for

• What to expect when working with a data freelancer

Links mentioned:

• Data Freelancers site
• Search through the vetted freelancers/consultants
• Post a project request
• Apply to become a freelancer

Episode show notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://dataliteracy.com/episode-07