Today, we dive into the fascinating intersection of art and artificial intelligence, exploring how AI is reshaping the creative landscape. We chat with Ellery, the CEO of Voight AI, who reveals the complexities of navigating AI compliance in entertainment while advocating for the irreplaceable human touch in creativity. As we discuss the impact of AI on artists, Ellery shares her insights on why the fear isn't just about AI creating better art, but rather about it producing more of it—faster, cheaper, and easier. Together, we examine the legal implications of AI-generated content and the changing dynamics in industries like Hollywood, where human artists might feel the squeeze. Join us as we unravel the challenges and opportunities ahead, highlighting that at the heart of creativity lies something that AI will never understand: our humanity.

Takeaways:

• The rise of AI in creative fields is not about quality, but about quantity and speed.
• Many artists are worried about AI not because it creates better art, but because it can produce it faster and cheaper.
• It's essential to protect human creativity against AI's encroachment, especially in industries like entertainment.
• AI-generated content raises significant legal issues, particularly concerning copyright and authorship rights.
• Data can help elevate and protect human creativity in the age of AI, ensuring authenticity remains paramount.
• The future of creativity may hinge on our ability to harness our uniquely human qualities to outpace AI.

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In a world where sales tactics often resemble a high-pressure game of “sell me this pen,” we challenge the notion that success hinges on pushing products onto disinterested buyers. Instead, we advocate for a sales philosophy rooted in genuine relationships and mutual benefit. Our compelling discussion with Assad Ali, a veteran in leveraging behavioral psychology for sales success, reveals how understanding human decision-making can elevate sales performance. We explore the notion that sales should not be about coercing a sale but about uncovering the needs of clients and driving value for them.

We also tackle the often-misunderstood relationship between sales and data, asserting that while numbers can inform strategy, they should not dictate it. The most effective sales teams harness data to guide their interactions, focusing on quality leads and disqualifying unfit prospects swiftly. This episode guides listeners through the intricate dance of sales, revealing how trust, authenticity, and strategic questioning are the real keys to success. We also share insights on how AI is reshaping the landscape, ensuring that while technology aids efficiency, it does not detract from the personal touch that clients value.

As we wrap up our conversation, we emphasize the importance of adapting sales metrics to foster a culture of growth rather than one of superficial success. Join us as we explore actionable strategies that not only enhance individual performance but also contribute to a thriving sales ecosystem.

Takeaways:

• In sales, the ideal outcome is creating a mutual fit, not just pushing a product onto someone who doesn't need it.
• Trust and relationship building are key components in modern B2B sales, where value must be driven for both parties.
• Sales teams often focus on quantity over quality, which can lead to misaligned incentives and poor decision-making.
• AI tools can significantly enhance sales activities by automating tasks, but they will never replace the human element of building rapport.
• Effective salespeople excel at asking insightful questions and genuinely listening to their prospects to uncover needs.
• Success in sales is about creating momentum and making it easier for clients to work with you, which cultivates trust and long-term relationships.

How to Master Public Speaking with Data: Transform Your Communication Skills

Chuck Garcia, Columbia University professor and communication expert, joins Graeme Crawford to reveal how data transforms public speaking and leadership communication. They explore the 55-38-7 formula for first impressions, proven techniques to eliminate verbal filler words, and how treating soft skills as measurable data points can accelerate your professional growth. Chuck shares insights from coaching Fortune 500 executives and his upcoming TED talk debut.

0:00 Introduction and Chuck's TED talk announcement

4:02 The camera as a data collection tool

7:00 Breaking down the 55-38-7 impression formula

11:43 Three barriers to effective communication

17:24 The power of the strategic pause

21:45 Common nonverbal communication mistakes

27:09 The speed of first impressions

31:23 Creating phone-free conversations

35:17 Why perfectionism blocks speaking progress

39:26 Building speeches in modular pieces

44:45 Theater techniques for powerful presentations

46:26 How to connect with Chuck Garcia

The episode of Transformed With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Michael Young, owner of an outsourced accounting firm, about the hidden patterns in small business financial data. Michael shares insights from analyzing hundreds of M&A deals at PwC and now helping small businesses navigate their finances, revealing why sophisticated data systems can actually hurt small companies and the critical indicators that predict business success. They discuss the dangers of software sprawl, why cash flow understanding matters more than perfect attribution metrics, and how private equity rollups often oversell integration benefits while underestimating the operational challenges of merging multiple businesses.

0:00 - Private equity rollup challenges

0:26 - AI marketing vs value delivery

0:41 - Perfect attribution illusion

2:33 - Small business financial patterns

3:47 - Cash balance fixation

5:53 - Software subscription creep

8:05 - Cross-selling opportunities discovered

10:36 - Three business segments explained

13:14 - Owner focus challenges

17:23 - P&L as scorecard

20:19 - Financial statement limitations

24:02 - CRM consolidation pain

26:45 - AI and accounting accuracy

29:45 - Customer acquisition complexity

32:48 - Attribution measurement challenges

35:20 - Instant gratification culture

39:00 - Government contracting focus

41:36 - Ultra-niche software emergence

44:31 - Trust yourself advice

How to Scale Trust in the Age of AI: Data-Driven Marketing That Actually Works

Transformed With Data Episode 13:How to Scale Trust in the Age of AI: Data-Driven Marketing That Actually Works

On this episode of Transformed with Data, Graeme Crawford talks with Lauren Gibson, marketing professional and strategic brand consultant, about why traditional marketing metrics might be destroying the trust brands need to survive. Lauren shares how she's generated over 41,000 leads by scaling authentic relationship moments through her Connections newsletter and networking events. They discuss why only 22% of brands measure trust at board level despite those who do achieve three times stronger profits, how AI should enhance rather than replace human connections, and why Gen Z's approach to data privacy reveals what really drives business in an age of artificial intelligence.

0:00 - The Missing Link in LinkedIn

3:31 - Trust vs Traditional Metrics

7:25 - Measuring What Actually Matters

11:11 - Gen Z and Data Exchange

15:33 - Building Trust Through Referrals

19:20 - The Power of Personalized Video

23:34 - Writing Your Way to Connection

26:43 - How Travel Rewires Your Brain

31:42 - British vs American Humor

38:23 - Mental Health and Physical Connection

44:31 - Believing You're Worth It

Find Lauren here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linkwithlauren/

https://laurenrosegibson.com/

https://letterlaunched.com/

The episode of Transformed with Data, Graeme Crawford talks with Allison Tallman, a registered dietitian, about how people fail at nutrition not from lack of data but from turning that data into self-judgment. Allison shares her approach to breaking the diet cycle through mindset shifts and reconnecting with natural hunger cues rather than obsessing over calorie tracking. They discuss the psychology behind sustainable weight loss, why the current protein myths are misleading, and how busy professionals can achieve their health goals without MyFitnessPal or constant food tracking. The conversation explores alternatives to Ozempic, the importance of metabolism health, and practical strategies for mindful eating that lead to lasting change.

0:00 - Ozempic weight concerns

0:24 - Protein myths debunked

0:41 - Breaking diet perfectionism

2:02 - Nutrition data struggles

2:58 - Ozempic vs sustainable methods

4:50 - Weight loss psychology

6:03 - Ozempic insurance issues

7:24 - Nutrition label confusion

9:10 - Weight compound metrics

10:10 - 3M method introduction

11:19 - Metabolism starvation mode

13:36 - Summer body mindset

15:15 - VO2 max longevity

17:17 - Protein requirements myth

19:36 - Protein quality labeling

22:26 - Reconnecting body signals

24:59 - Healing food relationships

26:44 - Intuitive eating children

28:48 - Implementation over knowledge

30:24 - All-or-nothing mentality

32:00 - Finding your why

34:21 - Visual food cues

37:36 - Sleep score pitfalls

38:37 - Ideal client profile

40:47 - Accountability importance

42:00 - Free masterclass resources

44:14 - Final calorie-free advice

Transformed With Data Episode 11:How to Build a Data-Driven Culture: From Startup to 8-Figure Exit

The episode of Transformed with Data Podcast, Graeme Crawford sits down with Dmitri Adler, Co-Founder and Chief Solution Architect at Data Society, to discuss why most companies claiming to be data-driven actually aren't. Dmitri shares his journey from automating Wall Street work to building a bootstrapped powerhouse that achieved an eight-figure exit, revealing how the real challenge isn't in doing the analysis but in empowering everyone to use data fluently. The conversation explores why dashboards won't save your culture, what kills true data adoption, and the critical difference between companies that scale with data versus those that simply store it. Dmitri offers hard-won insights on building a culture where mistakes are learning opportunities, why small teams outperform large ones, and how successful leaders can become their own worst enemy when implementing data initiatives.

0:00 - Introduction and Data Like Water

3:02 - Why Data Initiatives Fail

7:02 - Creating a Culture of Transparency

11:23 - Measuring What Matters

14:37 - Getting Leadership Buy-In

17:41 - The Frozen Middle Problem

20:00 - Small Teams Win Big

24:04 - Delegating Decision Authority

27:00 - Technology vs Business Case

31:01 - AI and Over-Engineering

35:12 - Scaling Without Breaking

38:41 - Market-Driven Decision Making

42:13 - Embracing Being Wrong

Transformed With Data Episode 10:How to Drive 600% Data Engagement: AI Strategy Lessons from the White House

The episode of Transformed with Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Dia Adams, best-selling author of "Winning With AI: A Blueprint for Corporate Leaders" and former enterprise data strategist for the White House. Dia shares how she increased engagement in the SEC's data catalog by 600% through strategic storytelling and reveals why most AI initiatives fail before they start - not because the technology isn't ready, but because organizations aren't. Drawing from her unique experience steering data transformations at Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, and within federal government, she explains how to secure real buy-in for AI projects, navigate the psychological pressures of high-stakes data decisions, and why successful data leadership is 50% technical and 50% psychological.

0:00 - Introduction and data therapy concept

3:30 - Government data decision-making challenges

7:30 - Coping with high-stakes pressure

11:30 - Mentorship under General Colin Powell

17:30 - Listening and leadership lessons

21:30 - The power of optimism

24:30 - 600% engagement increase at SEC

30:30 - Data visualization best practices

33:30 - Common patterns across industries

37:30 - Chief Data Officer challenges

40:30 - AI implementation red flags

44:30 - Business first, AI second

46:30 - Contact information and closing

The episode of Transformed With Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks about data transparency and civic engagement with Chris Piper, former Virginia Elections Commissioner. Chris discusses his role as Executive Director of Virginia's Public Access Project (VPAP), a nonpartisan organization that makes campaign finance data, election results, and legislative information accessible to citizens. The conversation explores how VPAP transforms complex government data into actionable insights, the importance of state and local politics in daily life, and how informed citizens can effectively engage with their representatives. Chris emphasizes that while federal politics gets most attention, state and local governments handle issues like education, transportation, and public safety that directly impact people's lives. He shares insights about election integrity, the role of data in democracy, and how Virginia legislators agree unanimously on over 75% of votes despite perceived political divisions.

0:00 - Introduction and Chris Piper Background

3:00 - Origins of VPAP in 1996

6:00 - Evolution to VA News Service

9:00 - Civic Navigator Education Program

12:00 - State vs Federal Government Impact

15:00 - Data Shows Unity in Virginia

18:00 - Open Data Challenges

21:00 - Maintaining Nonpartisan Balance

24:00 - News Curation Process

27:00 - Data Maturity Assessment Ad

30:00 - Trust in Media Discussion

33:00 - Education Data Example

36:00 - Elections and Data-Driven Decisions

39:00 - Early Voting Analysis

42:00 - Informed Citizens Impact Policy

45:00 - VPAP as Virginia Unicorn

The episode of Transformed with Data podcast, Graeme Crawford talks with Dylan Anderson, head data strategist at Profusion and creator of the Data Ecosystem newsletter, about why most data strategies fail and how to build systems that actually deliver business outcomes. Dylan shares insights from his recent study of 25-30 data leaders, revealing that successful data transformation requires focusing on business value over technology choices, and that most organizations are more excited about using AI to improve data quality and existing infrastructure than pursuing cutting-edge agentic AI. The conversation explores the critical gap between data architecture and action, emphasizing how data teams must connect their work directly to business strategy and develop strong stakeholder relationships to succeed.

Chapter Timestamps:

0:00 - AI knowledge and marketing strategy

4:30 - Data leaders research study overview

7:45 - AI adoption in enterprise reality

11:50 - Using Claude for newsletter writing

16:20 - Visual frameworks and Excalidraw tools

19:45 - Business strategy temple framework

23:30 - Shared definition of business success

27:00 - Data maturity assessment introduction

29:15 - Learning to leverage team expertise

33:20 - Poor data infrastructure costs

37:10 - CRM implementation challenges

41:25 - Growing newsletter to 7500 subscribers

45:30 - LinkedIn algorithm and content strategy

48:00 - Future hopes for data industry