The Data Malarkey Podcast

Sam Knowles
  • 5.0 (4)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

The Data Malarkey podcast – and it's audio-visual twin, the Data Malarkey Show on YouTube – a must-listen, must-watch resource of brilliant data storytelling. If only there were more people in the world with the pragmatic approach taken by my guests, well, there'd be rather less data malarkey about.

  1. Harriet Kingaby on AI, Advertising, and the "No-Click Internet"

    4 HR AGO

    Harriet Kingaby on AI, Advertising, and the "No-Click Internet"

    What happens when the business model of the internet rewards attention at any cost -  and AI makes it even easier to centralise power, traffic, and revenue? In this episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast, host and Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, is joined by Harriet Kingaby, Co-Chair of the Conscious Advertising Network (CAN). Harriet explores how advertising incentives shape the information ecosystem, why "information integrity" matters for democracy and business, and what conscious advertisers should be asking before they partner with platforms. This is a conversation about digital trust, algorithmic discrimination, recommendation algorithms, AI search summaries, the "no-click internet", data privacy, and why transparency in advertising is foundational if we want healthier online systems. Key topics Conscious advertising and advertising ethics Information integrity and transparent advertising AI in advertising and AI-driven search summaries Recommendation algorithms and algorithmic discrimination Online harms, self-harm content, and monetisation incentives The "no-click internet" and the death of the open web UN Global Principles on Information Integrity Facial recognition and surveillance risks in advertising and the home Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com What you'll learn Why Harriet thinks the incentives behind online platforms can produce unhealthy outcomes How CAN works as a "broad church" bringing together industry and civil society What "information integrity" means in practice - and why advertising transparency is central How discrimination can show up through recommendation systems and reach Why the "no-click internet" could reshape publishing, revenue, and independent content The kinds of questions advertisers should ask when partnering with platforms and AI tools A striking example of data misuse: facial recognition embedded in TV sets for ad targeting   External resources LinkedIn: Harriet Kingaby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hkingaby/ Conscious Advertising Network - https://www.consciousadnetwork.com  CAN's Guiding Principles - https://www.consciousadnetwork.com/the-guidingprincipleslandingpage/ UN Global Principles on Information Integrity https://www.un.org/en/information-integrity/global-principles The EU Digital Services Act - https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-services-act The Molly Rose Foundation report - https://mollyrosefoundation.org/ Cambridge Analytica scandal - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c81zyn0888lt

    52 min

  2. 21 JAN

    "Start Making Sense": Data Malarkey Season Nine greatest hits

    Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles hosts a best-of-Season-Nine greatest hits episode, featuring: Kelly Beaver, Ipsos UK & Ireland; Angela Balakrishnan, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO); AI pathfinder and TED Talker, Susan Etlinger; senior comms advisor at Wadds Inc., Stephen Waddington; founder of Social for Good, Kerry Watkins; and, the Ohio State University's Professor of Story Science, Angus Fletcher. Themes include the Market Research Society's "Campaign for Better Data", ultra-processed data in the age of AI, information rights and public trust, engineering-level rigour in PR and evidence-based measurement, authentic LinkedIn strategy for nonprofits and digital wellbeing (living life 24/six), and narrative cognition with anomalies, intuition, creativity, and leadership. Chapters (mm:ss) 00:00 Intro and wrap-up setup 00:22 Kelly Beaver, Ipsos, on the Campaign for Better Data 01:08 Ultra-processed data 42:41 Tool and weapon framing 44:26 Data Commerce Conference guests 45:07 Shedding a trail of data 54:48 Thanks to guests 56:06 See you again soon Data Malarkey Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com Contact: hello@usingdatasmarter.com Suggest a guest: https://www.usingdatasmarter.com/guest

    57 min

  3. 7 JAN

    Reality doesn't obey logic — Angus Fletcher on anomalies, intuition, and innovation

    Professor of Story Science, Angus Fletcher, joins Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, to dig into narrative cognition, creativity, and innovation in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Drawing on Project Narrative (based at Ohio State University) and his book Primal Intelligence, Angus explains why logic is not reality, why adults struggle with intuition, and why the most effective stories and breakthroughs start with an anomaly. We explore intuition, imagination, emotion, and common sense as core human capabilities that enable us to outperform computational optimisation and AI when the world is changing fast and low on (reliable) data. Angus shares lessons from U.S. Army Special Operations training and a NASA case study on empowering young engineers, showing how leaders can detect anomalies early, design new plans for new environments, and build cultures that reward creativity over certainty. If you care about decision making, leadership, AI vs human judgment, innovation strategy, and story science, this episode is for you. Resources and links Project Narrative (Ohio State University) - https://projectnarrative.osu.edu/ Primal Intelligence (Angus' 2025 bestselling book) - https://www.angusfletcher.co/ Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

    54 min

  4. 09/12/2025

    AI, authenticity, and digital detox — Kerry Watkins on Social for Good

    Social for Good founder, Kerry Watkins, joins Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, to talk charity communications, nonprofit social media strategy, and building authentic engagement on LinkedIn. They cover why relying solely on a company page limits reach ("LinkedIn particularly wants people to network with other people"), how to swap broadcast posting for proactive engagement and relationship metrics, and why "people want to see real people". Kerry explains what AI is changing in social media - automatic targeting that often outperforms manual audiences, internal tools for accessibility alt-text and brand voice (GPT) - and where AI undermines trust when captions feel "too ChatGPT." We also dive into 24/six, Kerry's digital wellbeing project: digital detox experiences, learning to "sit with that uncomfortableness", and the "sparkly brain" that follows time off-grid. If you work in non-profit marketing, charity comms, or purpose-driven social, this episode is packed with LinkedIn strategy, engagement measurement, AI in social media, and digital wellbeing insights you can use immediately. Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com Resources and links Social for Good - https://www.socialforgood.co.uk The Social for Good Accelerator for charities and purpose-led organisations – https://www.socialforgood.co.uk/accelerator Kerry's LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-watkins/ 24/six, Kerry's "side hustle" – https://www.24six.co.uk Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

    48 min

  5. 25/11/2025

    Engineering rigour vs PR Malarkey - Stephen Waddington on data, stories, and measurement

    Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, welcomes Wadds Inc.'s Stephen Waddington to explore engineering-style rigour in PR. They discuss: elevating the function during the pandemic, building multi-source datasets for the "Pints & Profits" case study, why "synthetic audiences" are "ultimately junk," McDonaldization and repeatability, balancing numbers and narrative, and the pitfalls of AVE and proxy metrics - plus a call for all PR practitioners to contribute to Stephen's PhD research. Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com Resources and social media  • Contribute to Stephen's PhD research: https://publicrelationsmanagement.phd • "Pints & Profits" (Brew case study) http://bit.ly/3KC7qcE • Market Research Society: "Campaign for Better Data" http://bit.ly/4pD2RyZ • Stephen's blog: https://wadds.co.uk/blog • Stephen's Substack: https://wadds.substack.com • Stephen's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwaddington/

    40 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Data doesn't create meaning - we do

    Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, welcomes AI Pathfinder and TED Talker, Susan Etlinger, for a conversation about AI, meaning-making, and agency. Topics include the influx of new data types, Orwell vs Huxley (after Neil Postman' Amusing Ourselves to Death), why we're "intentionally ceding control to machines", the burden of proof for automation, inclusion across languages and models, and why "facts can't defend themselves against being misconstrued". Susan also highlights core skills for a new curriculum for the AI era: History, Statistics, and Social Sciences. Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com Resources and social media links Susan's LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanetlinger/ TED@IBM talk: "What do we do with all this big data?" http://bit.ly/3Ioh423 Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death - http://bit.ly/3Iwrk8r Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

    41 min

  7. 29/10/2025

    Empowering people through information: Inside the ICO

    Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles,speaks with Angela Balakrishnan, Executive Director of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs at the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) about information rights, public trust, AI, and why "data is about people". Topics include the ICO's role, rights awareness, AI priorities and consultation, practical tips (think about your digital footprint; strong passwords; MFA), and the Ripple Effect campaign ("It was one admin error") with trauma-informed research and charity partners.   Resources and links - ICO website - https://ico.org.uk/ - ICO on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/information-commissioner's-office/ - ICO on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@informationcommissioner - Ripple Effect campaign - http://bit.ly/4m9o2FX    Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

    44 min

  8. 14/10/2025

    Ultra-processed data: the hidden risk AI can't solve

    In this episode of the Data Malarkey Podcast, Master Data Storyteller, Sam Knowles, welcomes Kelly Beaver, Chief Executive of Ipsos UK & Ireland, to explore why the data industry is at a crossroads. Kelly shares insights from the Market Research Society's "Campaign for Better Data" -  tackling synthetic data, the risks and benefits of AI to the market research industry, and the danger of what she terms "ultra-processed data". With passion and precision, Kelly explains why high-quality evidence matters more than ever. 🔍 Topics covered: The rise of synthetic and algorithmically altered data What makes data "ultra-processed" - and why that's a problem The need for transparency and representativeness Why in-person collaboration still matters Storytelling, ethics, and the future of insight   Resources and links Ipsos UK & Ireland - https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk Market Research Society (MRS): Campaign for Better Data - http://bit.ly/4m5eH1E  MRS Fair Data Mark - https://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/fairdata 👉 Take the Data Storytelling Scorecard: https://data-storytelling.scoreapp.com

    30 min
See All (66)

Trailer

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Data Malarkey podcast – and it's audio-visual twin, the Data Malarkey Show on YouTube – a must-listen, must-watch resource of brilliant data storytelling. If only there were more people in the world with the pragmatic approach taken by my guests, well, there'd be rather less data malarkey about.

Information