Dear SQL DBA

Kendra Little

Kendra Little's podcast discussing database performance tuning, software development, and working with data.

  1. 08/12/2025

    Erik Darling and Kendra Little talk AI, SQL Server 2025, and the Future Is Text Files

    Erik Darling joins Kendra to chat about AI tools, why they work better for Python and PowerShell than SQL, and what's exciting (and what's not) in SQL Server 2025. Along the way we describe the ONE THING we always want to configure in Resource Governor, why at least one SQL Server 2025 feature should be backported to 2022, and why the universe is text files all the way down.

    46 min

  2. 20/05/2024

    Erik Darling and Kendra Little Rate SQL Server Perf Tuning Techniques

    Erik Darling joins Kendra Little to rate different SQL Server Performance Tuning Techniques in episode 81 of the Dear SQL DBA podcast. We share our opinions of... (deep breath)   Recompile hints, Query Store hints and plan forcing, CTEs, Resource Governor, the legacy cardinality estimator, Table Variables, Automatic Plan Correction, Batch Mode, index rebuilds, Hekaton, NOLOCK, page compression, partitioning, filtered indexes, columnstore, join hints, PSPO, indexed hints, indexed views, optimize for unknown, RCSI, adding more memory, restarting the damn thing, scalar UDFs, and Persisted Memory Grant Feedback.

    1hr 5min

  3. 15/01/2024

    Power BI Performance Tuning with Eugene Meidinger

    Eugene Meidinger stops by to chat about Power BI Performance Tuning with Kendra. We talk about the various engines and languages used in Power BI and big-picture strategies for getting performance from the start. Eugene then talks about the community of tools and techniques that can be used to dig in and solve performance problems in Power BI. Eugene's new Pluralsight course on Perf tuning Power BI launches on February 5th, 2024. The first 50 sales will be only $20. If you don't get one of those lucky spots, use code RACOONS to get 50% off. Find more of Eugene's content at sqlgene.com.

    54 min

  4. 26/09/2023

    Automated Deployments and the Art of the Database with Database Michael J Swart

    In this episode, Michael J Swart joins the Dear SQL DBA podcast to talk about databases, automation, and how he's come to illustrate some of the coolest blog posts ever to be written about data. Check out Michael's art and blog posts at michaeljswart.com, and explore his posts by illustration at https://michaeljswart.com/browse-articles-by-illustration/.

    1hr 5min

  5. 04/09/2023

    Jer and Kendar Explore Optimized Locking

    SQL Server has a new feature that's currently only available in Azure SQL Database: Optimized Locking. Jeremiah Peschka joins the podcast to talk through the docs and nerd out on locks, blocks, and how to pronounce the acronym "LAQ". Learn more about this feature online: Optimized locking article from Microsoft Learn Transaction locking and row versioning guide Kendra's Sketchnote diagram of Optimized Locking

    29 min

  6. 25/08/2023

    Advice for Technical Leaders with Alex Robson

    Ever wondered what it's like to be a VP or Director of Engineering? Kendra chats with Alex Robson about leadership in technology, what you can get out of coaching or an MBA program (should you be interested), and what makes a high performing team. We'll also chat about recommended content to hone your tech leadership skills. Alex Robson's site and blog: https://robsonconsulting.services Alex's content recommendations for folks who want to think more about technical leadership: "I believe Camille Fournier and Will Larson are wonderful writers with invaluable insights and advice. For product thinking, I recommend folks read The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, Principles of Lean Product Development Flow by Don Reinertsen, Safer Sooner Happier by Jonathan Smart, and Accelerate by Dr. Nicole Forsgren. Be sure to read books on leadership that are outside of engineering. Dan Pink's Drive and Eliyahu Goldratt's The Goal are two of my usual recommendations. Last but not least - read books that are about human behavior. Both economists and psychologists ask important questions that may help you unlock better ways to relate to and understand others. I love Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow, and highly recommend Mistakes Were Made (but not by me) by Carol Tavins and Elliot Aronson."

    1 hr

  7. 21/08/2023

    Erik Darling on Performance Tuning

    SQL Server performance tuning expert Erik Darling joins the podcast today to chat about how good queries can go bad, how bad queries can get better, and the question on everyone's mind: if he was a database, what database would he be? This episode contains some mildly explicit language. Erik's blog: https://erikdarlingdata.com/blog/ Erik's YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@ErikDarlingData

    53 min

  8. 11/08/2023

    What's up with Tech Interviews in 2023? With Jeremiah Peschka.

    Tech interviews are weird and wacky. How did they get this way, and how SHOULD they be? Jeremiah Peschka joins us to discuss.

    29 min
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About

Kendra Little's podcast discussing database performance tuning, software development, and working with data.

Information

  • Creator
    Kendra Little
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2025
  • Episodes
    83
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Kendra Little 2023
  • Show Website
    Dear SQL DBA

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