Data Driven

Data Driven
  • 4.8 (45)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Data Driven: the podcast where we explore the emerging field of Data Science. We bring the best minds in Data, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence right to you every Tuesday. The field of data science mashes up the worlds of statistics, database architecture and software engineering. Data Scientist has been labelled by the Harvard Business Review, as "the sexiest job of the 21st century." A quick search of job search sites reveal that this field is in high demand. In a world where Data is the new Oil, Data Science the new Refineries, consider this Car Talk for the Data Age. Every week we bring the best minds in this emerging field straight to you. Our goal is to educate and inspire our listeners so that they can be prepared to thrive in a Data Driven world.

  1. The Neuroresilient Leader - Staying Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    2D AGO

    The Neuroresilient Leader - Staying Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with Angus Nelson—author, podcaster, and expert on leadership and human potential in the age of AI. Together, they dive deep into the rapidly changing landscape of technology and work, exploring how relentless market volatility, AI advancements, and global complexity are putting unprecedented stress on individuals and organizations alike. Angus Nelson shares insights from his book, "Neuro Resilient Leader: The Internal Operating System for Leading at the Speed of Change," challenging the notion that grinding harder is the key to success. Instead, he argues that true leadership today demands clarity, capacity, and composure—and that our biggest challenges are rooted not in strategy or data, but in our internal operating systems and mindset. Tune in as they unpack the myths of grind culture, the critical importance of mental well-being in the digital era, and practical ways to protect and elevate our collective "brain capital." Whether you're a leader, an independent contributor, or simply navigating a chaotic world, this episode offers hope, inspiration, and actionable advice on how to stay human—and thrive—in an increasingly automated world. LinksAngus' LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/angusnelson/Angus' Website -https://angusnelson.comAngus' Coaching Website-https://neuroresilientleader.comGet the Book Free -https://freebook.vipGet the paperbook on Amazon -https://amzn.to/4w1uHIf Time Stamps00:00 Challenges of adapting to AI changes 07:15 Finding internal clarity and value 09:54 Influences on self-belief 13:38 Impact of technology on brain health 16:07 AI and creativity debate 20:03 Changing nature of creativity and work 22:30 AI's role in company differentiation 25:24 Embracing a new lifestyle 29:02 Facing self-doubt on success path 31:22 Embracing change and transformation 35:34 Overcoming self-imposed limitations 41:08 Identity shift realization 42:30 Energetic exchange and authenticity 48:14 Living abroad during COVID 49:05 Download free book PDF 54:38 Finding your inner power 55:32 Thanking Frank and Candice

    56 min
  2. Governance, Architecture, and the Evolving Role of Data Engineers in the AI Age

    APR 27

    Governance, Architecture, and the Evolving Role of Data Engineers in the AI Age

    In this week’s show, Frank La Vigne sits down with data and analytics engineer Wasim Rana for a deep dive into the realities of building, managing, and securing data infrastructure in modern businesses. Together, they explore the critical challenge of preventing data lakes from turning into data swamps, the practical pipeline from raw to curated data—including the increasingly popular bronze, silver, and gold layering approach—and the vital role of governance in today’s data-heavy world. Waseem Rana shares insights from his hands-on experience with AWS, Snowflake, and transforming messy datasets into actionable business intelligence. The conversation also takes a look at the evolving landscape of data engineering amid AI advancements, what skills data professionals need to stay ahead, and how future architectures may blend data lakes, warehouses, and vector databases for AI-driven analytics. Whether you’re a data engineer, business leader, or just curious about the future of data, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! LinksWasim's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamwasimrana/Wasim's GitHub -https://github.com/wasimranacseWatch on YouTube -https://youtu.be/8oGEEN6BubkPodcast Episode Mentioned:The AI Driven Leader: Rethinking Strategy, Decision Making, and Personal Growth -https://datadriven.tv/episodes/the-ai-driven-leader-rethinking-strategy-decision-making-and-personal-growth/Book mentioned:The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter DecisionsHardcover -https://amzn.to/4crqshxKindle -https://amzn.to/4u8rVPSAudiobook -https://amzn.to/3Qqsc1X Time Stamp00:00 Working as a data engineer 03:22 Using AWS for infrastructure 06:31 Transforming raw data for use 11:14 Discussing data sources and ingestion 15:51 Discussing data analysis with AI models 16:33 The future of data analytics 21:58 Importance of data governance 24:44 Evolution of data storage solutions 29:34 AI's impact on data jobs 31:20 Understanding data architecture importance 35:49 Understanding AI creativity and context 37:14 Understanding AI's lack of context 40:43 Difficulty finding meaningful connections 45:14 Using storytelling to drive change 47:44 Connecting pipelines to WooCommerce

    50 min
  3. Alternative Data and Its Impact on Modern Investing

    APR 21

    Alternative Data and Its Impact on Modern Investing

    Today, we journey into the fast-evolving world of prediction markets, KPI trading, and the new frontiers of retail finance. Joining us is Candace, alongside our guest from Benzinga, a fintech innovator working to democratize financial data once reserved for Wall Street elites. We delve into how platforms like Benzinga are leveling the playing field, making actionable market information accessible for everyone—from individual retail investors to advanced quant traders. Get ready as we unpack the rise of alternative data, the intersection of finance and AI, and whether prediction markets are the next big tool in forecasting—or just another signal to question in an increasingly complex landscape. Strap in for insights on regulation, market dynamics, and the sometimes wild personalities driving innovation in finance today! LinksAndrew's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/lebbosandrew/Benzinga -https://www.benzinga.com/Benzinga APIS -https://www.benzinga.com/apis/Watch on YouTube -https://youtu.be/xY6mIRP1L2c Time Stamps00:00 Starting Benzinga to democratize info 03:22 Building financial data services 08:10 Growth through niche news coverage 12:57 Hedging with company performance 15:00 Early quant experiences at Merrill Lynch 20:07 Explaining Polymarket betting mechanics 23:34 Discussing market prediction tools 26:39 CFTC regulations on trading limits 28:04 Discussing crowdsourcing and wisdom 34:14 Exploring unique data sources 35:35 Discussing the vinyl resurgence 41:40 Finding an edge in investing 43:42 Wondering about the future of betting 47:42 Brokerage purchase options explained 50:20 Building ideas with AI tools

    52 min
  4. Andy Boettcher on Why This is the Age of the Chaotic Brain

    APR 8

    Andy Boettcher on Why This is the Age of the Chaotic Brain

    this episode, Frank sits down with Andy Boettcher, the Chief Innovation Officer at DoubleTrack, for a candid conversation about embracing the power (and chaos!) of modern AI tools. Together, they dive into how neurodiversity and "chaotic brains" are thriving in this new era, where ideas can be rapidly tested, refined, and built with the aid of tools like Claude code. From the practical realities of using AI for software development and troubleshooting (even in classic cars and household appliances) to the shifting landscape of business innovation, they discuss the opportunities and challenges facing individuals and companies alike. You'll hear first-hand stories about building podcast production tools, leveraging AI agents as virtual team members, the importance of critical thinking in an age of instant information, and why data security and adaptability are more crucial than ever. Whether you're a technologist, business leader, or simply curious about what it means to innovate today, this episode promises insight, humor, and a healthy dose of chaos. Let's get data driven. LinksAndy's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyboettcher/ShowDog -https://www.showdog.studio/ Time Stamps00:00 What a Chief Innovation Officer does 06:18 The age of chaotic creativity 09:56 Using AI for planning discussions 11:31 Choosing the name Show Dog 15:22 Brainstorming and organizing ideas 18:43 Using tech for learning 20:47 Companies adopting AI strategies 25:10 Classic car ownership struggles 28:41 Taking time to rethink plans 31:34 Using AI to solve problems 37:25 Challenges in commercializing academic concepts 39:18 Adapting to evolving AI technology 43:36 AI tools and problem-solving in coding 45:23 Limitations of AI and data security 47:33 Data security and CRM setup 51:22 Challenging assumptions and blind spots

    53 min
  5. Synthetic Populations and the Future of Decision Intelligence

    JAN 29

    Synthetic Populations and the Future of Decision Intelligence

    In this episode of Data Driven, Frank and Andy dive into the future of market intelligence with Dr. Jill Axline, co-founder and CEO of Mavera—a company building synthetic populations that simulate real human behaviour, cognition, and emotion. Forget Personas. We're talking real-time, AI-driven behavioural modeling that's more predictive than your horoscope and considerably more data-backed. Dr. Axline shares how Mavera’s swarm of AI models situates these synthetic humans within real-world business contexts to forecast decisions, measure emotional resonance, and even test marketing messages before they go live. From governance and model drift to the surprising uses in financial services, political campaigns, and speechwriting—this is one of the most forward-looking conversations we’ve had yet. If you've ever wanted a deeper understanding of how AI can augment decision-making—or just want to hear Frank admit asset managers love ice cream—this one’s for you. LinksLearn more about Mavera:https://mavera.ioConnect with Jill Axline on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/jillaxlineMorningstar:https://www.morningstar.com Time Stamps00:00 - Introduction & AI Swarms Explained 03:30 - Forget Personas: Contextual AI Models 07:00 - Evidence vs Inference & AI Governance 10:20 - Simulation Scenarios & Model Drift 14:30 - Synthetic Audiences in Action 18:00 - Evidence Feedback Loops & Small Data Challenges 22:00 - Industry Applications & Use Cases 27:00 - Analyzing Speeches & Emotional Resonance 30:45 - Sentiment, Social Listening, and Real-Time News Reactions 34:00 - Adversarial Models & Strategic Pushback 38:00 - The Cartoon Bank Portal That Failed Spectacularly 41:00 - From Skeptic to CEO: Jill’s Journey 45:00 - Data Privacy, Compliance & Synthetic Ethics 48:00 - Reflections on Empathy, Engineers, and Selling Without Selling Support the ShowIf you enjoy Data Driven, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite pod platform. It helps more people find the show—and fuels Frank’s Monster Energy habit.

    50 min
  6. Microsoft Fabric Unpacked: AI, Data Sovereignty, and a Bit of Clippy Nostalgia

    JAN 12

    Microsoft Fabric Unpacked: AI, Data Sovereignty, and a Bit of Clippy Nostalgia

    In today’s show, BAILeY, your semi-sentient hostess with the mostest metadata, teams up with Frank La Vigne to welcome the ever-insightful Andrew Brust for a deep dive into the evolving Microsoft data ecosystem. From nostalgic tales of Windows history and scoring elusive Clippy swag at Ignite, to unraveling what makes Microsoft Fabric a game-changer for data integration, AI, and governance, this episode covers it all. You’ll hear firsthand how Microsoft’s innovation goes far beyond the tech itself—focusing on seamless integration, unified billing, and organizational synergy. Andrew Brust sheds light on the journey from fragmented Azure services to the unified vision of Fabric, the rise of generative AI and “agentic” intelligence, and the increasingly important role of data sovereignty and governance in today’s regulatory landscape. Whether you’re a data enthusiast, an AI tinkerer, or just in it for the nostalgia, grab your headphones and get ready for insights, laughs, and more acronyms than you can shake a dataset at. Stay curious and caffeinated—this episode has something for everyone! Time Stamps00:00 Microsoft Expertise and Industry Analysis 03:18 "Big Data and Analytics Insights" 08:31 Power BI's Rise in Azure 12:26 "Unified Fabric-Based Data Platform" 14:01 "Fabric IQ Powers AI Integration" 17:24 "Achieving Synergy Against Odds" 23:32 "Unified Compute for Seamless Integration" 24:41 "Overwhelmed by AWS Complexity" 28:21 "Microsoft Research Powers Azure Fabric" 34:20 "Azure Foundry and Tools" 37:33 "Flexibility Beyond Major Cloud Providers" 41:33 Global Data Privacy Trends 45:13 "Governance for Agentic AI" 47:29 "Azure Stack and Local Clouds" 50:13 "Kubernetes: The Cloud Caveat" 53:40 "Let's Reconnect and Reminisce"

    55 min
  7. Celebrating 400 Episodes – How AI Turbocharges Coding, Podcasting, and Creativity

    JAN 8

    Celebrating 400 Episodes – How AI Turbocharges Coding, Podcasting, and Creativity

    Welcome to a milestone episode of Data Driven! In episode 400, hosts BAILeY, Frank La Vigne, and Andy Leonard gather to reflect on nearly a decade at the forefront of podcasting about data, AI, and the world of software engineering. This special edition takes you behind the scenes with stories of tech evolution, personal growth, and the wild journey from their earliest recordings to today’s AI-powered workflows. The team digs into how generative AI has transformed their creative process—making it possible for small teams to produce vast amounts of content, drive innovation, and manage multiple podcasts at a high level. You'll hear about Frank’s latest tool, Podsy—a platform built to help creators manage the ever-growing tsunami of podcast assets using cutting-edge AI—and how tools like Claude, Grok, and Opus are unleashing new possibilities for automation and storytelling. With their signature tangents, candid stories (including car accidents, water heater mishaps, and parenting milestones), and a bit of nostalgia about the early days of podcasting, this episode captures what makes Data Driven both insightful and relatable. If you’re a developer, data professional, or a fellow podcaster looking to stay ahead of the curve, episode 400 is packed with practical lessons, inspiration, and a few good laughs. Dive in as the team celebrates what’s possible in the age of AI—and look ahead to an exciting new chapter for the show! Time stamps00:00 "DGX Spark: Personal AI Supercomputer" 03:28 "Tech Innovations and Hardware Updates" 07:51 "Daily 5:40am Notification Routine" 11:10 "Podzi: Managing Podcast Assets" 15:35 "Boosting Value with AI Efficiency" 17:05 Claude Enhanced Legacy System 23:32 AI Impact on Creative Roles 25:58 "Consulting Break: Investing Time" 29:33 "Automation Evolution and Tools Demo" 31:35 "Podsy Studio: A Journey" 35:06 "AI-Powered Content Creation Demo" 38:26 "Podcast Organization and Insights" 42:10 "Streamlining Metadata for Insights" 45:47 "Unveiling AI's Hidden Potential" 50:41 "Celebrating 400 Podcast Episodes" 54:41 "Off Track Ambitions" 57:44 "Reality Strikes Back: Tech Trust" 59:36 "Podsy Progress and Workflow"

    1h 1m
  8. The Real Risks of LLMs - Guardrails, Judgment, and the Human Element in Cybersecurity

    11/26/2025

    The Real Risks of LLMs - Guardrails, Judgment, and the Human Element in Cybersecurity

    In this episode of Data Driven, hosts Frank La Vigne, Candace Gillhoolley, and BAILeY sit down with Mike Armistead, CEO of Pulse Security AI—a cybersecurity veteran who's been fortifying digital defenses since before AI made headlines and hackers had professional profiles. Together, they dig into the dual-edged sword that is artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, exploring how AI serves as both a powerful tool against cyber threats and a potential weapon in the wrong hands. Mike Armistead shares stories from the front lines, including his experience during the "code red" era at Google when ChatGPT shook up the tech world, and offers real-world advice on why LLMs (large language models) aren’t the magic fix for every problem—and why they desperately need guardrails. You’ll hear why your next big data breach could be hiding in a cleverly crafted AI prompt, why humans still matter when it comes to judgment calls, and why good old-fashioned security hygiene is as critical as ever. Whether you’re a developer, data scientist, or just password-paranoid, this episode will make you rethink how you approach security in the age of AI. Tune in for expert insights, hard-earned lessons, and a few laughs as the Data Driven crew uncovers where technology, risk, and "common sense" collide. Time Stamps00:00 AI-Assisted Cybersecurity for SOCs 04:26 "AI Rush and LLM Insights" 09:12 AI-Powered Cybersecurity Strategy Insights 10:01 "Cybersecurity, ChatGPT, and Impressions" 13:17 AI Tools: Power and Risks 18:06 "Teaching Critical Thinking in AI Era" 20:59 "Guardrails and Next-Gen AI Systems" 24:22 Human Judgment vs AI Limitations 27:37 "Pressure Testing for Accuracy" 30:09 Future Tech Advancements and Challenges 34:58 "Risk Awareness Beyond Compliance" 37:38 "Cybersecurity Risks and AI Defense" 41:54 Cybersecurity Risks and Preparedness 43:04 "Situational Security in Practice" 46:05 "Cybersecurity's Evolving Threat Landscape" 51:52 "Builders vs. Destroyers Mindset" 55:05 Modern Password Practices 56:39 "Pulse Security AI & Community"

    58 min
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4.8
out of 5
45 Ratings

About

Data Driven: the podcast where we explore the emerging field of Data Science. We bring the best minds in Data, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence right to you every Tuesday. The field of data science mashes up the worlds of statistics, database architecture and software engineering. Data Scientist has been labelled by the Harvard Business Review, as "the sexiest job of the 21st century." A quick search of job search sites reveal that this field is in high demand. In a world where Data is the new Oil, Data Science the new Refineries, consider this Car Talk for the Data Age. Every week we bring the best minds in this emerging field straight to you. Our goal is to educate and inspire our listeners so that they can be prepared to thrive in a Data Driven world.

Information

  • Creator
    Data Driven
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Data Driven
  • Show Website
    Data Driven

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