The Rock Bottom Data Feed

John Ladley and Mark Cooper

Irreverent yet practical data-focused podcast that isn't a pile of technobabble and repetition of old advice. Our audience is EVERYBODY, because everybody is involved with data. Join us, because when you're here, you're at Rock Bottom.

Episodes

  1. 12/31/2025

    The Fuss About Series Three

    Series Three of the Rock Bottom Data Feed has been an exploration of AI and data. It's a big subject. Sometimes we got talking with our guests and next thing you know we've gone long or ventured into a topic that's beyond the scope of the episode. Never ones to let good conversation go to waste, we've accumulated those bits here. If you haven't already listened to the episodes in this series, go back and listen. If you have already listened to the episodes in this series, go back and listen anyway. As a special bonus, we present Rosie Krantz and Goldie Stern at the AI Bootstrap (sponsored by Outplaced) in its entirety. But first, we join Ben Counter and Pete Webster live at the Ponds Data Governance Bowl. And be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 06:28 – Rosie Krantz & Goldie Stern at the AI Bootstrap (sponsored by Outplaced); 22:53 – Kelle O'Neal, Gregg Loos, Doug Laney, and Tony Shaw; 42:06 – Recap & Close

    44 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    The Fuss About Data Education

    It is our pleasure to welcome to Rock Bottom, Tony Shaw, Founder and CEO of DATAVERSITY, the premiere resource for data education, whether delivered live, recorded, virtual, or in person. It is clear that data is becoming increasingly important for AI success, and in many ways, corporate success. But while data education is also becoming increasingly important, it is still undervalued by too many companies. Keeping up with the state of the art is key, and there's no substitute for being there in the room with other practitioners. In this episode, we conclude the story of Roman Krantz and Gilbert Stern. Their expulsion from of the land of cubicles has been rough, but they may have found a port in the storm. Will AI be the demise of Roman and Gilbert, or will they rewrite their own ending? And be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 06:37 – Monologue; 09:21 – Tony Shaw; 41:19 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 44:07 – Audio Rorschach Test; 46:05 – Recap & Close Featured Image: Frontiers Conferences, "Frontiers 2011 - Day 2." Flickr.com. Some rights reserved.

    47 min

  3. 11/11/2025

    The Fuss About Losing Jobs to AI

    Nearly a hundred thousand corporate employees have been terminated in mass layoffs this year. Most just in the past few months. And ostensibly because of AI. We're not convinced. Our scheduled guest was unexpectedly unavailable (and in case you're worried, we can confirm that he was not replaced by AI), so in this episode, John and Mark discuss these recent events and some of what the future holds. Maybe this batch wasn't totally due to AI, but it's coming. We are also excited about our partnership with DATAVERSITY. Use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase at DATAVERSITY: DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 04:59 – Monologue; 07:19 – John & Mark; 31:35 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 33:53 – Recap & Close Feature Image: Tuggerah Removals and Storage. Some rights reserved.

    35 min
  4. The Fuss About Data In the C-Suite and On the Balance Sheet

    09/30/2025

    The Fuss About Data In the C-Suite and On the Balance Sheet

    In our first series, Doug Laney introduced us to Datanomics. He is also the author of Data Juice. In this episode he returns to Rock Bottom to go into more detail about the approaches and metrics companies can use to truly treat data as an asset. To do that, we need to introduce data into the C-Suite. Most companies approach Data Governance through the CIO or CDO, and that has been moderately successful. It's good to have CEO interest, but too often that happens when data quality becomes so bad the CEO notices. Not the way you want that to. happen. Perhaps the CFO is a good option. Let's see. We are also excited to announce our partnership with DATAVERSITY. Use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase at DATAVERSITY: DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 04:31 – Monologue; 07:28 – Doug Laney; 36:12 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 38:19 – Audio Data Rorschach Test (with a special guest!!); 40:46 – Recap & Close Featured Image by freeimageslive.co.uk - gratuit

    42 min

  5. 09/16/2025

    More Fuss About AI

    The Rock Bottom Data Feed gang is back for another series, and for much of this series we will be focused on AI. Just like the internet and Six Sigma, we think it's here to stay. So, what are its ramifications for the data area? How can we make AI work for us, not against us? How can we get something useful from it? In this episode we welcome Kelle O'Neal and Gregg Loos from First San Francisco Partners. FSFP is a consultancy that helps organizations make their information actionable. They are also on the forefront of using AI to accelerate their own business processes, and share some of what they've learned through the process We are also excited to announce our partnership with DATAVERSITY. Use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase at DATAVERSITY: DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 05:10 – Monologue; 07:33 – Kelle O'Neal & Gregg Loos; 45:17 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 47:55 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 50:40 – Recap & Close Featured Image: "Keynote Ballroom" (2008) by TheDeepFryedBoot at Flickr.com. Some rights reserved.

    51 min

  6. 09/02/2025

    The Fuss About Nick Guy

    Welcome back for this, the third series of the Rock Bottom Data Feed. Previously, John and Mark did a four-part radio play following Nick Guy, Data Detective, as he investigated the death of Consolidated International and the role that Jen AI may have played in its demise. The reception from our listeners was very enthusiastic, so in this special episode we present the full, uninterrupted radio play. We'd again like to thank The Rock Bottom Players who helped with the Nick Guy series and other sketches: Chris Ladley, Amy Ladley, Pamela Thomas, Evan Goldt, Kasey Griffin, Karen Schowalter Cooper, and Johnathan Whited. Featured Image: noir city, by Emiliano Grusovin, Flickr.com, some rights reserved. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction; 08:21 – Part 1: Jennifer Am I; 16:04 – Part 2: Dead in the Red; 24:26 – Part 3: A Profile in Death; 27:33 – Part 4: Neglect and Death; 28:21 – Close

    20 min
  7. The Fuss About Your Hosts

    07/15/2025

    The Fuss About Your Hosts

    In this very special twentieth episode of the Rock Bottom Data Feed, John Ladley and Mark Cooper welcome John Ladley and Mark Cooper to the show. Two blokes chatting at the kitchen table about data as anthropology and AI. Isn't that what everybody talks about at the kitchen table? You'll also hear your hosts answering the two questions asked of every Rock Bottom Data Feed guest and playing the famous game show. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank The Rock Bottom Players who helped with the Nick Guy series and other sketches: Chris Ladley, Amy Ladley, Pamela Thomas, Evan Goldt, Kasey Griffin, Karen Schowalter Cooper, and Johnathan Whited. Chapters: 00:00 – Two Blokes; 08:21 – Data as Anthropology; 16:04 – AI in Information Management; 24:26 – Thank Yous; 27:33 – Hubris Data Pros; 28:21 – Two Questions; 35:06 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 39:01 – Close

    40 min

  8. 07/01/2025

    The Fuss About Winning the Data Governance Game

    We are excited to welcome Nicola Askham to Rock Bottom. She is an award-winning Data Governance expert, coach, consultant, and trainer. Her website has a wealth of useful information, including a list of the 10 biggest mistakes companies make when implementing data governance. How many look familiar to you? In this episode, Nicola shares best practices and stories from the front lines of Data Governance. In the conclusion of our premiere Nick Guy Mysteries series, Nick makes an important discovery about the untimely demise of Consolidated Dynamics. Will Jennifer AI take the fall? Or is she, too, a victim of systemic failure? Tune in and find out. Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 05:50 – Monologue; 08:23 – Nicola Askham; 28:46 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 30:53 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 32:48 – Recap & Close

    34 min

  9. 06/17/2025

    The Fuss About Principles and Policies

    Principles and policies live at the intersection of Data Governance and Data Ethics. It's a place many companies could use some help. Providing that help in this episode of the Rock Bottom Data Feed is Malcolm Chisholm, President of Data Millennium, and author of Successful and Sustainable Data Policies. He introduces us to the Data Policy Lifecycle, required not only for Data Policies (as its name suggests) but also as a foundation for sustainable Data Governance. And Nick Guy finds himself entangled deeper and deeper in a web of corporate homicide. Will he be able to solve this mystery before an innocent party is captured...or worse!?! Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 05:34 – Monologue; 08:13 – Malcolm Chisholm; 29:38 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom (links to the ChatGPT "travelogue" and the Stanford report on generative AI bias); 31:45 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 34:13 – Recap & Close

    35 min

  10. 06/03/2025

    More Fuss About Data Ethics

    In this episode, we return to the subject of Data Ethics. The title may have given it away. We are pleased to welcome to Rock Bottom Katrina Ingram, Founder and CEO of Ethically Aligned AI, and author of the Dataversity column Ask a Data Ethicist. We met Katrina at DGIQ in Washington, DC. She joins us here to share practical advice about making AI responsible, safe, and ethical. We also continue the adventures of Nick Guy, Data Detective, as he arrives at the old warehouse by the waterfront. He encounters a horrific crime scene, as well as a special guest Rock Bottom Player. Can you guess who it is? Chapters: 00:00 – Open & Introduction; 05:56 – Monologue; 08:40 – Katrina Ingram; 25:43 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 27:42 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 29:42 – Recap & Close

    31 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Irreverent yet practical data-focused podcast that isn't a pile of technobabble and repetition of old advice. Our audience is EVERYBODY, because everybody is involved with data. Join us, because when you're here, you're at Rock Bottom.

Information

  • Creator
    John Ladley and Mark Cooper
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 Counter Threaded Productions
  • Show Website
    The Rock Bottom Data Feed