Podcast
The PolicyViz Podcast
Hosted by The PolicyViz Podcast · EN
Learn how to be a great data communicator and visualizer with host Jon Schwabish. Hear from experts in the fields of data science, data visualization, and presentation skills to improve how you and your organization collect, analyze, and communicate your data in better, more efficient, and more effective ways.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Dashboards That Deliver: A Conversation with Amanda Makulec
Feb 1800:42:34Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I talk with Amanda Makulec about what it really takes to design dashboards and data products that people can understand and use. We dig into why so many dashboards fail, how designers and analysts often misjudge their audiences, and what it means to take a truly human-centered approach to data visualization. Amanda shares insights from her work leading the Data Visualization Society and from her book, including practical ways to think about context, cognition, and decision-making. We also discuss common misconceptions about dashboards, stakeholder expectations, and the gap between technical correctness and real-world usefulness. This conversation is packed with ideas for anyone building data tools meant to inform decisions, not just look impressive.Subscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthPick up the new book, Dashboards That Deliver.Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →The Future of America's Data: Policy, Risk, and Resilience with Denice Ross
Feb 400:40:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I talk with Denice Ross about the fragile state of federal data and her new work at DataIndex. We discuss how the removal, alteration, or disruption of federal data collections and data products affects research, policymaking, businesses, and everyday life. Denice explains the vision behind DataIndex and EssentialData, which monitor data risks, highlight data dependencies, and help users recognize how federal data benefit society. We also explore the roles of private-sector data, civic tech efforts, and public advocacy in building a more resilient national data infrastructure. It’s a fascinating look at what’s at stake when the country’s information backbone is no longer guaranteed.Subscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthCheck out America's Essential DataFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Before & After: Inside the New Book from the Storytelling with Data Team
Jan 2800:43:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m joined by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic and Mike Cisneros from Storytelling with Data to talk about their new book, Before & After. We dig into where the examples came from, how they selected and refined real client work, and why the book focuses so heavily on process rather than rules or templates. We also reflect on how the data visualization field has evolved over the past decade—from best practices and chart types to iteration, audience empathy, and real-world constraints. Along the way, we talk about teaching data viz, common pitfalls, and why there’s no such thing as a true “201 course”—only practice.Keywords: ddata visualization, storytelling with data, data storytelling, before and after charts, visualization process, data communication, chart design, visual analytics, design iteration, audience-focused data, PolicyViz Podcast, Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, Mike CisnerosSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthGrab the new book, Before and After - Practical Makeovers for Powerful Data StoriesFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Radical Cartography: What Maps Show, What They Hide, and Why It Matters
Jan 1400:46:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Bill Rankin, historian of science at Yale and author of Radical Cartography, to unpack what maps really do beyond simply showing data. We talk about why mapping is an act of representation with real consequences, how common techniques like choropleths and cartograms shape what we see—and what we miss—and why there’s no single “correct” way to visualize the world. Bill shares how his background in architecture influences his approach to mapping as drawing and world-making, not coding or dashboards. We also dig into static versus interactive maps, accessibility, and why starting with questions—not tools—leads to better visualizations. It’s a thoughtful conversation about intention, trade-offs, and responsibility in data visualization.Keywords: PolicyViz Podcast, Bill Rankin, Radical Cartography, data visualization, maps and mapping, cartography, choropleth maps, cartograms, population maps, map projections, visualizing data, representation in data, ethics of data visualization, static maps, interactive maps, storytelling with dataSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthGrab Bill’s new book, Radical Cartography, and check out his website at radicalcartography.net.Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Why Federal Statistics Matter: Rob Santos on Trust, Data Integrity, and the Future of the Census
Dec 1900:44:25Tap to summarizeThis is the final episode of 2026! I hope you have enjoyed the show this year and also hope you have a great holiday season and happy new year. In this episode, I sit down with former Census Bureau Director Rob Santos to talk about the state of federal statistics, what’s threatening the quality and independence of federal data, and why surveys like the American Community Survey and decennial census matter more than ever. We dig into how census data are collected, how political appointees interact with career staff, and why attempts to limit data collection or redefine who gets counted can undermine everything from policy to local decision-making. Rob also reflects on his approach to diversity, communication, and public engagement while leading the Census Bureau. We close by looking ahead at what modernization should look like for federal statistical agencies in the years to come.Keywords: Census Bureau, federal data, Rob Santos, statistical agencies, data quality, survey response rates, American Community Survey, decennial census, federal statistics, data integrity, data collection, public trust, policy data, government surveys, uncertainty communication, demographic data, administrative data, data modernizationSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Flourish, Canva, and the Future of Data Storytelling: Duncan Clark Returns to the Podcast
Dec 1600:36:26Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome back Duncan Clark from Flourish and Canva to talk about the incredible evolution of both tools over the past few years. We dig into how the Flourish and Canva teams have grown, how they now collaborate, and what that means for users who care about data visualization, storytelling, and workflow. Duncan walks through major updates—including the new Start With Data feature, expanded enterprise security options, and deeper presentation-focused capabilities. We also explore long-standing user requests, dashboarding, and how AI may soon accelerate data-viz workflows. It’s a wide-ranging and deeply insightful conversation for anyone who uses—or teaches—data visualization.Keywords: Flourish, Canva, Duncan Clark, data visualization, data storytelling, interactive graphics, data design, data tools, newsroom visualization, enterprise data security, Start With Data, presentations, dashboards, API visualization, data workflows, information design, PolicyViz PodcastSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthCheck our FlourishFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Inside IEEEVIS 2025: Key Themes, Best Papers, and the Future of Visualization
Dec 1000:47:20Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Alvitta Ottley and Paul Parsons to recap everything that happened at the 2025 IEEE VIS Conference in Vienna. We talk about our experiences co-organizing the VisCom workshop, the surprising attendance, and the standout keynote from Moritz Stefaner. Alvitta shares insights on accessibility research and the surge of LLM-focused visualization papers, while Paul walks us through his award-winning work on design cognition and how practitioners develop ideas. We also reflect on the evolving identity of the visualization field, from methodological rigor to the role of practitioners, interdisciplinarity, and ethical tensions. It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation about where visualization research is headed — and what we hope to see next year in Boston.Subscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthCheck out the VIS website.Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
Transcribe →Exploring Creative Data Visualization with Nadieh Bremer
Nov 2600:43:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Nadieh Bremer to talk about her new book, Chart, and the creative process behind her data visualization work. We discuss how she structures the book around a spectrum from straightforward charts to full-on data art, and why uncommon chart types can communicate nuance so effectively. Nadieh shares insights from her time in a makerspace, how physical-making influences her digital work, and why sketching after exploring the data is so important. We also talk about client work, design decisions, and how she thinks about success in her projects. It’s a fun, wide-ranging conversation that highlights why Nadieh remains one of the most thoughtful voices in the field.Keywords: Nadieh Bremer, data visualization, creative dataviz, data art, uncommon charts, Sankey diagrams, data storytelling, interactive visualization, static visualization, design process, sketching, makerspace, creative charts, PolicyViz PodcastSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthGet Nadieh's latest book, Chart, her previous book Data Sketches, and check out her website, VisualCinnamon.com.Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com
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The Financial Times' John Burn-Murdoch talks the Annotation Layer
Jun 18, 2019Tap to summarizePart of the FT’s interactive news team, John-Burn Murdoch works as a journalist alongside developers and designers to produce a mix of long term data-driven projects and same day interactive news stories. Other activities include presenting to domestic and overseas...The post Episode #155: John Burn-Murdoch appeared first on PolicyViz.
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