The Data Stack Show

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations, featuring insights worth revisiting. This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Michael Driscoll, Co-Founder and CEO of Rill Data. Mike discusses the transformative impact of AI on business intelligence (BI) and data analytics. He also explores the shift from traditional dashboard-based tools to more dynamic, code-driven, and AI-powered interfaces that provide deeper insights. During the conversation, the group emphasizes the importance of a metrics-first approach, the potential of leapfrog architectures using technologies like data lakes and real-time analytical databases, and how AI agents are increasingly becoming the primary users of data tools. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of data infrastructure, where open standards, flexibility, and intelligent interfaces are reshaping how businesses interact with and understand their data, and more. 

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

Welcome Back Mike Driscoll (1:11)

Philosophy Behind BI Tools (2:04)

Building a Natural Language Processing Server (4:33)

Deployment of MCP Servers (6:07)

The Role of Visualizations in BI (10:09)

Measuring Product Success (12:43)

Navigating Changes as Data Professionals (16:13)

Efficiency Gains with Code (19:00)

The Future of Data Teams (22:29)

Long-term Use of Rutter Stack (25:16)

Analytics Landscape Overview (30:59)

Future of BI Architecture (33:04)

AI's Role in Analytics (35:07)

Interoperability and Talent Pool (39:41)

The Crowded BI Market (42:03)

Final Thoughts and Takeaways (46:07)

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.

RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations, featuring insights worth revisiting. This week on The Data Stack Show, John and Matt bring you another edition of the Cynical Data Guy. John and Matt dive into the evolution of customer data infrastructure, the growing influence of low-code tools like Clay, and the blurred lines around the “engineer” title in modern data roles. They also discuss the trade-offs between SaaS adoption and building custom solutions, the pitfalls of enterprise software buying, and the realities of platform lock-in—using Palantir’s unique business model as a case study. Key takeaways include the importance of simplicity and scalability in data engineering, the need for clear requirements when evaluating tools, and a healthy skepticism toward sales pitches and “art of the possible” features. Don’t miss this month’s Cynical Data Guy. 

Highlights from this week’s conversation include:

Reacting to the Rise of the GTM Engineer (1:11)

Is "Engineer" the Right Term? (4:49)

Low-Code Tools, AI, and Future Workflows (7:14)

Simplicity in Data Engineering (14:38)

The Pitfalls of "Simple" Solutions (15:18)

Choosing SaaS vs. Building In-House (18:26)

Business Process Abstraction and SaaS Adoption (21:31)

Enterprise Software: Art of the Possible vs. Practicality (24:31)

Sales Advice: Focus on Customer Needs (27:11)

Forward Deployed Engineers and Delivery Models (29:05)

Platform Lock-In: When Is It a Dirty Word? (36:41)

Legacy Systems and the Reality of Lock-In (39:53)

Final Thoughts and Takeaways (40:55)

The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.

RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.
This week on The Data Stack Show, John welcomes back repeat-guest Ben Rogojan, Owner and Data Consultant of Seattle Data Guy. John and Ben discuss the evolving relationship between data teams and businesses, highlighting the challenges of proving value in a cost-conscious environment. Ben explores the impact of technological advancements, the rise of AI, and the critical skills data professionals need to succeed. Key insights include the importance of understanding business context, being proactive, and focusing on delivering tangible outcomes rather than just producing dashboards. Ben also emphasizes the need for data teams to communicate value effectively, show rather than tell, and be willing to take calculated risks. The conversation provides practical advice for data professionals looking to advance their careers, with a focus on developing business skills, understanding organizational needs, creating meaningful impact beyond technical expertise, and so much more. 
Technical Freelancer Academy & Consulting Community (1:21)
Evolution of Data Teams and Technology (2:52)
Data Team Growth and Output vs. Outcome (4:47)
Internal Optimization vs. Client-Facing Data Work (7:23)
Audience, Delivery Mechanisms, and Actionability (12:40)
Proving ROI and Prioritizing Work (15:27)
Practical Tips for Data Team-Business Alignment (18:31)
Dealing with Vanity and Security Blanket Metrics (23:39)
AI’s Impact on Data Workflows (27:07)
BI Tools, AI Integration, and Dashboards (32:25)
Top Skills for Data Professionals (37:27)
Career Growth: Technical, Communication, and Business Skills (42:02)
Show, Don’t Tell: Prototyping and Feedback (44:37)
Taking Initiative and Risk in Data Roles (50:21)
Parting Advice and Closing Thoughts (51:16)
The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.
RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Barry McCardel, CEO and Co-Founder of Hex, joins Eric Dodds and John Wessel to discuss the transformative impact of AI on data teams and the broader data industry. The conversation explores how AI is reshaping workflows, team structures, and the very definition of data roles, while also addressing the anxieties and opportunities that come with rapid change. Barry shares Hex’s journey from having a dedicated AI team to fully integrating AI across the product, and offers insights on industry consolidation, the infinite demand for data insights, and the importance of embracing change. Key takeaways include the need for data professionals to adapt and focus on problem-solving, the growing value of context and curation, the competitive advantage for organizations that leverage AI-driven tools and foster a culture of innovation, and so much more. 
Highlights from this week’s conversation include:
Welcoming Back Barry to The Show (1:07)
Discussing Change, Uncertainty, And Anxiety In Data Roles (3:13)
Exploring Excitement And Opportunity In AI Adoption (6:20)
Redefining Data Roles And The Infinite Demand For Insight (9:37)
The Impact Of AI On Data Workflows And Team Mindset (12:52)
Evolving Team Structures And The End Of The Magic Team (16:49)
Integrating AI Into Product Development At Hex (20:44)
Comparing Industry Approaches To AI Features (24:56)
How AI Changes Daily Workflows For Data Teams (28:52)
The Virtuous Cycle Of Context, Curation, And Self-Serve (32:39)
Managing Context And Evaluating AI Agent Performance (36:52)
The Expanding Role Of Data Professionals In The AI Era (40:45)
Industry Consolidation And The Modern Data Stack (44:32)
Lessons From Acquisitions And Platform Shifts (48:18)
Key Takeaways And Looking Ahead To Future Episodes (52:16)
The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.
RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

 

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com.
This week on The Data Stack Show, John and Matt dive into the latest trends in AI, discussing the evolution of GPT models, the role of tools in reducing hallucinations, and the ongoing debate between data warehouses and agent-based approaches. They also explore the complexities of risk-taking in data teams, drawing lessons from Nate Silver’s book on risk and sharing real-world analogies from cybersecurity, football, and political campaigns. Key takeaways include the importance of balancing innovation with practical risk management, the need for clear recommendations from data professionals, the value of reading fiction to understand human behavior in data, and so much more.
Highlights from this week’s conversation include:
Initial Impressions of GPT-5 (1:41)
AI Hallucinations and the Open-Source GPT Model (4:06)
Tools and Determinism in AI Agents (6:00)
Risks of Tool Reliance in AI (8:05)
The Next Big Data Fight: Warehouses vs. Agents (10:21)
Real-Time Data Processing Limitations (12:56)
Risk in Data and AI: Book Recommendation (17:08)
Measurable vs. Perceived Risk in Business (20:10)
Security Trade-Offs and Organizational Impact (22:31)
The Quest for Certainty and Wicked Learning Environments (27:37)
Poker, Process, and Data Team Longevity (29:11)
Support Roles and Limits of Data Teams (32:56)
Final Thoughts and Takeaways (34:20)
The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it’s needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we’ll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.
RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.