The PolicyViz Podcast

Apr 08 2025 280 ep. 31 mins 1.2k
The PolicyViz Podcast artwork

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.

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Data Are Local: Context, Power, and Storytelling with Yanni Loukissas

Apr 08 2025 40 mins  
In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I speak with Yanni Loukissas, an Associate Professor at Georgia Tech, about the importance of context in working with data. Yanni argues that data are not universal but local—shaped by their origins, environments, and the intentions of those who collect them. Our conversation dives into how this perspective challenges dominant narratives

Exploring the Evolution of Data Visualization with Moritz Stefaner

Mar 18 2025 41 mins  
In this week's episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I sit down with data visualization expert Moritz Stefaner to reflect on his journey in the field. We discuss Stefaner's work on the Data Stories Podcast, his shift from bespoke data visualization projects to scalable design systems, and his collaborations with organizations like the World Health Organization. Moritz shares insights o

Engage, Elevate, Communicate: Davina Stanley on Crafting Clear Business Messages

Mar 04 2025 39 mins  
In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I chat with communication expert Davina Stanley about the power of clear and structured messaging in business communication. Davina shares insights from her books Engage and Elevate, discussing how leaders and teams can improve their communication efficiency through message mapping. She explains how a well-structured message can reduce back

Mapping Inequality: Braden Crooks on Redlining and Urban Transformation

Feb 18 2025 35 mins  
In this week's episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, I speak with Braden Crooks, co-founder of Designing the We, about their project Undesign the Redline, an interactive exhibit that explores the history and lasting impact of redlining in the U.S. Braden shares how his background in landscape architecture and urban design led him to develop this project, which combines research, storyt

Revolutionizing Web Development: Rich Harris on Svelte's Creation and Impact

Feb 04 2025 34 mins  
Rich Harris, creator of the Svelte framework, stops by the podcast to talk about his work. Rich shares how Svelte originated from his work in newsrooms at The Guardian and The New York Times, where he developed tools for building interactive data visualizations under tight deadlines. We talk about how Svelte simplifies web development by bridging the gap between HTML/CSS knowledge

Kevin Wee's Tableau Journey in Visualization and Innovation

Jan 21 2025 35 mins  
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you're having a great start to 2025 and are poised to have a happy, healthy, and successful year. I'm excited to start off the podcast this year with my friend Kevin Wee, a Tableau creator and visualizer, who shares his journey into data visualization. Kevin's Tableau journey starts in 2019 at Purdue University where he faced challenges working with

Unlocking Data Communication: Unleashing the Power of R with David Keyes

Dec 17 2024 35 mins  
The PolicyViz Podcast wraps up 2024 with David Keyes, author of the new book, R for the Rest of Us: A Statistics-Free Introduction [https://amzn.to/3OM6MIC]! We not only talk about how you can get started in R using David's book, but also building data and data visualization workflows with R, RMarkdown, and Quarto. We also talk about how to create consistent visualizations through

Captivating Minds: The Science of Storytelling and Attention in a Distracted World with John Medina

Dec 03 2024 43 mins  
I've been super excited for this episode of the podcast for a while! This week, I speak with John Medina, author of one of my favorite books on the brain—Brain Rules! John and I talk about brain science generally and also dive into some specific aspects that are particularly important to the work of any data communicator: the importance of capturing and maintaining audience atten

Mastering the Art of Executive Presence with Dr. Laura Sicola: Transforming Technical Expertise into Compelling Communication 

Nov 19 2024 35 mins  
Dr. Laura Sikola, a cognitive linguist and communications expert, visits the podcast to talk about how to be a better presenter and communicator. Laura's work focuses on how to have better presence, telling stories, and connecting with your audiences. We talk about communication challenges like the "expert's curse" and how developing your "executive presence" can command attention

Designing with Type: Ellen Lupton on Typography, Inclusivity, and Innovation

Nov 06 2024 34 mins  
I'm so excited to welcome Ellen Lupton to the PolicyViz Podcast! Ellen Lupton is a designer, writer, and educator. The all-new edition of her bestselling book Thinking with Type launched in March 2024. Other books include Design Is Storytelling, Graphic Design Thinking, Health Design Thinking, and Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-Racist, Nonbinary Field Guide for Graphic Des