Send us a text Guest: Kris Kluver, Founder of Life on Your Terms — speaker, facilitator, best-selling author, advisor, and coach helping leaders design fulfillment that matches their ambition. Summary: In this powerful replay, Kris Kluver flips the script on success. Too many high performers master their business but neglect their well-being — Kris shows how to align both. From defining what success really means to knowing when to say no, this conversation is about creating freedom, balance,...

Send us a text Exploring the intersection of creativity and innovation, Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals, shares his insights on how AI is revolutionizing live experiences. From personalized exhibits to universal storytelling, Geoff delves into the possibilities and pitfalls of harnessing AI to elevate our connections with others. 01:39 Introducing Geoff Thatcher 02:48 Thinking about AI Differently 13:47 What Does it Mean to "Create" Now? 19:32 Augmented I...

Send us a text This is one of my favorite episodes - it's all about the story! Part 2 of our conversation with Vinca LaFleur, Founding Partner of West Wing Writers. From the power of ideas to the art of delivery, Vinca shares what it takes to write words that resonate — and why every great message starts with meaning. 00:30 Tricks and tips to a presentation04:14 Speech gotchas07:29 Knowing when you have a hit09:39 How much is delivery11:53 GOAT speech Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis: https...

Send us a text We're joined by Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai and pioneer in RAG research. From deploying AI agents at Fortune 500 companies to shedding light on data privacy and security, Douwe shares his expertise and insights on how to make data simple, effective, and secure. 00:46 Introducing Douwe Kiela 01:37 RAG - Here to Stay or Go? 06:59 LLMs with Context 08:20 Making AI Successful 10:34 Why Contextual AI? 17:18 LLM versus SLMs 20:28 Speed over Perfection 22:07 Hallucinations 26:02...

Send us a text This week, we’re rewinding one of our most talked-about episodes! Richmond Alake, Developer Advocate at MongoDB, joins us to explore how databases power the future of AI. From RAG best practices to the truth behind AGI hype, Richmond breaks down what it takes to build systems that scale — and think. Show Notes 02:05 Meet Rich Alake 03:57 A Developer Advocate at MongoDB 05:57 Passions and Fate! 08:52 AI Hype 13:14 Oh No… AGI Again 17:30 What Makes an AI ...

Send us a text Replay Episode: Python, Anaconda, and the AI Frontier with Peter Wang Peter Wang — Chief AI & Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda — is back on Making Data Simple! Known for shaping the open-source ecosystem and making Python a powerhouse, Peter dives into Anaconda’s new AI incubator, the future of GenAI, and why Python isn’t just “still a thing”… it’s the thing. From branding and security to leadership and philosophy, this episode is a wild ride through the bigges...

Send us a text This week on Making Data Simple, join Ajay Kulkarni, CEO and co-founder of TigerData, as we dive into the rapidly evolving world of data. Ajay shares his front-row perspective on the challenges and opportunities of building and scaling time-series databases in an era of AI-driven automation. From the mechanics of managing massive data streams to the bold bets shaping the future of IoT, this conversation goes deep into what’s breaking, what’s working, and what’s next. Whether yo...

Send us a text What if AI could tap into live operational data — without ETL or RAG? In this episode, Deepti Srivastava, founder of Snow Leopard, reveals how her company is transforming enterprise data access with intelligent data retrieval, semantic intelligence, and a governance-first approach. Tune in for a fresh perspective on the future of AI and the startup journey behind it. We explore how companies are revolutionizing their data access and AI strategies. Deepti Srivastava, founder o...

Send us a text 🎙️ This week on Making Data Simple: Fred Joyal — you may know him from the iconic 1-800-DENTIST commercials. Today, Fred takes us beyond marketing genius into the art of being BOLD. Show Notes 02:20 – Brand Fred Joyal19:20 – Monetization Strategy20:58 – Boldness as a Superpower23:18 – Just Show Up26:15 – Step Up with Exercises27:00 – Failures are Steps Up: Take Another Swing38:50 – 5 Steps to Lowering Anxiety41:50 – How to Better Network💡 Boldness, resilience, and practical str...

Send us a text Get ready for an insightful conversation on the future of data integration and real-time decision making with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management at StreamSets. We cover everything from the “why StreamSets” story to its secret sauce, how it plays in regulated industries, and what makes it a powerful player in data fabric, AI, and streaming use cases. If you’re passionate about the future of data pipelines, governance, and AI-driven insights, this one’s for you! ⏱️ Episo...

Send us a text Ready to reclaim your time and live with intention? In this episode, Katherine Mayne sits down with Jacob Hicks, Coach and Speaker, to explore the intersection of productivity and intentional living. We dive into the tools, habits, and strategies that can help you master time management, optimize your workflow, and unlock your full potential. From the Four Disciplines of Execution to Atomic Habits and the role of AI in coaching, Jacob shares practical, real-world insights you c...

Send us a text Episode Description: Taking a break doesn’t mean you miss the good stuff. Last year, while I was on a much-needed vacation, I invited one of my favorite coaches back on the mic — Lynne Snead, Principal & Owner of Talent Evolution Systems. Lynne walks us through the Three Circles Model — a powerful framework for maintaining focus, expanding influence, and leading with intention. We explore what separates managers from true leaders, the role of mindset and energy in influenc...

Send us a text Episode Description (Show Notes): Step into the world of IBM Power Systems with insider insights from Tom McPherson, former GM of IBM Power. In this conversation, Tom shares leadership lessons, debunks common misconceptions, and dives deep into the innovations shaping the future of Power infrastructure. From AI integration to hybrid cloud strategies, competitive positioning to compelling client use cases — it’s a powerhouse discussion you won’t want to miss. Timestamps: ...

Send us a text 🎙 Replay Alert: Symbolic AI, QLattice, and Mind-Bending Ideas with Casper Wilstrup We’re bringing back one of our most thought-provoking episodes! Join us for a replay with Casper Skern Wilstrup, CEO of Abzu and the mind behind QLattice. We dive into Symbolic AI, the why behind Abzu, and Casper’s wild take on consciousness, simulation theory, and panpsychism. It’s science, AI, and philosophy in one unforgettable conversation. Grab a drink, sit back, and prepare to have your min...

Send us a text Deep Diving into the future of AI: Join Dr. Sean Falconer — AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent, software engineering leader, and developer relations expert — for a deep dive into the future of AI, data streaming, and what it really means to build at the edge of innovation. From managing multiple LLMs to testing autonomous agents and sharing his bold contrarian takes, Sean helps us simplify the complexity of today's tech. 📌 Timestamps 04:38 – Meet Sean Falconer&nb...

Send us a text She’s the legal powerhouse behind IBM’s AI ethics strategy — and she makes law fun. In this encore episode, we revisit a fan favorite: Christina Montgomery, formerly IBM’s Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, now Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, GM. From guarding the gates of generative AI risk to advising on global regulation, Christina gives us a front-row seat to what’s now, what’s next, and what needs rethinking when it comes to trust, synthetic data, and the future of AI law....

Send us a text The AI Advantage: Get Better Results from LLMs with the Perfect Prompt On this episode of Making Data Simple, we’re joined by Jonathan Mast, AI consultant and coach at Whitebeard Strategies and creator of the Perfect Prompting Framework™. Jonathan’s not just riding the AI wave—he’s teaching business leaders and everyday users how to surf it, with simple, actionable tools that unlock meaningful results from large language models. If you've ever stared at a prompt box wondering ...

Send us a text We’re back with Part 2 of our must-listen conversation with Dave Garrison, leadership strategist and veteran CEO, on what it really takes to unlock performance through engagement. In this episode, we go deeper into the psychological drivers of motivation — autonomy, mastery, and purpose — and explore how to stop employee churn, combat burnout, and lead with clarity (not just charisma). Plus: how to rethink your approach to hiring and the controversial take on using AI in leader...

Send us a text 📝 Show Notes: What if the biggest barrier to your company’s growth isn’t your strategy — but your people’s belief in it? In Part 1 of this powerful two-part episode, we welcome Dave Garrison, seasoned CEO, board member, and leadership strategist with over 25 years of experience driving real-world results. Dave pulls back the curtain on what employee engagement really means — and why it's the key to reducing turnover, boosting innovation, and transforming your business from the...

Send us a text From Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at Sama Episode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms at Zoox to game-changing data products at Google. Today he leads a 160-person team that’s reinventing how training data is curated, labeled, and audited so enterprises can ship production-ready GenAI—without the lurking model risk. Sama’s newest release, Sama Auto...