Making Data Simple
Hosted by Al Martin, WW VP of Technical Sales at IBM, Making Data Simple cuts through the hype to reveal how data and AI reshape the modern enterprise.
Thought leaders, researchers, and innovators share firsthand lessons on leading teams, scaling analytics, and driving real-world impact—delivered in Al’s signature straightforward, witty style.
Tune in to Making Data Simple today. From data and AI breakthroughs to leadership hacks, top experts drop actionable gems that help businesses thrive in a data-driven world. #MakingDataSimple #AI #Leadership
Episodes
374 episodes
Replay: Agentic AI and the End of Deterministic Decision Trees with Megan Gallagher from Maven AGI
Hit replay on one of the most thought-provoking Agentic AI conversations on Making Data Simple. GTM Account Director Megan Gallagher makes the case for Agentic AI from the Maven AGI front lines, where AI agents stop following rigid decision tre...
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Season 9
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Episode 48
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55:01
How Do You Build AI That Actually Works 99.999999% of the Time? With Tina Tarquinio Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE
Dive into the powerful world of mainframes! Chief Product Officer of IBM Z and LinuxONE, Tina Tarquinio, reveals the truth behind those eight nines of uptime and explores how mainframes are evolving with AI, hybrid cloud, and future-proofing st...
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Season 9
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Episode 47
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44:07
Data Unstuck: Jure Leskovec on Unleashing the Power of Networks
Data’s everywhere, but so often it feels… stuck. Joining us today is JureLeskovec, Chief Scientist at Kumo and a Stanford Professor who'sfundamentally reshaped how we understand networks—from Pinterest'srecommendations to tracking t...
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Season 9
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Episode 46
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42:34
🎧 Are you successful… but not satisfied? Redefining Success — Kris Kluver on Building a Business and a Life You Love {Replay}
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,...
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Season 9
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Episode 45
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49:15
The AI Storyteller Geoff Thatcher, Founder and CCO Creative Principals
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 ...
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44:44
Replay: Writing That Moves the World — Vinca LaFleur of West Wing Writers on Crafting Ideas That Stick
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 tak...
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Season 9
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Episode 43
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38:39
Unlocking the Power of AI & Data: Expert Insights from Douwe Kiela, CEO of Contextual.ai
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,...
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37:37
Databases That Think: Building AI-Ready Systems with MongoDB’s Richmond Alake {Replay}
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 dow...
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Season 9
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Episode 34
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41:25
Anaconda Unleashed: Python Powers the AI Jungle with Peter Wang, Chief AI and Innovation Officer, co-founder of Anaconda {Replay}
Replay Episode: Python, Anaconda, and the AI Frontier with Peter WangPeter Wang — Chief AI & Innovation Officer and Co-founder of Anaconda — is back on Making Data Simple! Known for shaping the open-source ecosystem a...
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50:22
⚡ Riding the Data Wave: Surviving (and Thriving) in the AI Flood with Time-Series, AI, and the Future with Ajay Kulkarni, CEO and co-founder of TigerData
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 ...
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Season 9
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Episode 36
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46:14
Making Data Simple: Live Data, Smarter AI with Snow Leopard founder Deepti Srivastava
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 intellig...
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Season 9
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Episode 35
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39:24
The BOLD Advantage: Show Up (hint, this will make sense after you listen) and hear Fred Joyal’s Guide to Confidence, Networking & Growth {Replay}
🎙️ 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 Notes02:20 ...
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Season 9
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Episode 34
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50:32
🎙️ Talking Data with Dima Spivak, Director of Product Management, StreamSets {Replay}
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”...
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37:11
Stop, Start, Succeed: Jacob Hicks on Time Management & Coaching with Guest Host Katherine Mayne
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 s...
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Season 9
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Episode 33
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33:42
In case you missed it.... Master the 3 Circles – Focus, Influence & True Leadership with Executive and Leadership Coach, Lynne Snead
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...
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Season 9
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Episode 33
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42:23
Powering the Future: Leadership, AI, and the Next Era of IBM Power with Tom McPherson, GM of IBM Z and LinuxONE and former GM of IBM Power
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 misconcept...
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Season 9
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Episode 32
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38:46
🎙 Symbolic AI, QLattice, and Mind-Bending Ideas with Casper Wilstrup CEO of Abzu {Replay}
🎙 Replay Alert: Symbolic AI, QLattice, and Mind-Bending Ideas with Casper WilstrupWe’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 beh...
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44:35
Streaming the Future: Dr. Sean Falconer, AI Entrepreneur in Residence at Confluent on AI, LLMs, and the Contrarian View
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 wh...
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Season 9
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Episode 32
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45:54
{Replay} AI Risks, Ethics & Law — with Christina Montgomery Chief Privacy Officer, General Motors and former IBMer
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 a...
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Season 9
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Episode 31
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44:35
Beyond the Buzz: Mastering Prompts & Agents with Jonathan Mast
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 Perfe...
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Season 9
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Episode 30
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39:29
From Burnout to Breakthrough: Dave Garrison on the Science of Motivation (Part 2)
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 psy...
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Season 9
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Episode 29
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25:37
🎙️ The Hidden Cost of Disengagement: Dave Garrison on Leadership That Sparks Innovation
📝 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...
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Season 9
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Episode 27
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32:05
From 9× Safer Cars to Hallucination-Free LLMs: Inside Sama with Duncan Curtis SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology
From Elephant Butts to Ethical AI — Duncan Curtis on De-Risking GenAI at SamaEpisode intro Duncan Curtis, SVP for GenAI & AI Product + Technology at Sama, has shipped everything from autonomous-vehicle platforms a...
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Season 9
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Episode 26
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47:21
CEO David Hirschfeld of Tekyz on the Startup Lie That’s Killing Your Company. Hint: It’s not about the tech — it’s about the problem you're solving.
🎧 Episode Description: This week on Making Data Simple, we welcome David Hirschfeld, Founder and CEO of Tekyz. With a background spanning major tech firms and startup trenches, David brings grounded, data-backe...
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Season 9
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Episode 25
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45:50
🎯 Strategic Sales, AI Smarts & Pixar Roots: Ralph Gootee CTO of TigerEye Tells All
This week on Making Data Simple, we welcome Ralph Gootee, CTO and co-founder of TigerEye, a company reshaping strategic sales intelligence with a data-driven edge. Ralph’s journey spans Pixar, Sony, and PlanGrid — and now...
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Season 9
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Episode 24
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48:46