Data Talks
Data Talks is a conversation series released every two weeks that proves data isn’t just for analysts, it’s the common language behind sporting triumphs, market breakthroughs, and social progress. Economist and storyteller Wolfgang Fengler sits down with world-class athletes, leading economists, founders, policymakers, and creative thinkers to unpack the numbers shaping their fields. Together, they translate charts into clear takeaways, challenge assumptions with evidence, and show how good data can turn bold ideas into practical action.
Episodes
13 episodes
The World Economy at a Turning Point
In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank, for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping the global economy.From the middle-income trap and I...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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38:52
The world is more equal than you think
In this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with co-founder and global middle class expert Homi Kharas about new research that challenges one of the most widely discussed narratives in economic...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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13:07
Building Digital Africa
Building Digital Africa with Bitange NdemoIn this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, former Permanent Secretary for Info...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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33:49
The consumer is king
In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang speaks with Kirti Singh, Chief Insights Officer at Procter & Gamble, about what it truly means to be consumer-first in a company that serves more than 5.5 billion people worldwide.
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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29:32
How Data Changed the Climate Conversation
How Data Changed the Climate Conversation Host: Wolfgang Fengler Guest: Sir Andrew Steer KCMG, PhDHow did climate and nature move from the sidelines to the center of global economic decision-making—and wh...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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32:26
From Data to the Dressing Room: Why Football Is About Human Connection
In this episode of Data Talks, we’re joined by Benedikt Höwedes, World Cup winner with Germany, former long-time captain of FC Schalke 04, and a leader shaped by elite football environments.Benedikt reflects on his journey ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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29:48
Closing the Data Divide
This episode of our podcast brings together Wolfgang Fengler and Shamina Singh for a powerful conversation on inclusion, data, and the rapidly changing digital-to-AI economy. Shamina shares the origin story of the Mastercard Center for Inclusiv...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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30:58
The Metrics of Peace
Data Talks: Measuring Peace with Steve KilleleaIn this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Steve Killelea, respected entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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20:40
Don’t underestimate Africa
In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Michael Joseph, the legendary CEO who built Safaricom into one of Africa’s most successful companies and helped pioneer mobile money and digital inclusion across the...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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20:05
Data & Philosophy
Host Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Jesús Crespo Cuaresma, Head of the Department of Economics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and a long-time collaborator of World Data Lab (WDL). They discuss Crespo’s jou...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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30:17
The 20 Trillion Price
In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Marta Bowles, Chief Communications Officer at NIQ, about how high-quality data, and the AI built on top of it, is reshaping decisions for brands and retailers. M...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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25:18