In this episode, Frank La Vigne sits down with his Red Hat colleague Christopher Newland for a deep dive into the evolving challenges and opportunities at the intersection of AI, open source, and enterprise technology.

Fresh off attending both IBM Think and Red Hat Summit, Christopher Newland shares insights from two very different industry perspectives—executive strategy and hands-on engineering. Together, they explore the elusive “last mile” problem in AI adoption, the rise of agentic systems, the critical role of harnesses and runtimes, and why memory management is becoming the next frontier.

Plus, they discuss the practical realities and future potential of tools like OpenShift AI, IBM Bob, and open source alternatives. Whether you’re a developer grappling with implementation details or a leader focused on ROI, this episode has something for everyone navigating today’s fast-changing AI landscape.

• Christopher on LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjnuland/
• Watch this episode on YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlkPPt5YeY0

00:00 Comparing IBM Exec and Red Hat Conferences

05:24 Challenges in AI implementation

06:56 Challenges in scaling microservices

11:38 Integrating AI with project management

14:23 Debate on AI model vs. harness

16:54 Discussing model evolution and limitations

22:54 Affordable Power BI Courses Bundle

25:19 Separating and managing runtimes

27:02 Using semantic routing for requests

30:15 Agent memory and compression basics

36:02 New AI approach and vision

38:49 Developing a multi-agent system

40:40 Importance of data chunking

In this episode, hosts Frank La Vigne and Candace Gillhoolley sit down with Angus Nelson—author, podcaster, and expert on leadership and human potential in the age of AI. Together, they dive deep into the rapidly changing landscape of technology and work, exploring how relentless market volatility, AI advancements, and global complexity are putting unprecedented stress on individuals and organizations alike.

Angus Nelson shares insights from his book, "Neuro Resilient Leader: The Internal Operating System for Leading at the Speed of Change," challenging the notion that grinding harder is the key to success. Instead, he argues that true leadership today demands clarity, capacity, and composure—and that our biggest challenges are rooted not in strategy or data, but in our internal operating systems and mindset.

Tune in as they unpack the myths of grind culture, the critical importance of mental well-being in the digital era, and practical ways to protect and elevate our collective "brain capital." Whether you're a leader, an independent contributor, or simply navigating a chaotic world, this episode offers hope, inspiration, and actionable advice on how to stay human—and thrive—in an increasingly automated world.

• Angus' LinkedIn Profile -https://www.linkedin.com/in/angusnelson/
• Angus' Website -https://angusnelson.com
• Angus' Coaching Website-https://neuroresilientleader.com
• Get the Book Free -https://freebook.vip
• Get the paperbook on Amazon -https://amzn.to/4w1uHIf

00:00 Challenges of adapting to AI changes

07:15 Finding internal clarity and value

09:54 Influences on self-belief

13:38 Impact of technology on brain health

16:07 AI and creativity debate

20:03 Changing nature of creativity and work

22:30 AI's role in company differentiation

25:24 Embracing a new lifestyle

29:02 Facing self-doubt on success path

31:22 Embracing change and transformation

35:34 Overcoming self-imposed limitations

41:08 Identity shift realization

42:30 Energetic exchange and authenticity

48:14 Living abroad during COVID

49:05 Download free book PDF

54:38 Finding your inner power

55:32 Thanking Frank and Candice

In this week’s show, Frank La Vigne sits down with data and analytics engineer Wasim Rana for a deep dive into the realities of building, managing, and securing data infrastructure in modern businesses.

Together, they explore the critical challenge of preventing data lakes from turning into data swamps, the practical pipeline from raw to curated data—including the increasingly popular bronze, silver, and gold layering approach—and the vital role of governance in today’s data-heavy world. Waseem Rana shares insights from his hands-on experience with AWS, Snowflake, and transforming messy datasets into actionable business intelligence.

The conversation also takes a look at the evolving landscape of data engineering amid AI advancements, what skills data professionals need to stay ahead, and how future architectures may blend data lakes, warehouses, and vector databases for AI-driven analytics. Whether you’re a data engineer, business leader, or just curious about the future of data, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

• Wasim's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamwasimrana/
• Wasim's GitHub -https://github.com/wasimranacse
• Watch on YouTube -https://youtu.be/8oGEEN6Bubk
• Podcast Episode Mentioned:
• The AI Driven Leader: Rethinking Strategy, Decision Making, and Personal Growth -https://datadriven.tv/episodes/the-ai-driven-leader-rethinking-strategy-decision-making-and-personal-growth/
• Book mentioned:
• The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions
• Hardcover -https://amzn.to/4crqshx
• Kindle -https://amzn.to/4u8rVPS
• Audiobook -https://amzn.to/3Qqsc1X

00:00 Working as a data engineer

03:22 Using AWS for infrastructure

06:31 Transforming raw data for use

11:14 Discussing data sources and ingestion

15:51 Discussing data analysis with AI models

16:33 The future of data analytics

21:58 Importance of data governance

24:44 Evolution of data storage solutions

29:34 AI's impact on data jobs

31:20 Understanding data architecture importance

35:49 Understanding AI creativity and context

37:14 Understanding AI's lack of context

40:43 Difficulty finding meaningful connections

45:14 Using storytelling to drive change

47:44 Connecting pipelines to WooCommerce

Today, we journey into the fast-evolving world of prediction markets, KPI trading, and the new frontiers of retail finance. Joining us is Candace, alongside our guest from Benzinga, a fintech innovator working to democratize financial data once reserved for Wall Street elites.

We delve into how platforms like Benzinga are leveling the playing field, making actionable market information accessible for everyone—from individual retail investors to advanced quant traders. Get ready as we unpack the rise of alternative data, the intersection of finance and AI, and whether prediction markets are the next big tool in forecasting—or just another signal to question in an increasingly complex landscape. Strap in for insights on regulation, market dynamics, and the sometimes wild personalities driving innovation in finance today!

• Andrew's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/lebbosandrew/
• Benzinga -https://www.benzinga.com/
• Benzinga APIS -https://www.benzinga.com/apis/
• Watch on YouTube -https://youtu.be/xY6mIRP1L2c

00:00 Starting Benzinga to democratize info

03:22 Building financial data services

08:10 Growth through niche news coverage

12:57 Hedging with company performance

15:00 Early quant experiences at Merrill Lynch

20:07 Explaining Polymarket betting mechanics

23:34 Discussing market prediction tools

26:39 CFTC regulations on trading limits

28:04 Discussing crowdsourcing and wisdom

34:14 Exploring unique data sources

35:35 Discussing the vinyl resurgence

41:40 Finding an edge in investing

43:42 Wondering about the future of betting

47:42 Brokerage purchase options explained

50:20 Building ideas with AI tools

this episode, Frank sits down with Andy Boettcher, the Chief Innovation Officer at DoubleTrack, for a candid conversation about embracing the power (and chaos!) of modern AI tools.

Together, they dive into how neurodiversity and "chaotic brains" are thriving in this new era, where ideas can be rapidly tested, refined, and built with the aid of tools like Claude code. From the practical realities of using AI for software development and troubleshooting (even in classic cars and household appliances) to the shifting landscape of business innovation, they discuss the opportunities and challenges facing individuals and companies alike.

You'll hear first-hand stories about building podcast production tools, leveraging AI agents as virtual team members, the importance of critical thinking in an age of instant information, and why data security and adaptability are more crucial than ever. Whether you're a technologist, business leader, or simply curious about what it means to innovate today, this episode promises insight, humor, and a healthy dose of chaos.

Let's get data driven.

• Andy's LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyboettcher/
• ShowDog -https://www.showdog.studio/

00:00 What a Chief Innovation Officer does

06:18 The age of chaotic creativity

09:56 Using AI for planning discussions

11:31 Choosing the name Show Dog

15:22 Brainstorming and organizing ideas

18:43 Using tech for learning

20:47 Companies adopting AI strategies

25:10 Classic car ownership struggles

28:41 Taking time to rethink plans

31:34 Using AI to solve problems

37:25 Challenges in commercializing academic concepts

39:18 Adapting to evolving AI technology

43:36 AI tools and problem-solving in coding

45:23 Limitations of AI and data security

47:33 Data security and CRM setup

51:22 Challenging assumptions and blind spots

In this episode of Data Driven, Frank and Andy dive into the future of market intelligence with Dr. Jill Axline, co-founder and CEO of Mavera—a company building synthetic populations that simulate real human behaviour, cognition, and emotion. Forget Personas. We're talking real-time, AI-driven behavioural modeling that's more predictive than your horoscope and considerably more data-backed.

Dr. Axline shares how Mavera’s swarm of AI models situates these synthetic humans within real-world business contexts to forecast decisions, measure emotional resonance, and even test marketing messages before they go live. From governance and model drift to the surprising uses in financial services, political campaigns, and speechwriting—this is one of the most forward-looking conversations we’ve had yet.

If you've ever wanted a deeper understanding of how AI can augment decision-making—or just want to hear Frank admit asset managers love ice cream—this one’s for you.

1. Learn more about Mavera:https://mavera.io
2. Connect with Jill Axline on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/jillaxline
3. Morningstar:https://www.morningstar.com

00:00 - Introduction & AI Swarms Explained

03:30 - Forget Personas: Contextual AI Models

07:00 - Evidence vs Inference & AI Governance

10:20 - Simulation Scenarios & Model Drift

14:30 - Synthetic Audiences in Action

18:00 - Evidence Feedback Loops & Small Data Challenges

22:00 - Industry Applications & Use Cases

27:00 - Analyzing Speeches & Emotional Resonance

30:45 - Sentiment, Social Listening, and Real-Time News Reactions

34:00 - Adversarial Models & Strategic Pushback

38:00 - The Cartoon Bank Portal That Failed Spectacularly

41:00 - From Skeptic to CEO: Jill’s Journey

45:00 - Data Privacy, Compliance & Synthetic Ethics

48:00 - Reflections on Empathy, Engineers, and Selling Without Selling

If you enjoy Data Driven, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite pod platform. It helps more people find the show—and fuels Frank’s Monster Energy habit.

In today’s show, BAILeY, your semi-sentient hostess with the mostest metadata, teams up with Frank La Vigne to welcome the ever-insightful Andrew Brust for a deep dive into the evolving Microsoft data ecosystem. From nostalgic tales of Windows history and scoring elusive Clippy swag at Ignite, to unraveling what makes Microsoft Fabric a game-changer for data integration, AI, and governance, this episode covers it all.

You’ll hear firsthand how Microsoft’s innovation goes far beyond the tech itself—focusing on seamless integration, unified billing, and organizational synergy. Andrew Brust sheds light on the journey from fragmented Azure services to the unified vision of Fabric, the rise of generative AI and “agentic” intelligence, and the increasingly important role of data sovereignty and governance in today’s regulatory landscape.

Whether you’re a data enthusiast, an AI tinkerer, or just in it for the nostalgia, grab your headphones and get ready for insights, laughs, and more acronyms than you can shake a dataset at. Stay curious and caffeinated—this episode has something for everyone!

00:00 Microsoft Expertise and Industry Analysis

03:18 "Big Data and Analytics Insights"

08:31 Power BI's Rise in Azure

12:26 "Unified Fabric-Based Data Platform"

14:01 "Fabric IQ Powers AI Integration"

17:24 "Achieving Synergy Against Odds"

23:32 "Unified Compute for Seamless Integration"

24:41 "Overwhelmed by AWS Complexity"

28:21 "Microsoft Research Powers Azure Fabric"

34:20 "Azure Foundry and Tools"

37:33 "Flexibility Beyond Major Cloud Providers"

41:33 Global Data Privacy Trends

45:13 "Governance for Agentic AI"

47:29 "Azure Stack and Local Clouds"

50:13 "Kubernetes: The Cloud Caveat"

53:40 "Let's Reconnect and Reminisce"

Welcome to a milestone episode of Data Driven! In episode 400, hosts BAILeY, Frank La Vigne, and Andy Leonard gather to reflect on nearly a decade at the forefront of podcasting about data, AI, and the world of software engineering. This special edition takes you behind the scenes with stories of tech evolution, personal growth, and the wild journey from their earliest recordings to today’s AI-powered workflows.

The team digs into how generative AI has transformed their creative process—making it possible for small teams to produce vast amounts of content, drive innovation, and manage multiple podcasts at a high level. You'll hear about Frank’s latest tool, Podsy—a platform built to help creators manage the ever-growing tsunami of podcast assets using cutting-edge AI—and how tools like Claude, Grok, and Opus are unleashing new possibilities for automation and storytelling.

With their signature tangents, candid stories (including car accidents, water heater mishaps, and parenting milestones), and a bit of nostalgia about the early days of podcasting, this episode captures what makes Data Driven both insightful and relatable. If you’re a developer, data professional, or a fellow podcaster looking to stay ahead of the curve, episode 400 is packed with practical lessons, inspiration, and a few good laughs. Dive in as the team celebrates what’s possible in the age of AI—and look ahead to an exciting new chapter for the show!

00:00 "DGX Spark: Personal AI Supercomputer"

03:28 "Tech Innovations and Hardware Updates"

07:51 "Daily 5:40am Notification Routine"

11:10 "Podzi: Managing Podcast Assets"

15:35 "Boosting Value with AI Efficiency"

17:05 Claude Enhanced Legacy System

23:32 AI Impact on Creative Roles

25:58 "Consulting Break: Investing Time"

29:33 "Automation Evolution and Tools Demo"

31:35 "Podsy Studio: A Journey"

35:06 "AI-Powered Content Creation Demo"

38:26 "Podcast Organization and Insights"

42:10 "Streamlining Metadata for Insights"

45:47 "Unveiling AI's Hidden Potential"

50:41 "Celebrating 400 Podcast Episodes"

54:41 "Off Track Ambitions"

57:44 "Reality Strikes Back: Tech Trust"

59:36 "Podsy Progress and Workflow"