Show overview
Make Data Talk has been publishing since 2023, and across the 3 years since has built a catalogue of 53 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 10 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run ten to twenty minutes — most land between 11 min and 15 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-AU-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 weeks ago, with 8 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 31 episodes published. Published by Dr Selena Fisk.
From the publisher
Are you finding data daunting? Are you in a job where there are heaps of numbers coming in, but you don't know what to do with them, let alone make them mean something? If so, it's time to make your data talk! Each week Data Storyteller Dr Selena Fisk will help you turn your spreadsheets into stories, as she teaches you important data ideas and skills which help you bring your data to life. Each episode is packed with real examples and insights from Selena's experience helping people like you - to build your confidence, to make data more accessible to you, and to do so in a way that is practical and more interesting than your year 9 maths textbook! Make data talk is your weekly dose of data literacy, data viz, and data storytelling ideas that help make data doable.
Latest Episodes
View all 53 episodes#52 Why we need to separate decision quality from outcomes
#51 The leadership team sport behind data-informed culture
#50 Stop letting Excel choose your charts for you
In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk breaks down why "recommended charts" and default visualisations often hide the real story in your data... and what to do instead. You'll learn how Microsoft Excel's chart choices can unintentionally mislead your audience, distract from your message, or make insights harder to see, especially when you're presenting to leaders, clients, or time-poor teams. If you've ever wondered: why your chart feels "technically correct" but still confusing what makes a chart persuasive, not just pretty how to avoid common Excel chart traps (hello, clutter and unnecessary complexity) …this is for you. Selena shares practical rules of thumb for choosing visuals based on the question you're answering, not the chart type Excel serves up. Expect clear examples, quick decision prompts, and a simple framework you can apply immediately - whether you're building a board report, a dashboard, or a one-slide update for an audience. In this episode, you'll learn: The hidden bias baked into Excel's default chart recommendations A fast "purpose-first" method for choosing better visuals How to make your charts clearer, calmer, and more convincing Perfect for team and business leaders, analysts, and anyone who wants their data to land with impact. Keywords: Excel charts, data visualisation, choosing the right chart, dashboard design, data storytelling, spreadsheet reporting, better charts in Excel, business reporting visuals, data communication
#49 What if you have an epic data story but you're worried people in the meeting won't get it?
Most data storytelling advice focuses on the analysis: choosing the right data, selecting the best charts, and building compelling visuals. But in real organisations, the hardest part is often what happens after the analysis — when you have to share the data in a meeting. In this episode, Dr. Selena Fisk explores why data conversations can break down in mixed-skill meetings, where some people speak fluently in metrics, others think in outcomes, and some are quietly trying to interpret the chart (or work out whether what they're seeing is "right"). Without designing for this reality, meetings become predictable: the confident voices dominate, less-confident participants withdraw, and decisions get made on partial understanding and momentum. Instead of a step-by-step process, this episode offers 10 practical principles for data storytelling in meetings to help you facilitate inclusive, productive dialogue while maintaining technical integrity. Some of the things you'll learn in this episode Why leading with purpose (the decision) is more effective than leading with charts How to separate observation, interpretation, and decision-making to reduce unproductive debate How to reduce cognitive load so people can think, not just interpret visuals If you present data in meetings, lead teams, or want better decision-making conversations around metrics, this episode will help you design meetings where more people can participate in meaning-making — and where data leads to action and learning. Keywords: data storytelling in meetings, data storytelling principles, presenting data to stakeholders, mixed-skill teams, leading with purpose, making clarity questions normal, decision-making with data, communicating data insights, inclusive meetings, facilitating data discussions, reduce cognitive load, narrating charts, data-informed leadership #datastorytelling #decisionmaking #leadership #data #meetings #communication
#48 Your data strategy and data plan are two different things - get both!
In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk breaks down the critical difference between a data strategy and a data plan, and why confusing the two is quietly undermining data-informed decision making in many organisations. Too often, leaders believe they have a data strategy when what they actually have is a collection of dashboards, reporting tools, or technology roadmaps. But a true data strategy defines why data matters, and how it creates value. A data plan, on the other hand, clarifies what data is used, by whom, when, and what responsibility sits behind it. If you care about data governance, building a strong data culture, improving business intelligence, or strengthening data-informed leadership, this episode will help you align strategy with execution. You'll learn: The difference between data strategy and a data plan How to provide clarity for data responsibility across teams Practical steps to build a more data-informed organisation Perfect for executives, leaders, and data professionals who want their data investments to actually change behaviour, not just produce reports.
#47 Your data dashboard IS NOT a data story
Most dashboards look impressive. They're packed with metrics, trends, and filters, and yet they still leave people asking, "So what?" In this episode of Make Data Talk, Dr. Selena Fisk unpacks why a data dashboard is not a data story (and why confusing the two leads to stalled decisions, misaligned teams, and "insight" that never turns into action). You'll learn the critical importance of meaning-making, how to move from reporting to narrative, and the value in leaders translating charts into clarity. If you're a leader, analyst, or anyone responsible for communicating data, this episode will help you stop presenting information and start creating understanding, so your data actually influences decisions. Keywords: data dashboards, data storytelling, business intelligence, KPI reporting, decision making, data literacy, analytics communication, executive reporting, insight to action
#46 Data literacy has very little to do with maths ability
"I'm not a numbers person" is one of the most common and most limiting beliefs holding people back from engaging with data. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk challenges the widespread assumption that data literacy is about maths ability. She explains why modern data work has very little to do with calculations and everything to do with interpretation, critical thinking, and decision-making. You'll learn what data literacy actually means in today's organisations, why equating it with numeracy excludes capable leaders and professionals, and how this misunderstanding narrows data conversations and weakens insight. Selena reframes data literacy as a human thinking skill - one grounded in asking better questions, applying judgement, and making sense of information in context. If your organisation is investing in data but struggling to build confidence, capability, or meaningful data-informed decisions, this episode will help you rethink the skills that truly matter. Keywords: data literacy, data capability, leadership and data, data-informed decision making, data confidence, learning culture
#45 You don't have a data problem - you have a confidence or skills problem
Many leaders believe their organisation has a data problem... not enough data, not the right dashboards, not the right systems. In this episode, I unpack why that's rarely the real issue. Instead, most organisations are grappling with a skills or confidence problem. People are surrounded by data but don't feel equipped or safe to ask questions, interpret what they see, or use data once decisions have been made. We explore what leaders often misunderstand about data capability, how well-intentioned investments in tools can backfire, and what actually builds confidence and better decision-making over time. If your organisation feels data-rich but insight-poor, this conversation will help you rethink where the real work needs to happen.
#44 What data people can learn from yogis
Ever wondered what data and yoga have in common? At first, they seem like two very different ideas, but dig a little deeper and you start to see there is much yoga can teach us about data. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk reflects on the completion of her yoga teacher training and five things it's taught her about data culture in our organisations. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#43 Discovery visuals - the creative process BEFORE you show your charts to others
Do you brainstorm and plan out your data visualisations before you present them to others? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks about the idea of discovery visuals, and the process for getting the best visualisation for the data story you want to tell. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#42 The eight archetypes of the 3i impact model
When making change, it's useful to look at all the different impacts and categorise these so you can focus on what matters to you and your organisation. Last episode, Dr Selena FIsk introduced her new 3i Impact Model, and in this episode, she unpacks the different archetypes each type of impact falls into. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#41 3i impact model
Do you struggle with a tangible way to measure impact? We all strive to create an impact, but often it's difficult to truly measure the impact of a change, initiative or project we've put in place in a simple, yet meaningful way. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk introduces her new 3i impact model, developed over 12 months of working with change makers and leaders in various industries looking to measure the impact they're having. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#40 Dashboards are not the answer to your problems
Apologies for the provocative title, but while dashboards are powerful visualisation tools, unfortunately they are not a silver bullet for all things data storytelling. In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk explains why dashboards should not become the "be all and end all" when it comes to data storytelling, and how to avoid the pitfalls of set-and-forget dashboards. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#39 The ethical use of data
A question often encountered with data is the ethical considerations we need to be aware of when collecting, using and interpreting data. In this episode, Dr. Selena Fisk dives into actionable strategies for ethical data use and how you can avoid common pitfalls in data storytelling to build trust and credibility. Other episodes mentioned: Data Biases Take the data diagnostic here: Corporates: https://www.selenafisk.com/corporates Schools: https://www.selenafisk.com/schools Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#38 'Key person risk' and data
Do you have one or two people in your organisation who are responsible for many of the key operations when it comes to data? Have you considered what would happen if they were to leave or become unwell? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks about 'key person risk', what it means for organisations in terms of data and how you can proactively plan for and minimise it in your teams and organisations. Other episodes mentioned in this episode: Data democracies Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/https://selenafisk.com/podcast
#37 Think like a bronze medallist with your data
Do you find yourself looking at data and only seeing the things that went wrong or need to improve? In this week's Make Data Talk episode, I show you how to think like a bronze medallist when it comes data, so you can see all the things that went right in order for you and your team to have gotten onto that proverbial podium in the first place. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#36 Pre-decision vs post-decision data
We're often quite good at using pre-decision data to inform our next actions, but what about post-decision data? How often do you stop and reflect on post-decision data and actually use it for action? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks about the difference between pre-decision and post-decision data, and how to upskill your team to ensure they're reflecting on post-decision data effectively. Previous episodes mentioned: Data informed vs data driven Baseline data Trends and insights Take the data diagnostic here: Corporates: https://www.selenafisk.com/corporates Schools: https://www.selenafisk.com/schools Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#35 Tipping points and leading data informed change
Are you looking to lead data informed change in your organisation but not sure how to get to that critical buy in from your team? In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk talks about the notion of a 'Tipping point' and how to recognise those members of your team who will be your assests when leading data informed change. Connect with Selena at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/
#34 STOP with the 'interesting' data!
How many times have you looked at data, noticed something and thought 'oh that's interesting'? Content warning: This episode is a bit of a rant! Dr Selena Fisk needs you to stop with the 'interesting' data. Check out this week's episode for the reasons why, and what you should actually be focussing on instead when looking at data. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.
#33 Data and meetings - what good practice looks like
Are you making the most of your meeting times when it comes to data? In an age of meetings for meetings' sake, don't be that person! In this episode, Dr Selena Fisk provides some strategies for the best practice when using data in your meetings, to ensure you get the most value out of this time with your team and get to the action of data storytelling. Connect with Selena: at https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenafisk/ sign up to her monthly newsletter at selenafisk.com check out her other podcast, 'A Beautiful Mind'.