This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome Michael Driscoll, Co-Founder and CEO of Rill Data. Mike discusses the transformative impact of AI on business intelligence (BI) and data analytics. He also explores the shift from traditional dashboard-based tools to more dynamic, code-driven, and AI-powered interfaces that provide deeper insights. During the conversation, the group emphasizes the importance of a metrics-first approach, the potential of leapfrog architectures using technologies like data lakes and real-time analytical databases, and how AI agents are increasingly becoming the primary users of data tools. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of data infrastructure, where open standards, flexibility, and intelligent interfaces are reshaping how businesses interact with and understand their data, and more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric and John welcome back Matt Kelliher-Gibson for another edition of the Cynical Data Guy. The group dives into the latest tech trends, discussing Klarna’s AI-first customer support strategy and subsequent reversal, the high costs and limitations of big consulting firms in AI strategy, and the often-overlooked simplicity of data management in successful companies. The group critically examines the current state of AI implementation, data science practices, and corporate technology transformation, highlighting the importance of understanding business needs over technical accuracy. The conversation provides listeners with a humorous yet insightful look into the challenges of integrating new technologies, the role of human expertise, the potential pitfalls of blindly following industry trends, and so much more.

This week on The Data Stack Show, Brooks and John welcome Pete Hunt, CEO of Dagster Labs. During this conversation, Pete takes listeners on a fascinating journey through the evolution of data platforms, sharing insights from his experiences at Facebook and Twitter. Pete discusses the critical challenges of managing data complexity, emphasizing the importance of software engineering best practices and strong abstractions in data orchestration. He explores how emerging technologies like AI are transforming data workflows, breaking down traditional team boundaries, and enabling more collaborative, self-service data engineering. The conversation also highlights Dagster’s innovative approach to building a data control plane, with a focus on empowering different stakeholders through flexible, composable tools. Listeners will gain valuable perspectives on the future of data engineering, the role of AI in development, the importance of creating adaptable, user-friendly data infrastructure, and so much more.

This week on The Data Stack Show, the guys chat with Pranav Aurora, Co-Founder of Mooncake Labs. Pranav shares his innovative approach to simplifying data infrastructure by bridging Postgres and Iceberg technologies. He also discusses his journey from Single Store to launching a startup that aims to solve real-world data challenges, focusing on creating a seamless, developer-friendly extension that allows businesses to easily sync row and column store tables with minimal configuration. The conversation explores the complexities of modern data stacks, the importance of first-principle thinking, and how startups can leverage AI and community feedback to build transformative technologies. Key takeaways include Mooncake’s mission to provide operational analytics with just a few lines of SQL, the potential of Postgres extensions, the value of solving genuine pain points for developers and data teams, and more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, the guys are chatting with Aaron Katz & Sai Krishna Srirampur live at Data Council in Oakland, California. Aaron and Sai discuss the evolution of database technologies, focusing on transitioning from traditional transactional databases like Postgres to purpose-built analytical databases like ClickHouse. They explore the challenges of using Postgres for analytics, the benefits of open-source technologies, and the importance of simplifying database infrastructure. Sai shares his background with CITUS Data and Peer DB, highlighting the motivation behind creating ClickPipes, a native ingestion service for ClickHouse Cloud. Aaron discusses the company’s journey, the open-source strategy, and the diverse use cases for ClickHouse, including observability, data warehousing, and real-time analytics. The conversation emphasizes the need for efficient data migration, native querying capabilities, the potential of combining Postgres and ClickHouse to create a more streamlined data stack, and more.

This week on The Data Stack Show, the crew brings you another conversation live from Data Council in Oakland, California. In this episode, Viktor Kessler from Vakamo explores the evolution of data architecture from rigid warehouses to flexible Lakehouse systems. Powered by Apache Iceberg, this new approach enables seamless data sharing, governance, and potential monetization. Viktor discusses how open-source innovation is transforming data management, highlighting the shift towards treating data as a product and the emerging potential for AI-driven data exchanges. The conversation provides insights into the future of decentralized, adaptable data infrastructure and so much more. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, the crew records live from Data Council in Oakland, California, as they welcome Ruben Burdin, Founder and CEO of StackSync.Ruben explores the emerging convergence of operational and analytical data, revealing how modern technologies are breaking down traditional data system barriers. The key insight is that businesses can now create more efficient data infrastructures through two-way synchronization, enabling seamless integration between different databases without vendor lock-in. By leveraging a centralized database approach, companies can build faster, more responsive internal tools and transform their data management from slow, siloed processes to real-time, interconnected ecosystems. Other topics include the evolving data infrastructure, practical use cases of integrating systems like Salesforce and Postgres for real-time data management, and more.

This week on The Data Stack Show, the crew chats with Pedram Navid live from Data Council in Oakland, California. Pedram is a return guest to the show and is Chief Dashboard Officer at Dagster Labs. During the conversation, the group discusses Pedram’s career shift from data engineering to marketing leadership, emphasizing the integration of data in crafting effective marketing strategies. Pedram highlights the importance of collaboration between marketing, product, and sales teams to create cohesive narratives. The conversation also covers the challenges of marketing in silos, the impact of AI tools, the need for self-service data capabilities to enhance productivity and drive business success, and so much more.

This week on The Data Stack Show, it’s a first for the show as the conversation between producer Brooks Patterson and Co-Host John Wessel was recorded in a Waymo on the way to the airport from Data Council in Oakland, California. Join the guys on the road as they discuss their experiences at the Data Council focusing on the evolving landscape of data technology and the impact of AI on data stacks. Key topics include the enduring significance of PostgreSQL, the role of open source in innovation, and the importance of user experience in data interfaces. They also highlight diverse insights from founders, ranging from seasoned executives to first-time entrepreneurs, showcasing the dynamic nature of the data industry. Come along for the ride on this week’s episode. 

This week on The Data Stack Show, the episode was recorded in front of a live audience as Brooks Patterson, Eric Dodds, and Chandler Van De Water from the Rudderstack team join Thomas Kuckoff of Omron Automation to explore the intricacies of product development and the transformative role of AI. Eric emphasizes the importance of understanding customer pain points and the complexities of coordinating product development teams. Thomas discusses the stages of product development in hardware and industrial automation, stressing a commercial mindset. Chandler highlights the significance of design and continuous customer feedback. The conversation also touches on AI’s potential to streamline processes and enhance product development, setting the stage for future discussions on AI’s impact. Don’t miss this great conversation!