In this episode, I sit down with Alvitta Ottley and Paul Parsons to recap everything that happened at the 2025 IEEE VIS Conference in Vienna. We talk about our experiences co-organizing the VisCom workshop, the surprising attendance, and the standout keynote from Moritz Stefaner. Alvitta shares insights on accessibility research and the surge of LLM-focused visualization papers, while Paul walks us through his award-winning work on design cognition and how practitioners develop ideas. We also reflect on the evolving identity of the visualization field, from methodological rigor to the role of practitioners, interdisciplinarity, and ethical tensions. It’s a wide-ranging, candid conversation about where visualization research is headed — and what we hope to see next year in Boston.

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Check out the VIS website [https://ieeevis.org/year/2025/welcome].

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Inside IEEEVIS 2025: Key Themes, Best Papers, and the Future of Visualization

In this episode, I sit down with Nadieh Bremer to talk about her new book, Chart, and the creative process behind her data visualization work. We discuss how she structures the book around a spectrum from straightforward charts to full-on data art, and why uncommon chart types can communicate nuance so effectively. Nadieh shares insights from her time in a makerspace, how physical-making influences her digital work, and why sketching after exploring the data is so important. We also talk about client work, design decisions, and how she thinks about success in her projects. It’s a fun, wide-ranging conversation that highlights why Nadieh remains one of the most thoughtful voices in the field.

Keywords: Nadieh Bremer, data visualization, creative dataviz, data art, uncommon charts, Sankey diagrams, data storytelling, interactive visualization, static visualization, design process, sketching, makerspace, creative charts, PolicyViz Podcast

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Get Nadieh's latest book, Chart [https://amzn.to/48gv5aM], her previous book Data Sketches [https://amzn.to/48eKUyC], and check out her website, VisualCinnamon.com [https://www.visualcinnamon.com/].

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Exploring Creative Data Visualization with Nadieh Bremer

In this week’s episode, I talk with Chris Parmer, co-founder of Plotly, about how the company is integrating AI into the next generation of data visualization and analytics tools. Chris walks me through the thinking behind Plotly Studio, their new AI-native environment where natural language prompts generate real, auditable code for charts, dashboards, and data apps. We discuss how this approach reduces bottlenecks for data teams, empowers non-technical users, and reshapes the role of the data visualization expert. We also dive into the limits of public dashboards, the rise of generative interfaces, and what a future of AI-driven exploratory analysis might look like. It’s a fascinating look at where data tools are heading and how analysts can stay ahead.

Keywords: Plotly, Plotly Studio, data visualization, AI tools, generative AI, dashboards, data apps, Python, code generation, data workflows, data analysis, natural language interfaces, data science, analytics, enterprise data security, data storytelling, Jon Schwabish, Chris Parmer

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Check out Plotly at: https://plotly.com/

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Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

The Future of Dashboards, Data Apps, and AI with Plotly’s Chris Parmer

In this week’s episode, I welcome Jakub Wabiński and Vincent van Altena to the show to talk about their new book, Tactile Mapping. We explore how tactile and multisensory design can make maps—and data—more accessible for people with visual impairments and beyond. Jakub and Vincent share insights into how tactile maps are designed, tested, and used in real-world settings like museums and public spaces. We also discuss user-centered design, the challenges of scaling inclusive practices, and how tactile mapping can help everyone better understand and navigate the world around them.

Keywords: Jakub Wabiński, Vincent van Altena, PolicyViz Podcast, Jon Schwabish, tactile mapping, inclusive cartography, data accessibility, tactile design, haptic maps, visual impairments, data visualization, inclusive design, spatial data, accessibility in mapping, geovisualization, map design, tactile graphics, inclusive data storytelling, multisensory design, universal design, ICA working group, TREP project, accessible data visualization

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Check out Jackub and Vincent's book Tactile Mapping [https://amzn.to/43i5eh9]

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Beyond the Visual: How Tactile Maps Expand Data Accessibility

Welcome back to the show! In this week’s episode, I chat with Allen Carroll, former Chief Cartographer at National Geographic and part of Esri’s StoryMapsteam. We talk about his new book, Telling Stories with Maps, which explores how maps can communicate meaning, emotion, and narrative. Allen shares his journey from analog map design to interactive, multimedia storytelling—and how digital tools are transforming the way we visualize place and data. We also discuss design choices, the balance between creativity and accessibility, and why storytelling is at the heart of effective communication. It’s a fascinating look at the intersection of geography, design, and technology.

Check out Allen's book on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4qD6wNF] or wherever you get your books.

Subscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast [https://patreon.com/policyviz?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] for as little as a buck a month

Follow Giorgia on Twitter [https://twitter.com/giorgialupi] and find her book “This is Me and Only Me [https://amzn.to/47bhvEG]” on Amazon

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Telling Stories with Maps: Allen Carroll on the Art of Map-Based Storytelling

Welcome back to the show! In this week's episode, I sit down with Doug Elmendorf, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, to talk about the impact of government shutdowns, the challenges of fiscal sustainability, and the importance of independent statistical agencies. We discuss how shutdowns ripple through the economy and people’s lives, the tough choices facing policymakers on entitlements and deficits, and why compromise is vital to our democracy. Doug also shares his perspective on the independence of federal statistical agencies, the role of private sector data, and the optimism he sees in today’s policy students. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about economics, governance, and the future of public service.

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Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Fiscal Policy, Data, and Democracy: Insights from Former CBO Director Doug Elmendorf

In this week's episode of the show, I sit down with Justin Evans, author of The Little Book of Data, to talk about what it means to truly think like a data person. Justin shares insights from his 20-year career in data and advertising, reflecting on why so many professionals struggle to embrace data and how his book helps break down those barriers. We discuss the “four layers of data denial,” the qualities that make someone a data person, and the importance of storytelling in making data engaging and useful. Justin also offers stories from Nielsen, Samsung, and beyond to illustrate how data literacy and visualization can create clarity, solve problems, and unlock value. This conversation is both inspiring and practical for anyone working with—or intimidated by—data.

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Check out Justin's book, The Little Book of Data [https://amzn.to/4ndjDmz].

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]



From Data Literacy to Storytelling: Insights from The Little Book of Data

In this episode of the show, I talk with David Wessel from the Brookings Institution about the state of the US economy, the reliability of government statistics, and why trust in data matters more than ever. We cover the latest job numbers and what downward revisions mean, the pressures facing agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau, and how politics threatens the credibility of official data. David shares insights on the risks of eroding confidence, what businesses and governments might do in response, and why high-quality, transparent data is essential for policymaking and for the public. It’s a timely and important conversation about the role of data in shaping our economic future.

Keywords: David Wessel, Jon Schwabish, PolicyViz Podcast, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, Census Bureau, U.S. economy, economic data, data revisions, trust in data, survey fatigue, government statistics, job market, unemployment, economic indicators, federal data, data transparency, data integrity, public trust

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Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast [https://patreon.com/policyviz?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] for as little as a buck a month

Follow Giorgia on Twitter [https://twitter.com/giorgialupi] and find her book “This is Me and Only Me [https://amzn.to/47bhvEG]” on Amazon

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Economic Data Under Fire: Accuracy, Trust, and Transparency with David Wessel

In this episode, I sit down with William Beach, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to dig into how America’s most important economic data are produced. We talk about the nuts and bolts of how the BLS jobs numbers are collected, processed, and released, as well as why revisions happen and what they really mean. Bill shares his perspective on the commissioner’s role, the challenges of falling survey response rates, and how statistical agencies can rebuild public trust in their work. We also touch on his experiences working across two administrations and his ideas for the future of federal data. This conversation sheds light on a system that is often misunderstood, yet vital for understanding the economy.

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Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast [https://patreon.com/policyviz?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink] for as little as a buck a month

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  X [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Inside the BLS: William Beach on Trust, Data, and the Future of Federal Statistics

This is a very special episode of the PolicyViz Podcast.  I’m joined by Erica Groshen, former Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to talk about the latest jobs report and what the numbers really mean for the state of the economy, including why revisions are an essential part of getting the data right. Dr. Groshen explains how the BLS produces its trusted statistics, the commissioner’s role, and what signals she watches for to spot potential recessions. We also discuss the importance of protecting federal statistical agencies, ensuring trust in their data, and what the future might hold for the BLS. It’s a fascinating conversation that connects technical detail with big-picture implications.

Keywords: data, data visualization, fPolicyViz Podcast, Erica Groshen, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, jobs report, labor market, economic data, employment situation, job growth, job losses, unemployment rate, data revisions, economic indicators, recession signals, federal statistics, data trust, labor economics

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Check out the BLS website [https://www.bls.gov/] for more data!

Follow me on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jschwabish/?hl=en],  LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanschwabish/],  Substack [https://jschwabish.substack.com/],  Twitter [https://twitter.com/jschwabish],  Website [https://policyviz.com/],  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/JonSchwabish]

Email: jon@policyviz.com [jschwabish@gmail.com]

Why the BLS Matters with Former Commissioner Erica Groshen 

Learn how to be a great data communicator and visualizer with host Jon Schwabish. Hear from experts in the fields of data science, data visualization, and presentation skills to improve how you and your organization collect, analyze, and communicate your data in better, more efficient, and more effective ways.

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