AI agents are making big waves, but are they the future of business or just another passing trend? In this episode, Rob Collie and Justin Mannhardt explore the rise of AI agents, what they actually do, and why the excitement might be a little premature. They unpack the risks, the rewards, and how leaders can navigate the hype with a bit of caution and a lot of curiosity. Rob and Justin discuss the fine balance between automation and human oversight, tackling questions about when it's smart to embrace AI and when it might be better to pause. They also share thoughts on the current SaaS landscap ..read more

Listener John sent in a classic question: should you build one all-encompassing data model, or should each part of your business have its own? If you think the answer is black and white, well, welcome to the world of data modeling, where nuance reigns supreme. Rob and Justin dive deep into the pros, cons, and inevitable mistakes of both approaches. Along the way, they call out the biggest modeling traps, expose the myths that make projects stall, and introduce a revolutionary new acronym: JGS (Just Get Started). Because, spoiler alert, the best data model is the one that actually gets built. T ..read more

Ever find yourself overthinking a problem until you’ve thought yourself right into a corner? Yeah, we’ve been there too. But what if there was a way to cut through the noise and just know when something is a good idea? Enter Miller’s Theorem, a simple but sneaky-effective thought experiment that’s been kicking around in our conversations for years. It’s the kind of thing that sounds like nonsense at first until it doesn’t. In this episode, we unpack how a casual visit to a bougie home décor store in Seattle turned into an existential crisis over tariffs, pricing psychology, and whether custome ..read more

For years, dashboards have been the go-to for business intelligence. Built with the best intentions, loaded with visuals, and meant to empower decision-makers. But are they actually delivering? A recent Reddit thread raised a tough question: "Has anyone here moved away from dashboards as their main source of insights?" It’s not the usual “Dashboards are dead” hype. It’s a real challenge from BI pros who build them. The problem? Analysts say dashboards can’t keep up with how they really explore data. Executives and business users aren’t using them as intended, leading to more ad hoc requests ..read more

Ever sat in a meeting, watching a decision unfold that makes zero sense—bad for business, bad for employees—while the data that should be guiding the way is ignored? You’re not alone. In this solo episode, Rob Collie takes on a question that’s been circling for years: why aren’t more people with a data-driven mindset in leadership positions? The answer isn’t as simple as “because they should be.” There are deep-rooted reasons why persuasion often wins over precision and why data folks get stuck in support roles instead of calling the shots. But here’s the thing, change is possible. Whether you ..read more

What happens when you mix fantasy football, data analytics, and a little bit of chaos? You get a conversation that refuses to follow a straight line—but somehow lands exactly where it needs to. Rob Collie welcomes back fantasy football guru Adam Harstad for his third appearance on Raw Data, alongside first-time guests Heather Zimmer and Molly Ferguson, two self-proclaimed newcomers who are anything but casual. They dive into the unexpected ways fantasy football rewires your brain, from strategic obsession to the unshakable belief that your lucky jersey actually controls the game. Adam breaks d ..read more

What if we told you that, before Power BI, most of the money spent on data projects didn’t go where you thought it did? In this episode, Rob Collie and Justin Mannhardt peel back the layers of inefficiency, miscommunication, and just plain bad luck that have haunted data projects for decades. Spoiler: it’s not all doom and gloom. Some of those old headaches are finally getting the boot, thanks to tools like Power BI and the rise of generative AI. Rob and Justin take an honest look at how data projects have changed over the years, sharing hard-earned lessons and surprising insights from their t ..read more

Gil Raviv has spent years shaping how we use data. From his early days at Microsoft, where he played a key role in developing Power Query, to his work refining how dashboards serve their users, Gil’s career is a masterclass in making data tools both practical and powerful. In this episode, we sit down with Gil to dig into why usage data is the missing ingredient for truly effective BI. He explains how understanding what users do with your dashboards can completely change the way you design and deliver them. We also talk about his journey through the world of business intelligence, the lessons ..read more

The Spirit of “Why Not” with Bob Pop Collie The Life of a WW2 Navy Pilot Cadet (Bonus), w/ Bob Pop Collie     ..read more

The world of data technology moves in fascinating ways, and we're excited to have Microsoft MVPs Ed Hansberry and Kristyna Ferris join Justin to unpack what's really happening. This conversation is all about understanding the technologies that are reshaping how we work and think about data. Microsoft Fabric has been a hot topic, and for good reason. Is it the breakthrough platform everyone's talking about, or are there nuances that aren't making headlines? Ed and Kristyna bring their hands-on experience to share what they've learned—the moments of excitement, the unexpected challenges, and the ..read more