The Rock Bottom Data Feed

Irreverent yet practical data-focused podcast that isn't a pile of technobabble and repetition of old advice. Our audience is EVERYBODY, because everybody is involved with data. Join us, because when you're here, you're at Rock Bottom.

The Rock Bottom Data Feed is a technology podcast hosted by John Ladley and Mark Cooper, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

John Ladley and Mark Cooper hosts The Rock Bottom Data Feed, a technology show with 25 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #37

  The Fuss About Airborne Internal Organs and Other Novelties

  Sep 7, 202639 minS5

  What happens when you empty the refrigerator of everything that didn’t quite make it into the last series of the Rock Bottom Data Feed? You make stew. This compilation episode serves up the leftovers from Series 4: behind-the-scenes production conversations, outtakes, extended conversations with guests, and a few stories that were simply too good to leave on the cutting-room floor. We revisit the history of Bradshaw’s Guide and the surprisingly contentious business of railway timetables, explore what data management looks like from perspectives outside the traditional data world, and dig into a bigger question that has been a recurring theme of the podcast: data is about people, society, and the ways technology changes how we live. There’s also a fascinating discussion about turning data into sound, the human consequences of data breaches, and why every row in a database may represent somebody’s life, experience, or secret. And then there’s the other stuff. Production sausage-making. Southern farewells. LEGO. A few questionable jokes. And one particularly memorable Victorian-era concern about the effect of high-speed rail travel on the human anatomy. In other words, everything you might expect from the Rock Bottom Data Feed when nobody is watching the clock. Series 4 is officially in the refrigerator. Series 5 is ready to cook. Be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction; 02:17 – Extras and Outtakes; 38:01 – Recap & Close

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  Episode #34

  More Fuss About Sam Spencer

  Jul 7, 202646 minS4

  In this final fourth series episode, John and Mark continue their conversation with Sam Spencer , CEO and co-founder of Aristotle Metadata . The focus this time is an experiment Sam's been running with the Australian government. We'll let Sam give the details, but the short version is that the Australian government spent a whole lot of money on a data initiative but didn't have a whole lot of results to show for it. Sam is helping them to make better progress without having to handhold the whole time. You can read about it on his substack . We'll be back later in the summer to see how it turned out. Sam also plays our famous Game Show, the Audio Data Rorschach Test. We close out the season with all the favorite segments, including the 8-Bit Consultants and a Data Poetry Slam courtesy Busta Hips making a grand entrance on a stairlift. As always, if you have a verse or two to share, or a question in 256-characters, write us. This is our 36th episode. Over 21 hours of irreverent yet practical data-focused content that isn't a pile of technobabble and repetition of old advice. Go back and check out some of our earlier shows. You could start season one on your flight from London and still be listening to this episode when you arrive in Sydney. Be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Archedataology from the Future - Part 4 - 2026; 07:55 – Monologue; 10:06 – Sam Spencer Part 2; 37:56 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 40:02 - Audio Data Rorschach Test; 41:32 – The 8-Bit Consultants; 42:40 – Data Poetry Slam; 43:58 – Recap & Close

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  Episode #35

  The Fuss About Sam Spencer

  Jun 23, 202646 minS4

  In this episode of the Rock Bottom Data Feed , John and Mark go half-way around the world, literally, to bring you Sam Spencer , CEO and co-founder of Aristotle Metadata . Drawing on experiences ranging from nursing to public service to entrepreneurship, Sam advocates for a more assertive approach to governance that emphasizes accountability, ownership, and organizational responsibility. The wide-ranging conversation covers ISO standards, metadata and asset management, and the parallels between data governance and quality improvement in other disciplines. Sam caused a bit of a fuss down under with some unflattering observations about government investments in data. You can read about it on his substack . We will also hear from the 8-Bit Consultants and drop in on an unusual Data Poetry Slam. If you have a verse or two to share, or a question in 256-characters, write us. Be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Archedataology from the Future - Part 3 - 1996; 07:26 – Monologue; 10:10 – Sam Spencer Part 1; 39:43 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 41:49 – The 8-Bit Consultants; 42:49 – Data Poetry Slam; 44:00 – Recap & Close

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  Episode #34

  More Fuss About Christy Crute

  Jun 9, 202636 minS4

  Christy Crute returns to the Rock Bottom Data Feed to discuss the growing importance of data literacy, critical thinking, and human judgment in an AI-enabled world. In addition to being Professor, Business Analytics at Grove City College, Dr. Crute has also been an executive at multiple Fortune 50 companies. In a wide-ranging conversation, she talks about how metrics can motivate employees, foundational skills that still matter, and that while AI is changing entry-level work, it will not replace the need for deep understanding. In fact, intellectual capital and institutional knowledge are more important than ever, perhaps even to the level of competitive differentiators. We also hear from the 8-Bit Consultants, play our famous game show, and visit the Data Poetry Slam. As always, if you have a verse to share or question in 256-characters, write us. Be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Archedataology from the Future – Part 3; 05:21 – Monologue; 07:47 – Christy Crute Part 2; 28:33 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 30:39 – Data Poetry Slam; 31:11 – The 8-Bit Consultants; 32:16 – Audio Data Rorschach Test; 34:19 – Recap & Close

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  Episode #33

  The Fuss About Christy Crute

  May 26, 202644 minS4

  Who is best to educate corporate executives? How about a college professor who was once a corporate executive herself. John and Mark welcome Christy Crute to the Rock Bottom Data Feed . Former executive at multiple Fortune 50 companies; current Professor, Business Analytics at Grove City College. In the first of our two-part conversation, Dr. Crute shares her observations about how AI is shaping education, not by replacing foundational skills, but by elevating critical thinking, curiosity, and judgment. Students still need deep domain understanding even as AI handles more of the mechanics because "reasonableness" may become one of the most important skills of all. In this episode we also preview an upcoming guest: Sam Spencer of Aristotle Metadata in Australia. Not to give too much away, but Sam caused a bit of a fuss down under with some unflattering observations about government investments in data. As always, if you have a verse or two for the Data Poetry Slam, or question in 256-characters, write us. Be sure to visit DATAVERSITY where you can use discount code ROCK15 to get 15% off your first purchase!! DATAVERSITY Training Center Live Classes Applied Data Governance Certification | DATAVERSITY Chapters: 00:00 – Archedataology from the Future - Part 2; 05:58 – Monologue; 08:41 – Christy Crute Part 1; 37:21 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom; 39:27 – Data Poetry Slam; 40:25 – The 8-Bit Consultants; 42:02 – Recap & Close

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