The Rock Bottom Data Feed

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!!

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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

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

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

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

John Ladley and Mark Cooper conclude their conversation with Jon Padfield. He's a an engineer turned State Representative, turned business professor, exploring how surveillance, data, AI, and corporate power are reshaping our world and what you can do about it. Check out and join the quarter-million subscribers to his YouTube channel, Business Reform. In this episode of the Rock Bottom Data Feed, Jon gives us more food for thought about what's ethically acceptable in a world of rapidly expanding data and AI. He also answers the "two questions" and plays our Famous Game Show.

As always, if you have a suggestion for an artifact to explore in Archedataology, 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 1;
04:51 – Monologue;
07:15 – Jon Padfield Part 2;
39:06 – Dispatches from Rock Bottom;
41:58 – Audio Data Rorschach Test;
45:53 – The 8-Bit Consultants;
47:09 – Recap & Close