ChatADS

Applied AI and Data Science

ChatADS is a podcast from the University of Chicago exploring how data science and artificial intelligence are shaping industries, careers, and the world around us.

Hosted by Daniel Truesdale, Director of Enrollment Management & Analytics, the show features candid conversations with faculty, students, alumni, and industry professionals. Episodes cover real-world applications, career paths, ethical considerations, and emerging trends shaping the future of data science.

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19 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 44 min
English

Episodes 19

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S1 · E17
October 14 · 35 min
How to Build Trust to Navigate Conflict
How do you navigate conflict in the workplace while building trust and maintaining strong professional relationships? In part two of our conversation with Greg Green, Faculty Director of the University of Chicago's MS in Applied Data Science program, Greg joins host Daniel Truesdale to discuss the role conflict plays in high-performing teams and why being technically correct isn't always enough to succeed in the workplace. Drawing from his years in industry, Greg shares personal experiences navigating difficult conversations, learning to balance technical expertise with emotional intelligence, and understanding the importance of seeing the bigger picture when solving business problems. Whether you're preparing for your first professional role or looking to strengthen your workplace relationships, this episode offers valuable lessons on communication, collaboration, and building trust. Missed part one? Catch up on our conversation about imposter syndrome and Greg's journey to becoming Faculty Director. Stay tuned for part three!
October 5 · 20 min
How Data Leaders Handle Imposter Syndrome
In this episode of ChatADS, MS in Applied Data Science Faculty Director Greg Green shares the story behind his transition from more than 30 years in industry to the University of Chicago. Greg reflects on navigating imposter syndrome as he considered becoming a Faculty Director and how he learned to focus on the experience, perspective, and strengths he could bring to a new role. He also takes us inside his interview process, from researching the program and learning from faculty and students to developing a vision for its future, and shares how his industry experience helped shape his approach. This is the first part of our conversation with Greg Green. Stay tuned for the next part.
September 23 · 39 min
From Colombia to UChicago: Sebastian's MS-ADS Journey
Recent MS in Applied Data Science graduate Sebastian joins ChatADS to reflect on his experience at UChicago and how he plans to apply what he learned as he returns to his career at Colombia’s central bank. Sebastian shares how his background in economics led him to data science and explores how new sources of data are changing the way economists and financial institutions approach complex problems. He also takes us inside his capstone project, where his team built a recommendation system for an insurance broker, and discusses the challenges that come with putting models into practice. Sebastian also reflects on his time in Chicago and what he’s taking with him into the next chapter of his career.
S1 · E14
September 9 · 50 min
Building a Career Across Data and Business
What does it take to build a career at the intersection of business, data science, and AI? In this episode of ChatADS, Daniel Truesdale sits down with MS in Applied Data Science student Bandar Soufi to talk about his path from healthcare and consulting to data science. Bandar shares what led him to pursue graduate study at the University of Chicago, how generative AI has changed the way he approaches learning and coding, and how his recent internship at Bain & Company brought his interests in business and technology together. They also discuss how AI is reshaping the roles of consultants and data scientists, the value of understanding both the technical and business sides of a problem, and Bandar’s goal of moving beyond using technology to helping build what comes next.
S1 · E13
August 20 · 1 hr 21 min
AI Talent, Strategy, and AGI: What is the New Edge?
ChatADS host Daniel Truesdale sits down with Natalia Elezovic, Senior AI Engineer at Bank of America working on Erica for Employees, for a conversation exploring how to solve AI problems at scale, the next bottlenecks in the AI space, the skillsets that matter, how to build an AI strategy across industries, and where we're at with AGI. Natalia's career has evolved from hands-on model performance and management to leadership and mentorship, stakeholder management, and AI governance, giving her a front-row view of the patterns that separate AI initiatives that scale from those that stall, and how that's reshaping hiring and team-building decisions as roles shift. Whether you're a young professional navigating the AI industry right now, building an AI strategy for a single team, or scaling one across an entire organization, this conversation offers a clear-eyed, insider's read on where the real leverage is now, and where it's headed next. Learn more about Natalia and explore her work and writing at: https://nataliaelezovic.com/
S1 · E12
August 7 · 1 hr 12 min
The Power of Community in an AI World
In this episode of ChatADS, Daniel sits down with DuJuan Smith, Director of Student Affairs for the UChicago's MS in Applied Data Science program, for a conversation that goes far beyond higher education. DuJuan reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, from discovering the transformative power of college, to studying abroad in Ghana, sailing around the world with Semester at Sea, and leading through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they explore why curiosity, community, and critical thinking matter more than ever in the age of AI. DuJuan shares how he approaches AI as a thought partner, one that helps generate ideas, uncover blind spots, and expand perspectives without replacing the uniquely human work of critical thinking, relationship building, and making informed decisions.
S1 · E11
July 23 · 50 min
The Career Skills AI Can't Replace
What does it take to build a successful career in AI beyond technical skills? In this episode of ChatADS, Daniel sits down with Jenny Schmidt, founder of J Schmidt Consulting and instructor for the University of Chicago's MS in Applied Data Science Career Seminar, to discuss how students and professionals can stand out in today's rapidly evolving job market. Jenny shares practical advice on networking, navigating career transitions, developing executive presence, embracing ambiguity, and using AI as a tool without losing your unique voice. Jenny and Daniel also explore why emotional intelligence, curiosity, and communication have become some of the most valuable skills in the age of AI. Whether you're looking for your first data science role, pivoting careers, or preparing for leadership, this conversation is full of actionable insights to help you grow.
S1 · E10
June 25 · 52 min
AI is the Industrial Revolution for Knowledge Workers
ChatADS host Daniel Truesdale chats with Nicole Janeway Bills, Founder & CEO of Data Strategy Professionals, to explore how AI is transforming the way organizations operate, and why technology alone isn't enough to drive successful adoption. Nicole shares her perspective on data strategy, governance, organizational culture, and the growing gap between AI capabilities and organizational readiness. Together, they discuss why AI doesn't fail like humans do, the importance of experimentation, how governance must evolve alongside AI, and what skills will matter most in an increasingly automated world. Whether you're a data professional, student, or simply curious about the future of work, this conversation offers practical insights into navigating one of the biggest technological shifts of our time.
S1 · E9
June 15 · 1 hr 17 min
What Happens When AI Gets Too Good? | Part 2 with Batu Gundogdu
In Part 2 of their conversation, MS in Applied Data Science instructor Batu Gundogdu and host Daniel Truesdale explore some of the biggest questions surrounding the future of artificial intelligence. The discussion covers Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), the race between leading AI companies, the push for smaller and more efficient models, and whether AI could one day surpass human capabilities across multiple domains. They also examine the challenge of defining intelligence, the possibility of truly original AI-generated ideas, and what may continue to distinguish humans from machines.
S1 · E8
June 4 · 57 min
Faculty Spotlight: The Evolution of AI with Batu Gundogdu
In this Faculty Spotlight conversation, Batu Gundogdu traces the evolution of AI from early machine learning research and speech processing to today's large language models and emerging world models. Along the way, he discusses how AI has changed over the last decade, what may come next, and how foundational concepts continue to shape modern systems. Batu also shares lessons from his first AI consulting projects, including how to identify real business problems, communicate across disciplines, and create value with machine learning. The conversation explores career growth, learning through failure, and why adaptability is one of the most important skills in a rapidly changing field.
S1 · E7
May 19 · 36 min
Ordering up AI
AI assistants are starting to do more than answer questions; they’re beginning to take action. In this episode of ChatADS, MS in Applied Data Science alumna Hailey Kleban joins Daniel to discuss Resy’s new integration with Claude, the future of agentic AI in restaurant booking, and the real-world challenges of balancing automation, security, and human oversight.
S1 · E6
May 4 · 1 hr 4 min
Is It Possible to Predict the Crypto Market Using AI?
Students from the University of Chicago's MS in Applied Data Science program share how they built a real-time crypto trading system for their Real Time Intelligent Systems class, and what they learned about volatility, model performance, and decision-making in fast-moving markets. Explore the project here on GitHub: https://github.com/shreyast36/nexus-trading
S1 · E5
April 23 · 32 min
Breaking Into Data Science Careers
In this episode of ChatADS, Daniel chats with Ben Wiebers from Career Services to break down what it actually takes to land a role in data science. Drawing on his experience as a corporate recruiter, Ben shares what hiring teams are really looking for, common mistakes candidates make, and how to stand out in a competitive job market. From building a strong narrative to navigating rejections and tailoring your applications, this episode is packed with practical advice for current students and early-career professionals.
S1 · E4
April 7 · 36 min
Waymo Comes to Chicago
In this episode of ChatADS, Professor Arnab Bose shares his experience working on early autonomous vehicle systems and reflects on how the field has evolved with modern AI. With Waymo preparing to enter Chicago, the conversation explores: The technical foundations of autonomous driving Real-world deployment challenges in urban environments (hello Chicago snow) Ethical and regulatory considerations This discussion offers a technical and practical look at the future of autonomous cars.
S1 · E3
March 27 · 42 min
Keeping Pace with AI
In this episode of ChatADS, we sit down with MS in Applied Data Science alum Nathan Rickert, now a data scientist at Thrivent, to explore how AI is being applied in the financial space. Nathan shares how his team is building across predictive, generative, and agentic AI, and why understanding the difference between them matters in practice. The conversation dives into how organizations are using AI to drive efficiency while keeping humans at the center of decision-making, especially in regulated industries. We also discuss one of the biggest challenges in today’s AI landscape: not just learning new tools, but knowing which ones actually matter. From stakeholder collaboration to ethical considerations, this episode offers a grounded look at what it means to work in AI today.
S1 · E2
February 27 · 53 min
AI: There's No Stopping It
In Episode 2 of ChatADS, host Daniel Truesdale sits down with MS in Applied Data Science alum Vino Gunasekaran ’16, Principal – Global Innovation & Analytics at Circana, to unpack what “agentic AI” really means in practice. Drawing from real-world experience in forecasting, pricing, and supply chain decision-making across the food and retail industries, Vino explains why traditional models break down in times of volatility, and how agentic AI enables reasoning, simulation, and adaptation at scale. The conversation explores why AI should be viewed as a tool rather than a replacement, the importance of strong statistical foundations, and what data scientists need to know to build models that decision-makers can actually trust. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in applied data science, AI in industry, and what it really takes to use advanced models responsibly in high-stakes environments. Check out Vino's article in Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2025/10/31/agentic-ai-the-future-of-forecasting-in-an-evolving-market/?
S1 · E1
February 4 · 37 min
Data Science: Beyond the Classroom
In the first episode of ChatADS, Daniel Truesdale sits down with MS in Applied Data Science graduate Steve Veldman to talk about what applied data science looks like beyond the classroom. They discuss how AI is actually built and used in industry, from open-source tradeoffs and intellectual property to computer vision, ethics, and the skills students should focus on as they prepare for real-world data science work.
January 16 · 7 min
What to Expect from ChatADS
In this introductory episode of ChatADS, host Daniel Truesdale shares why the podcast was created and what listeners can expect from future episodes. From applied data science and AI in practice to ethics, careers, and real-world decision-making, ChatADS brings thoughtful conversations with students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders to the forefront.
January 9 · 50 sec
Introducing ChatADS
In this short promo episode, host Daniel Truesdale introduces ChatADS, a podcast from the University of Chicago’s MS in Applied Data Science program. Learn what the podcast is about, who it’s for, and what listeners can expect in upcoming episodes—featuring conversations with faculty, students, alumni, and industry professionals on real-world data science, careers, and emerging trends.

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