Best International Institute for Analytics Podcasts (2025)

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Inside Synthetic Cathinones 26:31

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1h ago26:31

26:31

Send us a text In this episode of The Analytical Zen Podcast, Dr. Simona Pichini guides us through the complex and fast-evolving world of synthetic cathinones. Dr. Pichini is an Italian pharmacotoxicologist and Acting Director of the National Centre on Addiction and Doping at the Italian National Institute of Health. She is a leading expert in the …

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The Chemsex Conversation: Sex, Society and New Psychoactive Substances 40:32

28d ago40:32

40:32

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Luis Manuel Menéndez Quintanal joins us to explore the complex intersections between sexual health, substance use and forensic toxicology. From the science of new psychoactive substances (NPS) to the social and health implications of chemsex, this conversation sheds light on an urgent and often …

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Bones Tell Stories: The Reach of Forensic Anthropology 28:02

3M ago28:02

28:02

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Tania Delabarde, leading forensic anthropologist at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Paris, where she has been instrumental since 2013 in the identification of unidentified bodies and coordination of Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) protocols. Dr. Delabarde’s career spans some of the world’…

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Cat and Mouse: How Toxicologists Chase Ever-Evolving Designer Drugs 21:20

4M ago21:20

21:20

Send us a text In this compelling episode, Dr. Kayla Ellefsen—Deputy Chief Toxicologist at the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office in Austin, Texas, United States-offers a rare look into the science of forensic toxicology and its critical role in death investigations. She dismantles Hollywood myths about quick test results and flashy labs, reve…

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The Zinc Connection: The Pancreas, Diabetes and Beyond 23:58

6M ago23:58

23:58

Send us a text In this episode, we explore the connection between zinc and diabetes, focusing on functions of zinc in the pancreas and for blood glucose control. Using animal models of obesity and prediabetes, researchers investigated how mild zinc deficiency—similar to levels potentially seen in humans—affects the pancreas and regulation of blood …

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From Energy Drinks to Drugs: Uncovering Stimulants 32:40

8M ago32:40

32:40

Send us a text In this episode, forensic toxicologist Dr. Karolina Nowak takes us into the world of forensic toxicology, from the energy drinks we consume daily to the dangerous synthetic drugs on the streets. Dr. Nowak discusses the growing issues surrounding stimulant use, including the rise of synthetic drugs and the overlooked dangers of legal …

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Demystifying Forensic Medicine: Tales from the Morgue 31:31

10M ago31:31

31:31

Send us a text Join us on the Analytical Zen Podcast for an interview with Professor Christopher Milroy, a forensic pathologist and professor based in Ottawa, Canada. Professor Milroy earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool and trained in pathology in Liverpool, Bristol and London before specializing in forensic pathology in Shef…

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Paper-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for a Smarter World: From Health to the Environment 36:46

11M ago36:46

36:46

Send us a text What if you could transform the way we gather and interpret critical data in resource-limited settings? Join us on the Analytical Zen podcast as we chat with Professor Stefano Cinti, a trailblazer in the realm of sensors and biosensors. Stefano's journey from hesitant beginnings to becoming a passionate advocate for analytical chemis…

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Using Smart Devices in Your Kitchen: Are Phones and Tablets a Recipe for Contamination? 11:29

12M ago11:29

11:29

Send us a text Can smartphones contribute to food safety risks in home kitchens? Join Dr. Mairead McCann from SafeFood as she examines the role of smart devices in household food safety. Drawing on research conducted by Queen's University Belfast and commissioned by SafeFood, Dr. McCann provides evidence-based insights into how technology, integral…

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Forensic Toxicology Preventing Mishaps: How Drug Testing Became a Workplace Essential 17:13

1y ago17:13

17:13

Send us a text Unlock the secrets of forensic toxicology and workplace drug testing. From naval mishaps to train collisions, discover the pivotal incidents that have shaped workplace drug testing policies and why they matter. Join us as we chat with Steve Korkoneas as he sheds light on the widespread practice of workplace drug testing. Whether you'…

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From Lab Coats to Leading Labs: How a Work Placement Ignited Global Impact 48:52

1+ y ago48:52

48:52

Send us a text What if a simple work placement could transform your entire career? Join us on the Analytical Zen Podcast as we sit down with Dr. Simon Elliott, a forensic toxicologist with over 30 years of experience. Simon shares memorable cases and pivotal experiences, including his work with the designer drug 4-Methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) in h…

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From Pharmacy to Forensics 1:01:25

1+ y ago1:01:25

1:01:25

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss the critical importance of detecting Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Delta-9 THC and Delta-10 THC along with the challenges associated with analysing heart blood in forensic toxicology. We delve into Professor Ashraf Mozayani’s remarkable journey through the dynamic field of forensic toxicology, focusi…

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Drugs and Deep Thoughts: A Philosophical Look Beyond the Lab Results 51:00

1+ y ago51:00

51:00

Send us a text Imagine a young driver under the influence of multiple substances—what societal factors contribute to such dangerous behavior? In this episode, we explore the case of a young driver found with cocaine, diazepam, and fluoxetine in their system. We delve into trends among young drivers in Switzerland, draw parallels with other regions …

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Intimate Contamination: The Kissing Defense and The Sex Defense in Sports Doping 41:20

1+ y ago41:20

41:20

Send us a text What if an athlete could test positive for a banned substance through no fault of their own? As Wimbledon and the UEFA European Championships grace our TV screens currently, and with the 2024 Olympic Games set to begin in Paris, France at the end of July, The Analytical Zen Podcast turns its focus to the role of forensic toxicology i…

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Career Spotlight on Professor Hans H. Maurer 23:54

1+ y ago23:54

23:54

Send us a text Episode 1 features a career spotlight on esteemed toxicologist Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. (UGent) Hans H. Maurer. He is an Emeritus Professor and the former Head of the Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology at the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. This reno…

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Inderpol Bhandari, Global Chief Data Officer at IBM 31:36

3+ y ago31:36

31:36

In the 30th episode of IIA's Leading Analytics podcast, IIA CEO Jack Phillips chats with Inderpal Bhandari, Global Chief Data Officer for IBM, a company deeply rooted in the data, analytics, and technology world. When Bhandari started at IBM six years ago, the role of AI from an enterprise standpoint was not clear to many B2B companies. IBM set out…

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Liz Kershner, Senior Director for Strategy, Insights and Advanced Analytics at Delta Faucets 23:01

3+ y ago23:01

23:01

What could be at all analytical about an elegant kitchen or bathroom faucet? Actually lots. As the name suggests, the Delta Faucet Company is synonymous with products for showering, bathing, sinks, toilets, and steam showers. In this episode I visit with Liz Kershner who recently joined the company as Senior Director for Strategy, Insights and Adva…

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Diana Schildhouse, Chief Analytics and Insights Officer at Colgate 35:09

3+ y ago35:09

35:09

The power of a healthy smile defines Colgate's global mission. In this episode, you'll hear about the central role that data, insights and analytics play in driving that mission forward. Diana Schildhouse joins the Leading Analytics Podcast for an episode filled with wisdom based on her experience leading analytics and insights efforts at Colgate. …

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Sammi Li, Chief Analytics Officer at Flagstar Bank 21:48

3+ y ago21:48

21:48

In this episode, I sit down with Sammi Li who leads analytics for the Community Bank side of Flagstar Bank. We talk about a range of banking application areas including hyper-personalization—how the bank can bring stronger and better digital and AI capabilities to deliver personalization to Flagstar customers through their bankers in the branches. …

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Cara Dailey, Chief Data Officer at LPL Financial 22:39

3+ y ago22:39

22:39

Cara Dailey joins Season 3 of the Leading Analytics Podcast to share some of her early experiences as Chief Data Officer at LPL Financial. In this far-ranging conversation, you'll hear about the areas the data and analytics team at LPL Financial is having the most impact. Hint, it's all about the customer. We dive into talent retention, data govern…

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Callum Staff, Head of Data Science and Analytics, Food, Marks and Spencer 21:38

4y ago21:38

21:38

To kick off Season 3 of the Leading Analytics Podcast, I sit down with Callum Staff who leads food analytics at the global retail brand Marks & Spencer based in London. Sitting beneath the in-store customer experience and the rich product offerings, sits a growing analytics capability crucial to growing the enterprise in the future. Callum also men…

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Helena Yin-Koeppl, Vice President, Global Head of Data Science & Advanced Analytics, Bayer 19:11

4y ago19:11

19:11

We close out Season 2 with a conversion with Helena Yin Koeppl of Bayer. Like many of our guests over the first two seasons, Helena has held analytics leadership roles at some of the world's most recognized consumer and healthcare brands. Helena now oversees building the strategic vision as well as the analytics portfolio and roadmap for a brand-ne…

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John Kahan, VP and Chief Data Analytics Officer, Microsoft 17:24

4+ y ago17:24

17:24

How about an inspiring conversation with John Kahan of the technology giant, Microsoft. Of course, data and analytics are at the center of Microsoft's business, but John acts as Chief Data Analytics Officer, and the global lead of "AI for Health" for the company. In this episode, John shares his (and Microsoft's) world view of the possibilities for…

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Elena Alikhachkina, Danone, Global Vice President, Data Analytics 25:12

4+ y ago25:12

25:12

Danone is among the most iconic food manufacturing companies in the world with brands like Evian and Volvic waters, and Aktiva and Silk soymilk in the dairy area. And, it's hard to find a more diverse guest than the company's analytics leader Elena Alikhachkina. Elena started her career in the news and information industry, and has since held senio…

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Saurabh Parikh - Chief Data & Innovation Officer, CONA Services 25:14

4+ y ago25:14

25:14

Coca-cola is among the world's most iconic brands. In this episode, I sit down with Saurabh Parikh who leads data and innovation at CONA Services, which supports the largest Coke bottlers in North America. Saurabh describes how the firm delivers analytics solutions against today's opportunities, while also keeping a sharp eye on all of the areas to…

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Yatish Uchil, BNY Mellon, Co-Head of Data and Analytics Services - Global Operations and Technology 29:27

4+ y ago29:27

29:27

It's not often that I speak with an analytics leader from a company whose roots go back to America's founding fathers. Yatish Uchil of BNY Mellon joins me on this episode to discuss his new role leading an analytics team supporting the firm's shared services technology organization. Yatish shares some great anecdotes and soundbites he's developed o…

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Nicole Nelson, Best Buy, Senior VP, Data and Analytics COE 21:08

4+ y ago21:08

21:08

If you're into technology, pride yourself on owning the most cutting edge tech toys, you have undoubtedly spent time at Best Buy. And lurking in the background, and often driving the customer experience is growing data and analytics capability led by Nicole Nelson, the company's Chief Analytics Officer. You'll hear about the group's recent transiti…

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Krishna Cheriath, VP, Head of Digital, Data and Analytics at Zoetis 25:55

4+ y ago25:55

25:55

Zoetis may not be a recognizable brand to many, but If you work or live around animals or livestock, Zoetis will be a familiar name. Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers and people who raise and care for farm and companion animals in more than 100 countries. Krishna Cheriath leads digital, data and analytics at Zoetis, and he walks us t…

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Tarun Kataria, MARS, Senior Director Advanced Analytics and Machine Learning 26:58

4+ y ago26:58

26:58

In this episode, Tarun Kataria of Mars takes us through his experience leading analytics efforts at a series of prominent global companies including Coca-Cola, Georgia Pacific and now Mars. You will walk away from this episode with a handful of very useful frameworks that Tarun uses with his team and company leaders to stay focused on the right thi…

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Rahul Pathak, AWS, VP of Analytics 24:17

4+ y ago24:17

24:17

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has become synonymous with cloud analytics and data tools, and Amazon the e-commerce giant continually ranks at the top of IIA's analytics maturity index. In this episode, I sit down with Rahul Pathak to talk about the evolution of AWS and the impact is has had (and will continue to have) on data science and analytics that…

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Scott Zoldi, FICO, Chief Analytics Officer 29:36

4+ y ago29:36

29:36

Scott Zoldi is the first CAO we spoken with on the podcast whose company's product is actually data and analytics. Today, FICO is a household name among consumers, but is also critical to the way enterprises of all sizes conduct business. Over 19 years at FICO, Scott has built a truly world-class data and analytics organization grounded in science …

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Cameron Davies, YUM! Brands, Chief Data Officer 28:46

4+ y ago28:46

28:46

Cameron Davies has been at Yum! Brands under a year, but seems to be building (and acquiring) world-class analytics capabilities the way he has at other companies, but in a way that is unique to Yum! If you don't recognize the Yum! Name, you'll surely recognize KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell which are all part of the Yum! Family of companies. In this…

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Erika McBride, Director of BI & Analytics at Dow, Inc. 24:56

4+ y ago24:56

24:56

In this episode I sit down with Erika McBride who looks after all things analytics at the giant material science company, Dow, Inc. Like many of my prior guests, Erika manages the analytics and data science function, but doesn't actually have a data science background. Instead, her main focus is on how analytics translates to business outcomes. You…

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Bob Darin, CVS Health, chief analytics officer and chief data officer 26:23

5y ago26:23

26:23

We're kicking off Season 2 of the Leading Analytics Podcast with Bob Darin who holds both an chief analytics officer role and chief data officer role at CVS Health, which recently merged with the insurance giant Aetna. The combination of these two giant companies holds great promise in healthcare to bring together retail and pharmacy operations wit…

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Cleveland Clinic and how they use Data and Analytics 24:24

5y ago24:24

24:24

We end our first season with one of IIA's 2020 Excellence in Analytics (ANNY) winners, Cleveland Clinic. Chris Donovan joins me to describe the world-class team and capabilities they have assembled at Cleveland Clinic, but also to retrace for us this dreadful COVID year from a disease management and clinical perspective. Like John Phytilla in episo…

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Discount Tire and how they use Data and Analytics 19:46

5y ago19:46

19:46

When you need tires for your car, you will more than likely find a Discount Tire location ready to serve you. Like most retailers, analytics plays an important role across the Discount Tire business. Keith Moody joins us for this episode just a few months into his new leadership role at Discount Tire. Like many of our Season 1 guests, Keith has had…

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McDonald's and how they use Data and Analytics 22:01

5y ago22:01

22:01

The McDonald's brand is synonymous with innovation across all of its global operations. Data and analytics fuel that innovation across the myriad ways McDonald's maintains its competitive position, but many would say the best is yet to come. In this episode, I sit down with Craig Brabec who recently took the helm of the analytics team after stints …

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Worthington Industries and how they use Data and Analytics 23:38

5y ago23:38

23:38

Advance analytics isn't necessarily something that comes to mind when you think of big steel. But, Worthington Industries is an exception. Steve Bartos helped start the analytics effort at Worthington, adding more and more use cases across the enterprise every step of the way. IIA has been a steady partner of Steve and his team's efforts since thei…

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Disney and how they use Data and Analytics 23:14

5y ago23:14

23:14

Walt Disney initially made his mark on the world through imagination and creativity, not deep science. But, don't be fooled. Since its founding in 1923, The Walt Disney Company has grown into arguably the most dominant global entertainment brand, while also setting a high bar for operations. Mark Shafer, who manages decision science at Disney, disc…

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Mass General Brigham and how they use Data and Analytics 19:11

5y ago19:11

19:11

Throughout the Northeast of the United States and around the world, the Mass General Hospital brand stands for high-quality healthcare delivery and outcomes and world-class research. Formerly Partners Healthcare, Mass General Brigham consists of 12 world-class healthcare facilities. John Phytila joins me in this episode to share how AI and advanced…

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CIGNA and how they use Data and Analytics 22:40

5y ago22:40

22:40

Staying healthy has never been more important than right now. Affordable, high-quality healthcare has been the foundation of CIGNA's since its founding. The sheer size and reach of this global brand means that data and analytics is an essential fuel that drives decision-making. Gina Papush is setting CIGNA's vision for the future when it comes to c…

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Loblaw Companies Ltd. and how they use Data and Analytics 22:28

5y ago22:28

22:28

Canadian culture revolves around a healthy lifestyle and few national brands deliver on those values the way Loblaw does. Food, health and wellness, fashion and beauty, and financial security are all at the heart of Loblaw's brand and values. Lurking just beneath the surface is a highly sophisticated data and analytics capability and community that…

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John Deere Interview and how they use Data and Analytics 26:25

5y ago26:25

26:25

When you think of America's oldest heavy industry manufacturing brands, the big green machines from John Deere come to mind. What you may not know is how the company is pivoting to be at the center of intelligent agriculture, backed by an impressive data and analytics team spread across the company. Kira Barclay leads analytics for Deere's finance …

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Intermountain Medical Center and how they use Data and Analytics 23:37

5y ago23:37

23:37

When you're in the business of saving lives, particularly during the pandemic, you better know what you're doing, both medically and operationally. Albert Marinez recently took over Intermountain Medical Center's highly developed data and analytics capability, and faced his first real test this year during the pandemic. He'll share how one of the c…

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Campbell's Soup and how they use Data and Analytics 26:28

5y ago26:28

26:28

When you think of Campbell's Soup, the idea of a grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup pops to mind. What about Chicken Noodle? When it comes to analytics at Campbell's, ingredients don't matter, people do. Maria Macuare came on board three years ago to lead analytics at Campbell's and never looked back. What are her secrets to being a high-performi…

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IKEA and how they use Data and Analytics 34:37

5y ago34:37

34:37

IKEA, the big yellow and blue megastores that everyone loves, does more than just shape the way we live our lives. Underneath the clean lines and tasty meatballs, is a global data and analytics capability optimizing every decision made. In this episode, Drew Smith shares some of his secrets in leading a global analytics team from the company headqu…

International Institute For Analytics Podcasts