My guest today, Walt Hecky calls himself a data journalist. That's not a job title I've ever heard of, but I like the sound of it.

I think it requires you to be a little bit more clever, but I tell you what, the results are just

really rewarding.

Welcome to people I mostly admire with Steve Leavitt.

I talk a lot about the importance of data science,

how we need to be teaching in schools, how the future belongs

to those who can extract insights from data.

But a point that doesn't it made nearly enough is that in the hands of the right person,

data can also be fun.

Walt Hecky has an incredible talent

for making data feel fun and maybe even cool.

There are not many applied math majors who end up as journalists, especially journalists

who write about culture and politics.

Would the college age version of yourself be surprised by where life is taking you?

I think he'd be delighted.

I always enjoyed math. I think it was a really fun challenge a lot of the time.

You know, I majored in applied math with a focus in probability and statistics and I

managed to graduate at a very exciting time for data journalism in particular and yeah you know you get to meet your heroes

You get to do some cool stuff you get to break some news with it. I think you would have been thrilled

And so your first job was with Nate Silver at 538, is that right?

Now I was an intern at Business Insider and then Nate was starting up the new version of 538 under

ESPN and poached me to do their culture stuff.

...