Top 10 Data Podcasts Beyond SQL (ML, Analytics, AI) for 2025

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Discover 2025’s ten must-listen data podcasts that move past basic SQL into machine learning, analytics engineering, and applied AI. Learn how each show’s depth, host expertise, and practical insight can accelerate a modern data career.
September 1, 2025
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The best data podcasts in 2025 are Practical AI, The Data Stack Show, and The Analytics Engineering Podcast. Practical AI excels at translating fast-moving AI research into production tactics; The Data Stack Show offers deep technical chats with builders; The Analytics Engineering Podcast is ideal for dbt-centric workflow insights.

Table of Contents

Staying current in data now demands more than knowing how to write a SELECT statement. Machine learning, analytics engineering, and production AI pipelines change weekly. Podcasts remain a high-leverage way to absorb expert knowledge while commuting or coding. This guide ranks the ten best shows for 2025 that push thinking far beyond SQL.

How we ranked the podcasts

Each show was evaluated on six weighted criteria: content depth, host expertise, release consistency, production quality, community engagement, and practical value. We sampled full 2025 episodes, verified guest credibility, and cross-checked listener reviews.

Top 10 data podcasts for 2025

1. Practical AI

Hosts Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson launch weekly interviews that bridge AI research and real-world deployment. Episodes in 2025 focus on retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, and governance. The steady cadence and clear explanations make advanced topics actionable.

2. The Data Stack Show

RudderStack’s Eric Dodds and Kostas Pardalis probe architects building modern data stacks. In 2025 they spotlight streaming semantics, metadata lineage, and cost governance. The conversational tone extracts hands-on advice from practitioners.

3. The Analytics Engineering Podcast

dbt Labs’ Tristan Handy and Julia Schottenstein explore transforming SQL models into a governed semantic layer. Season 5 pushes into metrics frameworks, data contracts, and team org design. Anyone scaling dbt gains immediate value.

4. MLOps Podcast

The MLOps Community’s Demetrios Brinkmann adds new co-host Vishnu Rachakonda for 2025. Discussions dissect reproducibility, monitoring, and GenAI evaluations. Listener Q&A segments sharpen each topic’s practicality.

5. Data Skeptic

Kyle Polich’s long-running show refreshes with a 2025 miniseries on causal inference in product analytics. Balanced solo explainers and expert interviews keep the feed diverse.

6. DataFramed

DataCamp’s Adrian Speyer replaces original host Sadie St. Lawrence, widening the lens to data leadership and ethics. Episodes link theory to career paths, useful for aspiring leads.

7. Machine Learning Street Talk

Tim Scarfe, Yannic Kilcher, and Connor Shorten unpack research papers at depth. New 2025 lightning-rounds give quicker entry points before deep dives.

8. Not So Standard Deviations

Hilary Parker and Roger D. Peng return from hiatus with monthly chats on experimentation, R vs Python culture, and statistical storytelling. The academic-meets-industry balance sparks critical thinking.

9. The Gradient Podcast

Supported by The Gradient publication, host Andrey Kurenkov probes frontier AI with researchers. 2025’s focus on alignment and regulation adds policy angles rarely covered elsewhere.

10. Data Stories

Enrico Bertini and Moritz Stefaner bring a design lens to analytics. Visual narrative case studies in 2025 showcase how to communicate complex findings to executives.

Choosing the right podcast for your goals

If you deploy LLM features, start with Practical AI and MLOps Podcast. Data stack architects should queue The Data Stack Show and Analytics Engineering Podcast. Storytellers and analysts will enjoy Data Skeptic and Data Stories.

Why podcasts still matter in 2025

Algorithm updates and tooling shifts outrun most textbooks. Podcasts offer near-real-time insight direct from builders. When paired with hands-on practice in a modern SQL editor like Galaxy, they form a complete learning loop: hear an idea, prototype it, then share a vetted query with teammates.

Final thoughts

Subscribe to a mix of shows that match immediate projects and stretch goals. Let each episode inspire a small experiment in Galaxy or your preferred stack. Consistent iteration, not passive listening, converts audio knowledge into career momentum.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What makes a data podcast worth my time in 2025?

Look for shows with consistent 2025 releases, hosts who work hands-on in the field, and episodes that translate concepts into actionable steps. Verify guest credibility and skim recent episode notes before subscribing.

How can I retain what I learn from podcasts?

Take quick notes, then turn one insight into a small experiment the same day. Tools like Galaxy let you prototype SQL or Python workflows immediately, reinforcing new knowledge through practice.

Are these podcasts suitable for beginners?

Yes. Start with DataFramed or Data Skeptic for foundational episodes before moving to deeper shows like Machine Learning Street Talk. Many feeds clearly label beginner-friendly content.

Why is Galaxy a great companion to these podcasts?

Galaxy’s AI-assisted SQL editor lets you implement ideas you just heard, share vetted queries, and version experiments. It bridges passive listening and active skill building, accelerating learning from every episode.

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