S03E09 - Statistical rethinking - with Richard McElreath

S03E09 - Statistical rethinking - with Richard McElreath

Author: Half Stack Data Science April 21, 2024 Duration: 1:05:22

A reminder that David's book, Solve Any Data Analysis Problem, is out later this year and you can already buy it and read it in its draft form as part of Manning's Early Access Program. If you want to practise your data skills on real world problems and learn a reusable framework to use on any project in the future, this book is for you.

Find out more here: ⁠https://www.manning.com/books/solve-any-data-analysis-problem⁠

Now onto today's episode.

In this episode, we spoke to Richard McElreath.


Richard is an anthropologist focused on the role of culture in human evolution and adaptation. He is currently the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. A major focus of the department is integrating theory with data analysis and study design, and Richard spends much of his time supporting his colleagues in that way. He is the author of Statistical Rethinking, a popular Bayesian statistics textbook and video course.


We spoke to Richard about the state of scientific research, parallels between the problems in scientific research and doing data analysis in the business world, and to quote Richard, how, if we are very careful and try very hard, we might not completely mislead ourselves.


Richard's departmental page: https://www.eva.mpg.de/ecology/staff/richard-mcelreath

Richard's blog: https://elevanth.org/blog

Richard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlmcelreath


Hosted by David Asboth and Shaun McGirr, Half Stack Data Science pulls back the curtain on what it really means to build and deploy data science within large organizations. This isn't a theoretical discussion of algorithms, but a grounded conversation about the messy, human, and often political challenges that define the field in an enterprise setting. Each episode delves into the practical hurdles-from managing stakeholder expectations and navigating legacy systems to communicating value and dealing with imperfect data. You'll hear candid reflections on projects that succeeded and those that didn't, offering a rare, unvarnished look at the day-to-day work beyond the hype. The Half Stack Data Science podcast is for practitioners who want to move beyond textbook examples and for leaders seeking to understand how to foster effective data teams. It’s a dialogue focused on the tools, processes, and soft skills necessary to deliver impact, making it an essential listen for anyone navigating the complex intersection of data, technology, and business reality. Tune in for honest talk about building things that actually work.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 33

Half Stack Data Science
Podcast Episodes
002: The Insight Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:26
In the second episode of the Half Stack Data Science podcast, David and Shaun talk about the strategy companies can employ to become more data-driven, using what they call "the Insight Journey".
001: What is Half Stack Data Science? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:37
In the first episode of the Half Stack Data Science, David Asboth and Dr. Shaun McGirr answer the question "what is Half Stack Data Science"?