The Measure Pod

The Measure Pod is your go-to fortnightly podcast hosted by seasoned analytics pros. Join Dara Fitzgerald (Co-Founder at Measurelab) & Matthew Hooson (Head of Engineering at Measurelab) as they dive into the world of data, analytics and measurement—with a side of fun.

#130 GenAI in action: Cloud DevOps and Tagassistant.ai (with Mark Edmondson)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matthew sit down with Mark Edmondson, AI Engineer, founder of Sunholo and Aitana, and board member at 8-bit-sheep. They explore the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in business and analytics, from career progression in the age of AI to the practical realities of implementing AI-driven company strategies. Mark shares insights on DevOps, data pipelines, and the distinction between data engineering and data science, while discussing why so many AI projects fail and what it takes to succeed. The conversation tackles the human side of technological change, including productivity expectations, burnout, and how we should be educating future generations for an AI-driven world.

#129 The impact of AI on digital analytics and user privacy (with Brian Clifton)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matthew sit down with Brian Clifton, the former Head of Web Analytics at Google (EMEA), author, and founder of Verified-Data.com and Advisor to Piwik PRO. They discuss the intersection of AI, privacy, and analytics, from the evolving role of Google Analytics and data democratisation to the challenges of user consent and data protection, they unpack how privacy-first thinking is shaping the future of measurement. Along the way, they dive into issues like AI in user interfaces, copyright and data ownership, and the risks automation poses to professional journalism. The conversation also covers creativity in the age of AI, from automation and collaboration to the impact of hyper-targeting versus contextual advertising.

#128 MCP servers in digital analytics (with Gunnar Griese at 8-bit-sheep)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matthew sit down with Gunnar Griese from 8-bit-sheep to discuss MCPs and their growing role in digital analytics. From server integration with LLMs to customising prompt templates and tackling authentication, they explore how MCPs are reshaping workflows and access in analytics. Along the way, they touch on related challenges like API translation, automated tracking, and the balance between AI functionality and governance.

#127 Ensuring robust data collection - lessons from Trackingplan (with Josele Perez)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt welcome Josele Perez, co-founder of Trackingplan, to dive into the evolving challenges and opportunities in data collection. Josele shares his personal journey, from his first computer experience to discovering coding as a form of therapy, before walking us through the mission behind Trackingplan. Together, they explore the most common pitfalls in data collection, why the collection phase deserves more focus, and how ownership and collaboration can transform tracking efforts across teams.

#126 First-party data strategy - a client side perspective (with Roman Petrochenkov at Carwow)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt sit down with Roman Petrochenkov, a seasoned marketing analytics leader with deep expertise in data strategy and measurement. They discuss the growing importance of first-party data, unpacking strategies for its collection, ownership, and security, as well as the evolving role it plays in a post-cookie landscape. They also explore the rise of AI in analytics, its impact on incrementally measurement, and what the future holds for marketing teams and jobs in an increasingly automated world.

#125 Proactive pipelines - the power of shifting left (with Chad Sanderson at Gable)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt are joined by Chad Sanderson from Gable.ai, a seasoned expert in the data space with a diverse background ranging from journalism to data science. Chad shares insights from his extensive career, which includes roles at large corporations like Subway, Oracle, and Microsoft, as well as at smaller startups. They discuss the concept of shifting left and how this approach aims to improve data quality, reduce costs, and accelerate data delivery by addressing issues earlier in the data lifecycle.

#124 Transforming tag management with server-side GTM (with Denis Golubovskyi at Stape)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt are joined by Denis Golubovsky from Stape.io, the team making server-side Google Tag Manager implementation as simple as the click of a button. They dive deep into what makes server-side tracking so powerful, who benefits most from the switch, and the technical hurdles that come with it. Expect candid takes on ad blockers, cross-device tracking, and why configuration is just the beginning when it comes to getting server-side GTM right.

#123 Why teams are turning to warehouse-native analytics (with István Mészáros at Mitzu)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt are joined by István Mészáros, founder and CEO of Mitzu — a company who have built a warehouse-native product analytics solution. They explore who this approach is really for, what it offers teams that traditional tools don’t, and the challenges companies face when making the shift. Expect an honest discussion about trade-offs, technical friction, and why warehouse-native is becoming a serious contender in the analytics space.

#122 Digital transformation in the age of AI (with Antony Mayfield at Brilliant Noise)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt are joined by Antony Mayfield to talk about what 15+ years of digital transformation work actually looks like and how it’s changed. From the rise of influencer marketing to the sudden urgency of AI, Antony shares what he’s seeing on the ground with big brands and why adapting to new tech is no longer optional. Expect a wide-ranging chat on systems, shifts, and why ChatGPT isn’t just a tool, it’s a turning point.

#121 Using Dataform and DBT in modern analytics (with Verónica Delgado-Benito at Springer Nature)

In this episode of The Measure Pod, Dara and Matt are joined by Verónica Delgado-Benito to chat through her journey from molecular biology PhD to data analyst at Springer Nature. They cover everything from her time in venture capital at Project A, to the quirks of working in scientific publishing—and what it’s like to swap lab coats for dashboards. They also dig into a recent project we worked on together using Dataform to streamline reporting across Springer’s complex analytics setup.