More Than A Refresh
A podcast about data and the people who wrangle it.
Welcome to the More than a Refresh podcast series, now celebrating its fifth year as your uniquely human gateway into the world of data.
In 2025, we bring you an even more eclectic mix of speakers and subject matter experts from diverse industries and backgrounds. Our guests excel in topics such as leadership, networking, DEIA, data protection and privacy, and cutting-edge technology, including healthtech, edtech, and fintech. Additionally, enjoy top-tier content from leading experts in the open-source community.
Where to listen:
MTAR 25: The intersection of cutting edge technology and the marketplace. Open Source vs Open Standards and the cloud as the reinvention of the wheel
Welcome to episode 25 of More than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Ajay Kulkarni, Co-Founder and CEO @ Timescale. Listen in as they discuss the intersection of cutting edge technology and the marketplace, open source vs. open standards, and the cloud as the reinvention of the wheel.
MTAR 24: The value of long-term partnership, data automation and legacy planning
Welcome to episode 24 of More than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Peter Zaitsev, Founder @ Percona. Listen in as they discuss the value of long-term partnership, data automation & legacy planning, and why OSS is the best.
MTAR 23: Finding a tribe, maintaining company culture in the face of M&A, and the Goldilocks Rule of communication
Welcome to episode 23 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Divya Bhargov, Senior Director Of Engineering, Greenplum R&D, VMware. Listen in as they discuss finding a tribe, maintaining company culture in the face of M&A, and the Goldilocks Rule of communication.
MTAR 22: ethical Open Source licenses, being "addicted" to Postgres and maintaining a community in the face of war
Welcome to episode 22 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Nikolay Samokhvalov, Founder @ Postgres.ai – Database Lab. Listen in as they discuss ethical Open Source licenses, being "addicted" to Postgres, and maintaining a community in the face of war.
MTAR 21: AdTech as a tool for counterespionage and the humble origins of the Internet Cookie
Welcome to episode 21 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Dan Frechtling, CEO @ Boltive. Listen in as they discuss dark signals, AdTech as a tool for counterespionage, and the humble origins - and eventual exploitation - of the internet cookie.
MTAR 20: EFF, Why paper is magical, International threats to privacy and the problem with never-ending emergencies.
Welcome to episode 20 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Jon Callas, Director of Public Interest Technology at Electronic Frontier Foundation. Listen in as they discuss why paper is magical, international threats to privacy and security, and the problem with never-ending emergencies. Click here to donate to EFF, and if you're looking for other ways to get involved, the EFF has this helpful page of suggestions.
MTAR19: Debian, why competition yields better software, the difference between free and open source and how to attract the next generation of developers to Postgres.
Welcome to episode 19 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with old friend and Senior Director Cloud Products @ credativ, Dr. Michael Meskes. Listen in as they discuss Debian, why competition yields better software, the difference between free and open source, and how to attract the next generation of developers to Postgres.
MTAR 17.01: Industrial hemp: legislation and economics, how hemp could save the U.S. water system and why it is always important to have a fire extinguisher on your combine
Welcome to the second episode in our AgData series of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down for a second time with Tom Michaels, Co-Founder @ Open Source Seed Initiative and Horticultural Science Professor at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Listen in as they discuss industrial hemp in all its glories: legislation and economics, how hemp could save the US water system, and why it's always important to have a fire extinguisher on your combine.
MTAR 17: copyleft, the hallmarks of healthy Open Source communities, the value of diversity and DNA as source code
Welcome to episode 17 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Tom Michaels, Co-Founder @ Open Source Seed Initiative and Horticultural Science Professor at University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Listen in as they discuss copyleft, the hallmarks of healthy open-source communities, the value of diversity, and DNA as source code.
MTAR 16: Solving real problems for real people, idea validation and why ideas without passion will lead to failure
Welcome to episode 16 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Jeff Mains, five-time founder and current CEO @ Intelligent Contacts and CEO @ Champion Leadership Group. Listen in as they discuss solving real problems for real people, idea validation, succession planning, and why ideas without passion will lead to failure.
MTAR 13.01: the price of convenience and the complexities of children being online
Welcome to a bonus episode of More than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Andrés Arrieta, Director Consumer Privacy Engineering @ EFF. Listen in as they pick up where they left off in their last conversation, chatting about the price of convenience, the complexities of children being online, and the inherent dangers of passing legislation without understanding the technology behind the laws.
MTAR 15: The closed source giant, why Postgres is the Linux of databases and the politics of the rental housing market
Welcome to episode 15 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Jacque Istok, Vice President, Data at VMware. Listen in as they discuss closed source giants, why Postgres is the Linux of databases, and the politics of the rental housing market.
MTAR 14: ERP innovation vs. acquisition as a growth strategy
Welcome to episode 14 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Ned Lilly, President & CEO of xTuple. Listen in as they discuss ERPs, innovation vs. acquisition as growth strategy, and why there's more to xTuple's name than you may realize.
MTAR 13: The EFF and the role of anti-trust policy in mitigating threats, finding a healthy balance with technology in a contemporary society and why Facebook is not actually free.
Welcome to episode 13 of More Than a Refresh, where JD sits down with Andrés Arrieta, Director of Consumer Privacy Engineering at Electronic Frontier Foundation. Listen in as they discuss the role of anti-trust policy in mitigating threats, finding a healthy balance with technology in contemporary society, and why Facebook isn't actually free.