

Explicit Measures Podcast
PowerBI.Tips
Hosted by Mike Carlo, and Tommy Puglia, the Explicit Measures Podcast is a Power BI focused show that is like being around a Power BI Pro’s Water Cooler. With so many available resources in the community that focuses on the “how” in Power BI (how to do Drill Through, how to use DAX, etc.,), the Explicit Measures Podcast is all around the WHY. Why use a particular feature, does it make sense for my users?
Build the toolset, learn the how, and then come to the Podcast to the listen to the why in situations we all experience as Power BI Pros.
Build the toolset, learn the how, and then come to the Podcast to the listen to the why in situations we all experience as Power BI Pros.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 9, 2023 • 1h 3min
187: 21 Mind Traps in BI
Watch this video first!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYYkRaU0xh8
How does the 21 mind traps video relate to us in the Power BI world? Mike, Seth, & Tommy discuss.
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Feb 7, 2023 • 1h
186: DataOps in For Power BI
Mike, Seth, and Tommy dive into DataOps processes and methods and how much they should be integrated with Power BI developers.
Links:
https://www.kerski.tech/bringing-dataops-to-power-bi/
https://dkproduction.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/DK_dataops_book_2nd_edition.pdf
https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/2866765/Recipes%20for%20DataOps%20Success/DK_Recipes%20for%20DataOps%20Success_LR.pdf
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Feb 2, 2023 • 58min
185: Mythical Man-Month: The Second System Effect
Mike, Seth, & Tommy dive back into the Mythical Man-Month series and tackle the idea of the Second System Effect and how it relates to Power BI development.
The Second System Effect is the tendency for a developer to "err on the side of over embellishment when planning their second project". This usually occurs when small, elegant, and successful systems can become over-developed and bloated due to inflated expectations and overconfidence.
How does this relate to our development and report lifecycle?
Links:
https://cszy.medium.com/the-second-system-problem-and-a-practical-solution-c2514d67a7d6
https://robertgreiner.com/the-second-system-effect/
https://medium.com/holes/second-system-effect-1a4a1cf76836
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 31, 2023 • 1h 3min
184: Is an Analytical Engineer a BI Developer?
Based on this tweet:
Andy Cutler on Twitter: "Is an Analytics Engineer a BI Developer? All the skills I’m seeing align with that." / Twitter
What is an Analytics Engineer, and how does it differ from the normal BI Developer? What about a BI Engineer, or even a BI Architect? The guys dive into different roles and try to define them.
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 26, 2023 • 1h 2min
183: Should We Have More Icons & Buttons In Our Reports?
Mike, Seth, & Tommy look at their practices to see if there is a larger need in our reports for more user interaction on the canvas itself.
We struggle with finding space for visuals, text, and data. Buttons can get in the way, and we usually hide them in the top corners.
However, from adoption and an easier experience for users, should interactive objects take more precedent in our layouts? What is sacrificed (how significant) and what could this lead us to building differently?
Look at the following on the Gallery of an example: https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Data-Stories-Gallery/Accessible-Data-Storytelling-World-Bank-Heath-and-Wealth-Report/td-p/2927555
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 24, 2023 • 52min
182: Learning By Doing - Using Sample Reports & Database for Growing Your Skills
Inspired by Kurt Buhler (DataGoblins), Mike, Seth, & Tommy review how essential sample data, dummy reports, and messing around with non-business forward scenarios is essential to picking up new skills and growing the ones you have.
Is this essential to becoming an expert?
https://data-goblins.com/power-bi/sql-dataset
https://data-goblins.com/power-bi/personal-data
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 19, 2023 • 51min
181: Should We Always Hide Power BI Objects?
Mike, Seth, & Tommy pick up a potentially contentious topic... Should ALL Power BI models have certain objects hidden from the report view? While there are more than one benefit to this, this always hides that object from any other view (live connection, Excel, etc).
Is this a basic practice, and if so what components would be part of this checklist?
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 17, 2023 • 60min
180: Power BI Champions Deep Dive
The guys have extensively covered the Power BI Adoption roadmap and strategies, but one missing piece not truly reviewed is the importance of what are considered "Power BI Champions" within the org.
As per the documentation, there are Community of Practice Champions who is a content creator in a business unit and the go-to Power BI expert. (see link below). But what about Champions who do not develop reports but are your cheerleaders and voice for the rest of the departments? They are essential to the overall adoption.
The guys review the differences and what it takes to establish a champions culture.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/powerbi-adoption-roadmap-community-of-practice
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 12, 2023 • 1h 4min
179: Searching In Power BI Desktop - A Must-Use Feature?
Coming off the winds of an earlier episode, just how important is it for any report author to not just get familiar with searching in Power BI Desktop, but integrating it within their normal development workflow?
There is both searching the formatting pane, and for objects in the model. Is searching always worth it, or should we figure out where the heck the objects are in the first place?
Get in touch:
Send in your questions or topics you want us to discuss by tweeting to @PowerBITips with the hashtag #empMailbag or submit on the PowerBI.tips Podcast Page.
Visit PowerBI.tips: https://powerbi.tips/
Watch the episodes live every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 730am CST on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/powerbitips
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
Check Out Community Jam: https://jam.powerbi.tips
Follow Mike: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcarlo/
Follow Seth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-bauer/
Follow Tommy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommypuglia/

Jan 10, 2023 • 1h 3min
178: Why Power BI Is So Difficult
Discussion on the challenges and complexities of starting with Power BI, including assumed knowledge and data modeling. Comparison between Power BI and Tableau, highlighting potential drawbacks. Challenges faced by Power BI developers in terms of data visualization and technical challenges. Understanding the intricacies and value of Power BI, including its integration into Microsoft Office and accessibility to college students.


