

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

Sep 7, 2021 • 56min
37: Composite Models and Reusing DAX Measures and Objects in Power BI
With some of the major new features available to connect to live datasets in Power BI (Direct Query on Analysis Services) that allows a Power BI report connect to both a Power BI Dataset and other sources, the immediate potential becomes profound. But why should you ensure that this is the way to go, and what are the use cases and also the limitations? This question came in from a mailbag, if you want to suggest a topic, you can do so using the links below:
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Sep 2, 2021 • 55min
36: Developing Insights When There Are None - How To Create Insights In Power BI For an Organization
Based on this amazing article by Microsoft on how they developed their corporate KPI's, the guys wanted to run with it and talk about how any Power BI Pro can begin to help develop for their reports and users goals and KPIs. What are the insights, and how do we help guide our stakeholders in the direction where are reports have meaningful data, and metrics that matter?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/insidetrack/metrics-that-matter-how-we-track-our-digital-transformation
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 31, 2021 • 53min
35: Power BI Filters - Slicers or The Filter Pane
There are more than one way to filter a Power BI Report. You can use the Filter Pane, use Slicers, interact with a visual, or even use drill-through. Now, the real question is what the experience for a user? What should you use, and what are the pitfalls and benefits to each? Join in and listen as the guys 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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 26, 2021 • 44min
34: I.T Datasets vs. User Datasets in Power BI, and the Separation of BI from IT
As companies evolve in their reporting and data systems, there has been an ongoing discussion around ownership of datasets in Power BI, including when IT gets involved. The guys discuss what would define an IT dataset and what makes up a user dataset, and dive into the evolution and the separation of Business Intelligence and data from the IT realm. Is Power BI and BI still a part of IT anymore?
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 24, 2021 • 53min
33: What Makes a Good Power BI Executive Sponsor?
Another bout with the Power BI Adoption Roadmap, this time focusing on the need for and importance of Executive Sponsorship & Support. What entails or successful factors should a Pro look for in an Executive Sponsor? Is it required to be Top-Down (C-level)?
Listen in to hear what the guys have experienced with successful Sponsorship, and what to look for in a promising candidate. Moreover, how do you sell someone at an organization to be that sponsor, and what should they expect of you?
Article Reference from today's discussion: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/powerbi-adoption-roadmap-executive-sponsorship
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 19, 2021 • 34min
32: Do You Have To Join A User Group To Be A Better Power BI Pro?
Note: Many of the guys have been working to still get episodes out despite vacation plans, we apologize for the spotty audio in some segments. We pre-recorded this week episodes due to vacations - no live chat or talk about the August 2021 Desktop release.
If you are a Power BI Pro, it would be hard pressed to say you have never heard of Power BI User Groups. One of the many amazing things about what we do is the amazing community that supports it, both on the global and local level. All of the guys are heavily involved in their own user groups (Chicago and Milwaukee). But this does raise a question: If you are not involved in any form of User Groups, does that matter? Just how important is joining and being actively involved in User Groups to becoming a skilled Power BI Professional? The guys jump into this one both from what it means to join one and what it means to be involved, from speaking, networking, and even leading.
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 17, 2021 • 32min
31: What is the Role of Tables & Matrix's in Power BI?
Note: Many of the guys have been working to still get episodes out despite vacation plans, we apologize for the spotty audio in some segments. We pre-recorded this week episodes due to vacations - no live chat or talk about the August 2021 Desktop release.
Let's face it: Tables & Matrix's are the necessary evil in Power BI. Users need it, pro's hate the experience, yet they are still one of the most widely used visuals in a Power BI Report. Sometimes we have to the play the game "Will it Table?" to evaluate if the experience is worth it. They play an important role in our reports, but the load time can disrupt or even distract users. So where do they fit in the overall experience for a user?
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 12, 2021 • 1h 3min
30: Building a Data Culture in Power BI
We are diving back into the Power BI Adoption Roadmap with what and why of Data Culture. How do you even define it , and how do you identify it? Join the guys as we cover changing organizational behavior, providing and showing value, and getting others aligned with vision. From correlating an Italian Culture to Power BI all the way to Executive buy-in, you do not want to miss this one!
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 10, 2021 • 1h 7min
29: To Degree Or Not To Degree? Do You Need a Degree for Power BI?
The guys cover somewhat of a contentious topic in the Power BI community and for professionals throughout the industry: How essential is a college degree for a professional to be successful and work in the Power BI platform at an organization? While many of us have learned and developed the technical skills online (Forums, Blogs & Articles, Videos), what did the College experience provide that was a boost to the daily application of Business Intelligence now, and what are companies truly looking for in a candidate?
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/

Aug 5, 2021 • 1h 6min
28: Adoption & Maturity Levels in Power BI
The guys are using the amazing resource by Melissa Coates on the Power BI Adoption Roadmap (referenced here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/guidance/powerbi-adoption-roadmap-maturity-levels) all around the Maturity Levels and looking at the Adoption Roadmap and the adoption perspectives around implementing a successful Power BI solution at an organization. What makes up maturity? How do you improve the overall adoption from one level to the next? Make sure to the read the article for reference!
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/channel/UCPwPrIpZwlfIKcoUpRwl9OQ
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/230fp78XmHHRXTiYICRLVv
Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/explicit-measures-podcast/id1568944083
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/


