Maury Blackman is a serial entrepreneur who has led high-growth tech companies for more than 25 years. Maury is also an active investor, board member, and advisor to many tech companies. Great Minds Think Data shares exclusive insightful interviews from the most influential industry leaders in the world, covering prominent topics at the intersection of data and the worlds of business, politics, and economics. Maury and his guests explore how commercial businesses and governments can use real-time data to make actionable decisions.
Google, Growth, and Getting Seen — The SEO Playbook with Joy Hawkins
In the final installment of the Google and Growth series, host Maury Blackman sits down with Joy Hawkins, one of the most recognized experts in local search and the founder of Sterling Sky, LocalU, and the Local Search Forum.
Joy breaks down what small businesses really need to know about SEO in 2025 — from how Google’s local algorithm works to what actually moves the needle in local rankings. She shares insider insights on reviews, proximity, on-page optimization, and the biggest myths holding businesses back from being seen online.
Whether you’re a local business owner trying to stand out on Google Maps or a marketer looking to sharpen your SEO playbook, this conversation delivers practical, no-nonsense advice straight from one of the most trusted voices in the industry.
You’ll learn:What really drives local SEO rankings todayHow to avoid the biggest SEO mistakes small businesses makeThe impact of reviews and proximity on visibilityWhere SEO is headed with AI and the future of Google Search
Guest: Joy Hawkins – Founder of Sterling Sky, LocalU, and the Local Search Forum. Columnist at Search Engine Land and Google Business Profile Product Expert.
Host: Maury Blackman, CEO and technologist exploring the intersection of data, growth, and small business innovation.
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30 Sept 2025
AI Innovators in Government: Gavin Baum-Blake of City Detect
In this episode, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and local government with Gavin Baum-Blake, CEO of City Detect. Discover how this innovative company is revolutionizing municipal inspections by utilizing AI and computer vision to monitor neighborhood health. Learn about the challenges faced by local governments, the importance of data in decision-making, and how City Detect's technology is transforming code enforcement, speeding up inspections from months to mere weeks. Join us as we delve into the future of public service and the role of technology in fostering healthier communities.
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30 Aug 2025
Why Your Reputation Is Your #1 Asset — Michael Yules of GatherUp
In Part 2 of Google & Growth: A Series for Small Business, host Maury Blackman sits down with Michael Yules, CEO of GatherUp, to explore how reviews and reputation have become the lifeblood of small business growth. Building on Part 1’s discussion with Brad Wetherall about the importance of a complete digital footprint, this episode takes a closer look at why a Google Business Profile is often a company’s most valuable asset — and how reputation isn’t just part of marketing anymore, it is marketing.
Yules shares his insights on the evolution of online reviews, explaining how the focus has shifted from sheer volume to quality, authenticity, and consistency. He highlights common mistakes small businesses make that erode trust — from ignoring their Google Business Profile to relying on fake reviews — and outlines practical strategies for generating authentic feedback.
The conversation also covers the shift from a brick-and-mortar-first world to a digital-first one, where traditional trust signals like storefronts and signage are being replaced by online credibility. Yules and Blackman dive into how AI and generative search are reshaping reputation management, why diversification across multiple review platforms matters, and how businesses can prepare for a future where AI agents may become the primary decision-makers in search.
At the heart of the episode is a simple but powerful takeaway: consistently ask your customers for feedback and reviews. As Yules puts it, “people do not do things that you don’t ask them to do” — and building trust online starts with that ask.
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17 Aug 2025
The Data Behind the Stars: how Google Reviews Shape Trust, Commerce, and Deception.
In this episode, we explore the complex world of Google Reviews with industry experts Brad Weatherall and Curtis Boyd. Discover the impact of online reviews on businesses and consumers alike. We delve into the advantages and pitfalls of Google’s review ecosystem, discussing how fraudulent activities can undermine trust and the measures being taken to combat them. Join us for an insightful conversation about the intersection of data, power, and the digital marketplace.
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23 Nov 2022
2022 Midterms - The Global Rethink, Social Media, and Electoral Impact
My guest today is Frank Luntz, one of the world's most renowned and sought-after communications consultants and pollsters. We’re also joined today by Lanny Davis who is a lifelong democrat and well-known as the former White House Special Counsel to President Clinton.
Today we will explore and unpack the driving forces behind the 2022 midterms, social media's impact on the electorate, and finally what the most recent post-midterm Premise Poll reveals about former President Trump's 3rd run for President.
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2 Nov 2022
Newt Gingrich - How the "Politics of Life" Drives Election Outcomes
With the 2022 Midterms a week away, my guest today is Newt Gingrich. The former speaker of the house and Time Magazine's 1995 "Man of the Year" led a revolution in 1994 as the co-author and architect of the contract with America. Under his leadership republicans swept the election, ending four decades of democratic control of the house. Two decades later, Newt remains a force in US politics though his speaking, writing, and his production company Gingrich360. In our conversation we focus on how political issues percolate to the top and become primary drivers of election outcomes, his thoughts on the upcoming midterms, and finally the US’s current standing as a world leader.
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11 Oct 2022
Larry Summers - The Inconvenient Truth of Economic Policy
My guest today is Larry Summers. Larry is one of America’s leading economists. In addition to serving as 71st Secretary of the Treasury in the Clinton Administration, Dr. Summers served as Director of the White House National Economic Council in the Obama Administration, as President of Harvard University, and as the Chief Economist of the World Bank.
In today's episode, we will explore with Larry his thoughts leading up to his opinion piece in the Washington Post back in February 2021 and his thoughts on our current economic conditions, and most importantly how we should think about navigating the turbulent seas ahead. Some important topics covered include Inflation, the Keystone pipeline, Student Loan Forgiveness, and the Federal Reserve’s purpose, structure, and decision-making.
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22 Sept 2022
John Rendon - War in Ukraine, China, and the 2024 Presidential Election
My guest today is John Rendon, one of the world’s thought leaders in international and military affairs. John began his career in Democratic Party politics with George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign. He later served as the Executive Director and Political Director of the Democratic National Committee and managed President Carter's 1980 Democratic convention in New York.
Today, John is considered to be the world’s leading pioneer in the use of strategic communications as an element of national power and one of the first thought leaders to harness the power of emerging technologies in support of real-time information management. He has served as an executive communications consultant to the White House, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Security community, and to the leadership of Fortune 500 companies.
In today’s episode, we tapped John’s knowledge to break down the War in Ukraine, its impact on the European community, and the growing nexus between Russia and China. We also discussed the upcoming midterm elections and theoretical matchups for the 2024 Presidential election that include how Liz Cheney’s entrance into the race would increase the likelihood of another Trump Presidency.
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@mauryblackman | @premisedata | Premise website
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11 Aug 2022
Alex Gladstein - Is Bitcoin The Next World's Currency?
My guest today is Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation and author of the book "Check your Financial Privilege". Today’s episode focuses on how Bitcoin is changing the landscape of the financial services industry and offers hope to many people who were born into a weaker financial system. The episode illustrates how Americans (which is only 4% of the world population) enjoy financial privilege from the dominant U.S. dollar system while 2 billion people live with double-digit inflation every day. Most of us think of Bitcoin as an investment opportunity, but there's ample data that shows bitcoin is fast becoming a transaction platform to move money across borders, protect savings from inflation, and pay for services in many countries around the world. Lastly, Alex emphasized the crypto world's famous mantra “Not your keys, not your coins”.
0:41 – Intro to Bitcoin and Alex Gladstein
3:50 – Financial Privilege and The Evolution of Global Currencies
23:40 – The U.S. Economy’s Power
27:06 – Bitcoin as a Solution and Currency for the World
36:44 – Bitcoin’s Impact in Countries with Lacking Financial Infrastructure
46:46 – Responding to Bitcoin Criticisms and Spreading Financial Freedom
57:00 – Alex’s Three Insights for the World
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27 Jul 2022
Lanny Davis - What America actually thinks: Trump vs. Biden
My guest today is Lanny Davis. Lanny became a household name in the late 1990s as a Special Counsel to President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal and was a spokesperson for the President and the White House on matters concerning legal issues. Lanny is currently a lawyer, crisis manager, consultant, and author providing strategic counsel to clients under scrutiny on crisis management and legal issues by combining legal, media, and political strategies. Lanny is also a regular television commentator and a political and legal analyst for MSNBC, CNN, CNBC, and network TV news programs.
At the time of this interview, Premise organized polling centered around the upcoming 2024 presidential election. The intent is to collect data tracking presidential candidates' polling numbers on a range of topics that are potentially important to election results.
0:44 – Intro to Great Minds Think Data and Lanny Davis
4:44 – The Inaugural Premise Presidential Poll
11:25 – 2024: Trump, Pence, DeSantis and Character
17:49 – The Democratic Base, Supreme Court and Polarization
25:56 – Independent Voters and Pragmatism in Politics
34:09 – The Media, Transitions of Power and President George W. Bush
40:45 – Family and Baseball
Referenced in the podcast:
Trump and Biden in Virtual Dead Heat, According to The Premise Poll
Follow Maury and Premise
@mauryblackman | @premisedata | Premise website
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
26 Jul 2022
Trailer
Coming soon! Is your business two steps ahead or always one behind? If the latter, chances are you lack data insights to confirm your instincts. Here's the deal: leaders are trapped in a world where data and insights are still a luxury rather than a commodity. While you might have strong intuitions about your business, my guess is you're hampered by legacy institutions and capabilities that provide only surface level data and insights that do very little to validate your assumptions. Join me on a journey with some of the world's most notable minds who will share with you their secrets in capturing and making data-driven decisions that power their business. I'm Maury Blackman and this is Great Minds Think Data.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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