{"id":2387,"date":"2026-02-02T17:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T17:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/?p=2387"},"modified":"2026-02-03T17:53:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T17:53:56","slug":"the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/","title":{"rendered":"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p dir=\"auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2388\" src=\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" \/><\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Have you ever seen a picture that made you pause and wonder if your eyes were deceiving you? Let\u2019s say you\u2019re looking at an animal, and something about it just doesn\u2019t seem right. It\u2019s walking on all fours, but its shiny black skin and peculiarly long limbs give it a nearly human appearance. Its neck appears abnormally long, and when it changes positions, its stance is strangely upright. You\u2019re left wondering, \u201cWhat is this thing?\u201d Then you learn the unexpected: it\u2019s a polar bear, but with no fur.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Seeing a polar bear without its white fur is quite alarming. It seems as though you\u2019re looking at a whole new creature. All those familiar \u201cbear\u201d traits disappear, and your brain scrambles to put it into a category. But the real shock isn\u2019t the animal itself; it\u2019s what\u2019s missing. That thick fur keeps the bear warm, but it also signals to us, \u201cThis is a polar bear.\u201d When it\u2019s gone, so is our sense of recognition.<\/p>\n<h4 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Why This Matters for Data Storytelling<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">That image of the furless bear sticks with us because it taps into how our minds work. When something is removed from its usual context, we struggle to make sense of it. The same thing happens with data. You can have the right numbers and flawless analysis, but if you present them without narrative or context (that is, if you forget to give your data its \u201cfur\u201d), your audience may feel confused or disconnected.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">In my 30-plus years of experience with data storytelling, I\u2019ve seen this problem repeatedly. When you take way the narrative, context, and clarity from data, it goes from familiar to intimidating. But with the right approach, you can turn raw data into something meaningful.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">To help you implement this \u201cright approach\u201d I referred to, I developed a simple framework I call\u00a0<strong>B.E.A.R.S.<\/strong>\u00a0Each letter stands for a principle that helps your data story feel trustworthy, clear, relatable, and compelling. Let\u2019s walk through each piece, drawing from our polar bear example along the way.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\" data-type=\"upload-placeholder\" data-upload-id=\"533867f1-10e8-4a0d-8d52-dd3361ba36a7\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/d003ce01-5dbc-4558-843e-27bd91e41153\/89131fcf853a39eb.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"105\" data-asset-id=\"149504393\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Background: Set the Scene for Understanding<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Think about where the polar bear lives. Its white fur is the perfect camouflage (a.k.a. \u201c<strong>background<\/strong>\u201d) against Arctic snow and ice. If you took that bear out of its environment, its fur would stand out, not blend in. Context shapes everything. In data storytelling, context is your starting point. Without it, your audience is lost.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Every good data story starts with setting the scene, providing background information. This might mean explaining why you collected the data in the first place, what problem you are trying to solve, or perhaps even telling a little bit of history that makes your data relevant to your audience. Providing this background helps you get your audience to see\u00a0<strong>beyond<\/strong>\u00a0the numbers and get to the story\u00a0<strong>behind<\/strong>\u00a0the numbers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">So, it\u2019s common for presenters to miss this step, diving headlong into numbers and statistics without providing enough background. What\u2019s left is for your audience to try to\u00a0<strong>figure<\/strong>\u00a0it out themselves, or even worse,\u00a0<strong>tune<\/strong>\u00a0you out altogether! What would you do if you were asked to present your quarterly sales figures without mentioning changes in the market or events that happened recently in your industry? Your audience would be left wondering what these numbers really mean! Start with the big picture, providing your audience with a story, analogy, correlation, or timeline before you even present your numbers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">This term, \u201c<strong>Background<\/strong>,\u201d represents the snow that makes the polar bear\u2019s camouflage work. When you lay the groundwork, your audience will be ready to see the most important elements.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/69e529c0-695e-44d4-bb2d-c2c2f797d248\/442d2a6b95c8674f.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"97\" data-asset-id=\"149504520\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Emphasis: Highlight What Matters Most<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polar bears have black skin under their fur. This means they can absorb all the sun they can get in the cold Arctic. This is something you wouldn\u2019t normally notice, but it\u2019s very important for their survival. In data storytelling, there\u2019s always an important point that needs to be noticed. Even if it\u2019s not necessarily the most obvious thing in the world.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Emphasis is all about making sure your main point is noticed. Data is everywhere in today\u2019s world. This means that your key point can get lost in all the data and data terms that are floating around. Your goal is to emphasize your key point so that your audience doesn\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">You can do this in many ways. You can use colors, bold text, and callouts. You can also give cues when you\u2019re talking in front of an audience. You can say things such as \u201cwhat\u2019s really important here\u2026\u201d or \u201cthe main takeaway is\u2026.\u201d Even how you present your story can help create emphasis.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">But be careful not to overdo it. If you highlight\u00a0<strong>everything<\/strong>, then\u00a0<strong>nothing<\/strong>\u00a0stands out. Pick the single-most important element, then ensure your audience sees it. Just like the polar bear\u2019s black skin works quietly behind the scenes, your core message should shape the entire story without overwhelming it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/ea773ec9-9e4b-418e-8db8-e1e48156caf6\/6c7517eff21ad670.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"96\" data-asset-id=\"149504612\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Association: Connect the Unknown to the Known<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">When you look at a furless polar bear for the first time, your mind is racing with what it is and how it compares to something else. Is it a person? Is it some kind of mutant? Our brains are wired to understand the\u00a0<strong>unknown<\/strong>\u00a0by relating it to the\u00a0<strong>known<\/strong>. This is the same with data storytelling.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Data on its own does not explain itself. To get the point across clearly, you need to connect it to something that the reader already understands. This is where analogies and metaphors come in handy. Want to explain a complicated algorithm? Compare it to making a recipe or dancing. Want to explain exponential growth? Compare it to how rumors spread or how interest compounds.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">This is the same with the visualizations you will be using. Charts and graphs only help if the reader already knows how to read them. Simple visualizations are best; for example, a bar chart may be better than a complicated scatter plot, depending on the audience.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\"><strong>Association<\/strong>\u00a0is about building bridges. When people can relate your data to something from their own lives, understanding comes naturally. Association transforms strange and confusing information into something that feels familiar and clear.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/2df616c4-38ca-4c37-b768-c09183a91089\/41840662fb0ca145.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"96\" data-asset-id=\"149504696\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Relevance: Focus on the Audience\u2019s Need<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\">A polar bear\u2019s fur is perfectly adapted for survival in the Arctic. Every piece of your data story should be just as purposeful.\u00a0<strong>Relevance<\/strong>\u00a0means leaving out what isn\u2019t needed, so every detail you include drives your message forward.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Often, this means making tough choices. It\u2019s tempting to pack your story with every interesting number or slick chart you have, but too much detail just muddies the waters. Before you add something, ask yourself: Does this help people understand? Does it support my main point? Is it something my audience cares about? How does it connect to their day-to-day living?<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">Relevance also means tailoring your story for your audience. A board meeting and a public talk might use the same numbers, but they need different details and focus. Take time to learn what your listeners care about, then adjust your story to fit.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">Focusing on relevance demonstrates your respect for your audience\u2019s time and attention. You make sure your data story is both informative and genuinely valuable. In a world where attention is scarce, relevance is your best tool; just as the polar bear\u2019s fur is key to its survival.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/d558f679-ff39-4af7-ac12-c1065d5fc002\/89fe3b27d3b2212e.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"96\" data-asset-id=\"149504782\" \/><\/div>\n<h3 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Sequence: Guide the Journey Step by Step<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">When you first lay eyes on a furless polar bear, your brain goes through a process: it notices the limbs, the posture, the color, and tries to make sense of each part. The order in which you notice things shapes your whole impression. In data storytelling, the\u00a0<strong>sequence<\/strong>\u00a0of your narrative is just as important.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">A well-structured story leads your audience through the information step by step, making each new idea build on the last. Start with something familiar, then gradually introduce the new or unexpected. This helps people stay engaged and prevents overload. For example, begin with a problem your audience already recognizes, then bring in the data, and finally reveal the insight they can act on.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">Transitions are key to making a sequence work. Move smoothly from one idea to the next, so your listeners don\u2019t get lost. Think of your narrative as a guided tour, where each stop prepares your audience for what\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\">People remember\u00a0<strong>stories<\/strong>, not\u00a0<strong>spreadsheets<\/strong>. If you present your data as a clear journey, rather than a jumble of facts, your audience will be more likely to follow along and remember what you shared.<\/p>\n<h4 dir=\"auto\"><strong>Takeaway: Give Your Story the \u201cFur\u201d It Needs<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p dir=\"auto\">The image of a furless polar bear grabs our attention because it shows just how much context matters. In the same way, even the best data can seem alien if we forget the elements that make it relatable and engaging.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tiptap-image\" data-align=\"center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" dir=\"auto\" title=\"image.png\" src=\"https:\/\/media1-production-mightynetworks.imgix.net\/asset\/a4b83858-e6e4-49a3-bae3-cbf2fec65c6a\/d1e0694adee0a464.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&amp;fm=jpg&amp;q=75&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1400&amp;h=1400&amp;fit=max&amp;impolicy=ResizeCrop&amp;constraint=downsize&amp;aspect=fit\" alt=\"image.png\" width=\"601\" height=\"397\" data-asset-id=\"149504919\" \/><\/div>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">Start grounding your data storytelling in the\u00a0<strong>B.E.A.R.S.<\/strong>\u00a0framework (<strong>Background<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Emphasis<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Association<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Relevance<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>Sequence<\/strong>). Doing so will ensure your insights are not only seen, but also truly understood and remembered. You might say each principle is like a layer of fur; turning raw numbers into stories that stick, persuade, enhance, and inspire action.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"auto\" style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the end of the day, the most powerful data stories balance accuracy with empathy, and precision with creativity. Instead of simply tossing out numbers, you\u2019re guiding people; showing them how something that once seemed strange can start to look familiar, or how there\u2019s something truly remarkable hiding in the details of daily life. When you do this well, your message won\u2019t feel out of place; it will feel like it belongs. Like white fur on a polar bear.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever seen a picture that made you pause and wonder if your eyes were deceiving you? Let\u2019s say you\u2019re looking at an animal, and something about it just doesn\u2019t seem right. It\u2019s walking on all fours, but its shiny black skin and peculiarly long limbs give it a nearly human appearance. Its neck [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1048,"featured_media":2388,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you ever seen a picture that made you pause and wonder if your eyes were deceiving you? Let\u2019s say you\u2019re looking at an animal, and something about it just doesn\u2019t seem right. It\u2019s walking on all fours, but its shiny black skin and peculiarly long limbs give it a nearly human appearance. Its neck [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Solutions Review Thought Leaders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-02-02T17:46:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-02-03T17:53:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Joe Perez\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Joe Perez\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/\",\"name\":\"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-02-02T17:46:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-02-03T17:53:56+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/c28a6283594a5660e937e10be80eb124\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/\",\"name\":\"Solutions Review Thought Leaders\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/c28a6283594a5660e937e10be80eb124\",\"name\":\"Dr. Joe Perez\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2024\/02\/Perez_500_Ink.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2024\/02\/Perez_500_Ink.png\",\"caption\":\"Dr. Joe Perez\"},\"description\":\"Dr. Joe Perez, award-winning thought-leader, prolific international keynote speaker, and Amazon best-selling author with 40+ years in IT\/education, has amassed an impressive portfolio. From Business Intelligence Specialist to Senior Systems Specialist and fractional CTO, he's an authority in data viz\/analytics and process improvement. Featured on multiple Times Square billboards, he's a powerhouse of expertise, integrity, and excellence. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice with 20,000+ LinkedIn followers, Perez sparks innovation, captivating audiences at conferences across the globe.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/author\/dr-joe-perez\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling","og_description":"Have you ever seen a picture that made you pause and wonder if your eyes were deceiving you? Let\u2019s say you\u2019re looking at an animal, and something about it just doesn\u2019t seem right. It\u2019s walking on all fours, but its shiny black skin and peculiarly long limbs give it a nearly human appearance. Its neck [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/","og_site_name":"Solutions Review Thought Leaders","article_published_time":"2026-02-02T17:46:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-02-03T17:53:56+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg","width":1,"height":1,"type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Dr. Joe Perez","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dr. Joe Perez","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/","url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/","name":"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg","datePublished":"2026-02-02T17:46:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-02-03T17:53:56+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/c28a6283594a5660e937e10be80eb124"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2026\/02\/djbear.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/the-familiar-becomes-alien-polar-bears-and-data-storytelling\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Familiar Becomes Alien: Polar Bears and Data Storytelling"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#website","url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/","name":"Solutions Review Thought Leaders","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/c28a6283594a5660e937e10be80eb124","name":"Dr. Joe Perez","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2024\/02\/Perez_500_Ink.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/files\/2024\/02\/Perez_500_Ink.png","caption":"Dr. Joe Perez"},"description":"Dr. Joe Perez, award-winning thought-leader, prolific international keynote speaker, and Amazon best-selling author with 40+ years in IT\/education, has amassed an impressive portfolio. From Business Intelligence Specialist to Senior Systems Specialist and fractional CTO, he's an authority in data viz\/analytics and process improvement. Featured on multiple Times Square billboards, he's a powerhouse of expertise, integrity, and excellence. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice with 20,000+ LinkedIn followers, Perez sparks innovation, captivating audiences at conferences across the globe.","url":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/author\/dr-joe-perez\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1048"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2387"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2388"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2387"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2387"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/thought-leaders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2387"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}