Lon Riesberg, creator and curator of the popular Data Elixir newsletter, has a unique career trajectory that began with computer science, transitioned into outdoor leadership, and later returned to data science. His passion for data was ignited while working on NASA projects, with data visualization serving as a major turning point. Riesberg observes a growing mainstream interest in data and cautions against the hype surrounding AI, viewing it as a tool to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. He advises those in the data field to seek growth-oriented environments and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning. Data Elixir was launched to fill a gap in existing data newsletters by curating a wide range of resources, and its rapid growth underscores the ongoing learning and diversity of expertise within its readership.