waterfall charts: what they are and how to use them

<p>Waterfall charts are great at showing what happened between where you started and where you ended—but they can look a little strange if you’ve never encountered one before.</p><p>In this episode, Alli explains <strong>what a waterfall chart is, when to use one, and how to make it easier for your audience to read. </strong>Plus, she highlights three clever examples from the <em>storytelling with data </em>community that use color, annotations, and even small multiples to make the most of this less-common chart type.</p><p>RESOURCES MENTIONED:</p><ul><li>Show notes: <a href="https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/podcast/111" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/podcast/111</a></li><li><a href="https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/team-trainings">Book your <em>storytelling with data</em> team training!</a></li><li><a href="https://www.storytellingwithdata.com/blog/2020/11/16/what-is-a-waterfall">Waterfall chart definition, examples, and the how-to video</a></li><li><a href="https://community.storytellingwithdata.com/challenges/aug-2026-whip-up-a-waterfall">Waterfall community challenge</a></li><li><a href="https://community.storytellingwithdata.com/challenges/aug-2026-whip-up-a-waterfall/asylum-claims-waterfall/images">Jian’s waterfall</a></li><li><a href="https://community.storytellingwithdata.com/challenges/aug-2026-whip-up-a-waterfall/a-waterfall-chart-with-a-eur151-problem/images">Keith’s waterfall</a></li><li><a href="https://community.storytellingwithdata.com/challenges/aug-2026-whip-up-a-waterfall/course-withdrawals/images">Andrew’s waterfall</a></li></ul>