Rock n' Roll Research Podcast

Carley Hart has spent her career advising, mentoring and teaching customer discovery to entrepreneurs which she currently does as Director of Partnerships for Cornell Tech's Runway Startups Program. Cool job! But Carley has also applied everything she's learned along the way in launching her own lifestyle company, Ahhhsome Kids, with a mission to “equip young children with essential life skills through fun, engaging and tech-light activities.” We discuss Carley's career journey, the initial insight and the process that led to Ahhhsome Kids and a little bit of rock n' roll, too.Try the Magic Mind mental performance shot! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code RNRLT at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/RNRLT

Doug Keith started his career in public broadcasting, both as a producer and an on-air host. A grad program in communications led him to transition his career to insights. Today, Doug is 18 years into his research consultancy, was co-chair for the 2025 QRCA speaker committee and is a co-founder of the Insights Career Network. Doug shares his career journey and how qualitative research has become much more important to his practice over the years. He also dishes about his days as the bass player for modern rock band, The Dipsomaniacs, and why it's so important to stay on the top of your research game.  We also touch on the upcoming Greenbook 2025 IIEX North America Conference in Washington DC where Doug will be attending and your host will be chairing a speaker track.Try the Magic Mind mental performance shot! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code RNRLT at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/RNRLT

Austin Harrison is the CEO of Northbeam, a marketing intelligence platform helping clients maximize the profitability of their marketing spend. Austin knows more about this space than anyone I know, having been involved in digital audience measurement and attribution since he helped build NetRatings' first audience panel.In parallel, Austin has long been involved in the world of comics and animation. Through media and animation companies he's led, Austin has developed award-winning graphic novels and launched projects with the likes of Kelsey Grammar and Common among others.We discuss Austin's journey along both paths including a new comedy subscription service he's collaborating on from Titmouse called Churp announced this year at SXSW. Austin also blows my mind with a story about Slayer at the Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood that I was clearly not prepared for.Try the Magic Mind mental performance shot! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code RNRLT at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/RNRLT

Sabrina Brastad is one of those audacious insights pros with the conviction and drive to transform consumer insight into successful, award-winning products.After learning the ropes on the agency side with Ipsos, Hall & Partners and Vision Critical, Sabrina was hired by David Yin (episode 67) to help build out the initial insights function at Fitbit which was her first foray into new-to-the-world consumer technology.From there, she joined Amazon working within the revolutionary category of Amazon Devices. Armed with deep consumer insight, Sabrina came up with a Big Idea that she pitched to the company through Amazon's famous PR/FAQ process. The company embraced her idea which she then brought to life as Sr. Manager, Echo & Alexa Brand Marketing.Sabrina tells her inspiring story which culminated in winning “Best Music Artist Partnership” by Music Ally's 2021 Campaigns of the Year. She also shares her expert insight on researching and marketing new products and categories that have no precedent. Try the Magic Mind mental performance shot! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code RNRLT at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/RNRLT

“If you have too much VC funding and it's just like ‘Margins! Margins! Margins!,' you can't start a revolution. You can't be a pirate.”Adam Stephenson founded QuantifyAI last year after a successful business development career in the research sample space. He entirely self-funded the launch of his company, a DIY ethic that follows directly from his skate punk youth. By bootstrapping, staying focused and creating compelling guerilla marketing, QuantifyAI is off to a great start and growing quickly.We discuss Adam's journey from halfpipes and videocams to becoming an entrepreneur to mitigating survey fraud. Adam also shares his strong take on synthetic data and the albums he'd want to keep him company on a deserted island.Try the Magic Mind mental performance shot! You have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code RNRLT at checkout You can claim it at: https://www.magicmind.com/RNRLT

Start with a UC Berkeley background in the hard sciences and some time working on the Valdez oil spill, take a turn toward data analytics, layer in some orchestral bassoon and tattoo artistry and then you start to understand what makes Bryson Cwick tick. Bryson is currently Business Development Manager at the research consultancy, Orchard, where they help their clients understand authentic consumer behavior. But on the weekends, you may find Bryson tattooing at a festival or popping in as a guest artist at a friend's shop somewhere in the US. Bryson shares his fascinating journey from Berkeley and hard sciences to Orchard and consumer behavior with several fun diversions along the way.

Today's episode is self-referential in the best of ways. We talk to Erik Peterson from Spotify who is currently the Director of Podcast Insights. An insights podcast with a podcast insights pro. Ha! Erik is really into his work and even once took a gig economy job to get a better first-hand understanding of consumer supply/demand dynamics. Erik shares his professional journey through insights, analytics and Spotify. Along the way, he offers a unique take on the future of research, his experience with Spotify Wrapped, some cool podcast features you may not know about and even a few of his favorite records which may surprise you.

Tara Bosenick is a pioneer in user experience testing and measurement within human-centered design. She is the Managing Director (MD) of a holding company, ReSight Global, and also the MD of UIntent, which she first founded as SirValUse in 2000 and was later purchased by GfK. We discuss Tara's journey through UX including her take on what the future of the space looks like. We also discuss her podcast (Beyond the Business), what she learned as the Head of Scouting in the city of Hamburg DE, and the freedom she has experience in recent years since making a big life change.

Scott Tilford built an excellent career within Procter & Gamble. Over 17 years, he had worked on several categories culminating in his role as Sr. Director Analytics and Insights for North America Grooming. But after so many years in a corporate setting, Scott found another calling. The town of Morrow, Ohio and the city of Cincinnati are anxiously awaiting his launch of The Depot Brewing Company, opening this year in the town's nearly 200-year-old train depot. Scott shares his story from college athlete and musician to corporate life to starting a brewery. We also stumble upon the likes of OJ Simpson, The King of Kong and 90s music along the way.

Michael Nevski has a really cool job. He is the Director of Global Insights at Visa working with the company's Chief Economist to add a consumer research and strategy lens to the economic insights and forecasts they provide to their clients. He is also on the TMRE Advisory Board which has long been the biggest annual conference event in the Insights industry.What you may not know is that Michael is likely the best table tennis player in your network. He trained intensively in college and has been playing ever since.We discuss Michael's career, the lessons he's learned from competitive table tennis and his outlook on the future of insights. I also get his take on pickleball and he shares the records he'd want to keep him company on a desert island.

How does one go from art museum management to market research to DEI and storytelling consulting? Just ask Mary Hunter from Data Larks.Mary has always been one to question the status quo, and one of her core strengths is understanding context – history, society, culture, economy and more. It has helped her at every stage of her career which includes working for the Museum of Contemporary San Diego, Kantar, GfK and The Kaleidoscope Group before starting her own consultancy.Mary shares her unique journey from studio artist to researcher to consultant. Along the way, she covers the importance of storytelling, inclusive insights and the indie music and artists that move her.

After considering careers in medicine and law, Suann Griffin took a statistics class and decided upon a career in market research.She has built a great career with roles on the client- and supplier-side, most recently as Sr. Director of Insights at Serta Simmons. She is a frequent and highly engaging speaker at industry conferences and is a University of Georgia MMR alum.Outside of work, Suann has long been a serious and competitive rower, starting the day early on the water with her crewmates and regularly traveling to competitions.Suann shares her journey and perspective on research and takes me to school on what rowing is all about.

Experienced human researchers vs. AI. How does AI stand up right now, today? The results may surprise you like they did for me.In this special “Open Mic” episode of the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast, our guests share the results research-on-research that address that very question.Julie Leonard and Brennan Held (colleagues of mine at MarketVision Research) conducted a live, robust study to determine the relative quality and efficiency of human analysis vs. employing AI. Is AI ready to replace human analysis? Is it complementary? Does it make the research process more efficient? What can we conclude today? What's next?

Once fairly traditional, the market research industry is now teeming with fresh thinking and ways to discover insight. Someone needs to help make sense of it all. Graeme Ford is leading the charge by bringing a punk rock ethos to the game with his new consultancy, PunkMRX. Prior to PunkMRX, Graeme had a ‘boomerang' career at YouGov, returning as Global Head of Innovation after leaving to co-found a conversational tech company which YouGov later acquired. We discuss Graeme's journey from a young lad fascinated by culture and geography, to a graduate student researching punk culture to his professional career in insights. We talk plenty of punk rock along the way including who has the best punk rock tradition – the UK, the US East Coast or the US West Coast?   [I also continue my sponsorship of Magic Mind . . . if Green Day can sell Keurig machines, I can pitch performance enhancement shots – ha!]

Step aside Adam Levine, Joseph Wylie will take the mic now.Joseph is a goal setter and a planner. He knew in undergrad that market research was his ticket, so he got his MSMRA from Michigan State, took a position at Precision Sample and got involved in the Insights Association (smart moves!). Today, he is Precision's Global Director of Supply and President of the Insights Association South Central Chapter.But, oh, what a voice!  We talk research and we talk music where Joseph has been part of an a capella group, a solo artist and a band frontman for the past several years. In fact, his new EP, “Frontal Lobe Development” drops TODAY wherever you stream your music!

Jim Lake is President of Michael Walters Advertising where he has been for over 30 years. MWA boasts an impressive client list including Hunter Douglas, Paul Mitchell and the Chicago Cubs.But Jim is also a fellow drummer who discovered his penchant for songwriting in his 50s and in 2023 was named a Songwriter to Watch by the Nashville Songwriters Association.We discuss his career, the heartwarming inspiration for his first song and the enduring importance of making emotional connections with advertising. You can find Jim's music here: lakecountrysongs.com. 

Second time's a charm. After starting out in banking, Dr. Rachel Baghelai pivoted and has thrived in her career as Industrial/Organizational psychologist and business consultant focused on employee research. She is currently VP of Assessment and Analytics and The Kaleidoscope Group, a leading DEI consultancy based in Chicago.We discuss Rachel's career journey and her perspective on research, her passion for riding horses and dressage, and our shared love of punk rock.

Rob and his business partner / wife, Toni, are giving new meaning to the term ‘house band.'After starting his insights career with classic firms like Market Strategies Int'l and Elrick & Lavidge, Rob has been running his own firm, Klein & Partners, for over 20 years focused exclusively on supporting healthcare clients.Rob and Toni are partners in the business and may soon become bandmates with Rob on guitar and Toni holding it down on the drums.We discuss Rob's research journey and the lessons he's learned from the greats. And, of course, we talk some rock n' roll along the way.

Victoria Sakal is currently the Head of Growth for the on-demand research platform company called Wonder (askwonder.com), who is applying AI and a whole lot of innovation to secondary research. Really cool stuff!But, if you would have told a young Victoria she would make a career in research, she most certainly would not have believed you. Much of her spare time as a kid was spent helping out in and around her mother's bakery and becoming a highly competitive track athlete.Victoria and I chat about her upbringing, how she initially made the leap to research with Kantar and the dynamics of owning/managing a vacation rental property on the side. She also shares the music she would want to keep her company if stranded on a desert island.

“Let's not burn through technology again. Let's not just rip a path through AI.” Eddie Accomando is one of my favorite researchers to talk shop with. With his academic background in anthropology, moderator certification from RIVA and deep knowledge of quantitative methodologies, Eddie can cover it all from theory to practice to the political dynamics of making insights land. His career spans roles at Verizon, Texas Instruments and Qualtrics among others. But he's equally as well-versed when it comes to writing and performing original music. We discuss Eddie's thoughts on market research including the potential hazards of AI mismanagement. Eddie also shares his journey through music including his album, his radio show on KNON NOW in Dallas and the gig we played together earlier this month.

Fail we may, sail we must.Ian Pierpoint is Founder and CEO of the intrepid human insights agency, Further&Further Strategies. Ian's unique perspective on understanding people and culture is an outgrowth of his journey, from the UK acid house scene, to corporate youth researcher, to documentary filmmaking, to CMO.We discuss Ian's improbable route to research, the lessons he's learned along the way and his apprehensions about the potential future of insights.

Jeff Reesing, is SVP of Corporate Sales and Customer Experience at Dynata, the world's largest first party data platform and a company that powers so much of what we do in research and insights.He has built himself an impressive professional career, but music was his first love and it is easy to understand why. Back in high school, Jeff found himself in marching band, hanging out and playing in bands with none other than Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins, two founding members of the legendary band, Jane's Addiction.Jeff shares his journey from his early days in music to how he transitioned to build a career in business. We also discuss the current structure of the insights industry and how it might evolve before Jeff surprises me with what he'd like to be listening to if stranded on a desert island.

Do surveys make good bedtime stories for kids? It worked for Kai Fuentes!Kai is a second-generation market researcher. While many of us were running around causing trouble as kids, Kai was helping her mom's family business by stapling surveys and even intercepting respondents at the mall.Kai followed in her mother's footsteps by founding Ebony Marketing Systems over 20 years ago, and today she is one of our industry's foremost experts in conducting multicultural research.But she hasn't stopped there. Kai has recently taken on the challenge of stand-up comedy. She shares her journey through insights, why stand-up is like qualitative research and the music she'd choose if stranded on a desert island.

London Brinkman is one year out of school as a Qualitative Market Research Analyst and my colleague at MarketVision Research. While working a project together, I learned she is also the lead singer for a notable cover band in Cincinnati. But not only that, she is an award-winning body builder!London discusses her decision to shift her career focus from musical theater to market research during the pandemic; the role of discipline in helping her excel in each of her passions; and the enduring importance of face-to-face research.I also kick off my new routine with Magic Mind, a mental performance shot that I've really been digging. Podcast listeners can use the code ROCKNROLL20 at https://www.magicmind.com/rocknroll to get 48% off an initial subscription or 20% off a one-time purchase. Highly recommend for staying focused, motivated and productive! m/

Recorded live on the Purple Stage at the IIEX conference in Austin, TX on April 18!Nicholas Jayanty, Principal User Experience Researcher at IBM's Red Hat, traces his path from making sketch comedy pilots on MTV to producing award-winning films to researching and designing digital user experiences.Nicholas contrasts the supply chains of the independent film industry and software design, discusses how UX can reduce its dependency on software engineering, the roadmap to a world without work and his love of the Austin music scene.

Wes Michael is the founder and CEO of Rare Patient Voice, a 10-year old firm who empowers patients and caregivers to share their voices with the companies working to better their lives with new products, devices, and treatments. [To date, RPV has paid out over $13M in incentives to patients and caregivers – wow!!]Wes started RPV after a successful research and brand management career at General Mills and McCormick and later with Kantar Health.He shares his novel approach to starting RPV and the mutual benefits of RPV to both patients and companies. He also discusses his quirky approach to marketing which has him singing customized lyrics set to familiar tunes like The Beverly Hillbillies theme and 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton. 

Sue Collin is one of those rare people who has spent her entire career with one organization. Her first job was with a research company called Directions for Decisions which was later acquired by RTi Research where she has been ever since. But while the company has remained the same, Sue's career has done anything but. After years of applying her quantitative expertise, she expanded disciplines and is currently RTi's SVP of Qualitative Research.Sue shares her career journey along with her lifelong passion as an artist which went from doing life drawing in Soho to mixed media art in her home studio. Along the way, we discuss why AI is like a microwave, the importance of integration / collaboration and the music that moves her.

On Episode #34, Priscilla McKinney from Little Bird Marketing shared her story of growing up in a family singing troupe. In this episode, we invite her back to the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast to discuss her book, “Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards a Cross-Pollinating Hive Mind & How Not to Get Left Behind.” Priscilla and I dig deep into this highly useful guide on what collaboration *really* is, why it is so powerful and how to make it intentionally work for you - including several concrete examples from the market research industry. Of course, we finish with a little rock n' roll, too. You can find the book on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats where it currently enjoys a 4.9/5.0 rating. Enjoy!

Mark Earls, The HERDmeister, shares his story of how he went from European tour guide to being labeled the market research industry's “public enemy #1.”We have a wide-ranging conversation on how people really make decisions, the freedom to experiment in the insights world, predicting multiple futures, how brands grow, being clear in your terminology, making presentations into performances, how to do your own early research and the illusion of tradition.Mark also shares the story of his ska/punk band – over 30 years and still going strong – and the three records he'd want to keep him company on a desert island.

Jeffrey Porter will graduate from the UT Arlington MSMR program in December of this year. In addition to his studies, he is keeping extremely busy with an internship in financial data analysis with Lockheed Martin.But there's more to Jeffrey than insights. He has maintained a nice side hustle of buying and selling vintage video games, timing the market perfectly by selling high during the pandemic. He's also a shredding guitarist, crushing Jimi Hendrix and Red Hot Chili Peppers licks in his spare time.We discuss Jeffrey's passion for insights and the discipline required to grow in all his pursuits. We also delve into a possible sci-fi future for data and consumer insights.

Kevin Lang is a recently minted Senior Sales Representative at the mighty research media company Greenbook, home of the GRIT Report, the IIEX conference series and “The Exchange” podcast with Lenny Murphy and Karen Lynch.While he got his start in the insights industry with Civicom, many people know Kevin from his involvement in the “MR Jam,” providing the backbeat for a who's who of research industry musicians at Quirk's conferences in New York and Chicago over the past few years.Kevin shares his experiences in research and his journey through music, from beating on pots to pans to playing in band to the MR Jam. Along the way, he shares his take on AI in market research, the drummer who most inspired him and we swap stories about Green Day, Dave Matthews and the Rolling Stones.

Dave McCaughan has long been a leading light on all things brand strategy, research and insights in Asia, having spent nearly 30 years in strategic planning and executive roles at McCann Worldwide all over the region. He has also long given his time back to the research industry through associations like ESOMAR and Greenbook among others.Dave shares his journey from children's storyteller to advertising and from librarian to strategic planning leader in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand. With characteristic wit, Dave describes the groundbreaking work he led along the way and contrasts key findings with insights, the US with Asia, The Beatles with Taylor Swift, and generations with life stages. And would you believe that AC/DC played at Dave's high school back in the day? 

Aryn O'Donnell is VP of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, known by many to be one of the most trustworthy and engaged qualitative research partners in the industry. But what many people don't know about Aryn is that the first paycheck she ever drew was for a role she played in musical theater.Aryn and I discuss her theater days, the value of backroom focus group interactions and how AI frees people up do what they do best. We also discuss her recent appreciation for the world of metal music m/

Steve Portigal of Portigal Consulting has been doing User Research since the days our software all came in a box. He has written a seminal book on the topic, “Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights,” recently released in a 2nd edition available through Rosenfeld Media.Steve shares his journey from the nascent years of user research through today and his take on where user research is headed. We discuss his book and how studying creative writing has informed his approach. Steve also tells the story of building a community of Rolling Stones enthusiasts – pre-World Wide Web! - that is still alive and kicking (just like Keith Richards).[Visit rosenfeldmedia.com to find Steve's book and use the code ‘rocknroll' for a 20% discount m/]

It was in college where Travis Miller first made an impact with research by helping the city of Thousand Oaks, CA design a new mall expansion. With an introduction like that, it is no wonder Travis pursued a career in market research.Travis started his career with JD Power and today is VP, North America sales for PureSpectrum, a GRIT Top 50 insights innovator and member of the Deloitte Fast 500 since 2020.But Travis also has a fascinating story of growing up amidst his father's metal band which led him to pick up a pair of drumsticks at a young age. We talk drums, metal and harnessing technology to make insights easier, faster and more dependable.Tune in to hear why market research is like an elephant and to hear a first on the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast that was music to my ears.

Brian Zimmerman is an expert at one of the toughest roles in the research industry: prospecting and business development for research suppliers. Companies in insights really struggle with this and Brian steps in and fills that gap.The music bug bit Brian early when his grandfather introduced him to guitar at age 3. Music has been a constant passion throughout his life, and he keeps guitars throughout his house so he always has one ready for when inspiration strikes.Brian shares his philosophy on sales, the importance of continuous learning and why he approaches it as a craft. We discuss the music commerce site Reverb and why guitarists accumulate so many guitars, and we also find deep common ground on a classic Kiss album.

Joe Emery started on the bottom rung of a political consulting firm when he was hired as a runner right out of school. He learned from some of the greats like Mark McKinnon, host of Showtime's ‘The Circus,' and famed political commentator, Paul Begala, before founding his own firm in 2020, Emery Research, where he focuses on insights supporting communication, branding and policy issues. And while some know Joe the communications researcher, many others know Joe as the singer and lead guitarist for 60's-style garage rock band, The Ugly Beats, based in Austin, TX. They have 5 albums out on Pittsburgh-based, Get Hip Records, and Spotify listenership numbers to which many of us can only aspire. Joe shares his research and music journeys with characteristic modesty. We also discuss the studio vs. live performance and why the future of research is simultaneously awesome and terrifying.

You probably know Eric Hall from his career as an insights and category management expert, currently with Boehringer Ingelheim, the world's largest privately held pharmaceutical firm, and previously with companies like Allergan, Coors, Kellogg's and Nestle.But do you know that Eric is an Instagram influencer with corporate sponsorships and a die-hard community of nearly 200K followers? Probably not!Eric shares his journey through the research and the coffee house chat that became a hobby turned passion that launched his Instagram side gig.

For this special 100th Episode of the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast, I go mano-a-mano with Leigh Kessler, VP of Mercury Analytics, former professional comedian and current country singer. Leigh and I each perform the classic, “Angel from Montgomery” by John Prine – who did it better? A quantitative gen pop audience of dial-testers renders their verdict! Leigh also applies Mercury Analytics' cool AI tools to zero in on improvement opportunities.Listen as we also cover some podcast highlights like listening stats, the top 5 most popular episodes so far and the music insights pros most covet. Big ups for tuning in! Keep listening and we'll keep sharing the super cool backstories and side gigs of the research and insights pros you trust m/

Kory Grushka is the Founder of Stories Bureau, a really cool B2B creative agency that, among other things, helps insights teams make their data come to life and influence decision-making through effective storytelling.You may be surprised to learn the profession that Kory came from and how it made him uniquely qualified to help researchers tell better stories. It all made sense to me after this conversation.Kory shares his professional journey, some thought-provoking perspective on AI and why he'd want the Rocky IV soundtrack with him if he were stranded on a deserted island.

I'm BACK! Your humble host's brief pause provided plenty of time to dig into Pepper Miller's brilliant book on Black insights, “Let Me Explain Black Again,” from Paramount Market Publishing. I gained so much from this book that I had to reach out and learn more.Pepper is a true pioneer when it comes to helping brands understand and connect with Black America. After starting her career in advertising, Pepper launched the market research and strategic planning firm, Hunter-Miller. Her passion has led her to write three seminal books on the topic, helping marketers everywhere understand and reach the Black audience with cultural intelligence, respect and authenticity.We discuss her journey through research, the relevance of history, some key insights from her book and the music that gets her stepping. Join us for this fun and insightful conversation!

Angelo Pierro founded his consultancy, Strategy by Insight, in 2021 after 20 years at Research Dynamics acquired by GfK acquired by Ipsos. He is now using his deep experience in big company leadership, marketing and business development to advise his clients in sales effectiveness and strategy. Angelo and I occasionally worked closely together while he was running GfK Canada around 2011-2016. We reconnected recently at Greenbook's IIEX over a few sessions and a punk rock show in Austin, and I learned that Angelo has finished and is marketing a screenplay he's had in his head for many years.Angelo discusses the inspiring personal story behind his screenplay, and he shares the wisdom he's gathered throughout his career in research.

Over the past 16 years, Annie McDannald has risen through the ranks at Civicom to her current role as Global VP of Marketing Research Services. Chances are you've used Civicom at some point for their myriad of useful technologies and services supporting the market research process.What you might not know is Annie has been a performer since a young age - from supporting the family's carnival puppet show business to being a professional runway model to singing. In fact, she is a vet of the Quirk's MR Jam Session which she will reprise at Quirk's NYC in July.Annie and I discuss her journey through her research career, her carnie life growing up, how the pandemic changed the future of research and getting the Led out.

Rob Volpe left a successful career in promotional marketing, got a certification from RIVA and found his calling as a qualitative researcher. In 2011, he founded a thriving insights consultancy, Ignite 360, on the principles of curiosity and empathy.Through his personal experiences, activism and engagement with people and customers, Rob learned how empathy can be a powerful force for good yet is, sadly, in short supply. He has helped fill the void by writing his award-winning book, “Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time.”Rob shares his personal and professional journey, his philosophy on insights and some fun and heartfelt stories along the way.

Torsten Mueller-Klockmann is the Marketing Science Lead for the DACH region at Meta where he has been for the past 7 years. Before Meta, Torsten was an entrepreneur and pioneer in the user experience research tech space having founded SirValUse which was purchased and integrated into GfK.That's not all, though. Torsten was a shredding guitar player in a band called The Crunch who played their brand of pop punk/metal/funk-inspired jams around Hamburg, Germany.Torsten shares his journey through analytics+music, his take on the future of research panels and the records he'd take with him if stranded on a desert island.

If you watched VH1's "Best Week Ever," The WB, Discovery or CNN in the aughts, you might know Leigh Kessler from his hilarious pop culture commentary.Or you might know Leigh as the VP of Client Solutions for Mercury Analytics, an insights agency developing and employing cutting-edge research technology.Leigh shares his improbable path from comedian to researcher, the necessity of human observation to both disciplines and the comics who do it best. He also discusses his recent foray into music.

Chris Connolly has one of those great stories of starting in research as a phone interviewer and steadily expanding his career over time. Today he is Vice President at the Logit Group, one of the very best research execution companies when it comes to cutting-edge, efficient and reliable operational support.He also has a great story of becoming a lifelong jobbing musician (a REALLY good one, too!) which involves a riotous episode of lip-synching in a high school talent show.Chris shares his journey in research, the challenges ahead for researchers and a tour through being a long-time musician in the Denver/Boulder area.

I recently saw Nancy Cox's article in Quirk's about Frankie Lipinski's roller derby exploits and I just had to learn more!Frankie (she/they) is an Insights Analyst at Escalent, one of the best data analytics/insight advisory firms in the business. She is also a proud grad of the prestigious MSMR program at Michigan State. On top of that, she skates for the Chicago-Style Roller Derby Team, a passion through which she has learned deep lessons about entrepreneurship, community, diversity and themselves.Frankie discusses their fascinating journey from Girls Rock Chicago to roller derby to research. She also shares the good works she is contributing to with the Insights Association's IDEA Council and the QRCA's Emeritus group.

Guitarists know Marc Huzansky as the co-host of the YouTube show, Tone-Talk. With over 22K subscribers, a partner like David Friedman from Friedman Amplification and guests from bands like Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Jane's Addiction, Ozzy Osbourne, Toto and many others, it has become quite successful in its own right.Researchers know Marc as a long-time expert in healthcare research as VP at Cerner Enviza (formerly Kantar Health) for over 16 years. Cerner Enviza is a leader in data, insights and consulting for healthcare and the life sciences and is now part of Oracle via the 2022 acquisition of Cerner.Marc discusses his insights career, the future of healthcare research and his improbable journey of becoming a YouTube personality, including his favorite and most infamous interviews.

You probably know Eric Dolan as the Director, Consumer Business & Intelligence for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health helping drive global strategy for iconic brands like Listerine, Neutrogena and Band-Aid. He's also ex-P&G and a proud grad of the University of Wisconsin's revered MBA program which has trained many a senior leader in marketing, insights and analytics.You may not know that Eric spent years writing music and playing clubs in and around Boston (including the legendary Middle East!) with groovy and catchy rock/pop bands like Scram and The Union Jacks. The lessons learned from creating and performing music have served him well professionally.We discuss Eric's journeys through research and music, the importance of “resonance” and the future of insights. 

Anh Tran is a grad student in the University of Texas at Arlington MSMR program graduating in May. Hers is one of the fresh voices of sharp, creative researchers who will steward the next chapter of the insights industry. Anh has long cultivated her considerable skill as a photographer. Her penchant for careful observation, empathy and curiosity serve her well in both her research and creative endeavors. We discuss ChatGPT's potential applications, openness to unexpected outcomes and a little bit of jazz and Motown.