Podcasts about UX

Building B2B analytics and AI tools that people will actually pay for and use is hard. The reality is, your product won't deliver ROI if no one's using it. That's why first principles thinking says you have to solve the usage problem first. In this episode, I'll explain why the key to user adoption is designing with the flow of work—building your solution around the natural workflows of your users to minimize the behavior changes you're asking them to make. When users clearly see the value in your product, it becomes easier to sell and removes many product-related blockers along the way. We'll explore how product design impacts sales, the difference between buyers and users in enterprise contexts, and why challenging the “data/AI-first” mindset is essential. I'll also share practical ways to align features with user needs, reduce friction, and drive long-term adoption and impact. If you're ready to move beyond the dashboard and start building products that truly fit the way people work, this episode is for you.   Highlights/Skip to:  The core argument: why solving for user adoption first helps demonstrate ROI and facilitate sales in B2B analytics and AI products  (1:34) How showing the value to actual end users—not just buyers—makes it easier to sell your product (2:33) Why designing for outcomes instead of outputs (dashboards, etc) leads to better adoption and long-term product value (8:16) How to “see” beyond users' surface-level feature requests and solutions so you can solve for the actual, unspoken need—leading to an indispensable product (10:23) Reframing feature requests as design-actionable problems (12:07)  Solving for unspoken needs vs. customer-requested features and functions (15:51) Why “disruption” is the wrong approach for product development (21:19)   Quotes:  “Customers' tolerance for poorly designed B2B software has decreased significantly over the last decade. People now expect enterprise tools to function as smoothly and intuitively as the consumer apps they use every day.  Clunky software that slows down workflows is no longer acceptable, regardless of the data it provides. If your product frustrates users or requires extra effort to achieve results, adoption will suffer. Even the most powerful AI or analytics engine cannot compensate for a confusing or poorly structured interface. Enterprises now demand experiences that are seamless, efficient, and aligned with real workflows.    This shift means that product design is no longer a secondary consideration; it is critical to commercial success.  Founders and product leaders must prioritize usability, clarity, and delight in every interaction. Software that is difficult to use increases the risk of churn, lengthens sales cycles, and diminishes perceived value. Products must anticipate user needs and deliver solutions that integrate naturally into existing workflows.  The companies that succeed are the ones that treat user experience as a strategic differentiator. Ignoring this trend creates friction, frustration, and missed opportunities for adoption and revenue growth. Design quality is now inseparable from product value and market competitiveness.  The message is clear: if you want your product to be adopted, retain customers, and win in the market, UX must be central to your strategy.” —   “No user really wants to ‘check a dashboard' or use a feature for its own sake. Dashboards, charts, and tables are outputs, not solutions. What users care about is completing their tasks, solving their problems, and achieving meaningful results.  Designing around workflows rather than features ensures your product is indispensable. A workflow-first approach maps your solution to the actual tasks users perform in the real world.  When we understand the jobs users need to accomplish, we can build products that deliver real value and remove friction. Focusing solely on features or data can create bloated products that users ignore or struggle to use.  Outputs are meaningless if they do not fit into the context of a user's work. The key is to translate user needs into actionable workflows and design every element to support those flows.  This approach reduces cognitive load, improves adoption, and ensures the product's ROI is realized. It also allows you to anticipate challenges and design solutions that make workflows smoother, faster, and more efficient.  By centering design on actual tasks rather than arbitrary metrics, your product becomes a tool users can't imagine living without. Workflow-focused design directly ties to measurable outcomes for both end users and buyers. It shifts the conversation from features to value, making adoption, satisfaction, and revenue more predictable.” — “Just because a product is built with AI or powerful data capabilities doesn't mean anyone will adopt it. Long-term value comes from designing solutions that users cannot live without. It's about creating experiences that take people from frustration to satisfaction to delight.  Products must fit into users' natural workflows and improve their performance, efficiency, and outcomes. Buyers' perceived ROI is closely tied to meaningful adoption by end users. If users struggle, churn rises, and financial impact is diminished, regardless of technical sophistication.  Designing for delight ensures that the product becomes a positive force in the user's daily work. It strengthens engagement, reduces friction, and builds customer loyalty.  High-quality UX allows the product to demonstrate value automatically, without constant explanations or hand-holding. Delightful experiences encourage advocacy, referrals, and easier future sales.  The real power of design lies in aligning technical capabilities with human behavior and workflow.  When done correctly, this approach transforms a tool into an indispensable part of the user's job and a demonstrable asset for the business.  Focusing on usability, satisfaction, and delight creates long-term adoption and retention, which is the ultimate measure of product success.” — “Your product should enter the user's work stream like a raft on a river, moving in the same direction as their workflow. Users should not have to fight the current or stop their flow to use your tool.  Introducing friction or requiring users to change their behavior increases risk, even if the product delivers ROI. The more naturally your product aligns with existing workflows, the easier it is to adopt and the more likely it is to be retained.  Products that feel intuitive and effortless become indispensable, reducing conversations about usability during demos. By matching the flow of work, your solution improves satisfaction, accelerates adoption, and enhances perceived value.  Disrupting workflows without careful observation can create new problems, frustrate users, and slow down sales. The goal is to move users from frustration to satisfaction to delight, all while achieving the intended outcomes.  Designing with the flow of work ensures that every feature, interface element, and interaction fits seamlessly into the tasks users already perform. It allows users to focus on value instead of figuring out how to use the product.  This alignment is key to unlocking adoption, retaining customers, and building long-term loyalty.  Products that resist the natural workflow may demonstrate ROI on paper but fail in practice due to friction and low engagement.  Success requires designing a product that supports the user's journey downstream without interruption or extra effort.  When you achieve this, adoption becomes easier, sales conversations smoother, and long-term retention higher.” —

In this episode, Sarah sits down with Phoenix, a Career Strategy Lab (CSL) member who shares what it's like to be in the middle of their UX job search transformation.Phoenix opens up about the identity crisis that came from trying to be what companies wanted and how shifting toward a product-thinking approach—treating their career like a system—led to clarity, confidence, and traction. This is a must-listen for any UX or product professional feeling stuck, unfocused, or uncertain about how to move forward in today's job market.You'll hear Phoenix share the exact moment things started to click, the biggest mindset shifts since joining CSL, and how things like a simple resume rewrite not only clarified their value—but also unlocked a potential $20K salary bump.Whether you're pivoting into UX, climbing toward leadership, or simply tired of second-guessing yourself, Phoenix's story will help you see what's possible when you stop trying to be someone you're not and start owning what you bring to the table.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔️ How Phoenix went from feeling irrelevant to in control of their UX career✔️ Why “conforming” to what employers want actually backfires—and what to do instead✔️ The power of the compass statement and how it transforms resumes, portfolios, and interviews✔️ How systems thinking applies to both UX and job search strategy✔️ The emotional journey of building a personal brand that reflects your true strengths✔️ Why clarity is more powerful than pep talks when it comes to confidenceTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Career Strategy Lab00:38 Episode Overview and Open House Context01:22 Q&A with Phoenix: UX Job Search Insights03:59 Phoenix's Journey: From Uncertainty to Clarity07:33 The Power of a Strong Resume and Compass Statement20:04 Emotional Impact and Personal Growth24:19 Advice for Job Seekers and Final Thoughts

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/49xoJWL ----------------------- Episode summary: What does it really mean for marketing to be "effective" in today's complex, data-rich environment? In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Sorin Patilinet—PepsiCo's Global Marketing Insights leader and author of Marketing Effectiveness—joins UserTesting CMO Johann Wrede for a deep dive into how marketers can shift from tactical fixes to strategic, system-wide thinking. Sorin unpacks the concept of marketing as a system, not just a set of disconnected tactics, and explains how AI and automation can enhance—not replace—human decision-making. From defining what effectiveness actually means within your organization to embracing consistency and simplifying the martech stack, this conversation is full of actionable insights for marketing leaders navigating change. Key themes and topics: Why marketing effectiveness must go beyond ad performance metrics Applying engineering-based systems thinking to brand strategy The evolving role of AI in enhancing marketing decision-making How to define "effectiveness" for your organization—and stick to it The power of creative effectiveness and the compounding impact of consistency Why marketers need to focus more on understanding customers than chasing channels Practical advice for internal stakeholder alignment and building a culture of insights Balancing innovation with simplification in a cluttered martech world Resources & Links: Sorin Patilinet on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/patilinet/) Sorin's book Marketing Effectiveness (https://marketing-effectiveness.com/) UserTesting's Johann Wrede on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannwrede/) Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/) Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast About the show: Insights Unlocked is the go-to podcast for marketing, UX, product, and CX leaders. Each week, we feature candid conversations with the builders and thinkers behind today's most impactful customer experiences. Brought to you by UserTesting (https://usertesting.com/podcast)

Wallets are where the value is, where users transact, and where we can link intent and action. So why is everyone sleeping on Web3 wallets?Following a 'charmed' panel performance at Zebu Live, Mo and I reconnect to take you through the opportunities and challenges of engaging customers through Web3 wallets, and what's possible for brand and chains todayIn this show we cover:- Mo's diverse history in Web2 and what brought him to Web3- The current state of Web3 wallets and wallet UX- How 'easy' it is to track and target Web3 wallet users- Opportunities and implications for brands and marketeers- Privacy considerations for on-chain data trails

Allie Ofisher has worked as a UX consultant across AgTech and nonprofit product spaces, teaches the OOUX Representation Round in Foundations, and co-hosts the YouTube series “OOUX: We Did It Again.” In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Allie talk about using OOUX since 2020 to navigate the trickiest projects, why designing against the four UX “fails” (especially masked objects) helps teams onboard and audit existing products quickly, and how reverse-engineering Representation first—with intentional choices in shapes, labels, and attributes—keeps designs clear and resilient.LINKS:Allie Ofisher https://www.allieofisher.com/• Connect with Allie Ofisher on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/allieofisher• OOUX We did it Again https://www.youtube.com/@OOUXwediditagainContinue the conversation on the OOUX Forum!

Chiunque ha provato frustrazione navigando in rete, guardando un video, leggendo una notizia, o utilizzando un'applicazione. La causa? Un eccesso sempre più invasivo di pubblicità, pop-up e banner che distolgono l'attenzione e degradano significativamente l'esperienza utente. Su mobile la situazione è ancora peggiore, con siti web talmente pieni di annunci che lo spazio dedicato ai contenuti è ridotto al minimo. Quali sono le soluzioni per conciliare la necessità degli editori di guadagnare con il diritto degli utenti a un'esperienza meno invasiva? In questa puntata approfondiamo cosa sono gli adblocker, come funzionano e quali strategie si stanno sviluppando per trovare un equilibrio tra esigenze commerciali e benessere dell'utente.Nella sezione delle notizie parliamo delle falle di sicurezza informatica scoperte al museo del Louvre, dei progressi di SpaceX per il ritorno sulla Luna e infine della crescita massiccia degli investimenti in data center per l'intelligenza artificiale negli Stati Uniti.--Indice--00:00 - Introduzione00:59 - Le falle nella sicurezza informatica del Louvre (CNET.com, Luca Martinelli)02:18 - I progressi di SpaceX per il ritorno sulla Luna (DDay.it, Matteo Gallo)03:29 - La crescita dei Data Center in USA (Wired.com, Davide Fasoli)04:51 - La battaglia tra adblocker e pubblicità sta per finire? (Luca Martinelli)15:33 - Conclusione--Testo--Leggi la trascrizione: https://www.dentrolatecnologia.it/S7E45#testo--Contatti--• www.dentrolatecnologia.it• Instagram (@dentrolatecnologia)• Telegram (@dentrolatecnologia)• YouTube (@dentrolatecnologia)• redazione@dentrolatecnologia.it--Immagini--• Foto copertina: xvector su Freepik--Brani--• Ecstasy by Rabbit Theft• Omen by Cartoon x Time To Talk (Ft. Asena)

Banks dramatically underestimate how their customers share financial data, and most of it happens through insecure screen scraping that creates fraud vulnerabilities and slows performance. Shane McWilliams, Head of Retail Digital Banking at FIS, breaks down the three critical challenges separating thriving institutions from those being left behind: serving small and medium businesses as a central financial hub, enabling secure data sharing through APIs, and moving beyond product-centric thinking to build sticky customer relationships. McWilliams reveals that when he asks bank executives to guess what percentage of their customers are sharing data with third parties, "they're not even close" to reality. He explains how modern SMBs expect their banks to integrate everything from cash flow monitoring to accounting systems, why personalization needs to go beyond UX optimization, and how banks that orient around customer needs rather than products will win in today's competitive environment.

En este episodio especial grabado en el Digital 1to1 de Alicante, nos sumergimos en una conversación de alto nivel sobre cómo la inteligencia artificial está transformando el ecommerce desde las entrañas. Corti y Pablo Renaud charlan con Fares Kameli, responsable de innovación en La Casa de las Carcasas, que acaba de ganar el premio a la mejor optimización de operaciones con IA

Barry Pollard from the Chrome devrel team joins PodRocket to discuss the speculation rules API, a new browser feature designed to improve web performance through prefetch and pre-render techniques. Barry breaks down the history of speculative loading, contrasts SPA vs MPA behavior, and explains the nuances of hover prefetching, conservative prefetch, and the powerful new pre-render until script mode. Learn how Shopify and WordPress are adopting the API, what telemetry from Chrome Status reveals, and what developers need to know about potential pitfalls, caching behavior, and how the API is becoming a standard for static sites and e-commerce performance. Links Website: https://www.tunetheweb.com X: https://x.com/tunetheweb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tunetheweb Github: https://github.com/tunetheweb Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tunetheweb.com Resources Perfnow: https://perfnow.nl/speakers.html#barry We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey (https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu)! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com (mailto:elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com), or tweet at us at PodRocketPod (https://twitter.com/PodRocketpod). Check out our newsletter (https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/)! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form (https://podrocket.logrocket.com/get-podrocket-stickers), and we'll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr) Chapters

What can slicing a watermelon teach us about design? Turns out… quite a lot. This week, I chat with Vitaly Friedman, founder of Smashing Magazine, to explore curiosity, inefficiency, and why the best designers obsess over process, not perfection.What if your next design breakthrough came not from a book or a course, but from learning to slice a watermelon?Vitaly Friedman has spent decades shaping how designers think about the web. But in this conversation, we go beyond pixels and patterns to talk about something much more profound: how curiosity itself becomes a design tool. From choosing the perfect watermelon to mastering the art of ironing, Vitaly reveals how everyday obsessions can teach us how to think, learn, and design better.We explore how designers can reclaim joy and curiosity in their work, especially in environments where efficiency and productivity often come at the expense of creativity. Vitaly's take? It's not about finding the perfect way to do something—it's about exploring many ways and discovering meaning in the process.From grilled watermelons to enterprise UX, we connect the dots between experimentation, self-learning, and the messy human side of design.If you've ever felt stuck chasing “best practices” or trying to find the “right” answer, this episode will remind you that sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is play.Topics:• 03:39 – The Watermelon Metaphor• 05:37 – Choosing the Perfect Watermelon• 09:19 – Cutting Techniques and Presentation• 13:34 – Grilling Watermelon and Culinary Creativity• 14:28 – Learning and Self-Education• 15:13 – The Journey of Exploration• 18:28 – Imposter Syndrome and Asking for Help• 22:00 – Humanizing Executives and Stakeholders• 22:48 – The Importance of Curiosity• 25:34 – Ironing and Finding Zen• 30:01 – The Role of Enjoyment in Learning• 31:35 – Procrastination and Productivity• 33:46 – Procrastination and Focus• 34:48 – Memorable Conference Experience• 37:08 – Finding Joy in Enterprise UX Design• 38:50 – Challenges in Enterprise Projects• 41:35 – Building Trust and Team Culture• 50:50 – Balancing Exploration and DeliveryHelpful Links:• Connect with Vitaly on LinkedIn• Smashing Magazine• Design Patterns For AI Interfaces—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Oliver Keh, Founder of Gleamhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-keh COMPANY: https://joingleam.com/Gleam automatically extracts data from any source, intelligently validates it against protocol, eliminates queries before they occur, and instantly populates your EDC—accelerating database lock and shortening trial timelines. 

This episode mixes a few personal updates — balancing work, creativity, and life — with the top three AI trends every designer should know about this season:Vibe-Coding Goes Mainstream: How design teams are using emotional prototyping and AI-generated “vibes” to test concepts and shape user experiences faster than ever.AI Design Ecosystems: Adobe and Canva are reinventing what design software means — merging creativity, speed, and automation into intelligent creative platforms.The Rise of AI Browsers: With tools like OpenAI's Atlas, browsing becomes conversational — and UX designers must start designing for both humans and AI agents.You'll walk away with fresh insights on how these changes are redefining creativity, how to stay ahead as a designer, and why human-centered thinking matters more than ever.Because the future of UX isn't about AI replacing us — it's about designers who know how to think with it.

Shantay, we all stay, when Connie Chen joins us to talk about her love of drag and drag queens. She describes how drag culture became a lifeline for her when she was struggling to adjust to life in California, and how a week-long stay in the hospital watching RuPaul's Drag Race provided hope and laughter. Connie talks about her journey from watching the show to attending drag events and finding an unexpectedly welcoming and positive community, discusses the artistry of drag performance, and explores the significance of drag names as expressions of personal identity and creativity. She also reflects on how drag culture has boosted her confidence, helped her embrace vulnerability, and taught her not to care about others' judgments.Guest BioConnie Chen (she/her) is an accomplished UX designer and mentor with over 10 years of experience. Starting her career as a graphic designer in Boston, she later transitioned to UX design in California, where she contributed to companies such as Ancestry, Apple, and Dell EMC. After a transformative two-year sabbatical, she now works as a UX Designer at Disney on the Enterprise Design team, where she supports tools and platforms for Disney's global supply chain and distribution processes for films and TV shows worldwide.LinksConnie's website: https://conniechen.design/Connie on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/conniechiiiwa.bsky.socialConnie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conniewzchen/CreditsCover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Episode Title: What Digital Shifts for Small B2B Teams Make the Biggest Impact?Host: Donna Peterson, World InnovatorsGuest: Josh Blankenship | OuterBoxEpisode Length: 41 min 41 secEpisode Overview:When sales and marketing aren't aligned, it drags out an already long B2B sales process. But when small teams connect those dots, and use AI intelligently, the results are transformational.In this episode, Donna Peterson sits down with Josh Blankenship of OuterBox to talk about:Aligning sales & marketing without a big budgetSimple digital shifts that make a measurable impactPractical, trustworthy ways to use AI in B2BHow small B2B teams can compete with larger brandsIf you lead a small marketing or sales team, this episode will show you how to simplify your digital strategy, strengthen relationships, and grow smarter, not just bigger.Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Why sales & marketing alignment still matters03:20 – The real cost of working in silos06:45 – Practical ways to get sales & marketing on the same page12:30 – How leaders can create shared goals and teamwork18:15 – AI in B2B: Staying personal while moving fast24:00 – Using MQL & SQL metrics for smarter decision-making30:40 – Website changes that increase qualified B2B leads36:00 – AI agents, lead scoring, and scaling smart40:00 – Final thoughts: Trust, teamwork & small shifts with big resultsKey Takeaways:Sales + Marketing = Growth: Bring both departments together with one shared goal.Define quality: Use MQL and SQL scoring to measure what really works.Website wins: Make contact easy and de-risk the process for prospects.AI as a coach, not a replacement: Use AI for feedback and consistency, not mindless automation.Focus beats flash: Small B2B teams can compete by staying focused on clarity and authentic communication.Josh's Bio:Josh Blankenship is Director of Business Development at OuterBox and a recognized voice on aligning sales and marketing and using practical AI where it fits. He has helped hundreds of B2B and industrial organizations grow, diversify, and scale by differentiating digitally and integrating strategies across channels, including Technical SEO, content, paid media, email automation, UX, attribution, and tight sales and marketing alignment.  Contact:Josh Blankenshipjblankenship@outerbox.comwww.Outerbox.comResources MentionedThe 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney & Sean Covey *** Reach out to dpeterson@worldinnovators.comif you'd like help building a marketing strategy that builds relationships and/or AI training for individuals or full teams. *** Visit www.worldinnovators.comfor more resources on building stronger marketing and leadership strategies. *** Subscribe to the B2B Marketing Excellence & AI Podcast for weekly insights into marketing, leadership, and the future of AI.

What if the secret to scaling your brand wasn't your ads, but the speed of your design process? In this solo episode, Nik pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest competitive moats in DTC: building high-converting landing pages fast. He unpacks how the most successful brands (from Hint Water to today's fastest-growing supplement and apparel companies) win not by spending more, but by testing faster, designing smarter, and iterating relentlessly. Nik walks through the five essential questions every page must answer: “What is it?”, “Why does it exist?”, “How will it benefit me?”, “How fast do I get it?”, “Why should I trust this brand?” He also shares the lessons he learned building Sharma Brands, why most designers fail at conversion design, and how speed in testing, feedback loops, and UX clarity can turn a good brand into a category leader. If you're a marketer, founder, or designer trying to figure out how to make your website sell instead of just looking pretty, this is your guide. What's Instant? They're the secret weapon to triple your email revenue with AI-powered flows. Instead of blasting the same cart reminders to everyone, Instant ensure every shopper gets a unique email experience: Copy, products, and offers that adapt to your shopper's behavior in real time. Emails sent at the exact moment that shopper is most likely to buy. 11+ abandonment flows live in minutes. Book a demo by Nov. 15 to get 50% off your first 60 days. Make this BFCM your biggest one yet: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instant.one/limited⁠ Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

Caroline Gilbert — Director of Content & Editorial at Angi — joins Ross Hudgens to explore how one of the largest home-services brands is using AI to scale, transform, and optimize content operations. They discuss how Caroline's team doubled Angi's content library to 12,000+ articles, how AI helps maintain top-funnel visibility amid shifting search behaviors, and the nuanced balance between human expertise and generative automation. Caroline breaks down the three pillars of Angi's AI framework — generation, transformation, and operations — and how they've automated everything from brief creation to CMS ingestion while keeping a strong editorial voice. Plus: lessons learned from early AI missteps, real examples of disclosure testing, and how AI is reshaping both content creation and search behavior itself. Show Notes 0:08 – From cost guides to “everything home”: expanding Angi's library 1:00 – Moving up-funnel: education, troubleshooting, light DIY, and when to hire 2:14 – Top-funnel ROI drops as AI overviews change search behavior 2:56 – Why Angi adopts gen-AI: maintain helpful content without heavy human lift 3:27 – Staying visible where intent is early but brand value matters 4:45 – Content becomes commodity: deciding where humans add unique value 5:55 – Evergreen “how-to” steps vs. human nuance (risks, gotchas, pro POV) 7:18 – How AI is used: full refreshes, component injections, data-driven sizing 9:01 – The real trade-off: human time vs. technology time 9:26 – Scale context: 5k → 12k pages (growth mostly human-led) 9:41 – Three pillars: generation, transformation, operations 10:38 – Ops wins: briefs, automated edits/QA, CMS ingestion, minutes → hours 12:21 – Designers focus on UX polish when ingestion is 98% done 12:58 – Where AI struggled: risky DIY (HVAC/roofing), brand POV, nuance 15:02 – Licensing content is messy (state/county rules): tighter human review 17:19 – Design: generate/transform/streamline + “vibe coding” prototypes 20:18 – Pilot first: small cohorts, guardrails, measure engagement/conversions 21:22 – Disclosure tests: placement/tone matter; users split ~50/50 on trust 25:53 – “Tools, time, or talent”: when to push pro hire messaging 27:39 – Differentiators: pro interviews + Angi's original homeowner cost data 28:07 – AI helps editors analyze like analysts; humans shape the story 29:19 – Looking ahead: AI shifting search from answers to utilities/experiences Show Links Caroline Gilbert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-gilbert-41463518/ Angi: https://www.angi.com/ Subscribe today for weekly tips: https://bit.ly/3dBM61f Listen on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-and-conversation-seo-tips-from-siege-media/id1289467174 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kiaFGXO5UcT2qXVRuXjsM Listen on Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5zaW1wbGVjYXN0LmNvbS9jT3NjUkdLeA Follow Siege on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siegemedia Follow Ross on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rosshudgens Directed by Cara Brown: https://twitter.com/cararbrown Email Ross: ross@siegemedia.com #seo | #contentmarketing

Is your marketing ladder missing the first rung? Jason Rhoads (Rhoads Creative) joins Anya to break down why builders should fix websites and assets before throwing money at ads, and how AI search (AIO) is changing everything from discovery to conversion.We cover:-The Digital Marketing Ladder: the 8 steps -UX that sells: lead-gen flows, visual content, virtual tours, data-tagged assets-AIO to SEO? Preparing your site to “talk to bots” and win AI answers-Content that feeds LLMs without becoming AI slop (voice, structure, schema)-Analytics that prove ROI: CRM tie-ins, attribution, appointments → sales-Paid search today (rising CPCs) and what's next for social/TikTok search-Practical AI workflows: brand-tuned GPTs, faster content ops, better insightsIf you're a homebuilder or marketer wondering where to put budget in 2026, this episode gives you a ladder to climb: one smart rung at a time.Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:05 Jason's path & why builders need better data 03:00 The Digital Marketing Ladder 06:10 Websites & assets: the #1 ROI lever 09:10 AI search and “bot-to-bot” readiness 12:20 From SEO to AIO: content that ranks in AI 20:05 Validating the AI recommendation: trust pages that matter 24:00 Visuals that feed AI (not just look pretty) 26:00 Measuring ROI with CRM + attribution 28:30 AI tools/workflows Jason recommends 31:00 What's next: TikTok search & beyond 33:00 One thing overwhelmed teams should do now 34:30 Where to find Jason

As we plan for 2026, many CX, UX, and Market Research teams are focused on anticipating project volume, evolving method mixes, AI-enabled workflows, and resource allocation. But regulatory policy deserves attention too—with changes coming that could directly shape how we run qualitative and quantitative projects.  In this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars, Kathryn Korostoff interviewed Howard Fienberg, Senior VP Advocacy at the Insights Association, about two regulatory shifts that could impact researchers. Kathryn and Howard also discuss how these regulations could create meaningful cost savings and workflow improvements for researchers in both qual and quant settings. Conversations for Research Rockstars is produced by Research Rockstar Training & Staffing. Our 25+ Market Research eLearning classes are offered on demand and include options to earn Insights Association Certificates. Our Rent-a-Researcher staffing service places qualified, fully vetted market research experts, covering temporary needs due to project and resource fluctuations. We believe it: Inside every market researcher is a Research Rockstar! Hope you enjoy this episode of Conversations for Research Rockstars. http://www.researchrockstar.com/ Facebook | LinkedIn | 877-Rocks10 ext 703 for Support, 701 for Sales Info@ResearchRockstar.com 

In the 213th BlockTalks we speak with Vik Sharma, cofounder and CEO of Cake Labs, who talks about UX and privacy implications of web3 wallets.Links:https://x.com/vikrantnychttps://x.com/cakehttps://x.com/cakewallethttps://cakelabs.com/https://cakewallet.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikrant-s-1b975072/. Redes sociais / comms.. https://blockdropspodcast.xyz/.. https://blockdrops.substack.com .. Instagram.com/blockdropspodcast.. Twitter.com/blockdropspod.. Blockdrops.lens .. https://warpcast.com/mauriciomagaldi.. youtube.com/@BlockDropsPodcast.. Meu conteúdo em inglês twitter.com/0xmauricio.. Newsletter do linkedin  https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7056680685142454272.. blockdropspodcast@gmail.com

Several weeks ago, Paul dissected the good and the bad of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the tech side on Spirit Gym with tech consultant/UX researcher Rachel Miles.A huge question remained unanswered after that conversation: How do we retain our humanity amid the avalanche of AI tech?Venture capitalist, entrepreneur and first-time author Jeff Burninhgam embraces the answer to that very question in his book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI.Jeff explains why the presence of AI is an important reminder to embrace our humanity and how the beauty in life is not trying to achieve perfection but to relish in its messiness and imperfection this week on Spirit Gym.Read the first chapter of Jeff's book on his website. Learn more about Jeff on social media via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok and Substack.Timestamps8:01 From traveling the Ganges River to running for governor in Utah.19:07 One blessing in disguise with AI: Reminding us of our humanity.23:04 Disruption, reflection, transformation and evolution.29:46 AI as a human crucible.36:12 “No amount of education saves anyone from the Hero's Journey.”45:00 In the presence of AI, we will need to learn how to fight to stay in human relationships.51:51 “As our machines become more intelligent, our work as humans is to become wiser.”1:04:52 The beauty of life is in the mess, the work and the process.1:12:45 “We are human beings, not human doings.”1:27:15 The origin of most existential pain in our lives.1:35:48 Emptiness.1:43:39 Social media: The baby AI.ResourcesThe Silicon SlopesPaul's Living 4D podcast on Lucifer-Christ-AhrimanFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear MusicThanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL15Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesKorrect SPIRITGYMPique LifeCHEK InstituteCHEK Academy We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

This week, we chat with Des Traynor! Des is the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Intercom, the company behind Fin.ai, and he also sits on Intercom's board of directors. Over the years, Des has led teams across Product, Marketing, Customer Support, and Content, playing a key role in shaping Intercom into one of the most influential customer communication platforms in the world. Today, he oversees Intercom's R&D team, based in Dublin and London.Before founding Intercom, Des was a UX consultant, a university lecturer in computer science, and a Ph.D. researcher focused on improving computer science education. He also previously co-founded Exceptional, a software company acquired by Rackspace.Beyond his work at Intercom, Des is an author, speaker, and angel investor, sharing insights on startups, product strategy, and scaling companies through books, podcasts, and conferences. He's also an investor in some of the most notable startups of our time — including Miro, Stripe, Notion, and Hopin.✨ This episode is presented by Brex.Brex: brex.com/trailblazerspodThis episode is supported by RocketReach, Gusto, OpenPhone & Athena.RocketReach: rocketreach.co/trailblazersGusto: gusto.com/trailblazersQuo: Quo.com/trailblazersAthena: athenago.me/Erica-WengerFollow Us!Des Traynor: @destraynorFin AI: fin.ai@thetrailblazerspod: Instagram, YouTube, TikTokErica Wenger: @erica_wenger

In this special episode of The Kula Ring, co-hosts Carman Pirie and Jeff White flip the script as Carman interviews Jeff about his UX and accessibility POVs inspired by the 2025 Industrial Buyer Pulse research. They explore how industrial websites must evolve to support self-serve quoting, mobile accessibility, and B2B e-commerce experiences that foster trust. Jeff discusses how integrating functionality, maintaining design consistency, and honouring complexity can transform manufacturing sites into powerful sales tools. You can find the full report here

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. FOUNDER PROFILE:Andrew Yates, Founder of Dropbox, Promoted.aihttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-yates-0217a985

This week features a talk from a recent conference that has (apparently) been stricken from the organizer's records. Is it because of something Darren said wrong? Nope. It's because of people who refuse to embrace what's right. Ready for some hard truths? Check out UX Domain Knowledge: The Journey, Importance, and Value Proposition!REMINDER: Video is available for this episode via select resources. #ux#podcasts#cxofmradio#cxofm#realuxtalk#worldofux#worldouxBookmark the new World of UX website at https://www.worldoux.com. Visit the UX Uncensored blog at https://uxuncensored.medium.com. Get your specialized UX merchandise at https://www.kaizentees.com.

Marisa brings 15+ years of UX design experience to Amazon, where she helps shoppers leverage Prime benefits across thousands of sites. She co-chairs the Luxury Education Foundation's Alumni Executive Council, supporting 1,500 Columbia Business School and Parsons alumni. She holds an MFA from Parsons, won the 2013 Nokia Design Challenge, completed a fellowship at Nokia's London Design Studio, and created interactive Hermès experiences featured in Forbes and Women's Wear Daily.Advika Aggarwal chats with Marisa about her design journey from winning a global Nokia competition to pioneering UX at Tory Burch and Amazon. She reveals how curiosity, user research, and embracing AI have shaped her path across startups and Big Tech.

In our latest episode, Robby and Tim talk with Will McGugan, creator of the Rich and Textual open source projects and founder of Textualize and Toad (not yet released), about the challenges of turning beloved open-source projects into real businesses. Despite Rich and Textual's huge adoption in the Python community, he says he waited too long to monetize, focused too much on technical perfection, and tried to build infrastructure before a killer product. He also burned himself out and wishes he had simplified and hired earlier.McGugan believes the terminal is a neglected but essential interface, prized for speed and flow. Rich and Textual modernized terminal output, but monetizing open-core dev tools proved difficult. His new project, Toad, aims to be a universal AI front-end for the terminal - open-source, protocol-driven, and able to plug into different agent back ends like Claude and others. The goal: seamless workflows and modern UX in the environment developers already live in.Big takeaways: monetize early, ship a killer app sooner, don't overcomplicate structure, and avoid grinding yourself into the ground.

Small Cap Breaking News You Can't Miss!Here's a quick rundown of the latest updates from standout small-cap companies making big moves today.AISIX Solutions (TSXV: AISX) AISIX signed a 30-day pilot with a global specialty insurer to evaluate its Climate Genius wildfire risk platform on up to 500 locations. The trial measures underwriting relevance, integration, UX, and operational value across portfolio and address-level views. If KPIs are met, both parties intend to negotiate a paid engagement—a potential catalyst for AISIX's insurance-market rollout.LaFleur Minerals (TSXV: LFLR) LaFleur kicked off twin-hole confirmation drilling at the Swanson Gold Deposit and advanced recommissioning of the 750 tpd Beacon Gold Mill near Val-d'Or, Québec. An ERM-led PEA will integrate drilling, metallurgy, and mill data to assess a near-term restart path. With historical thick, near-surface intercepts and a permitted mill, LaFleur is positioning for faster time-to-cash-flow in a Tier-1 jurisdiction.Power Metallic (TSXV: PNPN) Power Metallic reported 5.35 m @ 11.97% Cu (16.35% CuEq) at the Lion zone, expanded its Québec land package to 313 km², and set fall–winter drill priorities targeting deeper BHEM conductors (including Tiger Deep). The company is shifting to skid rigs for better depth penetration as it balances resource definition at Lion with discovery upside across newly consolidated ground.Newcore Gold (TSXV: NCAU) At Ghana's Enchi project, Newcore intersected 1.08 g/t Au over 22.0 m (incl. 2.78 g/t over 7.0 m) and 1.29 g/t over 15.0 m at Kwakyekrom—outside the current pit shell. The 45,000 m program supports resource growth and conversion ahead of a Pre-Feasibility Study in H1 2026, with drilling confirming continuity along strike and at depth across a district-scale land package.Aztec Minerals (TSXV: AZT) (OTCQB: AZZTF) Aztec's Tombstone (Arizona) program delivered one of its best intercepts to date: 36.5 m @ 8.14 g/t Au & 49.67 g/t Ag, including 4.6 m @ 58.5 g/t Au & 158 g/t Ag from near surface in a previously untested area. 29 RC holes are complete (16 pending). Core drilling is set to resume, targeting deeper CRD potential beneath the oxide system.Follow AGORACOM for more breaking small-cap news and investor updates — and don't miss our podcast for in-depth discussions and interviews!

Nick Cawthon strongly advocates for organizations to take a deliberate, structured approach when adopting AI—especially within UX and product design teams. He warns against the pitfalls of simply providing sophisticated tools without proper onboarding or contextual support. Without collaborative training, mentorship, and transparent change management, teams can become frustrated and fail to realize the true value that AI can bring to their workflows. It's not enough to enable access to AI; real progress happens only when organizations create the infrastructure for learning, experimentation, and the normalization of using new technologies as a collective effort. Central to Nick's philosophy is the need for tailored training—models should be developed with context-specific workflows and guided error analysis so that generative tools quickly learn and adapt to the nuances of each organization. This customization ensures that AI delivers meaningful efficiency gains instead of becoming another source of friction. Nick believes that empowering individuals in this way, rather than forcing blind reliance on out-of-the-box automation, is the key to sustainable digital transformation and organizational resilience. To help UX and product design teams navigate this shift, Nick has developed a specialized AI adoption readiness assessment that identifies strengths and areas for growth. He invites organizations and individuals to ensure their teams are fully prepared for the future by using their assessment tool. Take the survey and discover actionable insights and a clear path to upskill, adapt, and lead in a rapidly changing digital era. For the accessible version of the podcast, go to our Ziotag gallery.We're happy you're here! Like the pod?Support the podcast and receive discounts from our sponsors: https://yourbrandamplified.codeadx.me/Leave a rating and review on your favorite platformFollow @yourbrandamplified on the socialsTalk to my digital avatar Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Think you're great at what you do but still not landing interviews? You might be stuck in Invisible Genius Mode—and it's costing you opportunities.In this episode, Sarah introduces the second major UX job search roadblock in her diagnostic series: Invisible Genius Mode. It's the frustrating space where you know you're qualified—and so do your colleagues—but your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn aren't making it clear to hiring teams.Sarah walks through 4 key symptoms of Invisible Genius Mode, explains why it's a marketing problem (not a skills problem), and gives you a simple framework to reposition yourself as an in-demand candidate.This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on diagnosing your UX job search struggles.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔️ The 4 signs you're stuck in Invisible Genius Mode✔️ Why strong skills don't matter if your materials don't communicate them✔️ How to use Sarah's “Product of You” philosophy to stand out✔️ Why your resume, portfolio, and LinkedIn must all tell the same story✔️ What to change if you keep hearing “you're a perfect fit” but still don't get hiredRelated Episodes:145: [Part 1/3: Diagnose Your UX Job Search] Escaping UX Career Identity Fog & Why Your Identity Is Your SuperpowerTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to UX Job Search Series00:48 The Product of You Philosophy06:01 Understanding Invisible Genius08:10 Symptoms of Invisible Genius10:37 Overcoming Invisible Genius14:59 Conclusion and Next Steps17:06 Final Thoughts and Resources17:47 Special Message for Struggling Job Seekers

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4qwkj8C ----------------------- Episode summary: In this eye-opening episode of Insights Unlocked, host Mike Mace chats with Surojit Chatterjee—former Chief Product Officer at Coinbase and current founder and CEO of Ema—about the sweeping changes generative AI is bringing to the workplace. Surojit unpacks his vision of “AI employees”—intelligent agents that can handle complex workflows, adapt to company-specific processes, and act as true collaborators rather than just tools. Drawing on his leadership at Google, Coinbase, and now Ema, he explains why organizations must stop retrofitting AI into outdated workflows and instead embrace an “AI + human” model of work. From transforming enterprise functions like HR, finance, and customer support to challenging legacy software models, this conversation delivers sharp insights for leaders navigating the shift to AI-driven operations. Surojit also shares advice for companies just starting their AI journey, including the importance of experimentation, transparency, and reskilling teams. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the next generation of software must adapt to the enterprise—not the other way around How AI can eliminate mundane tasks and unlock more meaningful human work What legacy tech companies risk if they don't embrace a new AI-first paradigm The role of customer empathy and rapid experimentation in building Transformative AI products How to lead an “AI + human” business transformation, function by function Why trust and transparency are key to successfully integrating AI into your team Resources & Links: Surojit Chatterjee on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/surojitchatterjee/) Ema website (https://www.ema.co/) UserTesting's Mike Mace on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemace/) Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/) Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast About the show: Insights Unlocked is the go-to podcast for marketing, UX, product, and CX leaders. Each week, we feature candid conversations with the builders and thinkers behind today's most impactful customer experiences. Brought to you by UserTesting.

What if removing friction isn't enough? Samsara's "Project Wow" challenges the entire CX industry to stop fixing problems and start creating experiences that make customers gasp.Join hosts Chuck Moxley and Nick Paladino as they talk with Emma Sopadjieva, Head of Customer Experience Strategy at Samsara. With experience from Medallia, Eventbrite, and ServiceNow, Emma reveals why 90% of customer experience work is influence without authority—not data analysis. She shares how Samsara brought their entire executive team together for full-day workshops to identify five moments across the customer journey where they could create "wow" experiences, pushing every initiative from fixing pain points to delivering 10-star moments. Emma also unveils the game-changing concept of predictive NPS, using thousands of variables to identify unhappy customers before they even tell you—and activating customer success teams six months before renewal conversations.Key Actionable Takeaways:Master influence without authority by making others the hero - CX teams don't own product or support, so align insights to stakeholder metrics and show how your recommendations make them successfulStart with quick wins before long-term transformation - Launch purchase win-loss and renewal experience programs first to build credibility while working toward your five-year customer 360 visionPredict customer experience, not just renewal risk - Build predictive NPS models using behavioral data to catch at-risk customers six months early, when you can still save themWant more tips and strategies about creating frictionless digital experiences? Subscribe to our newsletter!https://www.thefrictionlessexperience.com/frictionless/Download the Black Friday/Cyber Monday eBook: http://bluetriangle.com/ebook-Emma Sopadjieva's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmasopadjieva/Nick Paladino's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/npaladinoChuck Moxley's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chuck-moxleyChapters:(00:00) Introduction (03:00) What Samsara does - IoT hardware and software for physical operations(04:00) Key lessons from Medallia, ServiceNow, and Eventbrite(05:00) Why 90% of CX work is influence without authority, not data(08:00) Making stakeholders the hero to drive change(09:00) Balancing quick wins with long-term transformation strategy(12:00) Project Wow - Creating 10-star experiences across the customer journey(15:00) Five moments that matter and executive ideation workshops(17:00) Measuring ROI of wow moments and delight(19:00) Turning NPS improvements into quantified revenue impact(22:00) Predictive NPS - Identifying unhappy customers before they tell you(25:00) Using 5,000+ variables to catch churn risk six months early(27:00) Building frictionless UX across physical and digital worlds(30:00) CX teams as connective tissue across siloed functions(32:00) Why technology doesn't equal experience(34:00) The problem with AI chatbots in customer service(35:00) Conclusion

Meet Tetiana Kobzar, founder of Diversido, a development partner helping startups launch engaging products across mobile and web. In this episode, Tetiana shares how her team supports early-stage founders with UX design, testing, and end-to-end delivery while focusing on verticals like IoT, edtech, and healthtech. You'll learn why word of mouth still drives most qualified pipeline, how "help-first" content born from real client questions outperforms keyword-chasing blogs, and why she's doubling down on brand, demand, and a smarter website revamp. Tetiana also unpacks favorite learning sources and behavioral design takeaways that shape better product and marketing decisions. Practical, honest, and immediately applicable for founders and marketers.   

The Interview That Sparked This EssayJoe Corkery and I worked together at Google years ago, and he has since gone on to build a venture-backed company tackling a real and systemic problem in healthcare communication. This essay is my attempt to synthesize that conversation. It is written for early and mid career PMs in Silicon Valley who want to get sharper at product judgment, market discovery, customer validation, and knowing the difference between encouragement and signal. If you feel like you have ever shipped something, presented it to customers, and then heard polite nodding instead of movement and urgency, this is for you.Joe's Unusual Career ArcJoe's background is not typical for a founder. He is a software engineer. And a physician. And someone who has led business development in the pharmaceutical industry. That multidisciplinary profile allowed him to see something that many insiders miss: healthcare is full of problems that everyone acknowledges, yet very few organizations are structurally capable of solving.When Joe joined Google Cloud in 2014, he helped start the healthcare and life sciences product org. Yet the timing was difficult. As he put it:“The world wasn't ready or Google wasn't ready to do healthcare.” So instead of building healthcare products right away, he spent two years working on security, compliance, and privacy. That detour will matter later, because it set the foundation for everything he is now doing at Jaide.Years later, he left Google to build a healthcare company focused initially on guided healthcare search, particularly for women's health. The idea resonated emotionally. Every customer interview validated the need. Investors said it was important. Healthcare organizations nodded enthusiastically.And yet, there was no traction.This created a familiar and emotionally challenging founder dilemma:* When everyone is encouraging you* But no one will pay you or adopt early* How do you know if you are early, unlucky, or wrong?This is the question at the heart of product strategy.False Positives: Why Encouragement Is Not FeedbackIf you have worked as a PM or founder for more than a few weeks, you have encountered positive feedback that turned out to be meaningless. People love your idea. Executives praise your clarity. Customers tell you they would definitely use it. Friends offer supportive high-fives.But then nothing moves.As Joe put it:“Everyone wanted to be supportive. But that makes it hard to know whether you're actually on the right path.” This is not because people are dishonest. It is because people are kind, polite, and socially conditioned to encourage enthusiasm. In Silicon Valley especially, we celebrate ambition. We praise risk-taking. We cheer for the founder-in-the-garage mythology. If someone tells you that your idea is flawed, they fear they are crushing your passion.So even when we explicitly ask for brutal honesty, people soften their answers.This is the false positive trap.And if you misread encouragement as traction, you can waste months or even years.The Small Framing Change That Changes EverythingJoe eventually realized that the problem was not the idea itself. The problem was how he was asking for feedback.When you present your idea as the idea, people naturally react supportively:* “That's really interesting.”* “I could see that being useful.”* “This is definitely needed.”But when you instead present two competing ideas and ask someone to help you choose, you change the psychology of the conversation entirely.Joe explained it this way:“When we said, ‘We are building this. What do you think?' people wanted to be encouraging. But when we asked, ‘We are choosing between these two products. Which one should we build?' it gave them permission to actually critique.” This shift is subtle, but powerful. Suddenly:* People contrast.* Their reasoning surfaces.* Their hesitation becomes visible.* Their priorities emerge with clarity.By asking someone to choose between two ideas, you activate their decision-making brain instead of their supportive brain.It is no different from usability testing. If you show someone a screen and ask what they think, they are polite. If you give them a task and ask them to complete it, their actual friction appears immediately.In product discovery, friction is truth.How This Applies to PMs, Not Just FoundersYou may be thinking: this is interesting for entrepreneurs, but I work inside a company. I have stakeholders, OKRs, a roadmap, and a backlog that already feels too full.This technique is actually more relevant for PMs inside companies than for founders.Inside organizations, political encouragement is even more pervasive:* Leaders say they want innovation, but are risk averse.* Cross-functional partners smile in meetings, but quietly maintain objections.* Engineers nod when you present the roadmap, but may not believe in it.* Customers say they like your idea, but do not prioritize adoption.One of the most powerful tools you can use as a PM is explicitly framing your product decisions as explicit choices, rather than proposals seeking validation. For example:Instead of saying:“We are planning to build a new onboarding flow. Here is the design. Thoughts?”Say:“We are deciding between optimizing retention or acquisition next quarter. If we choose retention, the main lever is onboarding friction. Here are two possible approaches. Which outcome matters more to the business right now?”In the second framing:* The business goal is visible.* The tradeoff is unavoidable.* The decision owner is clear.* The conversation becomes real.This is how PMs build credibility and influence: not through slides or persuasion, but through framing decisions clearly.Jaide's Pivot: From Health Search to AI TranslationThe result of Joe's reframed feedback approach was unambiguous.Across dozens of conversations with healthcare executives and hospital leaders, one pattern emerged consistently:Translation was the urgent, budget-backed, economically meaningful problem.As Joe put it, after talking to more than 40 healthcare decision-makers:“Every single person told us to build the translation product. Not mostly. Not many. Every single one.” This kind of clarity is rare in product strategy. When you get it, you do not ignore it. You move.Jaide Health shifted its core focus to solving a very real, very measurable, and very painful problem in healthcare: the language gap affecting millions of patients.More than 25 million patients in the United States do not speak English well enough to communicate with clinicians. This leads to measurable harm:* Longer hospital stays* Increased readmission rates* Higher medical error rates* Lower comprehension of discharge instructionsThe status quo for translation relies on human interpreters who are expensive, limited, slow to schedule, and often unavailable after hours or in rare languages. Many clinicians, due to lack of resources, simply use Google Translate privately on their phones. They know this is not secure or compliant, but they feel like they have no better option.So Jaide built a platform that integrates compliance, healthcare-specific terminology, workflow embedding, custom glossaries, discharge summaries, and real-time accessibility.This is not simply “healthcare plus GPT”. It is targeted, workflow-integrated, risk-aware operational excellence.Product managers should study this pattern closely.The winning strategy was not inventing a new problem. It was solving a painful problem that everyone already agreed mattered.The Core PM Lesson: Focus on Problems With Urgent Budgets Behind ThemA question I often ask PMs I coach:Who loses sleep if this problem is not solved?If the answer is:* “Not sure”* “Eventually the business will feel it”* “It would improve the experience”* “It could move a KPI if adoption increases”Then you do not have a real problem yet.Real product opportunities have:* A user who is blocked from achieving something meaningful* A measurable cost or consequence of inaction* An internal champion with authority to push change* An adjacent workflow that your product can attach to immediately* A budget owner who is willing to pay now, not laterHealthcare translation checks every box. That is why Joe now has institutional adoption and a business with meaningful traction behind it.Why PMs Struggle With This in PracticeIf the lesson seems obvious, why do so many PMs fall into the encouragement trap?The reason is emotional more than analytical.It is uncomfortable to confront the possibility that your idea, feature, roadmap, strategy, or deck is not compelling enough yet. It is easier to seek validation than truth.In my first startup, we kept our product in closed beta for months longer than we should have. We told ourselves we were refining the UX, improving onboarding, solidifying architecture. The real reason, which I only admitted years later, was that I was afraid the product was not good enough. I delayed reality to protect my ego.In product work, speed of invalidation is as important as speed of iteration.If something is not working, you need to know as quickly as possible. The faster you learn, the more shots you get. The best PMs do not fall in love with their solutions. They fall in love with the moments of clarity that allow them to change direction quickly.Actionable Advice for Early and Mid Career PMsBelow are specific behaviors and habits you can put into practice immediately.1. Always test product concepts as choices, not presentationsInstead of asking:“What do you think of this idea?”Ask:“We are deciding between these two approaches. Which one is more important for you right now and why?”This forces prioritization, not politeness.2. Never ship a feature without observing real usage inside the workflowA feature that exists but is not used does not exist.Sit next to users. Watch screen behavior. Listen to their muttering. Ask where they hesitate. And most importantly, observe what they do after they close your product.That is where the real friction lives.3. Always ask: What is the cost of not solving this?If there is no real cost of inaction, the feature will not drive adoption.Impact must be felt, not imagined.4. Look for users with strong emotional urgency, not polite agreementWhen someone says:“This would be helpful.”That is death.When someone says:“I need this and I need it now.”That is life.Find urgency. Design around urgency. Ignore politeness.5. Know the business model of your customer better than they doThis is where many PMs plateau.If you want to be taken seriously by executives, you must understand:* How your customer makes money* What costs they must manage* Which levers influence financial outcomesWhen PMs learn to speak in revenue, cost, and risk instead of features, priorities, and backlog, their influence changes instantly.The Broader Strategic Question: What Happens When Foundational Models Improve?During our conversation, I asked Joe whether the rapid improvement of GPT-like translation will eventually make specialized healthcare translation unnecessary.His answer was pragmatic:“Our goal is to ride the wave. The best technology alone does not win. The integrated solution that solves the real problem wins.” This is another crucial product lesson:* Foundational models are table stakes.* Differentiation comes from workflow integration, specialization, compliance, and trust.* Adoption is driven by reducing operational friction.In other words:In AI-first product strategy, the model is the engine. The workflow is the vehicle. The customer problem is the road.The Future of Product Work: Judgment Over OutputThe world is changing. Tools are accelerating. Capabilities are compounding. But the core skill of product leadership remains the same:Can you tell the difference between signal and noise, urgency and politeness, truth and encouragement?That is judgment.Product management will increasingly become less about writing PRDs or pushing execution and more about identifying the real problem worth solving, framing tradeoffs clearly, and navigating ambiguity with confidence and clarity.The PMs who will thrive in the coming decade are those who learn how to ask better questions.ClosingThis conversation with Joe reminded me that most of the time, product failure is not the result of a bad idea. It is the result of insufficient clarity. The clarity does not come from thinking harder. It comes from testing real choices, with real users, in real workflows, and asking questions that force truth rather than encouragement.If this resonates and you want help sharpening your product judgment, improving your influence with executives, developing clarity in your roadmap, or navigating career transitions, I work 1:1 with a small number of PMs, founders, and product executives.You can learn more at tomleungcoaching.com.OK. Enough pontificating. Let's ship greatness. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit firesidepm.substack.com

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training How would you go about making acquisitions to accelerate your growth? Would you buy for revenue, culture fit, or client roster? Would you be willing to fire big clients that are holding your agency back? Most agency owners chase growth by saying "yes" to everything, from new services, new clients, and every new opportunity. Today's featured guest built one of the fastest-growing mobile and digital agencies in the world by narrow focusing, firing bad-fit clients, and mastering the art of strategic acquisitions. Today he'll unpack how his agency evolved from a small mobile startup in Tel Aviv to a global digital powerhouse working with brands like Google, Uber, Samsung, and Microsoft. Gilad Bechar is the CEO and founder of Moburst, a mobile-first marketing and digital transformation agency with offices in Tel Aviv, New York, and San Francisco. Since 2013, Moburst has helped startups and Fortune 500s alike scale their reach through creative, data-driven, and tech-forward strategies. Under Gilad's leadership, the agency has raised capital, acquired multiple specialized firms, and built proprietary technology that keeps them ahead of the curve in AI, mobile UX, and cross-platform performance. In this episode, we'll discuss: The similarities between the mobile boom and the new AI era. Raising capital without losing control. Using acquisitions as a growth strategy. The power of saying no and focusing on fit. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. From A Mobile-First Niche Focus to Global Agency Powerhouse When Moburst launched in 2013, the agency world was flooded with "digital experts" who claimed to understand mobile. Most didn't. Gilad noticed that agencies were simply repurposing desktop experiences for smaller screens without real mobile UX thinking, no data-driven optimization, and definitely no understanding of how users behaved differently on apps. That insight became Moburst's edge. Instead of trying to compete as another full-service digital shop, they doubled down on mobile-first marketing. They mastered app store optimization (ASO), performance tracking, and mobile UX design. That focus helped them land early wins with major clients who were desperate for expertise in a fast-changing environment. As Gilad puts it, "When you show big clients that a critical piece of their marketing is being ignored, and you can fix it, that's your entry point." The AI Parallel: Most Agencies Talk, Few Deliver Gilad sees history repeating itself with AI. Just like the early mobile days, everyone's suddenly an "AI expert." But the difference between hype and real expertise shows up fast in a conversation. He believes the proof lies under the hood. Real experts can answer deep implementation questions: which tools integrate best, how to handle data security, and what AI models perform for specific tasks. Pretenders can't. For agencies, this is a reminder that credibility is earned through insight, not jargon. Clients see through the buzzwords. And the ones who don't will eventually learn when the work doesn't deliver. Raising Capital Without Losing Control Unlike most agency founders, Gilad took venture funding, not once, but three times. But he did it differently. Instead of giving away huge equity chunks, Moburst only diluted small percentages (around 6% each round). The investors came to them after seeing how fast their clients were growing. Without that, his agency wouldn't have its current success in the US market and would probably still be a very local agency in Israel. That capital gave him the means to hire a team in New York and then eventually move there to lead that office. It was the start of many new opportunities for the agency, like building internal tech tools that set them apart. It was also the way his team has stayed ahead of the curve from competitors that are not investing in the future and stay too focused on the right here and now. Furthermore, despite having 11 investors, Moburst kept full control. Only one board seat represents all investors, and it can't override the founders' decisions. According to Gilad, that control is what allowed them to make hard but smart moves, like firing clients and cutting costs in 2017 when growth was strong but profitability wasn't. The Hard Reset That Saved the Agency and Restored Profitability In 2017, Moburst was scaling fast but losing money just as quickly. The agency was adding clients and headcount, but without the right systems to manage profitability. At one point, they were bleeding up to $70,000 a month. So Gilad made the tough call: he cut unprofitable clients, reduced staff, and rebuilt the agency around systems that supported healthy margins. "It was brutal," he admits. "We let go of big, well-known clients we loved working with. But it didn't make sense to keep losing money just to say we worked with them." That painful reset worked. By 2018, the agency was profitable again and positioned for sustainable growth. That reset set the stage for their next evolution: acquisitions. How to Use Acquisitions as a Growth Strategy (Not a Gamble) Moburst's acquisition strategy wasn't about buying revenue or chasing vanity growth. It was about buying capabilities that solved their biggest operational gaps. Their first acquisition was a video production studio they had already worked with for over a year. The partnership was strong, the culture aligned, and the collaboration was smooth. So they brought them in-house in 2019 and the agency's offerings instantly expanded. Then they looked at their next biggest outsourced expense: web and app development. So in 2022, they acquired a dev shop after a successful collaboration period. In total, Moburst has made five acquisitions, each one following a simple rule: test first, integrate later. As Gilad says, "We don't buy to solve problems. We buy what already works and multiply it." When asked about whether or not these brands keep their names after acquisition, Gilad says it all depends on their brand authority. If they do great work and have a solid team but their brand isn't as strong, then it's best to just bring it under the Moburst umbrella. In case they do have a strong brand, then they'll just make sure their website reflects they are part of a larger group. How to Structure an Agency Acquisition Deal the Smart Way For agency owners eyeing their own M&A moves, Gilad shared his preferred deal structure. Each acquisition has four key components: Cash upfront - Rewards founders for their hard work. Equity - Gives them a stake in the larger vision. Dividends - Paid yearly so they benefit from the agency's profits. Performance bonuses - Tied to the profitability of their specific business unit. This structure keeps founders motivated and aligned for years to come, without the traditional burnout that comes from rigid earnouts. Everyone wins when growth is sustainable and collaborative. Why Firing Bad Clients Helps Scale Smarter One of the biggest lessons Gilad takes away from journey is the courage to say no: to clients, deals, or directions that don't fit. Agencies often cling to bad accounts out of fear of losing revenue, but simply put, that's a silent killer. If you're not profitable on a client, you're not just breaking even; you're paying for the privilege of overworking your team. Moburst's growth didn't come from doing more — it came from doing what mattered most. By focusing, pruning, and strategically acquiring, Gilad turned a niche mobile startup into a global digital powerhouse. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

It's spooky season, and Midjourney's acting possessed — new UI, style creator, and a personalization trick you weren't supposed to find.Drew and Rory break down why Midjourney's entire system is quietly evolving—from Style Creator and V6 personalization inside V7 to what V8 might unlock. They also unpack Figma's surprise grab of Weavy, Adobe Max's wild AI experiments, and Google's Pomelli quietly rewriting ad generation. This episode connects the dots: how personalization, node-based canvases, and real creative workflows are converging into one massive shift.Topics: Midjourney V8, Style Creator, personalization, V6 profiles, V7 update, Weavy Figma acquisition, Adobe Max AI, node workflows, Pomelli AI ads, Magnific Precision V2, creative OS, AI image generation, design evolution, Google Pomelli---⏱️ Midjourney Fast Hour00:00 – Halloween cold open, 80s kid-movie nostalgia (Stranger Things, Sandlot, Little Giants)04:18 – AI → physical: tees, stickers, and print-on-demand in minutes06:05 – Midjourney Office Hours: UI first, then V8; timing shifts to Jan-Feb range07:45 – New UI before V8; hopes and fears about “chatty” editors09:28 – Style Creator incoming; sharing styles like SRF codes; what creation might look like12:17 – Editing wishlist: Nano-style natural-language edits, object/text consistency14:01 – Character & product consistency: why keyframes still morph and how to fix it15:32 – Typography rant: fonts, spacing, and why AI text still isn't there yet20:21 – Live unlock: using V6 profile codes inside V7 (and what counts as an “image”)28:07 – Upscale behavior confirmed; where Magnific/Topaz still help33:31 – Magnific Precision V2: Sublime vs Photo; smart grain and practical settings37:13 – Weavy → Figma: why a 13-person team got acquired in 4 months40:00 – Aggregator era: Runway, Freepik, Adobe, node canvases, and UX moats44:23 – Adobe Max recap: node workflows, Surface/Trace/Light tools, image→3D, camera moves51:10 – Live lighting tweak (Light Touch) and perspective shifts; finishing vs. generation1:01:33 – AI → physical again: Womp and useful 3D prints (beyond desk toys)1:04:18 – Google Pomelli: drop a URL, get brand-on-voice ad concepts fast1:10:04 – T-shirt workflow: face/style refs → Printify in ~1 hour1:16:28 – Wrap: “weeks are short” in AI; Midjourney says V8 is their most exciting yet

Product leader, author, and civic tech veteran Christian Crumlish joins Peter and Jesse to discuss his transition from UX to product management and his experimental AI product manager, Piper Morgan. The conversation explores how product and design roles can be natural allies rather than adversaries, where AI truly adds value versus hype, and how practitioners can thoughtfully adopt new tools while staying grounded in fundamental UX principles and maintaining agency over their practice.

Vitaliy Gnezdilov is the co-founder of Raise Ready Systems, a capital-raising platform helping real estate operators attract six- and seven-figure checks through paid social campaigns. With a background in user experience design, Vitaliy blends creative branding with performance marketing to help sponsors scale beyond friends and family capital. He has raised over $40M alongside strategic partners and formerly worked at CrowdStreet to streamline investor acquisition and conversion at an enterprise level.     Make sure to download our free guide, 7 Questions Every Passive Investor Should Ask, here.     Key Takeaways Social media can drive serious capital—but only if you build trust, credibility, and speed into your funnel. "Speed to lead" is the difference between a committed investor and a missed opportunity. Avoid pitching too early—use the first call to understand investor goals and qualify the fit. Human touchpoints (real calls, manual follow-up) outperform automation when raising large checks. Sophisticated investors do respond to ads—if you tailor your messaging and sales process to their needs.     Topics From UX Design to Real Estate Capital Vitaliy began his career in software and UX before partnering with a high school friend in advertising. Together, they leveraged design and paid traffic to raise capital in exchange for GP equity. Worked with sponsors across multifamily, mobile home parks, and ATMs—raising $40M+. Building Raise Ready Systems Created a framework to generate investor conversations using paid ads and optimized funnels. Emphasizes "speed to lead" and relationship-building, not just lead generation. Most clients aim to raise $1M/month per investor relations rep using his system. What Actually Works in Paid Campaigns 15–20 ad hooks are tested at launch; funnel must earn attention seconds at a time. Webinar funnels often fail due to lack of contextual awareness—must match platform behavior. Content and UX must be laser-targeted; the platform algorithm does the rest. Human Touch vs. Over-Automation Raise Ready added an appointment-setting team that calls leads within 5 minutes. Human contact builds credibility before handing leads to IR teams. Created diligence packets and follow-up sequences to support investor conversion. Common Mistakes Operators Make Lack of sales process is the biggest bottleneck—not lead volume. Founders often pitch too early; better to listen, qualify, and align investment opportunity. Raising from strangers is a different game than friends and family—adjust your approach.    

This months panel dives into Remix v3 without React, exploring its DIY VDOM framework and manual reactivity approach. We discuss the latest React Foundation governance changes and what React 19.2 brings, from the Activity component to useEffectEvent and server streaming support. The conversation also covers how the proposed H-1B $100,000 fee could affect tech hiring, thoughts on Firefox, the Perplexity and Washington Post paywall, and a spicy Tailwind vs CSS debate. Links Paige Niedringhaus Website: https://www.paigeniedringhaus.com X: https://x.com/pniedri GitHub: https://github.com/paigen11 TJ Van Toll Website: https://www.tjvantoll.com X: https://x.com/tjvantoll GitHub: https://github.com/tjvantoll LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjvantoll Jack Herrington Website: https://jackherrington.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6vRUjYqDuoUsYsku86Lrsw X: twitter.com/jherr Github: github.com/jherr Noel Minchow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noel-minchow Resources Remix v3 Dumps React for Pure Web Standards: The JS Rebellion That's Freeing Devs from Framework Hell!: https://bybowu.com/article/remix-v3-dumps-react-for-pure-web-standards-the-js-rebellion-thats-freeing-devs-from-framework-hell Remix Jam 2025 Recap: https://remix.run/blog/remix-jam-2025-recap Wake up, Remix!: https://remix.run/blog/wake-up-remix Introducing the React Foundation: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/07/introducing-the-react-foundation useEffectEvent: https://react.dev/blog/2025/10/01/react-19-2#use-effect-event Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa shock: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3yy58lj79o We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey (https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu)! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com (mailto:elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com), or tweet at us at PodRocketPod (https://twitter.com/PodRocketpod). Check out our newsletter (https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/)! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form (https://podrocket.logrocket.com/get-podrocket-stickers), and we'll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr) Chapters 0:00 Intro 1:10 Remix v3 Breaks from React 4:40 Manual Reactivity Debate 7:45 Docs, Demos, and Developer Confusion 9:00 Framework Future and Web Standards 13:00 Shopify and Remix 14:00 React 19.2 + Foundation Shift 17:00 New React Features Discussion 20:00 React's Backward Compatibility Wins 21:00 Why Meta Let Go of React 27:00 The $100K Visa Shock 32:00 Global Impact and Legal Fallout 36:00 What Companies Should Do Next 38:00 Hot Takes Begin 39:00 The Witcher 4 Trailer Debate 40:00 Firefox vs Chrome 43:00 Perplexity & Washington Post Drama 45:00 Dev Tools, Paywalls, and Browsers 46:00 Paige vs Tailwind 48:00 AI Writing Bad CSS 49:00 Outro Special Guest: Jack Herrington.

In this special Halloween episode, we follow Evelyn—a weary UX researcher trapped in a testing loop that refuses to end. Each new participant looks strangely familiar. Each test begins the same way. And no matter what she changes, they all say the same thing: “I can't find the button.” The real horror? It's not the prototype that's broken… It's her process.Today, we're trading our usual interviews for a Halloween story straight out of every designer's worst nightmare: The Infinite Usability Test.Meet Evelyn—a mid-level UX researcher running a morning of user tests that won't quit. Every time she adjusts the design, another “Alex” walks in and repeats the same fateful words: “I can't find the button.”As the day unravels, Evelyn realizes she's stuck in more than a bad sprint—she's caught in a validation loop. Each fix only pulls her deeper into the same mistakes, and each round of testing brings her face-to-face with the one insight she's been avoiding all along.Because sometimes, the scariest thing in UX isn't user feedback…It's hearing something you didn't expect.Join us for a hauntingly familiar tale about deadlines, doubt, and the difference between proving you're right and learning that you're not.Will Evelyn escape the room—or will she keep testing until the end of time?Tune in to find out… if you dare.---Featuring Actress and UX Designer extraordinaire, Stephanie TerreroIf you enjoyed this spooky UX Design scary story, check out our previous episodes:• The Stakeholder from Hell• The Tale of the Cursed Prototype• A Cautionary Tale of Deceptive UX Patterns —Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Sponsored by Auth0 for Startups → 1-year free https://auth0.com/startups/vip Auth0 is an adaptable authentication and authorization platform that helps you secure your apps and AI agents. It delivers convenience, privacy, and security so you can focus on building a great UX. VC PROFILE:Nate DaPore, Founder of Roo Capitalhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/natedapore/

Sandy Marsico, Founder and CEO of Sandstorm Design, joins Laurette Rondenet on Owning Your Legacy to explore how purpose, creativity, and human-centered innovation can transform business culture and leadership. From her early days as a painter to leading one of Chicago's top creative technology agencies, Sandy shares how blending art, psychology, and entrepreneurship led her to build a purpose-driven enterprise rooted in empathy, joy, and authenticity. Sandy reflects on her journey of self-belief, from overcoming doubt as a 24-year-old founder to embracing the title of CEO, and how she built a company where “doing good work for good people” is more than a motto; it is a mission. Through resilience, curiosity, and a warrior spirit, she reveals how Sandstorm became a national leader in user experience, serving purpose-driven clients across healthcare, higher education, and global nonprofits. In this episode, you'll discover:✅ How Sandy's art background shaped her approach to leadership and design ✅ The story behind the “4% Moment” and redefining success as a woman founder ✅ Why empathy and purpose are the most powerful tools for growth ✅ How company values can transform culture and attract aligned talent ✅ What it means to move from founder-led to team-led leadership ✅ How curiosity fuels innovation in AI, UX, and creative technology ✅ The role of mentorship and lifelong learning in building a lasting legacy ✅ Why joy is a business strategy and a competitive advantageWhether you are an entrepreneur, creative leader, or purpose-driven professional, this conversation will inspire you to see leadership as an art form where belief, authenticity, and vision shape not just a company, but a legacy.If you enjoyed the episode please share it with others, and rate, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about me and how I am Owning My Legacy, you can find me on Instagram @LauretteRondenet and online at lauretterondenet.com.

In this special Halloween episode, we follow Evelyn—a weary UX researcher trapped in a testing loop that refuses to end. Each new participant looks strangely familiar. Each test begins the same way. And no matter what she changes, they all say the same thing: “I can't find the button.” The post In the Dark: The Infinite Usability Test appeared first on Retro Time.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.—Mark Cox is a lead researcher and the Design Research and Service Design Agency Spotless in London. He's been in research for about 7 years, and because he's operated in an agency, he's been lucky enough to work on all kinds of projects in different industries. The hat he currently wears is as a Games User Researcher. In our conversation, we discuss:* The early origins of games UXR and how it still leans on its Atari-era roots.* Why you can't apply traditional UX timelines and methods to game development.* What “positive friction” means and when player frustration is part of the design.* How Mark tests narrative and art concepts with non-interactive prototypes.* Where aspiring games UXRs should actually start if they want to break in.Some takeaways:* Unlike traditional UX, games research isn't focused on removing friction, it's about shaping it. Some frustration is intentional, and part of the fun. Mark works with teams to understand when challenge adds value and when it tips into player drop-off. This means the researcher's job is to trace the emotional arc of gameplay, not just catch bugs or confusion.* Narrative and concept testing often happens with no prototype in sight. Mark tests scripts, art, and design direction using static slides, paper wireframes, or storyboards. Focus groups are a big part of this phase, helping teams hear how players talk about characters and world-building. If the story isn't landing early on, it rarely gets better by launch.* Mark outlined multiple types of playtesting: usability (can players navigate the UI?), appeal (do they value it?), and retention or engagement (will they come back?). These studies often include layered methods: observation, think-alouds, surveys triggered after specific in-game moments, and even eye-tracking. A good playtest doesn't just show how players behave, it helps explain why they behave that way.* The “fun” question is real, but rarely useful. Teams often ask “Is this fun?” but the better question is “What kind of fun are we aiming for?” Is the goal mastery? Escape? Social chaos? Mark pushes for clarity on the player emotion the team is chasing, so the research can help track whether that's happening and where it's falling short.* Breaking into games UXR means doing the work before you get the job. Mark suggests joining Discords like the GamesUR SIG, getting involved in beta testing communities, and finding ways to observe or participate in amateur game design groups. Hiring managers want to see real curiosity and a strong grasp of the medium. That doesn't mean you need a formal background in games, it means you've tried things, reflected on them, and learned. Researching games starts by showing you understand what makes them work.Where to find Mark:* LinkedInStop piecing it together. Start leading the work.The Everything UXR Bundle is for researchers who are tired of duct-taping free templates and second-guessing what good looks like.You get my complete set of toolkits, templates, and strategy guides. used by teams across Google, Spotify, , to run credible research, influence decisions, and actually grow in your role.It's built to save you time, raise your game, and make you the person people turn to—not around.→ Save 140+ hours a year with ready-to-use templates and frameworks→ Boost productivity by 40% with tools that cut admin and sharpen your focus→ Increase research adoption by 50% through clearer, faster, more strategic deliveryInterested in sponsoring the podcast?Interested in sponsoring or advertising on this podcast? I'm always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with my audience. Book a call or email me at nikki@userresearchacademy.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities!The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of the host, the podcast, or any affiliated organizations or sponsors. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.userresearchstrategist.com/subscribe

Thank you to the folks at Sustain (https://sustainoss.org/) for providing the hosting account for CHAOSSCast! CHAOSScast – Episode 122 In this episode of CHAOSScast, host Georg and co-host Alice introduce a special feature showcasing the “CHAOTICS of the Month” who are members recognized for their exceptional contributions to the CHAOSS open source community. Today, they chat with David Lippert, Victoria Ottah, and Cali Dolfi.  David Lippert, Director of the Open Source Program Office at George Washington University, discusses his journey into academia and open source with a focus on public interest technology. Victoria Otta, a UX designer and accessibility advocate, shares her experiences and contributions to the CHAOSS community, particularly in accessibility auditing and inclusion of people with disabilities in open source. Cali Dolfi, a senior data scientist at Red Hat, talks about her work in community data analysis and the Data Science Working Group. Hit download now to hear more! [00:01:42] Georg highlights the purpose of the today's episode that includes three guests from the “CHAOTICS of the Month” series. [00:01:56] The first CHAOTIC guest is David Lippert. He shares his background being a former software and data engineer, now in academia, and works under a Sloan Foundation grant supporting university OSPOs. [00:05:17] Georg addresses the lack of open source awareness among faculty and encourages integration of open source into academic programs. [00:06:37] David shares his connection to CHAOSS, joining through the CURRIOSS network of academic OSPOs and talks about working with the UN SDG Working Group to measure global impact through open source. He mentions two GWU students won a UN hackathon related to open source data management. [00:10:56] David talks about how metrics vary based on context ( IT department vs. researcher focus). [00:12:44] The next CHAOTIC guest is Victoria Ottah. She shares her background and her journey into CHAOSS, which is the first open source community she joined. CHAOSS provided clarity and mentorship since she was initially struggling as a designer and mentions having early support from Ruth and other maintainers. [00:16:18] Victoria discusses the need to make GitHub and contribution platforms more welcoming to designers and suggests simplified onboarding and linking repositories to Figma or design workspaces. [00:17:45] Victoria's career goals and focus for 2026 is being a certified accessibility advocate to CHAOSS web projects and advocates for including people with disabilities early in the open source design and development process. [00:20:39] Find out where you can connect with Victoria online. [00:21:33] The last CHAOTIC guest is Cali Dolfi. She shares her background, starting as a data science intern in 2020, and focused on community analytics. She works with CHAOSS tools Augur and 8Knot for data visualization and analysis. [00:25:26] Cali is really excited about working in the Data Science Working Group, collaborating with researchers to explore methods for analyzing open source communities, and developing Practitioner Guides to help organizations interpret metrics effectively. [00:28:03] Cali encourages new contributors to start by joining working groups aligned with their interests and notes that groups are small and welcoming, offering mentorship and practical work. Value Adds (Picks) of the week: [00:30:40] Georg's pick is drying garden herbs in a dehydrator to make tea. [00:31:06] Alice's pick is tending a backyard pond and raising goldfish. [00:33:03] David's pick is hosting a movie night featuring, The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, to inspire ethics in open source. [00:34:59] Victoria's pick is being proud of reaching her fitness goals. [00:35:23] Cali's pick is celebrating recovery from ACL surgery and returning to running and playing volleyball after two years. Panelists: Georg Link Alice Sowerby Guests: David Lippert Victoria Ottah Cali Dolfi Links: CHAOSS (https://chaoss.community/) CHAOSS Project X (https://twitter.com/chaossproj?lang=en) CHAOSScast Podcast (https://podcast.chaoss.community/) CHAOSS YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@CHAOSStube/videos) CHAOSS Slack (https://chaoss-workspace.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-r65szij9-QajX59hkZUct82b0uACA6g#/shared-invite/email) podcast@chaoss.community (mailto:podcast@chaoss.community) Georg Link Website (https://georg.link/) Alice Sowerby LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-sowerby-ba692a13/?originalSubdomain=uk) David Lippert Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/david-lippert.bsky.social) David Lippert GitHub (https://github.com/david-lippert) Victoria Ottah Website (https://toriannenna-blog.medium.com/) Victoria Ottah LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-ottah-7294481ba/) CHAOSScast Podcast episode featuring Victoria Ottah (https://podcast.chaoss.community/guests/victoria-ottah) Cali Dolfi LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/calidolfi/) CHAOSScast Podcast episodes featuring Cali Dolfi (https://podcast.chaoss.community/guests/cali-dolfi) CHAOTIC of the Month - David Lippert (CHAOSS Monthly-GitHub) (https://github.com/chaoss/community/discussions/732#discussioncomment-14578553) CHAOTIC of the Month – Victoria Ottah (CHAOSS Monthly-GitHub) (https://github.com/chaoss/community/discussions/734) CHAOTIC of the Month - Cali Dolfi (CHAOSS Monthly-GitHub) (https://github.com/chaoss/community/discussions/728) CURIOSS (https://curioss.org/) CHAOSS United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) Working Group (https://github.com/chaoss/wg-un-sdg) CHAOSS Data Science Working Group (https://github.com/chaoss/wg-data-science) The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3268458/) Special Guests: Cali Dolfi and Victoria Ottah.

Max and Q cover the latest happenings in the world of Bitcoin, privacy and much more. NEWSSoft fork proposalAlby attackSolo Miner wins a blockBitKey collaborative custoday improvement BIPLugano StreamWoS Spark privacy concernsUPDATES/RELEASESTrezor releaseLedger releaseArkade betaCake v5.5.0 + v5.5.1Bull by Bull BitcoinBitcoin for SignalSatGo integrates Spark Peach BTCPay PluginStack Duo v1.3.0RoninDojo v2.4.0EducationPassport guideAnd anotherCupcake deep diveSeth Ark articleArk explainer by NeilVALUE FOR VALUEThanks for listening you Ungovernable Misfits, we appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy the shows.You can support this episode using your time, talent or treasure.TIME:- create fountain clips for the show- create a meetup- help boost the signal on social mediaTALENT:- create ungovernable misfit inspired art, animation or music- design or implement some software that can make the podcast better- use whatever talents you have to make a contribution to the show!TREASURE:- BOOST IT OR STREAM SATS on the Podcasting 2.0 apps @ https://podcastapps.com- DONATE via Monero @ https://xmrchat.com/ugmf- BUY SOME STICKERS @ https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com/shop/FOUNDATIONhttps://foundation.xyz/ungovernableFoundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty.As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil”.Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show!Use code: Ungovernable for $10 off of your purchaseCAKE WALLEThttps://cakewallet.comCake Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial wallet available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.Features:- Built-in Exchange: Swap easily between Bitcoin and Monero.- User-Friendly: Simple interface for all users.Monero Users:- Batch Transactions: Send multiple payments at once.- Faster Syncing: Optimized syncing via specified restore heights- Proxy Support: Enhance privacy with proxy node options.Bitcoin Users:- Coin Control: Manage your transactions effectively.- Silent Payments: Static bitcoin addresses- Batch Transactions: Streamline your payment process.Thank you Cake Wallet for sponsoring the show!MYNYMBOXhttps://mynymbox.netYour go-to for anonymous server hosting solutions, featuring: virtual private & dedicated servers, domain registration and DNS parking. We don't require any of your personal information, and you can purchase using Bitcoin, Lightning, Monero and many other cryptos.Explore benefits such as No KYC, complete privacy & security, and human support.(00:00:41) Welcome, show format, and brief housekeeping(00:05:19) UK weather banter and setting the scene(00:05:22) Events and product updates: Bitfest, Envoy 2.10, Passport audit(00:08:06) BIT-444 proposal to restrict arbitrary data on Bitcoin(00:12:03) Critiques: miniscript breakage, Peter Todd demo, and soft vs hard fork risk(00:18:26) Mining politics, hash power, and potential chain splits(00:18:33) Security incident: Alby password reset spam and email exposure(00:20:45) Feel-good story: solo miner finds a block via Public Pool on Umbrel(00:23:05) New BIP: Chaincode Delegation for private collaborative multisig(00:28:08) Conference notes and a privacy PSA on Spark implementations(00:32:28) Boosts and community feedback: swaps, Moon wallet UX, and Boltz reliance(00:37:09) Q&A: consolidating UTXOs, PayJoin, Whirlpool, and Robosats flows(00:42:11) Q&A: Running a self-hosted AlbyHub LDK node—backup and privacy(00:46:12) Hardware wallet releases: Trezor Safe 7 and Ledger Nano Gen 5(00:52:35) Multisig device choices and inheritance practicality(00:52:38) ARC in the wild: Arcade.money public beta hands-on(00:53:55) Cake Wallet 5.5 updates and hardware support(00:54:22) Bull Bitcoin releases Bull Wallet: features and roadmap(00:58:12) eCash in Signal fork: UX gains vs custodial trade-offs(01:02:30) Spark adoption notes: SatGo and Wallet of Satoshi privacy caveats(01:03:31) Peach plugin for BTCPay and Stack Duo's Frost multisig progress(01:05:06) RoninDojo 2.4 and Fulcrum 2.0 stability improvements(01:06:03) Education picks and closing logistics(01:07:29) Stats corner addendum by John: RoboSats, Whirlpool, Bisq, and more

In this Halloween special of Future of UX, we explore the disturbing side of digital design where clever UX crosses into manipulation, AI tools launch without proper oversight, and personalization quietly erodes user autonomy.From real-life cases involving Snapchat's rogue chatbot to Amazon's subscription “traps” and a tragic AI-assisted suicide, this episode dives into the UX decisions and AI deployments that turned dark and what designers need to learn from them.These themes were at the core of powerful conversations in the most recent AI for Designers cohort, which just wrapped last week. If you're interested in digging deeper into ethical design, human-centered AI, and how to design with integrity — the next cohort starts in January 2026.Whether you're a UX designer, strategist, or just curious about the future of ethical tech: this is the episode you shouldn't skip.In this episode, we cover:Why dark patterns still dominate — and why they may soon become illegalWhat happens when AI tools roll out too fast (with no safety net)The emotional toll of designing features you don't believe inHow personalization is creating echo chambers and limiting human curiosityWhy “seamless” UX might be the most dangerous design trend of allActionable advice for spotting (and stopping) unethical product decisions

Sci-fi titan Neal Stephenson, whose Snow Crash coined the term "metaverse" and Cryptonomicon sketched the contours of crypto, joins Friederike to talk about his foray into championing empowering creators with direct micropayments and IP sovereignty, without the data-exploiting enclosures of Web2, with Lamina1 as its co-founder. Neal unpacks his detached craft plausible worlds that inadvertently blueprint reality while cautioning against Web3's traps: Criminal stigma, abysmal UX alienating normies, and risks of becoming surveillance superhighways or bank shiny toys. Spotlighting Lamina 1's launch with "Artifact" (a Weta-forged sci-fi game), he envisions success as creative output flourishing where blockchain fades to the background. Topics discussed in this episode:(00:00) Introduction to Decentralization and Blockchain(01:20) The Role of Storytelling in Technology Prediction(03:48) The Balance of Optimism and Pessimism in Fiction(06:27) Web3: Promises and Pitfalls(08:36) The Evolution of the Web: From Decentralization to Centralization(13:37) Metrics for a Decentralized Web(15:55) Lamina One: A New Vision for the Metaverse(23:44) Creating a Financial Layer for the Creator Economy(25:08) Legal Implications of Smart Contracts(27:38) The Strength of Smart Contracts(31:04) Decentralization vs. Centralization in the Creator Economy(36:21) The Decline of Centralized Platforms(41:23) Financialization and the Creative Economy(45:47) The Future of Web3 and User Experience(51:17) Potential Failure Modes of Web3Links mentioned in this episode: Neal Stephenson, Co-founder Lamina1: https://x.com/nealstephenson Lamina 1: https://lamina1.com/home Sponsors: Gnosis: Gnosis has been building core decentralized infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem since 2015. With the launch of Gnosis Pay last year, we introduced the world's first Decentralized Payment Network. Start leveraging its power today at gnosis.io This episode is hosted by Friederike Ernst.

Marty speaks about recent articles and conversations comparing persons with other device avatars and why Apple emphasizes personasApple Vision Pro's Best Feature Is an Incredibly Realistic Avatar of Youhttps://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/apple-talks-to-me-about-vision-pro-personas-where-is-our-virtual-presence-headed/Why It Matters• Human connection in spatial computing: Apple positions Personas as the emotional bridge that makes virtual meetings feel human.• Evolving authenticity: The company views realistic avatars as central to genuine eye contact and emotional cues in remote interactions.• Digital identity frontier: We're approaching an era where your 3D likeness becomes your “virtual self” — raising new design, privacy, and ethical questions.• Accessibility & inclusion: For many, including seniors, improved telepresence may extend social, work, and family connections.For Users• Enhanced realism in FaceTime on Vision Pro (visionOS 26.1 and beyond).• New environmental lighting controls improving how your Persona appears in varying spaces.• More expressive facial tracking — subtle smiles, eyebrow movements, and hand gestures now translate smoothly.For Developers• Toolkit expansion: frameworks for integrating Personas into shared-space apps (education, tele-health, remote work).• Opportunities to craft presence-aware UX — blending voice, gesture, and emotion cues.For Educators and Professionals• Potential for authentic tele-instruction or therapy simulations using near-real avatars.• Raises ethical questions around representation, consent, and identity accuracy.Email: ThePodTalkNetwork@gmail.comWebsite: ThePodTalk.netYouTube: YouTube.com/@VisionProFiles

On today's Promoted Episode of Experiencing Data, I'm talking with Lucas Thelosen, CEO of Gravity and creator of Orion, an AI analyst transforming how data teams work. Lucas was head of PS for Looker, and eventually became Head of Product for Google's Data and AI Cloud prior to starting his own data product company. We dig into how his team built Orion, the challenge of keeping AI accurate and trustworthy when doing analytical work, and how they're thinking about the balance of human control with automation when their product acts as a force multiplier for human analysts.   In addition to talking about the product, we also talk about how Gravity arrived at specific enough use cases for this technology that a market would be willing to pay for, and how they're thinking about pricing in today's more “outcomes-based” environment.  Incidentally, one thing I didn't know when I first agreed to consider having Gravity and Lucas on my show was that Lucas has been a long-time proponent of data product management and operating with a product mindset. In this episode, he shares the “ah-hah” moment where things clicked for him around building data products in this manner. Lucas shares how pivotal this moment was for him, and how it helped accelerate his career from Looker to Google and now Gravity. If you're leading a data team, you're a forward-thinking CDO, or you're interested in commercializing your own analytics/AI product, my chat with Lucas should inspire you!     Highlights/ Skip to: Lucas's breakthrough came when he embraced a data product management mindset (02:43) How Lucas thinks about Gravity as being the instrumentalists in an orchestra, conducted by the user (4:31) Finding product-market fit by solving for a common analytics pain point (8:11) Analytics product and dashboard adoption challenges: why dashboards die and thinking of analytics as changing the business gradually (22:25) What outcome-based pricing means for AI and analytics (32:08) The challenge of defining guardrails and ethics for AI-based analytics products [just in case somebody wants to “fudge the numbers”] (46:03) Lucas' closing thoughts about what AI is unlocking for analysts and how to position your career for the future  (48:35) Special Bonus for DPLC Community Members Are you a member of the Data Product Leadership Community? After our chat, I invited Lucas to come give a talk about his journey of moving from “data” to “product” and adopting a producty mindset for analytics and AI work. He was more than happy to oblige. Watch for this in late 2025/early 2026 on our monthly webinar and group discussion calendar.   Note: today's episode is one of my rare Promoted Episodes. Please help support the show by visiting Gravity's links below: Quotes from Today's Episode “The whole point of data and analytics is to help the business evolve. When your reports make people ask new questions, that's a win. If the conversations today sound different than they did three months ago, it means you've done your job, you've helped move the business forward.” — Lucas  “Accuracy is everything. The moment you lose trust, the business, the use case, it's all over. Earning that trust back takes a long time, so we made accuracy our number one design pillar from day one.” — Lucas  “Language models have changed the game in terms of scale. Suddenly, we're facing all these new kinds of problems, not just in AI, but in the old-school software sense too. Things like privacy, scalability, and figuring out who's responsible.” — Brian “Most people building analytics products have never been analysts, and that's a huge disadvantage. If data doesn't drive action, you've missed the mark. That's why so many dashboards die quickly.” — Lucas “Re: collecting feedback so you know if your UX is good: I generally agree that qualitative feedback is the best place to start, not analytics [on your analytics!] Especially in UX, analytics measure usage aspects of the product, not the subject human experience. Experience is a collection of feelings and perceptions about how something went.” — Brian Links Gravity: https://www.bygravity.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thelosen/ Email Lucas and team: hello@bygravity.com

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Most architects feel like outsiders in the business conversations that shape their projects. They're left out of key decisions, treated as a line item cost, and frustrated when their design expertise isn't valued the way it should be. What happens when an architect trades AutoCAD for agile sprints and business models? In this episode, we sit down with Daplaah-Teng Aryene—an architectural designer turned UX strategist—whose career took a sharp turn during the pandemic. What started as a leap into startup life became a masterclass in value creation, entrepreneurship, and how architects can reclaim agency in a system that often undervalues their genius. Daplaah unpacks how real estate, tech, and business strategy reshaped his understanding of architecture's role—and where most firms leave opportunity on the table. From innovation frameworks to unexpected lessons in developer boardrooms, this episode challenges everything you thought you knew about the “architect's lane." To learn more about Daplaah-Teng Aryene, visit his LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daplaah-teng-aryene