Awkward Silences
User Interviews
All episodes
Best episodes
Top 10 Awkward Silences Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Awkward Silences episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Awkward Silences for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Awkward Silences episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
#156 - Change Management with Graham Gardner of U.S. Bank
Awkward Silences
12/18/24 • 35 min
Change is an important and inevitable part of developing as a user experience professional. But what does change look like when it happens at the organizational level? That is the focus of this episode, featuring Graham Gardner, VP of UX Design Research Operations at U.S. Bank. He joins Erin and Carol to talk about change management, which is the practice and process of evolving and adapting a company's approach to something.
Graham takes us inside his strategy for this, including how team structures can affect change (and their impact on research tooling). He also unpacks just how important Research Operations (ReOps) is to planning, executing, and managing change at an organizational level. Finally, Graham looks ahead to the impacts of AI and how he believes it might help teams like CX, analytics, and marketing work together better.
If you've ever wondered about how companies grow and develop, and how these developments can impact user insights, check it out.
Highlights
- 08:16 Enhancing Collaboration through Transparent Tool Mapping
- 14:37 Harmonizing AI and Human Roles for Success
- 20:44 From Projects to Service Design: A Strategic Shift
- 23:46 Research Insights: Steering Through Complexity for Success
- 28:40 Integrating Research into Client Relationship Strategies
- 31:37 Insights from Backgrounds: Decoding Environmental Cues
About Graham
Graham Gardner, VP of UX Design Research Operations at U.S. Bank, is a researcher, designer, strategist, and maker. He brings a human-centered design lens to research ops (thanks to a long stint at IDEO and a background in inclusive education research). He works to collaboratively and iteratively understand and design research and design ecosystems that grow and evolve with the changing contexts of our beautifully messy world and the people that live in it. Conversations with Graham usually involve dad jokes, dog cameos, and snack breaks.
More Resources
04/09/25 • 49 min
Much of the conversation around AI in UX involves how it will shape and change researchers' work. Today's guest, Jess Holbrook, who leads UX research for Microsoft AI, has been thinking a lot about how this technology can be improved with design and UX best practices. Jess has spent over a decade working on the UX of AI at companies like Meta and Google. He's also helped develop foundational principles for the ethical use of LLMs.
Jess joins Erin and Ben to reframe the AI conversation, focusing on how UXRs can and should adapt, what working on these systems has taught him about the UX discipline, and his philosophy for building teams that are ready to take on the innovative challenges of tomorrow.
Jess's recommendations: Matt Webb, Maggie Appleton, and the Pessimists Archive Newsletter.
Highlights
- 07:15 Human-Centered AI Evolution
- 17:53 Evolving AI Forecast Strategies
- 24:04 Diverse AI Team Building
- 33:27 Navigating Responsible AI Challenges
- 37:01 Qualitative Analysis with AI Tools
- 40:15 Optimism and Concerns About AI
About Jess
Senior Director of Research specializing in human-centered AI. Early stage investor in AI, AI hardware ecosystems, climate, and anything that seems like the world would be better with it in it. Currently leading UX research for Microsoft AI. Previously led the Generative AI team and supported all UX functions for the Responsible AI and data transparency teams at Meta. I also served on the Board of Forging Youth Resilience, a nonprofit that empowers young people to build physical and mental strength for life by providing access to a national network of community-based fitness programs and mentorship.
Resources
06/11/24 • 50 min
It's our 150th episode! To celebrate, we brought together three thought leaders for a discussion about UX research's future. Erin and Carol are joined by Judd Antin, Dave Hora, and Christiana Lackner, who bring over 40 years of combined experience in UX research, both as practitioners and leaders.
This wide-ranging conversation combines our guests' reflections on the trends that brought UX to its current moment with an analysis of what the future holds—and how we can prepare ourselves (and our teams) for it. From strategies on creating more business value for our work to tips for creating stronger cross-functional partnerships, this conversation will equip you with practical steps to future-proof your research practice.
Episode Highlights
- 09:28 - The evolution of the UX research industry
- 15:48 - Adapting UX methods for team dynamics
- 21:56 - Balancing our focus between the business and the user
- 30:45 - The role of UX research in fostering shared understanding
- 41:18 - Planning strategically and anticipating team needs
- 47:27 - The promise of AI for user experience professionals
About Our Guests
Judd Antin is an executive coach, consultant, advisor, writer, and teacher, leveraging his 15 years of experience as a research, design, and product executive at top companies (Meta, Airbnb) and his PhD in Social Psychology & Information Systems from UC Berkeley to help individuals and organizations achieve their goals and overcome their challenges.
Dave Hora is the founder of Dave's Research Co. where he helps product teams drive critical initiatives with the right mix of data, insight, and common sense. He began professional research work in 2011, eventually starting the practice as the first research hire at six companies, including PlanGrid and Instacart.
Christiana Lackner is a UX research leader and dot connector. She's building research maturity within organizations so that teams involve the right people, ask the right questions, and act on the answers.
More Resources on the Future of UX Research
- The role AI will play in the future of UXR
- Connecting UX research to business revenue
- The 2023 State of User Research Report
02/21/24 • 41 min
In this episode of Awkward Silences, Carol and Erin dive into the world of conference networking and planning with Bryan Dosono, a staff UX research lead at eBay known for his extensive experience curating and organizing conference programs.
Bryan share insights on how to prepare for conferences such as using apps to schedule meetings and emphasizing networking over solely focusing on content. He also discusses strategic scheduling to align conference participation with career goals and offers advice on making spontaneous, serendipitous connections.
The conversation also covers practical tips for adding value during small talk, how to approach and connect with other researchers, and the importance of being open, vulnerable, and willing to face rejection in the pursuit of meaningful interactions. Bryan provides guidance for both newcomers to the UXR field and seasoned professionals: overcoming imposter syndrome and leveraging transferable skills from related fields.
Episode Highlights
- 03:58 - Navigating the Unpredictable: Strategies for Introverts at Networking Events.
- 08:24 - Strategic Networking: Maximizing Opportunities Before and During Conferences.
- 12:33 - Networking strategies for academic and professional growth.
- 22:36 - Balancing Attendance: Prioritizing Conferences with Active Roles.
- 28:03 - Maximizing Remote Networking: Strategies for Engagement in Virtual Conferences.
- 33:07 - Conference Insights: Making the Most of Your Experience through Pre-Planning.
About Our Guest
Bryan Dosono, PhD, is a user experience research leader in the consumer technology space. He applies human-computer interaction research methods with visual storytelling to modernize the design of global marketplaces and online communities. He currently volunteers as a Conference Chair at UXPA International and serves on the User Interviews Research Council.
Looking for a UX community? Here are 16 to join for networking and development.
#29 - Researching Your Own Users with Chad Aldous of Rentable
Awkward Silences
10/23/19 • 26 min
Researching with your own users means you have to make some special considerations. When was the last time they used your product? Where are they in the funnel? When was the last time they participated in a research session with you?
We chatted with Chad Aldous, Head of Design and Co-founder of Rentable (formerly Abodo), an apartment listing company, about how he and his team handle research with their own users. He chatted with Erin and JH about doing continuous and one-off research projects, how he chooses the right users to talk to, and how he creates great research invites that get results.
01/30/19 • 41 min
Algorithms don’t always handle “edge cases” well, and the people who design them can have too broad a definition of edge case—stillbirths, miscarriages, and other life tragedies are actually relatively common.
So how do the people who are responsible for building things, often many many people for any given human experience, design for the possibility of unexpected outcomes? That is to say, for real life?
This week on the podcast, Erin and JH talked to Laura Klein about building products that consider user's real life situations more thoughtfully. Sometimes, big tech does things that actually end up emotionally harming users. How do we do better?
Highlights
[3:50] We ask the big question. Why do bad things happen?
[6:56] The hippocratic oath for researchers.
[11:15] The consequences of short-term thinking.
[12:41] Everyone makes mistakes, and we can learn from everyone else’s mistakes too.
[18:56] Is the designer morally responsible for the actions of the product?
[24:43] How do you make a difference as an individual?
[33:25] The difficulty of separating yourself from some of the big companies
[36:32] We’re all gonna die, how does tech deal with that? (hint, not well)
[40:21] We wrap up. Laura’s not mad, she’s just disappointed.
About Our Guest
Laura Klein is the Principal at Users Know and the author of UX for Lean Startups and Build Better Products. She hosted her own popular UX podcast with Kate Rutter, What is Wrong with UX?, which goes best with cocktails.
11/30/22 • 40 min
As teams look for effective ways to collaborate between in-person and remote work, hybrid meetings are a flexible solution to meet both needs. But how can teams strike a balance of both in-person and remote meetings in a hybrid setting? How can facilitators reimagine collaboration to make meetings more effective and productive?
In this episode of Awkward Silences, Lead UX Research Manager at Miro, Eduardo Gomez Ruiz, is back to share his team’s insight from Miro’s latest research study on the advantages and challenges of hybrid meetings. He shares exactly how he secured stakeholder buy-ins, UX research methods, and surprising signals. As hybrid working models take hold, this study serves as a great starting point for understanding new paradigms, trends, and attitudes as we continue to navigate new ways of working.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How UX is affected by the evolving hybrid work environment
- Effective ways to gather collaborators and stakeholders
- The various UX research methods Eduardo and his team used for the study, and some surprising results
- The role of inclusion in facilitating hybrid work environments
- Best tips and practices from successful hybrid meeting facilitators
Highlights:
- [00:05:17] The project's hypothesis was to uncover the dynamics of the overlap between devices, environment, and culture
- [00:09:12] How Eduardo gained support from the CEO and the Chief Product Officer
- [00:13:50] The four-phase plan; observation, interviews, surveys, and a co-creation session
- [00:18:57] Revealing surprising insights about IRL vs. remote user research and inclusivity
- [00:21:27] Attending in-office meetings as if they were remote
- [00:25:29] The biggest challenge: maximizing hybrid meetings for both remote and in-person contributors
- [00:35:01] J.H. touches on emerging approaches to asynchronous communication in meetings
- [00:37:33] Helpful tips on inclusion and initiating collaboration during hybrid meetings
Sources mentioned in the episode:
About our guest
Eduardo Gomez Ruiz is the Senior UX Research Manager at Miro, which develops cutting-edge collaboration software trusted by over forty million users. He has also served as a Design Thinking Associate Professor at IE Business School for nearly eight years. Since Eduardo joined Miro in 2020, he has been instrumental in the growth and development of the company’s UX research department. Prior to joining Miro, he held positions at Uber and several consulting agencies as a Global UX Researcher and UX Consultant
06/04/24 • 51 min
In this episode, Erin and Carol sit down with Tyler Wanlass, lead product designer at CommandBar, to explore practical strategies for conducting user research without a dedicated research team. They dig into techniques that designers and product managers can use to gather valuable insights efficiently, especially in resource-constrained environments. Tyler's approach is scrappy, flexible, and creative.
Tyler shares some of the tools that create his research toolkit, including efficient note-taking, creative approaches to participant recruitment, and mixed-methods continuous discovery methods. He explains how session recordings and account impersonation can offer deeper insights when primary research isn't possible. Tyler reinforces the value of proactive research, such as social listening and competitive analysis.
This is a useful conversation for anyone without "researcher" in their title, but who wants to increase their customer engagement, build more thoughtful products, and do so in a way that respects both budgets and timelines.
Episode Highlights
- 03:16 - The scrappy mindset: learning from real-life experiences
- 10:21 - Broadening perspective through cross-industry inspiration
- 16:12 - Proactive user research for connecting and learning
- 24:17 - Streamlining customer feedback with TL;DR summaries
- 36:51 - Tools and tactics for customer insights
- 44:09 - The importance of pricing and packaging
About Our Guest
Tyler design interfaces for software products, builds internet businesses, and occasionally writes books. In his off time he's renovating a 100 year old Victorian house in the Pacific Northwest. In a past life he designed video games.
More Resources on UX Research for Designers and PMs
- The Product Manager's Guide to UX Research
- The UX Designer's Guide to Research
- Uncomplicated Recruitment for Non-Researchers
- "People Who Do Research," a Discovery Study
02/12/25 • 44 min
In 2022, the UX community experienced a series of convulsions: layoffs, reorgs, and reduced budgets. A common thread throughout was accountability: user researchers faced frequent questions about their direct impact on and importance for the business. "Doing" UX research and "being" a design thinker was no longer enough.
Today's guest believes these questions present opportunities for UX researchers. Brett Krajewski, VP Research and Growth at Accelerant Research, joins Erin and Carol to share strategies for researchers to stay sharp, stay relevant, and stay valuable. These include balancing business goals with user needs, being more experimental with methods, reframing how we use time for research, and more.
Highlights
- 06:30 Justifying UX ROI Amid Economic Challenges
- 12:02 Integrating Insights for Improved UX
- 18:50 Balancing User Needs and Business Goals
- 21:07 Scalable Research in Fortune 500 Companies
- 29:47 Innovative Strategies in Research Planning
- 38:30 Storytelling's Role in Research Impact
About Brett
Brett Krajewski is the Vice President of Research & Growth at Accelerant Research, where he leads the research and client solutions teams, delivering innovative insights to empower businesses and many fortune 500 companies. With a career spanning both in-house industry roles and consulting/agency leadership, Brett has built and led high-performing, multi-method research teams for Fortune 50 companies. His past roles include Head of Design Research: Customer at Walmart and Lead of Product Research at Lowe’s, where he drove customer-focused innovation and strategy.
Resources
04/01/24 • 39 min
In this episode, Erin chats with Victoria Sakal, Head of Growth at Wonder, all about desk (or secondary) research—think web searches, checking internal resource libraries (like repositories), or interviewing colleagues. Desk research is a critical step when starting a new project.
Victoria shares her framework for thinking about the differences between primary and secondary research, suggesting that instead of distinct categories, they exist on a continuum. She argues that primary research is sharper, more impactful, and has better ROI when it's supported by secondary research.
In addition to sharing best practices for desk research, Victoria walks through research her team conducted on how organizations approach research, offering strategies to maximize your efforts based on specific company growth stages and product demands. The episode closes by exploring how desk research is changing in light of emergent technologies such as large-language models and the benefits of reading widely.
Episode Highlights
- 06:39 - Integrating desk research into your research strategy
- 12:30 - Desk research techniques and best practices
- 17:41 - Unpacking trends in the kinds of questions asked during desk research
- 23:31 - How desk research is evolving alongside AI technology
- 25:14 - The role of curiosity in desk research and innovation
- 34:20 - How research repositories and agile methods impact desk research
About Our Guest
With a passion for turning complex inputs (data, research, behaviors) on customers, market dynamics, and competitors into smart strategies that drive growth, Victoria has spent the last decade helping companies ask better questions to get better data, source more powerful insights, and stay on top of important dynamics that matter. Previously at Morning Consult and Kantar, Victoria now focuses on all things demand gen, product marketing, market research, and growth strategies to deliver more value for Wonder users.
More Resources on Desk Research
- How to conduct (and write) a research literature review
- UX research is better with market research collaborations
- This database showcases AI-powered desk research tools
Show more best episodes
Show more best episodes
FAQ
How many episodes does Awkward Silences have?
Awkward Silences currently has 166 episodes available.
What topics does Awkward Silences cover?
The podcast is about Ux Design, Product Management, Product, Research, Podcasts, Technology and Business.
What is the most popular episode on Awkward Silences?
The episode title '#61 - The Role of Research in CX Transformation with Kim Salazar of Nielsen Norman Group' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Awkward Silences?
The average episode length on Awkward Silences is 38 minutes.
How often are episodes of Awkward Silences released?
Episodes of Awkward Silences are typically released every 13 days, 22 hours.
When was the first episode of Awkward Silences?
The first episode of Awkward Silences was released on Nov 26, 2018.
Show more FAQ
Show more FAQ