Awkward Silences
by User Interviews
Latest episode
#193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong…
#193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong…
About this podcast
Welcome to Awkward Silences by User Interviews, where we interview the people who interview people. Listen as we geek out on all things UX research, qualitative data, and the craft of understanding people to build better products and businesses. Hosted by Erin May and Carol Guest, VPs of growth/marketing and product at User Interviews. Take this survey and let us know what topics you want to hear next! userinterviews.com/awkwardsurvey
Episodes
The newest 20 of 200 episodes
- #193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question. · 58 min · Episode 208Producer's Note: After eight incredible years of conversations, insights, and yes, a few awkward silences, we're bringing the Awkward Silences podcast to a close. We're…
- #193 - AI won't make you a better UX researcher unless you do the hard work · 28 min · Episode 207Producer's Note: After eight incredible years of conversations, insights, and yes, a few awkward silences, we're bringing the Awkward Silences podcast to a close after episode…
- #192 - Slowing Things Down to Speed Up Research with Jared Forney of Okta · 57 min · Episode 206Erin May talks with Jared Forney, Research Operations Principal at Okta, about how the role of research and research operations is shifting as AI accelerates product development…
- #191 - Throwback: UX Lessons from a Decade Researching AI with Jess Holbrook of Microsoft · 49 min · Episode 204This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. Much of the conversation around AI in UX involves how it will shape and change researchers' work…
- #190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin · 40 min · Episode 205Erin May sits down with Alec Levin, CEO and Co-Founder of Learners, to explore how researchers can navigate the rapid changes reshaping their field. Alec shares his vision for…
- #189 - Throwback: Quantifying Research Impact with Ruby Pryor of Rex · 48 min · Episode 202This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This episode welcomed Ruby Pryor, founder of Rex, a consulting firm specializing in UX research and…
- #188 - Why AI Can't Replace Qualitative Research with Sam Ladner of Workday · 49 min · Episode 203Erin May sits down with Sam Ladner, Senior Principal Researcher of Strategy at Workday, to explore the evolving role of AI in qualitative research. Sam brings a refreshingly…
- #187 - Throwback: Harnessing AI For Better Insights with George Whitfield of MIT and Google · 41 min · Episode 200This week we're revisiting one of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This episode welcomed George Whitfield, an expert in applying AI to the analysis of qualitative data…
- #186 - Positioning Your Portfolio for AI Skills with Aneta Kmiecik of Be Your Own Design Team · 43 min · Episode 201Erin May sits down with Aneta Kmiecik, founder of Be Your Own Design Team, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing designers today: how to position AI skills in portfolios…
- #185 - How to Use AI Without Losing Your Research Soul with Nikki Anderson of Drop in Research · 52 min · Episode 199Ben Wiedmaier sits down with user research consultant Nikki Anderson to explore how researchers can stay relevant when budgets are tight and stakeholders are stressed. Nikki runs…
- #184 - Use Context For More Influence with Kristen DeLap of Econify · 40 min · Episode 198Ben talks with Kristen DeLap, fractional COO at Econify, to explore how UX'ers can build influence without formal authority. Kristen brings a unique perspective, having evolved…
- #183 - The Best Ways to Use AI in UX Research with Laura Klein of NN/g · 48 min · Episode 197Erin and Ben chat with Laura Klein, Principal Experience Specialist at Nielsen Norman Group, about the practical realities of AI in user research. Laura teaches a class on AI for…
- #182 - The Future of Research (In a Moment of Change) · 41 min · Episode 196Ben sits down with Basel Fakhoury, CEO and Co-founder of User Interviews, and Baran Erkel, Chief Strategy Officer at UserTesting, for a conversation about the research industry's…
- #181 - Why We Need Design Now More Than Ever with Karl Randay of 383 · 51 min · Episode 195Ben Wiedmaier sits with Karl Randay, Experience Director at 383, to explore how designers can stay relevant in an increasingly automated world. Karl shares insights from working…
- #180 - What to Fix in '26 with Maria Rosala of NN/g & John Whalen of Brilliant Experience · 56 min · Episode 194Ben is joined by Maria Rosala from Nielsen Norman Group and John Whalen from Brilliant Experience to wrap up 2025 and make some predictions for 2026. Maria and John share…
- #179 - The Future of Research Operations with Kate Towsey LIVE · 55 min · Episode 193Erin May sits down with Kate Towsey, founder of Cha Cha Club and author of Research That Scales, for Research Ops Appreciation Week. Kate shares insights from producing an audio…
- #178 - How to Measure What Matters with Lyndsi Lee of Turnitin · 47 min · Episode 192Ben talks with Lyndsi Lee, UX Manager at Turnitin, about moving beyond traditional metrics like NPS and CSAT to measure user experiences more effectively. The conversation…
- #177 - From Informing to Influencing with Shalin Pei & Natalie Golub of Coinbase · 53 min · Episode 191Ben is joined by Shalin Pei, Head of Design and Research and Natalie Golub, Head of UXR , both from Coinbase's Base product. Base is part of the crypto space, functioning as a…
- #176 - Building a Research Program from the Ground Up ft. Microsoft Azure Data · 37 min · Episode 190Erin is joined by Samira Jain, Serena Hillman, and Jackie Ianni from Microsoft Azure Data to discuss how they built the Swift Research Lab over the past two years. The team…
- #175 - The Scourge of Wasted Research with Jake Burghardt of Integrating Research · 50 min · Episode 189Ben sits down with Jake Burghardt from Integrating Research to discuss his new book Stop Wasting Research and how organizations can maximize the product impact of their customer…
