
Insights from recent episode analysis
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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 2 chart positions in 2 markets.
By chart position
- 🇳🇿NZ · Careers#101500 to 3K
- 🇬🇷GR · Careers#166500 to 3K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
500 to 3K🎙 ~2x weekly·65 episodes·Last published 1w ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
1K to 6K🇳🇿50%🇬🇷50% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
400 to 2.4K
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
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Recent episodes
How Design Thinking Drives Community and Innovation - Luis Berumen, S7, Ep. 9
May 5, 2026
Unknown duration
From Research to AI: The Changing Role of UX Designers - AJ Bubb, S7, Ep. 8
Apr 29, 2026
Unknown duration
The Design Trinity: Culture, Curiosity and Craft - Bryan Dávila, S7, Ep. 7
Apr 24, 2026
Unknown duration
The Art of Leading Creative Teams with Purpose - Kevin Forister, S7, Ep 6
Apr 15, 2026
Unknown duration
What Keeps Designers Relevant as Technology Evolves - Justin Dauer, S7, Ep. 5
Apr 8, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5/26 | ![]() How Design Thinking Drives Community and Innovation - Luis Berumen, S7, Ep. 9 | In this episode we are joined by Luis Berumen, Executive Director of Calgary UX. He brings deep experience working across enterprise platforms, government initiatives, and grassroots communities. He is passionate about shaping meaningful product direction, championing inclusive and accessible design, and mentoring the next generation of designers while actively contributing to the global design community. Discussion Points - Share your story, what experiences shaped you into who you are today? 2:00 How did your professional journey evolve from your early roles to where you are today? 6:26 How has growing up across different cultures and languages shaped the way you approach design? 15:02 You’ve built a strong UX community in Calgary through meetups, conferences, and mentorship. What drives you to invest in this, and what does mentorship mean to you when it comes to giving back? 25:13 What advice would you give to someone from a country under construction who wants to build an international design career? 35:51 Show notes - If you always feel like you're fighting your environment, the means of the environment is wrong, not you. If what you love dies with you, then you never really loved it enough. You have to share it. You need to know that you can do it. As soon as you are in the room with creative people and you participate, you will be at the level. It doesn't matter where you're coming from. If you're going to migrate, you're going to experience rejection and loneliness. But that shouldn't define you. It's just one way to build resilience and keep going. Humour in UX is not just about being funny. If it's functional for the goal, like recovering from an error, then it's welcome. Otherwise it just humiliates the user when they're already down. People have three different feelings at the same time, influenced by so many things that are not just your application. You need to dig deeper into how people feel and keep understanding the human heart. Luis’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisberumen/ | — | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | ![]() From Research to AI: The Changing Role of UX Designers - AJ Bubb, S7, Ep. 8 | In this special crossover episode, we’re joined by AJ Bubb, host of the podcast Facing Disruptions, for an unscripted, high-energy conversation that flips the format. Instead of a traditional interview, this episode brings two hosts together for an authentic exchange on UX, product thinking, and the evolving role of designers. From hybrid roles and AI disruption to building high-performing teams and breaking silos, this episode dives into what it really takes to stay relevant in today’s fast-changing landscape. Discussion Points Tell us about your Journey. (AJ to Dushyant) 2:24 How do you design with empathy when you’re not at the edge, close to the user? (AJ to Dushyant) 6:42 How do you build teams that handle pressure and solve the right problems, not just deliver solutions? (Dushyant to AJ) 20:08 What does the future of high-performing teams look like? (Dushyant to AJ) 26:35 As new tech reshapes the rules, has it actually made your work better, especially on products like your podcast app? (Dushyant to AJ) 40:11 AI went from doing the work to supporting thinking. What changed, and what does that mean for the future? (Dushyant to AJ) 44:30 With AI speeding up product builds, are clients now expecting working products instead of just wireframes? (AJ to Dushyant) 59:50 Show Notes ~ You can't just give one screen and say, can you please beautify it? You are not going to get the output. - Dushyant Kanungo ~ You're hiring to solve the problem, not for the solution. You need people who can think about the problem. - AJ Bubb ~ You need to give them that levy, the time to breathe, think, and do their best. — Dushyant Kanungo ~ We now get more time to think about the strategy part of UX than we ever had before. - Dushyant Kanungo ~ If you're an engineer and you think you're being paid to code — you don't know what your job is. - AJ Bubb ~ A dream without a plan is just wishful thinking. You are not going to win the lottery without buying the ticket. - Dushyant Kanungo AJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajbubb/ His Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@FacingDisruption #DesignLeadership #UXDesign #AIandUX #ProductThinking #Podcast | — | ||||||
| 4/24/26 | ![]() The Design Trinity: Culture, Curiosity and Craft - Bryan Dávila, S7, Ep. 7 | In this episode, we’re joined by Bryan Dávila, Design Director at Hook Studios and a creative leader known for shaping award-winning digital experiences for global brands. With experience spanning top agencies and iconic organizations, including being one of the key designers at Apple, he brings a thoughtful perspective on design direction, branding, and creative leadership. He’s also deeply involved in industry juries and creative forums, where he continues to influence and mentor the design community. Discussion Point - Take us through your journey from Ecuador to Silicon Valley and how you got to where you are today. 3:16 You started in print and physical design before moving to digital. How has that shaped the way you approach design compared to those who started natively in digital? 10:46 As a design leader, how do you guide your team through the constantly shifting landscape of AI and new tools? 14:15 Rapid fire round 16:14 Tell us about the Google Language Inclusion and Language Explorer projects and what drove you to work on them. 34:32 You have worked both in-house at Apple and at an agency working with Google. What is the key difference between those two worlds? 42:09 What advice would you give to someone who wants to get a job at a company like Apple? 49:23 Show notes - Discipline counts double than talent. Talent might get you noticed early, but discipline is what compounds over time. Good design doesn't happen solo. Leading a design team is mostly about creating the right environment for smart and thoughtful work to come to life and thrive. The work I'm most proud of isn't just the work that wins awards. It's the work that actually helps someone understand, feel and act with less friction. Design used to be seen as decoration. Now it's infrastructure. It shapes how people learn, communicate and make decisions and that's a huge shift in responsibility. The medium has changed but the perception hasn't. Good design still starts with people, not platforms. It's not necessarily something that looks good, but something that truly impacts the world. That is what makes the work meaningful. Bryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davilabryan/ Explore the Google Language Inclusion initiative: https://sites.research.google/languages/ | — | ||||||
| 4/15/26 | ![]() The Art of Leading Creative Teams with Purpose - Kevin Forister, S7, Ep 6 | In this episode, we are joined by Kevin Forister, Creative Director at Flywheel and a seasoned creative leader with deep experience across ideation, concept development, and team leadership. His work has earned multiple national awards and global recognition. Beyond client work, Kevin is passionate about mentoring creatives and shares practical insights through his book Breaking Into Art Direction and his YouTube channel, Open Door Creative. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey start, and what led you to become a Creative Director? 1:35 ~ What does the role of a Creative Director actually entail, and how do you manage a team of creatives? 5:16 ~ How do you balance working within brand guidelines while still pushing creative boundaries? 9:03 ~ How is AI changing the creative industry, and what is your take on the fear and imposter syndrome around it? 22:51 ~ Tell us about your YouTube channel, Open Door Creative, and what drove you to create it? 34:44 ~ Tell us about your book, Breaking Into Art Direction, and what can readers expect from it? 37:16 Show notes ~ Design doesn’t exist only on screens or inside tools. It’s shaped by how much you pay attention to the world, the conversations you listen to, and the ideas you allow yourself to explore outside of your immediate work. ~ A lot of what I know didn’t come from formal training. It came from listening, observing, and staying curious about things that didn’t seem directly related to design at the time. ~ Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for better questions, better conversations, and letting people grow into their own strengths. ~ You never really stop learning in this field. We’re all still figuring things out, making assumptions, testing ideas, and adjusting as the world keeps changing. ~ Curiosity is one of the most underrated skills in design. The more curious you stay, the more perspectives you collect — and that always shows up in your work. ~ What excites me most is seeing people take what they’ve heard, make their own assumptions, and form their own point of view. That’s where real creative confidence begins. Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinforister/ His YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenDoorCreative | — | ||||||
| 4/8/26 | ![]() What Keeps Designers Relevant as Technology Evolves - Justin Dauer, S7, Ep. 5 | In this episode, we are joined by Justin, a designer, author, and speaker who focuses deeply on the human side of design. Justin has spent years exploring how culture, values, and craft shape the way designers build products and teams, helping creatives think beyond tools and trends to create more meaningful work. He’s also the author of Creative Culture and In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey, where he shares reflections on growth, humility, and lifelong learning in design. Discussion Points - What was your journey from deciding to become a designer to building your own studio? 2:11 Has your perspective on agency work evolved over time, or is it what you originally envisioned? 5:28 How do you balance your day job with personal creative pursuits without feeling like you’re missing out on other opportunities? 14:53 How has your workflow evolved from traditional tools to today’s AI-driven design processes? 24:18 When choosing new projects, do you prefer working with specific types of clients or project sizes? 27:53 What advice would you give your younger self, and do you think it still holds true today? 30:06 Show notes - Designers need to think beyond tools and trends if they want to create work that truly matters. People are engaging with our experiences in real, imperfect environments, and that responsibility should guide how we design. Design is a profession, but for many of us, it’s also a passion and a calling. Early success can be dangerous if you’re not prepared for it. Ego can quietly hurt the work. Leveraging humility while still respecting your expertise is one of the most important lessons in a design career. Never stop learning. Never stop being a student of your craft—this advice will always be relevant. Justin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pseudoroom/ Company’s Website: https://anomalibydesign.com His books, In Fulfillment: The Designer's Journey (https://in-fulfillment.com) and Creative Culture (https://the-culturebook.com) | — | ||||||
| 3/31/26 | ![]() Designing for Trust: UX in Healthcare & Insurance - Feras Abdul Khayum , S7, Ep. 4 | In this episode, we’re joined by Feras Abdul Khayum, UX & Product Design Lead at Data D Solutions, who shares his journey from early startup work to leading UX in mission-critical U.S. healthcare insurance systems. The conversation dives deep into designing for trust, responsibility, and speed, especially when decisions can directly impact human lives. Discussion Points: What’s your origin story—from your early life and education to becoming a design leader today? 2:09 You’re currently working in the insurance sector. Do you think this niche is receiving the attention and recognition it truly deserves? 7:22 Is this a double-edged challenge, serving end users while also enabling enterprise users to confidently make data-driven decisions? 10:43 Rapid fire round 13:00 What does it take to design AI solutions for healthcare in emergency situations, and what is your approach to it? 17:03 What advice would you give to your younger self or to the youth who want to follow in your footsteps? Anything they should watch out for? 29:01 Show notes: In healthcare UX, you’re not designing for delight or engagement metrics — you’re designing for responsibility. Every decision has a real human impact, and that changes how seriously you approach the work. When systems influence life-critical decisions, trust isn’t built through visuals alone. It comes from clarity, transparency, and helping users understand why a decision was made. AI should never replace human accountability in healthcare. Its real value is in supporting faster, more informed decisions while keeping humans firmly in control. Speed in healthcare UX isn’t about moving fast for efficiency’s sake. It’s about reducing friction at moments where delays can affect outcomes and, sometimes, lives. Deep domain understanding is non-negotiable in complex systems. Without it, even the most beautiful interface can fail the people who depend on it. Ethical design becomes unavoidable when your work impacts real people. In healthcare, you don’t get the luxury of treating ethics as a secondary consideration. Feras’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feras-ak-dezine-theuxguy/ | — | ||||||
| 3/24/26 | ![]() Balancing Creativity and Structure in Design Systems - Michael Miller, S7, Ep. 3 | In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Miller, Associate Creative Director at Level Studios, who brings over a decade of experience designing and scaling digital products across enterprise platforms. Michael leads multidisciplinary teams focused on UI strategy, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. With a background spanning experiential design, marketing, and product design, he shares a grounded perspective on building systems that balance structure, creativity, and real business impact. Discussion Points ~How did your journey into creative leadership begin? (1:39) ~Do your past experiences in marketing and creative projects influence the work you do today? (4:28) ~Why is understanding the business and domain critical for enterprise-level UX and product design? (6:26) ~Rapid fire round (9:35) ~Do UX designers often take on business analyst responsibilities, from understanding requirements to envisioning how solutions will be executed? (20:14) ~How is AI changing your role today, and where do you see it taking the future of design? (27:42) ~What advice would you give your younger self 10–15 years ago? (34:13) Show Notes ~Design isn’t just about visuals—it’s about understanding people and what makes them engage. ~The real through line in my work has always been human connection, whether it’s the user or the client. ~Strong systems thinking and organization naturally translate into great product design. ~You don’t need to be the subject matter expert, but you need to understand how the business works. ~Good design comes from working closely with experts and understanding what actually works in the real world. ~Design systems aren’t about control; they’re about creating structures that allow things to grow. ~UX isn’t just about solving the problem given; it’s about understanding what the real problem is. Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creationmod/ | — | ||||||
| 3/16/26 | ![]() Designing Future-Ready Web Experiences - Kevin Watkins, S7, Ep. 2 | In this episode, we are joined by Kevin Watkins, Founder and Creative Director at Farewell. With over 250 websites launched, Kevin brings deep expertise in building fast, accessible, and future-ready digital experiences. We dive into his journey from WordPress to Webflow, embracing chaos in the creator world, and what it takes to design scalable, inclusive websites today. Discussion Points - What led you to start Farewell and your journey into web design? 2:23 What kind of clients or brands do you typically work with, and what excites you most about these projects? 5:05 What challenges did you face while building and scaling your studio? 6:09 Do designers naturally become good managers as teams grow? 8:21 Rapid fire round 9:41 How do you see AI influencing design and creativity? 16:25 What advice would you give to aspiring creative founders? 24:38 Show notes - Embrace the chaos instead of running away from it. That has been our motto, and it reflects in everything we do. Original ideas will always win. AI is just reusing what's out there, pulling from a database of original ideas, so keep creating. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Be flexible with the things you're doing and be ready to change direction. Fail forward is one of our core values here at the agency. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the journey. If you're jumping into the creative space right now, buckle up because it's fun, it's chaotic, it's rewarding, you'll laugh, and you'll cry. But there's no better field to be a part of. Being a tool agnostic is key right now. If another tool comes around that serves our clients better, we will switch to that without hesitation. Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstanleywatkins/ Company’s Website: https://www.heyfarewell.com/ | — | ||||||
| 10/9/25 | ![]() Exploring UX, AI, and Mentorship with Ranjithkumar Rajarethinam, S6, Ep. 8 | In this episode, we are joined by Ranjithkumar Rajarethinam, Director of Design & Strategy at Esperia Studio. With over 20 years of experience, Ranjit has worked across industries from banking to manufacturing, blending empathy, process, and AI-driven tools to shape user experiences. He is also the founder of Learner at Large, a platform that mentors UX designers at every stage of their careers. Discussion Points ~ How did your design journey begin, and what were the turning points that shaped your career? ~ How do you see AI impacting design careers today, especially for junior designers entering the field? ~ Rapid fire round ~ Can you walk us through your stakeholder management framework and why stakeholder buy-in is critical in enterprise UX? ~ How do you adapt your design approach across diverse industries like banking, manufacturing, and energy? ~ What’s one key piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out? Show Notes ~ Everything I learned so far has come full circle with AI—today I can scale my skills in ways I couldn’t before. ~ When you build a portfolio, make sure it carries your stamp—don’t try to be another designer in the market. ~ Resources are the same for juniors and seniors now; the difference lies in vision and the willingness to iterate. ~ In enterprise UX, you’re not just designing screens—you’re designing alliances. ~Time is money. To succeed, you must understand the customer’s business context, not just their users. ~ The three skills that will define careers in the next decade are creative problem-solving, analytical thinking, and lifelong learning. Ranjith’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/learneratlarge/ | — | ||||||
| 9/16/25 | ![]() Designing Across Cultures and Careers with Aysha Samrin , S6, E7 | In this episode, we are joined by Aysha Samrin, UX Design Architect at McAfee. Aysha’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity and resilience. From illustrating children’s books and building brands to leading UX strategy in global tech, her path has been shaped by cultural influences spanning India, Abu Dhabi, the UK, and Canada. Alongside her industry roles, she also mentors the next generation of designers as a Senior UX Instructor at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts. Discussion Points - ~ What was your journey like from illustration and branding to becoming a UX leader? 1:47 ~ What is PropTech? 12:58 ~ How have cultural influences from India, Abu Dhabi, the UK, and Canada shaped your design approach? 13:45 ~ Rapid Fire Round 20:48 ~ How are you experimenting with AI tools, and what opportunities or challenges do you see for designers? 26:54 ~ What has your experience been like teaching UX at VanArts and mentoring the next generation of designers? 29:57 ~ What advice do you have for young designers who are just beginning their careers in this field? 35:34 Show notes - ~ A lot of cultural influences show up in my design without me consciously putting them in—it’s what I’ve grown up with and observed. ~ Illustration taught me storytelling, and that skill has been invaluable in UX. ~ Understanding cultural context, like payment methods, colors, or patterns, can make or break a user experience. ~ Exploring AI tools has been eye-opening, not to replace designers, but to see how they can support creativity. ~ Teaching reminds me that design fundamentals never go out of style. ~ Formal design education matters; it gives you a foundation to build a long-term career instead of realizing too late that you’re in the wrong field. ~ Living and working across different countries taught me that even simple design choices, like colors or payment methods, carry deep cultural meaning. Aysha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aysha-samrin/ | — | ||||||
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| 9/10/25 | ![]() Designing for Complex Challenges with AI and UX — Ryan Brink, S6 Ep. 6 | In this episode, we are joined by Ryan Brink, Senior Product Designer at Michigan Software Labs. With a background that spans business, sports, and marketing, Ryan’s journey into UX is anything but traditional. His experience coaching soccer shaped his collaborative, people-first design mindset, while his early work in marketing and analytics honed his ability to combine creativity with data. Today, Ryan designs enterprise platforms, compliance tools, and AI-powered workflows—all with a focus on clarity, collaboration, and user-centered thinking. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey into UX design begin? 2:15 ~Since sports are data-heavy, do you see a connection between that and digital design dashboards? 6:36 ~ Do you think people from non-design backgrounds challenge or enrich your perspective in UX? 8:40 ~ Rapid Fire Round 10:16 ~ What unique challenges do you face when designing for enterprise software and compliance-heavy products? 15:25 ~ How are you leveraging AI in your design process, and what opportunities or risks does it bring? 20:31 ~ What inspired your book, Phony Confessions of a Designer, and how does humor play a role in your approach to design? 24:54 ~ What advice do you have for young designers starting their careers today? 26:57 Show notes ~ UX is all about creating alignment; it’s not about who has the best idea, but about what’s best for the end user. ~ Coaching soccer taught me leadership and teamwork—skills I bring into every design project. ~ Metrics bridge the gap between creativity and strategy; they tell us what’s working and where we need to improve. ~ AI can’t replace the UX process. If you put in garbage, garbage will come out. ~ Creativity was the missing piece in my career. Once I found design, tinkering with problems stopped feeling like work. ~ Enterprise UX isn’t just about usability; it’s about navigating red tape, earning stakeholder buy-in, and still keeping the user at the center. ~ Humor helps us stay honest about our flaws as designers; sometimes laughing at our “confessions” makes us better at what we do. Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brink/ Ryan’s Website: https://brinkryan.com/ | — | ||||||
| 9/3/25 | ![]() The Human Side of UX in an AI World – with Paige Maguire, S6, Ep. 5 | In this episode, we are joined by Paige Maguire, Director of UX & Research at Fueled. With a background in philosophy and law, Paige’s journey into UX has been shaped by her deep curiosity about human behavior and communication. Over the years, she has blended strategic thinking with user empathy to design digital products that are both intuitive and impactful. Her leadership brings clarity to complexity, helping teams create smarter, human-centered solutions. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey evolve from studying philosophy and law to becoming a UX leader? 1:34 ~ How do you apply advocacy and negotiation skills from your legal background to UX practice? 3:19 ~ Rapid fire round 8:35 ~ How is your team navigating the rise of AI in tools and user experience design? 12:10 ~ How do you keep your team creatively inspired while experimenting with new tools and technologies? 19:50 ~ What advice do you have for young designers who are just beginning their careers in this field? 21:24 Show Notes ~ We do a little bit of advocacy every day, balancing technical feasibility, stakeholder needs, and usability while fighting for our users. ~ Data can tell us what happened in the past, but we must always leave space for the irrationality of human behavior. ~ Start slow, but start now. That’s our mantra at Fueled when integrating AI into design processes. ~ We put our foot down - at Fueled, we do not use synthetic users for research. Nothing replaces talking to real people. ~ Design is more than putting pixels together; it's about leaving space for the creative act, the magic that brings ideas to life. ~ Don’t be afraid of AI replacing you. Let it assist your creative act, not inhibit it. Paige’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigemaguire/ | — | ||||||
| 8/28/25 | ![]() How UX Shapes Interactive Storytelling with Cathy Davenport Lee, S6, Ep. 4 | In this episode, we are joined by Cathy Davenport Lee, Principal Creative Director of Product Design & Marketing at Eluvio. With over 15 years of experience blending product design, brand storytelling, and emerging tech, Cathy has led award-winning projects across industries. Formerly VP of Interaction Design at HBO, she has shaped iconic campaigns for series such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, while continually pushing the boundaries of digital experiences. Discussion Points ~ Can you take us through your journey from studying digital design to leading creative roles at HBO and Eluvio, and what it was like working on household names like Game of Thrones and Westworld? 1:33 ~ Can you tell us about your current role at Eluvio and the direction you’re headed in your career? 12:00 ~ Rapid fire round 13:00 ~ How do you feel about the creative industry's emphasis on awards and recognition? 16:23 ~ How are you using AI in your day-to-day work right now? 35:09 ~ Can you tell us about your podcast? 35:44 ~ What advice would you give to aspiring designers who want to follow in your footsteps? 37:10 Show notes ~ Back then, nobody knew what a digital designer was. We were inventing the role while still trying to explain what the internet could even do. ~ I spent years dreaming of working at HBO. When the call finally came, it felt surreal, like a moment I had manifested years before. ~ Awards are great, but they depend a lot on access. If your company can't afford to submit, your work might never get seen. ~ AI isn’t just something happening to creatives. If we want to influence where it's going, we have to engage with it now, not later. ~ Tools and technologies are shifting so fast that by the time you plan a project, the platform you started with may already be outdated. ~ Sometimes the most powerful thing a creative can do is pause, to protect their imagination, recharge, and create from a place of clarity. Links: Cathy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathydavenportlee/ Cathy’s Podcast: https://podcast.thecreativeleadworkshop.com/ | — | ||||||
| 8/6/25 | ![]() The UX Power Behind FinTech Innovation – with Derek Boman, S6, Ep. 1 | In this episode, we are joined by Derek Boman, Director of Product Design, Liminal. With a strong background in brand design, digital experiences, and UX leadership, Derek is building transformative tools at the intersection of AI, design, and finance. He’s passionate about mentoring future designers and solving complex problems through creativity and empathy. Discussion Points ~ Can you tell us about your career journey—from growing up in a tech-savvy environment to leading at Socrates AI? 1:28 ~ What is your leadership style and how do you empower your teams in today’s fast-evolving tech space? 3:50 ~ Are you navigating the rapid changes in AI technology, and how often do you need to adapt your tools? 7:30 ~ What inspired the creation of Socrates AI, especially coming from a UX background into FinTech? 9:25 ~ Rapid Fire 15:02 ~ How do you ensure the use of AI in your product is meaningful and not just trendy? 17:52 ~ As a mentor and educator, what advice do you give to young designers and job seekers in tech? 24:24 Show notes ~ Good leadership means removing roadblocks, not controlling outcomes. Give your team space, context, and trust—then get out of their way. ~ AI should solve real user pain, not just be sprinkled in for novelty. Ask: What becomes possible now that wasn’t before? ~ Design can drive adoption and understanding in even the driest industries—finance included. That’s where real impact lives. ~ If you're a junior designer, this is your moment. Learn AI now—because everyone is learning it together, and you can lead the charge. ~ Don’t aim to replace humans with AI. Use it to free them from the grind so they can focus on strategic, high-value work. ~ Hiring isn’t about who’s perfect today—it’s about who’s growing fastest. Coachability and curiosity beat static skills every time. Derek's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bomanderek/ | — | ||||||
| 3/4/25 | ![]() Behind the Scenes of Game UX with Ruwan Fernando, S5, Ep. 8 | In this episode, we are joined by Ruwan Fernando, a seasoned UX leader with expertise in AAA games, SaaS, and gamification. With experience across five countries, he brings a unique perspective on design, storytelling, and user engagement. Tune in as we explore his journey, industry insights, and the evolving role of UX in gaming. Discussion points: ~ How did your journey into UX and game design begin? 1:45 ~ How did your expectations of the gaming industry change over time? 7:20 ~ Do you need to be a gamer to succeed in the industry? 12:50 ~ Rapid fire round 17:55 ~ What are you looking forward to at GDC, and how can people connect with you? 22:59 ~ Which of your work/accomplishments are you most proud of? 23:23 ~ What’s your top advice for aspiring game designers and UX professionals? 29:33 Show notes: ~ UX is a job of communication. Design just happens along the way. UX is all about communicating your vision as someone making a product to the expectations of a user who's expecting to use it. It's shortening the distance between the two. ~ Technology is experienced through the interface. If you don't build the interface, then you've built a technology that will never be experienced. ~ The longer we leave people out of the discussion, the more the product itself fails to connect with its audience. ~ We use things like pressure, time, scarcity, and tension to ramp up or down the emotional connection to a story. If a game isn’t emotionally engaging, it’s not an engaging story. ~ If you only ever observe other people's solutions, what you're observing is a list of compromises that you have never seen. So you take that solution and all the compromises with it without understanding what they were. Then you build something based on compromises on which you further compromise. ~ The minute you say ‘I prefer it this way,’ you take what is a wide-angle perspective and narrow it to one. But we need to appeal to millions of people, not just ourselves. ~ Instead of going wide, I recommend you narrow focus, become incredible at it, and then graduate to the next. Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruwan-f/ https://adplist.org/mentors/ruwan-fernando | — | ||||||
| 2/25/25 | ![]() How AI is Transforming UX Research – Insights from Kim Feenstra Kuiper, S5, Ep. 7 | In this episode, we are joined by Kim Feenstra Kuiper, a senior UX researcher at King. With a background in AI and human-computer interaction, she has led impactful research at companies like Spotify and GoodNotes. Passionate about storytelling and mentorship, she empowers teams to create user-centered, meaningful designs. Discussion points - ~ Tell us about your journey into UX research. 1:51 ~ Do you think the key difference between these worlds is the focus on logic versus human impact? 6:22 ~ How did you land roles at major companies like Spotify, King, and GoodNotes? 8:13 ~Do you think a strong portfolio matters more, or is it all about how you handle the interview? 10:53 ~ Rapid fire round 15:51 ~ How does working on widely used products, like Candy Crush or Spotify, impact the research process? 26:48 Show notes - ~ I never had a big goal of working at a major company. I just kept building my skills, taking opportunities as they came, and growing my network. ~ Foundational research helps teams shape new products, validate ideas, and inspire innovation—it's about asking 'why' before jumping to 'what' and 'how'. ~ A good UX research portfolio isn’t just about showcasing work; it’s about communicating impact in a way that both recruiters and hiring managers understand. ~ Working on a widely used product means every research decision carries weight—you're not just solving for one group, but for millions of diverse users. ~ The hardest part about breaking into UX research isn’t just skill—it’s networking, being in the right place, and finding people who can open doors for you. ~ I love seeing messy sketches and raw research notes in portfolios—real work isn’t polished, and that’s what makes it authentic and valuable. Links - www.linkedin.com/in/kimfeenstrakuiper www.careers.king.com | — | ||||||
| 2/17/25 | ![]() Productizing Web Design: A Conversation with Wayne Pelletier, S5, Ep. 6 | In this episode, we are joined by Wayne Pelletier, Founder and CEO of Resonant Pixel Company. With extensive experience in web design and digital strategy, Wayne is transforming the industry with a subscription-based model that simplifies website management for businesses. A Squarespace expert, he’s passionate about delivering scalable, high-value web solutions that empower brands to grow effortlessly. Discussion points - ~ How did you start your career? 1:17 ~ What differentiates low-code and no-code platforms from traditional coding, and how has your experience in web development shaped your perspective on them? 4:16 ~Every business is essentially in the business of content creation. Can you elaborate on that concept and its importance for website success? 6:23 ~Do you think we are moving toward a 'post-website world,' and what role do social media and AI-driven feeds play in this shift? 8:21 ~ Rapid fire round 17:23 ~Your business operates on a subscription-based web design model. What makes this approach successful, and how does it benefit small businesses? 20:01 ~ How do you ensure a strong user experience for websites focused solely on information rather than business outcomes? 24:00 ~What advice would you give to young professionals or designers looking to build a long-term career in web design and digital strategy? 27:55 Show notes - ~ Understanding how things are built goes a long way to building better things, no matter your platform. ~ When you have a website, you have a shack in the woods—without content and marketing, there's no traffic and no one around. ~ The idea behind productizing services is to level out revenue so that it's mostly only ever-growing instead of dealing with the feast-or-famine cycle. ~ Hiring you is a ton of work, and hiring someone else is also a ton of work—so clients don’t just leave as easily as people fear. ~ From a UX standpoint, I’ve made hundreds of websites over the years, and I have a deep understanding of how user behavior differs across industries. ~ Going to lunch and getting to know the people you work with now pays dividends—because one day, they’ll be decision-makers who need what you do. ~ Social platforms sell fast, but the problem is when you make sales on another platform, those customers are not yours—you can’t contact them, and u don’t own that relationship. Links - www.linkedin.com/in/waynepelletier/ www.resonantpixel.co | — | ||||||
| 2/6/25 | ![]() How to Lead UX Like a Pro! Lessons from Santhosh Ragalpavi Balasubramaniam, S5, Ep. 5 | In this episode, we are joined by Santhosh Ragalpavi Balasubramaniam, a seasoned UX leader, design thinking facilitator, and founder of UX Ahead. With experience leading digital transformations for global brands like BP, HSBC, and SAP, he shares insights on inclusive design, UX leadership, and the evolving role of individual contributors in enterprise environments. Discussion points: ~ What was your journey like when you decided to become a designer? Who inspired you, and how did you get here? 3:51 ~ Is a formal degree essential for a UX career, especially in regions like India, where company policies may require it? 18:33 ~ Rapid fire round 24:44 ~ Whenever the discussion arises about being an in-house designer versus an agency designer, it often gets framed as working at a startup or freelancing—how do you see this distinction, and do you think it's that simple? 31:01 ~ Being on the strategy side, are you ever tempted to pursue a role like Director of UX, Chief Design Officer, or Design Principal?40:10 ~ What advice would you give to aspiring UX professionals on choosing the right career path? 42:16 Show notes: ~ As an individual contributor, you may not have decision-making authority, but you still need to influence decisions and drive collaboration across teams. ~ Design is not just about making things look good; it’s about solving real problems for users and businesses alike. ~ Early on, businesses didn’t understand why they needed UX. They just wanted a website or a brochure without considering the actual user needs. ~ A designer’s job isn’t just to take requirements and create something in isolation—it’s about understanding the business, the users, and bridging that gap. ~ The biggest challenge for UX professionals is not just mastering tools, but developing the ability to collaborate, influence, and educate stakeholders. ~ Chasing job titles won’t make you a better designer. Focus on what you can learn and how you can apply your skills in real-world scenarios. ~ Mindset is key in design. You have to detach from your work, accept feedback, and always remember that design is about the user, not the designer. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santhoshrb/ www.uxahead.com/ | — | ||||||
| 9/25/24 | ![]() Innovating UX Design for a Better Tomorrow - Ben Shown, S4, Ep. 10 | In this episode, we are joined by Ben Shown, Head of Design at Blink UX. With over a decade of creative leadership experience, Ben has led design teams to collaborate with top-tier brands like Amazon, eBay, Microsoft, and NASA. We dive into his journey, his expertise in human-centered design, and how he approaches creating seamless digital experiences. Discussion points: How has your journey been? What steps would you recommend for those who want to follow in your footsteps? 1:41 Do you feel there is a difference in the design approach when working with heavily funded organizations compared to corporate giants like Amazon? 4:19 As a kid, you probably dreamed of working with your nation's space agency (NASA). Do you feel that satisfaction was somewhat achieved? 6:00 How do you define design leadership in your current studio or agency setup, and what processes do you implement to ensure your team's success? 7:12 As a design leader, how do you juggle the diverse responsibilities that come your way? 8:38 Rapid fire round 12:54 Do you think there's a secret to building a sustainable team, tracking progress, and setting a North Star for leadership? 17:26 On BlinkUX.com, there’s information about UX workshop ideas and how to conduct them. Can you tell us more about that? 19:07 Any advice for young followers or those just starting out or looking into a studio practice? 22:46 Show notes: I remember very distinctly getting into the high school yearbook and getting my hands on digital publishing tools from Adobe, like PageMaker and Photoshop, and just loving that process. Our job was to untangle that knot—find commonalities through UX research around which stories were the most effective that NASA was telling—and ultimately consolidate those 3,000 websites into one. Understanding how to create great UX at the government level is a different challenge compared to working with tech clients that have had design embedded in their culture for a long time. If I could have next-level time management, that would be ideal. I feel like I’ve gotten better at it, but that would definitely be a superpower. Making sure your design activities are really set up for the end goal is crucial. You need to get people talking, have them take their guard down, and position the activities to help us read between the lines and understand the project's big ambitious goals. Throughout the course of a project, our clients take a journey in learning user-centered design. We often teach our clients how to run workshops and how to progress in a design project Links: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/benkshown/ Company’s Website: www.blinkux.com | — | ||||||
| 9/4/24 | ![]() Future Visions: AI, Privacy, and Lifelong Learning with Adam Spaulding, S4, Ep. 7 | In this episode, we are joined by Adam Spaulding, Head of Product at Wicket, who brings extensive experience in product management, with a strong emphasis on customer-centric solutions. His expertise spans strategic initiatives, leadership in software development, and pioneering strategies for customer-led growth, enhancing user experiences at live events and facilities. Discussion Points Could you share with us the journey that led you to become the accomplished designer and professional you are today? 1:32 How do you foresee the future of privacy evolving over the next 25 years amidst advancing AI technologies? 3:24 How will the convergence of AI, quantum computing, and service design shape the future? 5:42 How do you think privacy will evolve over the next 25 years? 7:16 Do you think we're moving towards a future where technology takes precedence over human priorities? 11:18 Rapid fire round 13:13 What does educational learning mean to you, and how do you see it impacting professionals across different cities? 17:45 Show notes - Every deployment, every feature we deploy, you have to really be sure that it's going to produce the right result that you're looking for. My objective personally is to make sure the user is served by the tool rather than the user serving the tool If you're not open and willing to change or to adopt new technologies, it's going to be a real tough road for you. Always have the growth mindset, always be open in conversation. If you're not growing, you're dying. The future is bright, tech access is everywhere. There's still a billion people on the planet yet to come online. Learning how to learn is critical because you don't have all the answers, and that's the reason you're there. Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamspaulding/ Company website: http://wicketsoft.com Personal website: https://spauldi.com/ | — | ||||||
| 8/14/24 | ![]() From Graphics to Great UX: The Journey & Experiences of Christopher Miller, S4, Ep. 4 | In this episode, we are joined by Christopher Miller, Principal UX Designer at OneTrust with over a decade of experience. Christopher is a master in design thinking, product design, and service design. He excels in creating seamless user experiences, mentoring UX teams, and collaborating across functions to solve complex user challenges. Discussion points - How did you start your journey in UX design? 1:27 How does team culture differ in freelancing, agencies, startups, and larger teams, and how does it impact the design process? 3:45 How do you perceive the pressure and mental health challenges that designers often face in their roles? 8:36 Rapid fire round 18:13 Could you tell us more about your experience with teaching and mentoring in your career? 23:22 How can people reach out to you for one-on-one design sessions and mentorship in UX design? 27:26 Do you think it's easy to go out and network, and do you participate in any networking activities in your area? 28:53 What advice would you give your younger self entering UX 10 years ago, and what tips do you have for new professionals today? 34:08 Show notes - Working at an agency provides more variety of clients, challenges your comfort zone, and pushes you to take on more responsibilities compared to freelancing or working at a larger organization. Establishing good relationships with product managers and developers is important to collaborate on projects and set constraints effectively. Learning to say no and establish boundaries is important for mental health when working on multiple projects simultaneously. Creating design sprints that are separate but aligned with development sprints helps provide clarity on timelines and capacity. Teaching and mentoring allow you to be the kind of support you wish you had when starting out and help you remember the basics of UX design. The pandemic has allowed an experiment of teaching based on user experience design, creating an opportunity for virtual one-on-one connections and supporting individuals Running podcasts is a fun way to connect with other designers and blow off steam by discussing movies and pop culture from a design perspective. Links - Christopher’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/uxchrism/ Company’s Website: www.onetrust.com Podcasts: www.youtube.com/@whathefux https://popcornandplotholes.transistor.fm/ | — | ||||||
| 7/20/23 | ![]() Designing with Empathy: The Psychology Behind UX - Ana Bel Campos - S3 - Ep. 7 | Our guest today is Ana Bel Campos, the Director of User Experience Design at Exygy. With 17 years of experience, Ana is a powerhouse in design and product management. She embraces fundamentals, explores new ideas, and puts the user at the heart of the design process. Known for her expertise in storytelling, product strategy, and growth, Ana combines creative freedom with a strong product management background to create impactful user experiences. Discussion point - How has the journey been so far? What are the things that you have experienced and how has the path been for you? 1:23 How did you get into this field? 4:09 What is the difference between human behavior economics and human behavior psychology? 5:35 Rapid fire round 12:07 What is the difference while you're designing for social impact versus when you're designing for profit? 19:40 Can you elaborate on the terms - equity-centered design and community-centered design? 24:34 At Exergy, what kinds of projects are generally undertaken? What is the clientele? 28:16 What would be your advice to young professionals starting their careers in design? 30:28 Show notes - I always like to say that even as a product manager, I was actually a UX designer. Because even as a product manager, my main focus was always making sure that we are crafting experiences that are intuitive, simple, accessible, and delightful. I was always passionate about understanding humans and how they think and why they make the decisions that they do. I think empathy is a really big thing in UX and human-centered design. And I think it's one of our core values. Designer needs to have this ability to sometimes forget about themselves, and what the solution is, just listen to the user's needs and let the solution come naturally. When you're designing for social impact, the designer is far removed from the lived experience of the user. When you're designing for social impact, you need to go above and beyond. You need to actually close that gap between the designer and the user, which means really bringing the user to the design process. I think that idea of inclusivity, and equity is way more important when you're talking about designing for social impact. I see a disconnect between the tech world and the social impact world. And, what we're trying to do at Exergy is bridge those two worlds. I don't think that AI will be able to understand humans in the way we understand humans. If I could give people advice, focus on the human aspects of user experience. Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anabelcampos/ Company website: https://www.exygy.com/ Medium: https://medium.com/@anabelcampos | — | ||||||
| 6/29/23 | ![]() Unveiling UX Complexity: A Multifaceted Design Role - Lacey Picazo - S3 - Ep. 4 | In this episode, we are joined by Lacey Picazo, the Founder & CEO of ZoCo Design. She is an award-winning creative force known for her expertise in transforming and growing nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500 clients. Lacey is also a renowned speaker and presenter, and a member of the prestigious Business First 2016 Forty Under 40 class. Discussion points - How did you start it in design? And, what made you choose this career? 1:29 How do the recognition and accolades received by ZoCo design for being rated as the best place to work and appearing on prestigious lists like Columbus Business First, Fast 50, and the Inc. 5000, validate your agency's mission? How does one plan to build a business like this? 6:02 Rapid fire round 10:33 How did you navigate through the difficulties of being a young woman entrepreneur when you started out your career? What was your support system like? And, do you think the times have changed? 17:25 You are focused a lot on your team and the cultural building that you do within ZoCo. Would you mind shedding some light on how you go about it? 20:19 What advice would you give to someone who is starting a career in design? 25:31 Show notes I enjoyed making things, and iterating and experimenting, even as a young child. And so, when I got into this career, as a designer, I was focused mainly on digital design, creating software, and creating websites. While our team feels very energized, to be recognized and to see the power and potential of their work, they are most motivated by the impact we make for our clients. The vision is to bring more user-centricity to design and technology and product. That is still the case and still what we champion and what we fight for. There's so much complexity in different parts of UX, which is fascinating. Because I think for those of us who want to learn about diverse industries and see different parts of the business, it's the best role to be able to get into that. I found the most value in my own learning and development by creating a community and finding other folks who are trying to solve similar problems to me. I learned early on at ZoCo, that cultivating a team and creating a path positive and very connected culture is probably the most central motivator for me and building my business more than anything else. I hope people feel empowered today more than ever to build the career that they want and not feel like it has to fit into a box. We apply a lot of UX principles and design thinking principles to how we operate the business. But the last piece related to building what you want is making sure you ask for what you want. Being verbal, candid, and transparent is important in building any career, whether you're an entrepreneur or an agency CEO like I am, or if you're just trying to be the best UX-er in the land. Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/ Company website: https://zocodesign.com/ | — | ||||||
| 10/5/22 | ![]() Research is the Recipe for a Good Design -Jessica Robison - S2 Ep. 3 | S2 Episode 3 - Jessica Robison - Research is the Recipe for a Good Design Introduction Jessica Robison is the Product Design Leader at Tamr and is a pro at providing digital design solutions for data-driven enterprises. Her work in the retail and lifestyle sector nurtures her in-depth understanding of user preferences, thus making her a deft designer who is always ready for challenges. An advocate of civil rights and animal welfare, Jessica has raised the benchmark for domains like client management and data science. Discussion Points Which domain do you really think actually gave you the most satisfaction creativity-wise? 07:56 Rapid fire questions 13:59 So what sort of extra learnings were required? What the challenges have been so far for you? And how did you overcome those? 20:45 You are a mother of two beautiful children, and then how does it go that you balance your career with perfection, and then you have to make sure that everybody is in place and they're very young, right? 28:51 But then how does that actually is to use you as a professional? Do you think that you look at things differently now than before? 31:28 Any advice that you would like to give to a new person who is starting out in the field of design? 37:11 Show notes Because if you can anticipate where they're coming from, what they need, and what kind of visual cues they might need. That's really kind of where the sweet spot of UX is, right? Like, that's what makes a good UX designer. 07:18 If you are really smart and scrappy about how you figure out what your tasks are, you know what people need. 9:45 You have to know your user, but you also have to know that maybe the way the user is doing something isn't because that was what was given to them. And that's not necessarily the best way for them to do that. 22:01 I think that sometimes the challenge is that we capture too much, or not that we capture too much data, but we show too much data. 24:07 I want the initial way someone interacts with data to be pretty basic, and then allow them to dive deeper if they want, rather than showing everything all at once. 25:05 Making sure I connect with people is really important. Because, you know, I again, like I don't get to go to every happy hour. 32:47 I understand that like, early in the morning, I'm better at administrative tasks, and later in the day, I'm better at creative tasks and just kind of understanding that and then making sure that my work follows suit my work day. 34:44 The thought that you can just do a Bootcamp class and then get a senior designer role is pure advertising. 38:57 Contact LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jessica-robison-5622368/ Instagram instagram.com/jrdesign.co/ Company website: jrdesignstudio.co Email jbrcreative@gmail.com Portfolio/ website: jessblitzrobison.com/about #design #peoplemanagement #uxdesigner #uxproduct #designpodcast #uxbanter #userexperiencejourney | — | ||||||
| 6/9/22 | ![]() Importance of Authenticity in Branding - Neal Foard - S1 Episode 7 | Season 1 - Ep. 7 - Importance of Authenticity in Branding - Neal Foard On this episode of UX Banter, we chat with Neal Foard who is the Chief Marketing Officer at Within Inc. He is an eloquent storyteller, a TED Talk Speaker, a creative thinker, and a strategic marketer. Discussion Points: What makes a good brand? 1:26 What has been your key learning while working with big names like Toyota, Sony, HSBC, Heineken, etc.? 5:10 Rapid Fire Segment. 13:44 What is some advice that you’d like to give someone who’s just starting out in the industry? 27:02 What is your success mantra? 31:59 Show notes: “The most important thing for a brand is authenticity, that is they have to conduct themselves in the world in a way that people will be satisfied with.” - Neal Foard 1:38 It isn't enough to simply create a public persona, because it's quite easy for people to discover how false that might be. 2:17 The focus should not so much be on the marketing and brand messaging, it's really about what the brand is from an experience standpoint. 2:36 When the people that represent the brand are enthusiastic about it, when they believe in it, or they believe in the leadership, that gets reflected out into the world. 3:18 In marketing it's not really the cleverness of the message, it's the sincerity of it. 8:53 You can work, you can find work. And when you can, it can be well-paid work. But unless you are working for someone you admire, I don't know that you're ever going to really learn what you need to learn. 27:21 Life advice from Neal: Our accents are simply the result of us imitating the people that we learn from. We've adopted their manner of speech. And we do that with everything. We mimic their body language, we mimic their gestures, and we mimic their postures. But most of all, we mimic their behavior without realizing that's an accent and to work for a great person, to find someone you admire. Maybe take a little less money to work for something you admire. The dividend will be paid back to you not in money, but in becoming a great person like them. 28:59 Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-foard-3727403/ | — | ||||||
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