Awkward Silences

A user research podcast
hosted by Erin May (VP Growth & Marketing)
and John Henry Forster (VP Product)

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 JH Forster, VPs of growth/marketing and product at User Interviews.

PLACES TO LISTEN ON:

Lastest Episode:

Awkward Silences

June 17, 2022

UX Writing and Content Design with Yuval Keshtcher of UX Writing Hub

The difference between content design and UX writing, how to do research for UX writing, and where UX writers sit in an org.

Erin May

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More Episodes:

Awkward Silences

June 2, 2022

Tacos and Tide Pods: A New Series from Awkward Silences

Tacos = the great. Tide Pods = the not-so-great. An honest chat about the (mostly really great) state of User Interviews.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

May 18, 2022

Digital Ethnography and Real-World Context in UXR with Megan McLean of Spotify

Context adds depth and nuance to user insights. Here’s how an anthropologist approaches in-context UX research with digital ethnography.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

May 4, 2022

What Librarians Can Teach UXRs about Insights Repositories with Nada Alnakeeb of DoorDash and Joanna Perez of Netflix

Every research team needs an insights repository. Here’s how to choose the right tool, ensure success, and considerations for scale.

Erin May

The best stories about user research

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Awkward Silences

November 9, 2021

Doing UX Research within an Arab Cultural Context – with Norah Abokhodair of Microsoft

How to recruit and do thoughtful research with Arab and Arabic-speaking participants—and why making the effort to understand cultural nuance is so important.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

October 27, 2021

Doing Participatory UX Research – with Alexis McNutt Unis of Better

A practical intro to building a participatory research practice, running workshops, and co-creating with stakeholders and participants.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

October 12, 2021

Accessible UXR: Recruiting and Researching Participants with Disabilities – with Samuel Proulx of Fable

An essential lesson on how to start doing great user research with people with disabilities, and why accessibility is a non-negotiable part of good UX.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

September 29, 2021

How to Break Into User Research: Practical Career Advice for Aspiring UXRs– with Eniola Abioye of SVB

Honest and actionable advice from a seasoned UX researcher on how to start doing user research, build a portfolio, and make the career switch.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

September 21, 2021

User Researchers Need to Care About the Business, Too – with Zack Naylor of Aurelius

A research pro explains why it's so important for user researchers to have a deep understanding of the business they work for.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

September 8, 2021

Debunking UX Research Myths with Zach Schendel of DoorDash

A research pro who has led teams at Unilever, Netflix, and DoorDash debunks some of the most common UX research myths he’s come up against.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

August 24, 2021

Building a Product Vision with Rajesh Nerlikar of Prodify

How to use a comic strip format to communicate a product vision, get buy-in, and inspire customer-focused work.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

August 10, 2021

Getting Stakeholder Buy-In for User Research at a Large Organization with Meg Pullis Roebling of BNY Mellon

Meg has plenty of experience being the sole research champion in a large, enterprise company—and she knows a thing or two about getting buy-in from skeptical stakeholders.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

July 27, 2021

How to Ask Great User Research Questions with Amy Chess of Amazon

Great user research projects start with great research questions. Amy Chess explains how to choose the right UX research objectives and questions to understand what you don’t know.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

July 13, 2021

Running a Blended UX, CX, and Market Research Team with Dave Chen of Flipp

How a blended Consumer Insights team combines UX, CX, and market research to create a more powerful research organization.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

June 29, 2021

Transforming Your Research Through Radical Listening with Babz Jewell of Variant

What the heck is empathy, anyway? Babz Jewell shares her practical approach to empathy and active listening, and how these skills have transformed her UX research practice.

Erin May

Awkward Silences

June 1, 2021

Turning Generative Research into Actionable Insights with Lucy Denton of Dovetail

How the team at Dovetail tackled a large generative research project as a small team and turned insights into action.

Carrie Boyd