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Awkward Silences

User Interviews
User Research
User Experience Research
Artificial Intelligence
UX Research
User Interviews
Research Operations
Qualitative Research
Researchops
User Experience
Research Methodology
Participant Recruitment
Change Management
Research Waste
User Experience Design
Product Development
Design Thinking
Mindfulness
Customer Insights
AI Tools
Organizational Strategy

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 ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes200Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for Awkward Silences

Latest Episodes

Producer'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 incredibly grateful to our guests, listeners and hosts who've been part of this j... more

Producer'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 194 (scheduled for Oct. 27th featuring a roundtable discussion on synthet... more

Erin 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. Jared explains why scale and rigor do not have to be opposing forces an... more

YouTube

This 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. This episodes's guest, Jess Holbrook, who leads UX research for Microsoft ... more

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Recent Guests

John Whalen
Founder of Brilliant Experience, cognitive scientist, author, and AI for UX podcast host
Brilliant Experience
Episode: #193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question.
Lija Hogan
Principal of customer experience consulting at Auros and teaching professor at the University of Michigan School of Information
Auros
Episode: #193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question.
Mike Mace
Director of solution marketing at Auros with more than 25 years in the tech industry
Auros
Episode: #193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question.
Sal Criscione
Senior UX researcher and research leader with experience at JPMorgan Chase and Acton Software
Episode: #193 - AI won't make you a better UX researcher unless you do the hard work
Jared Forney
Principal Research Operations at Okta
Okta
Episode: #192 - Slowing Things Down to Speed Up Research with Jared Forney of Okta
Jess Holbrook
Head of UX Research at Microsoft AI
Microsoft
Episode: #191 - Throwback: UX Lessons from a Decade Researching AI with Jess Holbrook of Microsoft
Alec Levin
Co-founder and CEO of Learners
Learners
Episode: #190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin
Ruby Pryor
Founder at Rex, UXR and strategic design consultant
Rex
Episode: #189 - Throwback: Quantifying Research Impact with Ruby Pryor of Rex
Sam Ladner
Author and researcher focused on qualitative methods; affiliated with Workday
Workday
Episode: #188 - Why AI Can't Replace Qualitative Research with Sam Ladner of Workday

Hosts

Erin May
Growth and marketing leader at User Interviews
Carol Guest
Product leader at User Interviews

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 178 ratings
  • Great content but I dread listening…

    I listen to this podcast because they people the hosts talk to are fascinating and have great insights to share, but the production feels really shoddy and the hosts' interview styles feel stilted and awkward. They tend to start by asking fully formed questions that, by the middle of the podcast, have devolved into personal musings with a question mark on the end, resulting in some VERY narrow-in-scope and often leading questions. The hosts almost undoubtedly interview users as part of their nor... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    BrettBrettBrett1
    Germany4 years ago
  • Net Promoter Score = 11 out of 10

    Really though, I talk to people about things I’ve heard on this podcast.

    I’m new to podcasts and to UX but I’ve been listening regularly on my daily commute. This podcast is full of relevant, interesting, and useful information about UX research and has helped me feel more confident moving into the UX field. They do their research and keep it fun. Looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ganjayogi
    United States6 years ago
  • There is nothing awkward about this podcast

    As someone who is not a full time researcher, I love this podcast. I try to get everyone on my engineering team into the research sessions we conduct and having Erin and JH guide me through it is great. They ask all the questions I would of these great guests.

    If you're a full time researcher or just someone who does research like me, I can't recommend this podcast enough.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bob the hype man
    United States6 years ago
  • Awesome Podcast

    Informative and fun! Cool guests and awesome hosts! Best UX podcast out there

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scuba Steve1911
    United States6 years ago
  • best UX research podcast

    The most engaging UX research podcast out there.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lambcaster
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners criticize the interview style as occasionally stilted or leading, and raise concerns about recording and production quality.
Listeners value practical, relevant guidance that helps them build confidence in UX research and apply what they learn at work.
Many praise the range of guests, from established technology companies to smaller teams and people conducting research as part of broader roles.
The hosts are often described as relatable, engaging, and thoughtful, with conversations that balance expertise and an approachable tone.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#195
Ireland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#218
New Zealand/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question.
Q: What does good governance look like?
The guests recommend grounding synthetic representations in research with real people, being transparent about how their data will be used, setting guardrails, communicating uncertainty, and routing employees to reliable customer evidence.
#193 - Can synthetic research replace real users? That's the wrong question.
Q: How do the three of you define synthetic research?
The panel describes it as a broad range of methods, from synthetic experts and AI personas to interactive populations grounded in interviews and other real research data.
#193 - AI won't make you a better UX researcher unless you do the hard work
Q: What would you suggest to those folks who want to start learning more about quantitative research as a good starting point?
Sal recommends finding a trusted source of learning, especially the book Quantifying the User Experience, and using AI as an addition rather than a foundation. AI can help explain concepts, offer examples, and make practice more engaging.
#193 - AI won't make you a better UX researcher unless you do the hard work
Q: How do you use AI to work through a quantitative concept until you know that you understand it, rather than simply getting to an answer that sounds convincing?
Sal learns a concept first, then practices applying it in a realistic scenario. He chooses and explains a statistical procedure, calculates the data by hand, and checks whether his results are correct.
#191 - Throwback: UX Lessons from a Decade Researching AI with Jess Holbrook of Microsoft
Q: What is the ideal team structure for AI-focused UX research, and how do you organize around tech stacks?
Her approach favors mixed teams with a blend of AI-experienced and non-AI-experienced researchers, embedding researchers within product areas, and prioritizing domain expertise while maintaining agility and clear priorities.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Awkward Silences

What is Awkward Silences about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Erin May and Carol Guest host practical conversations about UX research, qualitative methods, and the work of understanding people to build better products. They interview researchers, designers, research operations leaders, and executives from technology companies, consultancies, academia, and smaller organizations. Guests share career experiences alongside usable advice on research planning, measurement, stakeholder influence, and communicating findings.

A recurring focus is how AI is changing research and design: where it can speed up workflows, where human judgment remains essential, and how teams can adopt new tools without losing rigor or empathy. The format pairs industry perspectives with concrete frameworks and candid discussion, ... more

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1. NN/G UX Podcast
2. Creative Confidence Podcast
3. Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
4. Worklife with Molly Graham
5. TED Talks Daily

How many episodes of Awkward Silences are there?

Awkward Silences launched 8 years ago and published 200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Awkward Silences?

Recent guests on Awkward Silences include:

1. John Whalen
2. Lija Hogan
3. Mike Mace
4. Sal Criscione
5. Jared Forney
6. Jess Holbrook
7. Alec Levin
8. Ruby Pryor

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