Best Turnitin Podcasts (2026)

1
#178 - How to Measure What Matters with Lyndsi Lee of Turnitin 47:12

Play Pause

25d ago47:12

47:12

Ben 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 centers on outcome-based assessment, a framework that breaks user experiences into atomic outcomes. Rather than asking broad satisfaction questions, this approach focuses on spec…

1
#179 - The Future of Research Operations with Kate Towsey LIVE 55:28

12d ago55:28

55:28

Erin 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 documentary series on the future of research ops, including her fascinating experience co-creating content with AI. She reveals how research ops teams are increasingly surv…

1
#177 - From Informing to Influencing with Shalin Pei & Natalie Golub of Coinbase 52:46

1M ago52:46

52:46

Ben 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 network that offers secure and low cost ways to build decentralized apps, essentially helping create what they call the new internet. The conversation reveals how their small…

1
#176 - Building a Research Program from the Ground Up ft. Microsoft Azure Data 36:30

2M ago36:30

36:30

Erin 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 shares their systematic five-step approach for creating research programs that result in stakeholder satisfaction while delivering insights every 1.5 weeks. The Azure Data team …

1
#175 - The Scourge of Wasted Research with Jake Burghardt of Integrating Research 50:18

2M ago50:18

50:18

Ben 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 insights. Jake breaks down the critical problem of research waste, where valuable insights from studies get left behind instead of informing future decisions and planning c…

1
# 174 - Qualitative Research's Enduring Impact with Nancy Baum of C+R Research LIVE 50:14

2M ago50:14

50:14

The popularity of AI moderation tools, increased attention on "big" data sets (and streams), and the ongoing uncertainty in the research job market have (understandably) led some to wonder about the future of qualitative research. Our guest today, however, is bullish, and explains why. Nancy Baum leads the qualitative research practice at C+R Resea…

1
Research Ops 2.0, Episode 5: The People of ResearchOps 54:03

3M ago54:03

54:03

In just ten years, ResearchOps has transformed from an obscure Silicon Valley speciality into a vibrant global profession. Despite economic headwinds, ResearchOps roles are emerging across industries far beyond tech, and the field is evolving at breathtaking speed. But where have we come from, and where are we going? In this five-part audio documen…

1
Research Ops 2.0, Episode 4: Building Enduring Systems Amidst Constant Change 48:33

3M ago48:33

48:33

In just ten years, ResearchOps has transformed from an obscure Silicon Valley speciality into a vibrant global profession. Despite economic headwinds, ResearchOps roles are emerging across industries far beyond tech, and the field is evolving at breathtaking speed. But where have we come from, and where are we going? In this five-part audio documen…

1
Research Ops 2.0, Episode 3: Taking a Platform Approach to ResearchOps 46:00

4M ago46:00

46:00

In just ten years, ResearchOps has transformed from an obscure Silicon Valley speciality into a vibrant global profession. Despite economic headwinds, ResearchOps roles are emerging across industries far beyond tech, and the field is evolving at breathtaking speed. But where have we come from, and where are we going? In this five-part audio documen…

1
#173 - Prototyping AI in Live Research with Bold Insight & Panasonic Well 54:31

4M ago54:31

54:31

Erin May sits down with Larry Becker and Gavin Lew of Bold Insight to explore how researchers can prototype AI experiences that don't exist yet. They're joined by Katie Johnson, Global Head of Research for Panasonic Well. All share their methods for testing everything from voice interfaces for blind users to family wellness bots using low fidelity …

1
Research Ops 2.0, Episode 2: Leveraging AI for Research Superstardom 51:24

4M ago51:24

51:24

In just 10 years, ResearchOps has transformed from an obscure Silicon Valley speciality into a vibrant global profession. Despite economic headwinds, ResearchOps roles are emerging across industries far beyond tech, and the field is evolving at breathtaking speed. But where has it come from, and where is it going? In this five-part audio documentar…

1
Special Release! Research Ops 2.0, Episode 1: The Evolution of ResearchOps 43:46

5M ago43:46

43:46

In just 10 years, ResearchOps has transformed from an obscure Silicon Valley speciality into a vibrant global profession. Despite economic headwinds, ResearchOps roles are emerging across industries far beyond tech, and the field is evolving at breathtaking speed. But where has it come from, and where is it going? In this five-part audio documentar…

1
#172 - Summer Throwback: Caitria O'Neill on the Problems of Research Reports 46:48

5M ago46:48

46:48

Welcome to our final Summer Throwback. We're revisiting some of our favorite conversations and insights. We're closing with a topic that technology like AI—and shrinking attention space—is affecting: reporting results. Our guest, Caitria O'Neill, had a sense that stakeholders weren't really engaging with her results (or their implications) as she'd…

1
#171 - Summer Throwback: Kate Towsey on Starting a ReOps Practice 44:24

5M ago44:24

44:24

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of our favorite episodes. This week's guest is Kate Towsey, who helped spotlight the relevance, urgency, and importance of Research Operations (ReOps) to business. This conversation is from her time leading ReOps at Atlassian. She breaks down the rationale for ReOps and the steps folks can take to…

1
#170 - Summer Throwback: Andrea Amorós on Influencing Stakeholders with Strategic Research 45:26

6M ago45:26

45:26

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This week, Andrea Amoros, a Senior Principal Researcher at Ingram Micro talks strategic research (which is different from a research strategy). Andrea shares her definition of strategic research, its value for a company, and showcasing that value for s…

1
#169 - Summer Throwback: Eniola Abioye on Breaking into User Research 51:37

6M ago51:37

51:37

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, were we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This week, Eniola Abioye, UX Researcher at Meta, discusses what it takes to break into the user research industry. Her advice on creating application materials, searching for roles, and preparing for the interview process offer evergreen insight for any…

1
#168 - Summer Throwback: Amy Chess on Asking Better Questions 40:00

7M ago40:00

40:00

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This week features Amy Chess (then at Amazon) unpacking arguably the most important research skill: asking questions. She shares what makes a "good" question, how questions should connect to insights and impact, and how you can improve your question-cr…

1
#167 - Summer Throwback: Teresa Torres on Continuous Discovery Methods 42:26

7M ago42:26

42:26

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This week brings back an evergreen conversation with Product Talk's Teresa Torres on continuous discovery methods. Since this episode first aired, more companies have brought non-researchers (such as Product Managers, Designers, and Developers) into th…

1
#166 - Summer Throwback: Erika Hall on Why Surveys (Almost Always) Suck 43:35

8M ago43:35

43:35

Welcome to Summer Throwbacks, where we revisit some of Awkward Silences' most memorable episodes. This week features a conversation with Erika Hall on the misuses of surveys. They're overused, often shoddily designed, and can get in the way of a better approach for the question (which might include not doing research at all). This topic has only gr…

1
#165 - High Impact Research on Embedded Teams with Hannah Ghidey of Etsy 35:16

8M ago35:16

35:16

Embedded research teams—where UXRs are dedicated to a single product area—are popular. The proximity to design, product, and engineering stakeholders increases subject-matter expertise and user insight integration. But how can those working in this structure balance deep diving product-specific work with longer-term strategic opportunities? Hannah …

1
#164 - UX Lessons from a Decade Researching AI with Jess Holbrook of Microsoft 49:29

9M ago49:29

49:29

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 G…

1
#163 - Creating Mindful Product Experiences with Jay Vidyarthi of Still Ape 48:46

9M ago48:46

48:46

In this episode, Erin and Ben chat with Jay Vidyarthi, designer, author, and founder at Still Ape. Jay is a leading thinker around designing mindful product experiences. He's also published a new book, RECLAIM YOUR MIND, which examines the balance of technology use and mindfulness in our everyday lives. Jay shares his journey to working in the mind…

1
#162 - Empowering PwDR Using Research Education with Daniel Gottlieb of Microsoft 48:37

10M ago48:37

48:37

Many research activities are completed by non-researchers, but whose work is benefited from user insights. Generally, these folks—designers, PMs, developers, among others—are called "PwDR" or "people who do research." In addition to their own work, many UX researchers and operations specialists are focusing on educating and empowering this group. W…

1
Episode 3: Professor Raywat Deonandan 43:46

10M ago43:46

43:46

In this episode, Mish sits down with Professor Professor Raywat Deonandan, a global health epidemiologist, award-winning novelist, and uOttawa's research chair in university teaching, to unpack AI's growing role in academia and around the world. From students using AI for fraud or support to its unexpected potential as a digital therapist, they exp…

1
#161 - Learn More Faster About Customers with Michael Margolis of GV 51:09

10M ago51:09

51:09

This episode is all about learning from customers...early and often. Our guest, Michael Margolis, UX Research Partner at GV (formerly Google Ventures), has made a career of helping teams do this successfully. He joins to share his Bullseye Customer Method, which is the result of his experience (it's also the subject of his latest book, "Learn More …

1
Episode 2: Professor André Vellino 57:46

11M ago57:46

57:46

In this episode of AI and Higher Learning, host Mish Boutet sits down with André Vellino, Professor and Director of the University of Ottawa's School of Information Studies. With a passion for understanding how machines reason about information, Professor Vellino shares insights from his extensive research on automated reasoning to share how AI is …

1
Episode 1: Phyllis L.F. Rippey, PhD 59:13

11M ago59:13

59:13

Phyllis Rippey, Professor of Sociology at the University of Ottawa and researcher in gender studies and inequality, has been thinking a lot about AI lately. From web design to robotic-sounding papers from students, she's seeing firsthand how this technology is shaping the way we learn. But when it comes to human ideas, creativity, and research she …

1
#160 - Where Design Thinking Went Wrong with Brett Krajewski of Accelerant Research 44:12

11M ago44:12

44:12

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 thes…

1
#159 - Building Cross-Functional Research Impact with Judy Xu of Salesforce 33:31

11M ago33:31

33:31

Creating strong stakeholder relationships is important for UX researchers at any company. Doing this at "enterprise" companies—large organizations with many products and an international footprint—can feel daunting. Our guest, Judy Xu, has successfully navigated the scale of enterprises like Hubspot, Meta, and Salesforce, where they work as a Senio…

1
#158 - Leading Design as a Researcher with Emily Wurgler of McDonald's 44:17

12M ago44:17

44:17

Erin and Carol are joined by Emily Wurgler, Global Director of Experience Design at McDonald's, whose journey has had many moments of evolution and iteration. She started as an academic researcher in sociology, transitioned to innovation research at growth stage companies, and ultimately to her leading enterprise research and design teams. Emily ta…

1
#157 - The Future of Design Collaboration with Andrew Hogan of Figma 41:09

1y ago41:09

41:09

Few companies are most closely associated with UX design right now than Figma, which not only helps designers get their work done, but serves as a bridge for others to get more involved in the process. Erin and Carol are joined by Andrew Hogan, Figma's Head of Insights, to explore the nature of collaboration today and how the structure of that coll…

1
#156 - Change Management with Graham Gardner of U.S. Bank 35:44

1y ago35:44

35:44

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 p…

1
#155 - Exploratory Design Research with Will Notini of IDEO 40:17

1y ago40:17

40:17

The consulting firm IDEO helped pioneer "design thinking" as a way to create products that better solve customer wants and needs, creating fans. Over 30 years later, the interplay between design and research has never been more important. Will Notini joins to dig into that interplay—how research is at the heart of design and vice versa. In particul…

1
#154 - Building the UX Team of Tomorrow with Brad Orego of Webflow 45:05

1y ago45:05

45:05

The craft of UX research is at an all-time high. How research leaders structure, staff, and scale their teams is more important than ever. Erin and Carol are joined by Brad Orego, Head of Research at Webflow, to talk all about the ways we can build better research teams. Brad shares their three-step process for creating a research practice that's r…

1
#153 - Security-Minded UX with Caroline Morchio of Dashlane 33:55

1+ y ago33:55

33:55

In our Season 3 finale, Erin and Carol are joined by Caroline Morchio, Head of UX at Dashlane, a credential management platform. Their conversation explores UX research best practices at a security-minded organization like Dashlane, highlighting other what teams can bring to their own work. Caroline shares the ways she structures the UX team to sup…

1
#152 - The Future of Research in Three Trends with Jo Widawski of Maze 43:05

1+ y ago43:05

43:05

Erin and Carol are joined by Jo Widawski, founder and CEO of Maze, to discuss the major findings from their "Future of User Research" report, which unearthed three trends animating researchers, PMs, and founders alike: 1) the demand for research is growing, 2) research democratization empowers stronger decision making, and 3) new technology—like ge…

1
#151 - Improving Your UX Research Efficiency with Auzita Irani of AirBnB 54:47

1+ y ago54:47

54:47

Erin is joined by Auzita Irani, a research manager at AirBnB to discuss being a more efficient user experience researcher. In today's work world, resources—time, budget, headcount—always seem to be in limited supply. How can we balance these things along with other important elements of our research practices? Auzita has been thinking about "doing …

1
#150 - The Future of UX Research with Judd Antin, Dave Hora, and Christiana Lackner 50:38

1+ y ago50:38

50:38

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'…

1
#149 - Research Tactics for Designers & PMs with Tyler Wanlass of CommandBar 51:26

1+ y ago51:26

51:26

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 environment…

1
#148 - Connecting Research to Revenue with Claudia Natasia of Riley AI 51:25

1+ y ago51:25

51:25

In this episode, Erin and Carol tackle one form of research impact growing in importance and necessity: revenue. Their guest is Claudia Natasia, co-founder and CEO of Riley AI. Before starting Riley, Claudia grew product teams at early-stage companies and worked in the financial industry. These experiences showed her the importance of linking user …

1
#147 - UX Research in Healthcare with Nadyne Richmond 47:19

1+ y ago47:19

47:19

Erin and Carol explore the complexities of healthcare research with Nadyne Richmond, a healthcare design advisor with a background in big tech who pivoted to healthcare research a decade ago to tackle the pressing issues she saw in the system. Nadyne underscores the nuances of conducting user experience (UX) research within healthcare settings, unp…

1
#146 - Building a UX Research Team From Scratch with Julian Della Mattia of the180 49:10

1+ y ago49:10

49:10

Erin and special co-host Ben Wiedmaier are joined by Julian Della Mattia of the180 for a deep dive into being UX team-of-one. Julian has been the first user researcher at a number of companies and shares his top to-dos, milestones, and things to consider before accepting such a role. The episode digs into the ways a solo UXR can start making an imp…

1
#145 - Kick-Start Creativity Using Desk Research with Victoria Sakal of Wonder 39:42

2y ago39:42

39:42

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 bet…

1
#144 - The Craft of Sample Sizes with Lauren Stern of WHOOP 46:46

2y ago46:46

46:46

In this episode, Carol and Erin dive into all things research sample sizes with Lauren Stern. No matter your experience with user research, you'll need to recruit folks, making this an evergreen topic. Lauren has coached both new-to-research and junior UXRs on this critical topic and she shares some of her best advice. Lauren shares importance cons…

1
#143 - Harnessing AI For Better Insights with George Whitfield of MIT and FindOurView 40:40

2y ago40:40

40:40

Carol and Erin welcome George Whitfield, an expert in applying AI to the analysis of qualitative data. George discusses the intricate challenges of leveraging language models to interpret expansive open-ended data (like interview transcripts), emphasizing the importance of context and not just keyword or topic identification. They'll dig into the c…

1
Made in Ghana insults that don’t hurt anymore Eg. Gelaway 🇬🇭 6:26

2y ago6:26

6:26

Happy Ghana Month

1
#142 - Quantifying Research Impact with Ruby Pryor of Rex 47:44

2y ago47:44

47:44

In this episode Carol and Erin are joined by Ruby Pryor, founder of Rex, a consulting firm specializing in UX research and strategic design. They explore the world of measuring the impact of UX research. with Pryor introducing a four-level impact assessment framework. Ruby shares a four-level assessment framework and the conversation moves to prior…

1
#141 - The Chaos Theory of Event Networking with Bryan Dosono of eBay 41:10

2y ago41:10

41:10

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 emphasizi…

1
Afia Barcelona gives Dwomoh funeral crying tutorials 15:35

2y ago15:35

15:35

This episode is dedicated to the late Nana Gladys and Nana Opoku Ware

1
#140 - Should You Leave Academia? Advice for Researchers with Joe Stubenrauch 47:00

2y ago47:00

47:00

The decision to leave academia can be difficult. Often, it involves giving up a stable career path and a lifetime commitment to a particular field of study. But as Joe Stubenrauch explains, the move also offers researchers the opportunity to pursue new career paths, improve work-life balance and geographic flexibility, and reinvent their lives. And…