19. Kyle Soucy: Founder of UsableInterface.com pt. 2
Kyle Soucy is the Founding Principal of UsableInterface.com.In the second part of our conversation, I asked Kyle about the role of AI in UX research, especially when it comes to creating journey maps and personas. She shared key takeaways from her recent talk at the UXPA conference, where she emphasized that AI should be seen as a tool to enhance—not replace—human insight. We also explored projective techniques, which Kyle uses to surface deeper user needs and emotions during research. She explained why these methods are so powerful and gave examples of how they can lead to richer insights. Finally, Kyle opened up about her current journey writing a book on projective techniques, and why she’s focused on making the content practical and actionable for UX professionals.________For more about UX, check out UserExperience.org!
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18. Kyle Soucy: Founder of UsableInterface.com pt. 1
Kyle Soucy is the Founding Principal of UsableInterface.com, a UX research consultancy specializing in qualitative user research and usability testing for major clients like Comcast, HP, and Pfizer. With over 25 years of experience, she has helped design intuitive interfaces for a wide range of products. Kyle has held leadership roles in UX communities, including founding the NH UXPA and chairing PhillyCHI, and is currently the Career Center Lead for the IA Conference. She is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer, with recordings of her talks available on Woman Talk Design. Kyle also hosts The UX Consultants Lounge podcast, a space for consultants to connect and share insights.In the first part of our conversation, we talked about Kyle’s journey into UX research, including her early career path and the challenges she faced along the way. She reflected on how she found her footing in the field and what drew her to qualitative research and usability testing. We then explored her transition from working in corporate environments to starting her own consulting practice. Kyle shared valuable insights from founding Usable Interface, including the realities of consulting work and client relationships. We also touched on her deep involvement in the UX community and why she believes networking and mentorship are essential for professional growth.Chapters00:00 Intro02:42 Kyle's Journey into UX Research06:00 Reflections on Career Path and Early Challenges12:59 Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting18:17 Building Usable Interface and Consulting Insights27:08 Community Involvement and the Importance of Networking
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17. Scott Todaro: Co-Founder of Plannuh (AI marketing platform) pt.2
Scott is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 32 years of experience leading marketing for both B2B and consumer companies, contributing to five successful exits, including four acquisitions and one IPO. He also teaches at UMass and Babson College and is the co-author of The Next CMO, which has over 40,000 copies in circulation.In the 2nd part of our conversation, Scott and I discussed how AI is reshaping human decision-making, disrupting the workforce, and raising questions about purpose in an automated future. We explored the ethical and energy challenges of AI, as well as the evolving role of marketing and the importance of understanding user needs in product design.Mic drop quote: "A human without purpose is a scary person."
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16. Scott Todaro: Co-Founder of Plannuh (AI marketing platform) pt.1
Scott is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 32 years of experience leading marketing for both B2B and consumer companies, contributing to five successful exits, including four acquisitions and one IPO. He also teaches at UMass and Babson College and is the co-author of The Next CMO, which has over 40,000 copies in circulation.In this episode, Scott Todaro shared insights on marketing, entrepreneurship, and AI, reflecting on career lessons, the evolving industry, and the importance of vision and people. He also discussed AI’s impact on jobs and offered advice for those starting their careers.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Scott Todaro and His Journey03:25 Reflections on Early Career and Market Challenges06:24 The Evolution of Marketing Over the Years08:51 Navigating AI in Marketing11:38 Lessons from Successes and Failures14:31 Vision, Strategy, and Execution in Business17:14 The Importance of Flexibility in Business19:57 Experiences with Steve Jobs and Leadership Insights22:49 The Role of AI in Future Job Markets__________For a free daily email with curated podcast picks, check out podcast.today!Special thanks to Avi Joy for connecting Scott and I :)
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15. Smit Desai: Conversational AI researcher
Smit Desai is a conversational AI researcher and Assistant Professor at Northeastern University. Together with Clark Ohlenbusch (a fellow student I met at Umass Boston), we discussed the nuances of conversational interfaces, particularly focusing on voice technology. Smit shared insights from his research on how users interact with voice interfaces, emphasizing the differences between graphical and voice interfaces, the phenomenon of anthropomorphism, and the implications of creating an illusion of agency in AI. The conversation also touched on the emotional bonds users form with technology and the potential risks associated with trusting these systems too much. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of human-machine interaction and the importance of being mindful of the information shared with technology.You can find out more about Smit and his work here: smitdesai.netMain takeaways:Understanding user mental models is crucial for interface design.The illusion of agency in AI is a significant design choice.There are significant ethical considerations in how we design and market AI.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Conversational Interfaces02:44 Understanding User Experience in Voice Interfaces10:04 Anthropomorphism in Human-Machine Interaction17:36 Ethical Considerations in AI and User Trust
Österreich