Rethink.fm

In this episode my special guest, Rho Lall, an AI analytics engineer, discuss his role in helping executives cut through noise and amplify leadership by bringing clarity to complex problems. He emphasizes the importance of data in AI, likening it to a left tackle protecting the quarterback. We also discuss the need for a clear AI strategy, starting with understanding current data maturity and monetization steps.

Today’s special guest, Jessica Talisman, is an Information Architect with over 25 years of experience shaping enterprise architectures, taxonomies, ontologies, and knowledge systems across industries. With a Masters in Library and Information Science and a MicroMasters in Design Thinking, she brings deep expertise in building information frameworks that enhance user experiences, support business goals, and power machine learning. We are having a passionate discussion about data clarity, knowledge sharing, and innovation in this enterprise area.

In this episode, I sit down with career coach Carmelina Piedra to talk about what really drives career growth and business success. We explore her coaching services that span job seeking, career development, and business support, and why networking delivers far better results (a whopping 70–80%) compared to just sending out applications (only about 10%). Carmelina shares how she tailors her coaching for individuals and groups, including job-seeking cohorts, and breaks down the mix of people she supports: job seekers, proactive career builders, and even businesses and fellow coaches. We also dive into why tracking metrics and outcomes matters so much for long-term growth. Plus, Carmelina introduces her new venture, designed to help coaches launch and scale their practices. If you enjoy these conversations with industry leaders and Super ICs, support the podcast by becoming a sponsor, learn more, and help future-proof your career/teams: Contact Cathi Bosco Related interesting reads or resources Indivi

In this conversation, Pavel Samsonov, a Problem Designer, discusses the importance of problem scoping and definition in design, criticizing the linear approach of the Double Diamond model. He emphasizes the need for reflection and feedback loops in the design process, advocating for a more strategic and continuous learning-first approach. We also critique the misguided emphasis on Design Thinking and the democratization of research, arguing for a more integrated and collaborative approach to design within organizations. You may know Pavel Samsonov's work through his writing. He publishes a newsletter called Product Picnic - go subscribe today! It’s important work. I’m very grateful to be able to amplify his strategic message as we recorded this episode together. If you enjoy these conversations with industry leaders and Super ICs, support the podcast by becoming a sponsor, learn more, and help future-proof your career/teams: Contact Cathi Bosco Related interesting reads or resources Product Picni

"In essence, we're bridging the chasm between scattered insights and meaningful outcomes." Join me and my special guest, Dwayne King, Founder and CEO of Rutabaga, as we discuss a pervasive challenge, the fragmentation and misalignment within product teams. With over two decades in product development and experience transformation, Dwayne has mastered the intricacies of human-centered innovation, UX design, and research. Rutabaga serves as the pivotal System of Action, unifying teams around authentic customer needs and ensuring the accelerated delivery of products that truly resonate. I am an advocate of Knowledge Graphs in research discovery, so we'll reflect on the state of the technology, including challenges and opportunities with AI. If you enjoy these conversations with industry leaders and Super ICs, support the podcast by becoming a sponsor, learn more, and get involved: Contact Cathi Bosco Related interesting reads or resources Rutabaga Dwayne King - LinkedIn Judd Antin - The

My special guest is Nikki Anderson, who helps User Researchers go from overlooked to indispensable. You can work with Nikki to sharpen your strategy, communicate your impact, and influence decision-making. We're pulling back the curtain today and recording our very first conversation together. Nikki Anderson, a User Researcher with 11+ years of experience, shares nine impact formulas for UX research. The 9 Practical UX Research Impact Formulas help teams unlock less familiar impact areas where we can measure the impact of our work. We also discuss challenges in AI research, including stakeholder buy-in and the importance of leveling tactical research to strategic. Action Items: Follow up on the Trust Value Management and Trust Coherence Algorithm resource mentioned. Use the document, which includes the 9 user research impact formulas and examples. Explore ways to start small when expanding research to new user segments, such as conducting usability tests with an elderly population. If you

You will not want to miss this conversation, trust me. Rachel Maron and Sabino Marquez discussed their work on operationalizing trust and the importance of trust in business. Rachel, co-founder and CEO of Trust Value Management, emphasized the need for trust to be measurable and scalable. Sabino, Chief Innovation Officer of Trustable, introduced the Trust Coherence Algorithm, which he invented, which models trustworthiness as a predictive financial asset. They highlighted the emotional supply chain, the impact of trust on UX, and the importance of trust in customer relationships. We also discussed the role of trust in attracting top talent, reducing churn, and the long-term benefits of maintaining trust. Action Items: Explore the Trustable.tv website and schedule a call with Rachel Maron. Integrate Trust Personas into go-to-market planning for the CRO, CMO, and CPO. GitHub Reinterpret the "security backlog" as "trust work" that needs to be prioritized. If you enjoy these conversations with

In this episode, I’m joined by Joshua Marowitz, Staff Product Designer at OneSignal, to unpack key takeaways from Figma’s Config 2025. We dive into quality and craft in human-centric design, and how AI is shaking up the design world, sparking excitement and unease across teams. We also explore today’s biggest challenges in design and product development, and highlight standout moments from the conference, including John Lepore’s vision for designing optimistic futures and Keegan McNamara’s bold take on the “maximalist theory of minimalism.” It's a rich conversation full of insight and inspiration, don’t miss it. If you enjoy these conversations with Super ICs, support the podcast by becoming a sponsor, learn more and get involved: Contact Cathi Bosco Related interesting reads or resources The maximalist theory of minimalism with Keegan McNamara Designing positive futures with John LePore Joshua Marowitz: LinkedIn Config 2025: Crafting quality that endures with Karri Saarinen OneSigna

WPCampus is launching a major research initiative, “The State of WordPress in Higher Education,” in partnership with Human Made. Join the conversation to explore the current landscape of WordPress in higher ed, uncover key challenges and opportunities, and gain insights into how web teams are shaping the digital future of academia. Project timeline and deliverables May 2, 2025: Launch the survey May 23, 2025: Close the survey July 10, 2025:Presentation webinar on key findings from the survey You will receive an invite upon completion of the survey July 14, 2025: Publication of findings report Rachel Cherry founded WPCampus in 2015 and has spent most of her career in higher education. The survey aims to gather insights on how people use WordPress in higher education today, and we hope listeners will take the time to fill it out to help the community. Related interesting reads or resources Complete the survey: https://wpcampus.typeform.com/wpinhighered Learn more: WPCampus Resea

The UX/AI Coop is a response to the rapid introduction of AI into the world of User Experience. It is similar to the UXPA or IXDA, but with the major difference being an invitation for developers, data scientists, and product managers to create a larger community. It’s a true cooperative in that we need everyone to contribute to form an open-source marketplace. The UX/AI Cooperative being launched by Kevin Schumacher, Jonathan Kempf, and a few others who share the same vision and understand the same world need. "Over the last couple of years there’s been a universal shift happening in the world of design, and most UX practitioners were too busy building prototypes and design systems in Figma to realize it was bleeding into our world.  There’s a lot of work to do to build a non-profit organization, but we already have many people interested in helping build our initial infrastructure." - Co-founder, Kevin Schumacher AI is just raw power and potential right now, but that potentials too tempting and

We are discussing the evolving landscape of AI in UX research, emphasizing the importance of adapting to new tools and methodologies. John Whalen, PhD, is propelling professionals and businesses into the future through the potential of AI to streamline research processes, reducing a seven-week study to seven days. We share insights from his course, which covered prompt engineering, AI-moderated interviews, and Agents (synthetic users). He notes the skepticism among researchers but stressed the benefits of AI in scaling and cost-saving. Whalen also addresses ethical considerations and the need for researchers to embrace AI while maintaining a real human connection. We are excited about the potential for multi-agent systems and discuss the importance of security in AI tools. John's courses empower professionals and businesses to: Learn better prompt engineering techniques. Try AI-moderated interview tools and understand their capabilities and limitations. Explore and experiment with AI-powered

In this quick (and slightly selfish) update, I’m excited to share that I’ll be publishing episodes more frequently. I’m also announcing some amazing upcoming guests—you won’t want to miss what they have to share. As the podcast grows, I’m also on the lookout for sponsors who believe in thoughtful design, emerging tech, and meaningful conversations. If that sounds like you or your brand, let’s talk! Related interesting reads or resources Design for How People Think - John Whalen PhD uxGPT: Mastering AI Assistants for User Experience Designers and Product Management Professionals - Patrick Neeman Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World - Parmy Olson

Jeremy Miller is a well-respected veteran Design leader many know from the popular podcast "Beyond UX Design". He is continuously empowering UX professionals with the soft skills that make them more effective. In this episode we are discussing his book Beyond UX Design - Master Your Craft Beyond Pixels & Prototypes. Jeremy's impact on individuals, organizations, and field of UX more broadly is increasingly impactful. He continues to inspire and educate through his podcast, consultancy work, and mentorship. This book is essential for all UX designers because, like Jeremy says, "you can't build great software without great relationships." In each chapter, experts also shared meaningful, real-world perspectives and valuable insights. Gift this book to every member of your team and join the conversation we recorded about the book. Related interesting reads or resources The Book - Beyond UX Design, Master Your Craft Beyond Pixels & Prototypes The Podcast - Beyond UX Design VUCA - The VUCA Con

Join my conversation with web accessibility leader Natalie MacLees! Natalie has been working in web development and digital accessibility, for over 20 years. She is the co-founder and COO of a small software company NSquared focused on building accessible, user-friendly tools for small businesses.  Throughout her career, she has remained a passionate advocate for accessibility and has made it her mission to train developers and designers to incorporate accessibility practices into their work. You should know that with Natalie's resources at AAArdvark for Accessibility, teams get a full accessibility platform that helps make auditing easier and faster while still maintaining high-quality work. AAArdvark does not offer a misleading quick-fix overlay, but rather offers tools for designers, developers, and accessibility professionals to quickly and easily identify, track, and fix accessibility issues on websites. Related interesting reads or resources Perform professional accessibility audits: Aaardv

In this episode, we continue a critical conversation about the challenges we face together on computer science, ethics, and unintentional consequences with emerging technologies that lack defined purpose and regulations. Morten Rand-Hendriksen has published countless valuable courses on LinkedIn Learning reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers from all over the world. He also contributes to the web community as a public speaker, author, educator, developer, and design philosopher. Related interesting reads or resources Invite Morten to speak: Thinking out loud about the internet Code of Ethics for Bloggers, Social Media and Content Creators Recent Talk: Y OSLO - TO­WARDS VAL­UES AND ETHICS IN DE­SIGN AND TECH­NOL­O­GY Towards a Technoethics (Abstract) - Mario Bunge Your Face Belongs to Us: A Secretive Startup's Quest to End Privacy as We Know It - by Kashmir Hill

I am talking with Jessica Ivins about strengthening stakeholder relationships via UX research operations in this episode. Jessica is the Lead UX Researcher at The Predictive Index, overseeing research and research operations. She plans, conducts, and synthesizes strategic UX research projects that provide critical insights for organizational stakeholders. We've got some actionable professional strategies and resources to share too. Related interesting reads or resources An Essential Tool for Capturing Your Career Accomplishments by Jessica Ivins Leaders of Awesomeness - Dr. Leslie Jensen-Inman, Jared Spool, and the team at Center Centre – UIE launched Leaders of Awesomeness, an online community of more than 46,000 UX design, research, and content leaders - Free to join Thanks to Vitaly Friedman for the following useful links: How To Manage Challenging Stakeholders and Influence Without Authority (free eBook, 95 pages) (https://lnkd.in/e6RY6dQB), a practical guide on how to deal with di

In this episode, I am joined by special guest, Jared Spool! We are talking about transformational UX research and design strategies. We cover a lot of actionable insights and share a few laughs too. You will learn about how to evaluate the readiness and urgency required to make a maximum strategic UX impact within organizations, what actual leadership means, and how to improve future experiences with research-led, human-centric practices and more. If you and your design/product teams need weekly motivation and resources, join the Leaders of Awesomeness community or sign the team up for a deeper intensive. Lift up your career and your organization with an amazing knowledge base and uniquely thoughtful teacher, Jared Spool. Related interesting reads or resources Leaders of Awesomeness - Dr. Leslie Jensen-Inman, Jared Spool, and the team at Center Centre – UIE launched Leaders of Awesomeness, an online community of more than 46,000 UX design, research, and content leaders - Free to join

Hey, everybody, it's Cathi Bosco from rethink.fm the forward-thinking podcast about experience design. Join me and special guests to discuss effective design, technology, and the intersection of helping people and entrepreneurship. From user experience research to product roadmaps. We've got you covered. The big news today is that I will officially be taking over the rethink.fm podcast, founded by Jackie D'Elia and then co-hosted by Jackie, Monique Dubbelman, and myself. Moving forward, I will be conducting one-on-one interviews with experienced professionals to gain insights into their practices, their projects, and their teams. Let's face it, design is a team sport, technology and user needs are continuously evolving and we can learn a lot from each other's experiences along the way. Since this episode is a transition episode each of us will answer a few questions and at the end of the podcast, I'll give some definitive insights into where we're headed moving forward.

It's been a while, but in this episode, we have a guest! And what a guest: Rian Rietveld, accessibility specialist at Level Level is joining us to talk about accessibility. We talk about the problem with accessibility overlays, educating people, and how we can help more people develop, design, and create content in a way it's accessible for everyone. Big take away: make it about themselves. Related interesting reads or resources Selfish accessibility - talk by Adrian Rosselli6 tips for accessible web design - (UXATT blog)Accessibility isn't magic that comes from tools (UXATT blog)WP Engine partners with AudioEyeOverlay Fact SheetA11y-collective (accessibility courses by Rian Rietveld)Gravity Forms accessibility guide for developersAxe Dev tools Chrome extension

Sometimes, product teams or clients can be too focused on output or features. This is a problem, because you can end up becoming a feature factory, without knowing if the user really benefits from these new features. If you want to avoid endless iterations of a design with clients or developers, it’s time to start focusing on outcome instead of output. In this episode, we discuss our experience with clients or teams focusing too much on output. Related interesting reads or resources Design for outcome instead of output - UXATTDesign Outputs and Design Outcomes - Love.comOutcomes vs outputs - uxdesign.ccMinimize Design Risk by Focusing on Outcomes not Features - NNgroup.com Chosing the right color Common color palette mistakes - Career foundryColour blindness - Colour blind awarenessColor psychology - verywellmind.com