Finders to Builders - A UX Research Show

This is the final episode of the Finders to Builders podcast. Thank you so much for tuning in and for your support all these years!

The difference between doing research and building a research practice is the difference between going to the gym once every few months and actually getting fit. One-off studies won't create lasting impact. A practice is an intentional, continuous investment — a system that captures, connects, and applies knowledge to drive better decisions. I cover the three pillars (culture, infrastructure,...

Researchers often over-index on rational arguments, assuming clear findings will drive action. But decisions are also shaped by emotions and organizational dynamics — political, personal, and power pressures that influence how stakeholders respond. Instead of blaming stakeholders for "not getting it," we should research and empathize with them the way we do with users, and frame recommen...

In the final guest episode of Finders to Builders, Thomas Wilson breaks down why large organizations aren't ready to spin up AI agents, how AI-first thinking amplifies "move fast, break things," and why stakeholder interviews often beat user research for actionable insight. (01:14) AI Has Been Here(02:58) Everyday AI Examples(04:57) LLMs And Job Shock(06:00) Org Readiness First(09:06...

PMs, designers, marketers, and others are increasingly leading research in organizations that don't have dedicated researchers. My three tips: align on and protect a fixed research capacity, make research usable across the organization, and build with the expectation that someone may later take it to the next level. (00:56) Research Audience Shift(04:11) AI and Layoff Impact(06:21) Reframing P...

Researchers rarely sit in top-level strategy meetings, so real impact comes from starting lower—informing interface, feature, and product decisions—and from building advocates as teams see the value of research. Over time, this earns a seat at higher tables. Impact is about breadth (being at more tables), not just height. (00:11) Welcome and the hype(00:41) Why strategy talk falls short(03:43) Dec...

Today I talk with Antonia Landy about what product operations really is: building repeatable systems for high-impact work in complex product environments, often making things harder short-term to improve them long-term. We unpack common misconceptions (product ops as “just process and templates”), where product ops sits today (more understood but often expected to be done without added headcount),...

Today we'll talk about the Inside Triangulation Score, which is a simple framework used to gauge confidence in findings from various research sources. (01:22) Welcome and New Setup (02:19) Why Data Quality Matters (03:38) Where to Use the Score (05:07) Framework Overview and Scoring (10:30) Adding Scores and Interpreting Results (13:01) How to Apply It and Wrap Up

In the final episode of this AI miniseries, I share my favorite user research use case for AI: drafting documents and protocols. Because I dread writing long docs, I use AI for a head start and then polish the output, saving about 70% of my time. I describe a small, quick experiment where I trained local LLMs by feeding them dozens of my research documents, interview and usability protocols. (01:2...

Second part with the great Dr. Ari Zelmanow! (00:11)  Why Speed Matters (00:60)  Speed vs Rigor Reframed (03:34)  The Backhoe vs Shovel (04:22)  Democratizing Research Fears (05:45)  Evidence Based Collaboration (09:03)  Practical Enablement at Scale (09:48)  AI for Faster Cheaper Research (12:19)  Becoming the Business Counselor (14:47)  All Research Is Strategic (17:13)  Three Tips for the Futur...

Today, we explore the role of AI in synthesizing research findings, a mature and significant use case in user research. I'll discuss my experiments comparing AI and human synthesis, highlighting how AI can aid and expedite the process. (00:22) Exploring AI for Synthesizing Research Findings (01:59) Comparing AI and Human Synthesis (04:13) Challenges and Opportunities in AI Synthesis (05:60) Mu...

In this episode, Dr. Ari Zelmanow joins us to explore the evolution of research in today’s business landscape. We discuss the shift from traditional data collection to data connection, emphasizing the importance of integrating different business units for enhanced decision-making. (00:55) The Evolution of Research (01:43) Challenges in the Research Field (03:49) Adapting to Business Needs (08:59)...

Today we delve into AI moderation! I discuss my experiments comparing human and AI moderators, noting the structured approach of AI versus the more flexible, context-aware approach of human moderators. (01:15) Human vs AI Moderators (02:03) AI Moderation: Structure and Limitations (04:21) Contextual Understanding in Moderation (06:26) Engagement and Demographics (07:50) Fraud Detection and Pressin...

In this episode, we delve into the intriguing world of AI and explore how AI-generated users can be integrated into the research process. I share my experiences and experiments with various local versions of large language models (LLMs), such as GPT, Mistral, and Llama, and discuss the important distinctions between human and synthetic user feedback. We also touch on the potential benefits and lim...

In this episode of Finders Builders, I sit down with Jake Burghardt, author of 'Stop Wasting Research,' to discuss methods for maximizing the value of research in organizations. We delve into his motivations for writing the book, the concept of research waste, and identify three key root causes: preparation, motivation, and integration. Jake provides practical advice for small research tea...

Part two of the interview with the amazing Joe Natoli. We discuss his latest book and why its insights remain relevant today, alongside candid takes on the challenges and strategies for UX teams, particularly those who are small or even a team of one. Joe shares valuable advice on starting with what you have, embracing iterative improvements, and the importance of understanding the business contex...

In this episode of 'Off My Bookshelf,' I interview the one and only Joe Natoli. We discuss his latest book and why its insights remain relevant today, alongside candid takes on the challenges and strategies for UX teams, particularly those who are small or even a team of one. Joe shares valuable advice on starting with what you have, embracing iterative improvements, and the importance of...

Today we dive deep into the world of knowledge management and repositories with two keen experts, Emily Di Leo o and Alison Jones. Together, they explore the vital role of knowledge management in research practices, why repositories sometimes fail, and actionable tips for those without dedicated resources. They emphasize the importance of starting simple, focusing on curation, access, and descript...

Welcome again to the show! This time, we discuss an exercise that helps assess the current state of research or research-like activities, identify pain points, and create a roadmap for research operations. Whether you're conducting this exercise in a group setting or one-on-one, the goal is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the company's research processes and pinpoint areas for improvement...

Let's discuss research intake forms. You know, that handy tool that many larger organisations use as an inbox for research requests from stakeholders? Well, I’ll be exploring when it’s helpful to have one in place, when it might not be the best fit, and how to deal with it in low-maturity contexts or within embedded teams. Let's jump right into it! (01:20) What is a Research Intake Form? (02:51) W...

In this episode of From Finders to Builders, we dive deep into the dynamic collaboration between PMs and researchers with our guests Giulia Tumminelli, a Senior UX Researcher, and Marcos Monteiro, a Head of Product. We talk about common misconceptions between PMs and researchers and discuss the significance of forming a united front in business. Whether you are a PM or a researcher, you'll find va...

In this episode, we explore the critical aspects of budgeting for research practices, especially for those who are the first or only researchers in their organization, or part of a small research team. We'll cover the main components of a research budget, which include researchers' salaries, tooling costs, and participant incentives, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing incentives to ensure...

In this episode, I discuss the evolving role of researchers in organizations, drawing on a football analogy to explain the shift from a 'striker' mentality to a 'playmaker' approach. As companies face changes with AI, product discovery, and the distribution of research teams, researchers must leverage their skillset in new ways. By adopting a playmaker mindset, researchers can help...

In this episode, we welcome two phenomenal guests: Ruby Pryor, founder of UX research and strategic design firm Rex, and Emily Anderson, founder of design studio Ampersand. Ruby shares her extensive background in human-centered design, strategic design, and her journey of content creation, which began after an unexpected layoff. Emily shares her own path of creating impactful design content inspir...

In this episode of Finders to Builders, we delve into the hot topic of impact in UX research. We discuss the reasons behind the request to showcase research impact, ranging from senior management's interest in understanding the value of research to scenarios where the company questions the need for a research department. We talk about the four types of impact: direct, guidance, knowledge avail...