HC-Hive

In this episode, we sit down with a new grad turned Netflix data engineer to talk about the leap from grad school to the tech industry. We explore first-year challenges, building confidence, and finding your place on a professional team. From small wins to navigating feedback and collaboration, our guest shares honest insights from their journey. Tune in for practical advice, relatable moments, an...

Stop the "portfolio panic" and get the inside scoop on joining the Hive. In this episode, Mansi, Kernell, and Pooja break down the Georgia Tech MS-HCI application for the 2026 cycle, covering why your design process matters more than "pretty" pixels, how to nail the video essay without a Hollywood budget, and the secret to a Statement of Purpose that actually stands out. Whethe...

Join us for a cozy Thanksgiving special as we reflect on gratitude, community, and the little joys that keep us going in the MS-HCI program. From favorite holiday foods to end-of-semester hopes, we’re sharing what we’re thankful for and what we’re looking forward to. Perfect for a moment of calm... and a gentle nudge for those thinking about polishing their portfolios over break.

What’s it really like to live in Atlanta as a Georgia Tech grad student? In this episode, Mansi, Kernell, and Pooja break down the essentials — housing, gyms, safety, study spots, and the best places to explore around the city. We also dive into ATL’s music scene, events, and what makes this city such a unique place to study and live. If you’re moving to Atlanta or just curious about life here, th...

In this episode, we chat with David Muñoz , Staff UX Researcher at Google, about AI image generation, career growth in tech, and what it means to be a “super IC.” We cover the future of UX, ethical AI, and how research happens at scale. Whether you're in design, research, or just curious about HCI, this one's for you. 🔗 Follow HC-Hive for more real talk on design, tech, and grad school li...

Welcome to the very first episode of HC-Hive , the podcast where Georgia Tech grad students pull back the curtain on what it's really like behind the scenes. In this episode, Kernell, Mansi, and Pooja share their first impressions of grad school, why they chose Georgia Tech, and the projects they're diving into. They get real about the challenges (like managing group work and late-night grind sess...

New to Atlanta? We've got you covered. In this episode, current HCI master's students join the Hive to share their real experiences moving to Atlanta for grad school — from navigating the city to defining what success in grad school means to them to building a new community. Whether you're packing your bags or just curious about what’s ahead, tune in for tips, stories, and encouragemen...

The Hive returns this week with an episode on professional envy. As we wade deeper into job and internship hunting season, we thought it would be curious to delve into the nuances of professional envy - what causes it, how might we process it and is there anything to be gained by being professionally envious? Happy hunting! Hosts: Rajath Pai, Manuni Dhruv Editor: Manuni Dhruv Music by: Allen Cai R...

Dearest listeners, we've missed you. This Halloween, return to the Hive as we explore the sinister scene of dark or deceptive design patterns with special guest Caroline Sinders. Hosts: Rajath Pai, Manuni Dhruv, Vibha Maheshwari Editor: Junxiao (Dante) Long Music by: Allen Cai Research for the episode was done by: Manuni Dhruv, Katie McIntyre Further information on deceptive design patterns and re...

Tommy Ottolin interviews Rob MacDonald, a new '23 graduate from the Psychology track, in this episode of the HC-Hi! Rob discusses how UX and ethics have been focal points throughout his diversified career path, and he shares what aspects that make up his favorite teams. HC-Hi! is an interview series showcasing the eclectic personalities of the Georgia Tech M.S. Human-Computer Interaction progr...

Madeleine Paulsen sits down with Lydia Burns, LMC class of 2024, in this episode of the HC-Hi! Lydia shares how she got to GT with her advertising background, her mission to learn all aspects of UX, and a hot take about Adobe vs. Figma. HC-Hi! is an interview series showcasing the eclectic personalities of the Georgia Tech M.S. Human-Computer Interaction program. Each episode, a podcast team membe...

Inclusion can be at the forefront of UX design processes, but UX teams do not always reflect that value through having a diverse team. 5 MS-HCI students and alumni discuss their professional experiences as women of color in this episode. Our hosts and guests share stories of making space for themselves and others while teaching us that their perspective is powerful. Credits: - Hosts: Tymirra Smith...

Stacy Lee chats with Sejal Sarkar, a Pyschology student graduating in May 2023, in this episode of the HC-Hi! Sejal explains how her background as a therapist helps and challenges her work as a UX researcher and the value and authenticity of Headspace. HC-Hi! is an interview series showcasing the eclectic personalities of the Georgia Tech M.S. Human-Computer Interaction program. Each episode, a po...

While it may be easy to refer to the UX world as synonymous with the world of Human -Computer Interaction, this episode highlights a population that is excluded by that comparison: animals. Melody Jackson, the Animal-Centered Computing lab director, along with two HCI students who worked in that lab, Josh Terry and Cole Anderson, discuss the curious world of researching and designing for animals....

Stacy Lee kicks off the HC-Hi! interview series with Tommy Ottolin, an Interactive Computing student in the class of 2023. Tommy shares his opinions about and experiences with AI-generated art, pursuing your curiosities, and the music industry. HC-Hi! is an interview series showcasing the eclectic personalities of the Georgia Tech M.S. Human-Computer Interaction program. Each episode, a podcast te...

The Great Resignation is an economic and lifestyle trend in which professionals across industries left their jobs in masses. Whether it was layoffs induced by COVID-19, shifting wages and costs of living, dissatisfaction, or something else, the working world shifted, and we changed. Taylor and Madeleine sit down with three people who navigated the Great Resignation to look back on lessons learned...

The practice of HCI requires much energy, empathy, and creativity. Creative burnout unfortunately is an expectation in our world, and each of us has different prevention methods and remedies to deal with these feelings. Taylor and Austin sit down with a few members of the podcast team, Sharon, Stacy, and Tyler, to learn about how creative burnout manifests in their lives. Credits: - Hosts: Taylor...

The After Dark you've been waiting for. Ngoc and Harshali chat with Dr. Henneman, director of the MSHCI program at Georgia Tech, and hear about his experience with prospective students, transforming the program, and of course, Hot Takes.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Harshali Wadge  - Logo: Olivia Hughes

HCI has roots in old school technology, often funded and researched by the government. In this episode, Ngoc and Harshali hang out with recent graduate Jack to talk about his experiences of working for NASA and the unique challenges of working in the public sector. Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Ngoc Tran - Logo: Olivia Hughes

In HCI, you always have stakeholders - collaborators, peers, managers, reports, users, and even competitors. In this episode, Ngoc and Harshali chat with Jill and Grace to hear their experiences of working in collaborative environments and how to conquer spaces with differing interests.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Harshali Wadge and Savannah Phillips...

We love data, here at the HC Hive. But as data has grown, so have its ethical implications. In this episode, Ngoc and Harshali chat with Yash, Ellen, and Conor to discuss emerging discussions in data ethics.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Savannah Phillips - Logo: Olivia Hughes

Stories are at the heart of user experiences - from the setting, to the conflict, to the technological resolution. In this episode, Ngoc and Harshali hang out with Kyle, David, and Ines to discuss how we can become effective storytellers in HCI, and why it's an important skill to build.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Savannah Phillips - Logo: Olivia Hug...

Augmented and Virtual Reality tech is all the rage these days. Ngoc and Harshali chat with Morgan to talk about the nuances of building AR/VR projects, gatekeeping in this space, and inclusion.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Savannah Phillips - Logo: Olivia Hughes

What's the difference between art and design? In this episode, Ngoc and Harshali chat with Rhea and Sue about inspiration, art education, and how their artistic backgrounds help them in HCI and UX.  Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Austin Peete, Taylor Scavo, Savannah Phillips - Logo: Olivia Hughes - Music: Teddy Robinson - Rich Boys (ft. Steffen Yoshiki &...

To end the miniseries on job hunting, Ngoc and Harshali chat with the rest of the podcast team about rejection - how it feels, how to cope, and how to not lose hope in what can seem like an endless battle. Tune in for some great wisdom from Sav, Austin, Taylor, and Matthew! Credits: - Host(s): Ngoc Tran, Harshali Wadge - Production and Edits: Savannah Phillips - Logo: Olivia Hughes - Music: A.Vall...