The Learners Podcast

Recently named one of the Business Post Top 100 Women in Irish Tech, Karen Church (VP of Research & Data Science at Intercom) joins Alec Levin to talk about blending research with data science, building Intercom’s RAD org, and the story behind Fin — their AI customer-service agent.We cover:- Why Intercom merged Research + Data Science, and how the RAD org is structured- Lessons from scaling research impact across product, growth, pricing, and customer experience- How Fin was built — experiments, features, and metrics that really matter- The new hybrid skills researchers need as AI reshapes roles- Practical ways to speed up your workflow with AI, while keeping human judgment at the center👉 Connect with Karen: linkedin.com/in/karenchurch🎯Follow us on socials!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinlearners/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnersX: https://x.com/joinlearners

Kevin Newton leads UX Measurement at LinkedIn. In this preview of his upcoming talk at Research Week, he talks about how AI is changing the researcher’s role, from writing SQL with help from chatbots to experimenting with AI agents that learn your working style.They cover:How Kevin’s team is encouraging open, systematic AI experimentationWhy curiosity, not tooling, matters most in hiringHow personal AI agents could shift how research leaders workThe messy, human stuff that still makes research powerful🎟 Kevin’s talk is part of the AI and UXR program at Research Week, happening June 2–6. Sign up here: https://joinlearners.com/research-week

Gus Griffin, Senior Strategic Growth Researcher at Figma, discusses long-term growth strategies in research. He emphasizes stepping outside products to reveal market needs and highlights the importance of asking simple questions to inform decisions. The conversation touches on distinguishing between feature chasing and understanding user motivations. Gus also explores the evolving role of researchers as strategic business partners and the risks of ignoring long-horizon research. His actionable tip? Dive into the market and become an expert on external trends to drive impactful strategies.

In this special episode, Alec sits down with Zachary Schendel, Senior Director of Research at DoorDash, for a preview of his upcoming talk for UXRConf. They explore why strong cross-functional relationships are essential for researchers, and how to actually build them.You’ll learn:Why great research often gets ignoredHow to navigate different product manager personalitiesWhat hiring managers really look for todayHow AI is changing research workflows (and what it can’t replace)Real tips on influence, storytelling, and showing up with impact🎟️ Register free for Research Week: joinlearners.com/research-week🔗 Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-schendel-38353157/

Brad Orego, Head of Research at Webflow, joins us to chat about their upcoming talk at UXRConf.In this episode, Brad shares how their team is expanding the scope of research—supporting executive decision-making, exploring multi-year strategy, and operating more like an insights function than a traditional UX team.We get into:🔹 Why fitting research into sprints misses the bigger opportunity🔹 How to work with execs (hint: they won’t read your summary)🔹 Building research roadmaps and identifying long-term questions🔹 Why the most valuable research might not look like "UX research" at all🎟️ Join us at Research Week—online or in San Francisco: joinlearners.com/research-week

Confidence intervals aren’t just a math concept—they’re a key tool for making better decisions in research.In this episode, Alec talks with Carl Pearson, Staff UX Researcher at Reddit, about how quantitative researchers approach surveys, metrics, and decision-making with confidence.They discuss:What confidence intervals really tell you (and what they don’t)How qualitative researchers can borrow quant techniques to strengthen their insightsWhere to start if you want to build your quant research skillsFind Carl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carljpearson/

What does it really mean to “do the research”? Judd Antin joins The Learners Podcast to talk about the mindset, craft, and approach behind great research.We discuss:Why research isn’t just about gathering data—it’s about asking the right questionsHow to avoid research as a “safety blanket” and focus on real discoveryThe importance of relationships and trust in making research impactfulThe skills that separate great researchers from the restJudd brings years of experience leading research teams at Meta, Airbnb, and beyond. His insights will challenge the way you think about research.Find Judd on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juddantin/

Madeline Smith, a UX Researcher at Cisco, shares her heartfelt journey of adoption while juggling the demands of work and motherhood. She discusses the emotional rollercoaster of being matched with a child and the importance of supportive work environments. With humor, she likens the waiting game of adoption to pregnancy trimesters and offers practical tips for preparing a nursery on a budget. Madeline also highlights the need for managers to support employees facing personal challenges, emphasizing empathy and understanding in the workplace.

Michael Riddering is the founder of Dive, a creator at Figma Academy and has previously held roles as a founding designer, design lead, and design advisor. Michael joins the podcast to talk about the changing nature of skill development, how tools shape our practice and what learning could look like in the future. Find Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelriddering/ Learn more about Dive: https://www.dive.club

Claire Menke, Director of Research, Generative AI at Meta, shares her insights on navigating career transitions while being a working parent. She discusses the journey from UX Research Manager to strategic roles, emphasizing the importance of stepping out of comfort zones. Claire reflects on interviewing while pregnant and managing work-life balance amid organizational changes. The conversation touches on the challenges of preparing for product management interviews and the emotional complexities of modern parenting, highlighting the joy and guilt intertwined in family life.