NN/G UX Podcast

Nielsen Norman Group

The Nielsen Norman Group (NN/G) UX Podcast is a podcast on user experience research, design, strategy, and professions, hosted by Senior User Experience Specialist Therese Fessenden. Join us every month as she interviews industry experts, covering common questions, hot takes on pressing UX topics, and tips for building truly great user experiences. For free UX resources, references, and information on UX Certification opportunities, go to: www.nngroup.com

  1. FEB 25

    58. The Truth About Lean & Agile (Feat. Principal Experience Specialist, Laura Klein)

    If you work in UX, you’ve probably heard the terms lean, Agile, and MVP more times than you can count. But knowing the terms doesn’t mean knowing how to make them work. In this episode, Laura Klein, Principal Experience Specialist at NN/G, joins Therese Fessenden to talk about what Lean UX was really meant to accomplish — and how teams today can apply its principles without falling into common traps. Listen as they discuss how Lean UX came about, the skill of zooming between product vision and interaction details, and why growing companies struggle to balance speed and consistency. Whether you’re working at a startup or inside a large enterprise, this episode offers a grounded look at how to design thoughtfully in fast-moving environments. We’re also excited to have Laura join as the newest co-host of the NN/G UX Podcast. And many congratulations to the Fessenden family as they welcome a new addition to their family. About Laura Klein | Bio | Linkedin | Bluesky | Usersknow.com What is Wrong With UX (Podcast)Build Better Products (Book)UX for Lean Startups (Book) NN/G Live Online Courses Taught by Laura Lean UX and AgileProduct & UX: Building Partnerships for Better OutcomesAll Our Live Courses Free NN/G Articles & Videos Lean UX & Agile: Study GuideLean UX & Agile GlossaryWhat is Lean UX?Accounting for User Research in AgileWhy Organizations Don’t Do User Research and How to Change ThatWhy Most Product Teams Aren't Really Empowered Don’t forget to like and subscribe! ❤️ Follow Us On: Newsletter Instagram Threads Linkedin Bluesky X 📹 Post-production by Tiago Pedro (Design Assistant) Megan Brown (Social Media Lead) TYXU5WMUAXAS8GTC

    42 min
  2. 07/18/2025

    52. Rethinking Users as Ecosystems (feat. authors Mike Youngblood and Ben Chesluk)

    Who do we really mean when we say “the user”? And who gets left out? In this episode, Therese Fessenden chats with cultural anthropologists Mike Youngblood and Ben Chesluk, who are challenging overly narrow definitions of users in UX. They explore how systems thinking and anthropology can deepen our understanding of complex user ecosystems — and why rethinking “the user” is more important than ever. About the speakers: Mike Youngblood (LinkedIn)Ben Chesluk (LinkedIn)About Rethinking Users, including some helpful resources and a link to purchase the book: https://www.rethinkingusers.com Article about User Ecosystem Thinking: https://www.epicpeople.org/toward-ethnography-of-friction-and-ease-in-complex-systems Mike & Ben’s other books: The Routledge Companion to Practicing Anthropology and Design, which includes Mike & Ben’s chapter on systems thinking in design anthropology, as well as many other chapters/contributors exploring the role of anthropology in design:Ben’s book Money Jungle is an anthropological study of the redevelopment of New York City’s Times Square.Mike’s book Cultivating Community is an ethnographic study of a massive, grassroots social movement in rural India.Related NN/g Articles & Videos: Personas vs. Archetypes (article)Why Personas Fail (article)Ethnography in UX (3-min video)Contextual Inquiry: Inspire Design by Observing and Interviewing Users in Their Context (article)

    47 min

About

The Nielsen Norman Group (NN/G) UX Podcast is a podcast on user experience research, design, strategy, and professions, hosted by Senior User Experience Specialist Therese Fessenden. Join us every month as she interviews industry experts, covering common questions, hot takes on pressing UX topics, and tips for building truly great user experiences. For free UX resources, references, and information on UX Certification opportunities, go to: www.nngroup.com