Anthro to UX with Matt Artz Matt Artz

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sydney Yeager speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She discusses how she discovered anthropology in college and fell in love with its holistic perspective. Sydney also talks about her involvement with the Digital Anthropology Networking Group (DANG) and the importance of establishing the credibility of anthropologists studying digital spaces. She highlights the value of storytelling in anthropology and how it translates to UX research. Sydney also shares her experience working in product management and UX research roles and discusses her current role at Walmart, where she focuses on providing tech solutions for employees and improving the employee experience.
About Sydney Yeager
Sydney Yeager is a digital anthropologist with a career spanning academia and the private sector. Currently serving as a Senior Design Researcher at Walmart Global Tech, she previously held positions at AcreTrader and Boston Scientific. In academia, Yeager was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Rollins College and remains an active figure in anthropological circles as the co-founder and chair of the Digital Anthropology Interest Group (DANG). Her work consistently aims to integrate anthropological methodologies into technology and product development.
Key Moments
00:01:00 - Sydney's background and how she discovered anthropology.
00:03:00 - Sydney's undergraduate research on health and healing traditions.
00:04:00 - Sydney's interest in digital anthropology and involvement with DANG.
00:06:00 - DANG's mission to establish the credibility of digital anthropology.
00:08:00 - Sydney's interest in UX research and applied anthropology.
00:10:00 - Sydney's early work in UX research and interaction with academics.
00:13:00 - Experience in product management and UX research.
00:18:00 - Role on the Associate Digital Experience team at Walmart.
00:19:00 - Support for tech in the new Walmart campus.
00:22:29 - Observations on building products for customers vs. employees
00:24:00 - Need to translate employee experience into business goals
00:25:00 - Importance of considering end users and customers separately
00:26:03 - Ways to get involved in the digital anthropology group
Recommended Links

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Julia Wignall speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She discusses the value of anthropology in the healthcare field and how she uses design research and service design to improve patient experiences. Julia emphasizes the importance of executive sponsorship and navigating the complexity of healthcare problems. She also highlights the need for qualitative methods, journey mapping, and service blueprinting in service design. Julia provides insights into the intersection of anthropology, design, and healthcare.
About Julia Wignall
Julia Wignall is an accomplished anthropologist currently serving as the Manager of Experience Insights & Design at Seattle Children's, where she brings the principles of social science to guide business decisions. With over a decade of experience in the field, she leads workforce, patient, and family experience insights, employing mixed methods research and service design for strategic innovation. Julia's expertise lies in ethical research practices, ethnography, and qualitative analysis, making her an invaluable asset in driving equity-focused design projects and generating actionable insights that impact product and program strategies throughout the organization.
Key Moments
00:01:25 - Julia's interest in anthropology and migration experiences
00:03:42 - Julia's work at Seattle Children's Hospital
00:04:48 - Transitioning to design research and learning on the job
00:07:06 - The value of executive sponsorship in facilitating change
00:09:24 - Navigating limitations and communicating research findings
00:10:57 - The role of business anthropology in understanding organizational culture
00:12:16 - Perspectives on anthropology and design in the medical field
00:13:42 - Facilitating change and adoption in a collaborative healthcare environment
00:15:29 - Using service design to navigate complexity and solve problems
00:18:00 - Incorporating technology into service design in healthcare
00:21:00 - Recommended skills for those interested in service design in healthcare
00:24:59 - Upcoming events and opportunities for networking in the field
00:25:59 - How to get in touch with Julia

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Jason Garrison speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. The conversation covers Jason's journey from being an educator to becoming a cultural anthropologist and eventually transitioning to UX research. Throughout the episode, Jason emphasizes the importance of empathy, networking, and relationship-building in UX research. Additionally, he provides guidance on pursuing a PhD in anthropology and delves into the role of research operations in UX, discussing strategic thinking and emotional intelligence. Jason also highlights the benefits of embedded ethnography for understanding research team function and growth and offers advice for breaking into research operations.
About Jason Garrison
Jason Garrison is a seasoned UX Researcher, currently leading projects at AnswerLab, where he utilizes his mastery in mixed-methods to deliver valuable ethnographies and help clients understand their target audiences better. With over five years in the field, his journey has encompassed roles at UX Cabin, Comcast, Rock Central, and Google, each contributing to his unique skill set. His tenure has been marked by significant achievements such as initiating the first user research program for the Rocket Mortgage Mobile app at Rock Central and enhancing internal developer tools at Google. Jason's ability to empathize with users and translate insights into actionable results, combined with his dedication to inclusivity, makes him a valuable asset in the UX industry.
Key Moments
00:00:00 Introduction to the Anthro to UX podcast

00:00:38 Introduction to Jason Garrison

00:01:28 Jason's early interest in anthropology

00:02:25 Jason's practicum in Malaysia and exposure to applied anthropology

00:04:10 Jason's interest in the practical application of anthropology

00:05:57 Jason's discovery of UX during the pandemic

00:07:08 Jason's transition to UX research

00:09:30 The importance of storytelling in UX research

00:11:20 The role of empathy in UX research

00:06:28 Jason's decision not to pursue a PhD in anthropology

00:08:14 Discussion on the value of a PhD for UX research

00:10:00 Jason's view on the practical application of anthropology in UX

00:11:37 Addressing the criticism of anthropology being watered down in UX

00:12:47 Importance of anthropology in

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sarah Elizabeth Yoho speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Sarah's journey from law to medical anthropology, her transition into UX research during the pandemic, and the importance of translating anthropological experiences into the job application process. Sarah also discusses the concept of impact in research, the role of operations in policy implementation, and the significance of strategy in linking company goals to research and data points. Additionally, she highlights the potential for UX research in financial services.
About Sarah Elizabeth Yoho
Sarah Elizabeth Yoho is a Senior UX Researcher with a focus on strategy, policy and operations, and a specialization in ethnographic research. She has successfully planned, facilitated, and delivered diverse projects with a variety of clients in various sectors, including banks, NGOs, nonprofits, peak bodies, consultancies, and lobbyists. Her professional skillset features an international profile, including work at the Australian Medical Council (Policy Strategy & Compliance), the European Commission (Policy Research) & Macquarie University (Program Development).

At AnswerLab, Sarah Elizabeth works in the Financial Services Team where she leverages her policy strategy background and ethnographic expertise to lead strategic UX Research projects, facilitate workshops, and foster client relationships. She holds a Masters in Medical Anthropology & Public Health (MCHaM) from the Australian National University and a Marie Skłodowska Curie PhD in Medical & Environmental Anthropology from the University of Leeds.
Recommended Links

Sarah Elizabeth Yoho's website
Sarah Elizabeth Yoho on Linkedin
Ask a Manager
Business Anthropology by Ann Jordan

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Joseph Galanek speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. The conversation covers Joe's journey from being inspired by cultural experiences when traveling to pursuing degrees in anthropology and public health. He shares his challenges in finding a job in anthropology departments due to specific research interests and how he discovered opportunities in consulting agencies that value qualitative and quantitative research. The discussion also explores Joe's work leading client engagements as a UX Strategy Manager at Answerlab and his experience mentoring anthropologists transitioning into business.
About Joseph Galanek
Joseph Galanek is an accomplished user experience researcher and UXR strategist with over 15 years of experience in academia and industry. As the UX Strategy Manager at AnswerLab, he collaborates with ecommerce leaders, designing and implementing customized research that meets partners' objectives and business goals. Joseph's expertise includes qualitative and mixed methods research, scoping, and client engagement.

With a strong academic background, including a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and an MPH from Case Western Reserve University, Joseph has held research roles at various organizations such as HireWisdom, EDUCAUSE, and ICF. He has contributed to impactful projects, including CDC health campaigns and national HIV prevention initiatives, and is known for balancing methodological rigor with pragmatic strategies.
Key Moments


00:02:00 - Reflections on a Career in Anthropology




00:06:36 - Exploring Career Opportunities in Research Consultancies




00:08:12 - Applying Qualitative Research Skills in an Applied Environment




00:14:17 - Collaborative Efforts and Demonstrating Value in Anthropology Research




00:16:00 - Moving from Academia to Business: Advice for Anthropologists




00:19:41 - Making a Good First Impression on LinkedIn




00:21:19 - Analysis of Research Objectives and Actionable Recommendations for Development Teams




00:22:48 -Exploring Trends in Cost-Effective UX Research







Recommended Links

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rama Vennelakanti speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. The conversation covers Rama's journey from discovering anthropology to her stint in market research and, finally, her landing in the field of UX. It also touches on Rama's willingness to jump in head first and learn something when needed. It is an inspiring example of how one should not be afraid of the unknown and embrace new challenges. Rama's fearlessness has enabled her to explore different areas of research and innovation, leading to her success as a skilled anthropologist and UX strategist.
About Rama Vennelakanti
As an anthropologist, Rama Vennelakanti has become a skilled researcher and UX strategist, currently working as a Senior UX Researcher & Strategist in UXDX Developer Relations, Network, and Edge Group at Intel Corporation. Her role involves utilizing her extensive experience in driving UX strategy backed by research, which has led to a proven track record of positively impacting businesses and their customers.

Previously, Rama was a Senior User Researcher and UX Lead at HP for over nine years. During this time, she honed her ability to work effectively with global multi-disciplinary teams and internal and external stakeholders in innovation environments, enabling her to deliver exceptional results across various industry verticals ranging from IT, Telecom to FMCG. Her passion for technology and commitment to driving actionable insights from research has been consistent theme throughout her career.
Recommended Links

Rama Vennelakanti on LinkedIn