Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis 🇺🇦

The Space InBetween

Welcome to the Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis podcast, your go-to destination for exploring the intersection of UX research, design, and product. Do you share a passion for developing and launching products that deliver superior and ethical experiences? If so, join your host, Brendan Jarvis, as he talks to industry and thought leaders in UX, product management, and product design. Get inspired and informed, and challenge yourself to become a better leader and think outside the canvas, both in what you do and occasionally in who you are.

  1. SEP 16

    Changying (Z) Zheng - Connecting Teams Through Ops

    Changying (Z) Zheng brings calm thinking to DesignOps — showing how clarity, storytelling, and ruthless prioritisation help design teams thrive .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Why Design Needs to Prove Its Value 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:30 – From Graphic Design to Design Ops Leadership 05:40 – Running a Dairy-Free Dessert Business and Learning Calm Leadership 10:00 – Leading Without Drama and Seeing Multiple Perspectives 13:00 – Design Ops as Service Design for Design Teams 16:00 – Storytelling, Outcomes, and Speaking the Language of Business 18:45 – Earning and Keeping a Seat at the Table 21:00 – Moving from Ticket Taking to Strategic Design Work 26:00 – Saying No Kindly and Introducing Office Hours 32:00 – People, Process, and Platform as Core Pillars 36:00 – Becoming the Connective Tissue Across Orgs 42:00 – Growing Into Product Ops at Cloudflare 55:00 – Communication as the Connective Tissue of Ops 1:10:00 – A Two-by-Two Framework for Career Development     ======   Who is Changying (Z) Zheng?   Changying (Z) Zheng is a Director of Product Operations at Cloudflare, where she’s scaled the operational backbone of one of the internet’s most recognisable infrastructure companies .   She has:   Started as a team of one and built thriving design and research operations   Worked in agencies, higher education, and at companies like Akamai, VMware, and Nasdaq   Founded and ran her own retail business   Delivered talks at The DevOps Conference and DesignOps Summit, shaping how people understand DesignOps in technical environments   ======   Find Changying (Z) Zheng here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/changyingz/ Website → https://www.changyingart.com/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 14m
  2. SEP 2

    Jake Burghardt - Stop Wasting Research

    Jake Burghardt explores why so much research goes unused , why timing matters more than tools , and how to transform insights into real impact for teams and strategy .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Why Careers Shouldn’t Hinge on One Team 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 01:27 – Jake’s Work at Amazon and the Intersection of Ops 03:00 – Early Days: Patents, Psychology, and Consulting Work 05:46 – Becoming a Generalist Across Disciplines 08:05 – The Rise of Research, Design, and Product Ops 10:12 – Writing Stop Wasting Research and the Story Behind the Title 13:45 – Timing Research to Influence Planning Cycles 16:52 – Who Can Reduce Research Waste in Large Orgs? 21:14 – Root Causes of Research Waste: Preparation, Motivation, Integration 27:09 – The Challenge of Prioritising Insights 31:30 – What Competitors Would Pay to Know You Forgot 36:32 – Tools, Repositories, and Making Insights Stick 42:00 – Practical Ways to Promote Overlooked Insights 1:03:00 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Jake   ======   Who is Jake Burghardt?   Jake Burghardt is a veteran of the research, product, and design worlds, helping organisations close the gap between what they know and what they act on. His upcoming book, *Stop Wasting Research*, offers a new framework for turning insights into action.   ======   Find Jake Burghardt here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakeburghardt/ Blog → https://medium.com/integrating-research  Newsletter → https://www.integratingresearch.com/newsletter Book: Stop Wasting Research → https://www.integratingresearch.com/#book   ======   Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 6m
  3. AUG 19

    Ehab Bandar - Designing a Life of Creative Freedom

    Ehab Bandar shares why creative freedom, curiosity, and human connection matter more than ever in design — exploring how resilience, adaptability, and gratitude shape a lasting career in UX .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Designing with First Principles in Mind 00:45 – Welcome and Introduction 02:10 – Meet Ehab Bandar 04:20 – From Architecture to Design Strategy 07:05 – Founding Big Tomorrow and Its Mission 10:40 – Learning from Corporate Clients and Early Struggles 14:00 – Why Culture Shapes Every Design Decision 17:45 – Balancing Human Needs and Business Demands 22:18 – The Role of Design in Tackling Climate Change 27:00 – Shifting From Growth at All Costs to Responsible Growth 31:42 – Why Designers Must Think Like Futurists 36:15 – Systemic Design and the Power of Long-Term Thinking 41:00 – Teaching Organizations to See the Bigger Picture 46:20 – Why Leadership Needs a Broader Design Lens 52:05 – Building Resilience in Times of Uncertainty 57:30 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Ehab   ======   Who is Ehab Bandar?   Ehab Bandar is a seasoned UX design leader and independent consultant whose career spans fintech, real estate, hospitality, and beyond .   He has: Led design teams for clients like Airbnb and Charles Schwab   Founded Bigtable, a design and innovation consulting firm   Shared insights through *The Experience Architect* newsletter   Taught graduate design courses at the Academy of Art University   ======   Find Ehab Bandar here:   LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ehabbandar/ Bigtable → https://bigtable.co/ Website → https://www.ehabbandar.com/ Substack → https://ehabbandar.substack.com/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 9m
  4. AUG 5

    Chetana Deorah - From Silicon Valley to Soulful Design

    Chetana Deorah explores what it means to step off the career treadmill , rediscover creativity beyond metrics , and build a life rooted in connection, community, and courage —sharing why the most meaningful design often begins within .   ======   Episode Chapters:   00:00 – Growing Up in a Sheltered Business Family 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Chetana Deorah 03:24 – Opening with a Poem by Sri Aurobindo 04:30 – Leaving Silicon Valley and Returning to India 07:30 – Life and Purpose in Auroville 12:00 – Yoga as Union, Not Just Asana 13:34 – Leaving India to Resist Cultural Norms 17:38 – The Marriage Path She Refused 20:16 – Her Father’s Rebellious Influence and Strength 25:00 – Seeing India Change While Living Abroad 29:00 – Asking: “Is There Another Ladder to Climb?” 33:01 – From Busyness to Learning How to Do Nothing 42:54 – Creativity and Community Projects in Auroville 50:00 – Rethinking Money, Growth, and Human Unity 57:30 – Lessons From Silicon Valley on Bravery and Growth   ======   Who is Chetana Deorah?   Chetana Deorah is a seasoned design leader, educator, and community builder whose career bridges tech, creativity, and social impact .   She has: Led product design at Netflix, Scribd, Yahoo, Pivotal Labs, and Pentagram   Shaped global digital experiences for hundreds of millions of users   Founded community projects in India focused on art, sustainability, and human connection   Chosen a new path outside Silicon Valley to explore soulful, human-centered design   ======   Find Chetana Deorah here:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetanadeorah/   ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 13m
  5. JUL 22

    Thomas Girard – Finding Creativity in Unexpected Places

    Thomas Girard brings a thoughtful lens to design, creativity, and resilience 🌍 — sharing why processes matter 🧠, and how the quiet work of reflection can shape the future of design 🚀. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Design’s Processes Still Matter 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:09 – Meet Thomas Girard 04:19 – Family Legacy, Photography, and Airports as “Non-Places” 07:33 – Cultural Similarities and Craving the Familiar 11:38 – Cities That Shaped Thomas’s Design Perspective 12:24 – Preparing for and Delivering a Two-Minute TED Talk 17:04 – Listening to Yourself While Public Speaking 19:00 – Overcoming Stage Fright and Speaking as an Introvert 21:30 – Breaking Out of the Design Echo Chamber 23:03 – The Strengths and Future of Design Education 27:00 – Pairing Design and AI Without Losing the Human Lens 33:07 – Low-Fidelity Prototyping Through Conversation 35:00 – Launching and Growing the Unique Ways Podcast 50:24 – Life or Death Typography and Teaching Students to See Type 57:30 – What Designers Must Not Lose as the Field Evolves ====== Who is Thomas Girard? Thomas Girard is a design educator, writer, and speaker whose work bridges creativity, innovation, and resilience 🌍. He has: ✅ Delivered keynotes at UXIndia and Sorbonne University   ✅ Earned multiple Emerging Scholar awards for his contributions to design   ✅ Authored the memoir Son of Greg Girard ✅ Built UNIQUEWAYS, a podcast uncovering different perspectives on success and creativity ====== Find Thomas Girard here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onthomas/ Podcast: https://uniqueways.ca ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 2m
  6. JUL 8

    Theresa Neil – Designing Healthcare That Actually Cares

    Theresa Neil is reshaping the future of healthcare 🚀, challenging outdated systems 🧠, and championing women’s health innovation when it’s needed most 🌍 — reminding us that the stakes in design have never been higher ❤️. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why “Move Fast and Break Things” Doesn’t Work in Healthcare 01:00 – Welcome and Introduction 02:11 – Meet Theresa Neil 03:03 – From Chef to UX Designer 05:22 – Early UX Work at Sabre and Founding Guidea 14:09 – Building a Woman-Led Company 15:43 – Becoming a Feminist Through Women’s Health Work 22:30 – Cultural Discomfort Around Menopause and Women’s Health 28:47 – Postpartum Innovation and Investor Blindness 33:00 – Research Gaps in Women’s Health Trials 37:51 – Why Female Health Remains Taboo 40:08 – Political Forces and Women’s Healthcare Access 43:18 – Spite Tracking and Patient Advocacy 50:15 – When Clients Don’t Want to Hear UX Research 58:00 – Why Healthcare Still Isn’t Patient-Centric ====== Who is Theresa Neil? Theresa Neil is the Founder of Guidea, an award-winning, women-owned and led product design firm specialising in medtech and digital health innovation 🚀. She has: Led UX for companies like Roche, Johnson & Johnson, and Cigna   Designed digital health solutions impacting over a billion users worldwide   Launched Femovate, a femtech incubator supporting 28 product launches and 14 clinical trials   Helped startups secure over $100 million in funding   Advocated globally for inclusive design and women's health innovation ====== Find Theresa Neil here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresaneil/ Website: https://www.guidea.co/   Femovate: https://www.femovate.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard?   🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/   TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/   The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 9m
  7. JUN 24

    Jennifer Speciale – Designing the Career You Actually Want

    Jennifer Speciale helps leaders rewrite the rules of career growth 🚀, redefine executive presence 🧠, and build unapologetic clarity in an uncertain market 🌍—sharing why designing your career is the ultimate act of leadership 🎯. ====== Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Why Candidates Should See Themselves as the Prize 00:43 – Welcome and Introduction 01:15 – Meet Jennifer Speciale 03:15 – Life in Florence and Sicilian Roots 10:30 – Myth, Beauty, and Strong Women in History 16:05 – From Corporate Leadership to Coaching Executives 19:23 – Helping Design Leaders Define Success 25:18 – Finding Options After Layoffs 29:00 – Reframing LinkedIn as a Marketing Tool 32:05 – What Recruiters Really Look for on LinkedIn 36:05 – Why Job Descriptions Are Intentionally Vague 42:32 – The Danger of a Bad Interview on Your Record 45:39 – Building Relationships Through Outreach 50:05 – Turning Interviews into Conversations 56:47 – Believing You Are the Prize ====== Who is Jennifer Speciale? Jennifer Speciale is the Founder and Executive Leadership Coach at Speciale Executive Leadership, helping ambitious leaders transition into executive roles and unlock new opportunities 🚀. She has: Led executive recruiting for design at Amazon   Built a global Experience Design team at McKinsey   Helped leaders at Google, Amazon, and McKinsey land executive roles   Coached over 100 leaders into executive positions, delivering over half a million dollars in salary growth in 2024 ✨ Through her proven frameworks, she’s changing the way leaders navigate executive transitions. ====== Find Jennifer Speciale here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferspeciale/   Website: https://www.jenniferspeciale.com ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 5m
  8. JUN 10

    Dave Hoffer – Empathy, Courage, and the Future of Design

    Dave Hoffer shares why design demands empathy 🧠, courage 🛡️, and long-term thinking 🌱—and how amplifying others can transform leadership in uncertain times 🚀. He explores design’s shifting role in business, the disruptive rise of AI, and why resilience and critique will shape the future of design. ====== Episode Chapters 00:00 – Why Empathy Matters in Design 01:02 – Introducing Dave Hoffer 03:17 – Amplifying Others Over Self 05:00 – Layoffs, Resilience, and Mission-Driven Work 12:12 – Hope and Long-Term Thinking in Design 14:20 – Courage, Critique, and Speaking Truth to Power 17:24 – Design Under Pressure and the AI Disruption 22:20 – Why Designers Must Experiment With AI Tools 31:30 – Lessons from Kasparov on Humans + Machines 33:00 – Spectral Thinking and Understanding People on a Spectrum 37:11 – The Hard Cost of Empathy in Design 42:05 – Why Executives Need Firsthand Empathy 50:30 – Empathy, Judgment, and Learning from Outliers 58:13 – Physical Labor and Shifts in Perspective 1:04:00 – Think Like a Gardener, Not an Architect ====== Who is Dave Hoffer? Dave Hoffer is a seasoned design leader and strategist whose career spans product design, digital innovation, and design transformation 🌎. He has: Led design teams at Frog Design, PwC, and McKinsey & Company Grown McKinsey’s global design practice from a handful of designers to hundreds 📈 Brought design strategy into the heart of business and policy change Advised mission-driven organisations like Safe Kids AI 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Advocated for amplifying others and championing empathy and critique as foundations for impactful leadership ✨ Today, Dave advises organisations as an independent consultant, helping them embed human-centered design practices into strategy and transformation initiatives. ====== Find Dave Hoffer here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hoffer/ Website: https://www.mpqd.com/ ====== Subscribe to Brave UX Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/ ====== Follow Brave UX for more great content! LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

    1h 13m
4.3
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis podcast, your go-to destination for exploring the intersection of UX research, design, and product. Do you share a passion for developing and launching products that deliver superior and ethical experiences? If so, join your host, Brendan Jarvis, as he talks to industry and thought leaders in UX, product management, and product design. Get inspired and informed, and challenge yourself to become a better leader and think outside the canvas, both in what you do and occasionally in who you are.

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