Insights Unlocked

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3QyiQBi

Episode summary: In this Insights Unlocked episode, Nathan Isaacs sits down with Gabrielle Dolan, global expert on business storytelling and author of Story Intelligence, to explore how authentic storytelling helps leaders communicate with clarity, build trust, and inspire action. Gabrielle shares her journey from the tech world into storytelling, explaining why stories—not just data—are the most powerful way to influence decisions and drive change within organizations.

The conversation dives into the concept of “story intelligence,” defined as the ability to purposefully and skillfully use authentic stories to connect, engage, and inspire. Gabrielle explains how even small, everyday anecdotes—especially those drawn from customer insights or real experiences—can be more impactful than statistics alone. She also discusses the “curse of knowledge,” why leaders often struggle to communicate effectively, and how storytelling bridges that gap by making messages more memorable and relatable.

Nathan and Gabrielle also explore the role of AI in storytelling, highlighting how it can serve as a creative partner—but not a replacement—for human experience and authenticity. Gabrielle shares practical advice for finding, structuring, and delivering stories, as well as how organizations can build a culture of storytelling to better align teams and influence outcomes.

You’ll learn:

What “story intelligence” is and why it’s a critical leadership skill

Why authentic stories are more persuasive than data alone

How to turn customer insights and anecdotes into compelling narratives

The impact of the “curse of knowledge” on communication—and how to overcome it

Best practices for using AI as a storytelling partner without losing authenticity

Simple techniques for crafting concise, memorable, and effective stories

Resources & links

Gabrielle Dolan on LinkedIn (
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielledolan/)

Story Intelligence: The Craft of Authentic Storytelling Made Smarter with AI (https://www.amazon.com/Story-Intelligence-Authentic-Storytelling-Smarter/dp/1394360878)

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4tCByqh

Episode summary:

In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Nathan Isaacs sits down with Andrew Thomas, head of marketing at Archer, to explore how deeply understanding consumer behavior—not just data—drives effective brand building and sustainable growth. Andrew shares lessons from scaling Archer into a nationally recognized brand, including how simplifying messaging, embracing distinctive brand assets, and aligning insights across product, packaging, and campaigns can unlock breakthrough performance.

The conversation dives into the realities of modern marketing—from avoiding internal echo chambers to balancing creativity with business impact—and why intuition, when paired with data, remains a critical decision-making tool. Andrew also discusses the challenges of rebranding in a crowded market, how to measure success beyond awareness, and where AI is (and isn’t) transforming marketing workflows today.

You’ll learn:


Why consumers don’t think in categories—and how that impacts brand strategy


How simplifying messaging can drive stronger engagement and growth


The role of distinctive brand assets in standing out on crowded shelves


How to balance bold creativity with measurable business outcomes


Why intuition is still essential in a data-driven marketing world


How to evaluate brand performance across both awareness and sales metrics


Practical ways AI can accelerate insights and decision-making (without replacing marketers)

Resources & links


Andrew Thomas on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-j-thomas/)


Archer Meat Snacks (https://archerjerky.com/)


Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3Odmj7r

Epsiode description

In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Nathan Isaacs sits down with Stephen Baer, author of Stickology: How to Build Unbreakable Connections with Employees and Customers for Life, to explore why engagement is the true engine behind business performance—not just a feel-good initiative.

Drawing on more than 30 years of experience across gaming, corporate leadership, and behavioral science, Stephen introduces a powerful framework for understanding connection in organizations: “Velcro vs. glue.” He explains why most companies rely on fast, surface-level engagement that fails under pressure—and what it takes to build deeper, more resilient relationships with both employees and customers.

Stephen also unpacks the critical link between employee experience and customer experience, sharing why disengagement shows up long before metrics drop—and how leaders can spot early warning signs. From designing for belonging in product and UX to embedding purpose into everyday decisions, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for creating organizations that truly “stick.”

Along the way, Nathan and Stephen discuss the role of leadership, the importance of coaching over managing, and why not all friction is bad—highlighting how thoughtful, human-centered moments can actually strengthen trust and loyalty.

You'll learn:

Why engagement is a business strategy, not an HR initiative

How employee experience directly impacts customer experience

The difference between “Velcro” and “glue” organizations

Early warning signs of employee and customer disengagement

How to design for belonging in products and experiences

What “good friction” is—and why it builds trust

How to turn purpose into everyday operational decisions

A practical 30-60-90 day approach to improving engagement

Episode links

Stephen Baer's website (https://stephenbaer.com/#home-section

Stickology book (https://www.amazon.com/Stickology-Unbreakable-Connections-Employees-Customers/dp/9699592532)

Stephen Baer on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbaer/

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4sPOsRj

Episode summary

In this episode of Insights Unlocked, Nathan Isaacs is joined by Mike Mace and Michael Domanic to explore how AI is fundamentally reshaping customer experience, user journeys, and digital strategy. From the rise of conversational interfaces to the emergence of agentic AI, they unpack why traditional UX patterns and marketing funnels are quickly becoming obsolete—and what teams need to do instead.

Mike and Michael break down two major shifts: how conversational AI is changing the way people interact with technology, and how AI agents are beginning to act on behalf of customers. They discuss why trust, tone, and personality are now critical components of UX, how AI is disrupting the path to purchase, and why companies must rethink how they design, test, and deliver experiences.

The conversation also explores the rapid pace of AI adoption, the risks of focusing on novelty over real customer value, and how teams can balance immediate action with ongoing experimentation. Ultimately, this episode is a call to rethink not just tools—but the entire relationship between humans and technology.

You’ll learn:


Why conversational AI is changing how users interact with products


How AI is disrupting traditional customer journeys and marketing funnels


What agentic AI is and how it impacts digital experiences


Why trust, tone, and personality matter in AI-driven UX


How to rethink testing for AI-powered products


Where to act now vs. where to experiment with AI

Resources & links

Mike Mace on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemace/)

Michael Domanic on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldomanic/)

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

How to test AI: A practical guide for evaluating AI user experience and product design (https://www.usertesting.com/blog/how-test-ai-practical-guide-evaluating-ai-user-experience-and-product-design)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked:⁠ https://www.usertesting.com/podcast⁠

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/47II2Ll

Episode summary:

In this episode of Insights Unlocked, host Lija Hogan sits down with Priyanka Kuvalekar, senior UX researcher at Microsoft, to explore how AI is reshaping user experience research and what it takes to build trustworthy, human-centered AI products.

Priyanka shares her journey from architecture to UX research and offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she evaluates AI experiences—moving beyond usability to focus on trust, emotional response, and inclusivity.

The conversation dives into how researchers can stay strategic in a fast-evolving AI landscape, the growing importance of accessibility and diverse user perspectives, and why trust is the defining factor of great AI experiences. Priyanka also shares practical ways researchers can integrate AI into their workflows, partner more effectively with cross-functional teams, and evolve their skill sets to remain impactful.

You’ll learn:

Why trust—not just usability—is the foundation of great AI experiences

How UX research methods are evolving to measure emotion, behavior, and credibility

Ways to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy, consistency, and transparency

How researchers can influence product strategy instead of just validating decisions

Practical tips for using AI tools to speed up research workflows

Why accessibility and inclusive research are critical in AI development

How to build AI fluency and stay relevant in a rapidly changing field

Resources & links

Priyanka Kuvalekar on LinkedIn (
https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanka-kuvalekar/)

Priyanka’s UX content on Instagram (
https://www.instagram.com/uxr.pri/)

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked (https://www.usertesting.com/resources/podcast)