The UX Consultants Lounge

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Kyle Soucy

15 episodes

1 month ago

In the final episode of 2025, Kyle sits down with someone who has been woven into her UX journey for nearly two decades: Amy Heymans — founder of Mad*Pow, founder of Beneficent, and co-founder of the Dignified Futures Conference. Amy and Kyle first met in 2006, when Mad*Pow was just a few people in a small Portsmouth, NH office. Over the next 13 years, Amy grew the agency into a nationally respected 70+ person consultancy known for its exceptional design work and its influential events, inclu...

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Episodes (14/15)

The UX Consultants Lounge

Lisa Dance - UX Still Needs a Public Awareness Campaign

In this episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, Kyle talks with Lisa Dance, a UX researcher, consultant, author, and community advocate based in Richmond, Virginia. Lisa is the founder of ServiceEase, creator of the UX Census RVA, author of Today Is the Perfect Day to Improve Customer Experiences, and a regular UX voice on Richmond’s business radio scene. Lisa brings a thoughtful, refreshing perspective on what it means to practice UX in a complex and shifting industry. She has built her career...

1 month ago

59 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Steve Portigal and Justin Dauer - Solo, Together: How Two Independent UX Consultants are Collaborating

In this episode, Kyle sits down with two UX industry veterans who are trying something new: Steve Portigal and Justin Dauer have announced a unique collaboration that allows them to work together while maintaining their independent practices. Steve Portigal has been running Portigal Consulting for over two decades, is the author of "Interviewing Users" and "Doorbells, Danger and Dead Batteries," and is a familiar face at conferences worldwide. Justin Dauer is the founder of Anomali by Design,...

4 months ago

1 hour 18 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Susan Mercer - A Former Client's Perspective

In this episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, Kyle welcomes her first-ever client into the Lounge: Susan Mercer. With over 30 years of experience in digital technology—including roles in UI design, product management, and UX research leadership—Susan brings a rare and candid perspective on what it’s really like to hire and work with UX consultants. Kyle and Susan share their history of collaborating on two major projects, including one of the largest diary studies Kyle has ever led. From ther...

5 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

The UX Consultants Lounge

Dan Brown - From EightShapes to Curious Squid: Building, Closing, and Reimagining a UX Consultancy

In this episode of The UX Consulting Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with longtime friend and industry leader Dan Brown to explore the evolution of his consulting journey—from co-founding the beloved UX agency EightShapes to launching his solo consultancy, Curious Squid. Together, they dive into: The origin story and 18-year legacy of EightShapesWhy Dan and his co-founder Nathan Curtis ultimately decided to close the agencyThe emotional and operational realities of hiring employees as a sma...

6 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Christine Perfetti - Blending UX Consulting with a Mission-Driven Passion Project

In this episode of The UX Consulting Lounge, host Kyle Soucy reconnects with long-time friend and UX veteran Christine Perfetti for a deeply honest and inspiring conversation about career reinvention, self-worth, and the power of authentic connection. After decades of success in the UX world—most recently through her consultancy, Perfetti Media—Christine found herself at a professional and personal crossroads. Instead of staying the course, she decided to explore something new: a passion proj...

9 months ago

1 hour 17 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Lisa Bragg - The Art of Purposeful Self-Promotion: Being a Signal Through the Noise

In this engaging episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with Lisa Bragg, an expert in strategic self-promotion and the author of "Bragging Rights: How to Talk about Your Work Using Purposeful Self-Promotion." Together, they explore the nuanced art of self-promotion that doesn't just add to the noise but acts as a clear signal, bringing value and visibility to your work. Whether you're a UX consultant or in any field where self-promotion feels a bit icky, this ep...

10 months ago

57 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Tamara Adlin - The Power of Alignment

In this episode of the UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy speaks with Tamara Adlin, owner of Adlin, Inc., a consultancy specializing in helping early-stage startups and larger companies with product alignment and redesigns. They discuss her impressive career journey and her profound impact on the field of UX consulting. Tamara shares her experiences transitioning from a corporate role at Amazon to establishing her own consultancy, along with the lessons learned from a brief stint co-creat...

11 months ago

56 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Erika Hall and Mike Monteiro - Consulting with Backbone: Authenticity, Humanity, and the Value of Hard Truths

In this episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with two legendary figures in the UX and design consulting world: Erika Hall and Mike Monteiro, co-founders of Mule Design. Known for their honesty, wit, and willingness to challenge the status quo, Erika and Mike bring decades of experience—and a few well-placed truth bombs—to this candid conversation about UX consulting. Key Topics Covered: The Origin of Mule Design: Why they chose the name Mule and how it represents t...

1 year ago

1 hour 3 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Lynne Polischuik & Justin Davis - Navigating the Evolution of UX Consulting: Adapting to Industry Shifts

In this episode of The UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy welcomes Lynne Polischuik and Justin Davis, two seasoned UX consultants, to discuss the evolving landscape of UX consulting. From the challenges of today’s market to the exciting opportunities presented by AI and emerging work models, this episode dives deep into the current state of UX consulting and where it’s headed. At the top of this episode, Kyle shares a personal update about navigating the unexpected cancellation of a big p...

1 year ago

1 hour 18 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Elizabeth Creighton - Scaling Your UX Consultancy: Newsletters, Courses, and Deliverables

In this episode of the UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with Elizabeth Creighton, the owner of Brazen, a consultancy that offers UX research and training services. Elizabeth shares great tips about scaling your UX consultancy through newsletters, online courses, and investing in deliverables. Plus, they discuss the emotional journey of having to pause your consulting practice in order to take a leave of absence and how to bounce back. Key Topics Covered: The Power of New...

1 year ago

1 hour 5 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Becca Kennedy - From Academia to UX Consulting

In this episode of the UX Consultants Lounge, host Kyle Soucy sits down with Becca Kennedy, the owner of Kennason, a UX consultancy that combines design research and content design services. With over 15 years in the industry and nearly a decade of running her own consultancy, Becca shares her insights and experiences in the world of UX consulting. What You’ll Learn: Becca’s Transition from Academia to UX Consulting: Becca discusses her journey from earning a PhD in Human Factors Psychology t...

1 year ago

1 hour 10 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Karen McGrane - Embracing Adaptability in UX Consulting

In this episode, host Kyle Soucy is joined by Karen McGrane, a renowned UX consultant, to dive deep into the intricacies of UX consulting, running a consulting business, and adapting to industry changes. Karen shares her extensive experience, from starting and running multiple consulting firms to managing business downturns and shifting industry norms. Karen’s wealth of experience and candid reflections make this a must-listen for anyone in the UX consulting community! Key Points Discus...

1 year ago

1 hour 8 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Introduction: An Interview with Your Host, Kyle Soucy

In this special introductory episode, we get to know Kyle, the host of our UX Consultant Podcast. Celebrating her 20th year in business as an independent UX research consultant, Kyle shares her journey, the motivations behind starting this podcast, and what listeners can expect in future episodes. Joined by her children, Roger and Gabriel, Kyle answers some of the most frequently asked questions about her career, offering a personal and heartfelt look into her life as a consultant. Show Highl...

1 year ago

40 minutes

The UX Consultants Lounge

Trailer: Welcome to the UX Consultants Lounge

Links and Resources: Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn.Learn more about Kyle's UX Research consultancy, Usable Interface.Submit a question or story: Have a question or topic that you'd like us to cover in a future episode and/or want to share an anonymous consulting story? Submit your questions and stories. Don't want to miss an episode? Be sure to sign up for the podcast newsletter. Thanks for tuning in! Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite ...

1 year ago

1 minute