#106 - Navigating gender, religion, and politics in UX research – with Zoë Glas

#106 - Navigating gender, religion, and politics in UX research – with Zoë Glas

Author: User Interviews October 26, 2022 Duration: 42:10

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
  • Why religion is an overlooked topic in UX research
  • Attitudes and behaviors related to religion
  • Tips for researchers on how to address inclusion from a UX perspective

Highlights:

  • [00:01:41] The ‘I’ in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
  • [00:04:05] Forget about equity, this episode is about diversity and inclusion
  • [00:07:48] Applying inclusion to UX research
  • [00:10:56] How to start difficult conversations around inclusion
  • [00:13:25] Why Zoë is interested in UX research on religion
  • [00:20:38] How to keep your bias in check as a researcher
  • [00:25:09] Zoe shares how she addresses religion from a UX perspective
  • [00:27:11] Why it’s so hard to talk about religion at work

About our guest

Zoë Glas is a Senior UX Researcher at Google. She specializes in gathering and triangulating qualitative and quantitative data to improve amazing products. She has a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Social Science from Purdue University and a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. Zoe has been published extensively in several international journals, including Sage journals, Society & Natural Resources, and Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 


Awkward Silences is a conversation about the human side of building things. Hosts Erin May and Carol Guest, both VPs at User Interviews, don't just talk about theory-they get into the messy, real-world practice of talking to users and making sense of what they say. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the craft of user research, featuring candid chats with the practitioners who do this work every day. You'll hear stories about navigating tricky interviews, the weight of interpreting qualitative data, and how genuine understanding directly shapes better products and smarter business decisions. This isn't a dry lecture; it's a geeky, relatable dive into the questions and quiet moments that define UX research. The Awkward Silences podcast lives in the intersection of technology and business, focusing on the people and processes that connect them. Listen for practical insights, empathetic strategies, and the occasional shared laugh about the inevitable fumbles that come with trying to understand anyone. It’s for anyone who believes that building effectively starts with listening well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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