Author: Stefanie Cousins

30 Sep

Posted at 04:23h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

In celebration of Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we’re highlighting the people whose experience, ideas, and perspectives have helped shape our company. This week, we’re featuring Senior Researcher Sylvia Rusnak,

Sylvia’s connection to Fluent began during her time at Sesame Workshop, where she regularly collaborated with our team. She joined Fluent to continue conducting research that helps improve the media environment for children and families. For Sylvia, a highlight is hearing directly from children about games and shows in development and helping shape experiences that support their learning and wellbeing.

Get to know Sylvia in our latest staff profile, including her thoughtful approach to writing, the books she returns to again and again, and the walks with her dog, Charlie, that bookend her days.

1. Sylvia, what inspired you to join Fluent Research?

I worked at Sesame Workshop prior to joining Fluent, and at Sesame I often worked with the Fluent team. I joined Fluent hoping to continue a similar type of work, conducting research that ultimately helps to improve the media environment for children and families. 

2. What’s been your most memorable project or moment at Fluent?

I love working on PBS Kids projects. It’s so fun to see kids’ reactions and ask them for their opinions on a game or show that is in development. It also feels great to be involved in building something that is good for kids, when so much of the media and tech landscape otherwise favors engagement and profit at the cost of wellbeing and learning.  

3. What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I have read the Harry Potter books so many times that the specific number of times is a fact that I don’t even know. 

4. What’s a book, movie, or podcast you’d recommend to everyone?

I enjoy listening to The Wellness Scoop podcast. So much of health is over-complicated, but this podcast brings it back to the basics that actually matter and make a difference to our overall wellbeing. 

5. What’s your go-to productivity hack?

This isn’t necessarily a hack, but writing a first draft with the mindset that it can be “good enough” rather than “perfect.” Writing has always been important to me. It’s a way to process information and make connections, and I think it’s important to preserve that act when we analyze data and communicate research findings.

6. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day, Sylvia?

Taking a walk with my dog, Charlie. It’s how I start my day, as well. 

23 Sep

Posted at 05:05h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

As part of Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we’re continuing to highlight the people whose experience, ideas, and perspectives have helped shape Fluent. This week, we’re featuring Amber Gonzalez, a quantitative researcher who helps turn complex datasets into clear, compelling stories.

Amber’s work spans the research process, from drafting survey questions and developing analysis plans to creating visualizations that communicate research findings.

Get to know Amber in our latest staff profile, including her memorable fieldwork on a PBS KIDS Odd Squad research project, the career she almost pursued, and her love for the Knicks.

1) Amber, what’s your role at Fluent, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I’m a quantitative researcher at Fluent, where I’m involved throughout the research process. No two days are exactly the same. A typical day might involve drafting survey questions or a data analysis plan, digging into data, answering client questions, or developing insights and visualizations for research decks and presentations.

I also spend time thinking about ways to improve our workflows and tools, particularly when it comes to data visualization and AI. Overall, it’s a constant mix of research, problem-solving, and figuring out how to turn giant datasets into clear, compelling stories.

2) What’s been your most memorable project or moment at Fluent?

One of my most memorable projects was traveling to Texas to help with data collection for the PBS KIDS Odd Squad research project. I did a lot of similar fieldwork across the country in my previous role, so it was really fun to get back to that type of hands-on research again. It was a nice change of pace from my usual quant work and a great reminder of how much I enjoy seeing research come to life in the field.

3) How has Fluent evolved since you joined?

Fluent has grown a lot since I joined. The company has nearly doubled in size, so it’s been interesting to see how our team, capabilities, and the types of projects we take on have evolved along with that growth.

4) What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I’m a big Knicks fan. Knicks in 5! 🧡💙

5) Amber, if you weren’t in research, what career would you have pursued?

I almost became a school psychologist! I was deciding between that and research, but ultimately chose research because I felt like it would give me more flexibility and a wider range of opportunities.

6) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I’d love to walk the Camino de Santiago from Portugal to Spain. I enjoy hiking and exploring new places, so taking in the scenery and discovering all the small towns along the way sounds amazing. Japan is also high on my list for many of the same reasons. I’d love to experience the culture, explore different parts of the country, and, of course, try all the food!

7) What’s your favorite snack or drink to have while working?

Definitely coffee in the mornings, preferably Puerto Rican coffee! It’s my favorite way to start the workday.

21 Sep

Posted at 10:54h in Child Development, Meditations, Wellbeing

“When it comes to achieving challenging goals, grit is necessary but not sufficient. The situation also matters — and to an astonishing degree.”
— Angela Duckworth

“What Dilla created was a third path of rhythm… a new, pleasurable, disorienting rhythmic friction.”
— Dan Charnas, “Dilla Time”

Lately, I keep hearing the same concern about artificial intelligence in schools: it removes productive struggle.

I understand the concern. Learning takes effort. Students need opportunities to get stuck, make mistakes, rethink what they are doing and find their way through.

Still, I have started to wonder what we mean when we say “productive struggle.”

Education has a habit of taking complicated ideas and making them portable. Angela Duckworth’s grit gets reduced to perseverance. Carol Dweck’s growth mindset becomes encouragement to keep trying. Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences somehow helped produce decades of talk about fixed learning styles, despite his objections. Eventually, the name remains while much of the concept disappears.

Productive struggle feels vulnerable to the same thing.

A difficult assignment is not educationally valuable because it is difficult. Whether the struggle produces anything depends on the young person sitting in front of it.

That person arrives with more than a skill level. Maybe they slept badly. Maybe the morning at home was chaotic. Maybe something happened with a friend. Maybe they are hungry. Maybe they have failed at this kind of task enough times that difficulty starts to confirm something they believe about themselves.

Tomorrow could be different.

Developmental science has spent decades showing that young people grow through their experiences with the people and circumstances around them. Yet inside a classroom, it can become tempting to treat the student as a fixed quantity.

Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development gives us a place where challenge exceeds what a learner can do alone while remaining reachable with help. Csikszentmihalyi’s work on flow offers another familiar picture of skill and challenge meeting at the point of deep engagement.

Those models are useful. The diagrams are clean. The kid isn’t.

A student can know enough to do the work and still have little available for it at 2:30 on a Thursday.

I think about this when I listen to J Dilla.

I love Dilla’s music. His drums can feel as though they are slipping away from where they are supposed to land. A snare arrives late. Something else pushes forward. The beat keeps moving around the place where your ear expects to find it.

When I am in the mood, I love that feeling. It makes me listen harder. A beat that initially sounds crooked begins to make sense.

And then there are days when Dilla hurts my head. I do not want to chase the beat. Give me something that lands where I expect it to land. Maybe Sugar Hill, Eric B. or just a disco playlist.

The record does not change. I do. So does the context.

That seems like a problem for the way we talk about productive struggle. We often imagine challenge as something we can calibrate in advance: give this student something at the right level, push a little beyond what they know, offer enough support to keep them moving.

There are days when the same student needs more help than yesterday. There are subjects in which difficulty creates curiosity and others where it starts to feel like proof that they do not belong. Sometimes a teacher should wait before stepping in. Sometimes waiting accomplishes nothing.

This is where AI gets interesting.

Bellwether recently examined productive struggle in relation to AI and made an important point: AI can help students through difficulty, and it can also let them bypass the intellectual work entirely.

A student who asks AI to write the essay has avoided something.

A student who asks for help understanding a confusing term may finally be able to get started.

Those uses are very different, though both made the task easier. Maybe “easier” is too blunt a category.

If students are learning historical reasoning, dense vocabulary might get in the way of the work we care about. If they are learning to build an argument, organizing ideas may be part of the work or the obstacle keeping them from doing it.

AI forces us to be more specific: What do we want the young person to struggle with?

Good teachers already make these calls all day long. They notice when frustration turns into withdrawal. Sometimes they give a hint. Sometimes they let the student keep working.

Dilla did something similar with music. He could move a drum just far enough to make you search for the beat without losing it altogether. He knew where to introduce friction and where to leave something steady.

And still, I cannot listen to him every day and nobody forces me to for the sake of productive struggle. The same music that pulls me closer one day can make me turn it off the next. Young people bring at least that much variability into a classroom.

So before we protect productive struggle from AI, we should be more careful about what we are protecting. Maybe AI is not threatening productive struggle as much as it is threatening our ability to be vague about it.

Sometimes struggle opens something up. Sometimes it just hurts your head.

***

By Dan Warren, PhD, Director, Youth Development & Education, Fluent Research

This article was originally published in Youth Today on September 16, 2026 as part of the series Dan writes called Pass the mic: Where hip-hop meets human development. Each month, he brings scholars and rappers into dialogue to spark new ways of seeing youth, culture and change.

Previous pieces in the Pass the MIc series:

16 Sep

Posted at 17:39h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

As part of Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we’re continuing to highlight the people whose experience, ideas, and perspectives have helped shape Fluent. This week, we’re featuring Mary Meyn, Chief of Staff.

Mary was immediately drawn to Fluent’s work at the intersection of technology, education, families, and girls leadership and empowerment. Meeting the team confirmed that it was the right place for her. Today, her role brings together research and operations, with days that might include designing a research plan, interviewing participants, connecting with prospective clients, or supporting colleagues on their projects.

What connects it all is her love of learning. Whether she’s exploring survey findings, listening to a participant’s story, or hearing a colleague’s perspective, Mary values the opportunity to discover something new every day. She brings an appreciation for both the data that helps us understand people and the stories behind it.

Get to know Mary in our latest staff profile, including her perspective on Fluent’s future, her favorite book recommendations, and her quest to visit all 50 states.

1) Mary, what inspired you to join Fluent Research?

When I learned about Fluent I thought “Wow, this is where I want to work.” Fluent’s position as a forward-thinking research firm at the intersection of researching technology, education, families, girls leadership and empowerment drew me in immediately. Once I met the team, I knew Fluent was the right place for me.

2) What’s your role at Fluent, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I am the Chief of Staff at Fluent, and no two days really look the same. That’s exactly what I enjoy about my role and about working at a small, dynamic business. On any given day, I may be talking to prospective clients, designing research plans, refining internal processes to make our work more streamlined, moderating IDIs (In Depth Interviews), or supporting colleagues on their projects.

3) What’s one thing you’ve learned about research that surprised you?

Early in my career, I was surprised by how research can uncover people’s deeply personal beliefs and stories, revealing previously unknown themes on topics ranging from the mundane to what might be considered taboo.

I love learning about and witnessing the techniques that make this possible: data collection that meets people where they are, projective exercises that allow people to discuss topics in ways that feel comfortable but are still revelatory, analytical techniques that distill the data, and visualizations that can tell an entire story at once.

4) What’s your favorite part of working at Fluent?

My favorite part of working at Fluent is that I learn something new every day. Whether it’s a finding from a survey, an insight from a research participant, a colleague sharing their expertise, or a client developing new programs and products, I am constantly learning.

5) What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I love traveling to new places, and I’m working on visiting all 50 US states. As of now I have been to 38 states.

6) What’s a book, movie, or podcast you’d recommend to everyone?

I love to read, and I love to swap book recommendations with other readers. A few of my perennial suggestions are The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, anything by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Recently I’ve been recommending Never Enough by Jennifer Breheny Wallace and Kin by Tayari Jones.

7) What’s your go-to productivity hack?

It depends on what kind of work I’m doing. If my work requires creativity or big-picture thinking, I take a walk and come back refreshed and ready with ideas. If I need to put my head down and get through a ton of data analysis, coffee is the answer.

8) Mary, if you weren’t in research, what career would you have pursued?

I love that research allows me to learn about so many different areas. It’s hard to imagine doing something else! Had I not gone into research, I probably would have pursued a career in journalism or government.

9) What does Fluent’s 20th Anniversary mean to you?

As a researcher, I love to measure things and particularly quantify things. The quantitative researcher in me says that Fluent’s 20th anniversary represents hundreds of research studies, thousands of insights, and research conducted in more than 70 countries. The qualitative researcher marvels at Fluent’s story, how the work gets done, and the people who make it happen.

I’m proud to be part of a company with twenty years of high-quality, actionable research behind it, and I’m excited to see what comes next.

10) How do you see Fluent evolving in the next 20 years?

Research methodologies and data collection may change, and the topics that we research as technology changes will evolve. One thing that won’t change is Fluent’s commitment to giving voice to the public. 

11) What’s one word you’d use to describe Fluent Research? Why?

Tenacious. Fluent isn’t afraid to tackle complicated questions, find hard-to-reach audiences, and go beyond what the data says to share what it means.

12) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?

Going for a walk with my family, hearing about their day, and being silly with the kids.

13) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

If I could go anywhere well then I’d take a trip around the world, of course! I would love to see Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world that I haven’t had the opportunity to visit yet.

14) Mary, what’s a hobby or activity you’re passionate about outside of work?

You’ll usually find me hiking, playing pickle ball, dreaming up my next travel itinerary, or spending time with my kids.

15 Sep

Posted at 14:24h in Education

When clients ask us to evaluate an educational product, they begin with practical questions. Can students complete the task? Do teachers understand the feature? Is the interface intuitive? Will people who work in the field of education use it?

These questions matter, yet the answers rarely reside entirely within the product experience itself.

A student disengaged during a digital lesson may be responding to the design. Their behavior may also reflect what happened earlier that morning, how the technology is positioned by their teacher, whether classmates consider it useful, or whether the student sees a connection between the activity and what matters to them.

The same is true for educators. A teacher’s hesitation about an AI tool may seem like resistance to change. Look closely and that hesitation could reflect concerns about student privacy, uncertainty about school policy, pressure from families, or a belief that the tool threatens their professional role. The feature may work exactly as intended and still encounter friction because of the system surrounding it.

The Education Ecosystem

Education always happens within an ecosystem. Classrooms, homes, relationships, institutions, communities, cultures, policies, and time in history shape what learners and educators experience. Each person also brings their own developmental needs, responsibilities, identities, and expectations. Understanding the person drives us to look beyond whether they can use a product or whether they say that they like it toward three interconnected dimensions of the experience:

  • What feelings, motivations, anxieties, values, and relationships shape the experience? Does the product support confidence, trust, belonging, agency, or a sense of professional competence?
  • What does the person understand, believe, notice, and expect? How are they interpreting the product and its purpose?
  • What does the person actually do? Do they adopt the product, avoid it, adapt it, use it selectively, create workarounds, or abandon it over time?

These dimensions don’t always align. A teacher may understand the value of an AI tool while feeling it undermines their professional judgment. A student may complete every required step while feeling confused, exposed, or disconnected from the learning. Someone may express enthusiasm during an interview but rarely use the product once it encounters the complexity of  daily life.

Those contradictions are often where insights begin.

They also create a challenge for research teams. Research bounded by the immediate product interaction can provide an accurate but incomplete answer. At the same time, trying to investigate every influence is overwhelming. All said, teams still need to make decisions and focus their resources where they can have impact without getting swallowed in a never ending study.

A Whole System, Whole Human Approach to Education

Our approach is to identify which parts of the system and which dimensions of the human experience are most likely to change the answer.

At Fluent Research, we call this our Whole System, Whole Human approach. We begin with a client question and map the forces surrounding it. Which relationships, routines, developmental needs, expectations, or cultural conditions might meaningfully affect what we observe? How might those conditions influence what people think, feel, and do? Which factors could change how a finding is interpreted or lead to a different decision?

From there, we prioritize. Projects do not need a comprehensive examination of the education system or every dimension of a person’s life. They may need only select pieces of context that help the team understand what is driving the observed behavior. This can be accomplished through focused and agile methods:

  • Interviews might reveal how teachers fit a product into a workflow. 
  • Observations may show that students use a feature differently when adults are absent. 
  • A survey can determine whether a concern is widespread or limited to a particular setting. 

Used together intentionally, these methods reveal the connections among what people report, what they experience, and what they ultimately do.

The Value of Context

Some questions warrant deeper immersion. In one K–8 study we did, our researchers followed selected students from the time they woke up until they went to bed. This allowed us to understand the school day as one part of a much larger experience that included family routines, transportation, friendships, extracurricular activities, technology use, and rest.

The purpose was to see which parts of those lives shaped the educational experience. Behaviors that appeared one way in a classroom took on different meanings when viewed within the rhythm of the full day. These days were full of moments that provided clarity.

That distinction is central to whole-system research. Context is valuable when it changes the interpretation, reveals a constraint, or points toward a course of action. The broader lens often produces a sharper answer.

For example, contextual research can help a team distinguish:

  • an interface problem from friction created by the surrounding workflow.
  • lack of understanding from lack of trust or confidence.
  • visible compliance from meaningful engagement.
  • individual resistance from pressure embedded in school policy or culture.
  • a constraint from an inherited assumption that should be challenged.

These distinctions lead to very different decisions. Improving an interface will not solve a problem rooted in trust. Training will have limited value if teachers understand the product but lack the authority or confidence to use it. A feature designed to save time may have little impact if it introduces new responsibilities elsewhere.

Grounding Research in the Reality of Education Today

Whole System, Whole Human research helps teams move quickly without flattening the people they design for. It offers context to understand why something is happening while maintaining focus on the current decision.

The result is research that remains pointed, practical, and actionable while being grounded in the realities of people’s lives. Teams can make more informed choices about where to optimize, what to protect, how to support change, and where the greatest opportunity may be to reimagine teaching and learning.

By Dan Warren, PhD, Director of Youth Development & Education at Fluent Research.

10 Sep

Posted at 12:02h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

As part of Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we’re continuing to highlight the people whose experience, ideas, and perspectives have helped shape Fluent. This week, we’re featuring Stefanie Cousins, Vice President, Marketing and Communications.

Stefanie’s connection to Fluent began with a familiar project. Having worked on the U.S. marketing of the documentary Girl Rising, she was delighted to discover that Fluent had evaluated the film’s impact. She joined the team in 2021 and now helps bring Fluent’s work, expertise, and perspectives to audiences across our website, social media, and beyond.

Her background in journalism gives her a particular appreciation for research: asking thoughtful questions, listening closely, and making sense of what people share.

Get to know Stefanie in our latest staff profile, including her experience working with Barbara Walters, her favorite novel, and how she unwinds outside of work.

1) Stefanie, what inspired you to join Fluent Research?

I first learned about Fluent from my friend Allison Caplovitz. When I looked at the website, I was delighted to find that Fluent had evaluated the impact of the Girl Rising documentary. Because I worked on the marketing of that film in the U.S, I immediately felt a connection to Nellie and Fluent. 

2) What’s your role at Fluent, and what does a typical day look like for you?

My role at Fluent is Vice President, Marketing and Communications. I’m responsible for the way we market our brand and communicate about ourselves externally and internally. No two days are the same. Read below!

3) How has Fluent evolved since you joined?

Fluent has grown quite a bit since I joined in 2021. Our staff has more than doubled since then!

4) Stefanie, what’s one thing you’ve learned about research that surprised you?

Before I joined Fluent, I knew that research played an important role in the things we use everyday. However, I wasn’t aware of the depth, breadth, care, and thoughtfulness of the work. Research makes a lot of sense to me. The research process of developing questions, conducting interviews, analyzing the data, and writing a report is quite similar to the work I used to do as a journalist. 

5) What’s your favorite part of working at Fluent?

I love that no two days are ever the same. In the morning, I could be writing blog posts and working on social media. In the middle of the day, I may be designing new web pages and developing content. By the afternoon, I could spend time collaborating with a researcher on a new strategy for promoting our research or working with our director of productions on a new video project.

6) What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?

I spent many years working in journalism as a news magazine producer at media outlets like ABC News, The New York Times, NPR, and PBS. Some of the pieces I worked on over the years brought important issues to light. I’m most proud of the stories we produced about international child abduction, shaken baby syndrome, and the challenges discharged military veterans face in the VA system. 

For several years, I worked at ABC News 20/20, where I had the honor of working closely with Barbara Walters on a number of stories, including her interviews with Monica Lewinsky and Michael J. Fox. I was also a member of the team that produced her broadcast from Paris for ABC’s 2000 Millennium Day Broadcast, which won a Peabody Award.

7) Stefanie, if you could have dinner with any public or historical figure, who would it be and why?

I would actually like to have dinner with my great grandmother. Though she wasn’t famous, she lived a long life that allowed her to witness nearly 100 years of history. She spoke several languages, escaped antisemitism in Eastern Europe as a teenager, loved her family fiercely., and cooked and baked amazing food that I still remember today.

Since she passed away when I was 11 years old, I didn’t have the opportunity to get to know her well. As I got older, however, I discovered that we have a lot in common, including our love for baking, cooking, and knitting. About 20 years ago, I traveled to Eastern Europe to find the town where she lived before she came to the U.S and that trip allowed me to learn more about my family’s ancestry. I have so many questions that I would love to ask her.

8) What’s a book, movie, or podcast you’d recommend to everyone?

I love to read books, but I also love to listen to them. Driving and cooking provide me with the best times to do it. My favorite genres are popular literary novels, historical fiction, and memoirs. For this question, however, I’m leaning into my days as an English major in college. 

My all time favorite book that I read in college was Middlemarch by George Eliot (aka Mary Ann Evans). Even though Eliot wrote the book in 1870 (under a man’s name in order for publishers to take her work seriously), Middlemarch feels modern. The novel’s ordinary characters have complex internal lives, frustrations with marriage and ambition, and moral dilemmas. While I also love so many other 19th century novels, this one stands out among the pack. Eliot was ahead of her time. It’s a very long book, but I promise you it’s worth it!

9) What’s your go-to productivity hack?

I find the best way for me to be productive is to listen to Spotify focus music on noise canceling headphones and turn off the notifications on my phone.

10) What does Fluent’s 20th Anniversary mean to you?

Twenty years is a long time to maintain and grow a business. I’m proud to celebrate this milestone with Nellie and the rest of the staff.

11) What’s one word you’d use to describe Fluent Research? Why?

Thoughtful. Our staff is insights driven, relying on research that focuses heavily on truly understanding people.

12) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?

I enjoy cooking dinner for my family after work while listening to a book or podcast. I especially like trying out new recipes on them!

13) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I want to go to Peru to hike the Inca trail from Cusco to Machu Picchu. This trip would combine my love for hiking, history, and exploration.

14) What’s your favorite snack or drink to have while working?

I don’t tend to snack while I’m working, but I do drink a lot of water during the day.

15) Stefanie, what’s a hobby or activity you’re passionate about outside of work?

I am passionate about being active: hiking, going on long walks, and taking yoga and Pilates classes. I also love to knit, cook, and bake for family and friends.

01 Jul

Posted at 09:00h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

To celebrate Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we’re highlighting the people who have helped shape the organization along the way. This week, we’re featuring Dana Markow, PhD, Fluent’s Vice President, Research.

Dana wears many hats at Fluent, including leader of our quantitative, survey-based research and driver of business, innovation, and strategy development. Having conducted extensive research with children and teens, education products and services, and public affairs, Dana provides her clients with data-driven, human-centered strategic insights that help them address complex questions and support strategic decisions.

Read below to find out about what Dana’s typical day looks like, her favorite productivity hack, and the activities she enjoys outside the office.

1) What inspired you to join Fluent Research?

Nellie and I met around 10 years ago and I was really impressed with the work that she was doing. I was working as an independent consultant at the time and a project came my way that I thought would be a great opportunity for us to partner on. That project was a success, which led to a few more projects. So when the offer came to join Fluent on a full-time basis, I was thrilled to accept. 

2) What’s your role at Fluent, and what does a typical day look like for you?

I’m Vice President, Research and lead a team focused primarily on quantitative, survey-based research. I also have broader responsibilities for overall research strategy and innovation and business development. A typical day for me involves speaking with existing and potential clients, preparing a proposal for a new project, overseeing the various research projects managed by my team, and digging into the data to inform insights and recommendations for a client.

3) How has Fluent evolved since you joined?

It’s been a period of exciting growth. Since I’ve joined, the Fluent team has increased from fewer than five employees to more than 20 incredibly talented individuals. 

4) What’s your favorite part of working at Fluent?

I love the wide variety of topics and populations that we get to investigate. I have the opportunity to learn from my clients and colleagues, as well as deepen and expand my areas of expertise.  

5) What’s a book, movie, or podcast you’d recommend to everyone?

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

6) What’s your go-to productivity hack?

Does taking a walk to clear my head count as a productivity hack?

7) What does Fluent’s 20th Anniversary mean to you?

It’s an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our accomplishments and devote attention to what we want to achieve in the next 20 years. 

8) What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?

Doing the puzzles on The New York Times Games app. Wordle, Sudoku, Pips, Spelling Bee, the crosswords–I’m obsessed with them all!

9) If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

The list is long, as I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I would have liked, but Italy is at the top. The “why” is probably obvious: history, art, the coastal landscapes, and of course, the food (pasta and gelato?!).

10) What’s your favorite snack or drink to have while working?

Almonds (raw, unsalted)

11) What’s a hobby or activity you’re passionate about outside of work?

I really enjoy cooking and baking. I love the entire process–from choosing the recipes, shopping for special ingredients, preparing the food and sharing it with others. The only part I’m less enthused about is washing the pots & pans, but that’s a small price to pay. 

15 Jun

Posted at 19:18h in 20th Anniversary, Get to Know Us

Twenty years is a long time. Long enough to fill a lot of shelves, queue up a lot of podcasts, and dog-ear a lot of pages. As we mark Fluent Research’s 20th anniversary, we wanted to share something more personal than a milestone — the 20 books, magazines, and podcasts our team can’t stop talking about right now.

Think of this as our staff-curated summer list. Twenty recommendations. One for each year. Organized by genre, so you can find your way to whatever you’re in the mood for — a gripping thriller, a quiet literary novel, a podcast that makes a long walk fly by.

Here’s what we’re reading and listening to.

Fiction: Literary

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

This one stayed with me long after the last page. As I read, I kept thinking about two things: how others see us isn’t always how we see ourselves, shown through the recipients of Theo’s paintings — and how a person’s greatest legacy may be the quiet, lasting impact they leave on the hearts around them. I didn’t want it to end. The characters felt like part of my life while I was reading. Recommended by Allison Caplovitz

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

I started this after seeing it everywhere — best-of lists, bestseller charts, bookstore windows. It’s a family saga, a sub-genre I’m drawn to, centered on twin sisters from a fictional Louisiana town known for its light-skinned Black community. Themes of racial identity sit at the forefront, so I’m settling in for a serious read with a lot to think through. And I can already feel the two sisters drifting toward very different lives. Recommended by Farrah Brensinger

Fiction: Historical

Katherine by Anya Seton

A fictionalized account of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, set in 14th-century England. Katherine isn’t widely known today, yet the modern English monarchy descends from her, and she’s an ancestral grandmother to four U.S. presidents. So little of her life is documented that the author researched what she could and filled in the gaps — though many of the major events really happened. I love learning about these figures and doing my own digging as I read. Recommended by Paige Frankovich

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar

This novel follows Cyrus Shams, a young, newly sober poet and the son of Iranian immigrants. His mother died in a plane crash when he was very young, and the story moves between Cyrus’s present and his parents’ pasts. Obsessed with martyrs, art, and family history, he travels to Brooklyn to meet a dying artist. Because both author and protagonist are poets, many chapters open with a poem. I love that variation — the poems let you reflect on the story from a new angle. Recommended by Lia Abrams

We Don’t Talk about Carol by Kristen L. Berry

Sydney Singleton, a former investigative journalist, discovers she had an aunt — one of six Black teenage girls who vanished in Raleigh, NC, in the 1960s. The cases were never solved, mostly forgotten, until Sydney begins a deep dive. The author blends historical fiction, mystery, and journalism, three of my favorite genres. She also brings to light the ongoing crisis of missing Black girls, and the systemic disparities in how their cases are treated, underreported, and unsolved. Recommended by Stefanie Cousins

Fiction: Mystery/Thriller

Verity by Colleen Hoover

I’m only a few chapters into this one (reading for a book club with friends) and I’m already completely gripped. The movie is coming out later this year, so we wanted to read it before seeing the film. Recommended by Mona El-Hout

A Lesson in Secrets: A Maisie Dobbs Novel by Jacqueline Winspear

I’ve been working my way through the Maisie Dobbs historical mystery series. I love the protagonist — her approach, her process, the careful way she solves a mystery. Recommended by Sylvia Rusnak

Fiction: Science Fiction/Fantasy

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I just started this one. I’ve heard wonderful things about both the book and the upcoming movie, and I can’t wait to keep reading. Recommended by Kelly Sheehan

Non-Fiction: History/Biography

Banana Ball: The Unbelievably True Story of the Savannah Bananas by Jesse Cole & Don Yaeger

Anyone who’s seen the Savannah Bananas play knows they are pure fun. As I listen to this audiobook, I’m enjoying how the Bananas think creatively — keeping the true essence of baseball while making it more exciting, engaging, and entertaining. Their bold ideas and willingness to take risks have led to remarkable success, and it’s a joy to be along for the ride. Recommended by Mary Meyn

The Intelligence Explosion: When AI Beats Humans at Everything by James Barrat

I’m learning more about Artificial General Intelligence and superintelligence here than I ever did in a formal AI course. Barrat warns about the existential risks of advanced AI, making a compelling case that a recursive self-improvement loop could spiral into something uncontrollable. Despite some technical moments, it’s a genuine page-turner — fascinating, and occasionally a bit ominous. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu by Tom Freston

Written by MTV’s co-founder, this memoir chronicles a wild, wonderfully unconventional life — hitchhiking across the globe, selling clothing in India and Afghanistan, then helping launch one of the most iconic cable networks of all time. What a life. It also brought back great memories of my early research career, working on projects for MTV, Nickelodeon, and other Viacom networks. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir by Keith McNally

“The Restaurateur Who Invented Downtown.” A candid, bestselling look at his legendary New York restaurants — Balthazar, Pastis, The Odeon — his health struggles, and his late-career reinvention as a viral Instagram personality. I probably spent a small fortune at McNally’s tables over the years. Zero regrets. Recommended by Nellie Gregorian

Non-Fiction: Self-Help/Wellness

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

I love hosting friends and family, and I’ve been on the library waitlist for this one for a month. The author writes about how to bring real intention and purpose to the way we gather. I can’t wait to dive in. Recommended by Aeliya Ahmed

The Natural Superwoman by Uzi Reiss, M.D. and Yfat Reiss Gendell

This is an accessible, science-backed guide to an often overlooked part of women’s health: the role of hormones in wellness and longevity. Women’s health — particularly in midlife and beyond — has long been understudied and underrepresented in research and clinical practice. I was drawn to it as a woman and as a researcher-practitioner focused on supporting women’s positive development across the lifecycle. Recommended by Amy Warren

Article/Periodical

The New Yorker — Multiple authors

I look forward to The New Yorker every week. There’s always a new topic to learn about and a short story to satisfy a fiction craving. And I can always count on the cartoons to put a smile on my face. Recommended by Dana Markow

Traces of Consciousness — Donald Hoffman, Chetan Prakash, and Manish Chattopadhyay

This paper presents a mathematical framework describing how an observer (a conscious agent) can perceive a larger, more complex system by focusing on only a limited subset of its states, effectively acting as an informational “window.”

It’s the latest development in Donald Hoffman’s groundbreaking work advancing the “case against reality”—the idea that the physical world is not fundamental, but rather a mental construct. At first glance it’s mind-blowingly far-out stuff, but its ambition is matched by its rigor and, in my admittedly limited understanding, the argument is remarkably convincing.

I give thanks every day for tools like NotebookLM, which help me make sense of dense material like this at my own pace. Recommended by Heath Cozens

Podcasts

Desert Island Discs — BBC

I love how the music choices create an anchor for a biographical conversation. There’s something revealing in what people choose to bring with them. And I’m always curious whether the people I admire would pick the same songs I would. Recommended by Dan Warren

Hardcore History: Blueprint for Armageddon — Dan Carlin

A deep, immersive dive into history that rewards your full attention. Dan Carlin has a way of making the past feel urgent and alive. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Blowback — Noah Kulwin & Brendan James

This podcast breaks down US interventionism — specific events, campaigns, battles, and their legacy. As the name suggests, there’s some anti-war perspective woven throughout. It’s a thoughtful way to understand how the past still shapes the present. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Prestige TV Podcast: “Widows Bay” Deep Dive — The Ringer

A recap series following Widows Bay, the new Apple TV drama. Perfect for anyone who wants to keep talking about a show long after the episode ends. Recommended by Sofia Polo

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud — Bella Freud

Bella Freud interviews artists, musicians, and designers about their relationship to clothes, fashion, and art across their lives. I love hearing everyone’s different experiences — to me, nothing is more central to self-understanding and identity than how we choose to present ourselves. My favorite episodes are her conversations with Jonathan Anderson, Rosalía, FKA Twigs, and Lorde. Recommended by Charlotte Beatty

A list built by people, for people

What strikes me about this list isn’t its range, though the range is wide. It’s how much of each person shows up in their pick. A historical mystery solved by a beloved protagonist. A podcast that turns music into memory. A memoir that brings back an entire era of someone’s career.

That’s the work we do, really. We pay attention to what people choose, and why it matters to them.

So here’s our invitation as we celebrate twenty years: pick one. Start it this week. And if it stays with you — if it becomes the book you didn’t want to end, or the podcast you recommend to everyone you know — come tell us about it.

What would make your list?

By Stefanie Cousins, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

10 Jun

Posted at 21:24h in 20th Anniversary, Children's Media

This year Fluent Research is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is a major milestone for the company, which has spent two decades conducting research across a wide variety of industries, sectors, and audiences. While I haven’t been at Fluent for that entire two-decade run, hitting this benchmark naturally got me thinking about my own career in children’s media research, and how much the landscape has shifted since I first started.

When my career in kids’ media began, things looked very different. One of my earliest projects was working on Blue’s Clues. Back then, research wasn’t a checkbox you ticked at the very end of production; it was baked into the show’s DNA.

We tested every episode with kids three separate times as it moved through development. We’d watch how they engaged, gather their feedback, and use those insights to tweak the story structure, the pacing, and the animation. It was a given that children’s voices would shape the final product. We used to joke: We’re cheating because we’re asking the kids to tell us what they think even before it’s produced. But of course it wasn’t cheating at all. It was an effective way to let the audience guide the show before it was even finished.

I also remember the early days of evaluating interactive CD-ROMs, trying to figure out what meaningful digital engagement even looked like for a young audience. At the time, it felt like we were exploring uncharted territory. Looking back, what strikes me most about that era was the level of intentionality. Content was crafted with patience, and there was a true commitment to truly understanding your audience before making big decisions.

The Shift to Hyperspeed in the Children’s Media Landscape

The media environment today is a different world entirely.

Audiences don’t just watch TV; they move fluidly between streaming, social platforms, gaming, and digital spaces like TikTok and YouTube. The challenge for creators is no longer getting content into people’s hands. It’s about standing out in a world where there are a million other distractions and choices at your fingertips.

On one hand, the growth of streaming and digital platforms have brought real gains. There are more diverse stories being told and more ways to reach audiences than ever before. But it has also changed the pace of the industry. Production cycles have compressed. The pressure to constantly feed platforms means content is dropped at a rapid pace. In the rush to keep up, the deep, iterative research that used to be standard practice often gets sidelined.

Why the Children in the Audience Matter More Than Ever

The acceleration of the industry doesn’t make research less important. It makes it more important.

When audiences have infinite choices, understanding what actually resonates with them (what builds emotional connections and keeps them genuinely engaged) is everything. Research is what stops us from guessing and keeps us grounded in the reality of people’s actual lives.

That’s why the work we still get to do with partners like PBS KIDS means so much to me. When productions are able to secure the necessary funding, we collaborate on the kind of rigorous, formative testing that allows us to help shape shows while they are still in active development. Seeing the direct impact of that research reminds me just how important this process remains. It proves that taking the time to listen to children is still the most effective way to build media that truly serves them.

Children: The Heart of Children’s Media

As we celebrate 20 years of Fluent and look to the future, my hope is that we see a renewed commitment to putting research at the center of production, not as an afterthought. At Fluent, that’s the work we are dedicated to continuing and expanding. I look forward to partnering with more creators who believe that rigorous, child-first research isn’t a luxury, but a foundation. 

The platforms will keep shifting and the technology will keep evolving. That’s not going away. But after 20 years, here’s what we know for certain: truly great content will always start by putting children, their voices, and their needs at the heart of development.

By Allison Caplovitz, PhD, Director, Content Research and Evaluation

03 Jun

Posted at 18:25h in Children's Media, Conferences, Evaluation

We’re proud to announce that our research study on Dicey Escape, a PBS Kids digital math game, has been accepted to the International Communication Association (ICA) 2026 Conference — one of the leading global forums for communication research. The paper’s first author, Nancy A. Jennings, PhD from the CHEER Lab at the University of Cincinnati, will present the research findings at the conference in Cape Town, South Africa, June 4–6, 2026. Allison Caplovitz, PhD and Tiffany Salone, M.Ed from Fluent Research and Kelly R. Merrill Jr, PhD from University of Cincinnati are co-authors.

The research was conducted when PBS KIDS engaged Fluent Research to answer a straightforward but important question: does the Odd Squad Dicey Escape game actually improve math skills in young children, and how do kids respond to it overall? The study followed children ages 5–7 over a three-week period, measuring their math knowledge before and after gameplay. The findings — and their implications for app design and parenting decisions — are available on our website.

The ICA acceptance brings this work to an international research audience and reflects the broader significance of the study’s findings. The article provides a deeper look at the methodology, results, and what they mean for educators, parents, and digital content developers. Read the full text here: Digital Games and Math Skills Development: Leveraging Digital Play with Early Math Trajectories in the PBS KIDS’ Odd Squad Game Dicey Escape.