Get to Know Us

30 Jul

Posted at 04:27h in Get to Know Us, Research, Research Camp

In celebration of World Friendship Day, we asked members of our team to share their favorite collaborative projects. From content marketing campaigns to national surveys and in-depth ethnographies, these projects showcase the power of teamwork and the friendships that drive our success.

Stefanie Cousins – Vice President of Marketing and Communications

The public launch of Research Camp has been my favorite collaborative project at Fluent Research to date. Research Camp allows us and our clients to explore the world through the eyes of children. Using a range of qualitative research methodologies, we aim for deep insights into their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to answer our client’s research questions all in a classic camp environment.

The launch of Research Camp involved a content marketing campaign that distributed articles, images, GIFs, and videos as well as the development of a new page for our website, which serves as a one-stop shop for our stakeholders to learn more.

The development and execution of Research Camp’s public launch was a true team effort. I worked with Heath Cozens, Paige Frankovich, and Dan Warren, as well as our friends at Curious Media, who helped develop and design the webpage.

Mary Meyn– Research Director and Chief Staff

The Kids and Family Reading Report on behalf of Scholastic was my favorite collaborative project. Scholastic is a leader in children’s book publishing and strives to understand children’s preferences in what types of books they’re looking for and the type of content they enjoy.

Scholastic supports not just children in their reading but families as a whole. They want to understand how parents are utilizing books with their children, what support they need to encourage their children to read and enjoy reading, and what role reading plays in American families. Scholastic has tracked parents’ and children’s attitudes toward reading and their reading behavior with a biannual national survey since 2010. Scholastic engaged Fluent Research to continue this tracking study in 2023 with a survey of parents of children ages 0-17 and children ages 6-17.

Dana Markow and I worked closely on this project over the course of more than a year. While the study in and of itself is important and compelling, working with Dana on this project also provided us with opportunities to discuss our favorite childhood books, to reflect on what reading means to us as adults as well as its importance in our respective childhoods. In addition, Dana and I connected about the next generation of readers in our families, including their favorite books, and their reading struggles and triumphs.

Kelly Sheehan– Senior User Experience Researcher

I recently worked on a research project that involved interviewing coworker dyads about their work culture and meetings. It was super fun collaborating with my Fluent colleagues to brainstorm creative approaches to having the dyads interact and answer questions. We asked them to complete a brainstorming exercise together using a collaborative white-boarding tool called Miro. It was interesting to not only design this research but also observe coworkers’ relationships in real-time and hear how they describe their work rapport.

I worked with Farrah Brensinger and Sofia Polo on this project. Farrah and Sofia are excellent collaborative partners, bringing lots of attention to detail, creative ideas, and levity to our work. I felt like we all connected really well and respected each other’s ideas, which helped us land on a creative and well-thought-out approach. I’m so grateful to work with these two amazing researchers and to continue to learn from them!

Dan Warren– Director, Youth Development & Education

I worked on a week-long ethnography project where we tried to capture what it was like to be a kid in school these days. I collaborated with Heath Cozens, our Film Director. The project was special for two reasons. First, I love being in schools and immersing myself in the world of kids. Second, it was amazing to learn about the process of shooting films and how those techniques could improve my skills as a researcher.

11 Jun

Posted at 19:49h in Content, Get to Know Us

With its capacity to bring us knowledge, laughter, and new perspectives, social media can enrich our lives in countless ways. In this blog, our team shares their favorite accounts to follow. From thrilling outdoor adventures to insights into parenting with empathy, these accounts offer endless fun and inspiration. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

 

Lia Abrams: User Experience Researcher – Beli

Beli is an up-and-coming social media platform that allows you to search for restaurants in your area, save them to your wishlist, and rate them once you have dined there. You can see where your friends want to go and where they have been as well as what they ordered at each restaurant, how they rated it, and even pictures of their food. It’s the best way to find a great restaurant that’s been vetted by people you trust!

 

Aeliya Ahmed: Projet Manager – Ben Kielenski 

Ben makes TikTok videos that always open with “do you want to come on an adventure with?” He solo travels and does the coolest outdoor activities you could imagine – all the hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, diving, running in the world! I love watching him because his videos remind me of how much there is to see – and he inspired me to go on my three-month solo trip earlier this year!

 

Farrah Brensinger: Senior User Experience Researcher – The Pancake Princess 

The Pancake Princess (Erika Kwee) hosts “data-driven bake-offs,” where she tests trending Internet recipes and lets her squad of taste testers give their verdicts. Whether you’re on the hunt for a new carrot cake recipe, or if you simply MUST know how Smitten Kitchen’s lemon bar recipe stacks up against Tartine’s, the Pancake Princess is your go-to guru!

 

Mary Meyn: Chief of Staff and Director, Research – Born a Backpacker

One of my favorite accounts to follow is Born a Backpacker, the Instagram account of a family who share their travels around the United States and the world with their three young children. I love following their journey as a family doing everything from everyday things such as taking their kids to soccer practice to living on a boat for a week in Thailand. Nia, the woman who runs the account, is very down to earth and seemingly shows her family’s “real life.” It is the best of social media: an account that is inspiring, shares practical tips, and makes me feel connected to other people with similar interests.

 

Kelly Sheehan: Senior User Experience Researcher  – NurturedFirst

As a parent of a young child, I find NuturedFirst a super helpful account for tackling everyday challenges (like how to respond to tantrums) and more serious challenges (like body safety). The account owner (Jess) uses real world examples to demonstrate how to meet your child with deep empathy rather than focusing on the inconvenient behavior itself. I love this account because I feel like I walk away with more knowledge, more empathy, and greater appreciation for my child.

 

Amy Warren: Senior Child Development Researcher –  Darcia Narvaez

Darcia Narvaez is a central force within the paradigm shift BACK to humans’ original and “normal” cooperative orientation that begins within the human family. Simply, she is the Jane Goodall of humans, reminding us of our (human) needs, inner wisdom, and wellness-informed pathways to flourishing. Check out her educational outreach project, The Evolved Nest, to learn more! And be sure to explore #EvolvedNest #JaneGoodall #humanflourishing too!

 

 

 

07 Jun

Posted at 15:05h in Employee News, Get to Know Us

Meet Aeliya Ahmed Fluent’s new project manager! With over six years of experience in the non-profit, education, and healthcare sectors, Aeliya excels at streamlining processes and promoting informed decision-making. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, her journey includes supporting families at a crisis nursery and even teaching in NYC Public Schools through Americorps! We sat down with her to learn more about her background, approach to project management, and what excites her about her new role at Fluent.

1. Tell us a little about your background. What did you want to be when you were younger and what motivated you to pursue a career in project management?

When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist. I didn’t know what project management was until after I graduated college, and once I realized how detail-oriented the role could be, I decided it was the right fit! The perfectionism and attention to nitty-gritty details that project management involves feels like a close enough fit to an artist.

2. How do your experiences in the non-profit, education, and healthcare industries inform your approach to project management? 

Having worked with so many different people across different industries has certainly made me a better project manager. I’ve worked with energetic five-year-olds in classrooms, stressed attending surgeons in the ER, worried parents at community centers, and busy tech clients with crunched timelines. All of these experiences have made me comfortable working with and talking to anyone. Project management involves a lot of cross-functional collaboration, so that’s a skill I’ve been able to develop having worked in these different roles.

3. With your diverse background, what advice do you have for individuals looking to pursue a career in project management, especially those interested in working with children or in research?  

The best advice I have is to try as many different paths as you can. Working in the education, healthcare, and non-profit spaces has helped me realize what I didn’t enjoy working on — which is just as important as realizing what you do enjoy. If you have varying interests, I would say to test as many of them out as you can, and you’ll rack up immeasurable experiences along the way. Project management involves a lot of organizing and streamlining processes — having varied experiences can help you approach finding ways to improve those processes with a new lens!

4. What’s your go-to hobby or activity outside of work that brings you joy?

I’m a serial hobby collector. This year, I’m getting back into figure skating. Last year’s focus was on learning how to surf, and next year’s goal is to learn kung fu!

5. What are you most excited about in your new role at Fluent Research?

I am super grateful to be working with such an awesome team. I’ve gotten to learn so much from my teammates in a short amount of time. I’m looking forward to streamlining some more of our processes, and ensuring that every project is a smooth operation.

Connect with Aeliya on LinkedIn!

07 Jun

Posted at 14:53h in Employee News, Get to Know Us

We’re thrilled to introduce Kelly Sheehan, our new Senior User Experience Researcher! With over a decade of experience in technology, including roles at Meta and Age of Learning, we’re excited to welcome Kelly and her expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies to our team. We caught up with Kelly to learn all about her career journey, her passion for user experience research, and what brings her joy outside of work!

1. Tell us a bit about your career journey. What inspired you to become a user experience (UX) researcher, and how did you navigate your path to Fluent?

I knew I was a researcher ever since my first research methods class in college. I loved the idea that research could help answer any question, and bring us closer to understanding why people do and think the way they do. I went right to grad school to get my PhD with the intention of becoming a professor but realized the long years from research to publishing and academic bureaucracy were not for me.

I discovered UX research after doing an informational call with a former member of my graduate school lab who landed a UX research job. I loved that UX experience research was fast, and rigorous, and that you could see the impact of your research on people’s everyday lives. I landed my first UX researcher job at Age of Learning, an ed-tech company that creates educational products for kids, students, and families. I spent four years at Age of Learning leading UX research on their flagship app, ABCMouse, before leaving to work for Instagram.

At Instagram, I worked on the Integrity team, with the goal of making Instagram safer for teens. I led foundational research on users’ experiences with negative comments, as well as testing design changes to make hashtag pages safer for teens. After a year and a half at Meta, I worked briefly at a small market research firm called Brilliant Experience before joining Fluent.

I found my way to Fluent after a former manager of mine, who is now a client of Fluent, saw that they were hiring a Senior UX Researcher and connected me to a few people at the company. I was incredibly impressed not only by the organization’s portfolio of work but also by how genuinely kind and smart everyone was that I met with. I was also excited to work on a variety of projects and have the opportunity to hone some new research skills. I feel very lucky to be part of the Fluent team!

2. What’s a unique challenge you’ve faced in your career as a user experience researcher, and how did you overcome it?

I, unfortunately, experienced two rounds of layoffs as a UX researcher in the span of a year, during a time when the competition for a UX research role was fierce. It was challenging to position myself as unique in a large pool of highly qualified candidates.

I kept myself focused and motivated by doing lots of networking calls, which helped me get my name out there and also feel connected to the UX research community. In a way, I felt like I was conducting my own UX research with the goal of learning about research at other companies, and understanding how other researchers landed their current jobs. While it was challenging being on the job market, I learned a lot about what I want in a career and who I am as a researcher, and I’m ultimately thankful for the space and insight it provided me.

3. With over 10 years of research experience, what advice do you have for those looking to pursue a career in the field?

There are two key parts of being a UX researcher that are important for being successful. First, there’s the research part, which includes selecting appropriate methodologies, being a good moderator, managing research projects and timelines, and delivering insights that are impactful. I would encourage those new to the field to try to get as much diverse research experience and training as they can so that they can understand how to make the best strategic research decisions for a variety of situations.

The second part is the relationship part. Whether you are an in-house researcher or a market researcher working with clients, building strong relationships with your stakeholders is essential to being a great researcher because it ensures that your research is impactful. For example, I once had to deliver research insights that I knew would not be received positively by my team because the findings suggested that we should not move forward with a product idea we were pursuing. I had a great relationship with the product manager on my team, so I leaned on him to help me strategize how to present the results in a way that offered a more viable and exciting solution. The team ended up accepting my recommendations and shifting product directions, which led to the whole product team being successful because of my research.

What makes UX research valuable is not only that it is rigorous and designed appropriately, but also that someone takes the research and does something with it to improve a product or experience. If you’re new to the field, make sure you’re investing not only in your research expertise but in your collaboration and relationship-building skills.

4. What’s your go-to hobby or activity outside of work that brings you joy?

Relationships are extremely important to me, so I try to spend my free time planning activities and spending time with my family or friends. About a year ago, I started a “club” for my group of friends that meets every month where we take turns hosting get-togethers at our houses. I’ve been friends with the same group of friends since middle school, and having a recurring event on the calendar for us to get together brings me so much joy and means there’s always something to look forward to.

When I’m not sipping wine and eating cheese with my life-long friends, you can typically find me spending time with my husband, Frank, and my 2-year-old daughter, Madison. Maddie is absolutely wild and has boundless amounts of energy, and I love watching her climbing and jumping at gymnastics, digging in the dirt, and talking to literally anyone that she sees. Every moment with her is pure joy.

5. What are you most excited about in your new role at Fluent Research?

I am most excited to work on projects with an amazing group of smart and driven researchers. What drew me to Fluent was the people, who are not only incredibly bright and interesting, but driven, empathetic, and kind. Even when work is busy, people are always asking how they can help move a project forward. I’m looking forward to working with such great people, and I know I will be learning a lot from them.

Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn!

29 Mar

Posted at 12:53h in Content, Get to Know Us

This Women’s History Month and we’re excited to share this post from Fluent’s Project Manager, Aeliya Ahemd, where she shares her admiration for Jane Elliot, a trailblazing educator.

A woman who inspires me is Jane Elliot, a powerhouse educator and anti-racist activist.

First coming across her work in a child development psychology course in college, I learned about her groundbreaking “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes” classroom exercise with her third-graders to allow her students to see firsthand what experiencing discrimination could feel like. Fifty years later, her work is just as important as it was then.

Elliot’s ideas about race were not popular at the time, as they challenged the deeply ingrained attitudes of her small, predominantly-white town in Iowa, but despite criticism and backlash, Elliot didn’t shy away from being a tireless advocate for anti-racism education. She confronted injustice head-on — and continues to untill today, more than five decades later. Since her “Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes” classroom exercise, Elliot’s work has been dedicated to the pursuit of racial equity and justice. In 2019, Elliot gave a lecture at my college campus, and getting the chance to hear her speak ardently and witness her indomitable spirit was heartening.

Above all, I deeply admire Jane Elliot’s message on the transformative power of education. Through her work, she doesn’t just share knowledge; she instills empathy and compassion, shares meaningful actions we all can take to create a more equitable society, and challenges us to hold ourselves accountable. She’s teaching us how to be better people.

02 Jan

Posted at 05:43h in Get to Know Us

As we step into 2024, our team is bursting with anticipation and excitement for the next twelve months. From sharpening skills to exploring new places, our employees share what they are looking forward to in the coming year! Here’s to a year of growth, achievement, and new beginnings!

Aeliya Ahmed – Associate Project Manager

I’m super excited to get back to figure skating — I haven’t practiced ice skating in years, and one of my goals is to get into it again!

Charlotte Beatty – User Experience Researcher

I’m looking forward to traveling to a few new places in 2024! I’ll be going to Oaxaca and southern France.

Farrah Brensinger – Senior User Experience Researcher

I took a class in ASL for one semester in grad school. I loved it, and have been thinking again about jumping back into the language. 2024 may be the year!

Paige Frankovich – Associate Producer 

Getting married!

Amber Gonzalez – Quantitative Researcher  

In 2024, I’m eagerly anticipating a blend of tranquility and adventure. I look forward to deepening my yoga practice, reading more books, and embarking on exciting travels to immerse myself in diverse cultures and create lasting memories.

 

21 Dec

Posted at 16:32h in Content, Get to Know Us, Meditations

As we approach the conclusion of 2023, the Fluent team is excited to reflect on some standout moments that have shaped this year. Join us on this journey down memory lane as we celebrate impactful client work, innovative research initiatives, and the recognition of one of our exceptional colleagues.

1) Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™

Fluent Research conducted the eighth edition of the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report™, a biennial national survey examining parents’ and children’s reading attitudes and behaviors. This year’s findings, including the correlation between reading frequency and emotional wellbeing, garnered attention from major media outlets such as Psychology Today and The Washington Post. Explore the results on the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report website.

2) Research Camp

Picture a camp nestled in the outskirts of Boston, where children engage in typical camp activities while sharing their thoughts with researchers on various topics. What began as a quest to find Latinx children for GBH’s curriculum testing transformed into Research Camp—an immersive research environment. This novel approach allowed our clients not only to observe focus groups and interviews but also to actively engage with the dynamic world of summer camp, fostering breakthrough insights and participant engagement. Keep an eye out for announcement about future Research Camps in Boston, MA (February 19-23 & April 15-19) and Los Angeles, CA, during school breaks and throughout the year. If Research Camp piques your interest, reach out to Nellie Gregorian.

3) Sofia Polo’s Outstanding Young Researcher Award

In November, Fluent’s Director of Research Strategy Sofia Polo received the Outstanding Young Researcher Award at the 2023 Marketing Research and Insight Excellence Awards. Presented to individuals under 30 who have made significant contributions to the industry, this accolade recognizes Sofia’s dedication, client focus, and insightful analyses. Sofia’s achievement underscores Fluent’s commitment to nurturing talent and innovation in market research.

As we bid farewell to 2023, these milestones stand as testaments to Fluent’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction. We are grateful for the opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow throughout the year. Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in market research. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and here’s to another year of continued success and meaningful contributions in 2024.

By Stefanie Cousins – Vice President, Marketing and Communications

18 Dec

Posted at 17:38h in Employee News, Get to Know Us

From festive gatherings and Secret Santa exchanges to sweet treats and laughter-filled moments, learn about our team’s favorite holiday traditions that bring us joy and connection during this special time of year.

 

Aeliya Ahmed – Associate Project Manager

My little sisters and I love baking, so we’ll spend time making cinnamon rolls & chocolate chip cookies together for the rest of our family!

 

Charlotte Beatty – User Experience Researcher

My favorite holiday tradition is starting the day with having cinnamon buns with my family on Christmas morning and ending it with watching a fun movie. We tend to pick something long and epic — like “The Lord of the Rings,” “Stars Wars,” Ridley Scott’s “Alien,” “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Marie Antoinette,” and “Diehard” have all been some popular selections in the past. There are a lot of film buffs in my family, so it’s our favorite way to unwind and relax after a busy day of celebrations.

 

Farrah Bresinger – Senior User Experience Researcher

With my husband’s family, we enjoy a special Christmas breakfast every year. At the end of the meal, there is always the “candy cane bread.” No actual candy canes are involved, but the bread is made to look like a candy cane with cranberry filling and white icing. It’s tradition to grab a slice of the bread and then head over to the tree to open presents!

 

Stefanie Cousins – Vice President, Marketing and Communications

We have several holiday traditions in our family. We celebrate Hanukkah for eight days by lighting an additional candle each night on our menorah, making potato latkes, playing the dreidel game, and exchanging gifts. On Christmas Day, we watch Elf first thing in the morning. Then we like to go to the movies and get takeout from a Chinese restaurant. Eating and movies continue to be the theme throughout the holidays as I cook and bake a lot and we make our way through old and new classics.

 

Heath Cozens – Director, Productions

It’s winter cleaning for me. A huge chunk of my life was spent in Japan, where it’s the local custom to do the big spring clean in winter, before or around New Year’s. It’s really therapeutic and sets the stage for all those ambitious plans and resolutions in the year ahead.

 

Tom Fuller – Vice President, Business Development

The only tradition my wife and I have been able to maintain without fail is watching “Love Actually.” We pretty much know it by heart. I make popcorn, my wife drinks half a glass of Prosecco and then we repeat the procedure while watching Notting Hill on New Year’s Eve. Sometimes the popcorn has gone stale and the Prosecco has gone flat by then, but we persevere.

 

Mary Meyn – Director, Research

I have always loved decorating the Christmas tree. I love looking at the ornaments we’ve collected over the years: one with a dated picture of my parents’ first married Christmas, handmade ornaments from preschool, and ornaments we’ve received as gifts from friends and family over the years. We all gather together to decorate the tree, enjoying the present moment together, while each ornament reminds us of special moments in years past.

 

Sofia Polo – Director, Research Strategy

Secret Santa with my family!

 

Dan Warren – Director, Youth Development & Education

Going to my Dad’s house on Christmas Eve and eating Nana Jo Jo’s meatballs. Watching Elf!

 

16 Oct

Posted at 21:01h in Employee News, Get to Know Us

Welcome to Fluent Research’s special Boss’s Day celebration! We couldn’t resist the opportunity to reflect on what makes our boss, Nellie Gregorian, unique. Join us as we share our favorite things about working with Nellie — it’s a refreshing reminder that a kind leader creates an environment where employees feel valued, motivated, and ready to give their best.

Lia Abrams, User Experience Researcher

Nellie is such a joy to work with! She is an inspiration to me as a woman who is confident, personable, has an entrepreneurial spirit, and yet encourages us to enjoy the little things in life. I love seeing her in the office and catching up about our lives. She has an abundance of knowledge and wisdom and I have learned so much from her.

Charlotte Beatty, User Experience Researcher

Nellie is creative, positive, and knows how to make work fun!

Farrah Brensinger, Senior User Experience Researcher

Nellie believes that everyone has something important to bring to the table. Despite leveraging our strengths, she makes sure to provide opportunities that stretch us. I love that Nellie is intentional about hearing from each team member on a regular basis, whether in a small 1:1 meeting or in a larger group setting. Her leadership helps me hone the things I already do well, and challenges me to develop skills in other areas.

Allison Caplovitz, Director, Content Research & Evaluation

Nellie is a smart, fearless leader who trusts the work of others. She values professional development and roots for everyone to succeed. AND, she knows how to have a good time!

Stefanie Cousins, Vice President, Marketing & Communications

Nellie has a leadership style that encourages the people who work for her to grow, develop, and become even better versions of themselves. She respects her staff and sees everyone’s potential. Nellie cares about our wellbeing and wants to make sure we are finding balance in our lives. Yes, she is a fantastic boss!

Heath Cozens, Director, Productions

The genuine care she has for the staff! And her hilariously black sense of humor 🙂

Tom Fuller, Vice President, Business Development

Nellie’s the best boss I have ever had. She’s fair and generous and works very hard.

Evelin Garcia, User Experience Researcher

I really enjoy working with Nellie. She actually cares about us as people and not just employees. She’s always asking how we are doing, encouraging us to take care of ourselves, and supporting our professional and personal growth. I think Nellie really prioritizes our wellbeing, which is really refreshing and hard to find in many professional spaces.







Sofia Polo, Director, Research Strategy




She has very chill vibes and believes in all her employees!


Amy Warren, Senior Child Development Researcher 


Nellie embodies the values that guide Fluent’s work and empowers us to do the same. Wellbeing, innovation, equity, and access are not just missions we advance, but are woven into the culture of Fluent, into the way we work, the way we relate to one another and to our clients, the way we evolve as a company. That is integrity in its highest form. That is Nellie.






Dan Warren, Director, Youth Development & Education


Nellie has taught me to be open to and listen for helpful advice, even when it stings a bit.




 



                                                    

                                
                            

                        					

				

			

		

		

                    		

			

									

						
					

								

					

						
29 Sep 

						

							Posted at 10:36h
							in Get to Know Us                            																														
													

						
At Fluent Research, we love to get lost in podcasts that educate, entertain, and help us connect with the world around us. In celebration of International Podcast Day, we asked some of our team to share the shows that have captured their hearts and minds!


The Daily Stoic – User Experience Researcher, Lia Abrams


The Daily Stoic is hosted by Ryan Holiday. He uploads every day of the week and provides a short lesson on stoicism, which is an ancient Greek philosophy centered around virtue, wisdom, temperance, and justice. He reads a short text from ancient works and then describes in modern-day terms how the lesson from the Stoics can be applied to everyday life. I find the podcast really informative and grounding! It’s a great way to begin the day.


Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang – User Experience Researcher, Charlotte Beatty


Every Wednesday, Las Culturistas delivers a perfect whimsical hour of discussion of all things pop culture. Hosted by two of my favorite comedians, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, the show tackles some of today’s most pressing questions, like which housewife from the RHONY cast is most iconic? And when ARE we getting music videos for Beyonce’s Renaissance album? They also interview a variety of wickedly talented guests, including people like Melanie Lynskey, Harvey Guillen, Michelle Yeoh, and MUNA to name some of my favorites. Most importantly, they host an annual Culture Awards show live at Lincoln Center, where finalists duke it out for awards like, “The Free Willy Award for Animal Achievement”, “Best Word to Scream”, and “Christina Aguilera Award for ‘It’s Just Good'”. If you are a nerd for all things movies, television, music, and pop culture, then this podcast is perfect for you. I love to listen to it at the end of a long day to unwind with some laughs!


Matter of Opinion – Director of Content Research and Evaluation, Allison Caplovitz




Matter of Opinion is hosted by New York Times opinion journalists, each with a different perspective on current events. I really like it because I am interested in political discussions and am often in a bubble of those who generally agree with my political views. It is really nice to hear various perspectives on news and information. It is particularly great in today’s society where people can disagree with respect.


How I Built This – Vice President of Marking and Communications, Stefanie Cousins


How I Built This features Guy Roz’s interviews with the person or people who have founded some of the world’s best-known brands. What I love most about this podcast is the fascinating paths, with surprising twists and turns, that have led them to develop their innovative ideas into fully-realized successful companies. I’ve been listening to these interviews since 2016, and the show continues to feature insightful stories. Some of my favorite episodes are the interviews with the founders of Spanx, Drybar, Patagonia, Southwest Airlines, Title Nine, Zappos, Khan Academy, Chicken Salad Chick, Angie’s List, Spin Master, Head Space, and Canva. They are all fascinating, so be sure to check out the library of episodes — at least one of them will surely catch your eye!


Office Ladies – Director of Research Strategy, Sofia Polo


I love The Office. I watch it constantly as I do chores around the house. Repeating it is such a comfort, especially during stressful times. The Office Ladies podcast goes through the series episode by episode with two of the starring actors providing commentary and the inside scoop on the making of each of the show’s episode. During lockdown, I binged this podcast constantly, especially when I was going on walks around the park. It was a great way to cope with the stresses of the pandemic. On my Spotify wrapped for 2020, it told me I listened to Office Ladies for 10 hours one day! Now I’m all caught up with the episodes but I still think it’s one of my all-time favorite podcasts.


Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – Senior Child Development Researcher, Amy Warren


Our 12-year-old daughter has long loved hearing stories about girls and women who have made herstory. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a perfect fit. We have cuddled around the book at night and listened to the podcast on the way to school in the morning. Some of our favorite stories come from the lives of Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart, Maya Angelou, and Greta Thunberg. It is still our daughter’s (and our 9-year-old son’s!) go-to podcast.