Content Rookie

Episode 77: Humanized agents, deceptive patterns, and honest design (feat. Caleb Sponheim)

I recently spoke at a conference in Italy, and one talk stuck with me: Caleb Sponheim from Nielsen Norman Group arguing that we have to stop designing AI agents that fool humans. It's a topic close to my heart, so I invited him on for a longer-than-usual, wonderfully opinionated conversation. Caleb comes at it from research, I come at it from actively building agentic features, and the two angles make for a really good hour.

Learning outcomes:

• What a neuroscience background reveals about how (and how little) we understand LLMs
• The risks of presenting an AI system as a person, implicitly or explicitly
• Whether natural language is really the future interface, or sometimes just a command line in disguise
• How much design should sit between the model and the user, framed through jobs-to-be-done
• Why "you are not your user" is the cardinal sin lurking in AI design, plus the sycophancy trap
• Deceptive patterns, humanized agents, and honest design as a deliberate choice
• Why the line between design, engineering, product, and research is blurring, and why that's an opportunity

Connect with Caleb Sponheim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebsponheim/ // https://www.nngroup.com/people/caleb-sponheim/
Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis: nicoletells.com // Contentrookiepod.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/ [email protected]

Episode 76: Creating and maintaining Writer.md

A candid episode about how I built Writer.md. What I started off with, who I involved, how I tested, how it works, and how we govern it. A general reflection on building for and with agents, and what that means for (content) designers. Things I learned and things I recommend.

Writer.md was built for Claude, but the same approach can be used in other AI tools as well (ChatGPT, Gemini, Notion etc).

Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/

Episode 75: How Content Designers are impacting AI (and vice versa)

Wow, things are moving fast right now. Some content designers are developing totally new skills, while others are trying out different tools or just trying to hang in there. But no matter where you currently are in your journey with "AI", you're not alone. We're all going through it and having different takeaways. In this episode with Content Rookie pal Andrew Stein, we really get into it. How we feel, what we're (really) doing, and how to keep cool.

Learning outcomes:

- Designing AI, Designing with AI, Designing for AI, Conversation design, ...what's it even called?

- Nobody has it figured out. That's the opportunity!

- Ideas for reshaping your role and how to pivot.

- Support from two passionate Content Design leaders who really just want you all to thrive <3

Connect with our guest, Andrew Stein:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdeanstein/

Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/

Episode 74: Develop tone and voice that stick

How do you do tone and voice work in the age of AI? While there are some differences in how I approached TOV work early in my career, the core remains the same. Just now there are more tools to help you conclude faster!

Learning outcomes:

- What do tone and voice guidelines look like nowadays

- How to kick off research

- What every TOV should be backed by

- Turning TOV guidelines into prompts

- How AI can help and where it may fail

Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/

Episode 73: Psst, content design is about to have a major moment

In 2025’s final episode of Content Rookie, I introduce you to what I have coined the ”roguessance” of content design.

I truly believe content design is about to have a major moment, thanks to developments like Google Disco redefining how we design and build experiences and interfaces as a whole. What are suddenly the most valuable skills on the market? Content strategy. Content systems. Clear comms. Prompting. Negotiating. Who does that best? Well, we content folks, of course!

Why the latest developments in LLMs and AI are leveling the playing field for builders, writers, and designers, and how we can take ownership, are just some of the learning outcomes in this episode.

Happy New Year, and thanks for listening to Content Rookie!

Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/

Episode 72: 10+ years into a content career

Between the three of us, we've spent almost 40 years working in content so in this episode of Content Rookie, we talk about all things landing a job in content design, growing your career, leading vs IC work, what skills are most useful to hone right now, and how we're handling the constant shift of prios for content and design work.

Learning outcomes:

- Leadership vs individual contributor roles in design and content

- The day to day of content designers

- Applying to jobs in the current climate

- Why generalists are the new specialists

- What skills you might want to learn

- Why we don't believe in bootcamps and courses

- Is content design a craft, an art, or a trade?

***

Connect with Aaron Burgess: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronburgess/

Connect with Bill Kurland:  https://www.billkurland.com/blog https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-kurland

Connect with the host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com

[email protected]

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/

Episode 71: How a content design team works - Meet Miro's content designers

Welcome to a very special episode of Content Rookie with an entire content design team: Rachel, Lene, and Roana from Miro! I'm excited to talk to them about all things content design at Miro.

Learning outcomes:

- How to scale content design to maximize impact

- How work is divided

- What small teams are hiring for

- What it takes to lead a content design team

- Daily rituals, best practices, and processes

Connect with the guests:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mcconnellme/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roana-bilia-37751a9a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lene-bayerlein-7492858b/

Connect with host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com // Contentrookiepod.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/ 

[email protected]

Episode 70: Content Design with care - for users and ourselves

In this special episode of Content Rookie I talk to my friend Mario Ferrer about how content design has changed over the past decade or so, how we recharge, where we find those special creative moments, how we can make greater impact without compromising our time and values, and what the upsides of AI might be.

Learning outcomes:

• Career growth as an individual contributer vs leadership roles
• The importance of recharging and your identity outside of work
• The creative elements of content design
• How content design has changed over the last decade or so
• Why we are lowkey excited about AI

• and more!

Connect with Mario Ferrer:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marioferrer

Connect with Nicole Michaelis:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells

Mentioned:

The Culture Map: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/ Erin Meyer

Button conference: https://www.buttonevents.com

Lead with Tempo conference:

https://www.leadwithtempo.com

Episode 69: Leading content design and a look at the job market

In today's episode, my guest Rachel McConnell and I chat about content design careers in general and, more specifically, getting into leadership. Rachel shares her thoughts on what skills are needed to manage both content design and design teams successfully. We also talk about her current approach to finding her next leadership role.

Connect with host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com // Contentrookiepod.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/ 

[email protected]

Connect with guest, Rachel McConnell:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mcconnellme/

rachelmcconnell.me

https://www.leadwithtempo.com/

Episode 68: Getting into Content Design and UX writing + Generalists vs Specialists

In today's episode, Andrew Stein shares his journey into the field from a background in copywriting. He also dives into what helped him figure out writing for UX before the job was really popular, plus tips on doing good work as a solo UX writer dedicated to a large team.

***

Learning outcomes:

- Transitioning into content design

- How is UX writing different from copywriting (if at all)

- Generalist vs specialist approach

- Thriving as the only UX writer in your team

***

Connect with host, Nicole Michaelis:

nicoletells.com // Contentrookiepod.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoletells/ 

[email protected]

Connect with guest, Andrew Stein:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewdeanstein/