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👉 Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is available for preorder. Order and get 25% off, plus 30% off another course or workshop.

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Navigate AI with clarity, not panic

There’s a lot of noise about AI right now. It’s going to replace us. It’s going to revolutionize everything. It’s the best thing since sliced bread or the beginning of the end.

In this episode, Andrew Stein, a content design leader and thoughtful skeptic, helps us cut through the noise. We talk about what AI actually means for content professionals, how to spot the hype, and what it looks like to respond with nuance instead of fear.

This isn’t an AI doomscroll. It’s a clear-eyed look at the choices ahead of us—and why content designers are uniquely positioned to ask the right questions.

What we talked about:

✅ Why skepticism is a healthy response to AI ✅ What content design still does better than AI (by a long shot) ✅ The pressure to “prove your value” in the age of automation ✅ How to have thoughtful conversations about AI at work ✅ Why embracing complexity is part of the job now ✅ The difference between curiosity and panic ✅ Where content strategy still shines no matter the tools ✅ Why being critical of tech isn’t being anti-tech

Where to find Andrew:

📖 LinkedIn

👉 Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is available for preorder. Order and get 25% off, plus 30% off another course or workshop.

👉 Get 25% off all courses and workshops at UX Content Collective

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review!

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Staying hopeful, getting hired, and embracing the hustle

The job market for content designers hasn’t been easy—and it’s even harder when you're trying to break into the field for the first time. But if there’s anyone who knows how to stay resilient through the process, it’s Casey Webb.

In this episode, Casey shares her journey from marketing to UX content design—navigating layoffs, contracts, full-time roles, and everything in between. She talks candidly about building confidence, managing rejection, and why being coachable has been her secret weapon in landing roles at companies like Wells Fargo, Warner Bros. Discovery, eBay, and Indeed.

If you’re job searching right now, or just feeling uncertain about your next move, this episode is for you.

What we talked about:

✅ How Casey transitioned from marketing into content design ✅ The ups and downs of job hunting over the last few years ✅ Why the expectations for content designers have changed ✅ The importance of business impact and strategic thinking in portfolios ✅ How to deal with contradictory interview feedback ✅ Why the “one yes” mindset can help you push through ✅ Tips for preparing for interviews and asking smart questions ✅ Why reaching out and building a network really works ✅ How to show up with humility and curiosity—on and off paper ✅ Staying grounded when the job search gets tough

Where to find Casey:

📖 LinkedIn

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👉 Check out Victor’s Substack, Footbridge

👉 Victor's piece on content design that sparked this conversation

Rethinking influence, resentment, and the future of content design

It’s easy (and often correct) to blame external factors for why content design doesn’t get the respect it deserves. But what if some of our biggest challenges are ones we’ve created ourselves?

In this episode, Victor Beigelman, a longtime content designer at Meta, joins us for a candid conversation about how content designers might be getting in their own way. From clinging too tightly to writing as a core identity to unintentionally acting like the “language police,” Victor lays out a case for humility, adaptability, and product thinking as paths forward.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your content career, questioned your influence, or wondered what’s next for the discipline - this one’s for you.

What we talked about:

✅ How acting like the “language police” hurts your credibility ✅ Why content design isn’t always seen as essential and how to change that ✅ What it means to be a “full-stack content designer” ✅ How to work more strategically with product and design partners ✅ Why style guide debates don’t move the needle ✅ How to build influence through collaboration not control ✅ Where content designers can lead in AI, AR/VR, and new interfaces ✅ The role of humility in building long-term impact

Where to find Tom:

📖 LinkedIn 📖 Substack – Footbridge

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👉 Leave a review and share this episode with your network!

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👉 Check out "Articulating Design Decisions"

Mastering the art of defending your designs

As a content designer, you’ve probably been asked, "Why did you use that word?" or "Why does this need to change?" Defending design decisions can be tough. Especially when feedback comes from stakeholders who might not fully understand content strategy.

In this episode, Tom Greever, author of "Articulating Design Decisions", shares his framework for explaining and defending design choices with confidence. We talk about how to avoid common pitfalls, navigate stakeholder relationships, and build influence through persuasion, not confrontation.

If you’ve ever struggled with defending your work or felt sidelined in design discussions, this episode will give you the tools to communicate your decisions clearly and build credibility.

What we talked about:

✅ Why content designers struggle with defending decisions more than visual designers ✅ How to explain design choices without getting defensive ✅ How to anticipate stakeholder objections and respond effectively ✅ The role of confidence, persuasion, and relationship-building in design ✅ How to handle feedback that feels personal (without losing confidence) ✅ How to influence without authority and earn a place in strategic conversations ✅ Why writing things down is the best way to clarify your own thinking

Where to find Tom:

📖 LinkedIn 📖 Website 📖 Book: "Articulating Design Decisions"

Enjoying the podcast?

👉 Leave a review and share this episode with your network!

Get 20% off UX Content Collective courses with code PODCAST20.

Listen on:

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Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout. The rise of UX writing in India

UX writing is still a young discipline in India, but it’s growing—fast. In this episode, Sidika Sehgal shares what’s happening on the ground: the demand for UX writers, why hiring is so challenging, and how localization is reshaping product experiences in one of the world’s most diverse markets.

Sidika, a content designer at Rubrik, has seen the industry evolve over the past few years. She explains why tech investment in India is booming, what’s still holding UX writing back, and why the lack of senior UX writers is creating an uphill battle for many in the field.

From the challenges of hiring UX writers in India to the unique role language and localization play in product design, this conversation dives deep into the realities of being a UX writer in an emerging market.

What we talked about:

✅ The rise of UX writing in India and why the field is growing fast ✅ How India’s tech industry is shifting from outsourcing to full-scale product teams ✅ The biggest challenges for hiring UX writers in India ✅ Why UX writing salaries are finally catching up to product design salaries ✅ The role of localization—why Indian products often use a mix of English + regional languages ✅ The unique UX challenges in India, from smartphone adoption to non-intuitive UI patterns ✅ How UX writers in India are figuring things out without senior mentors ✅ The lack of specialization—why India doesn’t yet have growth writers, conversation designers, or accessibility specialists ✅ Why companies need to hire for potential, not just experience ✅ The future of UX writing in India—what’s needed for it to grow

Where to find Sidika:

📖 Sidika’s article on UX Writing in India 📖 Sidika on LinkedIn 📖 UX Content Collective – Courses & Workshops

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👉 Leave a review and share this episode with your network!

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Listen on:

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Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20 at checkout. From layoff to leadership: How Cara Lam rebuilt her career

Getting laid off is tough—but for content designers on work visas, it can feel like everything is on the line. When Cara Lam lost her job at Instagram during the wave of tech layoffs, she had just 60 days to figure out her next move or leave the country.

What followed was a relentless job search, rejections, and a journey of self-discovery. In this episode, Cara shares how she bounced back, the lessons she learned from her time at Meta, Venmo, NBC Universal, and Silicon Valley Bank, and why content designers need to embrace strategy, research, and resilience to stand out in today’s job market.

If you've ever struggled with layoffs, job hunting, or making your content career more sustainable, this conversation is packed with real talk, tactical advice, and industry insights you won’t want to miss.

What we talked about:

✅ How Cara moved across Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, and the US—and stumbled into content design ✅ What it’s really like working at Instagram/Meta as a content designer ✅ The hackathon project that could have changed Instagram Stories forever ✅ How financial UX writing is different from other industries—and why it matters ✅ What it feels like to get laid off at a big tech company ✅ Job hunting after a layoff—how to survive endless rejections ✅ The power of referrals, LinkedIn outreach, and strategic networking ✅ How contract work helped Cara get back into the industry ✅ Interviewing like a pro—portfolio tips that helped her land a job ✅ Why every content designer should think like a business strategist

Notable quotes:

💬 "Your job can be taken away, but your skills and passion can’t." — Cara Lam 💬 "If you want to get hired, show that you understand how content affects business outcomes." — Cara Lam

Where to find Cara:

🔗 LinkedIn 📸 Instagram: @thecaraadventures

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👉 Leave a review and share this episode with your network!

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Listen on:

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Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review!

Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20.

Burnout isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a reality for many of us working in UX and tech. The long hours, the shifting priorities, the constant pressure to prove our value… it all adds up. And if you’re not careful, it can take a serious toll.

Yvonne Xiao has been there. She’s worked at companies like Microsoft and Uber, navigating the highs and lows of content design in fast-paced environments. But instead of letting burnout define her career, she’s figured out how to manage it—by setting boundaries, redefining success, and embracing a more sustainable approach to work.

In this episode, we talk about how to recognize burnout before it’s too late, the mistakes we all make when trying to "push through," and why setting boundaries isn’t just about saying no—it’s about knowing your worth.

If you’ve ever felt drained by your work or wondered how to make content design (or any job in tech) actually sustainable, this one’s for you.

What we talked about:

• How Yvonne transitioned from film school to content design
• The early signs of burnout and how to recognize them in yourself
• The biggest mistakes content designers make when trying to manage burnout
• Why setting boundaries is hard—but necessary—for long-term career success
• How imposter syndrome fuels burnout (and how to reframe it)
• The importance of community, mentorship, and knowing you’re not alone
• How to build a career in UX without letting it consume your identity

Notable Quotes:

“Your self-worth isn’t tied to your job. You’re so much more than the work you do.”  “The cringe factor is real, but you just have to post it. Nobody’s going to remember it tomorrow.”  “Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It’s layers of ignoring your own needs until it’s too late.” 

Where to Find Dave:

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Instagram
• TikTok

Listen on:

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Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective. Just use the code PODCAST20.

Content design has some growing up to do. Whether it's the things we talk about at conferences, or even the aspects of our job that we *think* are important (but really aren't), we need to see some change.

Dave Connis, Lead Content Designer at OutSystems, has embraced systems thinking and he wants you to as well. Go beyond the deliverables we're used to (tone, style guides, etc) and start thinking about how to connect the elements of your product in a bigger picture.

Dave brings a refreshing, no-nonsense approach to content design. From his experience working with developers to his cutting-edge ideas about content ecosystems, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and (yes) spicy takes. If you’re tired of surface-level debates about microcopy and want to get into the heart of what makes content design impactful, this one’s for you.

What we talked about:

• Why content designers need to stop sweating the small stuff (looking at you, Oxford comma)
• How systems thinking can revolutionize content design
• The overlooked value of string files and content architecture
• Why tone isn’t everything — and what actually drives user success
• How to think about the “jobs” your content is doing
• The intersection of technical writing and UX writing: what each discipline can learn from the other
• Why content design needs to push for industry-wide innovation

Notable Quotes:

“Stop arguing about sentence case and start building better systems.” — Dave Connis “Tone isn’t the goal. Getting the user to their goal is.” — Dave Connis “Every piece of content in your UI has a job. Figure out what it is.” — Dave Connis

Where to Find Dave:

• LinkedIn: Dave Connis
• Instagram
• Website

Listen on:

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We're proud to announce Maring's new course at UX Content Collective: Fundamentals of Support Content. Get it now for 25% off! 

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by terrible help center content, you’re not alone. Most of it sucks.

But why?

That’s why I’m excited to share this conversation with Maring Eberlein. Maring is a support content expert with a deep understanding of what makes help centers effective — and what makes them fail. She’s worked with companies large and small, transforming their support content from "just get it done" projects into real strategic assets.

We get into everything from why so much support content is subpar to how companies can stop playing catch-up and start building better self-serve experiences for their users. If you’ve ever wondered how support teams, content designers, and technical writers can work together more effectively, this episode is for you.

What we talked about:

• Why most support content sucks — and how to make it better
• The difference between support content and technical writing
• Why support content should be an asset, not an afterthought
• How to "train" your users to find answers on their own
• What companies get wrong about chatbots and AI-driven support
• The rise of structured content and why support teams should embrace it
• Practical ways support teams and content teams can work together

Notable quotes:

• “Support content isn’t a cost — it’s an asset. But most companies don’t realize that until it’s too late.”
• "Users don’t want to watch a 4-minute video when 3 clear steps would do the job."
• "If your help center looks like a mess, it tells me your product might be too."

Where to find Maring:

• LinkedIn
• Fundamentals of Support Content course
• Maring's website

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review!

Canva is a true (Aussie) tech success story, and the content design practice there is no small reason why. 

One of the people leading that practice is Sally, Head of Content Design at Canva.

Sally and I dive into how Canva has built one of the strongest content design practices in the world, why leadership is about more than managing people, and what content designers need to do to grow their careers. We also discuss why content design in Australia often feels a few steps behind the global stage and what Canva is doing to set an example.

This was such an honest and motivating conversation, and I think it’ll resonate with anyone working in content or design, especially those navigating fast-paced environments.

Timestamps:

(0.52) Content design at Canva (4.28) Sally's work experience and history (8.30) Growing Canva's content design team (10.44) How Canva content designers approach AI (13.20) How Sally helps lead and develop her team (23.00) How leaders should prioritize (26.20) What Sally looks for when hiring (29.20) How to navigate change as a leader (32.50) Sally's biggest leadership challenges (38.15) The importance of culture and values (43.30) Psychological safety in teams (48.20) What the industry needs to change

What we talked about:

• How Sally helped build a 30-person content design team at Canva
• Why content drives the first impression users have of Canva
• The four pillars of growth for content designers at Canva
• Balancing leadership with staying connected to the craft
• How Sally helps content designers focus on impact, not volume
• The emotional side of change and why people feel loss more than gain
• Why diversity in hiring goes beyond skills to mindset and adaptability
• Navigating the challenges of a fast-growing company culture

Notable Quotes:

• “Content drives the first impression of Canva. We have a lot of responsibility to make sure that’s a good one.” — Sally
• “There’s no such thing as time management, only choice management.” — Sally
• (AI): “If we focus too much on the loss, we’ll never realize the gains.” — Sally

Where to Find Sally:

• LinkedIn