In this special Halloween episode, we follow Evelyn—a weary UX researcher trapped in a testing loop that refuses to end. Each new participant looks strangely familiar. Each test begins the same way. And no matter what she changes, they all say the same thing: “I can’t find the button.”

The real horror? It’s not the prototype that’s broken… It’s her process.

Today, we’re trading our usual interviews for a Halloween story straight out of every designer’s worst nightmare: The Infinite Usability Test.

Meet Evelyn—a mid-level UX researcher running a morning of user tests that won’t quit. Every time she adjusts the design, another “Alex” walks in and repeats the same fateful words: “I can’t find the button.”

As the day unravels, Evelyn realizes she’s stuck in more than a bad sprint—she’s caught in a validation loop. Each fix only pulls her deeper into the same mistakes, and each round of testing brings her face-to-face with the one insight she’s been avoiding all along.

Because sometimes, the scariest thing in UX isn’t user feedback…

It’s hearing something you didn’t expect.

Join us for a hauntingly familiar tale about deadlines, doubt, and the difference between proving you’re right and learning that you’re not.

Will Evelyn escape the room—or will she keep testing until the end of time?

Tune in to find out… if you dare.

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Featuring Actress and UX Designer extraordinaire, Stephanie Terrero

If you enjoyed this spooky UX Design scary story, check out our previous episodes:

• The Stakeholder from Hell

• The Tale of the Cursed Prototype

• A Cautionary Tale of Deceptive UX Patterns

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Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.

If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.

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If you’ve ever wondered why you’re still “senior” after years of great work, this episode is for you. Catt Small joins me to unpack what it actually takes to step into a staff designer role—the skills, mindset shifts, and invisible work no one tells you about.

You’ve nailed the craft, shipped great work, and mentored others. So why are you still stuck at senior?

Getting promoted isn’t always about skill gaps. Sometimes it’s about visibility, influence, and how you show up. In this episode, I sit down with Catt Small, Staff Product Designer, developer, and author of The Staff Designer, to explore what separates a strong senior designer from a true staff-level one.

Catt shares the lessons that inspired her book: the moments of frustration, the confusion around “influence,” and the realization that being good at your craft isn’t enough. We talk about the transition from execution to strategy, how to set a vision, navigate organizational politics, and build the kind of social capital that makes people listen when you speak.

If you’re wondering what’s next after senior, or how to stop spinning your wheels, this episode breaks down the hidden skills that actually move your career forward. It’s a candid look at how to lead without managing, earn trust across disciplines, and find meaning in the messy middle of your career.

Topics:

• 04:19 - Cat Small's Journey in Design

• 09:39 - Understanding the Transition from Senior to Staff

• 12:02 - The Role of Influence in Career Growth

• 14:14 - Navigating Titles and Organizational Structures

• 30:31 - The Importance of Vision in Design

• 36:22 - Enhancing User Experience with Prototypes

• 38:01 - Inspiring Vision and Influence

• 39:12 - Negotiating and Planning for Vision Execution

• 41:55 - Building Cross-Functional Collaboration

• 46:41 - Balancing Craft and Soft Skills

• 50:57 - Delegation and Accountability in Design

• 57:34 - Promoting Your Work and Final Thoughts

Helpful Links:

• Connect with Catt on LinkedIn

• The Staff Product Designer

• Staff Designer: Influence & Lead as an Individual Contributor

—

Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today’s episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today’s episode, why don’t you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.

If you haven’t already, sign up for our email list. We won’t spam you. Pinky swear.

• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show

• Support the show on Patreon

• Check out show transcripts

• Check out our website

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

• Subscribe on Spotify

• Subscribe on YouTube

• Subscribe on Stitcher