After some heavy episodes, Eve and Brian lighten things up with a fun conversation about their love of movies and movie theaters—and why the industry is in deep trouble.

We discuss what makes the theatrical experience magical, how individual UX improvements accidentally killed the communal vibe, and whether movie theaters can survive the streaming era.

Discussed in this episode:

• What we love about the movie theater experience
• How assigned seating and luxury amenities changed everything
• The rise and fall of MoviePass
• The Atom app and modernizing the theater experience
• Supporting small independent theaters
• Whether premium formats help or hurt the industry
• Can movie theaters survive streaming?

A lighter conversation about a medium we both love that's fighting for survival.

Ten episodes in, it's time we properly introduce ourselves. In this milestone episode, Eve and Brian step away from investigating product murders to share their own origin stories—how they got into UX, how they met teaching at University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the career roller coasters they've survived along the way. We get candid about getting laid off, building resilience, and why your job title should never become your entire identity. We also answer listener emails and tackle questions about navigating the chaos of design careers—and why the current wave of layoffs is devastating for everyone caught in it. Think of this as the episode where the detectives finally reveal their backstories. Spoiler: we've both been through some shit. UX MURDER MYSTERY HOSTED BY Brian J. Crowley Eve Eden EDITED BY Kelsey Smith INTRO ANIMATION & LOGO DESIGN Brian J. Crowley MUSIC BY Nicolas Lee A JOINT PRODUCTION OF EVE | User Experience Design Agency and CrowleyUX | Where Systems Meet Stories ©2025 Brian J. Crowley and Eve Eden Email us at: questions@UXmurdermystery.com Thank you for watching and or listening! Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts are commentary and speculation, not statements of fact. All discussions about real companies, individuals, or organizations are based on publicly available information, media reports, and personal opinions offered for the purpose of critique, education, and storytelling. We make no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing in this podcast should be interpreted as a factual assertion about the actions, motives, or intentions of any individual or corporate entity. Listeners should conduct their own research before drawing conclusions. The creators and guests of this podcast disclaim all liability for any loss, harm, or damages arising from reliance on any information or opinions presented. Names, characters, and events may occasionally be dramatized or fictionalized for illustrative purposes. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to actual events, is purely coincidental.

LinkedIn's AI screening tools are blocking qualified candidates from jobs they're perfect for. We investigate how automated recruiting broke the job market—and what both sides get catastrophically wrong. Comedian and recruiter Lindsay Adams brings a unique dual perspective: the comedy of watching candidates optimize for bots, and the tragedy of talent disappearing into ATS black holes. She reveals what actually happens when your application hits "Submit." Discussed in this episode: - How LinkedIn's AI actually evaluates profiles (and what recruiters see that you don't) - Why 75% of qualified candidates get auto-rejected before human review - Red flags recruiters spot instantly—and how to avoid them - The truth about ghost jobs, automated rejections, and ATS systems - Whether the job market is actually broken or just badly designed - What candidates get wrong about optimizing for algorithms - How recruiters are just as frustrated as job seekers Real talk about automated recruiting from someone who sees both sides: the candidates desperately trying to game the system, and the recruiters drowning in AI-sorted noise.

Sources: LinkedIn recruiting data, ATS system analysis, recruiter testimonials, job search statistics Perfect for: Job seekers, recruiters, hiring managers, anyone who's sent 500 applications with zero response, design teams building recruiting tools, people who think LinkedIn is where careers go to die

Guest: Lindsay Adams (Comedian & Recruiter) Get the job search survival guide: uxmurdermystery.com --- UX Murder Mystery is a joint production of EVE user experience design agency and Crowley UX, where systems meet stories. Hosted by Brian J. Crowley and Eve Eden. Edited by Kelsey Smith. Intro animation and logo design by Brian J. Crowley. Music by Nicholas Lee. Follow us: @uxmurdermystery Email: questions@uxmurdermystery.com © 2025 Brian J. Crowley and Eve Eden. All rights reserved.