Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy is where behavioral science, tech, and design converge to inspire personal growth and drive innovation. Join Michelle Handy, Ph.D. and her expert guests as they unpack candid stories, share practical insights, and explore cutting-edge strategies to help you thrive personally and professionally. Perfect for mid-to-senior professionals navigating leadership, creativity, and career transitions.
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In this episode, we explore how visual storytelling can transform research practice with Maureen McLennon Welton, a Principal Experience Design Researcher who brings a unique perspective from her background in both UX design and research. From transforming complex findings into compelling visual stories to incorporating mindfulness into user research, Maureen shares insights on creating impact through thoughtful communication and design.
Episode Highlights
How design expertise enhances research practice and communication
Techniques for transforming research findings into compelling visual stories
The role of mindfulness in research and stakeholder management
Balancing professional expertise with personal creative projects
About Maureen McLennon Maureen is a Principal Experience Design Researcher at FM Global, where she leads research initiatives to improve digital experiences. With experience spanning software development, global health policy-making, and commercial property insurance, she brings a unique blend of design expertise and research rigor to her work. Her approach emphasizes visual storytelling and mindful communication to drive impact.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Discomfort is the Cost of Fulfillment – A Conversation with Stephen Gates
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, I sit down with Stephen Gates, founder of CRZY design studio and host of The Crazy One podcast. Stephen was my first mentor outside academia, and his advice has shaped how I approach my career, creativity, and leadership. We unpack the power of discomfort, the importance of asking the right questions, and why showing up authentically might just be the most rebellious thing you can do in your career.
Episode Highlights
Navigating the discomfort that often precedes fulfillment
Recognizing the signs that it’s time for a career shift
Balancing authenticity and ambition in corporate environments
Why success only makes sense in hindsight
Building a career path that aligns with your values and strengths
Practical Frameworks Discussed
Design Thinking for Your Career – Prototype, test, refine. Don’t wait for clarity—build it.
Three-Word Exercise – Ask trusted people to describe you in three words. Look for patterns to uncover strengths and blind spots.
The Balance Between Discomfort and Confidence – How to stay uncomfortable enough to grow, but not so much that you become paralyzed.
Books and Resources Mentioned
I Dare You to Care by Sylvia Baffour – A deep dive into emotional intelligence and mentorship
and by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans – Applying design thinking to career and life transitions
The Wild West of Wellness Apps: Why We Need More Scientists in Tech with Dr. Eliane Boucher
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, I sit down with Dr. Eliane Boucher, a behavioral scientist and former academic who transitioned into the digital wellness space. Together, we uncover the murky waters of wellness apps, exposing the fine line between science-backed products and clever marketing. Eliane shares eye-opening examples of questionable practices, along with practical frameworks for building and evaluating ethical digital health products that deliver real value—not just empty promises.
Episode Highlights
The rise of “science-washing” in wellness apps – what it looks like and why it’s dangerous
How apps manipulate trust by using vague claims like “Harvard research-backed”
The hidden cost of cutting corners in MVP development
Key strategies for blending scientific rigor with the speed of tech development
How to tell the difference between apps grounded in science versus apps that just say they are
Key Insights
“Cortisol Detox”? – Eliane walks us through her experience uncovering a wellness app that made bold claims without measuring cortisol at all.
Look Beyond the App Store – Why real product evaluation starts with researching the team, the science, and the fine print.
Measure Twice, Cut Once – Why involving users early in the design process can prevent costly mistakes down the road.
Think Like a Scientist, Act Like a Founder – How scientists can meet product teams halfway to drive evidence-based design without stalling innovation.
About Dr. Eliane Boucher Dr. Eliane Boucher is a social psychologist turned industry scientist specializing in digital health and evidence generation. She previously led research initiatives at Happify Health, focusing on creating interventions that blend scientific integrity with user engagement. Eliane now consults for digital wellness companies, helping them navigate regulatory landscapes and build products that .
Breaking Free from Perfectionism: A Design Thinking Approach to Well-being with Dr. Erica Simon
In this premiere episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Erica Simon shares how design thinking's "bias to action" can transform our approach to personal and professional growth. Through her work at Stanford's d.school and beyond, Dr. Simon reveals practical strategies for breaking free from perfectionism and overthinking to create environments that actually support well-being. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career, battling imposter syndrome, or trying to make a break-through in your personal growth, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on moving from insight to action.
Episode Highlights
Understanding the difference between languishing and flourishing, and practical steps to move from one to the other
How design thinking principles can be applied to personal well-being and career development
Navigating imposter syndrome and self-doubt in academic and tech environments
Why imposter syndrome affects female leaders more than men, and other gender gaps in career-related behaviors
The role of "bias to action" in personal growth and why "failing forward" isn't really failing
What does it mean to stay human in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence?
In this episode, I’m joined by Nick Smallman, founder and CEO of Working Voices, whose decades of work with global organizations (JP Morgan, Sony, Barclays, Goldman Sachs) has focused on improving leadership, communication, and engagement in times of profound change.
Now, he’s turning his attention to the individual. His forthcoming project, The Sustainable Human, is a training program designed to help people reclaim their agency, humanity, and purpose in the face of accelerating tech and cultural shifts. Together, we explore how we can thrive—not just survive—as the lines between human and machine get blurrier.
Episode Highlights
The Sustainable Human: Nick dives into his newest project, a training program that gives people the essential skills that they need to boost confidence and improve relationships in a fast-changing world.
Mission-Critical Soft Skills: Why empathy, creativity, and adaptability are essential in an AI-driven world.
The Risks of Transhumanism: How to avoid a dystopian future and keep technology in service of humanity.
Thought Experiments for the Future: Envisioning the risks of over-reliance on technology and creating a better path forward.
About Nick Smallman Nick Smallman is the founder of Working Voices, where he’s spent 25+ years training leaders in communication, inclusion, and engagement. His new initiative, The Sustainable Human, is a call to action—for people to reconnect with their values, with others, and with what makes them uniquely human.
Gamification isn’t just about badges and points—it’s about designing systems that make difficult behaviors feel doable, even fun. In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, we’re joined by Dr. Jacqui Nortje, a behavioral scientist and gamification expert based in Johannesburg, South Africa. With over a decade of experience in South Africa’s wellness and financial services industries, Jacqui blends academic rigor and real-world product design to explore how we can build systems that drive meaningful and sustainable behavior change.
From understanding motivation to reframing goals to self-experimentation with exercise and sugar habits, this episode is packed with insights for anyone working in behavior change, digital health, or simply trying to build better habits themselves.
Episode Highlights
Gamification Demystified: What it really means (hint: it’s not just about “fun”) and why effective gamification design centers on motivation and human needs.
Framing Goals to Match Readiness: Why performance goals can backfire too early, and how Jacqui’s PhD research reveals the power of learning and hybrid-framed goals.
Designing for Real Life: How stress, seasonality, and shifting routines derail good habits—and how games can help people get back on track.
Motivation on a Spectrum: What self-determination theory teaches us about moving from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation—and what product teams often miss.
When Gamification Fails: Why point systems and leaderboards often fall short, and what to do instead.
Self-Gamification in Practice: Jacqui shares personal experiments with home workouts and sugar reduction—and what she learned when her goals succeeded (and when they didn’t).
Why You Should Listen If you're designing a health or fitness product, leading a behavior change initiative, or simply trying to build a better habit system for yourself—this episode will challenge and inspire you to rethink what makes motivation stick. Jacqui blends science, strategy, and humanity in a way that’s refreshingly real.
Connect with Dr. Jacqui Nortje
Senior Microsoft Researcher Connor Joyce on Achievement vs. Growth: Finding Your Own Path
In this episode, we explore the complexities of personal growth and career development with Connor Joyce, a Senior User Researcher at Microsoft's Copilot team, the CEO of Desired Outcome Labs, the author of Bridging Intentions to Impact, and now a guest lecturer at UPenn's Master's of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program. From climbing Kilimanjaro to completing an Ironman 70.3, Connor shares candid insights about the relationship between achievement, validation, and authentic growth.
Episode Highlights
Connor's 3-part framework for personal growth: growth mindset, experimentation, and surrounding yourself with incredible people
Finding the balance between ambition and inner peace
Navigating career setbacks and layoffs with evolving resilience
Creating authentic content that truly helps others
The "four idols" framework for understanding career motivations
“There’s always someone with a bigger boat,” a metaphor that means that no matter how much you have or accomplish, there will always be someone with more
About Connor Joyce
Connor is a Senior User Researcher on Microsoft's Copilot team, an advisor to Subconscious.AI, a founding member of the Applied Behavioral Science Association, and a lecturer at UPenn's Master's of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program. His work focuses on the intersection of behavioral science and technology, with a particular emphasis on helping people bridge the gap between intentions and actions.
Frameworks Mentioned
Growth mindset principles from Carol Dweck's work
The concept of local vs. global maxima in career development
Allegory of the cave
David Brooks' framework of the four idols: power, prestige, money, and pleasure
Connect with Our Guest
Redefining Age and Generations: Thriving in an Intergenerational Workplace with Dr. Daniel Jolles
In this episode of Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy, we explore what it means to build truly intergenerational workplaces with Dr. Daniel Jolles, a Workplace Behavioral Psychologist and Postdoctoral Researcher at The Inclusion Initiative at the London School of Economics. Daniel’s research focuses on workplace aging, generational collaboration, and how to rethink career longevity in an era of rapid technological and societal change. Together, we dive into how age diversity can become a source of strength—not stigma—and what individuals and organizations can do to prepare for longer, more fulfilling careers.
Episode Highlights
From Multigenerational to Intergenerational: Why representation alone isn’t enough—collaboration is key.
The Real Cost of Ageism: How stereotypes harm both younger and older workers—and what’s lost when we buy into them.
Redefining “Good Work” Across the Lifespan: Autonomy, flexibility, and meaning as pillars of sustainable work.
AI and Age: Why older professionals’ judgment and soft skills matter more than ever in an AI-driven world.
Career Longevity and Retirement: How to design a meaningful life beyond full-time work—and why planning should start early.
Key Insights
Age diversity fosters productivity, creativity, and better decision-making—especially in project teams with inclusive behaviors.
Generational stereotypes (e.g., “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” or “Gen Z is entitled”) persist despite evidence to the contrary.
Age and seniority are not the same—organizations must decouple age from leadership status to unlock expertise at all levels.
Planning for retirement isn’t just about finances—it’s about social connection, identity, and continued purpose.
Passion doesn’t have to be monetized. Sometimes, being “a bit crap at it” is exactly the point.
About Dr. Daniel Jolles Daniel Jolles, PhD, is a Workplace Behavioral Psychologist and Postdoctoral Researcher at The Inclusion Initiative at LSE. His work focuses on career sustainability, age-inclusive cultures, and the behavioral science of intergenerational teams. He leads research through the Generations Hub, advancing inclusion and productivity in the workplace.
Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Longevity and Workplace Success with Dr. Iain Smith
Social health is just as essential as physical and mental health—so why do we often neglect it? In this episode, Dr. Iain Smith joins Michelle Handy to explore the science of social connection and its impact on well-being, longevity, and workplace culture. As the Head of Behavioral Science at Sunny, Dr. Smith has spent years studying how relationships shape our lives and how we can create healthier, more connected workplaces and communities.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
What is social health? Understanding the biopsychosocial model of health
The science of connection: How social relationships reduce stress, boost immunity, and increase lifespan
Why social health is undervalued compared to physical and mental health
The loneliness epidemic and its effects on different generations
The role of workplace culture in fostering meaningful human connection
Barriers to connection in today’s fast-paced, digital world
Practical tips for improving social health—even for busy professionals and remote workers
Key Takeaways & Insights
Social connection is a powerful buffer against stress. Research shows that strong relationships help mediate stress and promote better mental and physical health.
The quality of relationships matters more than quantity. While digital tools make it easier than ever to stay connected, many people report dissatisfaction with the depth of their interactions.
The workplace plays a critical role in social well-being. Organizations that prioritize trust, communication, and genuine relationships see stronger team performance, resilience, and engagement.
Small changes make a big difference. Just adding one or two extra social interactions per week can reduce extreme loneliness by 50%.
One Action Step You Can Take Today
Send a voice note to a friend or colleague! Instead of a text, send a short voice message to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Hearing your voice makes the interaction more personal, meaningful, and engaging.
From PhD to Industry: Dr. Ashley Ruba on Leaving Academia, Transferable Skills, and Thriving Beyond the Ivory Tower
In this episode, we explore what it means to leave academia and build a fulfilling career outside the ivory tower. Ashley Ruba, PhD, shares her journey from developmental psychology to UX research at Meta and entrepreneurship, founding After Academia to help PhDs navigate their own transitions. From overcoming identity challenges to discovering exciting opportunities in industry, Ashley’s insights are invaluable for anyone considering life beyond tenure.
Episode Highlights
The challenges of leaving academia and redefining identity
Practical advice for starting a career transition
Exciting roles and industries suited for PhDs beyond UX
Building After Academia and lessons from entrepreneurship
Navigating career shifts as a neurodivergent professional
The importance of design thinking in shaping a fulfilling career
About Ashley Ruba
Ashley Ruba, PhD, is a UX researcher, entrepreneur, and founder of After Academia, a program dedicated to helping PhDs build fulfilling careers outside academia. After leaving her own academic career, Ashley turned her experience into a thriving business, landing over 50 job offers for her clients and empowering countless professionals to find balance, purpose, and stability. She has also worked as a human factors engineer, content strategist, and startup consultant.
About Stephen Gates Stephen Gates is the founder of CRZY design studio and the host of The Crazy One podcast. With leadership experience at InVision, Citi, Starwood Hotels, and WeightWatchers, Stephen has led design teams responsible for globally recognized campaigns and innovative products. His work has earned over 150 international awards and has been featured in Apple keynotes and design guidelines.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Digital health development frameworks for MVPs – Bucher et al. (2024). “How to design equitable digital health tools: A narrative review of design tactics, case studies, and opportunities.” PLOS Digital Health
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life
Dr. Simon has spent over 15 years working in healthcare and workplace settings, addressing the anxiety, stress, and burnout endemic to modern culture. Find her on:
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
More About Our Guest
Dr. Iain Smith is a behavioral scientist focused on improving workplace well-being through social health. As the Head of Behavioral Science at Sunny, he has led groundbreaking research on fostering connection in modern work environments. His work has been featured in The Independent, Management Today, and he has spoken at Google Cloud, Volkswagen, and Shell.
Resources & Links
Learn more about Sunny & their upcoming app: gosunny.org
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
Have thoughts about this episode? Connect with Dr. Michelle Handy on LinkedIn and follow Deep Thoughts for more insights at the intersection of behavioral science, tech, and design.
Deep Thoughts with Michelle Handy explores the intersections of behavioral science, tech, and design through engaging conversations with thought leaders. Whether you're building products, leading teams, or navigating your own career journey, each episode delivers practical insights to inspire personal growth and drive innovation.
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