Rock n' Roll Research Podcast

07/12/2024

"Fail we may, sail we must."

Ian Pierpoint is Founder and CEO of the intrepid human insights agency, Further & Further Strategies.

Ian’s unique perspective on understanding people and culture is an outgrowth of his journey, from the UK acid house scene, to corporate youth researcher, to documentary filmmaking, to CMO.

We discuss Ian’s improbable route to research, the lessons he’s learned along the way and his apprehensions about the potential future of insights.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Fail we may, sail we must.Ian Pierpoint is Founder and CEO of the intrepid human insights agency, Further and Further Strategies. Ian’s unique perspective on...

06/14/2024

Kind of blown away by this interview.

Before his professional career that led him to his current role as SVP at Dynata, Jeff Reesing was hanging out and jamming with Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins just before they formed Jane's Addiction.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Jeff Reesing, is SVP of Corporate Sales and Customer Experience at Dynata, the world’s largest first party data platform and a company that powers so much of...

05/24/2024

Do surveys make good bedtime stories for kids? It worked for Kai Fuentes!

Kai is a second-generation market researcher. While many of us were running around causing trouble as kids, Kai was helping her mom’s family business by stapling surveys and even intercepting respondents at the mall.

Kai followed in her mother’s footsteps by founding Ebony Marketing Systems over 20 years ago, and today she is one of our industry’s foremost experts in conducting multicultural research.

But she hasn’t stopped there. Kai has recently taken on the challenge of stand-up comedy. She shares her journey through insights, why stand-up is like qualitative research and the music she’d choose if stranded on a desert island.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Do surveys make good bedtime stories for kids? It worked for Kai Fuentes!Kai is a second-generation market researcher. While many of us were running around c...

05/03/2024

London Brinkman is one year out of school as a Qualitative Market Research Analyst and colleague at MarketVision Research. While working a project together, I learned she is also the lead singer for a notable cover band in Cincinnati. But not only that, she is an award-winning body builder!

London discusses her decision to shift her career focus from musical theater to market research during the pandemic; the role of discipline in helping her excel in each of her passions; and the enduring importance of face-to-face research.

I also kick off my new routine with Magic Mind, a mental performance shot that I’ve really been digging. Podcast listeners can use the code ROCKNROLL20 at www.magicmind/rocknroll to get 48% off an initial subscription or 20% off a one-time purchase. Highly recommend for staying focused, motivated and productive! \m/

Listen below or find+sub to Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

London Brinkman is one year out of school as a Qualitative Market Research Analyst and my colleague at MarketVision Research. While working a project togethe...

05/03/2024

Recorded live on the Purple Stage at the IIEX conference in Austin, TX on April 18!

Nicholas Jayanty, Principal User Experience Researcher at IBM’s Red Hat, traces his path from making sketch comedy pilots on MTV to producing award-winning films to researching and designing digital user experiences.

Nicholas contrasts the supply chains of the independent film industry and software design, discusses how UX can reduce its dependency on software engineering, the roadmap to a world without work and his love of the Austin music scene.

Listen below or find+sub to Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Recorded live on the Purple Stage at the IIEX conference in Austin, TX on April 18!Nicholas Jayanty, Principal User Experience Researcher at IBM’s Red Hat, t...

04/29/2024

Wes Michael from share why and how he created this unique company and his quirky approach to marketing. Link in bio \m/

04/29/2024

Sur Collin from RTi Research talks and and her passion for art. Link in comments \m/

04/16/2024

and I discuss her book, "Collaboration is the New Competition" and how to make the most of conferences, including this week. Link in bio \m/

04/16/2024

On Episode #34, Priscilla McKinney from Little Bird Marketing shared her story of growing up in a family singing troupe. In this episode, we invite her back to the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast to discuss her book, “Collaboration is the New Competition: Why the Future of Work Rewards a Cross-Pollinating Hive Mind & How Not to Get Left Behind.”

Priscilla and I dig deep into this highly useful guide on what collaboration *really* is, why it is so powerful and how to make it intentionally work for you - including several concrete examples from the market research industry. Of course, we finish with a little rock n’ roll, too.

Priscilla also gives advice to conference-goers, specifically those attending Greenbook's IIEX in Austin this week where she and I will each be conducting live podcasts on the Purple Stage.

You can find Priscilla’s book on amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats where it currently enjoys a 4.9/5.0 rating. Enjoy!

On Episode #34, Priscilla McKinney from Little Bird Marketing shared her story of growing up in a family singing troupe. In this episode, we invite her back ...

03/22/2024

shares how he became the industry's public enemy #1. We also discuss predicting multiple futures, how people *really* make decisions and his long-time ska band. Link in bio \m/

03/22/2024

Mark Earls, The HERDmeister, shares his story of how we went from European tour guide to being labeled the market research industry’s “public enemy #1.”

We have a wide-ranging conversation on how people really make decisions, the freedom to experiment in the insights world, predicting multiple futures, how brands grow, being clear in your terminology, making presentations into performances, how to do your own early research and the illusion of tradition.

Mark also shares the story of his ska/punk band – over 30 years and still going strong – and the three records he’d want to keep him company on a desert island.

Mark Earls, The HERDmeister, shares his story of how we went from European tour guide to being labeled the market research industry’s “public enemy #1.”We ha...

03/15/2024

The 2024 UT Arlington MSMR Insight Collaborative is next Tuesday, March 19th. Perfect time to feature a MSMR student on the podcast! [If you are DFW researcher, you should definitely come to this event – link in the comments]

Jeffrey Porter will graduate from the UT Arlington MSMR program in December of this year. In addition to his studies, he is keeping extremely busy with an internship in financial data analysis with Lockheed Martin.

But there’s more to Jeffrey than insights. He has maintained a nice side hustle of buying and selling vintage video games, timing the market perfectly by selling high during the pandemic. He’s also a shredding guitarist, crushing Jimi Hendrix and Red Hot Chili Peppers licks in his spare time.

We discuss Jeffrey’s passion for insights and the discipline required to grow in all his pursuits. We also delve into a possible sci-fi future for data and consumer insights.

Jeffrey Porter will graduate from the UT Arlington MSMR program in December of this year. In addition to his studies, he is keeping extremely busy with an in...

03/08/2024

Talkin' in , , and the MR Jam with Kevin Lang from Greenbook. Link in bio \m/

03/08/2024

Kevin Lang is a recently minted Senior Sales Representative at the mighty research media company Greenbook, home of the GRIT Report, the IIEX conference series and “The Exchange” podcast with Lenny Murphy and Karen Lynch.

While he got his start in the insights industry with Civicom, many people know Kevin from his involvement in the “MR Jam,” providing the backbeat for a who’s who of research industry musicians at Quirk’s conferences in New York and Chicago over the past few years.

Kevin shares his experiences in research and his journey through music, from beating on pots to pans to playing in band to the MR Jam. Along the way, he shares his take on AI in market research, the drummer who most inspired him and we swap stories about Green Day, Dave Matthews and the Rolling Stones.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Kevin Lang is a recently minted Senior Sales Representative at the mighty research media company Greenbook, home of the GRIT Report, the IIEX conference seri...

02/23/2024

Dave McCaughan has long been a leading light on all things brand strategy, research and insights in Asia, having spent nearly 30 years in strategic planning and executive roles at McCann Worldwide all over the region. He has also long given his time back to the industry through associations like ESOMAR and Greenbook among others.

Dave shares his journey from children’s storyteller to advertising and from librarian to opening strategic planning practices in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand. With characteristic wit, Dave describes the groundbreaking work he led along the way and contrasts key findings with insights, the US with Asia, The Beatles with Taylor Swift, and generations with life stages.

And would you believe that AC/DC played at Dave’s high school back in the day?

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Dave McCaughan has long been a leading light on all things brand strategy, research and insights in Asia, having spent nearly 30 years in strategic planning ...

02/16/2024

Aryn O’Donnell is VP of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, known by many to be one of the most trustworthy and engaged qualitative research partners in the industry. But what many people don’t know about Aryn is that the first paycheck she ever drew was for a role she played in musical theater.

Aryn and I discuss her theater days, the value of backroom focus group interactions and how AI frees people up do what they do best. We also discuss her recent appreciation for the world of metal music \m/

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

[If you are in Dallas for the Quirk’s Event this month, come check out the new Fieldwork Dallas facility on February 29th at the Insights Association “Leaping for Insights” happy hour event! Link in the comments.]

Aryn O’Donnell is VP of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, known by many to be one of the most trustworthy and engaged qualitative research partners in the ind...

01/20/2024

Steve Portigal has been doing User Research since the days our software all came in a box. He has written a seminal book on the topic, “Interviewing Users: How to Uncover Compelling Insights,” recently released in a 2nd edition available through Rosenfeld Media.

Steve shares his journey from the nascent years of user research through today and his take on where user research is headed. We discuss his book and how studying creative writing has informed his approach. Steve also tells the story of building a community of Rolling Stones enthusiasts – pre-World Wide Web! - that is still alive and kicking (just like Keith Richards).

[See the comments for a discount code to the book!]

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Steve Portigal of Portigal Consulting has been doing User Research since the days our software all came in a box. He has written a seminal book on the topic,...

01/16/2024

Travis Miller from talks , , and \m/ Link in bio

01/16/2024

It was in college where Travis Miller first made an impact with research by helping the city of Thousand Oaks, CA design a new mall expansion. With an introduction like that, it is no wonder Travis pursued a career in market research.

Travis started his career with JD Power and today is VP, North America sales for PureSpectrum, a GRIT Top 50 insights innovator and member of the Deloitte Fast 500 since 2020.

But Travis also has a fascinating story of growing up amidst his father’s metal band which led him to pick up a pair of drumsticks at a young age. We talk drums, metal and harnessing technology to make insights easier, faster and more dependable.

Tune in to hear why market research is like an elephant and to hear a first on the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast that was music to my ears (hint: it has to do with Slayer \m/)

It was in college where Travis Miller first made an impact with research by helping the city of Thousand Oaks, CA design a new mall expansion. With an introd...

12/22/2023

Brian Zimmerman and I talk sales, , and . Link in bio \m/

12/22/2023

Last episode of 2023!

Brian Zimmerman is an expert at one of the toughest roles in the research industry: prospecting and business development for research suppliers. Companies in insights really struggle with this and Brian steps in and fills that gap.

The music bug bit Brian early when his grandfather introduced him to guitar at age 3. Music has been a constant passion throughout his life, and he keeps guitars throughout his house so he always has one ready for when inspiration strikes.

Brian shares his philosophy on sales, the importance of continuous learning and why he approaches it as a craft. We discuss the music commerce site Reverb and why guitarists accumulate so many guitars, and we also find deep common ground on a classic Kiss album.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n' Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Brian Zimmerman is an expert at one of the toughest roles in the research industry: prospecting and business development for research suppliers. Companies in...

12/08/2023

by day, by night. Joe Emery () and I talk research and his band, The Ugly Beats, on . Link in bio \m/

12/08/2023

Joe Emery started on the bottom rung of a political consulting firm when he was hired as a runner right out of school. He learned from some of the greats like Mark McKinnon, host of Showtime’s ‘The Circus,’ and famed political commentator, Paul Begala, before founding his own firm in 2020, Emery Research, where he focuses on insights supporting communication, branding and policy issues.

And while some know Joe the communications researcher, many others know Joe as the singer and lead guitarist for 60’s-style garage rock band, The Ugly Beats, based in Austin, TX. They have 5 albums out on Pittsburgh-based, Get Hip Records, and Spotify listenership numbers to which many of us can only aspire.

Joe shares his research and music journeys with characteristic modesty. We also discuss the studio vs. live performance and why the future of research is simultaneously awesome and terrifying.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Joe Emery started on the bottom rung of a political consulting firm when he was hired as a runner right out of school. He learned from some of the greats lik...

12/01/2023

Pro market researcher and founder of shares his journey through and off-road motorcycling. Link in bio \m/

12/01/2023

You probably know Eric Hall from his career as an insights and category management expert, currently with Boehringer Ingelheim - the world’s largest privately held pharmaceutical firm - and previously with companies like Allergan, Coors, Kellogg’s and Nestle.

But do you know that Eric is an Instagram influencer with corporate sponsorships and a die-hard community of nearly 200K followers? Probably not! (Check out https://www.facebook.com/XLAdventureRider )

Eric shares his journey through the research and the coffee house chat that became a hobby turned passion that launched his Instagram side gig.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

You probably know Eric Hall from his career as an insights and category management expert, currently with Boehringer Ingelheim - the world’s largest privatel...

11/29/2023

For this special 100th Episode of the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast, I go mano-a-mano with Leigh Kessler, VP of Mercury Analytics, former professional comedian and current country singer.

Leigh and I each perform the classic, “Angel from Montgomery” by John Prine – who did it better? A quantitative gen pop audience of dial-testers renders their verdict! Leigh also applies Mercury Analytics’ cool AI tools to zero in on improvement opportunities.

Listen as we also cover some podcast highlights like listening stats, the top 5 most popular episodes so far and the music insights pros most covet.

Big ups for tuning in! Keep listening and we’ll keep sharing the super cool backstories and side gigs of the research and insights pros you trust \m/

For this special 100th Episode of the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast, I go mano-a-mano with Leigh Kessler, VP of Mercury Analytics, former professional comedi...

10/27/2023

.grushka, founder of Stories Bureau, talks , what he learned from and the soundtrack. Link in bio \m/

10/27/2023

Kory Grushka is the Founder of Stories Bureau, a really cool B2B creative agency that, among other things, helps insights teams make their data come to life and influence decision-making through effective storytelling.

You may be surprised to learn the profession that Kory came from and how it made him uniquely qualified to help researchers tell better stories. It all made sense to me after this conversation.

Kory shares his professional journey, some thought-provoking perspective on AI and why he’d want the Rocky IV soundtrack with him if he were stranded on a deserted island.

Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Kory Grushka is the Founder of Stories Bureau, a really cool B2B creative agency that, among other things, helps CPG insights teams make their data come to l...

10/20/2023

I’m BACK! Your humble host’s brief pause provided plenty of time to dig into Pepper Miller’s brilliant book on Black insights, “Let Me Explain Black Again,” from Paramount Market Publishing. I gained so much from this book that I had to reach out and learn more.

Pepper is a true pioneer when it comes to helping brands understand and connect with Black America. After starting her career in advertising, Pepper launched the market research and strategic planning firm, Hunter-Miller. Her passion has led her to write three seminal books on the topic, helping marketers everywhere understand and reach the Black audience with cultural intelligence, respect and authenticity.

We discuss her journey through research, the relevance of history, some key insights from her book and the music that gets her stepping. Join us for this fun and insightful conversation!
Watch below or find+sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research Podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

I’m BACK! Your humble host’s brief pause provided plenty of time to dig into Pepper Miller’s brilliant book on Black insights, “Let Me Explain Black Again,” ...

06/16/2023

Over the past 16 years, Annie McDannald has risen through the ranks at Civicom to her current role as Global VP of Marketing Research Services. Chances are you’ve used Civicom at some point for their myriad of useful technologies and services supporting the market research process.

What you might not know is Annie has been a performer since a young age - from supporting the family’s carnival puppet show business to being a professional runway model to singing. In fact, she is a vet of the Quirk’s MR Jam Session which she will reprise at the Quirk’s NYC conference in July.

Annie and I discuss her journey through her research career, her carnie life growing up, how the pandemic changed the future of research and getting the Led out.

Watch below or sub to the Rock n’ Roll Research podcast wherever you get your podcasts \m/

Over the past 16 years, Annie McDannald has risen through the ranks at Civicom to her current role as Global VP of Marketing Research Services. Chances are y...