“What happens when your UX career stops fitting the life you want — and you decide to rewrite the story?”
Summary
In this powerful episode, Amy Santee joins me to unpack the realities of building a career in UX — beyond the glossy titles and job descriptions. With a background spanning childhood development, healthcare innovation, and UX strategy at eBay and Civic Software Foundation, Amy has spent over a decade exploring how people, systems, and products connect. Today, as a Design Researcher and Career Strategist, they coach UX professionals through burnout, career change, and the messy realities of the industry. Together, we dive into the emotional and systemic challenges of UX work, the shifting job market, and how to reclaim agency and meaning in your career. We talk about identity, community, and the courage to redefine success on your own terms.
Guest
Amy Santee
Website – https://thejawbreaker.beehiiv.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysantee/
Host
Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
Website – www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Amy's Journey
03:50 Navigating Corporate Culture as an Anthropologist
06:52 The Challenges of UX Research
09:46 The Jaded UX Professional
12:37 Identity and Job Market Uncertainty
15:33 The Rigged Job Market for Tech Workers
18:46 The Shared Struggles of Workers
21:34 The Future of UX and Worker Rights
29:59 The Fight for Workers' Rights
32:45 Acknowledging the Bleak Reality
35:09 Embracing the Unconventional Career Path
37:20 Navigating Uncertainty and Identity
40:37 Redefining Value Beyond Productivity
43:38 Diversifying Income Streams
46:09 Finding Fulfillment in Unexpected Places
