After 5 years and 171 episodes, Brave UX is coming to a close.

In this final monologue, Brendan Jarvis reflects on how the podcast began, what it became, and what he learned along the way. From uncertain beginnings during a global pandemic to becoming a globally recognised platform for thoughtful, human-centred conversations—this is a farewell, but not a goodbye.

✅ Why Brave UX began ✅ What it became ✅ How it helped Brendan grow ✅ What’s next

⏱️ Episode Chapters:

00:12 – Brave UX Ends 00:19 – Pandemic Start 01:04 – Growth & Friendships 01:15 – Talks & Recognition 01:45 – Memorable Moments 01:59 – Thanks to Editors 02:12 – Closing Chapter 02:44 – What’s Next

🎧 Explore the full archive: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/brave-ux-podcast 💬 Connect with Brendan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendandjarvis/

Wolfgang Bremer shares a candid look at design leadership, the weight of trust, and why real impact goes far beyond pixels 🚀 — revealing how humility and humanity shape design at scale 🌍.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Learning Patience Through Fatherhood 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:10 – Early Design Projects and Bootleg CD Covers 05:30 – How Parenthood Changed His Communication and Leadership 10:00 – The Importance of Explaining “Why” at Home and Work 13:44 – Families, Work, and Where We Spend Our Energy 19:00 – Why Trust Should Be the Default in Teams 22:30 – Building Connection and Trust Through One-on-Ones 28:30 – Structured vs. Unstructured Approaches to One-on-Ones 36:00 – Knowing When to Lean In and When to Step Back 43:00 – Leadership as Asking Better Questions 46:20 – Leadership Compared to Doing the Dishes 53:00 – Designing the Environment for Teams to Thrive 58:00 – Overcoming Misconceptions About Design’s Role 1:01:22 – Lessons From a Career in Global Design Leadership 1:06:21 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Wolfgang

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Who is Wolfgang Bremer?

Wolfgang Bremer is a seasoned design leader whose career spans mobile, enterprise, and automotive design 🚗. He was recently the Vice President of Design at Elli, a Volkswagen Group brand focused on electric mobility, where he grew a cross-functional team and embedded design into business strategy.

He has: ✅ Led global design teams at Volkswagen, SAP, and HERE Technologies ✅ Designed early mobile experiences at Nokia ✅ Spoken at conferences across Europe, North America, and Asia ✅ Advocated for people-first design and building trust at scale ✅ Believes leadership is sometimes… like doing the dishes

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Find Wolfgang Bremer here:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/wolfgangbremer/ Website → https://bremer.co/

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Subscribe to Brave UX

Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/

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Follow Brave UX for more great content!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/

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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:

Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/

Aryn Korpalski reminds us that research is as much about human connection 🤝 as it is about data—and why hospitality, curiosity, and thoughtful service are the real secrets to impactful insights 🎯.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00 – Why In-Person Magic Can’t Be Replicated Virtually 00:30 – Welcome and Introduction 02:00 – Meet Aryn Korpalski 03:06 – Musical Theatre, Sports, and Finding Confidence in Rugby 10:00 – Growing Up in Denver and Becoming a Chicagoan 14:42 – Curiosity, Hospitality, and the Work of Fieldwork 18:20 – Complex Briefs and Protecting Participant Trust 22:55 – Global Research and Partnering with Competitors 27:30 – Preparing for the Next Thing: AI and Data Quality 35:11 – Baking Accessibility Into Every Project 40:30 – Making Research Emotionally Accessible 44:01 – Beyond Insights: Community and Connection 47:23 – The Power of Observation Rooms 51:30 – Gathering Intentionally and Leadership Energy 56:00 – Why Making “Yes” Matter Builds Trust 1:09:05 – Closing Reflections and Where to Find Aryn

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Who is Aryn Korpalski?

Aryn is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Services at Fieldwork, a company trusted worldwide for in-person research facilities, digital capabilities, and global recruitment services.

She has: ✅ Led Fieldwork’s corporate operations and strategic client partnerships ✅ Managed research projects across diverse industries and cultures ✅ Advocated for participant-first experiences and inclusive research practices ✅ Embraced hospitality as a guiding principle in research operations

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Find Aryn Korpalski here:

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/arynkorpalski/ Fieldwork → https://www.fieldwork.com/

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Subscribe to Brave UX

Like what you heard? 🎙️ Subscribe to Brave UX for more conversations with world-class voices in UX, design, and product leadership. Your support helps others discover the show!

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/brave-ux-with-brendan-jarvis/id1552607805 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7j2ocni6A00fzgHkj6TtCK YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSpaceInBetween Podbean: https://braveux.podbean.com/

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Follow Brave UX for more great content!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brave_ux Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/

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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:

Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/