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We're sitting down with Erica Clayton, CX expert and founder of Sunshine CX, to explore the strategies behind successfully managing remote customer support teams.

Whether you’re leading a global CX department or onboarding your very first remote hire, this episode is packed with practical insights on:

• Building team culture across time zones (Erica recommends The Culture Map by Erin Meyer)
• Creating effective onboarding processes
• Preventing remote burnout
• Fostering social connection without micromanaging
• Developing communication routines that actually work

Erica shares lessons from leading distributed support teams at companies like TuneCore and offers real-world advice on tools, processes, and leadership mindset shifts that help remote teams succeed.

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

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In this episode of Happy to Help, Priscilla Brooke is joined by Buzzsprout teammate Cara Pacetti to explore the strategy behind Buzzsprout Orientations. These orientations are a live onboarding experience designed to empower new podcasters with confidence, clarity, and connection!

We're breaking down:

• The difference between demos and orientations
• How proactive education reduces support volume
• Lessons learned from months of live customer sessions
• The power of human connection in digital onboarding
• Tips for launching your own educational initiative (without burning out your team!)

If you’re a Customer Support Specialist, CX leader, or anyone thinking about proactive support, this episode will inspire you to invest in education and see measurable results in satisfaction, confidence, and reduced ticket volume!

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!

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How should customer support teams use AI without losing the human touch?

Priscilla Brooke sits down with customer success expert Conor Pendergrast to explore the evolving role of AI in support workflows. From using AI as a smart assistant to drive efficiency, to building better customer relationships through intentional automation, Connor offers real-world examples, clear do’s and don’ts, and practical tips for teams of all sizes.

Learn how to strike the balance between AI tools and authentic human service, and hear why empathy, intentionality, and trust remain at the heart of excellent support even in an AI-powered world.

Learn more about Conor at CustomerSuccess.cx and subscribe to Conor's daily tips for CS!

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

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Customer support is just one step on a much larger path. So how do you make sure every step along your customer’s journey is intentional, seamless, and delightful?

In this episode, Priscilla welcomes Doing CX Right host and customer experience expert Stacy Sherman to demystify the practice of customer journey mapping. With 25+ years of experience building connections between people and brands, Stacy breaks down how to go beyond support tickets and start crafting every phase of the customer experience with purpose.

Check out Stacy's book, "Transformative Experience Journey Management", her podcast "Doing CX Right," and free templates at doingcxright.com.

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!

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We’re exploring how to balance inbox work with long-term projects on a support team! Chase Clemons from 37signals returns to share how his team uses six-week cycles to manage support coverage, build new initiatives, and avoid burnout while still delivering exceptional customer service.

In this episode, you’ll learn how 37signals structures their support team to thrive in both reactive and proactive work. Discover how they balance daily inbox demands with meaningful project work, the benefits of hiring “managers of one,” and why project days are key to team longevity. Chase also shares how cycles promote clarity, protect focus time, and allow support pros to contribute far beyond the queue

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!

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A great knowledge base can make life easier for your customers and your support team—but where do you start? In this episode, we're joined by Mat Patterson from Help Scout to talk about building helpful, well-maintained articles that can actually eliminate repetitive support questions. Whether you’re a support team of one or leading a larger team, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put to work today!

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Supportive Podcast & Blog
• Help Scout - Creating a Customer Knowledge Base
• Help Scout - Best Customer Service Software in 2025

Support in Real Life: Tech Recommendations

• Help Scout
• Cleanshot
• Obsidian

Get in touch with Mat:

• Help Scout Newsletter
• LinkedIn
• Bluesky

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!

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We're diving into the complex dynamics between customer support teams and developers. Buzzsprout Co-Founder, Tom Rossi, joins us to explain how strong communication between these groups significantly impacts product quality and customer experience.

In this episode, you’ll learn how strong communication between customer support and product development fosters better teamwork, ensuring support teams stay informed and confident when changes roll out. Discover strategies for improving collaboration, from setting clear expectations and sharing positive feedback to involving support in feature planning and aligning release schedules.

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!

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Want to take your customer service to the next level in 2025?

In this episode of Happy to Help, we’re breaking down five simple yet powerful strategies you can start using today to improve your customer service—no expensive tools or complex workflows required!

Tips for leveling up your customer service:

1. Humanize Your Emails – Treat customers like real people, not ticket numbers. A little personalization goes a long way!

2. Shift Your Mindset on Problem-Solving – See customer issues as exciting challenges to tackle, not just tasks to complete.

3. Optimize Your Time Out of the Queue – Use slow periods to sharpen your skills and expand your product knowledge.

4. Empower Customers with Self-Service – Proactively provide resources so customers can solve issues faster on their own.

5. Celebrate Remarkable Service – Recognize great customer interactions to build a culture of support excellence.

Whether you’re answering emails, leading a team, or building customer relationships, these five strategies will instantly improve your approach to support—making customers (and your team) happier along the way!

We want to hear from you! Share your support stories and questions with us at happytohelp@buzzsprout.com!

To learn more about Buzzsprout visit Buzzsprout.com.

Thanks for listening!