Hey Yah, No peoples: 2020 called and said it’s time for a revolution. But if you’re like our final guest of the season, you’ve been asking for revolt for quite a while now. And given these changing times, who better to wrap up this amazing season than the visionary, Dr. Victor Montori. Dr. Montori is an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic, co-founder of…

Raise your hand if you support things that bring you laughter, happiness and emotional fulfillment. (Us, plz). Now raise your hand if those are feelings you associate with the healthcare system…Yeah...that’s what we thought. Joy, delight, and happiness are emotions. And so are confusion, frustration and anxiety. Which of these sentiments come to mi…

Design has been welcomed into many disciplines over the past couple decades. While it’s exciting to see the world embracing design and problem-solving skills to help teams make critical decisions and strategies, sometimes it feels like “design” has been distilled down to a one-size-fits-all process. Is it possible that in today’s design practice, w…

By Tina Park and Miya Osaki

By Tina Park and Miya Osaki

By Tina Park and Miya Osaki

Episode 34: Cultural Probes in Healthcare by Tina Park and Miya OsakiBy Tina Park and Miya Osaki

Mild Cognitive Impairment. Frailty. You’ve heard the terms right? But did you know that they’re not ACTUAL diagnoses. Meaning there isn’t really any medication that is prescribed that will make it better. And when there isn’t a diagnoses that means that healthcare as a whole isn’t necessarily addressing the needs of these tens of millions of people…

Hey Yah, No friends, we’re back, and we’re ready to get down to business! Business and healthcare, that is. Miya and Tina are kicking things off this season with a spirited discussion about rising healthcare costs and how employers are starting to get creative in footing the bill. What are the pros and cons of these new models? What’s best for the …

This marks the third episode in our “Designing for Healthcare” series. You know what that means: we made a trilogy. We’re basically George Lucas. In Season 2, we chatted with an expert designer, and in season 3 we talked to an expert doctor. And now we’re closing it out by speaking with a different kind of expert: a patient advocate. We are so exci…

Hey Yah, No friends! Do you miss us yet? It’s been a whole month since we released our last episode of season 3. Lucky for you, we’ve been working hard to bring you our first ever BONUS episode of Yah, No. If you loved Episode 29–Disability and Social-Minded Design, where we had our conversation with extraordinaire Sara Hendren–(stats don’t lie, we…

Health inequity is a real problem. And we’re mad about it. Minorities are underrepresented as changemakers in healthcare and often overlooked as patients. It’s our last episode of Season 3, and if this one feels personal, that’s because it is. Join us for the finale, as Miya and Tina discuss inclusion in healthcare — or lack thereof — and how the d…

Yes, design takes craft, but it also requires deeply observing and questioning the world around you, engaging communities, and maybe even using guerilla tactics. Enter: Sara Hendren– artist, design researcher, writer, professor at Olin College of Engineering and all-around badass. Much of Sara’s work focuses on assistive and adaptive technologies, …

In Season 2, Episode 12, Katie McCurdy, healthcare designer extraordinaire (and good friend) joined us for an insightful conversation about bringing more designers into healthcare. On the flip side, more and more healthcare providers see the value of design, too. Doctoring, however, is not designing- so what exactly is the role of design from the p…

In healthcare, how can you truly understand how people will use a product or service when humans are unpredictable, health is difficult to manage, and you don’t know always what the end product or service should be?In order to understand human behavior, and all the idiosyncrasies that go along with it (peanut butter and mayo sandwiches, anyone?), y…

We’re halfway through Season 3! Join us for the “check in” episode where Miya and Tina cover three topics they’re interested in right now: inclusivity in clinical trials, women in leadership, and a revisit of the privacy conversation from Episode 23 – this time with a small glimmer of hope. What are you waiting for?! Tap that play button, and tune …

Patients are used to the healthcare industry treating the mind and the body as two completely different systems, but Tina and Miya know from their work in chronic disease, that mental and physical health are inextricably linked. Join us for Episode 25, as Miya and Tina meditate, share tips on interview techniques and relay research strategies that …

It’s no secret that AI-powered technology is changing the landscape of healthcare. But how is it being maximized? And is it helping, or hurting? The possibilities are overwhelming, and Tina and Miya want answers! And if we’re talking AI, what better expert than Siri? Nope, not that Siri. Siri Betts-Sonstegard, Design Research Lead at IBM Watson Hea…

Don’t “keep out” of this debate on privacy! Tina thinks that the evolution of privacy in healthcare will help patients level the playing field, but Miya questions who’s really going to benefit when we allow our data to be accessed. From digital health to social media, new technologies in healthcare are changing the definition of privacy. Patients a…

Designers need to be great observers, especially in the complex world of healthcare. You need to look beyond the obvious, and see below the surface in order to solve problems in a meaningful way. But that’s easier said than done. So Tina and Miya are wondering: What is the difference between seeing and looking? How do you become a great observer? I…

There have been some huge shifts lately in the healthcare industry, but something that will never change, is the power of a good story. Tina and Miya have told a lot of stories throughout the first 20 episodes, which has led us to a new idea: Stories of Health. In this 1st episode of Season 3, we wanted to define what is a Story of Health. Why shou…

What’s the difference between a mistake and a failure? For a very special Season 2 finale we’re going to end on a high-low note. When you make a mistake, it can be a big, mortifying deal—especially when you’re like our hosts who basically never make mistakes...except for this one (hundred-thousand dollar) mistake. Our confession session is joined b…

Are superheros are proactive or reactive? We reckon when they swoop onto the scene in the nick of time to save a bus of children from a collapsing building that’s what is called 'being reactive.' So then what can we learn from the routine behavior of looking out the window to check for rain? A thick skin, flexibility, and improv skills guide us thr…

Those "Eureka!" moments come and go and notes-to-self lose their decipherability over time. In this episode Miya and Tina tackle the ins and outs of cultivating inspiration on-demand and as a daily practice. Our hosts reminisce on the mentors whose random connections empower us to make design leaps. We breakdown a range of methods for nudging desig…

As a continuation of last year’s Season 1 Episode 5 Miya and Tina revisit the topic of self-promotion. In this episode we compare the goals we set back then to find out how we lived up to our own expectations (spoiler: we saw a 200% improvement in target behaviors but achieved only 40% performance on goals.) We finally admitted that brainstorming w…

We know goat’s milk is great for cheesemaking, but does that mean it can’t also make spider silk? Sometimes mental boundaries and assumptions about role definition can get in the way of being a good team player and doing whatever it takes for the win. For partners, growing a small company means we have no boundaries and wear many hats: cooking lunc…

What would happen if you just say no to that project instead of saying yes? If she had made a different decision, Tina could’ve been a t-shirt graphics guru instead of a healthcare design researcher.Saying ‘no’ sometimes opens the door to new possibilities. In this episode, Tina and Miya discuss when it’s okay to say no. Turning down opportunities …

According to a questionable survey Miya found on the internet 70% of people consider themselves to be generalists. In this episode Tina and Miya call Gina Kim, their very first intern, and the millennial that introduced them to the term. In a revealing conversation with Gina our hosts hash out definitions of the word, try to figure out if there’s a…

What do you think someone who can’t walk really wants to do? Tina and Miya make the point that you don’t really know until you ask someone who can’t walk. This episode of Yah, No is about what human-centered design is and the importance of seeking out the human-ness that comes from truly knowing and designing with your end user. Our hosts discuss t…

Katie McCurdy, user experience designer, researcher of the inner workings of hospitals, and generally awesome human being, joins our hosts to discuss the joys and frustrations of designing for healthcare. The trio tackles why the healthcare world needs more designers, and all of the reasons (both practical and touchy feely) that designers should be…

Annnnd they’re back! Tina and Miya kick off the brand spanking new season with some classic tunes and a debate on what it means to really innovate. Everyone wants to be innovative, but maybe we don’t all need to chase that unicorn. Tune in as our hosts discuss the many definitions of innovation, invention and improvement. Change can happen in incre…

What are the forces that guide decisions? Sometimes, you can debate over something forever. Other times, when you know, you just know. In this episode, Tina and Miya turn up the volume on the little voices inside their heads -- the rumble in their guts. So how do you know when your gut is talking to you? Do you physically feel it or is it mental? L…

In today’s world, the discipline of design is changing. The design of yesterday is not quite what it is now. Traditionally known as a skill, design has become a way of thinking. In this episode, Tina and Miya discuss the different definitions, dimensions, and orders of design. Listen in on their conversation. Plus, get the chance to hear what their…

What energizes and inspires people to have ownership over their work? Is it given or is it taken? Is there a magic moment when it’s sparked or does it grow over time? Tina and Miya try to define ownership and how to cultivate it in the workplace. Listen to our hosts with episode producer Sean as they share examples of having “skin in the game” (ew!…

In this episode, Tina and Miya talks with Emilie Glazer from Ctrl group about collaboration. What makes it successful? It’s not always that romanticized notion through happenstance or serendipity. Most of the times it requires careful curation and a little big of magic. Everyone has a role in a collaboration: the provocateur, the maker, the note ta…

IRA, taxes, profit and loss sheets. Boring, right? Owning your own business is awesome, but it’s not all puppies and hearts. This week, we reveal some embarrassing moments and deep thoughts brought to you by a journal that one of our hosts kept in the early days of starting our business. Tune in and find out which one! Warning: early “business days…

Why does self-promotion feel so uncomfortable? Talking up your accomplishments feels awkward, but it’s important in today’s business world. Listen to Tina and Miya as they discuss the value of self-promotion and their struggles with the vanity that shadows it. Self-promotion is a way to make your work visible. So how do you get away with promoting …

The people business, it’s not easy. In this episode, Tina and Miya talks with strategist/business developer/friend Samip Shah about how to scale a services business: the mindset shift in letting go and refocusing energies, hiring for intangibles, and finding the golden ratio of skill sets and passion. Lots of enthusiasm, but also lots of questions!…

Are Tina and Miya wearing their startup outfit or business hat today? Listen in and find out as they discuss the similarities and differences between starting a business and beginning a startup. Sometimes it's not so easy to keep them separate! Recording straight from Brooklyn, NY at Figure 8 Recording Studios.…

Second episode. Second trip to upstate New York. This time with wine. Being entrepreneurs in healthcare ain't easy but sure is fun! Miya and Tina reflect on their experiences turning an idea into a start-up. Hear them decode the chicken or egg dilemma of building a product, the challenges of working fast and agile in a slow-moving industry, and the…

And it's about time. In the premiere episode of Yah, No, longtime friends and business partners (the best duo of all time) Tina Park and Miya Osaki discuss their experiences starting a business together and why having a partnership was a non-negotiable. Think: Thelma and Louise, Lucy and Ethel, Abbie and Ilana…all got nothing on Yah, No.Keep in min…