<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:psc="http://podlove.org/simple-chapters" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[CX Now]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>CX Now is your podcast for intelligent CX.<br /><br />In the CX Now podcast, Lisa Painter, Head of Thought Leadership Experiences at Kustomer, chats with leaders in customer experience to share insights about what’s going on in the industry so you can stay up-to-date.<br /></p><p>Why another podcast?</p><p></p><p>Our in-person CX Now events were such a hit with a goldmine of insights from our speakers and panelists. We thought: why not bring these insights to everyone year-round, wherever they are?</p><p></p><p>Whether you're a CX executive, manager, or a frontline customer support agent looking to grow in their career, tune in for thoughtful conversations about CX strategy, best practices, lessons learned, AI and its applications in customer service, and more.</p>]]></description><link>www.kustomer.com</link><generator>Riverside.fm (https://riverside.com)</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 05 Sep 2026 02:25:32 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://api.riverside.com/hosting/zV0BkxM2.rss" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><author><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></author><pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:10:30 GMT</pubDate><copyright><![CDATA[2026 Kustomer]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><ttl>60</ttl><category><![CDATA[Business]]></category><category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category><itunes:author>Kustomer</itunes:author><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;CX Now is your podcast for intelligent CX.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the CX Now podcast, Lisa Painter, Head of Thought Leadership Experiences at Kustomer, chats with leaders in customer experience to share insights about what’s going on in the industry so you can stay up-to-date.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Why another podcast?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our in-person CX Now events were such a hit with a goldmine of insights from our speakers and panelists. We thought: why not bring these insights to everyone year-round, wherever they are?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you&apos;re a CX executive, manager, or a frontline customer support agent looking to grow in their career, tune in for thoughtful conversations about CX strategy, best practices, lessons learned, AI and its applications in customer service, and more.&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Kustomer</itunes:name><itunes:email>hope.dorman@kustomer.com</itunes:email></itunes:owner><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:category text="Business"/><itunes:category text="Technology"/><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><item><title><![CDATA[Building Together: The Role of Engineering in Modern CX Organizations]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Host Lisa Painter and Jared Loman, Head of Operations &amp; CX at Kick, explore the evolving relationship between CX and engineering teams, emphasizing trust, technical fluency, and the role of AI in collaboration. Jared shares why AI hasn’t replaced human judgement the way many predicted, the single most damaging habit that keeps CX stuck in the “complaint department” instead of earning a seat as the “context department”, and a concrete 30-minute action leaders can start taking tomorrow to build a stronger partnership with their engineering counterparts.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>AI as a multiplier, not an additive</li><li>Building relationships between CX and engineering</li><li>The convergence of human judgment and AI</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The AI Debate</li><li>03:04 The Role of Human Relationships in CX</li><li>05:30 The Importance of CX-Engineering Relationships</li><li>06:19 Responsibility in Relationship Breakdowns</li><li>10:04 Technical Knowledge in CX Leadership</li><li>12:24 Building Trust and Alignment</li><li>19:32 Navigating Tensions and Priorities</li><li>23:31 AI's Impact on CX and Engineering</li><li>26:50 Advice for Improving CX-Engineering Relationships</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">4b5035a6-26f7-407f-b937-32d9be38c8f4</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/f73ec2c4aca7a9174a405a7e19c0b459b3ec7e74b27ee8417d1b2f72707ac918/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI0YjUwMzVhNi0yNmY3LTQwN2YtYjkzNy0zMmQ5YmUzOGM4ZjQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmEzZWE1YmJlMjFlYzFjYjFlMjZjYWYxL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi02LTI2X18xOC0xNS01NS5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="56696311" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/4b5035a6-26f7-407f-b937-32d9be38c8f4/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Host Lisa Painter and Jared Loman, Head of Operations &amp;amp; CX at Kick, explore the evolving relationship between CX and engineering teams, emphasizing trust, technical fluency, and the role of AI in collaboration. Jared shares why AI hasn’t replaced human judgement the way many predicted, the single most damaging habit that keeps CX stuck in the “complaint department” instead of earning a seat as the “context department”, and a concrete 30-minute action leaders can start taking tomorrow to build a stronger partnership with their engineering counterparts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI as a multiplier, not an additive&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Building relationships between CX and engineering&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The convergence of human judgment and AI&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The AI Debate&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;03:04 The Role of Human Relationships in CX&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;05:30 The Importance of CX-Engineering Relationships&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;06:19 Responsibility in Relationship Breakdowns&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;10:04 Technical Knowledge in CX Leadership&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;12:24 Building Trust and Alignment&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;19:32 Navigating Tensions and Priorities&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;23:31 AI&apos;s Impact on CX and Engineering&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;26:50 Advice for Improving CX-Engineering Relationships&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:29:32</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:episode>10</itunes:episode><itunes:title>Building Together: The Role of Engineering in Modern CX Organizations</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[CX at the Heart of the Business]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Jessica-Rose Garcia, Senior Manager of CX at OneSkin, shares her expertise on embedding customer experience at the core of business strategy. Discover how leadership commitment, effective metrics, and customer insights drive loyalty and elevate brand perception.</p><p></p><p><b>Takeaways:</b></p><ul><li>CX must sit at the intersection of everything a business does, requiring leadership commitment and influence.</li><li>Customer insights should be tied to impactful outcomes to drive action and decision-making.</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Chapters:</b></p><ul><li>00:00 The Heart of CX</li><li>02:11 Signals of CX Marginalization</li><li>04:33 Customer Expectations and Premium Brands</li><li>07:18 The Role of CX in Business Transformation</li><li>09:45 Challenges of Customer Loyalty</li><li>11:33 Insights from Customer Interactions</li><li>14:12 Actionable Customer Insights</li><li>17:04 The Impact of CX Metrics</li><li>19:59 Return on Investment in CX</li><li>23:30 Shaping the Perception of CX</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">fe3c4b3a-dce4-457f-bc04-e24b6729e073</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/4dc9c17837a560da3c6506f405f98f9f9d0f29bdd788ec844d49a8456578d4c6/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmZTNjNGIzYS1kY2U0LTQ1N2YtYmMwNC1lMjRiNjcyOWUwNzMiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmExZGU1ZGRjNjBiMzliZTgwNzllNTBlL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi02LTFfXzIyLTQtNDUubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="49505741" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/fe3c4b3a-dce4-457f-bc04-e24b6729e073/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Jessica-Rose Garcia, Senior Manager of CX at OneSkin, shares her expertise on embedding customer experience at the core of business strategy. Discover how leadership commitment, effective metrics, and customer insights drive loyalty and elevate brand perception.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Takeaways:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;CX must sit at the intersection of everything a business does, requiring leadership commitment and influence.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Customer insights should be tied to impactful outcomes to drive action and decision-making.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Chapters:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The Heart of CX&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;02:11 Signals of CX Marginalization&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;04:33 Customer Expectations and Premium Brands&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;07:18 The Role of CX in Business Transformation&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;09:45 Challenges of Customer Loyalty&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;11:33 Insights from Customer Interactions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;14:12 Actionable Customer Insights&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;17:04 The Impact of CX Metrics&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;19:59 Return on Investment in CX&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;23:30 Shaping the Perception of CX&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:25:47</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:episode>9</itunes:episode><itunes:title>CX at the Heart of the Business</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[From Data Warehouse to Boardroom: Putting Voice of the Customer to Work]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>What does it actually take to make voice of the customer more than a buzzword? In this episode of CX Now, Lauren Gold sits down with Victoria Weiss, Senior Director, CX at Smalls, to talk about turning customer feedback into real operational and strategic change — and why so many organizations collect VoC data without ever acting on it.</p><p>Victoria has spent a decade building voice of the customer programs from the ground up, at companies including Daily Harvest and now Smalls. In this conversation, she shares her personal playbook for standing up a VOC program from scratch, how to translate CX data into language other departments will actually act on, and why persistence — not perfection — is what makes a voice of the customer program stick long term.<br /></p><p>Victoria and Lauren dig into a real, tactical example: how a scrappy, low-cost packaging fix cut product damage by 50%, and why coming to the table with solutions (not just complaints) is what earns CX a seat in cross-functional conversations. They also cover the underrated power of CSAT as a business metric rather than just a CX metric, how to uncover the things customers don't explicitly tell you in reviews or surveys, and how AI is changing the way CX leaders surface trends without spending hours manually combing through conversations.</p><p>Whether you're building a voice of the customer program for the first time or looking for ways to get your VOC data taken more seriously across the business, this episode is packed with practical, tested advice from someone who has done it more than once.<br /></p><p><b>In this episode, you'll learn:</b></p><ul><li>How to get voice of the customer data out of a data warehouse and into real decisions</li><li>A step-by-step playbook for launching a VOC program from scratch</li><li>How to build cross-functional relationships that make other teams want to act on CX data</li><li>Why CSAT deserves to be treated as a business metric, not just a CX metric</li><li>How to uncover what customers aren't explicitly telling you in feedback</li><li>How AI is changing the way CX leaders find and act on trends</li><li>Victoria's #1 piece of advice for any CX leader trying to grow their VOC program<br /></li></ul><p><b>Timestamps:</b><br />00:00 Introducing Victoria Weiss, Senior Director, CX at Smalls<br />00:29 Why voice of the customer data often stalls in a data warehouse<br />00:50 Building cross-functional relationships to get CX data taken seriously<br />02:52 Customizing your talk track for different stakeholders<br />03:19 A real example: cutting product damage by 50% with a scrappy fix<br />05:49 How to start a voice of the customer program from scratch<br />06:06 Victoria's playbook: interview your team, stakeholders, and customers<br />08:24 Building a sustainable rhythm for sharing insights and closing feedback loops<br />09:20 What customers don't explicitly tell you — and how to uncover it<br />11:00 Following up directly with customers for more specifics<br />11:43 How central VOC should be to a CX leader's day-to-day decisions<br />13:10 The most underrated feedback source: CSAT as a business metric<br />14:26 Why sharing CSAT broadly builds team morale and accountability<br />15:18 How AI is changing the way CX leaders find trends in feedback<br />16:59 Victoria's #1 piece of advice for CX leaders improving their VOC programs<br />18:13 Closing thoughts<br /></p><p><b>About CX Now:</b><br />CX Now is Kustomer's podcast for customer experience leaders who want practical, real-world insight into building better customer experiences. Hosted by Lauren Gold, Chief Customer Officer at Kustomer, each episode features candid conversations with CX practitioners and executives tackling the same challenges you are — from building VOC programs to scaling support with AI.</p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f44a6096-888d-4516-a799-22442a4d6ab7</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:31:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/ff9b871e2fbcb2a1c71eba5d1fb7aa61a727135268161f7c49aa163944cf964e/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmNDRhNjA5Ni04ODhkLTQ1MTYtYTc5OS0yMjQ0MmE0ZDZhYjciLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE1MTU4YTg2YzcxMTNkM2ViNGMyNDFiL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi03LTEwX18yMi00MC04Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="35480703" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/f44a6096-888d-4516-a799-22442a4d6ab7/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;What does it actually take to make voice of the customer more than a buzzword? In this episode of CX Now, Lauren Gold sits down with Victoria Weiss, Senior Director, CX at Smalls, to talk about turning customer feedback into real operational and strategic change — and why so many organizations collect VoC data without ever acting on it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Victoria has spent a decade building voice of the customer programs from the ground up, at companies including Daily Harvest and now Smalls. In this conversation, she shares her personal playbook for standing up a VOC program from scratch, how to translate CX data into language other departments will actually act on, and why persistence — not perfection — is what makes a voice of the customer program stick long term.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Victoria and Lauren dig into a real, tactical example: how a scrappy, low-cost packaging fix cut product damage by 50%, and why coming to the table with solutions (not just complaints) is what earns CX a seat in cross-functional conversations. They also cover the underrated power of CSAT as a business metric rather than just a CX metric, how to uncover the things customers don&apos;t explicitly tell you in reviews or surveys, and how AI is changing the way CX leaders surface trends without spending hours manually combing through conversations.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether you&apos;re building a voice of the customer program for the first time or looking for ways to get your VOC data taken more seriously across the business, this episode is packed with practical, tested advice from someone who has done it more than once.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;In this episode, you&apos;ll learn:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to get voice of the customer data out of a data warehouse and into real decisions&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;A step-by-step playbook for launching a VOC program from scratch&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to build cross-functional relationships that make other teams want to act on CX data&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why CSAT deserves to be treated as a business metric, not just a CX metric&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to uncover what customers aren&apos;t explicitly telling you in feedback&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How AI is changing the way CX leaders find and act on trends&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Victoria&apos;s #1 piece of advice for any CX leader trying to grow their VOC program&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Timestamps:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;00:00 Introducing Victoria Weiss, Senior Director, CX at Smalls&lt;br /&gt;00:29 Why voice of the customer data often stalls in a data warehouse&lt;br /&gt;00:50 Building cross-functional relationships to get CX data taken seriously&lt;br /&gt;02:52 Customizing your talk track for different stakeholders&lt;br /&gt;03:19 A real example: cutting product damage by 50% with a scrappy fix&lt;br /&gt;05:49 How to start a voice of the customer program from scratch&lt;br /&gt;06:06 Victoria&apos;s playbook: interview your team, stakeholders, and customers&lt;br /&gt;08:24 Building a sustainable rhythm for sharing insights and closing feedback loops&lt;br /&gt;09:20 What customers don&apos;t explicitly tell you — and how to uncover it&lt;br /&gt;11:00 Following up directly with customers for more specifics&lt;br /&gt;11:43 How central VOC should be to a CX leader&apos;s day-to-day decisions&lt;br /&gt;13:10 The most underrated feedback source: CSAT as a business metric&lt;br /&gt;14:26 Why sharing CSAT broadly builds team morale and accountability&lt;br /&gt;15:18 How AI is changing the way CX leaders find trends in feedback&lt;br /&gt;16:59 Victoria&apos;s #1 piece of advice for CX leaders improving their VOC programs&lt;br /&gt;18:13 Closing thoughts&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;About CX Now:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;CX Now is Kustomer&apos;s podcast for customer experience leaders who want practical, real-world insight into building better customer experiences. Hosted by Lauren Gold, Chief Customer Officer at Kustomer, each episode features candid conversations with CX practitioners and executives tackling the same challenges you are — from building VOC programs to scaling support with AI.&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:18:29</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>From Data Warehouse to Boardroom: Putting Voice of the Customer to Work</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Right Model for the Job]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Lauren Gold and Kustomer CTO and co-founder Jeremy Suriel discuss the architectural considerations for building AI into a customer service platform, including model selection, orchestration layer, and privacy obligations. They also explore the debate around training own models versus relying on foundation models from big labs and the evolving role of in-house AI teams in B2B SaaS companies.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Model Selection: The approach to AI model selection involves a tiered architecture, with each model chosen based on its specific strengths and requirements.</li><li>Orchestration Layer: Building a flexible orchestration layer allows for the integration of multiple AI models, providing customers with meaningful control over AI configurations.</li><li>Privacy Obligations: Zero data retention agreements and residency matters are key considerations for maintaining customer trust and privacy obligations.</li><li>Build vs. Buy: The conversation highlights the debate around training own models versus relying on foundation models from big labs, emphasizing the importance of building around the model rather than the model itself.</li><li>In-House AI Teams: The evolving role of in-house AI teams in B2B SaaS companies involves integration, domain expertise, and bridging the gap between research and production.</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Architecting AI for Customer Service Platforms</li><li>05:35 Orchestration Layer and Flexibility</li><li>17:34 Privacy Obligations and Data Residency</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">16bc5190-053c-4c3e-adff-7d69cb442491</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:08:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/f5759a85068fdd3fc93b8f7012dfe082d38cd4c211a1687af2d988a42b2d9fc3/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIxNmJjNTE5MC0wNTNjLTRjM2UtYWRmZi03ZDY5Y2I0NDI0OTEiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjljZmU0ZmJlMmFjMGQ0YTIwOWZlODIwL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi00LTNfXzE4LTQtMTEubXAzIn0=.mp3" length="38428151" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/16bc5190-053c-4c3e-adff-7d69cb442491/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Lauren Gold and Kustomer CTO and co-founder Jeremy Suriel discuss the architectural considerations for building AI into a customer service platform, including model selection, orchestration layer, and privacy obligations. They also explore the debate around training own models versus relying on foundation models from big labs and the evolving role of in-house AI teams in B2B SaaS companies.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Model Selection: The approach to AI model selection involves a tiered architecture, with each model chosen based on its specific strengths and requirements.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Orchestration Layer: Building a flexible orchestration layer allows for the integration of multiple AI models, providing customers with meaningful control over AI configurations.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Privacy Obligations: Zero data retention agreements and residency matters are key considerations for maintaining customer trust and privacy obligations.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Build vs. Buy: The conversation highlights the debate around training own models versus relying on foundation models from big labs, emphasizing the importance of building around the model rather than the model itself.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;In-House AI Teams: The evolving role of in-house AI teams in B2B SaaS companies involves integration, domain expertise, and bridging the gap between research and production.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 Architecting AI for Customer Service Platforms&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;05:35 Orchestration Layer and Flexibility&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;17:34 Privacy Obligations and Data Residency&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:20:01</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>The Right Model for the Job</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before It Breaks: How Elite Tech Support Teams Protect Customer Trust]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation covers the importance of building customer trust, the role of proactive support, the impact of AI tools, insights and complexity in customer support, human involvement, retention of institutional knowledge, and the characteristics of an elite support organization.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Proactive support builds customer trust</li><li>AI tools enhance customer support</li><li>Human involvement remains crucial in customer support</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Building Customer Trust</li><li>06:55 AI Tools in Customer Support</li><li>14:50 Human Involvement in Customer Support</li><li>35:54 Retention of Institutional Knowledge</li><li>41:07 Elite Support Organization</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">72120b16-7e38-4a2a-9e90-9505bedf50ab</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:19:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/b334885678e785fad0c5d5a654b032b50013cf88835b2708fb2e3412c0316b8a/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI3MjEyMGIxNi03ZTM4LTRhMmEtOWU5MC05NTA1YmVkZjUwYWIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmEzMjllMzI0ZGEwM2NmZDQ4NzczYTNlL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi02LTE3X18xNS0xNi0zNC5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="73421366" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation covers the importance of building customer trust, the role of proactive support, the impact of AI tools, insights and complexity in customer support, human involvement, retention of institutional knowledge, and the characteristics of an elite support organization.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Proactive support builds customer trust&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI tools enhance customer support&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Human involvement remains crucial in customer support&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 Building Customer Trust&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;06:55 AI Tools in Customer Support&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;14:50 Human Involvement in Customer Support&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;35:54 Retention of Institutional Knowledge&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;41:07 Elite Support Organization&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:38:14</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>Before It Breaks: How Elite Tech Support Teams Protect Customer Trust</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Emotional Labor Crisis in CX]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Jess Jackson dives into the emotional labor crisis in customer experience (CX), the impact of AI on team structure and agent exhaustion, strategies to prevent burnout and support agents, cultural approaches to address emotional load, AI's role in supporting agents, and the connection between emotional labor and business outcomes.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Emotional labor crisis in CX is a critical issue</li><li>AI has the potential to support and improve the agent experience</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Understanding Emotional Labor Crisis</li><li>09:08 Preventing Burnout and Supporting Agents</li><li>14:41 Addressing Emotional Load Culturally</li><li>22:21 AI's Role in Agent Support</li><li>27:36 Connecting Emotional Labor to Business Outcomes</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">5750794d-3bd7-45a2-ab37-50a644057fda</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:08:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/cf4c75f5127d4679b658f95ee27d666b7039f469178d8526628574f9d75e59ed/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI1NzUwNzk0ZC0zYmQ3LTQ1YTItYWIzNy01MGE2NDQwNTdmZGEiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmExZDk5MWUxMWZhZmIzZWVmZTVkZmI2L2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi02LTFfXzE2LTM3LTE4Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="41934828" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/5750794d-3bd7-45a2-ab37-50a644057fda/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Jess Jackson dives into the emotional labor crisis in customer experience (CX), the impact of AI on team structure and agent exhaustion, strategies to prevent burnout and support agents, cultural approaches to address emotional load, AI&apos;s role in supporting agents, and the connection between emotional labor and business outcomes.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Emotional labor crisis in CX is a critical issue&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI has the potential to support and improve the agent experience&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 Understanding Emotional Labor Crisis&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;09:08 Preventing Burnout and Supporting Agents&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;14:41 Addressing Emotional Load Culturally&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;22:21 AI&apos;s Role in Agent Support&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;27:36 Connecting Emotional Labor to Business Outcomes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:21:50</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>The Emotional Labor Crisis in CX</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Keeping it Human in the World of AI]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>Is AI actually transforming customer experience — or is the reality far messier than the hype? In this episode of CXNow, Lauren Gold sits down with Tue Søttrup, 20-year CX veteran and CEO of SmartRole, to separate boardroom mandates from ground-level truth. Tue shares why most enterprise AI implementations fail, what agents actually need to feel supported through the transition, and what the best CX organizations will look like five years from now.<br /></p><p><b>In this episode:</b></p><ul><li>Why CX leaders are getting AI wrong — and how to flip the approach</li><li>The hidden cost of automating easy tickets</li><li>How to build agent buy-in without the fear</li><li>The service recovery paradox and why humans still win</li><li>What proactive, AI-powered CX actually looks like</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 The Role of AI in CX</li><li>06:21 Challenges of AI Implementation</li><li>14:21 Training Agents to Work with AI</li><li>21:55 The Future of Human Agents and AI</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">08095bf8-da01-4b90-8345-8b8c70b86a32</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 13:13:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/6d1b705358f789ca6fb38e16d784d1ccdb3e77a4419929052a76a213a3788031/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIwODA5NWJmOC1kYTAxLTRiOTAtODM0NS04YjhjNzBiODZhMzIiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlkMDE1ZGM3YWQyODkxZDdlZTkxZmJmL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi00LTNfXzIxLTMyLTQ0Lm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="37758580" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/08095bf8-da01-4b90-8345-8b8c70b86a32/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;Is AI actually transforming customer experience — or is the reality far messier than the hype? In this episode of CXNow, Lauren Gold sits down with Tue Søttrup, 20-year CX veteran and CEO of SmartRole, to separate boardroom mandates from ground-level truth. Tue shares why most enterprise AI implementations fail, what agents actually need to feel supported through the transition, and what the best CX organizations will look like five years from now.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;In this episode:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why CX leaders are getting AI wrong — and how to flip the approach&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The hidden cost of automating easy tickets&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How to build agent buy-in without the fear&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The service recovery paradox and why humans still win&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What proactive, AI-powered CX actually looks like&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 The Role of AI in CX&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;06:21 Challenges of AI Implementation&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;14:21 Training Agents to Work with AI&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;21:55 The Future of Human Agents and AI&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:19:40</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>Keeping it Human in the World of AI</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[How Cate Marques Built a CX Career — and a Seat at the Table]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation covers Cate Marques' journey to the top as an executive within CX, the early days of Terra Kaffe, the impact of showing up, the role of startups in growth, the transition to the C-suite, the importance of CX having a seat at the table, the risks of ignoring CX, misconceptions about CX, and advice for CX leaders. Key takeaways include the importance of showing up and the journey to the top.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Rising to the Top</li><li>Showing Up</li></ul><p></p><p>Chapters</p><ul><li>00:00 Advice for CX Leaders</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">f4e0c962-c442-4d65-a972-5f100a001734</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 13:11:56 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/34f59d19384a0f8c96b2136c623876a0eb5fb0fba9156bb16997f731d8fee114/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiJmNGUwYzk2Mi1jNDQyLTRkNjUtYTk3Mi01ZjEwMGEwMDE3MzQiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjllNjczNjdjODIwYTk4ZGIyZmVjYzYwL2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi00LTIwX18yMC00MS00Mi5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="51294606" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/f4e0c962-c442-4d65-a972-5f100a001734/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation covers Cate Marques&apos; journey to the top as an executive within CX, the early days of Terra Kaffe, the impact of showing up, the role of startups in growth, the transition to the C-suite, the importance of CX having a seat at the table, the risks of ignoring CX, misconceptions about CX, and advice for CX leaders. Key takeaways include the importance of showing up and the journey to the top.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rising to the Top&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Showing Up&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Chapters&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;00:00 Advice for CX Leaders&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:26:43</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>How Cate Marques Built a CX Career — and a Seat at the Table</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[From CX to Culture: How Monika Aufdermauer Runs Employee Experience Like a Support Org]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>The conversation explores the intersection of customer experience and employee experience, highlighting the proactive approach to support and problem-solving. It delves into the impact of leadership, onboarding philosophy, and the alignment of CX and employee experience, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and the user-first approach.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>Blending customer experience with employee experience</li><li>Proactive approach to support and problem-solving</li><li>Onboarding philosophy and impact - how to set people up for success on day 1</li></ul>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">857c8a37-0fdf-48d1-ae3c-97f1a2600161</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:08:34 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/3190e80f8ba1c4b473cf82e167648c8db921175d39f2c7ccb738410c45b53740/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI4NTdjOGEzNy0wZmRmLTQ4ZDEtYWUzYy05N2YxYTI2MDAxNjEiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlkY2ZjN2JlMmU5ZjJhYmUxNGU0Njg2L2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi00LTEzX18xNi0yMy01NS5tcDMifQ==.mp3" length="32005790" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/857c8a37-0fdf-48d1-ae3c-97f1a2600161/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;The conversation explores the intersection of customer experience and employee experience, highlighting the proactive approach to support and problem-solving. It delves into the impact of leadership, onboarding philosophy, and the alignment of CX and employee experience, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and the user-first approach.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Takeaways&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Blending customer experience with employee experience&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Proactive approach to support and problem-solving&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Onboarding philosophy and impact - how to set people up for success on day 1&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:16:40</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:title>From CX to Culture: How Monika Aufdermauer Runs Employee Experience Like a Support Org</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item><item><title><![CDATA[Kustomer's AI Vision with Brad Birnbaum, CEO]]></title><description><![CDATA[<p>In the inaugural episode of CX Now, Lauren Gold and Brad Birnbaum discuss the transformative impact of AI on customer experience (CX). They explore how AI can enhance customer interactions, the importance of context in AI applications, and the balance between AI autonomy and human oversight. The conversation highlights the need for guardrails in AI systems, the potential for human-AI collaboration, and the future of AI in CX, emphasizing the rapid advancements in technology and the exciting possibilities ahead.</p><p><br />Takeaways:</p><ul><li>Brad sees AI as a transformative force in customer experience.</li><li>The importance of context in AI applications cannot be overstated.</li><li>AI can supercharge human agents rather than replace them.</li><li>Guardrails are essential to ensure AI operates within defined parameters.</li><li>AI can assist in understanding customer history and preferences.</li><li>Human-AI collaboration can enhance customer service efficiency.</li><li>The journey to AI autonomy varies by business complexity.</li><li>AI's rapid evolution is reshaping product development timelines.</li><li>The future of AI in CX is promising but unpredictable.</li><li>Innovative AI applications are just beginning to emerge.</li></ul><p></p>]]></description><guid isPermaLink="false">80181413-935a-453b-ba21-5e07cd344f1f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Kustomer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:00:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/22c2c104951a3c0972853ed08904d343e6a3591f9cb59275bd06413d0485e166/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiI4MDE4MTQxMy05MzVhLTQ1M2ItYmEyMS01ZTA3Y2QzNDRmMWYiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiI5ZDY0ZDk1NS0wNWQ2LTRlYzQtOWI1NS0wYzMzMmNlNDBjZmQiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTkzNDc1MTU3N2Q5ZTNmMWI1MGQ0MzAiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNjlkODFmZGQ4ZGUxZjRmOTY0YWFmNDI1L2hvcGUtZG9ybWFucy1zdHVkaW8tS2JJOHotY29tcG9zZXItMjAyNi00LTlfXzIzLTUzLTMzLm1wMyJ9.mp3" length="35503063" type="audio/mpeg"/><podcast:transcript url="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/episodes/80181413-935a-453b-ba21-5e07cd344f1f/transcripts.txt" type="text/plain"/><itunes:summary>&lt;p&gt;In the inaugural episode of CX Now, Lauren Gold and Brad Birnbaum discuss the transformative impact of AI on customer experience (CX). They explore how AI can enhance customer interactions, the importance of context in AI applications, and the balance between AI autonomy and human oversight. The conversation highlights the need for guardrails in AI systems, the potential for human-AI collaboration, and the future of AI in CX, emphasizing the rapid advancements in technology and the exciting possibilities ahead.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Takeaways:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Brad sees AI as a transformative force in customer experience.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The importance of context in AI applications cannot be overstated.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI can supercharge human agents rather than replace them.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Guardrails are essential to ensure AI operates within defined parameters.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI can assist in understanding customer history and preferences.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Human-AI collaboration can enhance customer service efficiency.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The journey to AI autonomy varies by business complexity.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;AI&apos;s rapid evolution is reshaping product development timelines.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The future of AI in CX is promising but unpredictable.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Innovative AI applications are just beginning to emerge.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</itunes:summary><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:duration>00:24:39</itunes:duration><itunes:image href="https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/9d64d955-05d6-4ec4-9b55-0c332ce40cfd/logos/b851ae31-9029-496a-8102-b8ae07725131.png"/><itunes:episode>1</itunes:episode><itunes:title>Kustomer&apos;s AI Vision with Brad Birnbaum, CEO</itunes:title><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType></item></channel></rss>