

Customer Experience Patterns Podcast
Sam Stern
Every 2 weeks, customer experience expert Sam Stern will explain a customer experience pattern that underpins some of the World's best customer experiences. Patterns are models or designs dervied from real-world examples that have been proven to work.The episodes will include detailed descriptions of the Pattern, data and evidence to supports its importance, and instructions to follow the pattern yourself to create great customer experiences.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 2, 2026 • 9min
The Kernel of Customer-Centric Culture Change
The power of embracing your country's national identity, philosophy or religion as the foundation for your company's customer-centric culture transformation.Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 19, 2026 • 7min
Stated Preferences or Revealed Preferences? Neither? Both?
Trader Joe's honors customers' revealed preferences for interacting with humans over their stated preferences for self-checkout and delivery options. Banks should honor customers' stated preferences for saving money over their revealed preferences.Who's right?Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 12, 2026 • 23min
The CX - EX Leadership Your Company Needs
Mary Poppen on LinkedInHer company, Hrizons EX, on LinkedInConnect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 5, 2026 • 7min
Your Customers Lives In The Future - Meet Them There
Lisa Feldman Barrett's book: How Emotions Are MadeGeorge Loewenstein study: Anticipation and the Valuation of Delayed ConsumptionConnect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 26, 2026 • 36min
Great CX Is Built On Great Collaboration with Sarah Andrews
Sarah Andrews on LinkedInCupola CXConnect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 12, 2026 • 7min
Uncertainty Is The Bad Experience That's Easiest To Fix
Uncertainty is worse than a bad experience. It's true. Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 5, 2026 • 28min
Build Your Community. Build Your Capability With Marc Fonteijn
Marc Fonteijn, host of the Service Design Show and founder of the Circle community for in-house service designers. He explains why he built Circle during COVID and the design principles that make virtual communities thrive. They discuss growing trust and intimacy at scale, managing global members with time-zone houses, and practical tips for mentorship and sustainable practice.

Jan 29, 2026 • 5min
A Customer Expereince Koan To Help You Find Your True Work
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 22, 2026 • 28min
How CX Teams Must Evolve To Survive & Thrive In 2026
Find Diane Magers on LinkedIn, and her book Experience Rules!Find James O'Connor on LinkedInAmplifyXM - a consultancy that helps with CX, rather than a CX consultancy...Connect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 15, 2026 • 7min
Empathy Has a Hidden Super Power For Customer Experience
Empathy is a powerful force for helping us see the world through the eyes of others. Within that broad set of others, there is one "other" that we empathize with far more than anyone else. Knowing this will help you improve your customer experienceConnect with Sam on LinkedIn - I share customer experience content multiple times a week, and love hearing from listeners with questions or ideas for topics.Subscribe to my newsletter, Customer Experience Patterns - I publish a new edition with each episode of the podcast.My LinkedIn Learning courses: Customer Experience: 6 Essential Foundations For Lasting Loyalty, How To Create Great Customer Experiences & Build A Customer-Centric Culture. In-depth video series that teach you how to create great experiences, and build customer-centric cultuers.Thanks to my talented colleague Emily Tolmer for the cover art. Thanks to my friends at Moon Island for the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


