What is a Good Life? #130 - Embracing The Unknown with Ella Fryer-Smith

On the 130th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Ella Fryer-Smith. Ella is the founder of Do You Research, an agency established with the intention of drawing on over 15 years of research experience, collaborating with the amazing researchers she has met along the way, and maintaining a clear focus on inclusion to deliver exceptional research, consultancy, and training. Specialising in qualitative research methods, particularly film ethnography, her work has taken her around the world—observing people’s everyday lives and exploring everything from toilet roll and white goods to how people manage their money. She has also helped policymakers navigate the future of health services and travel. Ella is the Vice Chair of the Association of Qualitative Researchers (AQR) board and sits on the Market Research Society (MRS) Social Inclusion Group.In this engaging conversation, Ella shares her journey of embracing uncertainty and the paradox of confidence in admitting what we don't know. We explore the importance of presence in parenting, the significance of her parents as role models, freedom within constraints, and the need for research to reflect the voices of the unheard.For me, this discussion really emphasises the significance of lived experience in understanding—and truly seeing—each other.For more of Ella's work, check out the following:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ella-fryer-smith-91281723/Website: https://www.doyou-research.com/For more from Mark McCartney:Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/Website: https://www.mmcleadership.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlifeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney00:00 Letting go of saying I know05:15 Arriving into confidence09:55 Embracing of the unknown12:15 Constraints within freedom and creativity 16:00 Prioritising presence with children21:30 The importance of parental role models28:10 We may have more flexibility than we think32:00 We are inundated with messaging35:00 Research for social issues39:30 The significance of meeting people42:00 Making sense of people’s lives44:30 Engaging with unheard voices52:30 Foregrounding lived experience more1:00:50 What is a good life for Ella?Keywords: Meaning of Life Interviews | meaning of life conversations | exploring life | big life questions | meaning of life discussions | creating a meaningful life​