In this episode of Discussing Stupid, Virgil and Cole tackle a quiet killer of user experience: layout inconsistency.

From university websites that feel like ten different brands stitched together to internal systems that change button locations with every page, inconsistent layouts confuse users, break trust, and derail digital goals. This episode dives into why it happens, what it costs, and how to start fixing it.

They also explore:

• Why inconsistent layouts are often a sign of deeper organizational problems
• How users feel bad design before they can explain it
• The difference between visual theming and layout consistency
• What a consistent structure looks like across homepage, sections, and detail pages
• Why a style guide is your most underrated asset

Whether you’re building a public-facing site or an internal portal, this episode will help you recognize the hidden ways layout chaos is holding you back—and how to clean it up.

For more conversations about digital strategy, UX, accessibility, and all the ways we get it wrong (and how to get it right), visit www.discussingstupid.com and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:22) - Where layour inconsistency happens the most

(4:57) - The difference between theming and consistency

(7:24) - Structuring consistency in layers

(10:57) - Why inconsistency hurts your organization

(13:12) - Layout chaos as a symptom of deeper issues

(15:22) - How to start fixing this issue

(16:51) - Outro

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In this episode of Discussing Stupid, Virgil sits down with High Monkey’s Senior Developer, Chad Heinle, to break down one of the most debated choices in modern digital strategy: headless vs traditional CMS.

While flashy features and buzzwords like “omnichannel” dominate vendor pitches, the real decision comes down to your organization’s resources, structure, and long-term goals. Chad and Virgil dive into the practical realities of each approach, helping you cut through the hype and avoid the biggest mistakes teams make when choosing a CMS.

They also explore:

• Why your internal team structure matters more than the CMS features
• The rise (and reality) of content hubs and static site generators
• What “freedom” really means in a headless setup
• How traditional and headless CMSs are merging in unexpected ways
• Why reuse and omnichannel content sound good—but rarely happen

Whether you’re in IT, marketing, or somewhere in between, this episode will help you make smarter, more grounded tech decisions.

For more conversations about digital strategy, UX, accessibility, and all the ways we get it wrong (and how to get it right), visit www.discussingstupid.com and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

(0:00) - Intro

(2:10) - It's not about the CMS, it's about your team

(4:44) - Headless gives you freedom - if you're ready for it

(6:36) - Traditional & headless are starting to look alike

(9:56) - Don't choose a CMS based on buzzwords

(12:00) - There's no perfect CMS - just the right one for you

(15:00) - Outro

Subscribe for email updates on our website:

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Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Soundcloud:

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https://open.spotify.com/show/0c47grVFmXk1cco63QioHp?si=87dbb37a4ca441c0

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In this episode of Discussing Stupid, Virgil and Cole are joined by a new guest—High Monkey’s Project Manager and QA specialist, Seth Moline. Together, they dig into the often-overlooked world of quality assurance (QA) and why it can make or break a digital project.

From accessibility issues to ripple effects caused by last-minute code changes, Seth walks us through what great QA really looks like—and why it’s not just a checklist you run through before launch. The team discusses how QA needs to be methodical, repeatable, and fully integrated into your build process—not an afterthought.

They also explore:

• Why QA isn’t just testing—it’s marketing
• How staging environments save you from public embarrassment
• The value of fresh eyes and non-developer perspectives
• Common QA mistakes and how to avoid them
• Why accessibility should never be separated from quality

Whether you’re a developer, content manager, strategist, or digital lead, this episode will change the way you think about testing and quality.

For more conversations about digital strategy, UX, accessibility, and all the ways we get it wrong (and how to get it right), visit www.discussingstupid.com and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

(0:00) - Intro

(3:04) - Seth's QA role at high monkey

(4:45) - Quality testing is best done by a fresh set of eyes

(6:47) - QA is about systems, not spot checks

(11:06) - Why you need a staging environment

(14:18) - How to stay methodical with your testing

(16:36) - Baking accessibility into your QA process

(18:06) - A quality site = top tier marketing

(19:52) - Outro

Subscribe for email updates on our website:

https://www.discussingstupid.com/

Watch us on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@discussingstupid

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Soundcloud:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/discussing-stupid-a-byte-sized-podcast-on-stupid-ux/id1428145024

https://open.spotify.com/show/0c47grVFmXk1cco63QioHp?si=87dbb37a4ca441c0

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