Mountain Goat Software's Agile Mentors Podcast is for agilists of all levels. Whether you’re new to agile and Scrum or have years of experience, listen in to find answers to your questions and new ways to succeed with agile.
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Scottish hill runner and mountaineer Finlay Wild has some questions for the mountain community... www.gomountaingoats.com Buy me a cuppa! https://ko-fi.com/finlaywild
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Welcome to Night Vale creator Joseph Fink and the Mountain Goats singer/songwriter John Darnielle discuss what it means to be an artist, a fan, and, as many people are, both at once. Season Two explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons, giving you an unprecedented look at the creative process as it is happening.
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#171: Why Agile Teams Succeed—or Don’t with Colin Fisher
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34:02Most teams aren’t broken because of individual incompetence. They’re struggling because the group itself isn’t set up to thrive. In this episode, author and researcher Colin Fisher joins Brian to reframe how we think about team performance, conflict, and psychological safety through the lens of real science, real practice, and a little jazz. Overvi…
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Episode 55 - Langdale Extreme Rock with Esther Foster
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54:35I talk to Esther Foster about the Langdale Extreme Rock linkup which she completed with Callum Coldwell Storry in May 2025. This challenge involves climbing all seven Langdale routes from the iconic book Extreme Rock in 24 hours. These routes range from E2 - E6 and visit three varied crags: Raven Crag, Gimmer and Pavey Arc. Extreme Rock, by Ken Wil…
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#170: Leadership Lessons from the Marine Corps with Tanner Wortham
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30:11What can Agile leaders learn from the Marines? In this episode, Tanner Wortham joins Brian to share how principles of military leadership—like building authority into the trenches, experimenting under pressure, and prioritizing shared mission over ego—map surprisingly well to modern Agile teams. Overview In this conversation, Brian sits down with M…
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#169: Building Practical AI for Agile Teams with Hunter Hillegas
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34:14It’s not just about cool tools. Hunter Hillegas (CTO at Mountain Goat Software) joins Brian to unpack what it’s really like to build with AI—from hallucinations and context management to dev workflows, testing strategies, and where the humans still matter most. Overview This episode dives deep into the real work behind bringing AI into agile. Brian…
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#168: Gratitude, Growth, and the Power to Evolve with Brian Milner
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7:21It’s not a full episode this week—but it might be the one your heart needs. Brian Milner shares what he’s truly grateful for this year (spoiler: it’s not a new tool or framework), reflects on the human side of agility, and invites you to join him in a quick pause before the final sprint of 2025. Overview In this special solo episode, Brian Milner p…
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#167: Running Better Remote Meetings with Evan Unger
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33:35Consultant and collaboration expert Evan Unger joins Brian to share practical tactics for leading more engaging, effective meetings that actually get results (and don’t drain everyone’s will to live). Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner welcomes longtime consultant and facilitation expert Evan Unger to dig into one o…
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Episode 54 - 40 at 40 with Rob Greenwood
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1:14:31Rob Greenwood - who interviewed me about my Dark Bob Graham in Episode 33 - returns to chat about his own adventure on the Fleetwood Lakes 40. Often called the 40 at 40, or Lakes 40, this route was devised by John Fleetwood as a 40 peak challenge to celebrate his 40th birthday. Hear more from John Fleetwood in Episode 42 "Beyond the View". Rob Gree…
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#166: AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job, But It Is Joining Your Team with Dr. Michael Housman
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35:11AI is already changing how we work—and how we work together. In this episode, Dr. Michael Housman joins Brian Milner to explore how AI is reshaping team collaboration, decision-making, and the very structure of Agile teams. Overview We keep talking about AI like it’s something that’s coming. But as Dr. Michael Housman points out, it’s already here—…
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#165: Can Your Product Process Keep Up With AI with Cort Sharp
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37:09If AI is speeding up how fast we can ship, what’s slowing teams down now? Brian and returning guest Cort Sharp dig into the emerging friction between AI-assisted development and the still-slow art of product decision-making. Overview With AI accelerating software delivery, it’s no longer the developers dragging their feet. It’s the backlog that’s b…
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Episode 53 - Three Solo with Damian Hall
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1:43:06Damian Hall is an ultrarunner, coach and writer who has held records on many of the UK's long distance challenges including the Pennine Way, Paddy Buckley Round, Cape Wrath Trail and Wainwrights Coast to Coast. He has placed 5th in UTMB (2018), 4th in Tor des Geants (2023), and has won the Spine Race. He has competed in the infamous Barkley Maratho…
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#164: Why Innovation Efforts Fall Flat with Tendayi Viki
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34:23Tendayi Viki joins Brian to unpack the difference between doing innovation and delivering value, with practical takeaways for product folks, innovation teams, and anyone who wants to stop spinning their wheels. Overview Innovation theater. Experimentation theater. Value that never quite materializes. In this episode, Brian Milner sits down with Ten…
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#163: Should We Go Back to the Office? It Depends. with Lance Dacy
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42:07Five years post-COVID, are we any closer to knowing what kind of work environment actually works best? Brian and Lance dig into the real drivers behind return-to-office mandates, remote productivity myths, and why "context beats location" every time. Overview The return-to-office debate isn’t over—it’s evolving. In this episode, Brian Milner welcom…
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Episode 52 - All the Marilyns with Rob Woodall
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1:07:16I sat down with Rob Woodall to talk all things peak bagging. After completing all the Munros, Corbetts and Grahams, Rob progressed to more obscure categories such as HuMPs (hundred metres of prominence) and TuMPs (thirty and upwards metres of prominence), via some long distance hill running rounds (The UK Big Three, the Rigby Round, and his Cuillin…
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#162: Focus, Flow, Cold Coffee, and the ADHD Developer with Paige Watson
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34:05What happens when your brain loves puzzles… but struggles with where to start? Paige Watson shares how ADHD shapes his work as a developer—and how practices like TDD, mob programming, and discovery trees help him stay focused, move forward, and actually enjoy the ride. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner is joined by…
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#161: Test-Driven Development in the Age of AI with Clare Sudbery
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41:05AI might write your code, but can you trust it to do it well? Clare Sudbery says: not without a safety net. In this episode, she explains how test-driven development is evolving in the age of AI, and why developers need to slow down, not speed up. Overview In this episode, Brian sits down with Clare Sudbery, experienced developer, TDD advocate, and…
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#160: The Real Work of a Scrum Master with Brian Campbell
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34:03What separates a solid Scrum Master from a great one? In this episode, Brian Milner sits down with veteran Scrum Master Brian Campbell to talk about the balance between being empathetic, staying grounded, and knowing when it’s time to move on. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner is joined by longtime Agile Mentors Co…
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#159: Is Scrum Really Too Many Meetings? with Lance Dacy
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43:09“Too many meetings” is one of the most common complaints in Scrum teams, but is it really the meetings, or what’s (not) happening in them? In this episode, Brian and Lance Dacy dig into the events of Scrum to uncover what works, what doesn’t, and how to make each one actually add value. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian M…
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Episode 51 - The Long Run with Wendy Dodds
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1:20:49Wendy Dodds has been at the heart of English and British fell running since before most of us could tie our laces. Now approaching her 75th birthday, Wendy has been racing in the hills since the early 70s, across the breadth of the sport. In 1972 she paired up with Val Finch (nee Pacey) to be the first women's team to complete the KIMM mountain mar…
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#158: Should You Skip the Sprint Retrospective? with Mike Cohn
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29:18Is your team dreading retrospectives, or skipping them altogether? Mike Cohn joins Brian Milner to unpack what’s really going wrong (and how to fix it) so retros don’t just take up time… they actually make your team better. Overview In this candid conversation, Brian Milner welcomes back Mountain Goat Software co-founder Mike Cohn to talk about one…
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Episode 50 - Himalayan Artist, Highland Crofter with Rob Fairley
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1:45:07Rob Fairley talks to me about his journey as an artist - starting at an early age with a school visit to St Kilda, through Edinburgh College of Art and onwards to Mallaig and then Shona Beag island where he spent 5 years as its sole occupant in his early 20s. There he created what would now be described as land art, for example altering the movemen…
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#157: What Teams Are Struggling With Right Now with Cort Sharp
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39:27Scrum isn’t new, but the questions teams are asking about it are evolving. In this episode, Brian and Cort Sharp compare notes on what they're hearing in class, in the community, and behind the scenes. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner welcomes Mountain Goat Software colleague and community manager Cort Sharp for a…
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#156: Making Product Ownership Work in Shared Services with Kert Peterson
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30:16Shared services teams often wonder: Does product ownership still apply here—or are we the exception to the rule? In this episode, Brian and Kert Peterson explore how Scrum principles hold up when value isn’t always customer-facing and demand never stops. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian welcomes back longtime friend and …
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#155: Preparing for Interviews the Agile Way with Tali Shlafer
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31:32Even the most capable professionals can struggle in interviews. In this episode, Brian and job interview coach Tali Shlafer break down why, and what to do instead. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian welcomes interview coach Tali Shlafer for a practical, clear-eyed conversation about how to approach job interviews as a skil…
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#154: The Underpowered PO with Barnaby Golden
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30:26Join Brian and Barnaby Golden as they dig into a surprisingly common roadblock in Agile teams, the underpowered product owner, and how it quietly derails decision-making, flow, and team momentum. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian welcomes Agile coach and community contributor Barnaby Golden to explore the risks and ripple…
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#153: Getting Real Buy-In for Agile Transformation with Scott Dunn
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34:17Join Brian and Scott Dunn as they unpack what “buy-in” actually means and what it takes to move from surface-level support to genuine commitment in this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian is joined once again by Scott Dunn to tackle a listener-chosen topic: how to get real buy-in for A…
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#152: The Five Pillars of Real Agile Improvement with Mike Cohn
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39:31Join Brian and Mike Cohn as they unpack the five essential pillars that take Agile from “just the motions” to meaningful, measurable impact. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at their revamped course built for real team transformation. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian is joined by longtime collaborator and Agile thought…
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Episode 49 - Flow Country Traverse with Dan Ashwood
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1:15:47Dan Ashwood (Dash) talks me through the Flow Country Traverse which he pioneered in April 2025. This 100km route started at Berriedale on the Caithness coast and headed west into the Flow Country: one of the largest blanket bog systems in the world. Dan has become a bog expert having worked in peatland restoration projects with Caledonian Climate f…
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Pressing Pause: A Summer Break and What’s Coming Next
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1:09We’re taking our own advice and hitting pause to recharge this July. While we’re off the mic, revisit past episodes packed with timeless insights and conversations you may have missed. Overview This week, we're pressing pause to model the sustainable pace we teach. Brian shares a quick update about our summer break, what’s ahead in August, and how …
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#151: What AI Is Really Delivering (and What It’s Not) with Evan Leybourn & Christopher Morales
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42:15Is AI underdelivering? Or are we asking the wrong questions? This episode breaks down what actually leads to business ROI with AI (and no, it’s not more automation). Overview What if AI isn’t the silver bullet—yet—but the bottleneck is human, not technical? In this episode, Brian Milner chats with Evan Leybourn and Christopher Morales of the Busine…
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#150: What “1 Billion” Scrum Classes Taught Us About Team Culture (and Captain America) with Cort Sharp & Laura Kendrick
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46:11Laura Kendrick and Cort Sharp hijack the mic to share what it’s really like behind the scenes at Mountain Goat. From Zoom bloopers to unexpected team bonding, they unpack how a fully remote team built a thriving, human-centered workplace. Overview In this special takeover episode, Laura Kendrick and Cort Sharp pull back the curtain on what goes int…
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Episode 48 - Climbers Against Cancer with Dominic Oughton
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44:12I speak to Dominic Oughton, a Trustee of Climbers Against Cancer (CAC), which is a charity raising money for research and therapeutic projects around the world that support those living with or after cancer. Founded by John Ellison, CAC has recently celebrated it's 10 year anniversary, and has raised over £700,000 to support cancer research and the…
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#149: How Agile Action Drives Strategy with Boris Gloger
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32:30What does it really mean to have a bias toward action and how do you build that into your culture without skipping strategy? Boris Gloger joins Brian Milner for a deep dive on experimentation, leadership, and the difference between tactical work and true strategic thinking. Overview In this conversation, Brian welcomes longtime Scrum pioneer, consu…
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#148: What It Really Takes to Lead Change That Sticks with Sherri Robbins
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48:33Can you lead meaningful change without burning people out—or yourself? Sherri Robbins thinks so, and she’s sharing how she’s done it in high-stakes, high-complexity environments (with her sanity intact). Overview In this episode, Sherri Robbins joins Scott Dunn to talk about what it actually takes to lead large-scale change across teams, department…
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Episode 47 - Winter Munro Round Record with Helen Rennard
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1:45:23In this conversation with Helen Rennard we hear about her Winter Munro round of last winter in which she completed all 282 Munros in 80 days, beating the previous record of 83 days shared by Martin Moran (1985) and Anna Wells (2024). Helen talks about her formative days in a local Staffordshire hill walking club, before her progression to many year…
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#147: The Power of Quiet Influence with Casey Sinnema
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37:23How do you lead change when you’re not the boss? Casey Sinnema shares what it takes to build trust, influence outcomes, and make Monday feel a little less dreadful. Overview What happens when you give a self-proclaimed utility player the freedom to poke holes in broken systems and lead cross-functional change without official authority? In this epi…
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#146: Agile Leadership That Actually Works with Brendan Wovchko
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50:29What does it look like to lead a 300-person software org inside a 1,000-person company—and still stay focused on people first? Brendan Wovchko shares what he's learned about leadership, agility, and building a culture that actually works. Overview Brendan Wovchko, CTO at Ramsey Solutions, joins Scott Dunn to talk about what it really takes to lead …
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#145: How to Lead Without Burning Out (or Burning Bridges) with Ginger Boyll
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41:30How do you grow a remote-first team from 30 to over 100 while still being voted a "great place to work"? Ginger Boyll says it’s part Agile mindset, part trust, and part Dungeons & Dragons—and we’re not arguing. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, guest host Scott Dunn sits down with Ginger Boyll, Director of Client Experience at …
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Episode 46 - Trofeo Mezzalama with Iain Innes
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1:25:12In this episode I talk to Iain Innes about his season racing skimo in the ISMF World Cup series, before going on to chat about longer team races and our season finale in the iconic Trofeo Mezzalama race in the Monte Rosa region of the Pennine Alps. Iain raced for Team GB as a downhill skier for over ten years, before switching to more mountaineerin…
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#144: How Modern Agile Teams Predict the Unpredictable with Lance Dacy
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1:00:08Real Agile forecasting runs on math, not magic. Brian and Lance dive into Monte Carlo methods, DORA metrics, and how AI is shifting the future of project management. All with a human-first approach that builds better teams, not bigger spreadsheets. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner and Lance Dacy unpack why Agile t…
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#143: What Still Makes Teams Work (and Win) with Jim York
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32:32What does soccer, soda, and software have in common? According to Jim York—everything. In this episode, he and Brian Milner break down what great teamwork really means, why shared goals matter more than job titles, and how understanding your team’s unique contribution can unlock better flow and results. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors…
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#142: Communication Patterns Keeping Your Team Stuck with Marsha Acker
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36:33If your team keeps revisiting the same issues over and over again, Groundhog Day-style, this episode is for you. Leadership coach Marsha Acker shares why it happens, how to recognize hidden conversational patterns, and what to do when you feel stuck. Overview In this episode, Brian Milner sits down with executive team coach and author Marsha Acker …
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#141: Cooking Up a Killer Retrospective with Brian Milner
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30:20Tired of “What went well?” and “What didn’t”? Brian Milner is here to help you cook up retrospectives that actually get your team thinking, collaborating, and improving. From creative themes to actionable frameworks, this is your behind-the-scenes guide to better retros. Overview Do your retrospectives feel more “check-the-box” than game-changing? …
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#140: The Power of Emotional Delight in Product Design with Dr. Nesrine Changuel
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36:15What do Spotify, Google Meet, and your expense report tool have in common? They could all delight your users—if you design for more than just function. In this episode, Dr. Nesrine Changuel breaks down the emotional motivators that transform average products into unforgettable ones. Overview What separates a good product from a great one? According…
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#139: The Retrospective Reset with Cort Sharp
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39:33Retrospectives shouldn’t suck the energy out of your team—or get skipped entirely. In this episode, Brian and Cort share how to fix the most common retro fails and announce two brand-new tools to help you run retros that actually work. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner and Cort Sharp break down why retrospectives a…
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#138: The Bad Meeting Hangover with Julie Chickering
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39:15Ever left a meeting feeling more drained than before it started? That’s the dreaded meeting hangover. Brian Milner and Julie Chickering dive into why bad meetings have lasting effects—and what facilitators AND participants can do to make them better. Overview Bad meetings don’t just waste time, they drain energy, morale, and engagement long after t…
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#137: Stop Wasting Time with Guests Kate Megaw
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36:08In this episode, Kate Megaw joins Brian Milner to share simple but powerful techniques that can turn those soul-sucking meetings into dynamic, action-driven conversations. If you're ready to make meetings worth attending, this one’s for you! Overview Brian Milner and Kate Megaw uncover the secrets to running highly effective and engaging meetings. …
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#136: The Future of Agile Coaching with Andreas Schliep
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32:00What’s next for Agile coaching? Brian Milner and Andreas Schliep dive into the shifting landscape of Agile coaching, the differences between Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches, and how to carve out a sustainable career in a changing industry. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner and Andreas Schliep explore the evolving r…
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#135: Leading Without Authority with Pete Behrens
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33:33In this episode, Brian Milner and Pete Behrens explore the difference between managing and leading, the critical role of middle management in transformation, and how anyone—at any level—can drive real change in their organization. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner sits down with leadership expert Pete Behrens to un…
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Episode 45 - Northern Horizons with Will Herman
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1:41:51In this episode I talk to Will Herman about his new book Northern Horizons. The book explores the hills of Cumbria and Scotland in a series of personal reflections illustrated with the author’s photography. Will has been a fell racer, a runner, a kayaker and a climber - but his book is primarily about mountain experiences themselves. He takes us on…
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#134: How Leaders Can Reduce Burnout and Boost Performance with Marcus Lagré
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27:35Is workplace stress just about long hours? Not quite. Brian and Marcus Lagré unpack the real equation behind stress—how pressure, complexity, and security interact—and why your team’s performance depends on getting the balance right. Overview In this episode of the Agile Mentors Podcast, Brian Milner sits down with Marcus Lagré, product organizatio…
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