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Description
Why is it that products are so hard to develop and deliver?
How can we truly deliver value with so many different variables that can affect the outcome?
We are Sander Dur and Jim Sammons, professional consultants and trainers who support organizations in their pursuit of creating valuable products. Passionate about helping the community and practitioners apply the theory many authors and thought leaders bring to the industry, we started this podcast to make these concepts more accessible.
This podcast will change your career and organization. You’ll be entertained while learning about the industry’s leaders and other practitioners, and you’ll feel familiar with the situations discussed as we invite guests over and discuss tools, concepts, models, metrics, leadership, frameworks, and many more elements that help you deliver amazing products.
Both of us understand the many struggles, challenges, antipatterns, and dysfunctions many of us face in our daily working lives. We are here to provide actionable advice and strategies for you to create continuous improvement. You will find things that actually work for many organizations, as we and our guests have tried and tested them.
You will find a goldmine of actionable information from many fields, including the space industry, Formula 1, psychology, and Silicon Valley’s top entrepreneurs. We break down these complex topics into easily digestible insights that you can start applying in your careers right away. The best part is that you can even join our live recordings to ask your most burning questions and get them answered based on your needs!
We dive deep into the world of business agility, product discovery, delivery, validation, product management, and product frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, LeSS, and many more. We’ll explore the benefits of decentralized decision-making, autonomous empowered teams, leadership, and much more. We empower you with the information you need to become the leaders your organization deserve.
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147 Episodes
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“Generosity as a strategy — I’ve never seen it not pay back eventually.”In this lively conversation, Jim and Sander welcome Jose Casal — agile coach, trainer, and long-time conference organizer — to reflect on the people, purpose, and future of agile gatherings. As part of the Scan Agile 2025 organizing team, Jose shares why he continues to invest months of volunteer effort into building events that foster connection and inspiration.From his global journey (Spain → UK → Finland) to his professional philosophy of “generosity as a strategy,” Jose unpacks the challenges and rewards of running community-driven conferences in a shifting industry landscape. The trio dive into the realities of sponsorship, the impact of AI on agile investment, and why human connection remains the ultimate ROI.Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
“Agile is not just for software — it’s for solving problems anywhere there’s complexity:"At Scan Agile 2025, Jim and Sander dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Michal Epstein about the transformative power of agility beyond traditional tech environments. Discover how agile principles can be applied in diverse fields like biotech and construction, and learn about the importance of stakeholder collaboration and value-driven approaches. Key takeaways include understanding that agile is a mindset transcending industries, the crucial role of stakeholder engagement, the benefits for non-tech teams, the importance of communication and transparency, and insights into value-based pricing.Connect with Michal: (14) Michal Epstein | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
“In both poker and business, humans are the biggest variable—and the biggest opportunity."In this episode of Mastering Agility, Jim welcomes long-time friend and seasoned agile coach Stacy Oliver for a fascinating conversation that blends the worlds of poker, game theory, and agility. Drawing from decades of experience at the card table and in the corporate world, Stacy shares how concepts like expected value (EV), Game Theory Optimal (GTO) play, and the Independent Chip Model (ICM) can help leaders make better bets on their projects, teams, and portfolios.Stacy and Jim explore how decision quality, not just outcomes, determines success, and how understanding your constraints, risks, and probabilities can help you maximize return on investment in any game you’re playing.Connect with Stacy: (13) Stacy Oliver | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
“I dream of a world where we don’t have managers — just autonomous, inspired teams.”In this insightful episode of Mastering Agility, hosts Sander and Jim sit down with Laura Heikkurinen, Lead Transformation Coach at OP Financial Group, live at the Scan Agile 2025 conference. Together, they dive into the nuances of modern leadership, the tension between management and empowerment, and how organizations can create psychologically safe environments where everyone is empowered to lead — regardless of job title.Laura shares powerful reflections from her experience leading enterprise transformation, explains why language matters when redefining leadership, and offers candid takes on navigating toxic leadership legacies, neurodivergent inclusion, and the delicate balance between pushing a change forward or letting it go.Connect with Laura: (18) Laura Heikkurinen | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
“You can build software with Excel. You can finish an Ironman on a cheap bike. But will it be enjoyable? That’s another question.”In this inspiring and energetic episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Dana—Scrum Master, team lead, and passionate triathlete—just ahead of her session at the Online Scrum Master Summit. Together, they unpack:Dana’s journey into agile and what drew her to the Scrum Master Summit.How her dual passions—agile coaching and triathlon—intersect in powerful and unexpected ways.The surprising overlap between triathlon training and software delivery: focus, iteration, adaptation, and complexity.The value and limitations of tools—whether it’s JIRA or a $6,000 triathlon bike—and why mindset still trumps everything.The importance of coaching: in sports and in software. Do you really need to know how to code to be an effective coach?Connect with Dana: (31) Dana Mykytiuk | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"Origin stories create die-hard fans. Once your story and your product are inseparable, you win."In this powerful episode of Mastering Agility, Jim and Sander sit down with storytelling strategist Osita Ifezue to explore how strategic storytelling can reshape the way agile teams operate, connect with customers, and innovate beyond the status quo. Recorded at ScanAgile 2025, Osita shares how organizations like LEGO, Apple, Nike, and IKEA use storytelling to drive customer loyalty, enhance internal alignment, and navigate change.Connect with Osita: (31) Osita Ifezue | LinkedInCheck out Think About It! With Osita Ifezue Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2idqtZvGCMswcqIPvQMDCa?si=oQhfzXDkRFCYRDtW16PkUgCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
n this reflective and insightful episode, Jim is joined by organizational coach Anna Lavrova to unpack her talk at the Scrum Master Summit and dive into the real mechanics of organizational culture. They discuss why people often feel "off" in their roles—not because of the work, but because of the culture—and how leaders can make sense of multicultural, multi-context teams in today’s workplace.Connect with Anna: LinkedInThe Culture Map: Book – Erin Meyer Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
“Mental fitness is like going to the gym—but for your mind.”In this insightful episode, Jim welcomes René de Leijer—Agile Coach, Scrum Master, and co-creator of The Inner Game—to explore what it truly means to help people, teams, and organizations grow. René shares his philosophy on being “strategically lazy,” the importance of psychological safety, and how embracing your inner saboteurs can lead to personal and team transformation.More on The Inner GameThe website: https://www.playtheinnergame.com/LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/98064137/admin/dashboard/Connect with René on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/renedeleijer/Join the Online Scrum Master Summit: Claim your free ticket for the Online Scrum Master SummitCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
In this thought-provoking episode, Jim sits down with Tobias -Tobi- Mende, engineering leadership consultant and speaker at the upcoming Online Scrum Master Summit from June 17-19 to explore the real challenges of decision-making in agile teams. Drawing from 15+ years of experience, Tobi shares how poor visibility, lack of strategy, and fear of failure hold teams back—and how we can fix it.If you're a Scrum Master, team lead, or product manager frustrated by indecision, vague priorities, or never-ending meetings—this episode is for you. Tobi delivers tactical ways to empower teams, improve clarity, and reintroduce confidence into team decisions—without falling into top-down traps or analysis paralysis.📅 Join Tobi at the Online Scrum Master SummitLearn his structured approach to team decision-making—with real-world tools your team can use tomorrow.Claim your free ticket for the Online Scrum Master SummitConnect with Tobi: LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"The people stuff is hard. It always is"Get ready for a powerful conversation on Mastering Agility where hosts Jim and Sander sit down with Martijn Versteeg — tech entrepreneur, leadership facilitator, and former rowing coach.We dive deep into the real challenges of leadership, change resistance, and personal growth.From building peer groups for tech leaders across Europe to handling brilliant jerks in teams, Martijn shares practical tools, models, and stories you can immediately apply.🌟 Why is "the people stuff" always the hardest part?🌟 How do you truly build psychological safety (without making it kumbaya)?🌟 And what can a vanilla orchid teach us about growth?Connect with Martijn: (27) Martijn Versteeg | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgYerkes-Dodson: Lore, not Law — The Learning ScientistsHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"If you're going to write about Agile, you better work Agile."In this special live episode, hosts Jim and Sander chat with Olina Glindevi and Ben Walder, the creative duo behind The Visual Agile Coach Playbook, at the ScanAgile 25 conference in Helsinki. They share the origin story of their book, their collaboration journey, and the power of visual thinking in agile coaching and team collaboration.The motivation and madness behind writing The Visual Agile Coach Playbook while juggling day jobs and family life.Using visuals as a serious and practical tool in agile work — not just as decoration or “fun stuff.”The creative friction between Ben’s structured writing approach and Olina’s visual process — and how they found agility in their collaboration.Why they believe trust, feedback, and staying in your lane can lead to stronger results when working in teams.The role of visual agile coaches and how visuals can unlock alignment, clarity, and engagement in teams.A sneak peek into their next project — a collaborative book on the future of work.Get the book: https://a.co/d/1V11eSOConnect with Olina & Ben (51) Olina Glindevi ✏️ | LinkedIn & (51) Ben Walder | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"Let people twist, turn, and break your product a little — that's where the magic happens."In this special ScanAgile 25 edition, hosts Jim and Sander sit down with Linda Liukas — renowned author, educator, and playground designer — for a rich conversation about creativity, risk, resilience, and the future of learning and public spaces.Linda shares her journey from writing Hello Ruby to designing cutting-edge computer science-themed playgrounds that challenge how we think about education, risk-taking, and play. Together, they explore the parallels between playgrounds and workplaces, how organizations can foster real innovation (hint: it's not about micromanaging), and why letting people "own" a product or process leads to bigger impacts.Whether you're a leader, educator, or innovator, this episode will spark ideas about autonomy, growth, and designing environments — both physical and cultural — where people can thrive.Connect with Linda: (27) Linda Liukas | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"Resilience isn’t about avoiding change; it’s about learning to thrive within it."Join us for a special live episode of the Mastering Agility Podcast, recorded at the ScanAgile Conference 2025! Our guest, Tricia Broderick, is a leadership expert, coach, and passionate advocate for building high-performing and resilient teams. In this insightful conversation, we explore how leaders can foster true agility in their teams, navigate uncertainty, and empower individuals to drive innovation.Tricia shares her experiences in leadership development, the key challenges she sees in agile transformations, and practical strategies for cultivating a culture of trust, resilience, and collaboration. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or an aspiring change agent, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways you won’t want to miss!Connect with Tricia:linkedin.com/in/tricia-broderickCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"I don’t like the phrase 'meet people where they are.' If you only do that, it’s too easy for everyone to settle. Instead, I try to meet them a half-step ahead—and take them on a field trip to what’s possible."In this episode, Jim and Sander talk about the pursuit of mastery, how to inspire growth, and why being too comfortable can kill progress. From Van Gogh's late start to corporate energy vampires, this conversation is part therapy, part stand-up, and -as usual- fully human.In this heartfelt and candid episode, Sander and Jim meet up at the Xebia studio for a conversation that blends humor, vulnerability, and inspiration. They unpack what it means to pursue mastery, how creativity emerges in unlikely places, and why many of us wrestle with the pressure of "starting too late." The dynamic duo reflects on Jim's experiences from the Van Gogh Museum, shares personal goals like writing a book and dives deep into what success truly means—especially when you feel like time is slipping away.They also tackle workplace dynamics, including how to deal with energy vampires on teams, giving and receiving feedback effectively, and staying authentic even when the work gets tough.Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"We don't do the thinking for you—we surface signals out of the noise."In this episode of Mastering Agility, Sander and Jim sit down with Becky Flint, CEO and Co-Founder of Dragon Boat, to discuss the importance of strategic agility and value-driven product management. Becky shares her journey from working at PayPal to founding Dragon Boat, a product portfolio management platform. She highlights how modern organizations can thrive by aligning strategy with execution and enabling empowered, decentralized teams.Get in touch with Becky:(31) Becky Flint | LinkedInModern SPM Platform for Product Operating Model | DragonboatCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
"When people say Agile is dead, most of them have never seen it really working."In this insightful episode, Sander sits down with Arie van Bennekum, one of the co-authors of the Agile Manifesto, to discuss the current state of Agile, common misconceptions, and the evolving nature of agile practices in modern organizations. Arie shares his thoughts on why Agile is far from dead and how many organizations still struggle to truly implement it. They also discuss the importance of leadership in agile transformations and how to anchor agile practices for long-term success.Connect with Arie:Arie van Bennekum Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Radhika Dutt, the mind behind Radical Product Thinking. Radhika challenges the conventional wisdom of product development, explaining why big, vague visions, shallow strategies, and blind iteration often lead teams astray. She introduces us to the Radical Product Thinking framework, which helps teams avoid common "product diseases" like HERO Syndrome, Pivotitis, and Obsessive Sales Disorder.We also discuss the dangers of Silicon Valley’s "fail fast" mentality, how to balance vision vs. survival, and why spreadsheet-driven prioritization can be misleading. Plus, Radhika gives us a sneak peek into her next book on rethinking metrics, OKRs, and goal-setting—challenging another widely accepted business practice.Connect with Radhika:(22) Radhika Dutt | LinkedInContact | Radical Product ThinkingCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
In this gripping episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Arjan Erkel, who shares his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan. Arjan walks us through the terrifying moment of his abduction, the psychological battles he faced in captivity, and the resilience that helped him survive. He also discusses his remarkable mindset shift, the unexpected relationships he built with his captors, and how he reclaimed his life after being freed.Beyond his personal story, Arjan sheds light on his work with Free a Girl, an organization dedicated to rescuing children from sexual exploitation. We also dive into what businesses and individuals can learn from his experiences—resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking small steps in difficult situations.Support Free a Girl!The Free a Girl foundation, has already rescued over 8,000 children from sexual exploitation. Join the mission by donating, spreading awareness, or supporting the Paperclip Challenge to raise $100K.🌍 Learn more & donate: Free a Girl💡 Support the Paperclip Challenge: Help us trade up from a guitar and amplifier to $100K to support this cause. You have something to trade? Reach out to us via paperclipchallenge@optilearn.co.uk!Connect with Arjan📖 Book: Held Hostage – [Available on Amazon]🌐 Website: ArjanErkel.com🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjanerkel/Connect with Mastering Agility📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this inspiring story!Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
In this episode, Jim sits down with Tammy Gretz, an Agile and Design Thinking coach based in Central Ohio. They dive deep into the nuances of coaching, the value of curiosity and partnership, and how these concepts relate to agile methodologies and design thinking. They also touch on topics like personal growth, learning through experimentation, and even the art of baking sourdough bread as a metaphor for empiricism and patience in agile practices.Connect with TammyTammy Gretz(30) Tamara Gretz | LinkedInCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
💡 Description:In this thought-provoking episode of Mastering Agility, Jim and Marge sit down with Phil Agnew, host of the UK’s #1 marketing podcast, Nudge. Together, they explore the fascinating world of behavioral science, revealing how subtle nudges shape our decisions, from marketing campaigns to everyday life.Discover the psychology behind why we choose one option over another, the ethical considerations of influence, and how businesses (and individuals) can apply these principles for positive change. Whether it’s anchoring on menus, using loss aversion to boost performance, or avoiding the pitfalls of overused marketing tricks, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples.🔑 What You’ll Learn:The role of behavioral science in marketing and decision-making.Why ethical influence is more critical than ever.How businesses and individuals can use nudges to drive behavior.The power of anchoring, loss aversion, and social proof.Surprising examples of influence—from handwritten notes to painted flies on urinals!Connect with Phill on LinkedIn: (10) Phill Agnew | LinkedInCheck out Phill's podcast Nudge: Nudge PodcastCheck out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgScanAgile 2025 - ScanAgileHosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
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