Agile Mentors Podcast from Mountain Goat Software

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.

#169: Building Practical AI for Agile Teams with Hunter Hillegas

It’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.

12-03
34:14

#168: Gratitude, Growth, and the Power to Evolve with Brian Milner

It’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.

11-26
07:33

#167: Running Better Remote Meetings with Evan Unger

Consultant 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).

11-19
33:56

#166: AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job, But It Is Joining Your Team with Dr. Michael Housman

AI 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.

11-12
35:11

#165: Can Your Product Process Keep Up With AI with Cort Sharp

If 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.

11-05
37:09

#164: Why Innovation Efforts Fall Flat with Tendayi Viki

Tendayi 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.

10-29
34:36

#163: Should We Go Back to the Office? It Depends. with Lance Dacy

Five 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.

10-22
42:07

#162: Focus, Flow, Cold Coffee, and the ADHD Developer with Paige Watson

What 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.

10-15
34:05

#161: Test-Driven Development in the Age of AI with Clare Sudbery

AI 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.

10-08
41:05

#160: The Real Work of a Scrum Master with Brian Campbell

What 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.

10-01
34:03

#159: Is Scrum Really Too Many Meetings? with Lance Dacy

“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.

09-24
43:09

#158: Should You Skip the Sprint Retrospective? with Mike Cohn

Is 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.

09-17
29:29

#157: What Teams Are Struggling With Right Now with Cort Sharp

Scrum 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.

09-10
39:44

#156: Making Product Ownership Work in Shared Services with Kert Peterson

Shared 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.

09-03
30:16

#155: Preparing for Interviews the Agile Way with Tali Shlafer

Even 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.

08-27
31:32

#154: The Underpowered PO with Barnaby Golden

Join 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.

08-20
30:42

#153: Getting Real Buy-In for Agile Transformation with Scott Dunn

Join 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.

08-13
34:17

#152: The Five Pillars of Real Agile Improvement with Mike Cohn

Join 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.

08-06
39:50

Pressing Pause: A Summer Break and What’s Coming Next

We’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.

07-02
01:09

#151: What AI Is Really Delivering (and What It’s Not) with Evan Leybourn & Christopher Morales

Is 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).

06-18
42:15

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