Claim OwnershipKatAnu Connect Podcast
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© 2025 KatAnu Connect Podcast
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Kate Megaw & Ryan Smith host a variety of discussions around any and all things Agile!
149 Episodes
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Shadow work: those hidden tasks inside “done” and the off-board favors your team quietly takes on, silently steals capacity, tanks predictability, and frustrates everyone. This high-energy, practical guide shows you how to name it, measure it, and design simple team agreements that bring invisible effort into the light so you can plan realistically, deliver confidently, and protect your people.
If your meetings and events feel flat, formulaic, or just plain exhausting, it’s time to shake things up. In this lively, practical guide, we explore three meeting formats that actually work: Lean Coffee, Open Space, and World Café. Whether you have 60 minutes, half a day, or a full day to play with, you’ll find the perfect approach to energize your team, spark real dialogue, and co-create meaningful outcomes. Get ready to turn “just another meeting” into a space where ideas...
Big personalities can bring energy, but when one voice takes over, the team loses out. In this lively episode, we dive into practical ways to tame the talkers, without shutting them down. Discover facilitation moves that give quieter voices confidence and create balance: one-word openers, rotating debriefers, visible timeboxes (yes, even sand timers!), structured breakouts, dot voting, and parking lot magic. We’ll also share a respectful coaching script to partner with stron...
Stop the Madness! You’ve coded like a rockstar, but the sprint clock is ticking, and QA is still pounding away! This episode tears down the biggest myth in Scrum: the phantom finish line. Is it "done" or is it "done-done with a big D"? We're dropping the truth bomb: it's either done, or it's not done! Period. Get ready to smash the silos, ditch the "I'm done my bit" mindset, and transform your team into a Done-Achieving Machine! Discover the root causes of that a...
Ready to finally Settle the Great Debate Over Bugs and Spikes (or at least get a coherent philosophy)? We’re diving into the details with high-impact takeaways! Stop the confusion and start delivering—we'll clarify the essential difference between a bug, a defect, and technical debt, giving you the clarity to triage like a pro. Learn exactly why spikes aren't just a waste of time (and why you definitely don't need a spike for every user story). Get ready for actionable advic...
Backlog refinement (formerly “grooming”) isn’t a Scrum event: it’s an activity. That’s exactly why so many teams either skip it, cram it in at the end of the sprint, or turn it into a rabbit hole of solutioning. In this episode we unpack a practical, facilitator-friendly approach: what “ready” really means, how much work to keep refined, a simple REFINED mnemonic you can teach your team, and concrete ways to keep voices balanced, estimates honest, and discussion moving. Expe...
Retrospectives are one of the most powerful opportunities a team has to improve. Yet far too often, they’re skipped because “we don’t have time,” rushed through as an afterthought, or treated as a dull box-checking exercise. Even worse, sometimes they turn into blame sessions that leave people feeling drained rather than energized. It doesn’t have to be that way. A well-facilitated retrospective can be the most valuable hour of your team’s sprint: the time where psychological safe...
The Sprint Review shouldn’t be a sleepy status update, it’s a high-leverage inspection-and-adaptation event that shapes what happens next. In this episode, we break down what a great Sprint Review looks like, why developers should demo working product (not PPT slides), and how Product Owners and Scrum Masters can co-facilitate to keep it tight, focused, and valuable. Hear practical tips: crafting a clear agenda, inviting the right stakeholders, handling “over-talkers,” using parki...
In this episode of the Leadership Growth Wheel series, Kate Megaw, Ryan Smith, and Anu Smalley unpack the often-overlooked domain of Operational Leadership. Strategy may set the direction, but without operational leadership, organizations stall. They explore how leaders at every level－whether in the C-suite or on the frontlines－play a role in translating bold visions into reliable, measurable results. Together they dive into the three pillars of operational leadership: Process Optimizat...
The Daily Scrum is the shortest Scrum event and the most misunderstood. Too many teams turn it into a draggy 30-minute status update instead of the energizing 15-minute sync it’s meant to be. In this episode, Kate & Ryan break down how to facilitate Daily Scrums that actually work. They cover: Why the Daily Scrum is the team’s meeting (not a status check for the Scrum Master or Product Owner!)Alternatives to the “three questions” and how to keep things outcome-focusedTricks like the...
Too many Sprint Plannings feel like marathons with no finish line. In this episode, Kate & Ryan show you how to flip the script! They break down practical facilitation moves to keep Sprint Planning crisp, collaborative, and confidence-building. From capacity planning hacks to sprint goals that actually inspire, they share real-world stories, pitfalls to avoid, and energizing techniques you can steal for your own teams. Whether you’re a Scrum Master, Product Owner, or dev...
Most people think facilitation means running a meeting, keeping time, or taking notes. But true facilitation is so much more - it’s about guiding groups toward purpose-driven outcomes, staying neutral, navigating conflict productively, and creating space for every voice in the room! In this episode, Kate and Ryan bust the biggest myths around facilitation - from the false belief that conflict is failure, to the misconception that the facilitator must “own” the decisions. Together, they unpack...
Kate and Ryan are joined by special guest Erin Mullens for a lively, honest conversation about the real world of Scrum Mastery. They explore how each of them found their way into the role, what truly energizes them about the job, and the frustrations they all wrestle with (hello, “gravitational pull of waterfall”!). From building trust with teams to navigating tricky leadership dynamics, they share what it takes to create the “air a team can breathe.” Listeners will hear stories, lessons lear...
Live from the buzz of Agile2025, Kate Megaw, Anu Smalley, and Ryan Smith dive into the energy, insights, and shake-ups that had everyone talking. From the groundbreaking PMI–Agile Alliance partnership, to embracing AI as your co-conspirator, to ditching dogma and speaking the language your teams actually understand—this episode is a celebration of agility’s fresh new vibe. With Ryan keeping the conversation sharp (and occasionally steering it back on track), it’s an energizing dose of o...
Trust isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the foundation of every high-performing team. In this episode, we explore why trust and reliability are inseparable—and how leaders can intentionally build both. From creating psychological safety to demonstrating authenticity and consistency, we break down practical steps to foster stronger team connections, improve engagement, and boost results. Whether you’re leading a Scrum team or guiding cross-functional projects, these insights will hel...
What does it truly mean to lead a team—without being “the boss”? In this episode, we explore the Team Leadership domain of the Leadership Growth Wheel, diving into three essential skills: engagement, delegation with accountability, and empowerment. Whether you're a Scrum Master, project manager, or informal team lead, this conversation offers practical insights on how to ignite motivation, encourage ownership, and build resilient, self-managing teams. Discover what gets in t...
In this episode, we explore what it means to truly know where you're headed—and why you're heading there. From career shifts to personal crossroads, many of us operate on autopilot, doing what's needed instead of asking what we truly want. Join us for an honest conversation about finding your personal vision and purpose, the tools that help (like Remember the Future and Ikigai), and why taking time to reflect may be the most powerful move you make.
Agility isn’t just for software teams—it’s a way of thinking, leading, and living. In this heartfelt and insightful episode, we explore real-world lessons in agility from parenting to project management, from sticky notes to strategic pivots. Kate shares her personal journey transitioning from a project manager to a Scrum Master—and from a planning-every-minute parent to a supportive, servant leader. Along the way, she reveals six (and then some!) timeless lessons: Letting go of controlRetros...
In this episode, Kate and Ryan unpack the real Scrum Master’s toolkit—and it’s not just post-it notes and Sharpies. From mindset and agile knowledge to powerful facilitation techniques, they explore what it truly takes to lead effective teams. You’ll hear about the tools they carry (both physical and mental), how they keep retrospectives engaging, and why mindset matters more than mechanics. Whether you're a new Scrum Master or a seasoned agile coach, this episode offers pra...
Scrum isn't just a framework—it's a mindset, a way of thinking, and a lens through which we see work, teams, and leadership. In this episode, Kate and Ryan dive into nine bite-sized pieces of wisdom—some from Agile, some from life—that reinforce what it really means to work with agility. From confusing activity with productivity to killing your darlings, from sustainable pace to the danger of “we’ve always done it this way,” each insight connects back to values that drive high-performing, res...
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