Best Kate Megaw Podcasts (2025)

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Neutral, Not Robotic: Mastering the Art of Facilitation Without Taking Sides 40:42

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7h ago40:42

40:42

In this episode, we dive into one of the most frequently asked—and misunderstood—facilitation challenges: How do you remain neutral without sounding like a robot? Whether you're a Scrum Master, leader, coach, or facilitator, neutrality matters—but it doesn’t mean disengagement. We unpack seven strategies to help you guide teams, encourage innovatio…

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From Order Takers to Innovators: Sparking Ideation Within Scrum Teams 28:17

10d ago28:17

28:17

Too many teams are stuck in execution mode—taking orders and building features exactly as outlined. But what if your developers, designers, and product owners had the psychological safety, ownership, and space to contribute bold new ideas? In this episode, Kate and Ryan dive into the often-overlooked topic of ideation within Scrum teams. They explo…

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Strategic Leadership: Aligning Vision, Values, and Decision-Making 31:50

17d ago31:50

31:50

In this episode of the Arclight Agile podcast, hosts Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith join special guest Anu Smalley to explore the strategic leadership domain of the Leadership Growth Wheel. They discuss how effective leaders align organizational vision and values with daily operations, implement human-centered change management, and develop consistent d…

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Inspecting and Adapting Your Way… Back to Waterfall? 25:55

24d ago25:55

25:55

Agile teams don't usually plan to return to waterfall ways of working — it happens slowly and subtly. In this episode, Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith unpack the signs that a team is sliding back toward waterfall, why it happens, and most importantly, what leaders and teams can do to course-correct. Learn how to stay true to Agile principles even when or…

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Losing Sight of the User: How Teams Drift & How to Re-center 25:47

1M ago25:47

25:47

In this episode, Kate and Ryan Sith dive into a critical (but often overlooked) topic in product development: losing sight of the user. They share real-world experiences of how teams can unintentionally start designing for internal stakeholders instead of external customers, how “shiny object syndrome” from leadership derails sprints, and why stron…

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Own It and Deliver: The Dance Between Accountability & Ownership 28:33

1M ago28:33

28:33

What’s the real difference between accountability and ownership—and why does it matter so much in leadership and teams? In this episode, Kate and Ryan unpack the often-blurred lines between these two powerful concepts. From missed healthcare appointments to product backlog chaos, they share real stories, relatable moments, and practical insights on…

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Start with Yourself: The Power of Self-Leadership in a Changing World 27:16

1M ago27:16

27:16

In this episode of the Team KatAnu podcast, hosts Kate and Ryan sit down with Anu Smalley to unpack the concept of self-leadership—a foundational pillar in their Leadership Growth Wheel framework. With personal stories, practical tips, and thoughtful reflection, the trio explores the power of self-awareness, personal vision, and personal mastery. W…

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The Leadership Growth Wheel: A Continuous Journey to Effective Leadership 38:13

2M ago38:13

38:13

In a world where leadership requirements constantly evolve, having a structured approach to leadership development has never been more crucial. In this podcast Ryan chats with Kate and Anu Smalley (CEO of Capala Consulting), co-founders of Team KatAnu about their Leadership Growth Wheel—a comprehensive framework designed to help leaders at all leve…

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10 Ways Agile Transformations Go Off the Rails — And How to Get Back on Track 28:01

2M ago28:01

28:01

In this candid and experience-rich conversation, Kate and Ryan unpack the most common reasons Agile transformations fail. From lack of purpose and misunderstood roles to cultural resistance and tool obsession, this blog distills their insights into a practical top ten list. Whether you're beginning your Agile journey or mid-transformation, this pod…

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Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand: The Art of Strategic Work Breakdown 25:40

2M ago25:40

25:40

In this insightful exploration of the "big rocks" concept from Stephen Covey's work, Kate and Ryan discuss how breaking down large goals into manageable chunks applies to both leadership and Scrum teams. Learn practical strategies for prioritization, sustainable work pace, and achieving meaningful results through strategic goal-setting.…

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Breaking Down Silos: Building Collaborative Teams in Agile Organizations 29:55

2M ago29:55

29:55

In this episode of the podcast, Kate and Ryan tackle one of the most persistent challenges in modern organizations: teams working in silos. They explore the symptoms of siloed teams, why silos form, and practical strategies for breaking them down to create more collaborative, efficient, and united organizations.…

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The Power of Active Listening 27:13

3M ago27:13

27:13

In this episode, Kate and Ryan explore the importance of active listening and how it transforms communication. They break down the three levels of listening—listening to speak, listening to hear, and listening to understand—highlighting why true engagement requires more than just hearing words. Kate and Ryan share practical techniques like voice mi…

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The Art of Facilitation: Guiding Teams to Success 29:48

3M ago29:48

29:48

In this episode of the Team KatAnu Podcast, Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith dive deep into the role of facilitation in Agile environments. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding facilitation, the importance of neutrality, and techniques for ensuring productive and engaging meetings. From maintaining psychological safety to keeping discussions on tra…

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Meeting Overload: The Hidden Cost of Too Many Meetings 32:37

3M ago32:37

32:37

Meetings are meant to drive collaboration and alignment, but when they take over the calendar, they become a productivity drain. In this episode, Kate Megaw (CEO of Arclight Agile & Co-founder of Team KatAnu) and Ryan Smith (Certified Scrum Professional & Product Owner) dive into the real cost of excessive meetings—from wasted time to diminished mo…

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Firefighting in Organizations: When Every Issue Feels Like an Emergency 30:14

3M ago30:14

30:14

Firefighting is a common issue in many organizations. Teams frequently find themselves pulled into urgent issues that demand immediate attention, often at the expense of planned work. But not every fire is a true emergency. In a recent podcast discussion, Kate Megaw and Ryan Smith explored how constant firefighting affects teams and how organizatio…

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Who’s Responsible? Tackling Accountability, Ownership & Role Clarity in Agile Teams 28:16

4M ago28:16

28:16

In this episode of the Team Katanu podcast, Kate Megaw (Certified Scrum Trainer, Agile Coach, and CEO of Arclight Agile) and Ryan Smith (Certified Product Owner and Scrum Master) dive into a common struggle among Agile teams: lack of accountability, unclear ownership, and role confusion. They explore how natural hierarchies form within teams, why p…

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Bridging The Gaps: Practical Strategies For Hybrid Team Dynamics And Engagement 28:29

4M ago28:29

28:29

Hybrid and remote work are here to stay, but how do leaders and teams ensure strong communication, seamless collaboration, and meaningful engagement across time zones? In this podcast, Kate and Ryan dive into actionable insights for addressing challenges like communication gaps, time zone management, and fostering team engagement in a hybrid enviro…

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Navigating the Complexities of Hybrid and Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities 31:35

4M ago31:35

31:35

Join Kate and Ryan as they delve into the ever-evolving world of hybrid and remote work. From managing across time zones to fostering team engagement and collaboration, this episode unpacks the unique challenges of today’s workforce and explores actionable strategies for leaders and teams to thrive.By Kate Megaw

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Mastering Prioritization: Proven Techniques for Leaders and Teams 29:23

4M ago29:23

29:23

Prioritization is both an art and a science, influencing success at every level of an organization. In this podcast Kate & Ryan explore actionable techniques such as weighted scoring models, Moscow prioritization, the Eisenhower Matrix, and the Kano Model. They discuss how to align your priorities with corporate goals, avoid vanity projects, and cr…

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Tackling Prioritization Challenges 26:29

5M ago26:29

26:29

In this episode Kate and Ryan tackle one of the most pressing challenges leaders face: prioritization. They delve into the ripple effects of poor prioritization, from context switching that drains productivity to misaligned leadership that derails teams.By Kate Megaw

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As a… The Power of a Well-Defined User Persona 25:58

5M ago25:58

25:58

In this week's podcast, Ryan and Kate delve into the concept of user personas—what they are, why they’re essential, and how to leverage them effectively. They discuss how personas can help teams better understand the mindset and needs of core users. The episode highlights common pitfalls in defining personas and offers practical tips to avoid these…

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Turning Reflection Into Action: Retrospecting 2024, Planning 2025 33:44

5M ago33:44

33:44

Ready to make 2025 your most intentional and fulfilling year yet? In our latest podcast, we discuss how to turn reflection into action. Learn why personal retrospectives matter, how to break your goals into manageable steps with the 'Boulders, Rocks, and Sand' framework, and how to balance work and life for sustained joy and success. Packed with pr…

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Persistent Teams 21:43

6M ago21:43

21:43

Dive into the essentials of building high-performing teams that are persistent, dynamic, and self-organizing. From cross-functionality and the art of team composition to the power of rotation programs and mentorship, we explore how to keep teams fresh, motivated, and continuously evolving. We discuss the balance between disruptive and dynamic behav…

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Zombie Epics 24:46

6M ago24:46

24:46

Epics are large bodies of work too big for a single Sprint. However, some Epics become “Zombie Epics”—unfinished tasks that linger in the backlog, often due to scope creep, hoarding, or lack of clear closure. Epics should be broken into smaller, manageable stories, and teams should avoid having Epics in Sprint Backlogs. The key is to close old Epic…

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Switching up the Retrospective - Tips and Tricks to Maximize Effectiveness of Retrospectives 29:15

6M ago29:15

29:15

Retrospectives are a vital part of Scrum. We discuss how to maximize their effectiveness. Start by setting a positive tone with an engaging opening, such as having team members share a word about their sprint experience or appreciate colleagues. Then, gather data by encouraging everyone to share what worked and what didn’t, followed by a focused di…

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Stakeholders in Scrum 28:56

6M ago28:56

28:56

In our 100th episode, we dive into the vital role of stakeholders in Scrum. We explore who stakeholders are—anyone impacted by the team's work, like customers, internal leaders, or other teams—and why they matter. Weak product ownership can lead to building features that miss stakeholder needs, so we discuss balancing their involvement. While we en…

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Ensuring Psychological Safety in Teams 27:22

7M ago27:22

27:22

In this episode, we discuss the importance of psychological safety. Psychological safety allows team members to take risks, share ideas, make mistakes, and challenge each other without fear of judgment or negative consequences. Teams without this safety often have one dominant voice, avoid disagreements, and lack feedback. Leaders can foster psycho…

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Simplifying Communication 27:13

7M ago27:13

27:13

We discuss how over-communication can drain time and energy in the workplace, as employees often feel compelled to provide excessive information to impress superiors or appear busy. This tendency dilutes messages and hampers meaningful work. To combat this, it’s essential to simplify communication by clearly defining project goals and acceptance cr…

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Overcoming Resistance to Change 31:16

7M ago31:16

31:16

We discuss common resistance to change, and how it can be overcome and embraced as an opportunity for growth. Empowering teams to determine what changes are needed fosters ownership and engagement. A shift from a top-down to a bottom-up approach is crucial; understanding the organizational "why" behind changes enhances buy-in from employees. With c…

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Is Agile Dead? Reviving the True Scrum Master Role 25:31

7M ago25:31

25:31

Misconceptions equate the Scrum Master with a traditional project manager, or an “expensive luxury" rather than essential for Agile success. Many organizations place disempowered individuals in roles, which contribute to the perception that Agile is failing. Those drawn to people-focused work will thrive as Scrum Masters, while strategic thinkers m…

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AI as your Ally: Embracing AI in Product Ownership 26:08

8M ago26:08

26:08

The integration of AI tools, such as the beta version of "Product Owner in a Box," is transforming product ownership by automating up to 80% of traditional tasks. This shift allows product owners to focus on critical thinking and strategy, positioning AI as a valuable 24/7 thought partner. By crafting refined prompts, users can generate meaningful …

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Working Agreements: To Agree or Not to Agree, That is the Question 25:04

8M ago25:04

25:04

In this episode we discuss the advantages of working agreements. Working agreements contain guidelines, which outline expectations for elements such as behavior, decision-making, and conflict resolution within teams. Agreements help prevent misunderstandings, encourage flexible working conditions, and enable effective conflict management within tea…

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Effective UX for Product Success 28:48

8M ago28:48

28:48

In this episode, we dive into the art of seamlessly integrating user experience (UX) into agile workflows. We discuss practical strategies like leveraging existing design patterns and wireframes, and focusing on an MVP approach to prioritize key features. We discuss the importance of embedding UX designers within the team to contribute from the sta…

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Leading with Listening - The Leader as a Coach 32:23

9M ago32:23

32:23

It is essential for leaders to have good coaching skills that include asking thoughtful questions, sharing observations without pushing meaning, using silence effectively, staying curious, holding everyone accountable, trusting your gut, stepping in when needed, and really listening. These aren’t just natural talents but skills that improve with pr…

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The Lean Approach to Eliminating Waste 32:11

9M ago32:11

32:11

Lean is more than a methodology—it's a mindset that emphasizes eliminating waste and continuously improving processes. By applying Lean principles, you focus on maximizing value and removing unnecessary steps. Consider the classic example of choosing between avoiding traffic to arrive early or sitting in traffic for hours. Lean encourages you to no…

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Transforming Feedback, from Fearful to Fruitful 24:46

9M ago24:46

24:46

Feedback often feels daunting, but it can be a powerful tool for growth when approached positively. We explore how to make feedback a constructive and empowering experience for everyone involved. We discuss the importance of empathy, real-time communication, and respect in feedback sessions. Learn to distinguish between helpful feedback and harmful…

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Kanban vs. Scrum: Choosing the Right Approach for Your Team 29:36

9M ago29:36

29:36

Join us in this insightful episode as we explore the intricacies of two of the most widely used agile frameworks: Kanban and Scrum. From Kanban's origins in manufacturing processes to its modern application in managing workflow across various industries, discover how Kanban's visual approach and work-in-progress limits empower teams to manage conti…

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Better Personas, Better Products 26:35

10M ago26:35

26:35

In this podcast, we discuss the significance of personas in creating user stories. Personas represent the end users of a product, providing context about their goals, challenges, daily experiences - what are they struggling to do? Personas encode a lot of information about the customer. Effective personas can include demographic data, names, empath…

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The Rhythm of Agility: Sustainable Pace 22:59

10M ago22:59

22:59

In this podcast, we explore the concept of a sustainable pace and its importance in Agile practices. Maintaining a constant, manageable pace indefinitely is crucial for team success and product quality. Arbitrary deadlines and stress-induced rushes can disrupt this balance. Instead, understanding your team's capacity within a set iteration helps in…

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Agile Isn't Dead 27:26

10M ago27:26

27:26

Agility is an organizational mindset that can be applied on various scales, from individual teams to entire systems. In this episode, we explore how to embody the principles of Agile in the context of today's evolving landscape of AI and market shifts. We also discuss how to measure value and success effectively. Agile is not limited to technology …

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Scaling and Leadership - “Nail it, before you scale it" 31:50

10M ago31:50

31:50

In this episode, Kate and Ryan are joined by Dhaval Panchal of Evolve Agility to explore the critical aspects of scaling your organization to meet evolving customer needs and drive innovation. Effective leadership in this context means embracing uncertainty and trusting your team’s ability to handle unforeseen challenges. Begin by understanding who…

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All bugs are not created equally! 28:12

11M ago28:12

28:12

In this episode, we explore the nuances of handling bugs. We address the issue of commonly misreported bugs and miscommunications, and discuss the importance of triaging issues by asking critical questions: Is the problem truly a bug? Does it belong to our team? It’s crucial to differentiate between genuine bugs and other issues like environmental …

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The Truth about Burnout 36:29

11M ago36:29

36:29

Kate and Ryan are joined by Eric Santamaria of Minimum Viable Project to discuss burnout and stress on our teams and in ourselves. Workplace burnout, first designated in 1974, and officially recognized by the World Health Organization, is affecting 20% of the workforce today. Burnout is conceptualized as chronic stress not successfully managed, lea…

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Leveraging the Scaffold to Scale 31:33

11M ago31:33

31:33

In this episode, Kate and Ryan are joined by Dave Sharrock to talk about diving into the concept of scaffolding as a tool for managing change and transformation in organizations. Scaffolding provides a structured support system that helps implement changes safely and effectively and addresses issues by providing temporary or permanent reinforcement…

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The Power of the Change Initiative Canvas 31:07

11M ago31:07

31:07

In this episode, Kate and Ryan are joined by Dr. Steve Martin, CEO of Agility Guides, to discuss the Change Initiative Canvas, a strategic tool designed to enhance communication and collaboration during organizational transformations. Featuring about nine key questions, it helps pinpoint obstacles to change. Post-COVID, willingness to embrace chang…

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Frustrations of a Scrum Master 26:51

12M ago26:51

26:51

Scrum Masters face a range of challenges, both large and small, from difficulties in empowering leaders and teams to managing scope creep and handling comments and conversations within JIRA tickets. In this discussion, Ryan and Kate explore pressing issues such as the lack of genuine empowerment, ownership, responsibility, and engagement. We’ll lea…

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Certified Agile Leader Programs - New, Improved, and Tailored to You 28:17

12M ago28:17

28:17

Kate and Ryan are joined by Anu Smalley to discuss the new Certified Agile Leader (CAL) programs, courses designed to offer transformational leadership guidance. Ideal for anyone seeking to enhance their leadership skills, these courses cater to coaches, scrum masters, consultants, and executives. Unlike traditional theory-based programs, CAL cours…

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Big Bang Deliveries, Without the Explosion 24:53

12M ago24:53

24:53

High-stakes projects, such as moving to a new payment system, can be daunting. How would a scrum team navigate a single, large release while staying Agile? Kate and Ryan explore questions such as - is there a minimum viable product we can deliver before we “flip the switch” and fully move over to a new system? We discuss release plans, milestone an…

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Highlights from Global Scrum Gathering in New Orleans 29:25

1y ago29:25

29:25

The Agile community came together at the Global Scrum Gathering in New Orleans. Join Kate & Ryan as they chat about the main topics and takeaways that can help you in your Scrum journey. There is something for everyone at the gathering, from scaling to neurodiversity to using Agile within our personal lives. As we move through different eras of civ…

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The Scrum Team 24:32

1y ago24:32

24:32

Kate and Ryan dig in on the Scrum Team. Who is on it, what the right mix of members might look like, and challenges the team can face.By Kate Megaw