Agile Mentors Podcast from Mountain Goat Software

Most 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. Overview Group dynamics aren’t fluff. They’re the operating system behind every Agile team’s success (or struggle). Colin Fisher, author of The Collective Edge, joins Brian to share what decades of research and hands-on observation reveal about high-performing teams. From ideal team size (spoiler: it’s 4.5), to avoiding the trap of blaming individuals for systemic issues, Colin offers a practical, thought-provoking look at how to build more resilient, collaborative, and human-centered teams. Expect fresh insights on team launch moments, role clarity, feedback culture, remote collaboration and how to keep your team “groupy” in the best possible way.  References and resources mentioned in the show: Colin Fisher Collective Edge by Colin Fisher Colin's Free Newsletter LinkedIn YouTube #80: From Struggling to Success: Reviving Agile Teams with Mike Cohn #143: What Still Makes Teams Work (and Win) with Jim York Self-Organizing Teams Are Not Put Together Randomly by Mike Cohn Agile Skills Video Library Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is a Certified Scrum Trainer®, Certified Scrum Professional®, Certified ScrumMaster®, and Certified Scrum Product Owner®, and host of the Agile Mentors Podcast training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Colin Fisher is a former professional jazz musician turned organizational behavior expert who now helps teams unlock their creative and collaborative edge. A professor at University College London and author of The Collective Edge, Colin draws on decades of research—and a bit of jazz improv—to help leaders understand what really makes groups tick.

What 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 Marine Corps veteran and Execution Architect Tanner Wortham to explore the parallels between leading Marines and leading Agile teams. Drawing from both military and coaching experience, Tanner unpacks how the Corps’ “rule of three,” mission-first mentality, and obsession with experimentation mirror the best of Agile thinking. They discuss how effective leadership empowers decision-making at the edges, why conflict shouldn't be avoided but navigated with curiosity, and how facing toward hard problems—rather than away from them—builds high-performing, resilient teams. Whether you're coaching a Scrum team or leading large-scale transformations, Tanner’s insights offer a fresh lens on what it really means to lead with agility. References and resources mentioned in the show: Tanner Wortham What the Corps Calls Leading Marines Others Call Agility #113: Influence Without Authority with Christopher DiBella #135: Leading Without Authority with Pete Behrens #132: Can Nice Guys Finish First? with Scott Dunn Get the Agile Skills Video Library Use code PODCASTSKILLS for $10 off Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is a Certified Scrum Trainer®, Certified Scrum Professional®, Certified ScrumMaster®, and Certified Scrum Product Owner®, and host of the Agile Mentors Podcast training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Tanner Wortham is a former Marine turned leadership coach who helps teams and execs cut through the noise, lead with clarity, and actually get things done. With experience at LinkedIn, Salesforce, and beyond, he brings a no-fluff, human-first approach to growth, agility, and real leadership.

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. Overview This episode dives deep into the real work behind bringing AI into agile. Brian and Hunter trace the arc from early experiments to full-scale agents, sharing what it took to build responsibly on large language models (and what still keeps them up at night). They get into the weeds of context handling, trust and verification, dev productivity, and what makes a good AI coach actually helpful. Along the way, they explore how tools are changing—faster than most teams can keep up—and what that means for the future of learning, coding, and collaborating in agile environments. References and resources mentioned in the show: Hunter Hilligas AI Tool Kit Agile Skils Video Library Mike's Better User Stories Webinar #82: The Intersection of AI and Agile with Emilia Breton #151: What AI Is Really Delivering (and What It’s Not) with Evan Leybourn & Christopher Morales #161: Test-Driven Development in the Age of AI with Clare Sudbery #166: AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job, But It Is Joining Your Team with Dr. Michael Housman Subscribe to the Agile Mentors Podcast Want to get involved? This show is designed for you, and we’d love your input. Enjoyed what you heard today? Please leave a rating and a review. It really helps, and we read every single one. Got an Agile subject you’d like us to discuss or a question that needs an answer? Share your thoughts with us at podcast@mountaingoatsoftware.com This episode’s presenters are: Brian Milner is a Certified Scrum Trainer®, Certified Scrum Professional®, Certified ScrumMaster®, and Certified Scrum Product Owner®, and host of the Agile Mentors Podcast training at Mountain Goat Software. He's passionate about making a difference in people's day-to-day work, influenced by his own experience of transitioning to Scrum and seeing improvements in work/life balance, honesty, respect, and the quality of work. Hunter Hillegas is the Chief Technology Officer at Mountain Goat Software. With over 20 years of experience in software development, product ownership, and team leadership, he leads the creation of tools like the AI Toolkit and Team Home to support effective, engaging learning experiences. Hunter lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife and their dog Enzo.

Brian Milner takes a heartfelt pause to share what gratitude means to him this year, emphasizing a human-centered approach to agility. He reflects on the evolving roles of leaders in the community and the importance of psychological safety in the workplace. Milner expresses appreciation for his team and behind-the-scenes contributors, highlighting the need for professional evolution and experimentation. To wrap up, he encourages listeners to take a moment to acknowledge three things they are thankful for, fostering a spirit of reflection before the year's end.

Evan Unger, a consultant and collaboration expert with decades of experience, joins to tackle the challenges of remote meetings. He introduces the POPRA framework to streamline meetings, emphasizing purpose and roles. Evan explains the importance of engaging all participants and how simultaneous chat can enhance collaboration. With practical techniques to combat common meeting pitfalls, he shares insights on adapting to diverse personalities and the differences between virtual and face-to-face dynamics. His advice is packed with humor, making remote interactions more engaging.

Dr. Michael Housman, CTO and founder of AI-ccelerator, discusses the transformative power of AI in the workplace. He explains how AI tools are reshaping team collaboration and decision-making, challenging misconceptions about adoption rates. Michael highlights AI's role in enhancing project predictability and effort estimation, and imagines a future where AI is listed as a team member. He emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and using AI as a collaborative partner rather than expecting quick fixes.

Cort Sharp, Scrum Master and Agile coach, dives into the friction between AI-assisted development and slow product decision-making. He and Brian Milner discuss how AI accelerates coding but creates bottlenecks in product management. They explore the issue of unused features and the 'good enough' value curve, emphasizing the critical role of product owners. The conversation also touches on the balance of sprint lengths, feedback loops, and how AI can enhance team dynamics instead of reducing headcount.

Tendayi Viki, an innovation strategist and author, joins Brian to delve into the pitfalls of innovation theater. They explore how many organizations mistake hype for actual value. Discover why genuine innovation is vital and how to measure its success. Tendayi shares insights on making small, strategic bets versus large leaps and warns against experimentation that lacks purpose. His unique concept, 'Pirates in the Navy,' highlights the importance of collaboration in corporate innovation. Tune in for practical strategies to drive meaningful change!

Lance Dacy, a Certified Scrum Trainer and Agile coach, joins to discuss the evolving return-to-office debate five years post-COVID. They explore the myth of remote productivity and emphasize that context often trumps location in boosting team performance. Dacy highlights the benefits of co-location for complex projects while urging leaders to focus on value delivery over individual output. Mental health impacts and the importance of team norms shape their conversation, leading to practical hybrid solutions and a nuanced understanding of workplace dynamics.

In this discussion, Paige Watson, a technical coach and expert in software craftsmanship, shares his insights on navigating ADHD as a developer. He explores how collaborative practices like Test-Driven Development and mob programming help maintain focus and enjoyment in coding. Paige also highlights the importance of inclusive team dynamics, encouraging workflow changes that benefit everyone. Additionally, he introduces discovery trees as a tool for effective visual planning, reducing overwhelm and enhancing team transparency. This conversation is packed with practical takeaways for developers and teams alike.