
KatAnu Connect Podcast
Kate Megaw & Ryan Smith host a variety of discussions around any and all things Agile!
Episodes
127 episodes
What You Don’t See Can Hurt Your Team: Uncovering Blind Spots and Bias
Unconscious bias shows up whether we invite it or not—and it can quietly shape our decisions, conversations, and team dynamics. In this episode, we explore the hidden forces that drive behavior, from blind spots and implicit assumptions t...
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Season 1
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Episode 126
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31:13

Neutral, Not Robotic: Mastering the Art of Facilitation Without Taking Sides
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 ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 125
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40:42

From Order Takers to Innovators: Sparking Ideation Within Scrum Teams
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?<...
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Season 1
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Episode 124
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28:17

Strategic Leadership: Aligning Vision, Values, and Decision-Making
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 organization...
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Season 1
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Episode 123
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31:50

Inspecting and Adapting Your Way… Back to Waterfall?
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 122
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25:55

Losing Sight of the User: How Teams Drift & How to Re-center
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 121
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25:47

Own It and Deliver: The Dance Between Accountability & Ownership
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 h...
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Season 1
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Episode 120
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28:33

Start with Yourself: The Power of Self-Leadership in a Changing World
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 thou...
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Season 1
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Episode 119
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27:16

The Leadership Growth Wheel: A Continuous Journey to Effective Leadership
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 118
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38:13

10 Ways Agile Transformations Go Off the Rails — And How to Get Back on Track
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 ins...
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Season 1
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Episode 117
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28:01

Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand: The Art of Strategic Work Breakdown
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 pri...
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Season 1
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Episode 116
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25:40

Breaking Down Silos: Building Collaborative Teams in Agile Organizations
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 do...
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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29:55

The Power of Active Listening
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 und...
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Season 1
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Episode 114
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27:13

The Art of Facilitation: Guiding Teams to Success
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 neutrali...
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Season 1
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Episode 113
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29:48

Meeting Overload: The Hidden Cost of Too Many Meetings
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 112
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32:37

Firefighting in Organizations: When Every Issue Feels Like an Emergency
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 rec...
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Season 1
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Episode 111
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30:14

Who’s Responsible? Tackling Accountability, Ownership & Role Clarity in Agile Teams
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: l...
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Season 1
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Episode 110
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28:16

Bridging The Gaps: Practical Strategies For Hybrid Team Dynamics And Engagement
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 addre...
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Season 1
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Episode 109
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28:29

Navigating the Complexities of Hybrid and Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities
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 e...
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Season 1
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Episode 108
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31:35

Mastering Prioritization: Proven Techniques for Leaders and Teams
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 Matri...
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Season 1
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Episode 107
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29:23

Tackling Prioritization Challenges
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 106
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26:29

As a… The Power of a Well-Defined User Persona
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 u...
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Season 1
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Episode 105
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25:58

Turning Reflection Into Action: Retrospecting 2024, Planning 2025
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 104
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33:44
