KatAnu Connect Podcast

Kate Megaw
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Kate Megaw & Ryan Smith host a variety of discussions around any and all things Agile!

  1. 2D AGO

    Conflict Isn’t the Enemy... Poor Facilitation Is

    Is conflict the enemy of a productive meeting, or its secret ingredient?  In this episode, Kate Megaw, Anu Smalley, and Ryan Smith dive into the "iceberg" of workplace tension.  They break down the crucial difference between healthy conflict and toxic confrontation, reveal the subtle warning signs of a meeting going off the rails (from "gritted teeth" to the "silent treatment"), and share powerful facilitation tools like the "Said-Heard-Meant" technique and "Rotating Debates" to get your team back on track.

    33 min

  2. FEB 9

    Less Multitasking. More Talking. Better Meetings.

    Meetings are full, but participation is missing!  In this episode, we explore why multitasking, dominant voices, and silent participants have become the norm, and what actually helps teams engage again.  We unpack common facilitation challenges like uneven participation and low psychological safety, then share practical techniques teams can use right away: stacking, clear working agreements, intentional agendas, and smarter meeting design.  If your meetings feel quiet, chaotic, or one-sided, this conversation offers concrete ways to get people talking and make meetings better.

    31 min

  3. FEB 2

    Bad Meetings: The Problem We All Face

    Is your calendar full of meetings that go nowhere?  You're not alone.  In this kickoff episode of our "Bold Solutions for Big Problems" series, Kate, Anu, and Ryan dive into the universal challenge of bad meetings－and the costs are staggering. We explore the most common symptoms plaguing organizations today: unclear purposes, too many attendees, multitasking participants, lack of follow-through, and the loss of meeting etiquette in our virtual world.  From people showing up in pajamas to scheduling conflicts that create triple-booking nightmares, we break down why meetings fail and how much time (and money) companies waste. Key topics covered: The disappearing art of social skills in virtual meetingsWhy "this could have been an email" has become the universal complaintMeeting etiquette failures from scheduling to facilitationThe over-reliance on meetings as the default solutionTime and focus management challenges when meetings run over or meander off-topicThis is the first episode in our February focus on bad meetings.  Stay tuned for upcoming episodes where we'll share practical solutions to transform your meetings from time-wasters into productive, purposeful sessions!

    31 min

  4. JAN 26

    10 Game-Changing Practical Tips to Supercharge Your Scrum Teams

    Stop overthinking Agile philosophy and start implementing these battle-tested tweaks that actually work! You know what's exhausting?  All the theoretical debates about Agile frameworks. You know what's actually useful?  Simple, practical tips that make your Scrum teams run smoother starting tomorrow.  After years of coaching teams across industries, we've learned that the biggest improvements don't come from grand transformations, they come from small, strategic tweaks that eliminate friction and create momentum.  So, let's cut through the noise and get straight to what works.

    31 min

  5. JAN 19

    Why Transformations Fail

    Transformations don’t fail because the framework is wrong, they fail because the people system isn’t ready.  In this episode, we unpack the patterns that derail Agile, AI, and “pick-your-flavor” change efforts: unclear purpose, missing champions, fuzzy roles, cultural resistance, and plans so complicated everyone checks out.  We’ll also share what actually works: start with a clear why, build visible sponsorship, keep it simple, and use transparency + inspection + adaptation to earn credibility through small wins.

    29 min

  6. JAN 12

    If Everything Is Priority… Nothing Is

    Prioritization sounds simple, until everything is labeled “urgent,” stakeholders are shouting, and teams are stuck context-switching instead of finishing meaningful work.  In this episode, we explore why prioritization breaks down at the individual, team, and organizational levels, and why the real issue isn’t effort, it’s clarity.  We unpack the shift from “high priority” thinking to intentional ordering, the role of capacity and value in making better decisions, and how unclear priorities lead to burnout, quality issues, and eroded trust.  From personal productivity tools to product ownership and organizational strategy, this conversation connects prioritization to what it ultimately enables: sustainable delivery, focused teams, and confidence that the right work is being done, for the right reasons!

    29 min

  7. JAN 5

    Trust: The Invisible Force That Makes Work Faster (or Breaks Everything)

    Trust doesn’t show up on an org chart.  It isn’t tracked in Jira.  And yet it determines how fast work moves, how decisions get made, and whether teams feel safe enough to do their best thinking. When trust is present, teams move with confidence, leaders step back, and progress accelerates.When trust is missing, control creeps in, fear takes over, and even “good” processes start to collapse.This podcast explores why trust is the foundation of effective teamwork, how it quietly erodes in modern organizations, and what leaders and teams can do to intentionally rebuild it－one small, visible action at a time.

    17 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Velocity without Value is Just Motion

    Busy doesn’t equal valuable－and “we shipped 100 points” doesn’t mean a customer’s life improved.  This episode challenges the trap of productivity theater (endless tickets, reports, and metrics nobody uses) and reframes how teams define success: outcomes over outputs, clarity over chaos, and goals over noise.  You’ll hear why weaponizing metrics backfires, how Sprint Goals protect focus, and the simple question that exposes busy work instantly: What value does this create ... and for whom?

    17 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Kate Megaw & Ryan Smith host a variety of discussions around any and all things Agile!

Information

  • Creator
    Kate Megaw
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    163
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 KatAnu Connect Podcast
  • Show Website
    KatAnu Connect Podcast