The Agile Couple Podcast

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Join The Agile Couple to discover how the intersection of technology, collaboration & emotional intelligence unlocks the true potential of agile teams

  1. 2d ago ·  Video

    Breaking Old Patterns and Building New Perspectives

    Why do established teams keep doing things the same way—even when better options are available? In this episode of The Agile Couple, Kevin and Leeanne explore how leaders can help teams break old patterns, navigate resistance, and become more open to new ways of working. Drawing from a recent real-world experience, they discuss the power of modeling desired behaviors, identifying existing pain points, learning from peers, and giving people an opportunity to see what could be possible before asking them to change. They also examine the important roles played by early adopters, laggards, and resistors—and why resistance can sometimes uncover legitimate concerns that ultimately strengthen a new approach. As AI and technology accelerate the pace of change, the ability to continually learn and adapt is becoming increasingly important. The goal isn't to change everything at once, but to create an environment where teams can experiment, learn, and incrementally move toward a better way of working.

  2. 5d ago ·  Video

    Managing Change in an AI World

    AI adoption is accelerating—but moving fast without a plan can create as many problems as it solves. In this episode of The Agile Couple, Kevin and Leeanne discuss how organizations can apply change-management principles to the rapidly evolving world of AI. They explore the ADKAR framework, the difference between adoption and change management, and how organizations can navigate early adopters, resistance, communication, training, and reinforcement. The conversation also tackles AI governance, security, intellectual property, costs, organizational risk, and the pressure companies face to adopt AI simply to avoid falling behind. The takeaway: AI isn't a silver bullet. Organizations need to understand where it creates real value, establish guardrails, manage the risks, support their people, and make sure humans remain in control of the change. Subscribe to The Agile Couple for more conversations about AI, leadership, organizational change, technology, learning, and the future of work.

  3. Sep 18

    Your New Teammate is Not Human

    AI isn’t just another piece of technology—it’s quickly becoming a new kind of teammate. In this episode of The Agile Couple, Kevin and Leanne explore what it means to work alongside artificial intelligence as it becomes embedded in organizations, software development, everyday business processes, and individual roles. Rather than asking only, “Will AI replace my job?”, they dig into a more practical question: How do we use AI to amplify what humans do well without handing over the skills, judgment, and critical thinking that make us valuable? The conversation explores the opportunities and risks that come with rapidly evolving AI, including cognitive offloading, AI-generated “word salad,” hallucinations, vibe coding, autonomous agents, security concerns, and the danger of accepting AI output without questioning or validating it. They also discuss where AI can provide real value—such as handling repetitive or monotonous tasks—and why humans still need to remain at the helm when it comes to decision-making, strategy, communication, creativity, and discernment. In this episode, we discuss: Why AI should be viewed as a tool and teammate—not an unquestioned authority How AI can amplify both strong and weak existing practices The difference between productive and harmful cognitive offloading Why critical thinking can suffer when we rely too heavily on AI The risks of AI hallucinations and unchecked AI-generated content Vibe coding, software maintenance, testing, and security Why businesses need guardrails around AI and autonomous agents The growing importance of communication and problem-solving skills Why humans must remain involved in AI-driven work Governance, security, copyright, and other questions organizations will increasingly face AI isn’t going away. The challenge is learning how to work with it intentionally—understanding where it can make us more effective while recognizing where human experience, judgment, and accountability still matter. Your new teammate may not be human—but you still need to be the one leading the work. Subscribe to The Agile Couple for more conversations about AI, leadership, technology, learning, teamwork, and navigating the changing workplace.

  4. Apr 10

    Invest In Yourself, Own Your Learning

    Are traditional training programs actually helping people grow—or just checking a box? In this episode of The Agile Couple, we dive into a powerful shift happening in learning and development: moving from rigid, instructor-led training to learner-owned, collaborative experiences that drive real growth, retention, and impact. Leanne shares insights from her upcoming ATD conference session, “Team Learning: Rethinking Development for Real Growth, Motivation, and Impact,” and breaks down what it truly means to move from being the “sage on the stage” to a facilitator of meaningful learning. We explore: *Why traditional training often fails to create real change *The difference between output vs. outcome-based learning *How applied, real-world training dramatically improves retention *The role of facilitators vs. instructors *Why social learning and collaboration are essential *How psychological safety and “failing forward” unlock growth *The impact of AI—and why human learning still matters more than ever If you’re a leader, trainer, facilitator, or anyone passionate about growth, this conversation will challenge how you think about learning. 💬 Join the conversation in the comments or reach out—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

  5. Mar 3 ·  Video

    The Feedback Minefield: How Leaders Build Trust (or Destroy It)

    In this episode of The Agile Couple Podcast, Leeanne and Kevin McManus tackle one of the biggest workplace challenges: feedback TAC Feedback Edit Why do so many leaders ask for feedback — but struggle to truly hear it? We explore the common minefields that damage trust, including biased expectations, poorly framed surveys, ignored input, and broken feedback loops. You’ll hear practical insights on: Building trust through visible action Framing feedback around process improvement (not personal attack) Avoiding credibility traps when evaluating people or teams Creating real feedback loops that drive continuous improvement If you’re not getting honest answers — or you’re getting answers you don’t like — this episode will help you rethink how feedback should work in agile organizations and beyond.

  6. Mar 3

    Ep.17 The Feedback Minefield: How Leaders Build Trust (or Destroy It)

    In this episode of The Agile Couple Podcast, Leanne and Kevin McManus dive into one of the most misunderstood — and mishandled — topics in the workplace: feedback TAC Feedback Edit Why is it that so many organizations ask for feedback… but struggle to actually hear it? From biased expectations and poorly framed surveys to the credibility damage caused by ignoring input, we unpack the hidden minefields leaders step into when they request feedback without clarity, humility, or follow-through. We explore: *Why leaders often have a preconceived idea of what they want to hear *How asking for feedback without context creates confusion (and frustration) *The importance of intellectual humility when feedback doesn’t align with expectations *Why trust isn’t built in a “big bang” moment — it’s built through visible action *The danger of sending out surveys where the evaluator is also the one being evaluated *How retrospectives and feedback loops only work when you actually act on them *Cultural differences and personality dynamics that influence how feedback is delivered Most importantly, we talk about how to package feedback around process improvement and shared objectives — rather than personal attacks — so it becomes constructive instead of destructive. If you’ve ever felt like: *You’re not getting honest answers *You’re getting answers you don’t like *Or your team has stopped engaging in feedback altogether This conversation is for you. At the heart of Agile — and healthy organizations — is trust, transparency, and continuous improvement. Feedback is not a one-way street. It’s a loop. And if you break the loop, you break credibility. 💬 Have thoughts on feedback culture in your organization? Drop a comment below and let us know what you’d like us to explore next. #AgileLeadership #FeedbackCulture #ContinuousImprovement #LeadershipDevelopment #TheAgileCouple

  7. Jan 21 ·  Video

    AI as a Copilot, Not an Autopilot | Why People Still Matter in an AI-Driven World

    Is AI here to replace us — or to work with us? In this episode of The Agile Couple Podcast, Kevin and Leeanne are joined by Shari Oswald, Microsoft MVP and change management expert, for a candid, real-world conversation about AI, productivity, and why people still matter more than ever. Together, they unpack a critical idea shaping the future of work: AI should be a copilot, not an autopilot. From enterprise consulting and Microsoft conferences to everyday stories about work, learning, and leadership, this discussion cuts through the hype to explore how AI actually succeeds or fails — based on how humans use it. Check out our video on YouTube here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgrjP--T3IQ

  8. Jan 20

    Ep.16 Ai as a Copilot, Not an Autopilot: Why People Still Matter in an AI-Driven World

    Is AI here to replace us — or to work with us? In this episode of The Agile Couple Podcast, Kevin and Leeanne are joined by Shari Oswald, Microsoft MVP and change management expert, for a candid, real-world conversation about AI, productivity, and why people still matter more than ever. Together, they unpack a critical idea shaping the future of work: AI should be a copilot, not an autopilot. From enterprise consulting and Microsoft conferences to everyday stories about work, learning, and leadership, this discussion cuts through the hype to explore how AI actually succeeds or fails — based on how humans use it. Reach out to us! Shari Oswald: ⁠https://linktr.ee/ShortcutShari⁠

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Join The Agile Couple to discover how the intersection of technology, collaboration & emotional intelligence unlocks the true potential of agile teams

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  • Creator
    agilecouple
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Agile Couple Podcast