On this episode of The Agile for Agilists Podcast, Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson sit down with Dr. Alex Korb, PhD—neuroscientist, coach, and author of The Upward Spiral—to explore how your brain is wired, and how understanding that wiring can unlock better focus, performance, and well-being.

We dive into how autonomy, motivation, and neurotransmitters (like dopamine and serotonin) shape the way we work and lead. Dr. Korb explains why accepting how your brain naturally operates is essential to getting the most out of it—especially in high-stakes, fast-moving environments like Agile teams.

Whether you’re a coach, leader, or just a curious human, this conversation offers practical neuroscience insights that can help you work with your brain, not against it.

🧠 Learn more about Dr. Korb’s work at alexkorbphd.com

On this episode of The Agile for Agilists Podcast, Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson are joined once again by Todd Hallowell for a candid conversation about the current state of Agile and what it really means to practice agility in today’s organizations.

Together, we unpack the tension between traditional project management approaches and true Agile thinking—exploring the fallacy of control, the evolving role of business analysts, and the often-blurry line between product and project management. We also touch on leadership’s role in shaping Agile culture, how AI is influencing decision-making, and why purpose-driven agility matters more than ever.

If you're navigating Agile transformation, questioning frameworks, or just trying to lead with more clarity and intention—this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Agile for Agilists Podcast, hosts Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson welcome seasoned Agile coach and trainer Mike Bowler to talk about psychological safety—through the fascinating lens of brain science, leadership, hypnosis, and LEGO.

Mike explains why our brains are wired to react to uncertainty like it’s a bear attack—and what leaders can do to create environments that feel safe rather than threatening. We also explore the power of play, including Mike’s training in LEGO Serious Play and how it unlocks new thinking in teams.

From primal instincts to psychological insights, this conversation is a journey into what makes us human at work—and how we can lead with more understanding, trust, and creativity.

Mike's follow-up page: https://gargoylesoftware.com/mike_bowler/followup/

Specific topics we discussed:

Polyvagal theory

SAFETY model

Six Thinking Hats

The Bear and the Brain

The anti-anxiety toolkit

What really is hypnosis?

Bonus Links:

Tips and tricks from neuroscience to improve your retros

Mike's Reading List

On this episode of The Agile for Agilists Podcast, hosts Drew Podwal and Brad Nelson sit down with Operational Excellence Leader and Kata Coach Kelly Mallery—along with her loyal (and squeaky-toy-loving) dog, Osiris—to explore the power of scientific thinking in the business world.

Kelly unpacks how practices rooted in Toyota Kata and Lean thinking help teams move beyond checking boxes and instead focus on real learning, experimentation, and adaptive leadership. Whether you’re leading a team, coaching an organization, or trying to drive meaningful change, this conversation gets to the heart of what it takes to build a true culture of continuous improvement.

If you’ve ever wondered how to move from doing Agile to being Agile, scientific thinking might just be the chemical X you've been looking for.

🔗 Connect with Kelly Mallery:🌐 www.kellymallery.com💼 Kelly on LinkedIn

📚 Learn more about Toyota Kata and Scientific Thinking:👉 kata-school.org

In this episode of The Agile For Agilists Podcast, hosts Brad Nelson and Drew Podwal sit down with Andrew Clay Shafer, a luminary in software development, entrepreneurship, and the DevOps movement. Together, they explore how Agile principles have existed long before the Agile Manifesto, diving into the history of Sociotechnical Systems and how these timeless practices shape successful organizations—sometimes in surprising ways.

Andrew shares his perspective on why companies thrive regardless of whether they adhere to "textbook" Agile practices and why necessity drives innovation. Along the way, the conversation weaves into the current landscape of AI, emphasizing the critical importance of task decomposition as a future-proof skill. Whether you're an Agile enthusiast, a DevOps advocate, or simply curious about the intersection of technology and human collaboration, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode of The Agile For Agilists Podcast, we're thrilled to have special guest Joan Gammon join us for a deep dive into the metrics that truly matter. Together, we'll explore how to effectively assess performance, foster impactful leadership, and cut through the noise to focus on what really drives success. Brad in this episode is extra bleak, while Drew tries to keep things lively as our resident fun culture coach. Whether you're a leader, a team member, or just curious about what makes organizations tick, this conversation is packed with insights and a touch of humor you won't want to miss!

In this episode of "The Agile For Agilists Podcast," Brad Nelson and Drew Podwal are joined by Brian Link to discuss his innovative "Agile Coach in a Box." This interactive book and maturity model companion is designed to align with the agile mindset and is infused with concepts from Lean, XP, Design Thinking, DevOps, and Systems Thinking, enabling teams to inspect how their behaviors are serving them.

Throughout the episode, Brad, Drew, and Brian share industry experiences and challenges, uncovering the unique benefits of Brian's latest work. Their lively conversation offers a mix of real-world applications and expert advice, making it a must-listen for anyone involved in the agile space.

Plus, don't miss the fun twist where Drew unveils his new official Agile costume, inspired by the '90s hit "No Rain." Tune in for a blend of insightful discussion and lighthearted moments!

Brian's book "The Practical Agilist Guidebook" is about to be published (July/Aug 2024) since recording this episode. Visit PracticalAgilistGuidebook.com to be notified when it's released, receive hundreds of recommended books, articles, and videos mentioned in the book, and a discount code to buy the book.

If you want to learn whether you and your team follow the behaviors behind the Agile Mindset, the way he defines it with the core concepts from the Agile Manifesto, Lean, XP, Design Thinking, DevOps, and Systems Thinking... visit MeasureTheMindset.com

Brian loves everything agile. If your company is looking to improve the way they deliver value to customers, he offers free consultations to just talk about what challenges you have: PracticalAgilist.com