Product Fields

Hosted by Sander Dur, Ryan Brook, Jim Sammons, and Rich Visotcky

Business TechnologyInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

152

Latest episode

Feb 2026

Language

About the show

Why is it that products are so hard to develop and deliver? How can we truly deliver value with so many different variables that can affect the outcome? We are Sander Dur, Ryan Brook, Jim Sammons, and Rich Visotcky, professional consultants and trainers who support organizations in their pursuit of creating valuable products. Passionate about helping the community and practitioners apply the theory that many authors and thought leaders bring to the industry, we started Product Fields make these concepts more accessible. This podcast will change your career and organization. You’ll be entertained while learning about the industry’s leaders and other practitioners, and you’ll feel familiar with the situations discussed as we invite guests over and discuss tools, concepts, models, metrics, leadership, frameworks, and many more elements that help you deliver amazing products. We understand the many struggles, challenges, antipatterns, and dysfunctions many of us face in our daily working lives. We are here to provide actionable advice and strategies for you to create continuous improvement. You will find things that actually work for many organizations, as we and our guests have tried and tested them. You will find a goldmine of actionable information from many fields, including the space industry, Formula 1, psychology, and Silicon Valley’s top entrepreneurs. We break down these complex topics into easily digestible insights that you can start applying in your careers right away. The best part is that you can even join our live recordings to ask your most burning questions and get them answered based on your needs! We dive deep into the world of business agility, product discovery, delivery, validation, product management, and product frameworks like Scrum, Kanban, LeSS, and many more. We’ll explore the benefits of decentralized decision-making, autonomous empowered teams, leadership, and much more. We empower you with the information you need to become the leaders your organization deserve.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

February 4, 2026Episode 14848 min

#148 It's You, Not Me...Right?

In this conversation, Jim Sammons and Rich Visotcky discuss various aspects of team dynamics, particularly focusing on Scrum Masters and the importance of engagement and interest in work. We explore the expectations placed on Scrum Masters, the significance of caring about the work being done, and how to navigate conflicts within teams around their work, tool choice, communication patterns, and more.Key highlights include:Interest in work drives better performance and outcomes.Navigating conflict requires understanding the context.Caring about the work leads to better results.Frustrations in work often stem from organizational decisions.Shifting mindsets from tool dependency to problem-solving is crucial.Different teams require different types of support and skills.Chapters00:00 Intro 00:16 Should Scrum Masters Be Interested? 01:23 Do Process People Need to Grasp The Backlog? 04:48 Do Care and Interest Go Hand in Hand? 08:14 Marker 4 08:14 Did the Creators of Agility Expect People to Care? 10:56 Do You Need to Know How the Sausage is Made? 13:41 The Legend of "Json the Troublemaker" 18:25 It's Not Them, It's You 21:39 The Way of Working 26:30 What Gets You Riled Up? 29:49 It Makes Sense, and it Makes Me Angry 34:52 The "User" Will See You Now 37:03 What Riles Rich Up? 42:35 Part of the Solution? 46:29 On the Next Episode... Connect with Product Fields:📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility 📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Connect with our hosts:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/https://www.linkedin.com/in/richvisotcky/Check out our sponsors:https://www.xebia.comhttps://www.wiserbees.comhttps://www.jointinsights.comhttps://www.productfields.com

January 15, 2026Episode 1471 hr 5 min

#147 Leading Product Teams in the Age of AI - With Gil Broza

Gil Broza joins our hosts, Jim Sammons and Rich Visotcky, for the first episode of the Product Fields podcast in 2026! In this conversation, we discuss the evolving landscape of agility and product management in the age of AI. Together, we explore how AI has transformed product delivery, the importance of accountability, and the need for leaders to adapt their strategies to ensure effective team dynamics. Too often, we have seen companies go full-on into AI without any strategy or understanding of the consequences. Through our discussion, we dive into the balance between leveraging AI for efficiency while maintaining critical thinking and human oversight, and the need for a thoughtful approach to integrating AI into work processes.00:00:00 Intro00:02:04 Agility Beyond Tech: Adapting Principles for Non-Tech Teams 00:03:44 The Relevance of the Agile Manifesto, Values, and Principles 00:08:44 AI's Impact on Product Delivery and Management 00:12:15 Going Back to Principles in the Age of AI 00:16:52 Accountability in the Age of AI 00:28:03 The AI Industrial Revolution: Trust and Human Connection 00:33:58 The Atrophy of Skills in the Age of AI 00:35:07 The Impact of AI on Communication and Authenticity 00:45:38 The Dangers of Over-Reliance on AI 00:47:27 Fundamentals in the Age of AI 00:50:45 The Danger of Agency and AI 00:53:01 The Future of Work and AI Integration 00:57:46 Quantity vs. Impact 01:01:20 Closing Connect with Product Fields:📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility 📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Connect with our guests:Gil Broza: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilbrozaSubscribe to Gil’s newsletter: https://3pvantage.com/subscribe-newsletter/Attend Gil’s course, “Leading AI-Enabled Product Teams”: https://3pvantage.com/leapt/Check out our sponsors:https://www.xebia.comhttps://www.wiserbees.comhttps://www.jointinsights.comhttps://www.productfields.com

January 6, 2026Episode 14653 min

#146 Can Mindset be Quantified? - With Dr. Karen Eilers and Christiaan Verwijs

Join hosts Rich Visotcky and Jim Sammons as they delve deep into the agile mindset and its significance in team dynamics from a research-backed perspective. Joining them in this episode are Dr. Karen Eilers and Christiaan Verwijs who are leading studies exploring the agile mindset from the individual and team level. Through their research and the help of Columinity, they describe how to factors like motivation, morale, collaborative exchange, value focus, and management support improve team effectiveness. Together, we discuss the development of reliable measurement scales, the importance of data in understanding team effectiveness in order to take action, and the challenges of selection bias and trust in survey data. We also dip our toes into the pools of dynamic reteaming and its effects on team cohesion and team outcomes.Whether you’re a manager looking to help your teams hit their stride, a team member trying to understand how to improve yourself to improve those around you, or a research and data junkie curious about people and teams, this episode has you covered!Want to learn more about your team and the research?Participate (and get immediate actionable feedback!): https://questionnaire.columinity.com/setup/model/agilemindsetPreliminary findings: https://blog.columinity.com/how-a-team-level-agile-mindset-shapes-team-effectiveness/Scientific paper on Agile Mindset: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162522001822Contact Columinity: https://columinity.com/researchConnect with our guests:Karen Eilers: linkedin.com/in/dr-karen-eilers/Christiaan Verwijs: linkedin.com/in/christiaanverwijs/Connect with Mastering Agility:📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it!Check out our sponsors:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.jointinsights.comwww.productfields.comFind more at www.masteringagility.org

June 21, 2021Episode 1539 min

S01 E15 Adding Playfulness with Carsten Lutzen

Working environments can benefit greatly by having playful environments. But to have playful environments, you need those frontrunners that will take you there. Carsten Lutzen is the right guy for the job. His LinkedIn page and YouTube channel (see for details below) radiate creativity and he helps you get there. Working at the LEGO group, he is constantly surrounded by playful, but serious products. Let’s listen to his experience as the Playful Agile Coach. And, we’re giving away a LEGO set! Go to http://masteringagility.org/index.php/give-aways/ to found out how you can enter!What you’ll discover in this show:- Humor breaks the tension- Liberating Structures and icebreakers are great for starting and fostering collaborative discussions- LEGO is still hiring! Speakers:Carsten LutzenAgile Coach in The LEGO GroupI like motivating people and helping them achieve their goals and to make sure that the team performs well. I love to look at processes and try to improve them using the tools in my (agile) toolbox. I don't believe that one methodology exists that will work on all projects, hence we need to tweak the tools for every single project and take the things that works and skip the things does not. Another love of mine is making software that needs to be performant using clever software architecture combined with heavy computer science theory within the field of performance and optimization techniques. Combining these two things it is possible to create user-centric software and experiences. I have facilitated a lot of different workshops on agile thinking, agile mindset/behavior and how to find the balance between agility and a plan oriented apporaches. I have taught more than 300 people in different sessions where we have worked on mindset, when to use agile tools and when not to use them. Contact Carsten Lutzen: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarstenLutzenhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/carstenlutzen/Sander Dur (host)Scrum Master, Agile Coach, trainer, and podcast host for ‘Mastering Agility”Sander Dur is business agility enthusiast, with a passion for people. Whether it’s healthy product development, agile leadership, measurement or psychological safety, Sander has a drive to enable organizations to the best of their abilities. He is an avid article writer, working on a book about Scrum Mastery from the Trenches and is connecting listeners with the most influential people in the industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ https://agilitymasters.com/en https://sander-dur.medium.com/ Additional resources: https://www.lego.com/aboutus/careers Support the showContact us at:Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

August 26, 2022Episode 411 min

DocDur Agile #4 Demonstrating Performance as a Scrum Master

DocDur Agile is an open office where Agile Practitioners can ask any question they encounter in practice situations and would like to have some advice or a different perspective. Think of it as seeing a regular doctor have a physical check-up. If you have questions or requests that you would like the Doc to have a check on, please drop a message on LinkedIn or join the Mastering Agility Discord community!Sander Dur (host)Scrum Master, Agile Coach, trainer, and podcast host for ‘Mastering Agility”Sander Dur is a Professional Scrum Trainer at Scrum.org, podcast host of Mastering Agility, Professional Scrum Master and Lead Agile Consultant, and trainer at Xebia. Besides this, he's an avid writer for predominantly Serious Scrum on Medium.com. Sander has a major passion for the human side in complex domains. Ensuring a high level of psychological safety, therefore, is a critical part of his work. Organizations in complex domains can only survive when innovating. Innovation can only take place with the right balance between low social friction and high intellectual friction. While most organizations now understand how to apply Agile frameworks, they struggle with the delivery of value. Psychological safety is the next step in this evolution and Sander has a huge drive to help organizations reach that step. He gained experience as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, and Leadership consultant in many different top-tier organizations, including Nike and ASML. Sander is enthusiastic, open-minded, and ambitious. He finds interpersonal relationships and intrinsic motivations very important in team dynamics. Besides his work, Sander loves to spend time with his family, enjoys sports and eating healthy, barbecuing, riding his motorcycle, and traveling. Let’s connect! Sander is always up for new connections and discussions! Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durhttps://sander-dur.medium.com/ Additional resources: Discord community:https://discord.gg/6YJamBJxUVSupport the showContact us at:Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

April 3, 2024Episode 131 hr 9 min

S07 E01 Gojko Adzic on Specification By Example

SummaryIn this episode, Goiko shares his experiences and insights on visualizing specifications, writing Specification by Example, and solving communication problems in software development. He discusses the challenges and patterns in the adoption of Spec by Example and the importance of identifying bottlenecks and visualizing problems. Goiko also talks about causing organizational change and the evolution of software development solutions. He concludes by discussing the promise and reality of no-code tools and sharing his recent work and projects. The conversation explores various themes related to software development and its impact on organizations and society. It discusses the power of expressing human knowledge in software and the role of visualization tools in increasing shared understanding. The shift from specialists to generalists in the software industry is examined, as well as the potential for smaller organizations and general-purpose work. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in minimizing political games in organizations and the responsibility of software professionals in creating good software. The need for spending more time on edge cases and negative use cases is highlighted, along with the societal impact of bad software and the potential for IT to become a profession. The conservation and shifting of complexity in software development is explored, and the conversation concludes with a discussion on the impact of shoddy software on people's lives.TakeawaysVisualizing specifications can help improve understanding and reduce rework in software development.The adoption of Spec by Example and other agile practices can be hindered by organizational politics and resistance to change.Identifying bottlenecks and visualizing problems can lead to effective solutions and improvements in software development processes.No-code tools have the potential to democratize software development and empower non-technical users to create automation. Visualization tools like FigJam and Zeppelin increase shared understanding in organizations.The software industry is shifting towards smaller organizations and general-purpose work.AI cannot eliminate political games in organizations, as they are driven by cultural factors.There is a need for more focus on edge cases and negative use cases in software development.The responsibility of software professionals is to create good software and address the societal impact of bad software.Gojko's booksCheck out our sponsors:www.xebia.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.masteringagility.orgSound BitesChapters00:00Introduction01:21Visualizing Specifications03:04Early Experiences with Software Quality04:09Solving Communication Problems05:31Validating Real-World Usage of Spec by Example06:29Getting Permission from Companies for Case Studies08:28Persistent Challenges and Positive Patterns09:49Adoption of Given-When-Then and Consolidation of Tools11:42Identifying Bottlenecks and Visualizing Problems13:01Causing Organizational Change14:09The Challenge of Change Resistance16:30The Evolution of Software Development Solutions26:48Goiko's Recent Work and Projects35:26The Power of Expressing Human Knowledge in Software36:03Visualization Tools and Increased Shared Understanding37:27Specialists vs. Generalists in the Software Industry38:49The Shift Towards Smaller Organizations and General Purpose Work41:49The Role of AI in Minimizing Political Games in Organizations42:54The Responsibility of Software Professionals in Creating Good Software51:01The Need for Spending More Time on Edge Cases and Negative Use Cases53:31The Societal Impact of Bad Software and the Role of Governments57:41The Potential for IT to Become a Profession01:01:29The Conservation and Shifting of Complexity in Software Development01:04:43The Impact of Shoddy Software on People's Lives

June 7, 2021Episode 1245 min

S01 E12 Evidence Based Management with Patricia Kong

Abstract:When creating any sort of product, it's important to understand whether we are moving in the right direction. But how do we know that? How do we measure that? And what metrics do we use for that? Agile organizations know that frequent inspection of results limits risk and improves the ability to deliver value. Scrum.org created a complementary framework called Evidence-Based Management. Patricia Kong is here to talk about how we can use EBM to elevate our ability to deliver value.What you’ll discover in this show:- You don’t need to apply the whole framework at once- The Evidence-Based Management framework provides a great set of metrics to start with- Four Key Value Areas help organizations and teams to gather quantifiable data in order to figure out what to do next Speakers:Patricia KongOrganizational Agility, Innovation, Product Ownership | Speaker * Author * Coach * InstructorPatricia Kong is co-author of "The Nexus Framework for Scaling Scrum" published by Pearson and a well-known public speaker and mentor. She is a co-developer of the Evidence-Based Management Framework for Business Agility and Nexus Framework for Scaling Scrum. Patricia helps organizations thrive in a complex world by focusing on enterprise innovation and leadership and teams. She is a people advocate and fascinated by organizational behavior and misbehaviors. She emerged through the financial services industry and has led product development, product management and marketing for several early stage companies in the US and Europe. Patricia is experienced working with 1$B+ clients focusing on business development and delivery engagements. Patricia lived in France and now lives in her hometown of Boston. Patricia is fluent in 4 languages. Contact Patricia Kong: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-kong-2238232/ https://twitter.com/pmoonk88?lang=enSander Dur (host)Scrum Master, Agile Coach, trainer, and podcast host for ‘Mastering Agility”Sander Dur is a business agility enthusiast, with a passion for people. Whether it’s healthy product development, agile leadership, measurement, or psychological safety, Sander has the drive to enable organizations to the best of their abilities. He is an avid article writer, working on a book about Scrum Mastery from the Trenches, and is connecting listeners with the most influential people in the industry. https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ https://agilitymasters.com/en https://sander-dur.medium.com/ Additional resources: To learn more about Evidence-Based Management, check out the guide: https://www.scrum.org/resources/evidence-based-management-guide For Scrum.org’s EBM certification, check it out right here: https://www.scrum.org/assessments/professional-agile-leadershiptm-evidence-based-management-certification Support the showContact us at:Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

April 24, 2023Episode 142 min

S05 E01 What does a PO do all day and defining Scrum

If you have questions or requests that you would like us to check on, please drop a message on LinkedIn or join the Mastering Agility Discord community!Mastering Agility MuralSander Dur (host)Scrum Master, Agile Coach, trainer, and podcast host for ‘Mastering Agility”Sander Dur is a Professional Scrum Trainer at Scrum.org, podcast host of Mastering Agility, Professional Scrum Master and Lead Agile Consultant, and trainer at Xebia. Besides this, he's an avid writer for predominantly Serious Scrum on Medium.com. Sander has a major passion for the human side in complex domains. Ensuring a high level of psychological safety, therefore, is a critical part of his work. Organizations in complex domains can only survive when innovating. Innovation can only take place with the right balance between low social friction and high intellectual friction. While most organizations now understand how to apply Agile frameworks, they struggle with the delivery of value. Psychological safety is the next step in this evolution and Sander has a huge drive to help organizations reach that step. He gained experience as a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, and Leadership consultant in many different top-tier organizations, including Nike and ASML. Sander is enthusiastic, open-minded, and ambitious. He finds interpersonal relationships and intrinsic motivations very important in team dynamics. Besides his work, Sander loves to spend time with his family, enjoys sports and eating healthy, barbecuing, riding his motorcycle, and traveling. Let’s connect! Sander is always up for new connections and discussions! Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durJim SammonsMy passion is helping people to:Do more of the right work (and less of the wrong work).Create more actual teams than just groups of people who work together.Learning how to improve themselves, their team, and their organization incrementally.Understand that less, not more, is usually part of the answer to some of the hardest questions we all face.See their workplaces, teams, and their sphere of influence as something that is evolving, which requires an evolution of all of its parts to adapt.Throughout my career, I have worked with clients of all sizes, industries, and technologies. Whether it’s leading a transformative strategy at a Fortune 100 or helping a new startup understand its unique value proposition the common focus I bring to each role is “making people better.” I strive to help those around me improve through mentorship, training, workshops, or just grabbing a coffee and lending an ear to their experiences. This focus on continuous improvement and servant leadership is why I love what I do each day. In my spare time, I enjoy making things out of wood, metal, and other materials (like coffee). I also enjoy hiking, board games, jigsaw puzzles, and playing with my Golden Doodle puppy Roxy (agile is her middle name), and I am usuSupport the showContact us at:Masteringagility.orghttps://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-durhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

March 7, 2025Episode 491 hr 24 min

#124 Survival, Strength, and Saving Lives: Arjan Erkel on 607 Days in Captivity and Rescuing Girls from Exploitation

In this gripping episode, Sander and Jim sit down with Arjan Erkel, who shares his harrowing experience of being kidnapped and held hostage for 607 days in Dagestan. Arjan walks us through the terrifying moment of his abduction, the psychological battles he faced in captivity, and the resilience that helped him survive. He also discusses his remarkable mindset shift, the unexpected relationships he built with his captors, and how he reclaimed his life after being freed.Beyond his personal story, Arjan sheds light on his work with Free a Girl, an organization dedicated to rescuing children from sexual exploitation. We also dive into what businesses and individuals can learn from his experiences—resilience, adaptability, and the power of taking small steps in difficult situations.Support Free a Girl!The Free a Girl foundation, has already rescued over 8,000 children from sexual exploitation. Join the mission by donating, spreading awareness, or supporting the Paperclip Challenge to raise $100K.🌍 Learn more & donate: Free a Girl💡 Support the Paperclip Challenge: Help us trade up from a guitar and amplifier to $100K to support this cause. You have something to trade? Reach out to us via paperclipchallenge@optilearn.co.uk!Connect with Arjan📖 Book: Held Hostage – [Available on Amazon]🌐 Website: ArjanErkel.com🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjanerkel/Connect with Mastering Agility📢 Follow the podcast for more inspiring stories💬 Join the conversation on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastering-agility📩 Contact us for trades or sponsorships👉 If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear this inspiring story!Check out our sponsor:www.xebia.comwww.scrummatch.comwww.wiserbees.comwww.masteringagility.orgHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

December 5, 2023Episode 21 hr 10 min

S06 E08 Unlocking Business Agility with EBM with Patricia Kong, Ryan Ripley, Todd Miller, and Kurt Bittner

For questions or requests that you would like us to check on, please drop a message on LinkedIn or join the Mastering Agility Discord community! Participate as an audience member Mastering Agility Mural Mastering Agility merch Sander Dur Sander Dur is a Professional Scrum Trainer at Scrum.org, podcast host of Mastering Agility, Professional Scrum Master and Lead Agile Consultant, and trainer at Xebia. Besides this, he's an avid writer for predominantly Serious Scrum on Medium.com. Sander has a major passion for the human side in complex domains. Ensuring a high level of psychological safety, therefore, is a critical part of his work. Organizations in complex domains can only survive when innovating. Innovation can only take place with the right balance between low social friction and high intellectual friction. While most organizations now understand how to apply Agile frameworks, they struggle with the delivery of value. Psychological safety is the next step in this evolution and Sander has a huge drive to help organizations reach that step. Sander is enthusiastic, open-minded, and ambitious. He finds interpersonal relationships and intrinsic motivations very important in team dynamics. Besides his work, Sander loves to spend time with his family, enjoys sports and eating healthy, barbecuing, riding his motorcycle, and traveling. Jim Sammons My passion is helping people to: Do more of the right work (and less of the wrong work). Create more actual teams than just groups of people who work together. Learning how to improve themselves, their team, and their organization incrementally. Understand that less, not more, is usually part of the answer to some of the hardest questions we all face. See their workplaces, teams, and their sphere of influence as something that is evolving, which requires an evolution of all of its parts to adapt. Throughout my career, I have worked with clients of all sizes, industries, and technologies. Whether it’s leading a transformative strategy at a Fortune 100 or helping a new startup understand its unique value proposition the common focus I bring to each role is “making people better.” Contact us at: Masteringagility.org https://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-dur https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamessammons/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Is this your show?

Claim this listing to keep it up to date, reach guests who want to pitch you, and manage bookings with Guestify.

Claim this listing

More Business podcasts

SowGrow Marketing Council

sgmc

BusinessMarketing

Toldjya Finance Podcast

Zac Huish, Cameron Cooke, and Paul Lamb

BusinessInvesting