Product Fields

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

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156

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Oct 2026

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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.

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October 22, 2026Episode 15352 min

#153 Building Frameworks, One Principle at a Time

What does it take to build your own process framework? Are there common pieces to a framework, the must haves that make it all click? Even if you could build one, do you know why you’re doing it, and if you should? In this episode, Jim, Sander, and Rich explore the nature of frameworks, innovation, and effective collaboration in organizations. They discuss how frameworks serve as scaffolding, the role of informal conversations in fostering change, the importance of adaptable, purpose-driven processes, and the pitfalls of rigid standardization. Along the way, they find many core concepts for when you’re considering how to approach your work and the people you’re doing it with. Some core concepts we identified were: Solved Problems Collaboration The Level of Work Management See the Whole System Rules of Ownership Validate Results Make Definitions Clear and Specific Consistency, Not Standardization Allow Process Changes Measurement Against Goals Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 06:29 Importing frameworks and scaffolding 10:18 Focusing on solving problems, not parts 13:27 AI and the importance of collaboration and subject matter experts 17:21 Understanding the whole system 20:46 Frameworks as constraints, not strict processes 24:24 Balancing process and human behavior 28:32 The cafeteria approach to frameworks 36:35 Standardization versus consistency in complex work 39:43 The role of incentives in behavior change 44:20 Creative problem solving 45:32 Principles of effective frameworks 49:26 Starting simple and evolving your framework 52:11 Conclusion: frameworks as living, adaptable systems Books mentioned: A technique for producing ideas - https://a.co/d/0a5fJ0VA The Anatomy of a Product - https://productfields.com/product/the-anatomy-of-a-product 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! Check out our sponsors: https://www.xebia.com https://www.wiserbees.com https://www.jointinsights.com https://www.productfields.com

September 11, 2026Episode 1521 hr 10 min

#152 "I Make", Take and Collaborate with Jimmy DiResta

Jimmy DiResta has spent decades building things other people only imagine. Furniture. TV shows. A life that doesn't sit still. In this episode, we get past the shop tour and into what actually shaped him. We talk New York, the city that built his eye for craft and his tolerance for hustle. We talk Hollywood, and what it's like to make things for an industry built on illusion. We talk about how he approaches a problem, any problem, whether it's a broken hinge or a broken plan. And we get into the parts of his life that don't show up in a highlight reel: his hobbies, friends, family, and picking up pottery as a beginner all over again. This one isn't about tools. It's about how a maker keeps making, decade after decade, without losing the parts of himself that got him here. Most people stop learning new crafts once they've mastered one. Jimmy hasn't. This conversation is a case study in staying a beginner on purpose. What we get into Growing up in and around New York, and how the city and early years shaped his work ethic Hollywood: building for the screen, and what the industry taught him about craft His approach to problem-solving, on set and in the shop Starting pottery as a total beginner, and what it's like to be bad at something new again 00:00 Introduction to Jimmy DiResta 02:34 The Art of Making and Teaching 04:52 Crafts and Changing Times 07:40 Timeless Design Elements 10:32 Manufacturing History and Local Craftsmanship 13:21 Reflections on High School and Early Influences 19:14 From High School to Making Toys 22:04 From Art School to Graphic Design 23:03 Early Experiences in Advertising 23:28 Learning the Craft from Family 24:27 Transitioning to Toy Design 25:47 The Evolution of Problem Solving 28:01 Understanding the Nature of Props and Products 29:59 The Balance of Temporary and Permanent Creations 31:46 The Pressure of Client Work 33:46 Confidence in Problem Solving 37:00 The Joy of Troubleshooting 38:48 Memorable Moments with Howard Stern 41:20 Maker Style F-Marry-Kill 43:31 Collaboration in the Maker Community 46:16 Exploring Pottery as a New Medium 47:22 Embracing Mistakes in Craftsmanship 51:05 The Zen of Pottery and Creative Space 53:23 Gifts from You, Gifts to Me 54:17 The Value of Content as a Legacy 58:16 Interacting with Fans and Community Influence 01:07:24 Parting Thoughts on Positivity and Gratitude 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 guest: Jimmy DiResta https://www.youtube.com/user/jimmydiresta/ https://www.instagram.com/jimmydiresta/ https://www.instagram.com/makingfunshow/ https://www.joinmakersmob.com/diresta/ https://jimmydiresta.com/ https://imakeny.com/ https://direstaedc.com/ Check out our sponsors: https://www.xebia.com https://www.wiserbees.com https://www.jointinsights.com https://www.productfields.com

August 3, 2026Episode 1511 hr 34 min

#151 Product Economics

Summary In this episode, Rich Visotcky and Jim Sammons explore the nuances of decision-making, the importance of understanding opportunity costs, and how to effectively manage product development and organizational priorities through early learning, strategic experimentation, and the economics of product development. They discuss strategies for quantifying costs, the impact of delays, and practical approaches to focus and efficiency. Jim and Rich wrap things up with how to make smarter decisions with limited resources, the value of testing assumptions, and the impact of human behavior on business success. Takeaways The cost of delay can significantly erode value if not managed properly. Prioritization should be based on economic impact and opportunity cost. Simplicity and focusing on what matters most can improve organizational agility. Understanding team costs and resource allocation helps in better planning. Early validation and quick learning are crucial to avoid sunk cost fallacies. Early learning and iteration can significantly reduce risk and improve outcomes. Understanding human behavior helps in designing better products and services. Buying time through strategic decisions can lead to better resource allocation. Asking the right questions reveals hidden opportunities and customer needs. Simple frameworks and mental models can make complex decisions more manageable.

June 24, 2026Episode 1501 hr 23 min

#150 YouTube, Products, and Tacos with David Picciuto from Make Something

In this engaging conversation, Jim Sammons interviews David Picciuto, a content creator and artist with a background in tech. They explore topics like audience building, product creation, the impact of social media, and the future of content in the age of AI, offering valuable insights for creators and entrepreneurs. David's Site - https://makesomething.com/ David's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@MakeSomething David's art exhibition link - https://www.facebook.com/events/824417793474488/824417800141154/?active_tab=about&rdid=LhU2vlGENfrG7IEA Giant Cassette Tape - https://youtu.be/jExRIl7WBPs?si=NNiHBl_RiLA-c89D

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. Chapters 00:00 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.com https://www.wiserbees.com https://www.jointinsights.com https://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 Intro 00:02:04 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/gilbroza Subscribe 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.com https://www.wiserbees.com https://www.jointinsights.com https://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/agilemindset Preliminary 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/S0040162522001822 Contact Columinity: https://columinity.com/research Connect 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.com www.wiserbees.com www.jointinsights.com www.productfields.com Find more at www.masteringagility.org

April 26, 2021Episode 734 min

S01 E07 Cooking self-management with Ziryan Salayi and Jordan Gross

Abstract: The Scrum framework thrives in complex environments, where more is unknown than that is known. That requires decentralized decision-making and self-managing teams. This level of autonomy is incredibly powerful, yet just as incredibly difficult to install. The guys from the Self-Org Chefs are here to talk to us. What you’ll discover in this show: - Self-management is a layered concept - In order for self-management to work, a great level of trust is needed - Leadership can make or break self-management in your environment Speakers: Ziryan Salayi Organization and Team Transformation coach & Licensed Scrum.org Professional Scrum Trainer I am an Agile professional who is passionate about getting the most out of people and teams. Getting organizations and individuals more agile, more customer-oriented, and creating high-performing teams has become my personal mission over the years. My aim is to enable employees to be fully empowered and support self-selection in all areas within agile organizations. I believe in stimulating and enabling continuous improvement and enjoy working in cross-cultural and virtual teams. Being part of international companies has provided me the opportunity to further develop my social and intercultural communication skills. This has allowed me to successfully work with several virtual teams over the years. Due to my knowledge of working in virtual teams and cross-cultural management, I have also successfully worked in several international teams to provide IT solutions to their customers Contact Ziryan Salayi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziryansalayi/ Jordann Gross Agile Transformation & Self-organization Coach Jordann’s purpose is to nurture environments in which people can become their best selves. He believes one should manage the system and not just the people. Enabling environments in which people grow to new heights gives him energy. Doing this made him an experienced enterprise and executive coach. He coaches on agile leadership & mindset, facilitates transformations to become future-fit, and designs adaptive & scaling organizational structures. Jordann’s hobbies around kid’s camp and board games give him an energetic and playful approach. Leading to his motto: 'putting the fun in functional.' As work in the current age of disruption should be something that gives you energy. Let's just hope your competition is ready for this! Contact Jordan Gross: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanngross/ Sander 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/sanderdu Support the show 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.

December 10, 2022Episode 1051 min

S04 E07 Graphic Facilitation with Gemma Honour

Graphic Facilitation is a lot more than just drawing nice pictures. Of course, it’s nice when you create beautiful sketches, but there is more to it than meets the eye at first glance. Join Sander Dur and Gemma Honour in this inspiring, open, and at times even intimate conversation about Gemma’s passion, experience, and personal stories. What you’ll discover in this show: – It’s not as hard to start making awesome sketches as you might think – You can tap into a different part of the brain by using a pern – Creative thinking can overcome problems that mere discussion might not fix Speakers: Gemma Honour Agile Coach, Graphic Recorder and Visual Facilitator Agile Coach, Visual Facilitator and Part Time Illustrator! 🦸‍♀️ I work with teams to help them uncover their super-powers! A Professional Scrum Master (PSMII), I use scrum and scrum with Kanban to help teams achieve business agility. 👁‍🗨 Visual Facilitator - highly skilled in creating and holding memorable workshops and coaching sessions that get people sharing understanding, thinking creatively, and working together effectively. ✏️ Illustrator - I specialize in illustrating thought-provoking graphics and templates for coaching and scrum professionals so that they can have bespoke coaching tools and social media images tailored to their brand and message. Contact Gemma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-honour-4b404487/ 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 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.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanderdur/ https://xebia.com/academy/nl/trainers/sander-dur https://sander-dur.medium.com/ Additional resources: https://www.adventureswithagile.co Support the show 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.

September 2, 2021Episode 239 min

S02 E02 The Impact of Passion with Lyssa Adkins

Frequent listeners of the show know that throughout the episodes “engagement” has been a recurring theme. Engagement of employees, with the organization, with their work, and with themselves. Today’s show zoom in a little bit deeper on that. Lyssa Adkins, one of the most influential people out there when it comes to Agile coaching, joins us to talk about where she discovered her passion and what the impact of passion is. What you’ll discover in this show: - Passion impacts your everyday life on a large scale - Lyssa discovered her impact by doing rather than defining upfront - Quality of work goes up when working with passionate people Speakers: Lyssa Adkins Coach. Facilitator. Teacher. Inspirer. My current focus is improving the performance of top leadership teams through insightful facilitation and organization systems coaching. Making difficult decisions faster and with clear alignment, unknotting challenging multi-department impediments, creating the conditions for smooth organizational delivery, helping leaders take up the “Agile transformation” that is theirs to make…this is where I thrive and help thrive. My Agile community focus is amplifying women’s voices, which is why I am a founder of the TENWOMENSTRONG #WomeninAgile programs. I have been pleased to serve the emergence of Agile Coaching as a profession. In 2010, I co-founded the Agile Coaching Institute which has developed over 10,000 people in the knowledge, skills, and being-ness needed to yield genuinely competent agile coaching. I am the author of Coaching Agile Teams which, as a top-ranking Agile book, was released as an audiobook in its 10th year. I like to explore facilitating intense conflict, societal change, organizational change, the benefits and costs of being human in the workplace, agile coaching, agile transformation, adult human development, human systems dynamics, the role of nature, and books of all sorts. I tend toward a balance of the provocative and practical. Contact Lyssa Adkins: www.lyssaadkins.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssaadkins/ Sander 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: Personal website: www.lyssaadkins.com Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lyssa+adkins&crid=2JZ98CSO2E7V3&sprefix=lyssa+ad%2C Support the show 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.

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