The Everyday Agile Podcast

What does the future of the Scrum Master role actually look like?

In this episode of the Everyday Agile Podcast, I sit down with Rachael Fletcher to explore why Scrum Masters need more than ceremonies, stand-ups and Jira boards to survive in modern delivery environments.

We discuss:

Why technical awareness matters (without needing to code)
The evolution from Scrum Master to delivery leader
AI’s impact on agile roles
Facilitation, coaching and communication skills
Misalignment and bottlenecks inside organisations
Agile beyond software development
Building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome
Using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude in delivery work

Rachael also shares her unconventional journey from personal training to agile leadership, how coaching principles translate into delivery, and why the most valuable Scrum Masters are those who understand people, systems, and outcomes.

If you work in Agile, Scrum, Product, Delivery, Engineering Leadership or Digital Transformation, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply immediately.

📌 Topics covered:
Scrum Master skills
Agile leadership
Delivery management
Technical Scrum Masters
AI in Agile
Product delivery
DevOps & delivery flow
Facilitation skills
OKRs & alignment
Agile coaching

▶︎Connect with Rachael
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachaelbridges/

▶︎Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery
https://www.youtube.com/@UCr64ZQya2tveTASm0sA3D9A

▶︎Our Newsletter
https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups

▶︎Conference Tickets
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/notanotheragileconference/2178867

▶︎Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Meeting Rachael Fletcher
00:56 – Should Scrum Masters Be Technical?
02:22 – Technical Understanding vs Coding Skills
03:36 – How Technical Knowledge Removed Imposter Syndrome
05:13 – From Personal Trainer to Agile Leadership
06:10 – Coaching Skills That Transfer into Agile
07:19 – Agile Principles Applied to Real Life
09:20 – Why Being a Scrum Master Isn’t Enough Anymore
10:14 – The Shift from Scrum Master to Delivery Leadership
11:25 – What Great Delivery Looks Like Day-to-Day
12:17 – Mapping Systems, Dependencies & Bottlenecks
13:28 – Handling Product Managers & Priorities
14:45 – Misalignment: The Biggest Delivery Killer
15:33 – Real Example of Delivery Bottlenecks at Scale
17:24 – Challenging Leadership the Right Way
18:20 – Advice to Her 21-Year-Old Self
19:30 – How AI Will Expose Weak Scrum Masters
20:57 – The Human Skills AI Can’t Replace
21:23 – Facilitation, Communication & Difficult Conversations
22:40 – AI Tools Scrum Masters Should Be Using
23:44 – Concerns About AI & Future Generations
26:31 – Building in Public on LinkedIn
28:25 – Why Sharing Lived Experience Matters
30:23 – How Teams Can Use AI Without Building AI Products
31:19 – What’s Next for Rachael Fletcher
32:49 – Agile Meetups, Community & Networking
33:39 – Where to Find Rachael Fletcher Online
34:24 – Outro

What does it really take to build a social impact business in tech?

In this episode, I sit down with Chelsea Slater to talk about women in tech, diversity, leadership, AI, inclusion, and why “hope” might be one of the most underrated leadership skills.
Chelsea shares her journey from North Wales to Liverpool’s tech scene, how she founded Innovate Her UK, and her mission to get girls ready for the tech industry. while also getting the tech industry ready for girls.
Chelsea also explains how companies can partner with Innovate Her, become ambassadors, and help inspire the next generation into technology careers.
If you’re interested in tech, leadership, startups, diversity & inclusion, AI, social impact, or building meaningful businesses, this episode is packed with insight.

▶︎Follow Chelsea Slater on LinkedIn and learn more about Innovate Her UK
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-slater-ab548131/
https://www.innovateher.co.uk/

▶︎Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@EverydayAgile⁩

▶︎Our Newsletter
https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups

▶︎ Chapters
00:00 – Intro & meeting Chelsea Slater
00:39 – Why “hope” matters in leadership
01:37 – The book that inspired Chelsea’s thinking
02:08 – Running a social impact business is hard
03:08 – The reality of leading a small social enterprise
04:23 – Chelsea’s “folder of joy” mindset
05:42 – Chelsea’s route into tech from North Wales
06:25 – Creativity, media studies & early work ethic
07:09 – Discovering the Liverpool tech scene
08:38 – Why tech felt inaccessible growing up
09:42 – The spark behind Innovate Her
10:52 – From Liverpool Girl Geeks to Innovate Her
11:57 – “Get girls ready for tech, and tech ready for girls”
12:20 – How Innovate Her works as a social enterprise
13:19 – Teaching AI, cyber security & tech skills in schools
14:12 – Why office visits change young people’s perspectives
15:18 – The hidden tech careers inside football clubs
16:26 – Using sport, music & fashion to inspire girls into tech
17:31 – What companies are getting right about inclusion
18:10 – Why Co-op stands out on diversity & inclusion
19:15 – Monzo, Channel 4 & open-source workplace policies
20:32 – Where organisations still need to improve
21:13 – The diversity problem in AI & Silicon Valley
22:17 – Why diversity of thought creates better products
23:20 – Being the only woman in the room
24:22 – What men can do better in meetings
24:49 – The importance of facilitation & inclusion
26:44 – Why structure helps quieter voices contribute
28:07 – Why Liverpool’s tech community is special
29:34 – Creativity, culture & the Baltic Triangle
30:50 – How people can support Innovate Her
31:17 – Partnerships, ambassadors & tech education
32:24 – How to get involved with Innovate Her
33:38 – Final thoughts & outro

What does the future of product management actually look like?

In this episode of the Everyday Agile Podcast, I sit down with Carla Jarrett to talk about:

Why traditional product management skills are no longer enough.
How AI is changing product roles.
The rise of engineering fluency and “product engineers”.
Why Scrum and Agile often become “agile theatre”.
Product Manager vs Product Owner debates.
Customer discovery, product leadership and proving product value.
Building SaaS products and surviving acquisitions.
The Liverpool tech scene and the launch of Build Better Liverpool.

Carla shares practical insights from working as a Head of Product, scaling B2B SaaS platforms, leading teams, and helping shape Liverpool’s growing tech community.

If you work in Product Management, Agile, Scrum, SaaS, UX, Engineering Leadership or Tech Leadership, this conversation is packed with useful insights.

Topics covered:
Product Management, Agile, Scrum, AI in Product, SaaS, Product Leadership, Product Strategy, Discovery, Stakeholder Management, UX, Engineering, Customer Feedback, Product Teams, Product Owner vs Product Manager, Liverpool Tech, Build Better Liverpool.

▶︎Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery
https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAgile

▶︎Our Newsletter
https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups

00:00 – Why Product Managers Need More Than Traditional PM Skills
00:50 – The Future of Product Management Is Changing
01:25 – Engineering Fluency, UX & Commercial Thinking Explained
01:56 – How AI Is Changing Product Management Roles
02:44 – Why Product, Design & Engineering Roles Are Blurring
03:33 – The Rise of the Product Engineer
04:13 – Best Podcasts & Resources for Product Managers
05:11 – Best AI & Vibe Coding Tools for Product Teams
06:22 – Carla Jarrett’s Journey Into Tech & Product Management
07:40 – Building a SaaS Product From Scratch
08:10 – What It Feels Like When Your Product Gets Acquired
09:42 – What a Head of Product Actually Does Day-to-Day
10:36 – Customer Discovery & Getting Honest Feedback
11:47 – Managing Teams as a Head of Product
12:46 – How Product Managers Can Prove Their Value
16:16 – Scrum, Agile & “Agile Theatre” Explained
18:13 – Why Story Points Don’t Equal Customer Value
19:04 – Why Carla Started Posting on LinkedIn
21:37 – Why Build Better Liverpool Was Created
22:30 – Liverpool vs Manchester Tech Scene
24:08 – Breaking Down Silos Between Product, Design & Engineering
25:53 – The First Build Better Liverpool Event
27:08 – Product Manager vs Product Owner Debate
30:12 – Carla’s Solution to the Product Role Confusion
31:24 – Final Thoughts & Where to Connect With Carla Jarrett

▶︎ The Everyday Agile Podcast brings you interviews with Agile, Product, business, and tech folk that will leave you with actionable, relevant advice.

▶︎ About Everyday Agile
We might be little, but we’ve got great, big ideas – and lots of them. Transformative ideas that can make a massive difference to your business, your team and how things run. Revolutionary ideas that give our clients the tools they need to nail the basics, create problem-solving products and smash strategy out of the park. Metamorphic ideas that – okay, you get the point.

What is agentic AI and why is everyone talking about it?

In this episode, delivery and transformation leader James Farley breaks down what agentic AI really means, beyond the hype, and how it’s changing product development, business building, and creative work.

▶︎What you’ll learn in this video:
What agentic AI actually is (simple explanation)
Real-world use cases for AI in business and product development
Why AI is unlocking creativity at scale
The hidden risks of AI in product teams
How AI can create false expectations with stakeholders
Why culture matters more than tools
Kanban, flow metrics, and improving delivery systems
The #1 metric most teams ignore (work item age)
How to use AI to validate ideas faster

Key takeaway:
AI can accelerate thinking, prototyping, and delivery, but it can’t replace human judgment, context, or decision-making.

Who this is for:
Product managers & product owners
Agile coaches & Scrum Masters
Tech leaders & founders
Anyone exploring AI in business

▶︎Connect with James Farley:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jsfarley/

▶︎Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery
https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAgile/podcasts

▶︎Our Newsletter
https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups

▶︎Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:45 What is Agentic AI? (Simple Explanation)
01:30 Why Should People Care About Agentic AI?
02:00 The Sibelius Analogy (Why This Matters)
03:00 How AI Unlocks Creativity & Capability
04:30 Real Business Use Cases (Websites, Content, Lead Gen)
06:00 Why Agentic AI Is So Powerful Right Now
06:45 The Dark Side: Where AI Goes Wrong
07:10 The Problem With AI Prototypes (False Expectations)
08:00 Why AI Can Mislead Stakeholders
08:40 The Risk of “Paint-by-Numbers” Product Teams
09:15 Why Teams Lose Autonomy with AI
10:00 The Real Challenge: Culture, Not Tools
10:40 James’ Career Journey (Army → Transformation Leader)
13:50 Discovering Agile & Scrum
16:00 Why Corporate Learning Fails
17:30 What Is Kanban & Why It Matters
19:00 Using Data to Improve Delivery
21:30 Why Teams Ignore Jira (And How to Fix It)
23:00 Flow Metrics Explained Simply
25:30 The Most Important Metric: Work Item Age
27:00 How to Prioritise Work Properly
28:30 Flow Debt Explained
29:30 How to Learn Faster (Books, Podcasts, Communities)
33:00 Why Community Beats Courses
35:00 Building an Agile Community (Agile Gloss)
36:30 AI Hackathons & Rapid Prototyping
37:30 Using AI to Validate Ideas Faster
39:00 Courses, Consulting & Real-World Support
43:00 The Problem with LinkedIn Today
45:00 Final Thoughts on AI, Learning & Delivery

▶︎ The Everyday Agile Podcast brings you interviews with Agile, Product, business, and tech folk that will leave you with actionable, relevant advice.

▶︎ About Everyday Agile
We might be little, but we’ve got great, big ideas – and lots of them. Transformative ideas that can make a massive difference to your business, your team and how things run. Revolutionary ideas that give our clients the tools they need to nail the basics, create problem-solving products and smash strategy out of the park. Metamorphic ideas that – okay, you get the point.

How do you break into tech delivery without a technical background?

In this episode, Dave shares his journey from working in HMRC and sales roles to becoming a highly experienced Agile delivery professional , working across fintech, aviation tech, and large-scale organisations.

We cover:
How to get into tech without coding
The difference between Scrum Master, Delivery Manager & Project Manager
Why sales skills are underrated in tech careers
The reality of Agile consulting and contracting
How to build credibility when joining a new team
Why quick wins matter more than big transformations
The importance of culture, chemistry, and being yourself at work

Dave also shares a powerful perspective on Agile:

It’s not about “doing Scrum”, it’s about delivering value.

If you're trying to move into tech, grow as a delivery leader, or become a better consultant, this episode is packed with real-world insights.

▶︎ Connect with Dave
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-erskine-shaw-835b8311a/

▶︎ Subscribe for more conversations on Agile, product, and delivery
https://www.youtube.com/@EverydayAgile/podcasts

▶︎Our Newsletter
https://substack.com/@betweenthestandups

▶︎Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Dave
0:21 10+ Years in Tech Delivery Explained
0:49 Learning Across Roles (Tester → BA → Delivery)
1:23 Why He Chose Delivery Over Technical Roles
1:41 Life Before Tech (HMRC, Sales & Early Career)
2:24 The Reality of Moving Into the Private Sector
2:42 Lessons Learned from Sales (Underrated Skills)
3:27 Advice for Young People Starting Careers
4:02 Why “Earning Your Stripes” Matters
5:13 The Role That Changed Everything (Law Firm)
5:42 Moving Into Leadership Through Performance
6:01 First Step Into Tech (Testing Role)
6:40 Becoming a Scrum Master & Delivery Leader
7:30 Why He Leaned Into Delivery Management
8:05 “Jack of All Trades” – Strength or Weakness?
8:40 Leaving a Role to Grow Your Career
9:16 Working in Aviation Tech & Fintech
9:51 Why Delivery Manager Is the Best Role
10:24 Why He Moved Into Contracting
11:09 Making Yourself Redundant as a Scrum Master
12:01 Agile Consulting Life Explained
12:53 What Good Agile Teams Look Like
13:47 Scaling Delivery & Improving Teams
14:42 Looking at the Full System (Not Just Scrum)
15:24 Why Chemistry Matters in Teams
16:04 Culture Shock: Liverpool vs Cambridge
17:45 Personal vs Professional Integration
18:23 Building Credibility as a Consultant
19:07 Starting With Zero Trust (Reality Check)
19:46 Quick Wins & Building Momentum
20:19 Why Being Yourself Matters at Work
21:13 Small Wins vs Big Transformations
22:21 Why He Stopped Posting on LinkedIn
23:17 The Problem with Agile Dogma
24:00 What Agile Is Actually About
24:42 Where to Connect with Dave

▶︎ The Everyday Agile Podcast brings you interviews with Agile, Product, business, and tech folk that will leave you with actionable, relevant advice.

▶︎ About Everyday Agile
We might be little, but we’ve got great, big ideas – and lots of them. Transformative ideas that can make a massive difference to your business, your team and how things run. Revolutionary ideas that give our clients the tools they need to nail the basics, create problem-solving products and smash strategy out of the park. Metamorphic ideas that – okay, you get the point.