Agile Chuck Wagon artwork

Agile Chuck Wagon

170 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 11 ratings

A weekly podcast on agile, lean, leadership, and technical topics aimed at beginning to intermediate practitioners.

Management Business Technology agile lean leadership programming interactions communications
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Episodes

Kaizen

July 29, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.24 MB

Chuck talked about kaizen, the lean concept of continuous improvement. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

So What?

July 22, 2020 15:00 - 8 minutes - 5.77 MB

Chuck talks about why emotional impact is an important part of messaging Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Asymmetry of Returns

July 15, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.87 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about the financial concept of asymmetry of returns in terms of agile experiments. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Metaphor

July 08, 2020 15:00 - 6 minutes - 4.57 MB

Chuck talks about metaphor and how its use can propel effective retrospectives. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Corporate Values

July 01, 2020 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.94 MB

In keeping with the theme of the last episode, Chuck talks about corporate values, again using the 5 taekwondo values of courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and indomitable spirit. He talks about how these 5 values could be of use to an agilist. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Personal Values

June 24, 2020 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.1 MB

On this episode, Chuck talks about doing the podcast during the COVID crisis and perseverance. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Mind Maps

June 17, 2020 15:00 - 8 minutes - 6.14 MB

On this episode, Chuck talks about the idea generation technique of mind mapping. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Diversity

June 10, 2020 15:00 - 6 minutes - 4.61 MB

Chuck talks about diversity, and why it's important in society and on agile teams. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Season 10 Retrospective

June 03, 2020 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.39 MB

On this episode, Chuck looks back on ten seasons of the revived Agile Chuck Wagon. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Saliency

May 27, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5 MB

Saliency is a measure or quality of things standing out from their neighbors. Chuck talks about this information science term in the context of agile. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Lessons Being a Nonprofit Board Member

May 20, 2020 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.78 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about lessons he learned during his time on the board of Agile Denver. The board of directors is a team, needs common answers to fundamental questions, and needs a good working agreement with the rest of the organization. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Fishbone Diagrams

May 13, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.35 MB

Fishbone or Ishikawa diagrams are a handy tool for performance root causes analysis. Chuck talks about them in the context of the Scaled Agile framework, but the tool comes from lean and can be applied anyway. It's particularly strong when paired with the 5 Whys technique. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Sparse Checkout

May 06, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.49 MB

Chuck talks about how to handle a situation where you only want to download part of a Git version control repository. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Version Control for Non-programmers

April 29, 2020 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.25 MB

In this episode of the Agile Chuck Wagon, Chuck talks about why a person who isn't a programmer might want to use a version control system. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Core Competencies

April 22, 2020 15:00 - 13 minutes - 9.35 MB

In Growing Great Employees, Erika Andersen talks about six core competencies to evaluate people against. Chuck talks about them in this episode: teamwork, judgement, initiative, results orientation, caring, and pragmatic. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

4x4 performance management

April 15, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.35 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about the 4x4 performance management framework. He compares its 4 questions to the scrum daily standup. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

4x4 Performance Management

April 15, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.35 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about the 4x4 performance management framework. He compares its 4 questions to the scrum daily standup. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Asciidoc

April 08, 2020 15:00 - 8 minutes - 6.08 MB

Chuck gushes about the markup format Asciidoc, as well as markup in general. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Coronavirus

April 01, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.61 MB

Chuck talks about the coronavirus and its disruption to routine Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The Accountability Dial

March 25, 2020 15:00 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MB

In this episode, Chuck illustrates the use of Jonathan Raymond's Accountability Dial technique, with Manager Tools feedback examples as well. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The Advice Monster

March 18, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.71 MB

Chuck talks about a concept from the new book The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier, the Advice Monster. This tendency to inject ourselves into coaching comes with three personas: Tell-It, Save-It, and Control-It. Chuck uses personal examples for each. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Coaching versus Feedback

March 11, 2020 15:00 - 9 minutes - 6.52 MB

Chuck talks about the difference between coaching and feedback. This difference between staying curious and sharing your point of view is a line he often blurs himself. This concept comes from the new book The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

No Season 9 Retro

March 07, 2020 16:00 - 33 seconds - 422 KB

A quick audio note that there was no Season 9 retro Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The Strategy Pattern

March 04, 2020 16:00 - 7 minutes - 4.99 MB

Chuck talks about the strategy pattern, a technique software engineers use to make programs behave more intelligently. Design patterns appear outside of software, and Chuck uses real-world examples to illustrate. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The CORE Model for Leadership Resilience

February 26, 2020 16:00 - 7 minutes - 4.96 MB

Chuck talks about how exercising control, ownership, reach, endurance (CORE) can help you deal with adversaries. He mentioned Morag Barrett's book Cultivate if you want to convert an adversary to an ally. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The Decorator Pattern

February 20, 2020 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.11 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about the decorator pattern, one of many design patterns software engineers use. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

5 Ways of Well-Being

February 12, 2020 16:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about a study done by the New Economics Foundation on 5 practices that improve a person's happiness and feelings of well-being. They are Connect, Be active, Take notice, Keep learning, and Give. Thanks for sketchplanations for bringing it to my attention! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Professionalism

February 05, 2020 16:00 - 5 minutes - 3.79 MB

In this short episode, Chuck reminds us of the importance of remaining professional after giving notice. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Build Systems

January 29, 2020 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.89 MB

In a continuing series on DevOps, Chuck talks about build systems: what they are and why they are important to DevOps success. NOTE: The episode doesn't mention build systems by name. Three popular options are Jenkins, Travis, and TeamCity. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

ESVP Activity

January 22, 2020 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.26 MB

The ESVP activity has application beyond just retrospectives. Learn about explorers, shoppers, vacationers, and prisoners in business meetings and other gatherings. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Version Control

January 15, 2020 16:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MB

In today's episode, Chuck talks about version control. He uses software and non-software examples, then talks through the basics of git, a popular version control system, uses those running examples. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

SLO SLI SLA

January 08, 2020 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.55 MB

On this episode, Chuck talks about the differences between service level objectives (SLOs), service level indicators (SLIs), and service level agreements (SLAs). Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Thinking in Bets

January 01, 2020 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.87 MB

Chuck talks about Annie Duke's book Thinking in Bets, which has some nice parallels to agile philosophy. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Introduction to DevOps

December 25, 2019 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.4 MB

Chuck introduces the topic of DevOps or Site Reliability Engineering. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Ownership and Excuses

December 18, 2019 16:00 - 9 minutes - 6.31 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about how excuses prevent taking ownership of issues. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Ideal Team Player

December 11, 2019 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.77 MB

Chuck talks about Pat Lencioni's book, The Ideal Team Player. Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Universal Troubleshooting Process

December 04, 2019 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.95 MB

Chuck introduces Steve Litt's 10-step Universal Troubleshooting Process, found on troubleshooters.com. Photo by Owen Beard on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Death by Meeting

November 27, 2019 16:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MB

In today's episode, Chuck talks about Pat Lencioni's book Death by Meeting. Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

The Abilene Paradox

November 20, 2019 16:00 - 5 minutes - 3.65 MB

Today, Chuck talks about situations where a group takes an action no individual approves of. Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Levels of Conflict

November 13, 2019 16:00 - 10 minutes - 7.47 MB

In this episode, Chuck talks about a model for levels of conflict by Speed Leas. The model shares some strategies for keeping conflict from escalating. Photo by Frank Busch on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Nielson's 10 Heuristics for User Interface Design

November 06, 2019 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MB

Chuck talks about Jakob Nielson's 10 heuristics for create good user interfaces. They include rules of thumb like use of ubiquitous language and the need for error prevention. Photo by Kobu Agency on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

My Reading Workflow

October 29, 2019 15:00 - 7 minutes - 5.15 MB

For the last episode of season 8, I did not record a retrospective due to the hiatus. Instead, I talked about my personal reading workflow. It's enabled me to read over a book a week. Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Development Managers as Engineering Leads

October 22, 2019 15:00 - 5 minutes - 4.01 MB

In a similar vein to last episode, Chuck talks about the challenges of having a development manager also be an engineering lead. Photo by Marius Ciocirlan on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Development Managers as Scrum Masters

October 15, 2019 15:00 - 6 minutes - 4.23 MB

In this episode, Chuck answers a question from an old work colleague who recently went into management. Young wants to know if dev managers can fill the role of a scrum master. Chuck explains the challenges with this practice. Photo by Foto Sushi on Unsplash Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Hiatus

October 01, 2019 15:00 - 1 minute - 771 KB

The Agile Chuck Wagon is on pause while I recover from a car accident Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Commit Derby

September 24, 2019 15:00 - 14 minutes - 9.78 MB

Chuck details an exercise to help people using source control learn good commit discipline. Interesting in trying it? See my code-kata respository for an implementation. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

Pomodoro Technique

September 17, 2019 15:00 - 14 minutes - 9.75 MB

In this episode, Chuck teaches you how a tomato timer can help you be manage your time and be more productive. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

4 Pillars of Too Much

September 10, 2019 15:00 - 11 minutes - 7.68 MB

This week, Chuck talks about 4 pillars of too much: stuff, choice, information and speed. While originally in the context of overwhelm in children, adults suffer from this as well. Source: Sketchplanations Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

A Spectum of Feedback Quality

September 03, 2019 15:00 - 11 minutes - 8.25 MB

Chuck talks about Nancy Hey's spectrum of feedback quality, from no feedback at all to judgmental, descriptive, targeted, and then self-recognized at the top. Source: Sketchplanations Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)

4 Laws of Simple Design

August 27, 2019 15:00 - 10 minutes - 7.21 MB

In this episode, Chuck reviews Kent Beck's 4 Laws of Simple Design. They are that software code:  Passes the tests Reveals intention  Has no duplication Uses the fewest elements Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/agilechuckwagon)