Product Chats Podcast

“Agile isn’t about following the rules. It’s about delivering real value together.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris speaks with Jenny Martin, seasoned facilitator, coach, and creator of the OOPSI framework. While Agile has transformed software development over the past two decades, many organizations struggle to scale it effectively or to see the benefits they were promised. Jenny explains why so many teams fall into the trap of focusing on ceremonies and tools instead of the principles that actually drive results, like collaboration, value delivery, and rapid feedback. She introduces OOPSI—short for Outcomes, Outputs, Process, Scenarios, Inputs—a lightweight, non-prescriptive framework that helps teams break down complex problems, align on value, and accelerate delivery. Jenny shares how OOPSI can resolve common Agile pitfalls like “water-scrum-fall,” where work still flows through waterfall-style handoffs despite sprint-based development. If your teams don’t understand user stories, are unclear on priorities, or struggle to collaborate across functions, this conversation offers a practical path to restoring focus, alignment, and energy in Agile. For show notes and more resources, visit: pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at pragmaticinstitute.com.

“AI agents aren’t replacing humans—they’re freeing us to do more human work.” In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Dan Corbin, longtime Pragmatic instructor and AI course creator, to demystify one of the fastest-emerging technologies in product management: AI agents. Dan explains what makes agents different from other tools like ChatGPT, why they matter, and how product and marketing teams can begin using them today. Together, they explore practical use cases across the product lifecycle, including how AI agents can automate repetitive work, analyze support tickets, and even assist in discovery and prioritization. Dan also shares advice on how to structure your AI efforts: starting small, centralizing development, and always keeping humans in the loop. If you’re curious about where AI agents fit into your strategy (and how to avoid the hype), this episode is your roadmap. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcastsPragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

“Value only exists in the customer’s mind.” In this episode we speak with Mark Boundy, founder of Boundy Consulting and author of Radical Value, about the single most important, but often misunderstood, concept in business: perceived customer value. Mark lays out a compelling argument that businesses must deliver outcomes customers care about and that true pricing power comes from helping customers quantify the results they’ll achieve. They explore how most companies still struggle to align internally around a clear definition of value, why nearly all B2B marketing still centers on the vendor (instead of the customer), and how product teams can use value conversations to guide innovation, pricing, and positioning. If you’ve ever wondered how to justify price premiums, this episode is the one. For show notes and more resources, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How do you set the right price when AI is changing everything, except your customer’s expectations of value? In this episode we are joined by Mark Stiving, pricing strategist, host of the Impact Pricing podcast, and original designer of Pragmatic Institute’s Price course. Mark shares how understanding customer value and willingness to pay can guide smarter product decisions and unlock revenue, whether you’re pricing traditional software or AI-powered innovations. Mark explains why pricing isn't just a number. It’s a reflection of how well you understand your customer. He also unpacks how product teams can use AI to uncover buyer insights, refine segmentation, and align pricing with outcomes, not just features. And for those building AI products, he dives into emerging best practices, from outcome-based pricing models to choosing the right metrics that reflect delivered value. Whether you own pricing or just influence it, this episode is a masterclass in connecting what you build to what people will pay for. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

How have product teams transformed over the past 15 years and where are they headed next? In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Saxe, VP of Product at Smartling, to explore the evolution of product leadership, AI integration, and the growing expectations of today’s enterprise customers. With three decades of experience, Andrew shares practical lessons from building smarter teams, scaling development, and making AI actually work for users. You’ll hear how Smartling reimagined the translation experience using AI, how product now touches every part of the customer journey, and what it takes to stay competitive in a faster, more complex market. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What happens when a great engineer becomes the boss? In this episode, we sit down with Pete Steege, B2B growth strategist and founder of B2B Clarity, about the unique challenges faced by “accidental CEOs” – technical experts who find themselves in leadership roles without a roadmap. Drawing parallels to product managers (many of whom also come from technical backgrounds), Pete explores how engineering minds can shift from designing systems to building businesses. You’ll learn how to define your “true story,” align around a bullseye market, and foster a culture of clarity and accountability. Plus, Pete shares tools you can use to eliminate friction and scale smart. For takeaways, tools, and a free assessment, visit: b2b-clarity.com/chatLearn more at: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts

What if you could predict consumer behavior—without running a single survey or focus group? In this episode, host Rebecca Kalogeris sits down with Avi Yashchin, founder and CEO of Subconscious AI, to explore how synthetic respondents and causal AI are transforming the world of market research. Avi shares how his background in high-frequency trading, behavioral economics, and product management at IBM Watson and Two Sigma led him to reimagine how businesses gain customer insights. Subconscious AI’s platform delivers what Avi calls “SimCity for Market Research”—a behavioral simulation that replaces traditional research with faster, more ethical, and scientifically grounded modeling. From shrinking the say-do gap to exploring causation (not just correlation), Avi outlines a powerful vision for the next era of insight. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcasts Pragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.

What’s the secret to getting your product not just built—but sold, used, and loved? In this episode, we sit down with Ciara Peter, SVP of Product at Robin, to explore the full lifecycle of product success from early design decisions to sales enablement and in-app education. With nearly two decades of experience at companies like Salesforce, Box, and Medallia, Ciara shares tactical strategies for making your product easy to sell and adopt. She emphasizes the product manager’s role in business outcomes, detailing how to align with sales, enable customer-facing teams, and build onboarding experiences that actually drive engagement. For detailed takeaways, show notes, and more, visit: www.pragmaticinstitute.com/resources/podcastsPragmatic Institute is the global leader in Product, Data, and Design training and certification programs for working professionals. Learn more at www.pragmaticinstitute.com.