Afleveringen

  • Liminal Thinking with Dave Gray: Meet the Man Who Accidentally Wrote a Book About Us

    Liminal Thinking with Dave Gray: Meet the Man Who Accidentally Wrote a Book About Us

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    What if your beliefs—about work, people, or even yourself—are quietly holding you back? In this episode of The Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with visual thinker, author, and accidental Mob Programming anthropologist Dave Gray to unpack the power of belief, clarity, and collaboration in tech and beyond.

    Dave Gray is known for Liminal Thinking—a book about understanding the invisible beliefs that shape behavior and systems. But did he know he was writing a book about us? Turns out, our Mob Programming origin story and Dave’s journey are more connected than you’d expect.

    With roots as an artist, Dave brings a rare perspective to complex tech and business systems. From prior infographic posters that demystified RFID and Bluetooth when they first came out, to visual guides on inner transformation and his latest books, Dave's work simplifies the complicated and builds bridges for real understanding.

    With Dave we explore:

    What led Dave from agile software development to Liminal Thinking

    Why most Agile transformations fail

    How to navigate confusing resistance—are people really lost, or just saying “no”?

    The principles behind creating safe spaces and disrupting unhelpful routines

    Visual and liminal thinking for fostering organic authentic change, not just communication tricks

    Raw observation vs. narrative: how perception can distort reality

    Why having lunch with someone you think is "crazy" or "stupid" might be the wisest move

    The psychology behind tech resistance, organizational inertia, and true agility

    We also revisit how Woody Zuill and our original Mob Programming team with Chris Lucian smashed the belief that “real work” only happens in cubicles and outside of "meetings." The mob origin story had Liminal Thinking on full display as that team reflected, questioned, and ultimately acted in defiance of broken norms. The result? A shift in how we define space, collaboration, and innovation as Dave captures in his book.

    If you work in tech, lead change, facilitate teams, or just feel stuck inside outdated ways of working, this episode is for you.Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/fWF6kQBRdhg

  • From the Birth of XP to the Death of Scrum with Tobias Mayer

    From the Birth of XP to the Death of Scrum with Tobias Mayer

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Tobias Mayer—author, coach, and longtime voice in the Agile world—to explore the journey from his early discovery of XP (Extreme Programming) in 1997 all the way to today’s debate around the death of Scrum.

    Tobias shares his personal transformation from developer to Scrum Master, his resistance to early XP, and how he learned great practices from developers he managed. We unpack his reflections on Agile’s semantic drift, the role of Scrum Masters as change agents vs. bean counters, and what happens when teams do Agile without even knowing the Agile Manifesto.

    🔍 Topics we dive deep into:

    Discovering XP through a paper against it 😅When “Scrum” became a buzzword and what was lost in translationWhat it really means to live the values of the Agile ManifestoXP coaches, grassroots change, and learning from your teamThe difference between top-down control and emergent discoveryMisused metaphors in tech: “firefighting,” “war rooms,” “soldiers,” and moreAre software teams more like engineers, artisans, or ensembles?Can DORA metrics (DevOps Research and Assessment) prove or disprove Agile’s effectiveness?

    We also dig into mob programming (aka mobbing)—what it means, why the name matters, and whether or not new metaphors like “ensemble programming” or “teaming” (à la Amy Edmondson) better reflect how high-performing teams really work.

    💡 Plus:

    The problem with the Product Owner (PO) role in ScrumWhy language in IT shapes behavior—for better or worseApplying Artful Making to modern product developmentRethinking business through the lens of theatre, philosophy, and cooperative economicsThe importance of psychological safety, dissent, and experimentation in creating real agility

    Tobias brings rich context from classics, theology, and history—yes, even turning a conference t-shirt into fashion—to challenge how we think about building products, teams, and businesses.

    🛠️ Whether you're into XP, Scrum, Mob Programming, Lean, or simply want to rethink your metaphors and language at work, this episode delivers grounded insight, sharp critique, and fresh perspectives.

    👉 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of agile thinking, real teamwork, and modern product development.Video and show notes: https://youtu.be/ZFoY-De91BE

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  • Overrun Navigators, Strong Opinions, and Doc Reading: Prof Ben’s Mobbing Questions from the Trenches

    Overrun Navigators, Strong Opinions, and Doc Reading: Prof Ben’s Mobbing Questions from the Trenches

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🎙️ In this episode of The Mob Mentality Show, we’re joined by Professor Ben Kovitz—a former software developer with 15 years of industry experience who went on to earn a PhD and is now teaching Computer Science at Cal Poly Humboldt. Prof Ben flips the script and brings his own real-world mob programming questions—challenges he’s faced while mobbing live with college students in the classroom.

    This is not theory. These are hard-won questions from the trenches of mob programming in a learning environment, where curiosity meets complexity, and group dynamics get real.

    🔍 We dive deep into 5 key challenges:

    1. Deep Thought vs. Mob Timers:How do you carve out time to think deeply, explain thoroughly, or research ideas in a setting where timers tick every 3 minutes? Is it “wrong” to step away from the mob to figure something out? We discuss balancing solo exploration with group momentum, and how to build a culture that supports both.

    2. Upfront Design or Just Start Mobbing?Do you need to pre-design work before mobbing, or can product discovery and agile planning happen in the mob itself? We explore Kanban, Continuous Delivery (CD), and even SPIDR story splitting as tools for flowing work in real time.

    3. The Overrun Navigator:What happens when a mob gets too rowdy and drowns out the navigator—especially one who doesn’t yet know what to do? We unpack the difference between “good rowdy” energy and “bad rowdy” imbalance, and how facilitation, structured roles, or even a moment of silence can reset the team.

    4. The Strong Opinion Navigator:Is it okay for someone with strong, often-correct opinions to mob effectively? How do we avoid stifling experimentation or learning? We tackle the value of letting experiments speak, coaching with humility, and using dominant voices to model vulnerability instead of control.

    5. Mobbing with Documentation and AI:Should the mob read documentation together? What about using AI tools? We cover how teams can mob to teach effective doc reading, search strategies, and prompt engineering, while still adapting workflows to individual learning zones and WIP (Work in Progress) constraints.

    💡 This episode is full of insights on:

    Group facilitation in real-time coding

    Balancing solo and group learning

    Creating psychological safety in a mob

    Adapting mob rules to context—not dogma

    Bringing agile, XP (Extreme Programming), and education together in the mobbing practice

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/nAAI5f7-vTs

  • Football, Trust, and Code: What Retro Bowl Teaches Tech Leaders, Coaches, and Teams​

    Football, Trust, and Code: What Retro Bowl Teaches Tech Leaders, Coaches, and Teams​

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🏈 Welcome to another episode of the Mob Mentality Show, where we explore the intersection of software development, leadership, and real-world lessons—from the unexpected to the game-changing. This time, we're talking Coaching Credits—as seen in the addictive mobile football game Retro Bowl—and how they map directly to trust, influence, and leadership in software teams.

    🎙️ What are Coaching Credits?In Retro Bowl, Coaching Credits represent the respect and trust you’ve earned from players, staff, and fans. They let you upgrade your team, hire top-tier talent, and level up your environment. In software development, we argue Coaching Credits are just as real—earned through Extreme Programming (XP), Mob Programming, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Continuous Delivery (CD), and strong relationship-building.

    👶 Austin kicks it off with a story about trying to stay awake helping his wife with their new baby—turning to Retro Bowl as a late-night lifeline. That sparks a deep dive into what the game teaches us about:

    Building trust and respect through small wins

    The balance between performance and relationships

    Using “credits” (influence) wisely inside and outside your team

    How to upgrade your environment and talent pool over time

    What happens when you try to “spend” influence you don’t actually have

    👨‍💻 In Dev Culture Terms:Earn trust by delivering value. Spend it by coaching others, refactoring code, upgrading environments, or influencing org-wide decisions. Just like in Retro Bowl, you can overreach. Think: trying a big move when your trust bank is empty = a bounced check.

    📘 We also tie Coaching Credits to Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits—specifically, the idea of an emotional bank account—and reflect on how these lessons align with the origin story of mob programming.

    🚨 Key Questions We Explore:

    Can you go into Coaching Credit “debt”?

    Is quick wins and trust the only way forward when you're starting from zero?

    Are you too transactional in how you lead or code?

    Should someone build a Software Dev Sim game like Retro Bowl? 😅

    💡 If you're a software engineer, tech lead, or engineering manager, this episode offers a fun but surprisingly deep framework for thinking about how trust, respect, and influence shape the way you build products and teams.

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/ZWgOkphBFNI

  • How to Split the Impossible: Slicing Stories When the Dream Is Too Big

    How to Split the Impossible: Slicing Stories When the Dream Is Too Big

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🎙️ Ever faced a product vision so massive it felt impossible to start? In this Mob Mentality Show episode, we tackle the art and science of Story Splitting — breaking down huge dreams into small, deliverable slices without losing momentum or clarity.

    We explore real-world strategies, including:

    Asking the hard questions like Do we really need to release everything at once?

    Using SPIDR (Spike, Path, Interface, Data, Rules) to guide story splitting

    Implementing Feature Flags (tools to enable/disable features without deploying new code) for flexible delivery

    Creating color-coded diagrams to visualize release order and dependencies

    Practicing "Yes, and" techniques to manage big customer asks without abandoning Agile values

    Running post-mortem retrospectives focused on improving splitting practices

    Mapping ideas with Discovery Trees (visual structures for feature evolution)

    Handling the tension between Big Bang marketing launches and incremental delivery

    Influencing sales and marketing teams to only sell what's already done vs. selling the future

    Identifying the impact of poor story splitting on technical debt and customer trust

    Differentiating splitting technical work vs. splitting user-facing features

    Teaching business stakeholders the fundamentals of CD (Continuous Delivery) and good story practices implicitly vs. explicitly

    Working through known unknowns vs. unknown unknowns in product discovery

    Using the Cynefin Framework (a model for navigating complexity) to decide splitting approaches

    Prioritizing with cost of delay and story split diagrams to maximize value

    This episode is packed with hands-on advice for developers, product managers, Agile coaches, and leaders looking to move fast without breaking things. Whether you're struggling with overwhelming customer requests, complicated roadmaps, or internal misalignment, learning how to split the impossible is key to success in Agile, Continuous Delivery, and Lean Product Development.Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/MjwIkiM25xM

  • How Gemba Walks and Mobbing Reveal the Truth About Your Engineering Org with Phil Borlin

    How Gemba Walks and Mobbing Reveal the Truth About Your Engineering Org with Phil Borlin

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🎙️ What’s really happening inside your engineering org?In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with Philip Borlin, Director of Engineering and advocate for lean thinking, mobbing, and team capability building, to uncover how Gemba Walks, smaller batch sizes, and healthy team nudges reveal the actual state of your tech organization—not just what reports say.

    We explore how leaders can stop flying blind and start leading based on facts from the field.

    🔍 Topics Covered:

    ✅ Gemba Walks (Japanese term meaning “go to the real place”):

    Why your assumptions about how work gets done are probably wrong

    How spending even one hour a week in the mob or at the code level changes everything

    The myth of managing solely through middle managers

    Why high-fidelity information beats filtered reporting

    Remote-friendly adaptations: mobbing, Lean coffees, and async insight gathering

    ✅ Mobbing (also known as ensemble programming):

    How mobbing surfaces capability gaps and builds shared understanding

    Growing capabilities without enforcing rigid standards

    Real stories of capability fire drills, single points of failure, and org fragility

    “Low and slow” growth as the only sustainable path to true skill development?

    ✅ Fixing Batch Size and WIP (Work In Progress):

    How large batches lead to delivery waste, delays, and bugs

    The surprising power of reducing ticket size to unlock flow

    Socratic coaching at stand-ups to improve team work slicing

    Giving permission to drop non-priority work and focus only on what matters

    ✅ Building a Learning Culture:

    Why capability resilience > retaining every team member forever

    Using “nudges” and peer pressure the right way

    Investing in bright spots without ignoring skeptics

    Cultivating environments where psychological safety and growth feed off each other

    💡 Whether you’re a Director of Engineering, Tech Lead, Agile Coach, or Software Engineer, this episode gives you practical ways to lead with clarity, scale team capability, and build resilience into your org’s DNA.🎧 Subscribe now so you don’t miss the drop:👉 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/bFMD0AsVDUA

  • No Branches?! Ron Cohen Breaks Down Trunk Based Development and Feature Flags (For Real)

    No Branches?! Ron Cohen Breaks Down Trunk Based Development and Feature Flags (For Real)

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    What if your team didn’t need branches at all? 💥 In this episode of The Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with Ron Cohen, CTO and co-founder of Bucket, to unpack the real story behind Trunk Based Development (TBD) and the practical use of Feature Flags.

    Ron stirred the pot online by challenging common assumptions around TBD — and now he’s here to clear the air.

    We talk about:

    What Trunk Based Development really means (Hint: It’s not just “no branches”)

    Why TBD isn’t just a Git strategy, but a safety mindset often backed by solid practices like Pair Programming, Mob Programming, and TDD (Test-Driven Development)

    Gitflow vs. TBD — which one sets your team up to move faster and safer?

    The myth that TBD = chaos, and why short-lived branches might still play a role

    How mobbing and pairing can make TBD not just possible, but powerful

    We also dive deep into Feature Flags (a.k.a. Feature Toggles):

    Why Ron became obsessed with them — and how they changed how his teams ship code

    How to use toggles for faster releases, safer experiments, and smoother collaboration between devs, Product Owners (POs), and marketing

    The difference between feature flags that require a deployment and those that don’t

    The value of “dogfooding” your features in production before a full rollout

    Why not all toggles are created equal — from simple UI switches to ops-level controls

    How to avoid the mess of long-lived toggles and clean up after experiments (Austin, we're looking at you 😅)

    Plus:

    How flags can power A/B testing and internal beta programs

    Fowler’s definition of Feature Flags — and how it is in action

    Using toggles to build internal and external trust

    Ron’s framework for different kinds of flags in different contexts

    Whether you're deep into CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery), trying to tame your branching strategy, or just want to ship smarter — this episode’s packed with insights you can use immediately.

    🎧 Subscribe and listen on your favorite platform:👉 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/4PZN1yO8l2c

  • How Software Prof Ben Kovitz Turned His Class into a Live Coding Mob

    How Software Prof Ben Kovitz Turned His Class into a Live Coding Mob

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    What happens when a college software design course ditches traditional lectures and embraces Mob Programming?

    In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with Ben Kovitz, a former software developer turned professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, to explore his innovative approach to teaching software design through mobbing.

    Topics Covered:

    ✅ From Industry to Academia: Why Ben left software development to become a professor and how he discovered mob programming.✅ Redefining Software Education: Instead of 30 traditional lectures on software design, Ben’s students learn by doing—designing software while coding.✅ The Power of Mobbing in the Classroom: How students collaborate in the mob of 8, rapidly sharing knowledge and tackling challenges together.✅ Fast Learning vs. Lectures: Why mobbing enables faster knowledge transfer compared to passive lectures.✅ Strong-Style Navigation: How rotations and fast timers helped to stimulate a highly effective learning environment.✅ The Role of the Navigator: How students help each other navigate, learn C++ and the QT framework, and document key lessons from each mob session.✅ Real-World Software Challenges: Simulating legacy code maintenance, evolutionary design, and design patterns like MVC (Model-View-Controller).✅ Overcoming Student Struggles: What happens when students don’t know how to navigate? How asking for help and learning together fosters growth.✅ Teaching Through Experience: Letting students experiment with flawed solutions before introducing better design principles.✅ Assessment & Engagement: How Ben measures student participation, engagement, and learning outcomes in a mobbing environment.

    Why This Matters:

    Traditional software design education can leave students unprepared for the realities of refactoring real code and collaborative development. By integrating Mob Programming, refactoring techniques, and hands-on problem-solving, Ben Kovitz is equipping the next generation of developers with practical, real-world skills and deeper design insights.📢 Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show to stay updated on the latest insights in Mob Programming, Extreme Programming (XP), Agile, and collaborative software development!

    🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform: https://www.mobmentalityshow.com

    🔔 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more episodes on software development, coding education, and team collaboration!

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/Rajvp2nrg1A

  • Garrick West on 'Building' Great Developers with XP & Agile plus the Best Debugging

    Garrick West on 'Building' Great Developers with XP & Agile plus the Best Debugging

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🔥 How do you actually build great software developers? How do you debug like a pro? And what happens when XP (Extreme Programming) makes a comeback after the Scrum backlash?

    Join us as Garrick West—a seasoned XP practitioner, Agile coach, and software craftsmanship advocate—dives into:✅ Building Agile Software Developers: From XP mentorship to industry-academia collaboration✅ The Best Debugging Strategies: Unpacking The Debugging Book and applying its rules in a mob✅ Reviving XP & Software Crafting: Why XP is more crucial than ever in Agile teams

    🚀 Garrick's Story: From Early Coding to XP ChampionGarrick started coding at 10 years old (at day camps in the 80s! 😅), earned a Computer Science degree, and had his development worldview shaped by reading the first edition of Extreme Programming Explained. He has worked at XP-centric organizations, trained teams in TDD (Test-Driven Development), Ensemble Programming, and CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment), and even revamped a college curriculum from Waterfall to XP/Scrum.

    🎯 "Building" Agile Software Developers

    The power of an XP coach early in a developer’s journeyPublic speaking as a dev skill? (Toastmasters, teaching at community college)What happened when Garrick helped convert a college curriculum from Waterfall to XP/Scrum?Industry experts + academia: How can professional devs and educators collaborate better?The apprentice model: What it means and why learning stages (like the Dreyfus Model) matterAI & developer education: Does AI replace early learning stages, or is it just a slick salesman?Scaling Gilded Rose Kata to different skill levelsTest Coverage as a red herring—what should we focus on instead?

    🐞 Debugging: The Missing Developer SuperpowerEver heard of The Debugging Book? Most developers haven’t—but it’s a game-changer. We explore:

    Debugging as problem-solving, not just "stepping through" in an IDEThe 9 Debugging Rules: From reading the manual to never throwing away a good test toolHow to gamify debugging in a mob & introduce a "debugging auditor" roleThe anti-pattern of multiple experiments at once—and how to avoid itWhy debugging is like navigating a labyrinth with a million wrong paths

    🔄 Reviving XP & Software Crafting After the Scrum Backlash

    XP fills Scrum’s missing middle: Building the right thing (Scrum) AND building it right (XP)How Scrum without XP leads to a “Ball of Mud” in just 18 monthsWhy XP + Lean is the ultimate combinationBreaking free from sprints & pressure cookers—just focus on continuous iterationsCan XP stand without Scrum? Or does Scrum need XP?

    💡 Don’t miss this high-energy, insight-packed conversation with Garrick West!

    📢 Comment below: What’s YOUR experience with XP, Agile, or debugging challenges? Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/vxLDm-13Ny4

  • Game Jams & Mobbing: Supercharging Learning, Speed, and Creativity with James Herr

    Game Jams & Mobbing: Supercharging Learning, Speed, and Creativity with James Herr

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🚀 How do Game Jams accelerate learning? Can mobbing make game development more effective? In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we dive deep into Game Jams, Mobbing, and Game Dev Collaboration with James Herr—a full-stack developer, game dev enthusiast, and published game creator on Steam.

    🎮 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

    🔹 What Are Game Jams and why they’re a must-try for devs?🔹 The tech stacks and tools commonly used in Game Jams🔹 How themes shape a Game Jam’s creativity and constraints🔹 How James is bringing mobbing into Game Jams🔹 The difference between solo development, swarming, and full mobbing?🔹 Pros & Cons of Mobbing Game Jams—Does it boost creativity or slow things down?🔹 How Discord & Twitch fuel real-time game dev collaboration🔹 Can Twitch chat act as a “navigator” in game development? Does the live audience guide decisions?🔹 How Game Jams reveal code smells faster and teach refactoring & design patterns🔹 Why public game dev can be a game-changer for learning speed🔹 How Game Jams can simulate real-world software challenges and improve teamwork🔹 Mob timer tools & Git handover techniques for smoother collaboration

    🤝 Why This Episode Matters:

    Mobbing isn’t just for software teams—it’s transforming game development, learning, and onboarding. James shares his firsthand experience mobbing with kids, running Game Jams with cross-discipline teams, and teaching mobbing roles in game dev. Whether you’re a seasoned developer, indie game creator, or just curious about Game Jams, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

    📢 Want to Join the Game Dev Community?James discusses how Discord and Twitch connect developers worldwide, making it easy to collaborate, get feedback, and learn from others. Checkout James' communities here: https://jamcraft.io/

    🎧 Subscribe & Listen Now!Don’t miss out! Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show and get notified when this episode drops:🔗 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/AZEH_FmBBKs

  • TDD, Misconceptions, and Better Testing with Jason Swett

    TDD, Misconceptions, and Better Testing with Jason Swett

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    🚀 Why is there so much confusion around Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Automated Testing? Why do many developers struggle with testing, and what are they getting wrong? In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with Jason Swett—author, speaker, and a go-to expert on Rails testing—to unpack the most common misconceptions, challenges, and best practices in modern software testing.

    🔍 Topics We Cover:✅ Why Jason Swett is passionate about Automated Testing and why he wants to help the development community✅ Misconceptions about TDD (Test-Driven Development)—not liking TDD itself vs. not liking something called "TDD"✅ The reality of software testing—why most developers aren't doing it well and how to improve✅ Testing vs. verification vs. specification—what is a test really? What is code?✅ Red, Green, Refactor vs. Specify, Encode, Fulfill—what do these different ways of thinking about TDD highlight? ✅ Why software changeability matters and how to reduce the cost of ownership✅ What are you actually testing? The difference between testing the product (e.g., squirt gun) vs. testing the system that builds it✅ The role of automation in development—is code like factory machinery?✅ How testing connects to broader software and team dynamics—beyond just writing tests✅ Common pitfalls in testing and how to ensure your tests actually add value✅ Logical debates vs. ego-driven arguments—how to have productive discussions about TDD

    💡 Key Takeaways:🔹 TDD is often misunderstood—before rejecting it, understand what it really is🔹 Many developers struggle with writing the right kind of tests—knowing what to test is critical🔹 Automated tests don’t just verify code; they help manage change and reduce long-term costs🔹 Good testing and TDD are about more than just code—they’re about communication, clarity, and better software development

    📌 Who should watch/listen?If you’re a developer, tester, software engineer, or tech lead who wants to improve your testing skills, understand TDD better, and learn from a Rails testing expert, this episode is for you!

    🎧 Subscribe & Listen: Don’t miss an episode! Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show on your favorite platform:👉 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/

    🔥 Join the Conversation! Have thoughts on TDD and Automated Testing? Share them in the comments!

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/_kL_tXiNcl4

  • Agile Principle #12: Continuous Reflection & Adjustment in Mobbing

    Agile Principle #12: Continuous Reflection & Adjustment in Mobbing

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    How often should Agile teams reflect and adjust? Is your team on a road with switchbacks but they are not turning the wheel? In this episode of The Mob Mentality Show, we take a deep dive into Agile Principle #12, which states:

    "At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly."

    From a Mob Programming perspective, we explore what "tuning and adjusting" really looks like in high-uncertainty, high-interdependence work. Is it like steering a car, constantly making small adjustments, or is it something that requires far less steering? How do different approaches—Waterfall, 2 Week Scrum, and Mob Programming—each handle batch size and feedback loops with continuous improvement?

    In This Episode, We Discuss:

    ✅ Agile Principle #12—How it drives continuous improvement in teams✅ "Regular Intervals"—Comparing Waterfall, 2-week Scrum sprints, and healthy mobbing✅ Batch Size & Effectiveness—How small adjustments impact team agility✅ Single vs. Double Loop Learning—Which leads to deeper team growth?✅ Diversity & Focus—Does learning together accelerate improvement more than learning separately?✅ The Cynefin Model—Navigating uncertainty and complexity in Agile work✅ Liminal Thinking—How belief structures and assumptions impact team reflection

    Many teams go through the motions of retrospectives, but are they truly adjusting their behavior effectively?

    Join us for this insightful discussion where we challenge assumptions, explore deeper learning, and uncover the best ways to reflect, adapt, and improve as a team.

    🎧 Subscribe & Listen:Don't miss this episode! Subscribe on your favorite platform here:🔗 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/

    📩 Connect with UsLet us know your thoughts in the comments! How does your team reflect and adjust?Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/ikmWgj44g28

  • When TDD Meets R&D: How to Keep Small Steps & Fast Feedback Loops in High Uncertainty

    When TDD Meets R&D: How to Keep Small Steps & Fast Feedback Loops in High Uncertainty

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    How do you balance small, iterative progress with the vast unknowns of research and development (R&D)? Can test-driven development (TDD) literally or "in spirit" still provide value when you're navigating uncharted territory? In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we dive deep into the intersection of R&D Mobbing and software development, exploring real-world scenarios, strategies, and challenges teams face when innovating under uncertainty.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    🔬 Chris's Journey with Mob Randori & R&D: From "we don’t know what we’re doing" to "we know what we’re doing"—how mob programming helped transform uncertainty into effective delivery.

    🛠️ R&D vs. CD? Can teams practice continuous delivery (CD) even when tackling complex, unknown problem spaces? If so, is there a change in what is "delivered"?

    📌 Keeping Small Steps & Feedback Loops in R&D: TDD is known for its rapid feedback and endorphin kicks—but how do you retain those benefits when exploring an unfamiliar landscape?

    🔄 Adjusting Your Mobbing for the Task at Hand: When should you modify your mob programming approach to fit the nature of research-driven work versus production-level development?

    🧗‍♂️ Clean Code Spelunking & Navigating the Unknown: Techniques for digging deep into existing codebases while ensuring safety and maintaining forward momentum.

    🚩 Feature Flags & Safety in R&D: How to experiment with new ideas and do Trunk Based Development (TBD) without introducing instability to production.

    📊 Transparency, Visualization & Business Buy-in: Addressing stakeholder fear of an "infinite problem space."

    🧠 The Inverse of ZOMBIES in R&D Mode: How do you maintain focus, momentum, and value delivery when dealing with high levels of uncertainty?

    ⚡ Real-Life R&D Success Stories & Lessons Learned: Practical examples of mob programming driving R&D innovation in high-unknown environments.

    If you’ve ever wondered how to keep experimentation structured, learning fast, and delivery continuous—even when dealing with complex unknowns—this episode is for you!📌 Watch More Episodes & Subscribe on Your Favorite Platform: https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/🔔 Don’t miss future episodes—hit the subscribe button!Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/nipbhFopqMM

  • The DDD Dream? A Domain Expert Full-Time in a Mob 🚀

    The DDD Dream? A Domain Expert Full-Time in a Mob 🚀

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    Is the ultimate Domain-Driven Design (DDD) dream having a domain expert fully embedded in a Mob? Or does it come with hidden trade-offs? In this thought-provoking episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we explore the benefits, challenges, and real-world experiences of having a domain expert (or product owner) participate full-time in a Mob—not just as a consultant but as an active driver and navigator.

    🔹 What We Discuss in This Episode:✅ Quick Access vs. Full-Time Participation – Is it better to have a domain expert available when needed or fully immersed in the Mob?✅ Real-World Stories – Chris shares insights from four product owners with different availability levels and how that impacted effectiveness. Austin reveals what happened when a domain expert became a full-time Mobber.✅ The Pros of a Full-Time Domain Expert in a Mob – Faster decisions, deeper collaboration, improved knowledge transfer, and more!✅ Natural Synergy with DDD – How DDD experts seamlessly jump into code naming, improving model alignment.✅ Testers & Domain Experts: A Similar Integration? – The parallels between merging testers into a Mob and embedding domain experts.✅ Potential Downsides – Does being in the Mob full-time reduce a domain expert’s ability to stay ahead in their field?✅ Autonomy & Learning Diversity – How does this setup impact team growth and decision-making?✅ Is This the DDD Dream? – With fewer moving parts (like event storming), does a domain expert in the Mob make DDD even more effective?✅ The Power of Different Perspectives – Why having a built-in devil’s advocate can enhance team decision-making.✅ The Truth About Cryptic Code – Can a domain expert help clarify unclear code in real time?

    🎧 Don’t Miss This Insightful Discussion!Hit Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes! Find us on your favorite platform here 👉 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/

    What do you think? Would you want a domain expert full-time in your Mob? Drop a comment below! ⬇️Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/7__ghFw_Z3g

  • LLMs, DSLs, and the Art of Generating Generators for Leaner Systems

    LLMs, DSLs, and the Art of Generating Generators for Leaner Systems

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    Can a combo of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs) streamline development by automating repetitive patterns across teams? In this Mob Mentality Show episode, we dive deep into the intersection of AI-driven automation, code generation, and lean software development.

    Join us as we explore:✅ The "Generator for the Generator" Concept – How AI-powered tools and Mob Programming can create DSLs that automate code generation at scale.✅ Handling Cross-Domain Development with DSLs – How DSL arguments can be leveraged to generate applications across multiple domains while maintaining usability.✅ Serverless Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Auto-Generated Apps – How to use DSLs to automate cloud deployment with Angular or Streamlit apps.✅ The Challenge of UI/UX in Generated Code – When UI is too generic, does it hurt usability? Can a DSL strike the right balance between automation and user experience?✅ Regeneration vs. Continuous Development – Should teams work exclusively in the DSL, or also refine the code it generates? How to handle sync issues when regenerating applications.✅ Turning Docs into Code with a DSL Converter – Automating workflows by transforming team documentation into executable code.✅ Mob Automationist Role Inception – Is the next evolution of Mob Programming automating the automation?✅ ZOMBIE Test Generation & Nested Python Dictionaries – How automated testing fits into the DSL-driven workflow and whether a DSL can be as simple as a structured Python dictionary.

    🎯 Whether you’re a software engineer, an agile practitioner, or just fascinated by AI-driven development, this episode is packed with real-world insights into DSLs, LLMs, and the future of lean automation.

    🔔 Don't miss out! Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show on your favorite platform:👉 https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/0q3jaX6_bfw

  • Human & AI Collaboration in Mob Programming with Aaron Griffith and Parker Barrett

    Human & AI Collaboration in Mob Programming with Aaron Griffith and Parker Barrett

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    Explore the exciting intersection of human collaboration and artificial intelligence (AI) in software development with this insightful episode of the Mob Mentality Show. Recorded for the 2024 UACon Winter: The Future of Product Development Summit on December 10, 2024, Aaron Griffith and Parker Barrett joins Austin to dive deep into how Mob Programming and AI are reshaping the way we build and test software.

    This episode is packed with practical insights, real-world examples, and actionable strategies for leveraging AI with a mob programming style. Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, a software developer, or just curious about the future of collaboration, this session has something for you.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode:🔹 What is Mob Programming?🔹 The Origin Story of Mobbing with AI – Discover how our human teams began mobbing with AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to enhance software development processes.🔹 AI-Driven Test Development in a Mob – See how AI can streamline test-driven development (TDD) workflows, making testing faster and more effective.🔹 Testing with AI to Find ZOMBIES Test Cases (Zero, One, Many, Boundaries, Interface, Exceptional, Simplicity) – Learn how AI tools help identify missing test scenarios and code improvements. 🔹 AI Limitations and Warnings – Understand the ethical, technical, and operational challenges when incorporating AI into your workflows.🔹 AI Mobbing Demo Highlights:

    AI-generated Flutter app complete with unit tests.AI-driven identification of ZOMBIES.Automated Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines powered by AI.

    Why This Episode Matters:As AI tools continue to evolve, understanding how they integrate with collaborative programming methods like Mob Programming and Extreme Programming (XP) is critical for staying innovative in the fast-paced world of software development. In this session, we not only discuss the benefits of AI but also provide a realistic view of its limitations and how to navigate them.

    Perfect For:

    Developers and teams exploring AI-powered tools.Agile practitioners and extreme programming enthusiasts.Anyone curious about the future of software development collaboration.

    Let’s shape the future of collaboration and development together!

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/BsFPbYX4WXQ

  • Multi-Mobbing with Extreme Ownership: Should Ensemble Decisions Wait for Outside Approval?

    Multi-Mobbing with Extreme Ownership: Should Ensemble Decisions Wait for Outside Approval?

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    In this thought-provoking episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we dive into the world of extreme ownership within a multi-mobbing environment. What happens when a mob/team wants to make a decision, like extracting a method, refactoring to a new pattern, or reorganizing code boundaries? Should that decision wait for approval from outside teams? Or does extreme ownership mean trusting the mob to act autonomously for maximum flow efficiency?

    Topics Discussed:Autonomy vs. Consensus: Should mobs prioritize quick decision-making or seek input from external teams?Multi-Mob Context: Exploring the dynamics of multiple mobs interacting and how to handle shared ownership of repositories and projects.Inverse Conway Maneuver: Can designing your organization’s team structures to match the architecture you want your systems to have prevent this problem?Lean Thinking and Efficiency: How waiting for approvals from external owners can create lean wastes.Boundary Flexibility: Should code and team boundaries be rigid or adaptable to changing circumstances?The Monolith vs. Microservices Debate: Is the real issue a technical architecture debate or is the root problem found elsewhere?Scenarios and Examples:A hypothetical comparison of shared ownership in MS Word vs. MS Excel.The impact of Joe Justice’s Law on decision-making and team interactions.The challenge of managing too many communication nodes in multi-team environments.Key Questions Discussed:Is it more valuable to reduce the number of teams interacting with a repo?Should boundaries of ownership evolve with time?How can we balance flow efficiency with healthy collaboration across teams?How does "Nothing in Tech Matters Except XP" impact this discussion?Subscribe and Stay Connected:

    Don’t miss this insightful episode as we unravel these questions and more! Discover how the principles of extreme ownership and mob programming can transform team dynamics and decision-making processes in software development.

    📢 Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show on your favorite platform: https://www.mobmentalityshow.com.

    🔔 Like, comment, and share to join the discussion and stay updated on upcoming episodes!

    Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/rAT-EurLnrI

  • The Poisonous Price of an Unsustainable Pace: Lessons from Software and Sports

    The Poisonous Price of an Unsustainable Pace: Lessons from Software and Sports

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    In this episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we dive into Sustainable Pace, a core principle of the Agile Manifesto ("Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely"). From software development to youth sports, we explore the massively destructive effects of an unsustainable pace and highlight the transformative benefits of a culture grounded in sustainable practices.

    🔥 Key Topics Covered

    1. The Massively Destructive Results of Unsustainable Pace

    How the relentless work rate leads to burnout, dropouts, injuries, and errors.Insights from academic and medical studies showing the devastating effects of unsustainable workloads.Real-world connections to coding bug rates, over-specialization, and emotional exhaustion.Tim Urban's TED Talk ("Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator") and its ties to the procrastination monkey, panic monster, and unsustainable pace.Why misalignment between expectations and reality (e.g., unrealistic deadlines) breeds toxicity.Radical Candor's "obnoxious aggression" and it can join forces with unsustainable pace to form a diabolical duo.

    2. The Positive Results of a Sustainable Pace

    Building high-quality, continuous delivery without chaos or burnout.The connection between psychological safety, inclusivity, and long-term success in both teams and individuals.Benefits of diverse experiences, low stress, and personal peace from a sustainable pace.Practical strategies to avoid contributing to toxic work or play environments.Stories from youth sports coaching and tech leadership that illustrate how sustainable pace leads to lasting excellence.

    3. Actionable Insights for a Better Future

    How to shift from a culture of "run fast, burn out" to one of balance, productivity, and joy.The systemic changes needed to foster sustainable pace in tech teams and youth sports organizations.Why adopting sustainable practices isn't just about survival—it's about thriving.🎙️ Why Listen?

    Whether you're a tech leader, Agile practitioner, parent, or coach, this episode is packed with actionable advice and thought-provoking discussions. Learn how sustainable pace can unlock continuous learning, higher quality results, and a more fulfilling life.

    ✅ Subscribe to Stay Updated

    Don't miss other enlightening discussions! Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube channel: https://www.mobmentalityshow.com

    📢 Join the Conversation

    What’s your experience with unsustainable pace? How have you built or experienced sustainable practices in your work, team, or community? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let’s talk!Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/bTvjoGosBnw

  • The Power of Diversity: How ‘Mob Anything’ Revolutionizes Product Discovery with Martin Christensen

    The Power of Diversity: How ‘Mob Anything’ Revolutionizes Product Discovery with Martin Christensen

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    In this exciting episode of the Mob Mentality Show, we sit down with Martin Christensen, a product transformation coach, to explore the pivotal power of mobbing in product discovery.

    What You'll Learn in This Episode:Mobbing Product DiscoveryWhat is Product Discovery? Understand the fundamentals user value, business value, and technical feasibility.Mob Style vs. Solo User Interviews: Learn how mobbing on user interviews enhances insights through diverse perspectives and how it contrasts with traditional solo interviews.The Benefits of Diversity: Discover why the mantra “Mob Anything” unlocks innovation, faster UI/UX iterations, and fewer lines of code while maintaining focus on user experience.Collaboration, Psychological Growth, and TransformationBarriers to New Methods: Dive into the psychological and organizational obstacles that can hinder teams from adopting mobbing or trying new approaches.Adult Development and Teaming: Martin shares insights on how stages of psychological development and life events can break down egocentrism and foster stronger collaboration.The "No Pain, No Gain" Paradox: Can growth happen without trauma? Discover the nuanced relationship between challenges, growth, and maturity in collaborative environments.Impact of Complexity on Happiness: Unpack how the complexity of problems and overall team happiness affect the ability to work effectively as a mob.Why Watch This Episode?

    If you’re passionate about product development, user experience, or team collaboration, this episode is packed with actionable insights and relatable stories. From understanding the power of mobbing in product discovery to overcoming barriers to psychological maturity in teams, this conversation will leave you inspired to experiment and grow.

    🎙️ Don’t miss out!Subscribe to the Mob Mentality Show today to catch this episode and explore other topics at the intersection of innovation, collaboration, and personal growth.

    👉 Watch here or on your favorite platform: https://www.mobmentalityshow.com/Video and show notes: https://youtu.be/IPYXElnuBns

  • Want to Know Who Else Mobs? Check Out the Companies That Mob Board!

    Want to Know Who Else Mobs? Check Out the Companies That Mob Board!

    · The Mob Mentality Show

    Have you ever wondered who else is adopting mob programming? Or perhaps you’re curious about the diversity of organizations that practice ensemble programming? In this Mob Mentality Show episode, we take a deep dive into the Companies That Mob/Ensemble Program Board, a powerful tool for tracking and sharing insights about organizations, coaches, and educators engaging in mobbing practices worldwide.

    Join us as we explore the story behind this invaluable resource and its broader implications for the mob programming community.

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Track Mobbing? Discover why Chris Lucian started documenting companies and organizations that practice mob programming, beginning with a simple blog post.From Blog to Trello: Learn how this tracking effort evolved from a personal blog to a comprehensive Trello Board, making it easier to manage and share.Uses of the Board: Explore the board’s practical applications, including showcasing the diversity of mobbing practices across countries, industries, and contexts like IoT (Internet of Things), eCommerce, hardware, firmware, software, government, and private sectors.Related Resources: Uncover the connections between this board and other similar initiatives, such as the Software Professional Resources Board and the "We Do TDD (Test-Driven Development)" website.Anecdotal ROI: Hear how this board can serve as anecdotal evidence of the return on investment (ROI) for mob programming from a "just sharing" perspective ( https://justsharing.dev/ ), helping promote its adoption in the software development community.New Categories: Find out about Austin’s updates, which include categories for coaches and professors who practice mobbing.Call to Action: Get inspired to contribute by adding new companies, organizations, or individuals to the board to help grow the global mobbing network.Why This Matters:

    The Companies That Mob/Ensemble Program Board isn’t just a list—it’s a living resource that reflects the growing diversity and diffusion of mobbing practices worldwide. It’s a tool for saving time, building community, and promoting the Just Sharing mindset. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or a newcomer to mobbing, this board helps you connect with others and find inspiration for your own mob programming journey.

    Get Involved:Want to see the board in action? Check it out here: Companies That Mob/Ensemble Program Board.

    Subscribe for More Episodes:Don’t miss out on future episodes of the Mob Mentality Show! Subscribe on your favorite platform today: Mob Mentality Show Website.Tune in and discover who else is mobbing—and why it’s transforming the way we work and learn!Video and Show Notes: https://youtu.be/yCB4n-0nxQk

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