🚀 Episode 17 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀Nobody’s ready for sprint planning when acceptance criteria in user stories are TBD or the definition of done in Scrum is “we’ll know it when we see it.” This episode humorously shows the chaos of unprepared Scrum teams and why Agile sprint planning can be ineffective without a healthy product backlog.

But here’s the good news: with the right Collab mindset, AI-powered insights, and true Collaboration, you can transform sprint planning from chaos to clarity. We’ll explore what actually makes Agile sprint planning successful—how to prepare your product backlog, set clear acceptance criteria, and align your team so that “done” really means done.If you’ve ever struggled with sprint planning that feels like guesswork, this conversation is for you. Learn how AI can support your Agile ceremonies, how Collaboration turns TBD into clarity, and how better team alignment makes all the difference.

👉 Subscribe to Collaborate With Mark for more on Collab, AI, Agile, and real-world teamwork strategies.

👉 Pre-order the upcoming book Collaborate Better: From Silos to Synergy — How to Build Unstoppable Teams to take these lessons deeper.

🚀 Episode 16 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀

Ever wonder why a can of Guinness can sometimes pour better than the pub tap? 🍺 The answer lies in a piece of product design genius: the nitrogen-charged widget hidden inside every can. In this episode, we break down the brilliance of the perfect pour—from the widget’s role in infusing nitrogen, to the counterintuitive straight-down pour, to the tulip-shaped glass that unlocks the legendary cascade effect.

Guinness has turned what looks like ordinary packaging into a masterclass in iterative innovation, collaborative design, and user experience engineering. Whether you’re a beer lover, a product designer, or part of a team looking for inspiration, the story of Guinness in a can is proof that great design solves problems we didn’t even know we had.

👉 In this video, you’ll learn:

How the Guinness widget changed beer forever.

Why you shouldn’t tilt your glass when pouring Guinness.

The role of the tulip pint glass in delivering the perfect creamy head.

What teams, innovators, and Agile practitioners can learn from a stout in a can.

Raise your glass (responsibly — we support no underage drinking and encourage moderation always) and join us as we toast to brilliant design, smooth pints, and lessons in innovation.

#Guinness #PerfectPour #ProductDesign #Agile #Innovation

🚀 Episode 15 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀

No one cares about your 47-slide deck, so this video explains exactly why most product demos fail. We’ll show you why so many sales demos are ineffective and how a stronger sales presentation can turn things around.

Discover what actually makes successful product demos, the quick adjustments you can apply when selling software, and the best practices for building a winning SaaS demo. Whether you’re preparing your next product presentation or trying to fix a broken sales process, this breakdown gives you the insights you need to keep your audience engaged and close more deals.

#ProductDemo #SalesPresentation #SaaS #SellingSoftware #SalesDemos

🚀 Episode 13 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀

🚀 AI is transforming project retrospectives — don’t skip them!In this video, we explore why retrospectives are essential for continuous improvement, how they drive team development, and the surprising ways artificial intelligence can make them engaging and effective.

You’ll discover:

✅ How to use AI to improve project management practices

✅ The role of retrospectives in analyzing lessons learned

✅ Practical strategies to boost collaboration and growth in your business

Whether you’re a project manager, team leader, or business owner, this video shows how AI helps unlock smarter retrospectives that create real impact.

👉 Watch now and learn how to take your team’s performance to the next level!

#AI #ProjectManagement #ContinuousImprovement #LessonsLearned #Business #TeamDevelopment #ArtificialIntelligence #Retrospective #Retro

🚀 Episode 13 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀🔥 Explore the modern parallel to the myth of Prometheus and the fire through the lens of Steve Jobs and Apple’s innovation. This mythology video essay dives into the spark of creativity that ignited at Apple Park, and how it spread far beyond one company.⚡ We look at how giving humanity “fire” in the form of groundbreaking technology reshapes entire industries — and what happens when others reach for that same flame.💡 Our goal is to provide access to understanding the true impact of modern innovation, its risks, and its rewards.What do you think — is the line between inspiration and imitation always clear, or is every breakthrough a stolen spark? 🔥👇

🚀 Episode 12 of the Vale & Mark Podcast 🚀Blockers happen. Whether it’s a Daily Standup, Sprint Review, or Retrospective, teams hit roadblocks that slow everything down. But what if you had a partner that could help clear those blockers faster than ever?In this episode, Vale and Mark dive into how AI can transform Agile ceremonies—from identifying and resolving blockers on the spot to keeping teams focused and productive. We explore:✅ How AI can analyze blockers in real-time✅ Ways to reduce wasted time in Daily Standups✅ Practical examples of AI assisting Scrum Masters & Product Owners✅ What AI can (and can’t) do when it comes to collaborationIf you’ve ever sat through a meeting thinking, “This blocker again?”—this episode is for you.🎙️ Listen in as we mix Agile coaching with improv-style curiosity and explore how teams can collaborate better with AI.📌 Subscribe for more episodes of the Vale & Mark Podcast:👉 https://YouTube.com/@MarkSCarroll💬 Join the conversation:How has your team handled blockers—and do you see AI playing a role in the future? Drop your thoughts in the comments!Find effective advice on leveraging AI to resolve blockers here:https://theaicounselor.substack.com/#Agile #AI #Scrum #ValeAndMarkPodcast #Teamwork #Collaboration #CollaborateBetter #CollaborateWithMark

🎙️ Episode 11 – AI + Agile = Better Teams 🚀 | Vale and Mark PodcastWhat happens when you mix the adaptability of Agile with the power of AI automation? You get teams that don’t just work—they elevate.In this episode of the Vale and Mark Podcast, we explore how AI can supercharge your Sprint Retrospectives by turning insights into action. From automating follow-ups to streamlining recurring tasks, AI helps teams close the loop and improve iteratively, sprint after sprint.💡 You’ll learn:How AI tools can capture retrospective insights and feed them directly into your backlogWays automation reduces friction and boosts accountability (URLs Below!)Practical examples of AI helping teams continuously level up collaborationWhether you’re a Scrum Master, Agile Coach, or just a curious team player, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help your team go from talking about improvement to actually living it.👉 Watch now and discover how AI + Agile

Microsoft Power Automate (within Microsoft 365)Power Automate – Getting StartedLearn how to build workflows across your favorite apps—sync files, send notifications, collect data—all without code. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/getting-startedPower Automate Tutorial for Beginners (YouTube)A simple, step-by-step video walkthrough that shows you exactly how to set up your first flow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDO4Y4aDYXwCreate Cloud Flows with Copilot (Tutorial)Learn how to generate automated workflows using natural language with Copilot—super approachable for beginners. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-automate/get-started-with-cloud-flowsExcel Macros (Automation Made Simple)How to Use Macros in Excel – Step‑by‑Step GuideA beginner-friendly walkthrough to recording and running macros. Great starting point. https://excelx.com/vba/how-to-use-macros/Excel Macros with Examples – GeeksforGeeksDetailed, pDetailed, practical examples and clear explanations to help you grasp macros quickly. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/excel/macros-in-excel/

Jira & Confluence AutomationUse Automation in Confluence (Atlassian)Build “Smart Buttons” on your pages to automate actions—no coding required. https://community.atlassian.com/learning/lesson/use-automation-in-confluenceReduce Admin Work with Jira Automation (Atlassian Community Course)

Learn how to set up automation rules—from simple to advanced—that save time and keep your projects consistent. https://community.atlassian.com/learning/course/reduce-administrative-work-with-automationLink Confluence Pages with Jira Issues AutomaticallyLearn to automate linking Jira tickets to related Confluence content using smart rules. https://community.atlassian.com/forums/Automation-articles/Jira-Automation-Linking-a-Confluence-page-with-Jira-issues/ba-p/2898621Power BI – Scheduled Data RefreshConfigure Scheduled Refresh – Microsoft LearnMake sure your dashboards are always up-to-date—this official guide walks you through every step. https://www.tableau.com/blog/tableau-pulse-and-tableau-aiStep‑by‑Step Guide: Setup Scheduled Refresh in Power BI

Great for beginners who want to automate their reporting updates. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-bi/connect-data/refresh-scheduled-refresh

Tableau Automation & Data PrepStarter Tips: Tableau Prep Conductor AutomationLearn how to schedule, monitor, and automate your data prep workflows—no manual updates necessary. https://www.tableau.com/blog/starter-tips-automating-and-monitoring-flows-tableau-prep-conductor-104681GROOT: Custom Automated Insights in TableauExplore advanced AI-enabled analytics in Tableau to automate insight generation. https://www.tableau.com/blog/tableau-research-default-customizing-automated-data-insights-grootAI-Powered Tableau SemanticsSee how AI enriches your data and accelerates insight discovery in Tableau. https://www.tableau.com/blog/ai

🎙️ Episode 10 – Is GPT-5 the AI Titanic?!? 🚢🤯 | Vale & Mark PodcastEpisode 10 of the Vale and Mark Podcast marks our first full voyage with GPT-5 at the helm — and spoiler alert: there are no icebergs in sight.This time, Mark takes the newly upgraded AI out for a real-world conversational spin. We laugh at the overblown panic from the “AI is doomed!” crowd, explore what’s actually changed in GPT-5, and share why the sky isn’t falling (nor is the server). Expect a mix of genuine insights, playful banter, and the occasional lifeboat joke.🎧 Listen now: YouTube | Spotify | Substack📚 Pre-order the book: Collaborate Better: From Silos to Synergy – How to Build Unstoppable Teams → https://CollaborateBetter.us📢 Subscribe & Follow: YouTube: Collaborate With Mark Substack: Collaborate With Mark S. Carroll Podcast Feed: Spotify | Apple Podcasts 'Collaborate With Mark'If you enjoy this episode, share it with a friend, your favorite collaboration skeptic, or anyone convinced GPT-5 is secretly rearranging deck chairs. 🚢✨