#84: RAG vs MCP vs A2A vs Subagents — Practical Guide for Building Real Agentic AI episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 2, 2026 · 20 MIN

#84: RAG vs MCP vs A2A vs Subagents — Practical Guide for Building Real Agentic AI

from The Change Dude · host Saeed Rafay

In this episode of The Change Dude, Saeed breaks down four of the most talked-about concepts in agentic AI — Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent-to-Agent (A2A), and subagents — in simple, practical terms. Instead of theory, you’ll learn when to use each approach, how they differ, and how they work together in real-world systems. From grounding LLMs with accurate data to enabling secure tool access and multi-agent collaboration, this episode explores current capabilities, limitations, and what these architectures reveal about the future of autonomous AI systems. If you're building, leading, or investing in AI products, this is your no-nonsense guide to choosing the right pattern for the right problem.--- Powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OKOfy.com — Empowering SMEs across UK and Europe with Digital Transformation & AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organizations or employers mentioned. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal advice.

In this episode of The Change Dude, Saeed breaks down four of the most talked-about concepts in agentic AI — Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent-to-Agent (A2A), and subagents — in simple, practical terms. Instead of theory, you’ll learn when to use each approach, how they differ, and how they work together in real-world systems. From grounding LLMs with accurate data to enabling secure tool access and multi-agent collaboration, this episode explores current capabilities, limitations, and what these architectures reveal about the future of autonomous AI systems. If you're building, leading, or investing in AI products, this is your no-nonsense guide to choosing the right pattern for the right problem.--- Powered by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OKOfy.com — Empowering SMEs across UK and Europe with Digital Transformation & AI⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Disclaimer: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any organizations or employers mentioned. The content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal advice.

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#84: RAG vs MCP vs A2A vs Subagents — Practical Guide for Building Real Agentic AI

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In this episode of The Change Dude, Saeed breaks down four of the most talked-about concepts in agentic AI — Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Model Context Protocol (MCP), Agent-to-Agent (A2A), and subagents — in simple, practical terms....

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