The Human Loop Podcast

Ben Stocken

5.0 (3)
MANAGEMENT

The Human Loop explores what happens at the intersection of human performance and emerging technology. Each episode unpacks how modern leaders can operate at their best while AI transforms the way we work. Powered by Atherio | Lead with Clarity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 MAY

AI Adoption Is Actually a Leadership Problem: Weekly Loop

This week on The Human Loop, I'll be sharing key insights from my day at Aibl Live, a leadership and AI event in London attended by CEOs, founders, and business leaders across the UK. What started as a conversation about AI quickly became a conversation about leadership, culture, trust, and the future of work. I break down the “three cliffs” preventing businesses from seeing real ROI from AI adoption: strategic clarity, divisional alignment, and individual capability. Plus, insights from leaders at WPP, Ipsos, and The Happiness Index on change fatigue, psychological safety, middle management, and why junior talent may be most at risk in the AI decade. Check out Aibl here - https://live.aiblmedia.com/e/london26 Chapters 01:41 – Why AI conversations are really about leadership 03:25 – The “Three Cliffs” of AI adoption 03:54 – Cliff #1: Strategic clarity & leadership alignment 04:47 – Cliff #2: Divisional alignment & ROI 05:38 – Cliff #3: Individual capability vs tool access 07:59 – The hidden inequality risk in AI adoption 08:26 – Change fatigue and leadership in modern business 09:14 – Why morale and disengagement are rising 09:41 – Young people reporting the lowest workplace happiness 10:08 – The junior talent crisis AI may create 10:31 – Ben’s roundtable: Building a culture that can handle the truth 13:14 – Five key leadership takeaways from the event 16:33 – What the winning companies of the AI decade will do differently 17:31 – Final thoughts & outro Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

18 min
6 MAY

AI, Leadership, and the Missing Leadership Link: Weekly Loop

This week I answer some quick-fire questions on AI, the knowing–doing gap, and why businesses are investing heavily in leadership development but still struggling to see real results. I cover the $366B spent on people each year, why most learning doesn’t translate into performance, and what really happens when it’s time to apply it in the real world. I also share thoughts on how AI is starting to support leaders with real-time insights and what responsible use of that data actually looks like. If you're thinking about the future of leadership and performance, this is a good one to dive into. Chapters 00:10 – The $366B Learning Problem 02:09 – The Knowing–Doing Gap 04:30 – Fixing It with Real-Time Coaching 06:56 – Why Managers Aren’t Measured Properly 09:33 – What Customers Actually Experience 11:50 – Real Results & Growth Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

14 min
29 APR

My Favourite Ai Insights: The Human Loop Podcast

In this week’s episode, we unpack some of the best moments from recent shows, exploring what it really means to keep the human in the loop in an AI-driven world. From rethinking how businesses measure value (time vs revenue), to the growing gap in leadership support, we highlight the conversations that matter most right now. We also dive into how AI is reshaping roles, not replacing them, and why adaptability is becoming the most important skill in modern work. Chapters 00:30 Time vs revenue thinking 02:00 The leadership support gap 02:40 Building Atherio 04:10 Values and cultural fit 05:50 AI in recruitment 07:20 The rise of AI 08:20 Keeping the human element 09:00 Saving time with automation 10:20 How jobs are evolving 11:00 The power of reflection 11:30 Why culture matters 13:30 When AI goes wrong Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 min
22 APR

How AI Is Impacting Entrepreneurs Right Now: Dodge Woodall

In this episode, I sit down with Dodge Woodall, a serial entrepreneur and we explore the tension between the rapid rise of AI and the growing loss of human connection. We break down how AI is being used in real life and business, the difference between tools like ChatGPT and Claude, and why understanding this technology is becoming essential to stay relevant. Finally, we unpack the truth about building a business today. Why it’s harder than ever, what’s changing for the next generation, and why entrepreneurship is still one of the most challenging (and rewarding) paths you can take. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:01:00 How Dodge Uses AI (ChatGPT vs Real Life) 00:02:00 The Rise of a “Fake” World Online 00:03:00 Why Human Connection Is Disappearing 00:04:30 Trust, Personal Brand & Authenticity 00:07:00 Why Curiosity Builds Real Relationships 00:09:00 Fear of Judgment & Starting a Business 00:11:00 ChatGPT vs Claude 00:15:00 AI Is Accelerating Faster Than We Think 00:16:30 Remote Work vs Real Human Interaction 00:18:30 Will AI Replace Entry-Level Jobs? 00:20:00 Why Business Is So Hard Right Now 00:22:00 The Reality of Hiring & Costs in 2026 00:24:00 Should You Build a Business in the UK? 00:25:00 The Skills That Will Matter in the Future 00:28:30 AI in Events vs Real Human Experience 00:31:00 Social Media, Phones & Lost Moments 00:33:30 The Mental Health Impact of Social Media 00:35:00 Why He Invested in a Mental Health App 00:37:00 Entrepreneurship Is an Extreme Sport 00:40:00 Why People Don’t Trust Anything Anymore 00:41:30 The Lonely Chapter of Building a Business 00:42:30 The Truth About Money in Business 00:44:00 Why Personal Brand Matters More Than Ever 00:45:00 Final Thoughts Connect with Dodge - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dodgewoodall Check out JAAQ - https://jaaq.app Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

45 min
15 APR

The £10 Trillion Disengagement Crisis: Weekly Loop

In this episode, we break down the growing disengagement crisis in the global workforce and why it’s costing businesses trillions. We also get into the real root of the problem: leadership. Why leaders aren’t paying attention, how that’s impacting productivity and retention, and what it means when only a fraction of your workforce is truly engaged. Finally, we unpack what “engagement” actually means in practice, why this isn’t a talent problem, and how leaders can start rebuilding connection, focus, and performance inside their teams. Full Research - https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 min
8 APR

The Knowing vs Doing Gap: Founders 500

In this episode, we break down the gap between knowing what great leadership looks like and actually doing it consistently. We explore why so many founders and managers struggle to apply what they already know, and how a lack of consistency, feedback, and repetition holds teams back. We also get into the role of energy in leadership, building trust through small behaviours, and how to create a culture that actually reflects your values, not just what you say. Chapters 00:10 The “Knowing vs Doing” Gap in Leadership 03:10 Does a Leader’s Energy Impact Performance? 08:25 Why Leaders Shouldn’t Always “Save the Day” 09:30 Coaching vs Being the Expert 11:57 Building Better Weekly Leadership Habits 20:21 How Culture Breaks as You Scale 23:32 The Problem with Leadership Development Today 25:10 The Idea Behind Real-Time Leadership Feedback (A Theory) 27:03 Measuring Leadership & Team Engagement 30:41 Is This Just Surveillance? 33:48 Finding a Co-Founder 39:41 Final Takeaways on Leadership & Development Check out the Founders 500: https://founders500.com Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41 min
1 APR

The Decision That Changed My Life: Founders 500

In this episode, I break down what it really takes to transition from being an operator to becoming an effective leader. I share the biggest mistakes I see founders and first-time leaders make, from holding onto the “do everything” mindset to skipping the foundations that actually make teams perform. We also get into how to build strong team cultures, hire for the right reasons, and give feedback in a way that develops people rather than demotivates them. Chapters 00:23 Who Is Ben? 01:07 Sahara Marathon Challenge 02:26 Rugby to Career Pivot 05:42 Lockdown Decision Moment 07:04 Building a 7-Figure Business 08:13 Where Leadership Started 12:32 Biggest Leadership Mistakes 15:18 The Delegation Problem 18:15 Leadership at Every Level 20:08 How to Onboard Properly 21:11 Culture Explained Simply 26:57 Why Feedback Is Hard 27:16 The Worst Feedback Ever 30:06 How to Give Better Feedback 33:14 Difficult Conversations Check out the Founders 500: https://founders500.com Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

37 min
25 MAR

AI in Recruitment & What Top Firms Are Doing Differently: Simon Curtis

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Curtis to explore what it really takes to make AI work inside modern businesses. We unpack why messy data, fragmented systems, and inconsistent processes are holding companies back and why the real challenge isn’t the tech, but people and behaviour. Simon shares where AI actually creates value, why most implementations fail, and how to think beyond revenue to the time AI can give back. If you’re trying to figure out how AI fits into your business and how to balance automation with human input, this one’s right up your street. Chapters 00:00 Intro: AI, Recruitment & The Human Loop 01:53 The AI Wake-Up Call for Businesses 05:12 The Hidden Behaviour Problem in Teams 06:21 Why Process Matters More Than AI Tools 12:22 The Biggest AI Mistake: Volume Over Quality 13:50 Why People Reject AI Outreach Instantly 15:09 Measuring AI ROI: Time vs Revenue 17:29 How AI Should Reshape Roles 23:34 Selection vs Attraction: What AI Can’t Replace 27:20 When AI Projects Actually Succeed 29:02 Why Most Tech Rollouts Fail 30:16 The $100K Mistake: Tools No One Uses 33:24 Why Humans Still Matter in AI 38:11 Final Thoughts: The Future of Work Connect with Simon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncurtisrec Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

39 min

5

out of 5

3 Ratings

The Human Loop explores what happens at the intersection of human performance and emerging technology. Each episode unpacks how modern leaders can operate at their best while AI transforms the way we work. Powered by Atherio | Lead with Clarity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator

Ben Stocken
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

24
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Ben Stocken
Show Website

The Human Loop Podcast