The Human Loop Podcast

Ben Stocken

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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.

1 DAY AGO

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
18 MAR

How AI Is Transforming Service-Based Businesses: Paul Clarke

In this episode, I sit down with Paul, founder of Ookkee, to talk about how modern service businesses are evolving, the role of AI in day-to-day operations, and what it really means to build an efficient, future-proof company. We dive into how Ookkee operates as a bookkeeping business, how AI is being integrated into their workflow, and why the real opportunity isn’t replacing people, but enabling better decisions, faster delivery, and more value for clients. We also explore how the industry is changing and what founders need to understand to stay competitive. If you’re building a business or trying to figure out how AI actually fits into your operations, this one’s right up your street. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 01:20 – The Story Behind the Business 04:30 – What the Business Actually Does 08:30 – Where AI Fits Into the Business 13:00 – How AI Is Used Day-to-Day 18:30 – Efficiency vs Replacing Jobs 24:00 – Delivering More Value with AI 30:00 – How the Industry Is Changing 36:00 – The Reality of AI in Business 41:30 – Final Thoughts & Takeaways Connect with Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulclarke-ookkee Check out ookkee - https://www.ookkee.co.uk 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.

43 min
11 MAR

Weekly Loop: The Leadership Crisis Behind the AI Boom

In this weeks round up I discuss the critical issues facing leadership today, including high stress levels among managers, the importance of talent density, and the challenges of AI integration in organisations. He emphasizes the need for real-time engagement, effective change management, and empathetic leadership to navigate these complexities. 00:00 Introduction to The Weekly Loop 00:28 The Leadership Stress Crisis 01:07 Why Middle Management Matters More Than Ever 02:17 Talent Density and Protecting Business Margins 03:12 Real-Time Employee Engagement 03:39 The Long-Term Stress Leaders Have Faced Since 2020 04:11 How Leaders Should Handle Constant Change 05:04 Why CEOs Believe Their Jobs Depend on AI 05:41 Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail 06:29 The Change Management Mistake Companies Make 07:26 The Change Equation: Why People Resist Change 08:18 Closing the Knowing–Doing Gap 09:04 The Risk of Losing Your Best Leaders 10:02 Why Talent Density Will Define Winning Companies Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.com Connect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 min
4 MAR

How Smart Founders Are Using AI to Win: Ezra Chapman

In this episode, I sit down with Ezra, entrepreneur and multi-business founder to talk about leadership, failure, systems, and the real impact AI is about to have on modern businesses. After being forced to shut down 65–70% of his group in 2019, Ezra rebuilt with a sharper focus on structure, accountability, and long-term competitive advantage. We explore why most founders are thinking about AI wrong, what actually creates a moat in today’s landscape and why systems matter more than chaos when scaling, If you're building a company or trying to stay competitive in an AI-driven world, this one's right up your street! Chapters 00:00 Systems Thinking Starts at Home 02:00 Leadership Lessons from Childhood 05:45 Chaos vs Systems in Early-Stage Founders 08:35 Why Founders Secretly Love the Mess 09:23 The Collapse: Shutting Down 65–70% of the Group 11:10 Accountability at Your Lowest Point 12:00 Why Failure Makes Better Entrepreneurs 26:01 The AI Question Most Businesses Aren’t Asking 27:42 The Real Moat: Data, Relationships & Expertise 30:40 Brand, Memory & The Human Advantage 43:19 Optimising Humans, Not Replacing Them 44:48 Turning AI Into Competitive Leverage 46:00 From Recruiter to Talent Solutions Architect Connect with Ezra - https://ezrachapman.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.

50 min
25 FEB

The Mission that Drives Me: Ben Stocken

I’m Ben, founder of Atherio and my mission is simple: enable the performance and wellbeing of 10 million managers in the next three years. In this episode, I share why managers have one of the toughest jobs in business, why most don’t get the support they need, and how we’re bridging the gap between knowing what good leadership looks like and actually doing it. From elite sport with England national rugby union team to working with global organisations, I’ve seen what makes teams flourish and what causes them to fail. If you care about building high-performing teams without burning people out, this one’s for you. 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.

4 min
18 FEB

How AI can Impact Your Work Life Balance: Nikki Foster

In this week’s episode of the Human in the Loop podcast, I sit down with Nikki, Managing Director of Ferox Partners, to explore what AI really means for recruitment, leadership, and the future of work. We unpack how AI can drive speed and efficiency in hiring without losing the human relationships that build trust, culture, and performance. From cultural fit versus skill set, to offshoring, early-career development, and burnout in lean teams. We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction & Lunch at Lashings 02:30 – Ferox Partners & Running Lean with AI 06:00 – AI in Recruitment: Efficiency vs Human Judgment 10:30 – Cultural Fit vs Skillset: What Really Matters? 14:45 – Will AI Replace Human Roles? 19:30 – Trust, Emotion & The “Bad Sandwich” Analogy 23:30 – On-Site Client Work & The Value of Human Insight 29:00 – Offshoring vs AI: The Future of Recruitment Models 36:00 – Entry-Level Jobs & The Impact of AI on Early Careers 41:30 – Education, MBAs & Preparing Graduates for AI-First Workplaces 47:00 – Parental Responsibility & Work Ethic in the Next Generation 52:00 – Burnout, Lean Teams & Manager Capability 57:00 – Risk, Development & The Future of Leadership Connect with Nikki - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-foster-21014223/ 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
11 FEB

The Impact of Reactive Fixes on Your Business: Lily Kyriacou

In this week's episode I sit down with Lily Kyriacou to discuss the challenges of reactive fixes in business, particularly in the context of team dynamics and performance. Lily shares her experiences at Amdaris, where she observed that traditional approaches to problem-solving were inadequate in a rapidly changing environment. We then delve into the need for businesses to adapt to continuous change and the critical role of resilience and adaptability in maintaining high performance without leading to burnout. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Business Challenges 01:23 The Impact of Reactive Fixes 05:32 Understanding Team Dynamics 10:18 The Importance of Adaptability 12:13 Exploring Solutions for Resilience 19:52 Identifying Key Behaviors in Teams 25:34 The Shift from Skills to Job Identities 30:08 Reinventing How We Approach Our People Connect with Lilly - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilykyriacou 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.

40 min
4 FEB

Amplifying Project Management with AI: Ruth Oates

In this week's episode, Ruth and I discuss the importance of strategic planning for 2026, emphasising the need for business leaders to reflect on past performance and set clear goals. We explore the integration of AI in the construction industry, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency and safety. Ruth also addresses the challenges of adopting AI, advocating for treating it as a team member and ensuring proper training for employees. Chapters 00:00 Strategic Planning for the New Year 03:13 AI in the Construction Industry 10:01 Integrating AI as a Team Member 16:59 Enhancing Project Management with AI 21:20 The Future of AI in Construction 30:21 Transforming Construction Through Data and Automation Connect with Ruth - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-oates-864b2b3/?originalSubdomain=uk Powered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.atheriohq.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

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

17
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Ben Stocken
Show Website

The Human Loop Podcast