The Human Loop Podcast

Ben Stocken

0.0 (0)
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

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
28 JAN

The Weekly Loop: The Power of Purpose & AI growth in Businesses

In this episode of the Human Loop podcast, I discuss two main topics: the importance of understanding one's purpose in leadership, inspired by a podcast featuring Tony Robbins and Alex Hormozi, and the rising adoption of AI in the workplace, as highlighted by a recent Gallup study. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Leadership and Purpose 03:50 The Rise of AI in the Workplace Watch the conversation with Tony & Alex referenced here: https://youtu.be/xz-ymFOhBAE?si=YZxtgVx_Y7JxGdK7 Study Mentioned: Gallup 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.

11 min
21 JAN

Enhancing Client Experience with AI: Andrew Fahey

In this week's episode I sit down with Andrew Fahey to discuss the challenges and opportunities for CEOs in 2026, emphasising the importance of realistic optimism. We explore the role of AI in transforming professional services, the necessity of human skills in a tech-driven world, and the innovative approaches Briars is taking to enhance client experience and internal processes. Chapters 00:00 Navigating 2026: Realistic Optimism for CEOs 02:57 Briars: Global Expansion and Professional Services 05:56 AI Disruption in Professional Services 09:00 The Human Element in AI Integration 11:47 Transforming Client Experience with AI 15:01 Internal Use Cases for AI in Leadership 19:58 The Future of Onboarding and Human Skills 24:39 Generational Challenges in Professional Services 29:48 Conclusion: Embracing Change for Success Connect with Andrew - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewfahey/ 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.

43 min
14 JAN

Navigating AI Adoption Challenges for Your Business: Charlie Voller Barnes

In this episode I'm joined by Charlie Voller Barnes to discuss the intersection of human performance and AI, exploring the challenges organisations face in adopting AI technologies. We delve into the importance of clarity in goals, the role of people in transformation, and the necessity of continuous feedback and experimentation. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Human Performance and AI 02:03 The State of AI in Business 05:05 Understanding Transformation Failures 08:41 The Role of People in Transformation 13:31 Experimentation and Incremental Change 19:31 Communicating Change Effectively 30:03 Top Tips for Implementing AI Products Connect with Charlie - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvollerbarnes/ 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.

35 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

14
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Ben Stocken
Show Website

The Human Loop Podcast