The Human Loop Podcast

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/london26Chapters01:41 – Why AI conversations are really about leadership03:25 – The “Three Cliffs” of AI adoption03:54 – Cliff #1: Strategic clarity & leadership alignment04:47 – Cliff #2: Divisional alignment & ROI05:38 – Cliff #3: Individual capability vs tool access07:59 – The hidden inequality risk in AI adoption08:26 – Change fatigue and leadership in modern business09:14 – Why morale and disengagement are rising09:41 – Young people reporting the lowest workplace happiness10:08 – The junior talent crisis AI may create10:31 – Ben’s roundtable: Building a culture that can handle the truth13:14 – Five key leadership takeaways from the event16:33 – What the winning companies of the AI decade will do differently17:31 – Final thoughts & outroPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.Chapters00:10 – The $366B Learning Problem02:09 – The Knowing–Doing Gap04:30 – Fixing It with Real-Time Coaching06:56 – Why Managers Aren’t Measured Properly09:33 – What Customers Actually Experience11:50 – Real Results & GrowthPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.Chapters00:30 Time vs revenue thinking02:00 The leadership support gap02:40 Building Atherio04:10 Values and cultural fit05:50 AI in recruitment07:20 The rise of AI08:20 Keeping the human element09:00 Saving time with automation10:20 How jobs are evolving11:00 The power of reflection11:30 Why culture matters13:30 When AI goes wrongPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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 ThoughtsConnect with Dodge - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dodgewoodallCheck out JAAQ - https://jaaq.appPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.aspxPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.Chapters00:23 Who Is Ben?01:07 Sahara Marathon Challenge02:26 Rugby to Career Pivot05:42 Lockdown Decision Moment07:04 Building a 7-Figure Business08:13 Where Leadership Started12:32 Biggest Leadership Mistakes15:18 The Delegation Problem18:15 Leadership at Every Level20:08 How to Onboard Properly21:11 Culture Explained Simply26:57 Why Feedback Is Hard27:16 The Worst Feedback Ever30:06 How to Give Better Feedback33:14 Difficult ConversationsCheck out the Founders 500: https://founders500.comPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.Chapters00:00 Intro: AI, Recruitment & The Human Loop01:53 The AI Wake-Up Call for Businesses05:12 The Hidden Behaviour Problem in Teams06:21 Why Process Matters More Than AI Tools12:22 The Biggest AI Mistake: Volume Over Quality13:50 Why People Reject AI Outreach Instantly15:09 Measuring AI ROI: Time vs Revenue17:29 How AI Should Reshape Roles23:34 Selection vs Attraction: What AI Can’t Replace27:20 When AI Projects Actually Succeed29:02 Why Most Tech Rollouts Fail30:16 The $100K Mistake: Tools No One Uses33:24 Why Humans Still Matter in AI38:11 Final Thoughts: The Future of WorkConnect with Simon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncurtisrecPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken

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.Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:20 – The Story Behind the Business04:30 – What the Business Actually Does08:30 – Where AI Fits Into the Business13:00 – How AI Is Used Day-to-Day18:30 – Efficiency vs Replacing Jobs24:00 – Delivering More Value with AI30:00 – How the Industry Is Changing36:00 – The Reality of AI in Business41:30 – Final Thoughts & TakeawaysConnect with Paul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulclarke-ookkeeCheck out ookkee - https://www.ookkee.co.ukPowered By Atherio, Real-time leadership wisdom for every manager - https://www.getatherio.comConnect with The host - Ben Stocken :https://www.linkedin.com/in/benstocken