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From Big Bang to Brain: How Entropy Shapes Safety and Systems with David Slater, PhD

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Manage episode 508421813 series 3692002
Content provided by Mark McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera, Mark McGrath, and Brian "Ponch" Rivera. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mark McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera, Mark McGrath, and Brian "Ponch" Rivera or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

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Step into the fascinating world where neuroscience meets safety in this mind-expanding conversation with Professor David Slater. Beyond conventional safety thinking, we explore how our brains actually construct reality and what this means for creating truly resilient organizations.
The discussion begins with an unexpected parallel between Formula 1 pit crews and workplace safety. Professor Slater reveals how these highly choreographed teams regularly "cut corners" to achieve sub-two-second pit stops—highlighting the universal truth that humans adapt systems to meet demands, regardless of formal procedures. This adaptation, far from being problematic, forms the core of what makes systems work in reality versus theory.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is Slater's masterful connection between thermodynamics, entropy, and organizational safety. He guides us through a compelling framework where safety isn't simply the absence of accidents but the maintenance of quasi-equilibrium states in complex systems. The human brain serves as the ultimate control system in this equation, constantly working to predict and respond to environmental changes.
Perhaps most provocatively, Slater challenges the very notion of "human error," calling it "too facile" and "a get-out-of-jail card" organizations use to avoid addressing systemic issues. Instead, he offers a more nuanced understanding of how perception shapes decision-making, explaining why two people can experience the same situation completely differently. This insight alone transforms how we might approach incident investigations and safety culture development.
The conversation extends into practical territory, examining how organizations can foster the conditions for adaptation, psychological safety, and high performance. Rather than relying on checklists alone, Slater advocates for systems thinking that accommodates human variability while ensuring everyone understands how their role contributes to the larger whole.
Ready to challenge your assumptions about safety, perception, and human performance? This episode will leave you with practical insights and a deeper appreciation for how neurosci

NWO Intro with Boyd

March 25, 2025

Flow Learning Lab

Find us on X. @NoWayOutcast
Substack: The Whirl of ReOrientation
Want to develop your organization’s capacity for free and independent action (Organic Success)? Learn more and follow us at:
https://www.aglx.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@AGLXConsulting
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aglx-consulting-llc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandrivera
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjmcgrath1
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemccrone
Stay in the Loop. Don't have time to listen to the podcast? Want to make some snowmobiles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive deeper insights on current and past episodes.
Recent podcasts where you’ll also find Mark and Ponch:

The No Bell Podcast Episode 24
...

  continue reading

Chapters

1. From Big Bang to Brain: How Entropy Shapes Safety and Systems with David Slater, PhD (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Safety Thinking (00:01:53)

3. What Real Teamwork Looks Like (00:07:40)

4. Entropy and Control Systems (00:18:03)

5. Creating Conditions for Adaptation (00:25:57)

6. Perception and Reality in Safety (00:32:02)

7. Human Error and System Models (00:44:15)

8. AI Applications in Safety (00:56:24)

127 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 508421813 series 3692002
Content provided by Mark McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera, Mark McGrath, and Brian "Ponch" Rivera. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mark McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera, Mark McGrath, and Brian "Ponch" Rivera or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

Send us a text

Step into the fascinating world where neuroscience meets safety in this mind-expanding conversation with Professor David Slater. Beyond conventional safety thinking, we explore how our brains actually construct reality and what this means for creating truly resilient organizations.
The discussion begins with an unexpected parallel between Formula 1 pit crews and workplace safety. Professor Slater reveals how these highly choreographed teams regularly "cut corners" to achieve sub-two-second pit stops—highlighting the universal truth that humans adapt systems to meet demands, regardless of formal procedures. This adaptation, far from being problematic, forms the core of what makes systems work in reality versus theory.
What makes this episode particularly valuable is Slater's masterful connection between thermodynamics, entropy, and organizational safety. He guides us through a compelling framework where safety isn't simply the absence of accidents but the maintenance of quasi-equilibrium states in complex systems. The human brain serves as the ultimate control system in this equation, constantly working to predict and respond to environmental changes.
Perhaps most provocatively, Slater challenges the very notion of "human error," calling it "too facile" and "a get-out-of-jail card" organizations use to avoid addressing systemic issues. Instead, he offers a more nuanced understanding of how perception shapes decision-making, explaining why two people can experience the same situation completely differently. This insight alone transforms how we might approach incident investigations and safety culture development.
The conversation extends into practical territory, examining how organizations can foster the conditions for adaptation, psychological safety, and high performance. Rather than relying on checklists alone, Slater advocates for systems thinking that accommodates human variability while ensuring everyone understands how their role contributes to the larger whole.
Ready to challenge your assumptions about safety, perception, and human performance? This episode will leave you with practical insights and a deeper appreciation for how neurosci

NWO Intro with Boyd

March 25, 2025

Flow Learning Lab

Find us on X. @NoWayOutcast
Substack: The Whirl of ReOrientation
Want to develop your organization’s capacity for free and independent action (Organic Success)? Learn more and follow us at:
https://www.aglx.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@AGLXConsulting
https://www.linkedin.com/company/aglx-consulting-llc/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandrivera
https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjmcgrath1
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemccrone
Stay in the Loop. Don't have time to listen to the podcast? Want to make some snowmobiles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive deeper insights on current and past episodes.
Recent podcasts where you’ll also find Mark and Ponch:

The No Bell Podcast Episode 24
...

  continue reading

Chapters

1. From Big Bang to Brain: How Entropy Shapes Safety and Systems with David Slater, PhD (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Safety Thinking (00:01:53)

3. What Real Teamwork Looks Like (00:07:40)

4. Entropy and Control Systems (00:18:03)

5. Creating Conditions for Adaptation (00:25:57)

6. Perception and Reality in Safety (00:32:02)

7. Human Error and System Models (00:44:15)

8. AI Applications in Safety (00:56:24)

127 episodes

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