Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

DOUBLE BILL: A Monkey For Mayor / A Screw Loose At 17,000 Feet

Oct 13, 2023

Discover the amusing story of a monkey who unexpectedly became a successful mayor, raising questions about leadership and our selection process. Then, delve into the high-stakes world of aviation with a gripping tale of how a tiny mistake involving a bolt led to a near disaster at 17,000 feet. The podcast offers a mix of humor and caution, highlighting both the absurdities and risks inherent in decision-making and engineering. Tune in for intriguing insights into what makes an effective leader and the importance of precision in critical situations!

34:25

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Quick takeaways

Selecting the best people for leadership positions requires rethinking traditional methods of assessment and considering unconventional candidates.

Accidents often occur due to a combination of various safety measures that have gaps or weaknesses, highlighting the importance of thorough inspections and organizational processes.

Deep dives

Opportunity for HBCU Steam Scholars

The Black Effect podcast network and Nissan are offering 50 HBCU Steam Scholars an all-expenses-paid trip to Nissan's possibility summit to be mentored by industry leaders in auto, tech, and podcasting. The summit is described as a life-changing and impactful experience that provides unique mentorship opportunities.

Intro

2min

Hartlepool's Monkey Mystery

9min

The Perils of Promotion and Precision

13min

Flight 5390: Tumult in the Skies

8min

The Winds of Oversight

9min

This week, we've twice the storytelling fun for you: two Cautionary Tales shorts, previously only available to Pushkin+ subscribers.

A Monkey for Mayor: It was supposed to be a publicity stunt, but when the man who dressed as Hartlepool United’s monkey mascot stood in a mayoral election... he won. Actual politicians predicted disaster - since thousands of workers and millions of dollars were now in the hands of a complete novice.

But H’Angus the Monkey proved to be a more effective leader than anyone had predicted, raising interesting questions about how we select the best people to be our managers and our mayors.

And

A Screw Loose At 17,000 Feet: Can you tell the difference between an A211-7D bolt and an A211-8C? Well, nor could the tired and stressed engineer fitting a cockpit windshield to Flight 5390. The difference is tiny, but the consequences of muddling them up - which played out at 17,000 ft - were dramatic.

Such design flaws are common - and result in far more loose aircraft windows than you would imagine.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

DOUBLE BILL: A Monkey For Mayor / A Screw Loose At 17,000 Feet

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Opportunity for HBCU Steam Scholars

The Legend of the Monkey Hanging in Hartlepool

The Case of Misfit Bolts on Flight BA5390

The Swiss Cheese Model of Accidents

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts