Ep.6 - Ben Goodheart. Sliding down that chute - what could possibly go wrong?

Today, I’m joined by Ben Goodhart, founder of Magpie Human Systems, a consultancy working in high-stakes industries like aviation, energy, and healthcare. Ben’s background as a pilot, accident investigator, and lifelong adventurer makes him uniquely qualified to dig into the nuances of risk and reward, and he does so with humor, insight, and honesty.

In this episode, Ben shares some fantastic stories—from a near-disastrous glissade on a snowfield (while wearing crampons!) to a high-speed mountain bike crash that left him with a neck brace and a powerful reflection on risk. These stories are more than entertaining; they dive into the deeper questions of why we take risks, how we manage them, and what we learn when things don’t go as planned.

We discuss the idea of risk not just as a negative concept but as a pathway to adventure, growth, and self-discovery. Ben brings fresh perspectives on the balance between control and surrender, the evolution of safety technology, and the ways adventure sports can teach humility, curiosity, and resilience. Along the way, we draw parallels to high-risk industries, exploring how decision-making under pressure and the negotiation of trade-offs applies to both work and play.

Find Ben Here:

• Ben Goodhart’s consultancy: Magpie Human Systems

Resources Mentioned:

• Minus 148 Degrees: The First Winter Ascent of Mount McKinley by Art Davidson
• Reinhold Messner’s mountaineering books
• Risk Savvy: How to Make Good Decisions by Gerd Gigerenzer

Find me here:

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