Human Factors Cast

Latest Episodes:

E323 - AI The Teammate Guy Aug 21, 2026

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Episode Link: http://www.humanfactorscast.media

In episode 323 of Human Factors Cast (recorded August 20, 2026), Nick Roome and Barry Kirby discuss a paper on the “social cost” of adding an AI teammate to small teams, comparing three-human teams with teams of two humans plus an AI in a high-stakes decision task. They also share conference updates (ASPIRE paper/panel, IEA 2027 deadlines), and answer a question on the future of human factors in the return of the "It Came From" segment.

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1202 - The Human Factors Podcast

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Listen to Human Factors Minute

Step into the world of Human Factors and UX with the Human Factors Minute podcast! Each episode is like a mini-crash course in all things related to the field, packed with valuable insights and information in just one minute. From organizations and conferences to theories, models, and tools, we've got you covered. Whether you're a practitioner, student or just a curious mind, this podcast is the perfect way to stay ahead of the curve and impress your colleagues with your knowledge. Tune in on the 10th, 20th, and last day of every month for a new and interesting tidbit related to Human Factors. Join us as we explore the field and discover how fun and engaging learning about Human Factors can be! https://www.humanfactorsminute.com https://feeds.captivate.fm/human-factors-minute/

E322 - AI Research is finally discovering Human Factors Jul 24, 2026

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Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/322

In this episode of Human Factors Cast (recorded July 23, 2026), Nick Roome and Barry Kirby discuss a new Technical University of Munich paper arguing that major AI safety risks come less from model errors and more from how people and organizations interact with AI, including over-reliance and loss of oversight.

News:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-026-01132-0

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E321 - Let's try that announcement again... Jul 03, 2026

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Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/321

Nick Roome and Barry Kirby return live for Human Factors Cast Episode 321 after a month off. The main announcement is that Human Factors Cast has transitioned into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation aimed at improving human factors visibility through education, outreach, community, grants, and research on human factors communication, with stated core values including accessibility, scientific integrity, public education, experimentation, community, transparency, sustainability, and passion for human factors.

This episode also includes two Aerospace Systems Technical Group segments covering US efforts to lift the overland supersonic ban, NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology with a windowless cockpit using an external vision system, other supersonic programs, and business jet human factors topics including the Dassault Falcon 10X’s touchscreen avionics, combined vision system, and single throttle lever design

News:

https://www.humanfactorscast.media/blog/human-factors-cast-announces-transition-to-nonprofit-foundation/

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E320 - The Human Factors Of Letting AI Cook May 18, 2026

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Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/320

Support the show, and the mission of better science communication in Human Factors:Support this Podcast

Join us for episode 320 of Human Factors Cast, recorded live May 15, 2026,. Nick Roome and Barry Kirby share updates including a recap Barry’s EHF conference highlights. They discuss Stanford’s 2026 AI Index and an MIT Tech Review report on agentic AI in software engineering, focusing on rapid adoption, the “jagged frontier” where AI excels on benchmarks yet fails basic tasks, and human factors issues like trust calibration, workload, supervision, permissions, and accountability in human-AI teaming. This Week in Aerospace is back to talk about NASA’s Routine Autonomous Multi-Aircraft Operations (RAM AO) work to enable small teams managing large autonomous fleets, including interventions/exception taxonomies, Monte Carlo modeling to justify safe human-to-vehicle ratios, and the need for industry consensus standards to support future FAA regulation.

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Reference:

Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Logo design by E Graphics LLC: https://egraphicsllc.com/
Music by Kevin McLeod: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

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E319 - Turns out Space is still a Human Factors Problem Apr 17, 2026

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Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/319

This week on the show we discuss Artemis II’s 10-day crewed mission around the Moon as a major milestone and a human factors reality check. From core issues of living and working in Orion’s cramped space—limited privacy, disrupted sleep, fatigue, team dynamics, autonomy, tight workload, and the gap between engineering readiness and human readiness—to post-landing physical effects and recovery logistics. We examine NASA’s communications and public transparency, including live visuals, commentary, and openness about problems. Specific incidents include a clogged/frozen wastewater vent line that was fixed by orienting the capsule toward the Sun, and a crew email issue involving two versions of Outlook.

View the full article here: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/blog/artemis-ii-and-human-factors-in-deep-space/

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Reference:

Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Logo design by E Graphics LLC: https://egraphicsllc.com/
Music by Kevin McLeod: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

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Mentioned in this episode:

1202 - The Human Factors Podcast

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Listen to Human Factors Minute

E318 - SXSW 2026 Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Episode Link: http://www.humanfactorscast.media

News:

Human Factors Cast episode 318 (recorded April 2, 2026) - This week, Nick Roome is joined by Megan Michaels to recap SXSW 2026 (March 12–18 in Austin) and its dominant themes, especially AI’s real-world impact, ethics, and the growing need to make “the human piece” explicit. Megan describes SXSW as a convergence of tech, film, music, startups, and government/defense, shares her work as a startup pitch coach (63 teams; she coached about 30), and highlights examples like MyFleetAI (truck fleet safety via sensors and AI) and Tube Bender (efficient conduit-bending for electricians).

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Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Mentioned in this episode:

1202 - The Human Factors Podcast

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Listen to Human Factors Minute

E317 - Monthly Moon Missions Missing Mishap Management Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/317

In this episode, Nick Roome and Barry Kirby shift from AI back to space, using two moon-related stories to frame human factors risks. We discuss proposals for monthly lunar landings by 2027 and argue that higher cadence turns engineering success into a human performance problem involving fatigue, procedural drift, maintenance pressures, training handoffs, coordination across contractors, and the risk of complacency as missions become routine. We also examine the lack of a credible lunar rescue capability, emphasizing designing for failure cases, autonomy under extreme constraints, and what infrastructure (habitats, medical capability) would be needed if crews must endure until the next mission.

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Reference:

Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Logo design by E Graphics LLC: https://egraphicsllc.com/
Music by Kevin McLeod: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

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Disclaimer: Human Factors Cast may earn an affiliate commission when you buy through the links here!

Mentioned in this episode:

1202 - The Human Factors Podcast

Listen here: https://www.1202podcast.com

Listen to Human Factors Minute

E316 - When the Sky Won't Sleep and the Moon Must Wait Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

Nick Roome and Barry Kirby discuss NASA’s Artemis program overhaul, including a 2028 target for the first crewed lunar landing, added testing to reduce risk from complex first-time operations, a 2027 mission placing at least one lunar lander into low Earth orbit, and testing Axiom Space’s new spacesuit, alongside reflections on safety culture, organizational decision-making, public trust, and trade-offs of higher launch cadence.

Our second story is on the Vera C. Rubin Observatory generating 800,000 automated change alerts in one night (with a goal of 7 million), framing it as an information-overload and alert-management problem requiring filtering, metadata, and effective human–machine collaboration, with implications for democratized access and expectation setting.

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Join us on Discord: https://go.humanfactorscast.media/Discord
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Reference:

Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Logo design by E Graphics LLC: https://egraphicsllc.com/
Music by Kevin McLeod: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Listen to Human Factors Minute

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315 - The Side Effects of AI Feb 20, 2026

Show notes

Episode Link: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/315

News:

This week we discuss AI’s indirect effects on work and mental health, plus a major update on US air traffic control modernization. We cover “AI replacement dysfunction,” described as stress, anxiety, insomnia, and identity loss driven by the narrative that AI will make workers obsolete, and debate whether it reflects AI-specific harm or broader workplace insecurity and poor management messaging. We also explore the concept of “cognitive debt,” where heavy chatbot reliance and cognitive offloading may erode skills or leave partially developed ideas and externalized reasoning trapped in chat histories.

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Reference:

Our tools and software: https://www.humanfactorscast.media/p/resources/
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Music by Kevin McLeod: https://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

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E314 - Reluctantly, another episode on AI Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Join Nick Roome and Barry Kirby in Episode 314 of Human Factors Cast! In this live-recorded episode, the focus is on artificial intelligence (AI) and its unavoidable presence in human factors and UX. The duo dives deep into security, trust, and teamwork between humans and AI. You'll also hear the latest from the new segment, This Week in Aerospace, which covers advanced air mobility's future in the US.

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