Breaking Down Human Organizational Performance with The HOP Nerd, Sam Goodman
Welcome to the Environmental Transformation Podcast with your host, Sean Grady . In this high-impact episode, we’re joined by Sam Goodman , also known as The HOP Nerd —a leading voice in Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) , safety culture innovation, and host of The HOP Nerd Podcast .
🎙️ In This Episode:
Sam breaks down what HOP (Human and Organizational Performance) really means, why traditional safety programs often fall short, and how organizations can shift from blame-based models to system-level improvements that foster real operational learning , psychological safety , and frontline employee engagement .
🧠 Topics We Cover:
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What is Human and Organizational Performance (HOP)?
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How HOP differs from traditional safety programs
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The dangers of TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) obsession
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Why blame, shame, and retrain doesn't work
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Moving from “who failed?” to “what failed?”
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How leadership response shapes safety culture
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Using comedy and storytelling to drive cultural change
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The origins and mission of The HOP Nerd
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Downloadable video resources for safety meetings
🔑 Key Takeaways for Safety Professionals & Leaders:
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Stop focusing on just injury metrics—start listening to workers .
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Safety isn’t the absence of incidents—it’s the presence of capacity to fail safely .
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Silence in an organization is dangerous —learn how to create environments where truth-telling is encouraged.
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Good safety culture starts with curious, calm leadership responses .
🔥 Whether you're in EHS leadership , a frontline worker , or just tired of meaningless checklists, this episode gives you the tools and mindset shift you need to create sustainable safety transformation .
📌 More from Sam Goodman — The HOP NERD:
🌐 https://www.thehopnerd.com
🎧 The HOP Nerd Podcast – Available on all major platforms
📺 Safety satire videos & learning tools: The HOP Nerd YouTube Channel
👷♂️ Who is Sam Goodman?
Sam is a HOP practitioner , speaker , consultant , and podcast host who brings humor, insight, and real-world experience to the conversation about modern safety systems . His work is deeply influenced by leaders like Todd Conklin and Sidney Dekker , but his approach is distinctly his own—bold, funny, and transformative.
🔎 SEO Keywords:
Human and Organizational Performance, HOP safety, Sam Goodman HOP NERD, modern safety leadership, safety culture podcast, TRIR criticism, safety differently, safety improvement strategies, frontline safety communication, operational learning, leadership response safety, psychological safety in the workplace, HOP tools, safety performance podcast, environmental transformation podcast
📣 Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help more safety and environmental professionals discover practical strategies that make a difference!
Sam Goodman
HOP Consultant / Author / Creator
Sam Goodman, founder of The HOP Nerd LLC, has dedicated nearly two decades to advancing safety and Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). He’s a recognized leader and a prominent voice in promoting operational curiosity, effective operational learning, and sustained improvement within organizations. Sam's career is marked by significant leadership roles in safety and human performance across challenging sectors, including power generation—with a specialized focus on commercial nuclear operations—as well as broader power generation, maintenance, construction, and other high-risk industries.
Beyond his consulting work through The HOP Nerd LLC, Sam expands his reach as the host and producer of "The HOP Nerd Podcast," sharing valuable insights on progressive safety concepts. He also brings a unique and effective dimension to his work as a comedian, creating insightful and genuinely funny video content. With a smart, tongue-in-cheek approach, these videos explore the absurdities of workplace dynamics, especially within safety, making critical topics more accessible and engaging.
As a global consultant, sought-after keynote speaker, and an established authority on HOP, Sam is also the author of multiple best-selling books on HOP and Safety that are considered key resources in the field. Through The HOP Nerd LLC, he has partnered with a wide range of organizations, both in the United States and internationally. Their focus is on operationalizing HOP principles, implementing effective Learning Teams, and cultivating a strong culture of operat… Read More
