People Soup

What if confidence isn’t required before you take action?In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh sits down with Dr Jill Stoddard — psychologist, author of Impostor No More, and co-host of Psychologists Off the Clock.Together, they explore the reality of imposter thoughts and why trying to eliminate them often makes things worse.You’ll hear:Why high achievers still feel like fraudsThe limits of “positive thinking”How to respond differently to your inner criticJill’s powerful TEDx story — and what her mind was sayingThe role of values in taking meaningful actionA simple but transformative skill: getting comfortable being uncomfortableThis episode is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), offering practical tools you can apply immediately.Over the coming days, look out for Quick Spoon episodes — short, practical extracts from this conversation.This episode was produced and edited from a previous People Soup interview recording with Dr Jill Stoddard.People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATEDr Jill StoddardJill's Website.Jill's Books.Jill's TEDx Talk - How to Succeed in Every Moment Even When You're FailingConnect with Jill on LinkedIn.

A short episode from me today — and a gentle update on what’s coming next for People Soup.People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.After some reflection, I’m making a small shift to how the podcast will work going forward. You can expect:Main episodes every two weeks — deeper, thoughtful conversationsNew Quick Spoon episodes in between — short, focused ideas and practical tools you can use straight awayThe aim is simple: to offer both depth and something more bite-sized when you need it.Thanks, as always, for listening — I’m really glad you’re here.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there, and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 48 of People Soup. It’s Ross McIntosh here.Peace Soupers… welcome back to part two of my conversation with Miranda Birch.In part one, we explored the power of really being heard — the kind of listening that creates space, sparks insight, and builds confidence.In this episode, we go deeper.We get into how conversations can unlock clarity — for leaders trying to make sense of their role, their message, and what really matters.And what really struck me here is how aligned Miranda’s work is with mine.She helps people find clarity through conversation.I help leaders build psychological flexibility — moving forward with purpose, even when the mind gets noisy.And at the heart of both?Pausing… reflecting… and reconnecting with what matters.You’ll hear:How leaders can rediscover what drives themWhy clarity beats polish in communicationAnd how real, human conversation cuts through overwhelm.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.Connect with Miranda on LinkedInThe Richest Conversations – Helping your organisation to make more impact, through the voices of its founders, teams and clientsVisit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 47 of People Soup.Listening is one of the most powerful communication skills at work — yet it’s often the one we practice least.What happens when someone really listens to you at work?In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh talks with Miranda Birch — former BBC journalist and founder of The Richest Conversations — about the power of listening and why better conversations can transform how we work together.Drawing on her career in broadcasting and interviewing, Miranda shares what journalism can teach us about communication at work, leadership conversations, and creating the space where people feel heard and understood.Ross and Miranda explore:Why deep listening is becoming a rare skill at workHow great interviewers build trust and rapport quicklyWhat leaders can learn from broadcast journalism techniquesThe connection between conversations, confidence, and wellbeingHow simple moments of connection — even saying hello — can have a powerful impact.You’ll also hear Miranda’s reflections on growing up surrounded by radio, her journey into the BBC, and how curiosity and listening shaped her approach to storytelling.If you’re interested in better communication at work, leadership skills, coaching conversations, or workplace wellbeing, this episode is packed with insights you can use straight away.So get a brew on, settle in, and enjoy part one of Ross’s conversation with Miranda Birch.About People SoupPeople Soup is a podcast that mixes stories, science and a sprinkle of daftness to explore what helps people thrive at work and beyond. Drawing on behavioural science — especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — Ross shares practical ideas to help you build a better work life.Connect with Miranda on LinkedInThe Richest Conversations – Helping your organisation to make more impact, through the voices of its founders, teams and clientsVisit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 46 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This week it’s a cuppa soup - a short episode and I’m going to update you on our new free club - that anyone can join - it’s called The Friday Towards Move Club. The Friday Towards Move Club is beautifully simple.Each Friday, we make one small move towards something that matters to us.Not a grand transformation.Not a productivity hack.Not a life overhaul.Just one small, intentional step in the direction of our values.It might take two minutes.It might take five.It might feel tiny from the outside.But psychologically? It’s powerful.Because every towards move is a vote for the kind of person we want to be.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.There is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.People Soup | LinkedInVisit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 45 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This week it’s a cuppa soup - a short episode and I’m going to introduce you to a new club - that anyone can join (and it's free) - it’s called the Friday Towards Move Club. Consider this episode as its soft launch.The Friday Towards Move ClubSo what’s the idea? It’s something small and lovely I want to share with you.It’s not perfectly crafted or developed - I’m keen to share it and see how the idea evolves.In one of my small group coaching sessions recently, we decided we’d finish each week by sharing one tiny thing — just one — that we’ve done on a Friday - each week.We call it a Towards Move - some of you might be familiar with that language - from the ACT Matrix.Not a big life overhaul.Not a productivity hack.Not a “new me” declaration.Just a small action that moves us towards something that matters.A towards move has three qualities:It’s connected to something meaningful.It’s small enough to actually do.And it’s done on purpose.That’s it.It might be:Sending one honest message.Stepping outside for five minutes of air.Writing the first paragraph.Leaving work on time.Saying no.Saying yes.Listening to a piece of music.Getting your sports bag ready.And here’s the important bit — I encourage people to make it almost laughably small.Because when it’s small, it’s doable.When it’s doable, it builds trust with yourself.And when you build trust with yourself — that changes things.What I loved in the supervision group was this:When we shared our Friday Towards Move, something shifted.There was encouragement.There was gentle accountability.There was warmth.There was witnessing.Nobody judged. Nobody optimised it. Nobody made it bigger.We just said:“That matters. Go for it.”So I’m launching something simple:The Friday Towards Move Club.A gentle online space.Which will appear on LinkedIn and Instagram on Friday.Where each Friday, I’ll share one small towards move.You can post yours.Or you can observe.Or you can simply borrow courage from someone else.Because sometimes we don’t need pressure.We need presence.A towards move isn’t about fixing yourself.It’s about expressing what matters to you — in motion.So here’s my invitation:Before this Friday ends —What’s one small move you could make?And what makes it meaningful?Make it 50% smaller than you think it should be.And if you’d like to share it, you can add it in the comments under my post - or create a new post.Use the hashtag:#FridayTowardsMoveSmall.Meaningful.Shared.That’s the club. That’s the idea.Let’s see what happens. It’s a People Soup ritual in the making.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.People Soup | LinkedInRoss on InstagramThere is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 44 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This episode, is the second part of my conversation with Yass Rad. Yass is the founder of We Were Unpublished, a part-time consultant at Affinity Health at Work, and a PhD student researching perfectionism in the workplace and ACT interventions for well-being at City St. George's University of London. We discuss Yass’ systematic review of workplace acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and how interventions change psychological flexibility subprocesses. Yass also introduces her new platform, We Were Unpublished, a website for practitioners and students to share unpublished applied psychology research via short, accessible submissions and a supportive community.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.Connect with Yass on linkedInWe Were Unpublished.Yass Rad - Art, research and moreLeading with purpose with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingThere is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 43 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode, I welcome Yass Rad to People Soup. Yass is the founder of 'We Were Unpublished', a part-time consultant at Affinity Health at Work, and a PhD student researching perfectionism in the workplace and ACT interventions for well-being at City St. George's, University of London. You'll hear Yass shares pivotal moments from her academic and career journey, discussing her unique combination of interests in psychology and art. She reflects on her early work experiences, the challenges she faced, and how they led her back to academia. The conversation touches on her personal values, her creative pursuits, and her current research involving a four-week online ACT training program for individuals struggling with perfectionism. In fact - there's an opportunity for you to take part in the current research, so if you feel you have perfectionistic tendencies you might want to get involved.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.Connect with Yass on linkedInWe Were Unpublished.Yass Rad - Art, research and moreBuilding better teams with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingLeading with purpose with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingThere is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 42 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode I welcome back friend of the show - Dr Joe Oliver - and together we discuss how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can help us navigate life transitions. We draw upon our own experiences of moving to a new country to reflect on the processes at play, exploring what helped us, as well as the surprises.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.Contextual Consulting - Acceptance & Commitment Therapy SpecialistsBuilding better teams with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingLeading with purpose with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingThere is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 41 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode I continue my chat with Dr. Ben Sedley, a clinical psychologist, author, and speaker.We delve into his book - 'Holding the Heavy Stuff - Making Space for Critical Thoughts and Painful Emotions.The conversation covers the book's structure, featuring chapters on presence, compassion, curiosity, purpose, and support, and explores how it aims to serve individuals navigating life's pressures in work, relationships, leisure, and health. Ben discusses the motivation behind writing a relatable guide that is accessible to those who may not typically pick up self-help books. I share my review and highlight the value of Ben's empathetic and jargon-free writing style. We also touch upon practical applications of self-compassion in the workplace and personal life, underscoring the importance of being kind to oneself. The episode emphasizes the broader impact of the book, the collaborative efforts involved in its creation, and the journey of publishing and promoting it.For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.Ben on facebookFollow Ben on InstagamBen Sedley, Clinical Psychologist, Author + SpeakerBuilding better teams with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingLeading with purpose with Ross McIntosh - Contextual ConsultingThere is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely generated by Artificial Intelligence, I have corrected many errors but I won't have captured them all! You can also find the shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.Visit Ross' Website.Connect with Ross on LinkedInPeople Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian lifeHe's now also on BlueskyThe People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE