People Soup

People Soup
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast exploring work, leadership, and being human through real conversations — grounded in behavioural science and full of practical ideas you can apply straight away.

  1. Quick Spoon: Awareness often begins with a metaphorical itch

    23h ago

    Quick Spoon: Awareness often begins with a metaphorical itch

    You can't lead beyond what you notice and awareness often begins with a metaphorical itch. A feeling that something isn't quite right. Something isn't fitting. Something needs attention. In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on a question that changed what he started paying attention to and explores why awareness can be uncomfortable, but essential for growth and leadership. Reflection Question - What have you been noticing recently that you've been tempted to brush aside? People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
  2. Quick Spoon: The leadership skill that's going out of fashion

    2d ago

    Quick Spoon: The leadership skill that's going out of fashion

    We're encouraged to be quick, responsive and always on. But what happens when urgency becomes identity, reaction becomes leadership and speed becomes a virtue? In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on why he believes the pause is becoming an unfashionable leadership skill—and why that might be a problem. Discover why the pause sits at the heart of Ross's leadership framework and a simple practice to help create more choice in moments that matter. Reflection Question Pause for 5 seconds and as yourself - what's needed here? People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
  3. Why good leaders go off track - A People Soup special #1

    4d ago

    Why good leaders go off track - A People Soup special #1

    Why do good people do things they later regret? It's a question that's fascinated me for years. Before I became a coach, studied organisational psychology, or discovered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I spent years in HR leadership. One of my roles was leading the Conduct and Discipline Team in a large government department in the UK Civil Service. In that job I became increasingly curious about what really drives human behaviour. In this special solo episode, I share my working hypothesis about leadership: Under pressure, leaders often default to behaviours designed to reduce discomfort rather than create impact. I explore six common patterns of psychologically inflexible leadership and introduce my leadership framework, built around three core skills topped and tailed by the Pause and the Review Loop: PauseAwarenessAuthentic ActionAdaptabilityand the Review Loop. Along the way, I share stories from my own leadership journey, including: What I learned from conduct and discipline casesA memorable disagreement with a tech startup founder about the value of pausingThe conversation with my husband that changed what I paid attention toLessons from coaching senior leaders through moments of challenge and transitionWhy authenticity became such an important part of my leadership philosophy This episode is both a reflection on leadership and an invitation to consider what might be running you when pressure shows up. In this episodeWhy leaders are not exempt from being humanSix common ways leaders can drift off courseWhy the pause is a leadership superpowerThe importance of awareness and noticing what mattersValues, authenticity and courageous actionAdapting without abandoning yourselfWhy reflection turns experience into wisdomWhat ACT has taught me about leadership and human behaviour Key quote"Pressure doesn't reveal who we are. Pressure reveals what's running us." Reflection questionWhen pressure rises, what patterns show up most often for you? ResourcesYou can find an illustration of my ACT-based Leadership Framework in the show notes. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    14 min
  4. Quick Spoon: Leadership starts feeling difficult

    May 29

    Quick Spoon: Leadership starts feeling difficult

    In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the fourth skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Adaptability. Inspired by a candid reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode explores what happens when leadership becomes uncertain, messy, political, and deeply human. So many leadership books promise certainty, control, and easy answers. But real leadership often starts feeling difficult at exactly the moment complexity arrives. Ross reflects on what leaders can do when pressure rises, certainty disappears, and their usual ways of coping stop working. And he shares one practical question that can help turn pressure into purposeful action. In this Quick Spoon 🥄 Why leadership becomes harder under uncertainty 🥄 What happens when leaders grip tighter under pressure 🥄 The hidden link between rigidity and reduced impact 🥄 A practical reflection question to try this week Key reflection “Who do I want to be in this moment?” People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    2 min
  5. Quick Spoon: What's love got to do with it?

    May 27

    Quick Spoon: What's love got to do with it?

    In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the third skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Authentic Action. Inspired by a powerful insight from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at the tension leaders face between acting from fear… or acting from what matters most. Gabriella describes how every workplace contains both constructive and destructive forces — and how leadership often involves helping people move towards the constructive side. Ross reflects on what this can mean in practice during difficult conversations, moments of tension, and everyday leadership decisions. Because authentic leadership isn’t about avoiding discomfort. It’s about acting with clarity, courage, and humanity. In this Quick Spoon 🥄 Why leadership is more than decision-making 🥄 The difference between acting from fear and acting from values 🥄 Why love and courage belong in leadership conversations 🥄 A practical reflection to try before your next difficult conversation Key reflection “What would love and courage look like here?” People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
  6. Quick Spoon: I always had an eye looking in

    May 25

    Quick Spoon: I always had an eye looking in

    In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the second skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Awareness. Inspired by a reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at the leadership power of noticing what’s happening beneath the surface — in ourselves, in teams, and in the wider system around us. So often, leaders feel pressure to speak quickly, solve problems, and drive action. But what if better leadership sometimes starts with noticing more… and saying less? Ross shares a practical experiment to help leaders develop awareness in meetings, conversations, and everyday workplace dynamics. In this Quick Spoon 🥄 Why awareness is a core leadership skill 🥄 The hidden dynamics we often miss in meetings 🥄 How curiosity can change a room 🥄 A practical experiment to try this week Key reflection “You can’t lead beyond what you notice.” People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Leadership beyond autopilot - The McIntosh ACT Leadership Framework Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
  7. Quick Spoon: Why did I react like that?

    May 22

    Quick Spoon: Why did I react like that?

    In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the first skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Pause. Inspired by a powerful reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at those moments when our reactions feel immediate, emotional, and difficult to control. Why does one comment roll off our backs… while another lingers all day? And what might change if, instead of reacting automatically, we paused long enough to notice what’s happening inside us? Ross shares a simple practical experiment to help leaders interrupt autopilot, create choice, and respond with greater awareness and intention. In this Quick Spoon 🥄 Why our reactions at work can feel instant 🥄 The leadership power of pausing before reacting 🥄 How to interrupt autopilot and habitual responses 🥄 A simple reflection question to try this week Key reflection “Between stimulus and response… that’s where your leadership lives.” People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
  8. Quick Spoon: That difficult person at work

    May 20

    Quick Spoon: That difficult person at work

    Every workplace seems to have one. The difficult colleague. The challenging client. The person who pushes your buttons before they’ve even opened their mouth. In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a different way of responding to difficult people at work. Not by excusing behaviour. Not by pretending it’s easy. But by asking a different question: What if compassion reduced your suffering… not just theirs?A practical reflection on threat responses, workplace relationships, and how seeing people differently might change the impact they have on us. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes. Eric's Website Visit Ross' Website. Connect with Ross on LinkedIn People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life He's now also on Bluesky The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE

    1 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

A podcast exploring work, leadership, and being human through real conversations — grounded in behavioural science and full of practical ideas you can apply straight away.

Information

  • Creator
    People Soup
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    People Soup

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