Loading...

PODCAST

People Soup

Grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. The name People Soup comes from a quote by Abraham Maslow: "A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting." I"ve always loved that idea because creativity isn"t confined to art. It shows up in how we live, work, lead and relate to one another. Work often feels like a soup: a rich, sometimes bewildering mix of people, personalities, decisions, pressures, relationships and unexpected challenges. Every day

business management

All Episodes

01:13

Quick Spoon: Why did I react like that?

People Soup ·

2026/05/22

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

en

01:25

That difficult person at work

People Soup ·

2026/05/20

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,

en

21:04

Why work feels so personal with Gabriella Braun

People Soup ·

2026/05/18

In this episode of People Soup, Ross is joined by consultant, psychoanalytic thinker, and author Gabriella Braun for a deeply human conversation about why work can feel so personal.Drawing on her remarkable book All That We Are, Gabriella explores what really happens beneath the surface in teams, organisations, and leadership.Together, Ross and Gabriella explore:Why we can’t simply “leave our emotions at home”How Gabriella’s experience as the child of immigrants shaped her ability to observe human

en

01:29

Quick Spoon: Speak to three people

People Soup ·

2026/05/15

What do you do when anxiety shows up… right when something matters?A networking event.A room full of strangers.A voice in your head saying:“Your Spanish isn’t good enough.”In this Quick Spoon, I share a very real moment from a networking event for psychologists in Seville—where social anxiety showed up… and so did the urge to run.But instead of waiting to feel confident…I tried something smaller.Something more workable.Speak to three people.That was the goal.Not confidence.Not perfection.Just one

en

01:25

Quick Spoon: If I was at my absolute best...

People Soup ·

2026/05/13

What do you do in those moments when emotions are running high?An awkward conversation.A difficult email.A family disagreement.A colleague who’s pushing your buttons.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore one simple question that can create a little more space… and a little more choice:“If I was at my absolute best right now… what would I want to do?”Not…What do I feel like doing?Not…What would be easiest?But…What would my best self choose?A practical reflection on

en

01:34

Quick Spoon: Pain is part of being human

People Soup ·

2026/05/11

What if the goal was never to become stress-free?Or anxiety-free.Or grief-free.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we challenge a myth that many of us still buy into:That difficult emotions are somehow a sign that something’s gone wrong.Eric offers a different perspective:Painful emotions aren’t a design flaw.They’re part of being human.And the real skill may not be fighting what we feel…but learning how to notice it with a little more awareness—and a little more

en

01:33

Quick Spoon: Get off autopilot

People Soup ·

2026/05/09

Ever noticed how pressure can shrink your options?A difficult conversation.An awkward email.A deadline.A piece of feedback you weren’t expecting.And suddenly… you’re reacting before you’ve even realised it.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore what he describes as one of the most crucial skills in mental health:Getting off autopilot.Taking a pause.Calling a timeout.And choosing a response that’s…Helpful, not harmful.A short practical reflection on choice,

en

01:30

Quick Spoon: Locked out of the controls

People Soup ·

2026/05/07

Why do we sometimes react in ways that don’t feel like us?Why do we say things we later regret, shut down under pressure, or act against our values?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a powerful idea:Sometimes, in difficult moments…“We’re locked out of the controls.”And if that’s true…Beating ourselves up probably isn’t the answer.Awareness might be.A practical reflection on self-compassion, threat responses, and how to choose a response that’s guided by your

en

01:35

Quick Spoon: When the threat system takes over

People Soup ·

2026/05/05

Why do good people sometimes say things they later regret?Why do we shut down, snap, or go into fight mode when pressure rises?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a powerful idea:Sometimes it’s not weakness.Sometimes your threat system is driving the bus.And when that happens, we can find ourselves reacting in ways that don’t reflect who we want to be.A practical and compassionate reminder that awareness creates choice… especially in difficult moments.People

en

01:18

Quick Spoon: We don't choose who we become

People Soup ·

2026/05/03

Why do some people push our buttons so easily?And what if compassion wasn’t about excusing behaviour… but understanding how people are shaped?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a powerful idea:None of us chose our genetics.None of us chose our upbringing.None of us chose the experiences that shaped us.But…We do have some say in who we become next.A thought-provoking reflection on compassion, responsibility, and how we respond to difficult people—at work and

en

01:23

Quick Spoon: The power of the pause, creating space...

People Soup ·

2026/05/01

When life and work feel busy, speed can become the default.We move quickly from one conversation to the next, reacting, deciding, replying, and solving without much space in between.In this final Quick Spoon from Ross’ conversation with Jessica Lee, we explore the value of something simple:The pause.A pause can create enough distance to notice what matters, respond with more intention, and choose how we want to show up.It doesn’t need to be dramatic.Sometimes it’s one breath.Sometimes it’s one

en

24:59

How to Stay at Your Best When Life Is at Its Worst...

People Soup ·

2026/04/29

Dr. Eric Goodman joins Ross McIntosh for a practical and powerful conversation about how we respond when life feels overwhelming.Why do smart, capable people sometimes say things they regret, shut down under pressure, or react in ways that don’t reflect who they want to be?Eric explains how our threat system can take over, why that’s completely human, and what we can do to regain choice in difficult moments.Together, Ross and Eric explore:Why we all go on autopilot sometimesHow the threat system can

en

01:22

Quick Spoon: Why leadership feels so hard

People Soup ·

2026/04/27

Leadership roles often come with more pressure than preparation.In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on why leadership can feel so difficult — especially when people step into bigger roles and suddenly face new expectations.They may still be doing their day job. Still managing people.But now they’re also expected to think strategically, communicate differently, make bigger decisions, and carry wider responsibility.All at once.For many people, the challenge is not capability.It’s the gap between what

en

01:15

Quick Spoon: Leadership isn't a title: what are you...

People Soup ·

2026/04/25

“I’m just a manager.”“They’re a leader.”These phrases reveal a common assumption at work: that leadership belongs to people with titles.In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores a different perspective.Leadership often starts long before someone joins a senior team or receives a promotion. It shows up in behaviour, communication, consistency, and how people respond under pressure.People notice more than we think.They notice how we treat colleagues, how we make decisions, what we reward, and what we

en

01:23

Same words, different meaning

People Soup ·

2026/04/23

A single word can mean different things to different people.In this Quick Spoon, Ross shares a simple example from a conversation with Jess — where saying “sorry” meant something very different depending on the cultural context.What felt normal in one place was interpreted completely differently in another.And this kind of misunderstanding happens more often than we realise.At work, we tend to assume that our way of communicating is the standard — when in reality, it’s just what we’re used to.When

en

01:18

“I’m just…”: the language that shrinks how we show up

People Soup ·

2026/04/21

“I’m just…”It’s a phrase that shows up in many workplaces — often without much thought.But this seemingly small piece of language can have a significant impact.In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores how the word “just” can subtly shape behaviour, influencing how people contribute, communicate, and see their own value at work.When people describe themselves as “just” something, they can unintentionally minimise their role — speaking up less, holding back ideas, and second guessing their contribution.Over

en

01:21

You’re Not “a Creative” (And Other Labels That Stick)

People Soup ·

2026/04/19

“You’re not a creative.”It’s a simple phrase — but one that can have a lasting impact.In this Quick Spoon, inspired by a conversation with Jess Lee, Ross explores how quickly we label people at work, and how those labels can shape behaviour in subtle but powerful ways.From “creative” to “not creative”, “strategic” to “not strategic”, these categories can influence who speaks up, who contributes, and who holds back.But creativity — like many capabilities — isn’t a fixed identity or a job title.It

en

02:20

Quick Spoon: When grief stops you

People Soup ·

2026/04/17

Grief can stop us in our tracks — but it can also shape what we do next.In this Quick Spoon, Jill Stoddard shares a deeply human moment about loss, connection, and continuing forward.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

en

02:56

Quick Spoon: Get comfortable being uncomfortable

People Soup ·

2026/04/15

If you could learn one skill to change your life — this might be it.In this Quick Spoon, Jill Stoddard explains why willingness — not confidence — is the real key to growth.A simple practice you can try immediately.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

en

21:51

You’re not “just” anything: rethinking leadership,...

People Soup ·

2026/04/13

How often do we limit ourselves with the stories we tell?“I’m not creative.”“I’m just HR.”“I’m not a leader.”In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh is joined by organisational psychologist Jess Lee to explore how these seemingly small phrases can have a big impact on how we think, behave, and show up at work.Drawing on Jess’s experience across industries and cultures, they unpack how assumptions — about roles, industries, and even ourselves — can shape behaviour in subtle but powerful

en

287 results

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

SoldiOnline

Mondadori Digital

Black Box - La scatola nera della finanza

Guido Brera e Gian Luca Comandini -...

Mikroökonomen a.k.a. Mikrooekonomen

Marco Herack