People Soup

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...

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. Calli...

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...

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...

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 th...

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 cho...

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 diffi...

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 w...

“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...

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 t...

“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 unintentio...

“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 contribute...

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 this episode resonated with you, please consider following Pe...

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 this episode resonated with...

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...

Ever noticed how your mind talks you out of big opportunities? In this Quick Spoon , Jill Stoddard shares what happened when a TEDx opportunity triggered a spiral of self-doubt — and what we can learn from it. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this episode resonated with you, plea...

When you’re stuck, whose voice would help you move forward? In this Quick Spoon, Jill Stoddard introduces the “J” exercise — a simple way to act in line with your values. Who’s your “J”? People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this episode resonated with you, please consider following P...

You don’t need fear to disappear before you act. In this Quick Spoon , Jill Stoddard shares what it looks like to take action in the presence of fear — guided by your values. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup,...

We often treat our thoughts as facts — but what if they’re just… thoughts? In this Quick Spoon , Dr. Jill Stoddard explores how creating space from your thinking can change your actions. Less autopilot. More choice. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this episode resonated with you...

What if your inner critic had a name… and you didn’t have to believe it? In this Quick Spoon , Dr. Jill Stoddard shares a simple but powerful technique for creating distance from self-doubt. “Not today, Kevin” might be exactly what you need. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use. If this...

“If I have to convince myself I’m extraordinary… it’s never going to happen.” In this Quick Spoon , Dr. Jill Stoddard shares a powerful truth: confidence isn’t a prerequisite for action. A short, practical insight into moving forward — even when your mind says you’re not ready. People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical...

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 frauds The...

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. If this episode resonated with you, please consider following People Soup, leaving a rating or review, or sharing it with someone who might find it useful. Eve...

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 —...

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 li...