People Soup - Behavioural Science For A More Meaningful Way To Work

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 42 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P Soupers - here's the second of my chat with Kerry Cullen. Kerry is an embodiment coach, facilitator, chartered psychologist and an expert in Polyvagal theory.In this episode, Kerry unpacks polyvagal theory for us in a really accessible way. She starts with a description of polyvagal theory and then goes on to talk about its three organising principles and the work of Stephen Porges and Deb Dana. Kerry illustrates the organising principles by looking at her life changing diagnosis through the lens of polyvagal theory. And we also begin to consider its usefulness in the workplace. And, P Soupers, there is so much that resonates with ACT, too.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.There is a transcript f

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 41 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P Soupers - here's the first part of my chat with Kerry Cullen. Kerry is an embodiment coach, facilitator and chartered psychologist. She's also an expert and innovator in Polyvagal theory.In this episode you'll get to know Kerry a bit more, from her days growing up in Bury, Manchester to settling in Ireland, between Donegal and Dublin. For me Kerry is a creative weaver, bringing different methodologies together to support people in coming home to themselves. You'll hear Kerry's warmth and openness, her song choice, a tale from the cake shop and the impact of a life altering diagnosis. People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.There is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is lar

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 40 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P Soupers - here's the final part of my chat with Dr Ben Askew - he's an acting teacher, writer and director. In this episode you're hear us talk about the Shakespeare play - Macbeth - with a particular focus on Lady Macbeth and her husband. We explore the characters through the lens of ACT and the ACT Matrix - and find both depth and humanity. You'll also hear what Ben means when he says we're all playing on the same board, the pitfalls when we treat someone as a character and gender differences at work - again related to Lady Macbeth.The icon photo for this episode is actor Jessica Kinsey she's in a workshop with Ben, exploring the character of Lady Macbeth with masks and I just love the intensity of Jessica's expression. You'll find Jessica's instagram in the shownotes.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun.

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 39 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P Soupers - I'm continuing my chat with Dr Ben Askew - he's an acting teacher, writer and director. If you haven't listened to Part one - where we find out more about Ben and some pivotal moments in his life - I'd recommend you pause and go and have a listen. In this episode you'll hear more about the ways Ben uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or ACT in a theatrical environment - breaking it down into three parts - people, plays and process. We also chat about his paper - called "Towards or Not Towards: Using the Act Matrix as a psychological tool in the analysis and interpretation of dramatic texts and characters." How does Hamlet help us explore the human condition through the ACT lens?And...there's a cracking takeaway. A link to Ben's WORKING ACTION GROUP - #ACTforACTINGFind Ben's ACT for ACTING on InstagramPeople Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 38 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  We're back - it's 2024 and what a guest we have to start the year. Let me introduce you to Dr Ben Askew - he's an acting teacher, writer and director. He is the originator of the #ACTforActing project and is one of the UK's leading exponents of Theatre Analysis and the Laban-Malmgren System of Movement Psychology.You'll hear about how he got into acting, when he first discovered ACT and how he realised it's potential - not only for actor wellbeing but also for character development. I loved this conversation and this is the first of three episodes with Ben. In the second episode we'll focus on the use of ACT in his work and in the third - we have a spontaneous chat about Macbeth - partcularly Lady Macbeth and we look at her behaviour and relationship with her husband through the ACT lens - how cool is that.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way th

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 37 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  For the Festive Season - we're looking back at some of our fabulous expert guests. Our first People Soup Rewind - is with Dr Kevin Teoh. In my Spotify wrapped for podcasters this year - this was the most popular episode - so it definitely deserves another airing.Kevin is a Senior Lecturer and the Programme Director for the MSc in Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. If you haven't listened to Part One you can catch it here He's also the Executive Officer, European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. In part two of our chat we focus on Kevin's research and his thoughts on how workplaces are designed, organised and managed, what's known as the psychosocial context or the psychosocial working conditions - and what we're really trying to develop is a healthy workplace.. Such is Kevin's generosity in sharing his thoughts that this whole episode is like a takeaway banquet. To hear

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 36 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. In this episode - the tables are still turned and I'm being interviewed by Producer Emma. I recount some memorable moments from ACT Training, I share part of the training from session 1 where I introduce the metaphor of the passengers on the bus and then I give my top tips for ways we can introduce ACT to organisations. And we finish with a surprise question from Emma that carries a singing advisory warning!People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.You can find all the details of my ACT in the Workplace Train the Trainer Program over on our partner's website, Contextual Consulting.The discount code for 20% off the Program is PSOUP20There is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 35 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, this week the tables are turned, producer Emma has interviewed me in a table turning special.You'll get to hear a bit more about my career history and when I first discovered ACT. We also chat about how I present ACT in a compelling way to a workplace audience, the evidence base for ACT,the impact ACT has had in my own life,how I use the ACT in the workplace training protocol I developed with Dr Paul Flaxman at City, University of London, as the foundation for a wide variety of organisational requirements,and hamster wheels!You can find all the details of my ACT in the Workplace Train the Trainer Program over on our partner's website, Contextual Consulting.The discount code for 20% off the Program is PSOUP20People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with exp

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 34 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, this week - the chat with Dr Steve Jones - continues. We touch upon role modelling -in terms of the ripple effect when men disclose how they've sought support for their mental health or volunteered for psychological wellbeing training. We talk about how we must understand and respect the culture of an organisation when considering interventions, that's across the board and particularly for men's mental health. We also talk about getting outside - with school memories from two nothern lads, it's almost like an old hovis advert and we finish with a great takeaway from Steve.Oh and by the way - Steve is a clinical psychologist, author of ACT made Yorkshire and creator and host of the shit shower and self care podcast.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 33 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, One of the wonderful things about having a producer - and specifically a producer like Emma - is that she's fizzing with ideas. When Emma mentioned Movember I immediately sent out a bat signal to friend of the show Dr Steve Jones and later that week - we met virtually over a brew to chat about men's mental health. Why do men seem to find it more difficult to talk about emotions, stuff that makes them feel uncomfortable and instead tend to bottle it up? Well - we have a go at answering that - and reflect on some of the guests that Steve has had on his brilliant show - the Shit Shower and Self Care Podcast. We also touch on Steve's pride at his nerdiness, football, and superheroes. People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contex

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 32 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  It's a bit different this week. It's a solo episode, a cup-a-soup if you like. What I want to do is build on the idea I shared earlier this year about having a separate sister podcast of PeopleSoup for leaders. One where they can tune in and really hear about bite sized practical skills that they can use to develop and evolve their own authentic leadership style. So I wanted to present my emerging idea to you all and hopefully get your views.Think of this as a kind of, discussion paper if you like. I'd love to get your ideas and views on how ACT can support the development and evolution of authentic leadership. I've called the episode Act and Authentic Leadership FM. And Authentic Leadership FM is the new holding name for what will perhaps be a spin off podcast.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 31 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, It's the second part of my chat with Dr Jill Stoddard, psychologist, author, TEDx speaker and podcaster. Jill's latest book is called, "Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career". In this episode we start with my review and then you'll hear about how the idea for writing the book emerged after a well received conference panel discussion. We move on to the different types of imposterism and how Jill recognised the importance of the work or life situation and how she could draw upon her expertise in contextual behavioural science to offer something different and useful. Wow - there's so much more that we cover including the experience of marginalised groups, recommendations for future research, the dedication in the book to Leann Harris and Jill's brilliant takeaway.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural scienc

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 30 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, I'd like you to meet Dr Jill Stoddard, psychologist, author, TEDx speaker and podcaster. Jill's latest book is called, "Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career". But before we talk about the book - let's get to know Jill a bit better.In this episode you'll hear how Jill's career in psychology evolved, how her prowess in watersports has developed, how she discoved ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and it's impact in her life. You'll also hear about the roots of the book, how she responded to a one star review and Jill's song choice - which also includes some special guest vocals.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.There is a transcript for

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 29 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  And P soupers - that little teaser at the beginning was from the very end of my chat with Andrew Sewell. We'd finished the formal interview and he reflected on my observation of his creativeness coupled with his doubt - when I was coaching him about 8 years ago. For me, hearing him talk about the shift in his demeanour and his sense of lightness was such a beautiful moment. And there's also a top tip there for any fellow podcasters who are listening - always hit record asap and leave it running, even when you've finished the formal interview. In this second part of my chat with Andrew Sewell - we focus on his brilliant book - "The Overthinker's Guide to Life".You'll hear how the seeds were planted and also find out how many self development books Andrew has actually read. He wanted his book to be different and I do believe he's achieved his mission, it's super useful - in fact we start the episode with my r

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 28 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers - This week's treat for your ears is my chat with Andrew Sewell - he's a coach, an author and a fellow northerner. In this episode you'll hear how Andrew became fascinated by psychology and personal development - and how his career path included teaching English as a foreign language, script writing in Hollywood and stand up comedy, as well as honing a career in copywriting. He's talks about leaving his career and how he worked with me as his coach at that pivotal time. He's since retrained as a coach, written a book and set up his company called - Overthinkers Anonymous.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.There is a transcript for each episode. There is a caveat - this transcript is largely

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 27 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers - it's another special one this week - over the Summer, me and producer Emma experimented with a couple of live recordings, and our second courageous participant was Dr Richard MacKinnon - Founder and Managing Director of Work Life Psych. and in this episode we were particularly interested in finding out more about his research into loneliness at work and the steps we can take as individuals and organisations to connect and thrive in the workplace.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.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 s

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 26 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers - it's a special one this week - over the Summer, me and producer Emma experimented with a couple of live recordings, and our first courageous participant was Dr Sarah Swan - a verified rock chick who has written an extraordinary book called, "Coping with Breast Cancer, how to navigate the emotional impact throughout your journey". It's based upon Sarah's lived experience and her expertise as a clinical psychologist, particularly in the application of ACT.So in this episode you'll hear how Sarah first got into psychology, the trials of getting onto the clinical training to the point when she was about to give up, how she discovered ACT and then the life-changing, devastating experience, when Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer. You'll hear my review of the book, Sarah talking about the writing process and how she kept going when she could barely see the screen through the tears. This truly is

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 25 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers - this is it - the last part of my chat with Dr Sarah Cassidy - educational, child and adolescent psychologist. And now that we've set the scene - we dive into her book, co-written with Dr Lisa Coyne - called - Tired of Anxiety - A kids guide to befriending difficult thoughts and feelings and living your life anyway.So in this episode you'll hear about how the book came about, the collaboration with Dr Lisa Coyne, the other books in the series and how Sarah helps kids to reflect on their choices, notice the difficult stuff and move forward - building skills for their whole lives. You'll also hear about the art for the book, my review and how toxic positivity can occur in organisations and family units. We finish with a highly useful takeaway from Sarah too.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We'r

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 24 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers, we're continuing our chat with Dr Sarah Cassidy who is an educational, child and adolescent psychologist. She's also the co-author of an extraordinary book, Tired of Anxiety, A Kid's Guide to Befriending Difficult Thoughts and Feelings and Living Your Life Anyway.In this episode we learn about the behavioural roots of the book - you'll hear how Sarah discovered relational frame theory (RFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - and how she's using ACT to support her staff, using a training protocol developed by me and my mate, Paul Flaxman #flaxybabes #flaxintosh. We also hear Sarah's views on labels and her song choice.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.Over the Summer we're runnin

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 23 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here.  P-Soupers - it's my honour to introduce you to Dr Sarah Cassidy. What an absolute joy to speak to this pioneering, exceptional human. I was so captured by this conversation that I've decided to break it down into three parts. Sarah Cassidy, Ph.D., has been working as an educational, child and adolescent psychologist in private practice in Ireland for the last 20 years. In part one - we get to know Sarah - her geographical history, her extraordinary parents, a bit about her career path and including what it was like to co-own a bar in Chicago. We also start to explore her approach to the psychological well-being of children.People Soup is an award winning podcast where we share evidence based behavioural science, in a way that’s practical, accessible and fun. We're all about Unlocking Workplace Potential with expert perspectives from Contextual Behavioural Science.Over the Summer we're running a series of LI