Episode 52

full
Published on:

22nd Jul 2026

Quick Spoon: Who do you want people to experience?

We can spend ages planning a holiday.

Where we'll go. What we'll eat. What we'll see.

But perhaps there's another question worth asking:

Who do I want people to experience on this holiday?

In this People Soup Quick Spoon, Ross McIntosh invites you to shift the focus from what you want to do to how you want to show up.

Patient? Curious? Playful? Present?

Here's something to try

Before your next break, choose three words that describe how you'd really like to show up.

Then, each evening, simply notice:

How did I move towards expressing those qualities in my behaviour today?

It's not about getting it right all the time. It's about choosing the direction you want to travel in.

People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.

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People Soup on Instagram which also features plenty of Ross' photos of the Andalusian life.

Transcript
[:

[00:00:04] We ask, "What am I going to do?" and I wonder if there's a better question

[:

[00:00:24] we can spend ages planning a holiday. Where we'll go, what we'll eat, What [00:00:30] we'll see

[:

[00:00:43] That simple shift changes the holiday from being about ticking things off

[:

[00:00:59] then each [00:01:00] evening, notice how you've moved towards expressing those qualities in your behavior. That's your Quick Spoon. Until next time, take care

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About the Podcast

People Soup
Real conversations about work, leadership and being human.
Grounded in behavioural science, each episode is packed with practical ideas you can put into practice straight away.

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. Creativity isn't confined to art. It shows up in how we live, work, lead and relate to one another.

Work can sometimes feel like a soup: a rich, sometimes bewildering mix of people, personalities, decisions, pressures, relationships and unexpected challenges. Every day we're trying to make sense of the ingredients we've been given.

Behavioural science doesn't remove the complexity, but it gives us practical ways to navigate it. It offers ideas, skills and evidence-based tools that help us respond more effectively—to ourselves, to other people and to the situations we face.

That's what People Soup is all about.

Through conversations, solo episodes and practical tools, People Soup explores how behavioural science—and particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—can help us lead, work and live with greater purpose, psychological flexibility and practical wisdom.

About your host

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Ross McIntosh

I'm Ross McIntosh, a business psychologist, coach and facilitator, with over 30 years' experience helping people thrive at work.

People Soup grew from a simple belief: work is an important part of life, but it doesn't have to come at the expense of our wellbeing, our relationships or our values.

Each episode explores the realities of work, leadership and being human through the lens of behavioural science. Sometimes that's a conversation with an inspiring guest. Sometimes it's a short "Quick Spoon" offering a practical idea you can put into practice straight away.

My work is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence-based approach that helps people develop psychological flexibility: the ability to stay purposeful, adaptable and effective, even when life gets messy.

Whether you're leading a team, supporting others, or simply trying to navigate the pressures of modern work, my hope is that People Soup gives you practical tools, fresh perspectives and the confidence to take your next meaningful step.

A few things about me
Chartered Fellow of the CIPD.
Fellow of the Association for Coaching.
Research collaborator with City St George's, University of London.
Speaker, facilitator and leadership development consultant.
Founder and Host of the People Soup podcast.

When I'm not recording the podcast or working with clients, you'll usually find me reading, cycling, improving my Spanish, or enjoying life in southern Spain with my husband.