Episode 18

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Published on:

19th Jan 2022

Remembering Lou, our ACT Auntie, our inspiration

Season 4 Episode 18 - reissued from the People Soup archives

This episode is revisiting a favourite conversation from the archives - my chat with Louise Gardner, my ACT Auntie, your ACT Auntie, our inspiration.

Over the last few days I’ve been feeling a bit adrift and overwhelmed - the enormity of business planning, the complexity of my residency application, improving my Spanish. And as an aside, that’s nothing to do with Blue Monday, which is a nonsense created by marketing folk.

And I’ve also been trying to think of a topic for the next episode, my mind was all over the shop, lots of possibilities, so for inspiration I decided to listen back to my chat with Lou.

Now that Lou is no longer with us - I miss her tremendously her fun, her love, her creativity, her courage, her energy. Many days when something absurd or bizarre happens I think, I’d love to tell Lou all about that, which I go ahead and do, in my head. I also told Lou about my award in her name - you can read more about the Louise Gardner Award in the show notes below. I’m so so proud to receive that award.

Once I’d listened to Lou I felt hugged, inspired, sad and grateful. So I thought I’d share it with you too, in case it helps. Through People Soup I try to take a stand for what’s possible at work, and show people how they can build that possibility for themselves. For me, what Lou illustrates and role models for us in this chat is her creative connection with her values which gave her direction. She also showed us the way she relates to her old friend, anxiety whilst courageously pursuing her purpose.

Show Notes at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2022/01/remembering-lou-our-act-auntie-our.html

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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

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.