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Episode 46

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Published on:

4th Mar 2026

Small is Beautiful - updates from The Friday Towards Move Club

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 46 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.

This week it’s a cuppa soup - a short episode and I’m going to update you on our new free club - that anyone can join - it’s called The Friday Towards Move Club.

The Friday Towards Move Club is beautifully simple.

Each Friday, we make one small move towards something that matters to us.

  1. Not a grand transformation.
  2. Not a productivity hack.
  3. Not a life overhaul.

Just one small, intentional step in the direction of our values.

It might take two minutes.

It might take five.

It might feel tiny from the outside.

But psychologically? It’s powerful.

Because every towards move is a vote for the kind of person we want to be.

For those of you who are new to People Soup - welcome - it's great to have you here - I aim to provide you with ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond. For those of you who are regular P Soupers - thanks for tuning in - we love it that you're part of our community.

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 shownotes by clicking on notes then keep scrolling for all the useful links.

Here's the People Soup Website.

And you can subscribe to the People Soup YouTube Channel here.

Visit Ross' Website.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn

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

Transcript

Small is Beautiful - updates from the Friday Towards Move Club

[:

If this is your first time listening to Peoples Soup, you are so, so welcome. Peoples Soup is a podcast that mixes stories, science, and a sprinkle of daftness To explore what helps people thrive at work and beyond. Our mission is to give you the ingredients for a better work life through insights and stories grounded in behavioral science, especially acceptance and commitment therapy, and other evidence-based approaches.

ife overhaul. Just one small [:

It might take a little bit longer. It might feel tiny from the outside, but psychologically it's powerful because every towards move is a vote for the kind of person we want to be. When I shared the idea last week, I had no idea what would happen, and honestly, the response has been heartwarming, creative, and deeply human.

Let me share some of the moves people made. On LinkedIn, Robert decided his Friday towards move would be a 24 hour social media fast. He posted and then stepped away. That's such a beautiful paradox. Posting and then choosing presence. Shona said her towards move was a 20 minute indoor cycle, even if it was just 20 minutes.

I love that. Even if.

e. Kate booked a hotel for a [:

Anyway, That's it. That's the club in action. Not fearless people, not perfectly motivated people, people who feel the wobble and make it towards move. Anyway, Over on Instagram, Ben was going to see former students in a play connection, pride showing up. Lisa took leave from work and met a friend for lunch and is already thinking about next week's towards move. on Facebook, Claire said she was going to contact old friends because love and connection matter to her. [00:03:00] Even though she finds it hard to reply and stay in touch,

this one really got me because that's what it's all about. Values over comfort, connection over avoidance. Tiny courage over familiar habits. she even joked about feeling a bit Groucho Marks. I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member, but thankfully she made an exception for this club, and I think that captures something important.

This isn't an exclusive club. There's no membership form, no rules. No Gold star chart, just a shared experiment. What happens if once a week we gently turn towards what matters? The deeper aim of the Friday towards Move Club is this, to build psychological flexibility in real time To practice choosing in the direction of our values, even when we're busy, distracted, tired, or unsure,

t momentum doesn't come from [:

It makes your own move feel possible, and that's beautiful. So here's my invitation. If you've already made a Friday towards move, do feel free to tell us what did you do and what value was underneath it, what got in the way, and what surprised you? And if you haven't yet, you could start this week. Keep it small, keep it meaningful, and keep it kind.

eave you with this question. [:

This Friday, the 6th of March. Thanks for being part of this. See you on the socials on Friday, and please do share this if you think you know people who might be interested. Thanks to Andy Glenn for his spoon magic, but most of all, dear listener, thanks to you. Look after yourselves. Peace supers, and bye for now.

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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

Profile picture for Ross McIntosh

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.