
People Soup
More than ever the world of work is a heady mix of people, behaviour, events and challenges. When the blend is right it can be first-rate. Behavioural science & psychology has a lot to offer in terms of recipes, ingredients, seasoning, spices & utensils - welcome to People Soup.
Latest episodes

Jan 1, 2020 • 1h 1min
Dr Dayna Lee-Baggley : Healthy Habits Suck
Season 3 Episode 18
P-Soupers - it's the second part of our festive special and have I got a treat for you. Have a listen to my conversation with Dr Dayna Lee-Baggley. Dayna is a Registered Clinical Psychologist. She holds an Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Family Medicine and cross-appointments in the Department of Surgery and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and an Adjunct Professor appointment in the Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Saint Mary’s University. Dayna also works as a Clinical Health Psychologist at the Nova Scotia Health Authority (CentralZone) for the Multi Organ Transplant Program and as a Trainer and Researcher of the Behaviour Change Institute.
Listen on as we hear about the time when Dayna discovered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and how she applied it in her own life. Dayna also has some great advice for those of us considering behaviour change in the new year, spoiler alert, a lot of those goals we set are actually outcomes. She also busts the myth about the time it takes to form a habit and explains the difference between our cave dweller mind and our frontal lobe. This is the reason that our healthy habits can fall away at holiday time because we're using our frontal lobe too much and our cave dweller mind can just step in and take over when we’re surrounded by a family sized tin quality street and crisps.
This episode is packed with top tips and insights from Dayna's work. Dayna has great skill in translating research knowledge into things that people can do in their day to day lives to reduce suffering and increase joy.
Shownotes at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2020/01/dr-dayna-lee-baggley-health-habits-suck.html
Dayna's website is at www.daynaleebaggley.com
Connect with People Soup!
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/
Linktree - for links to many other podcast platforms and apps - linktr.ee/PeopleSoup

Dec 22, 2019 • 43min
Louise Gardner - ACT Auntie
Season 3 Episode 17
Hey P-Soupers - it's the first part of our festive special. My conversation with artist and illustrator - Louise Gardner. What a joy it was to speak to Louise.
We hear about her journey as an artist - which started out at a young age when she would draw characters on paper that her Dad would bring home from work. We also discover how Louise discovered ACT and how she drew a route map to reflect the 8-week course from Russ Harris - and what that led to!
We chat about our belief that everybody has the potential for a creative outlet and the transformational impact of ACT in her own life. There's a brilliant takeaway too.
Shownotes with LOTS of details & links to Louise's work at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2019/12/louise-gardner-act-auntie.html
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261

Dec 21, 2019 • 4min
ACT DIARY 2020
What a gift!
In our latest episode with the wonderful Dr Becky Quicke - I included a brief informercial half way through.
The product I wanted to share with you was The Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Diary 2020.
"If you sometimes feel that you’re living a life that’s out of step with who you want to be, The ACT Diary 2020 can help. It’s designed to enable you to clarify your personal values (the qualities you’d most like to embody in your life) and move in meaningful directions. Through weekly exercises drawing on the latest psychological approaches, it will guide you as you master the skills needed to look after yourself, build strong relationships and pursue new opportunities."
In this episode I read some reviews (including my own). This is such a great gift for family, friends and YOU!
Buy from the publisher here:
https://www.pavpub.com/mental-health/well-being/actdiary-2020
Also on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acceptance-Commitment-Therapy-Diary-2020/dp/1912755777/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=nic+hooper&qid=1576921993&sr=8-1

Dec 15, 2019 • 1h 12min
Becky Quicke - menopause psychologist
Season 3 Episode 16
This is a special edition – a hearty soup for you to enjoy – It’s my interview with Dr Becky Quicke – a clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting women through the perimenopause and menopause – particularly around the associated anxiety – she uses Acceptance and Commitment therapy as an essential part of her approach.
Becky empowers women who experience anxiety during the menopause to slow down, let go of worries and live with more joy and ease. Her on line courses teach psychological flexibility and compassion skills so women can navigate this transitional phase of life with confidence, care and clarity. In addition, she helps women practice menstrual cycle awareness during perimenopause (the phase 5-10 years before menopause) so they can consciously pave the way towards a more emotionally empowered menopause. It’s a time for women to unravel and by teaching women these skills, Becky guides them back to their own innate wisdom and power so they can thrive in life and go from fear to fulfilment.
We also talk about Becky’s career path, some big decisions she’s made and there is one of the best takeaways we’ve ever had.
Shownotes and more links at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2019/12/dr-becky-quicke-menopause-psychologist.htmlConnect with Becky
Website: www.beckyquicke.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menopausepsychologist/
Business FB page: https://www.facebook.com/beckyquicke/
Closed FB community for women struggling with anxiety during menopause: https://www.facebook.com/groups/menopausepsychologist/?source_id=234293067462646
Twitter: @beckyquicke
LinkedIn: @drbeckyquicke
Connect with Ross
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Dec 8, 2019 • 38min
Suzanne Tarrant - Part 2
Season 3 Episode 15
It's Part 2 of my conversation with Suzanne Tarrant who is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head of Staff Psychological Wellbeing at the Hywel Dda University Health Board.
We focus on the green health agenda and begin by talking about the culture of taking breaks in the NHS. SPOILER ALERT: breaks are not necessarily seen as a typical part of a day in many NHS roles.
Suzanne has always valued her connection with nature and describes herself as someone who always retreats to the sea when in need of solace. In her role in Hywel Dda, Suzanne has secured approval from the Executive Board to develop a strategic framework for green health that is truly supportive of health and well-being. They have also established a green health network as well as a green health group at one of their district hospitals, where staff from across the site are developing a courtyard garden with support from community groups.
We also talk about Suzanne's growing involvement with Reconnect in Nature where they are developing a long weekend nature packages - in the first instance, for Doctors. The aim is to provide the opportunity to start to recharge and recover whilst also developing perspectives and tools that can be taken back into the workplace and be woven in to their working lives.
To finish - there is a second takeaway from Suzanne about how we can build our relationship with nature in our own unique way as well as making it a reciprocal connection.
Shownotes at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2019/12/suzanne-tarrant-part-2.html
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Dec 1, 2019 • 38min
Suzanne Tarrant - Part 1
Season 3 Episode 14
It's the first part of my conversation with Suzanne Tarrant. Suzanne is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Head of Staff Psychological Wellbeing Service for Hywel Dda University Health Board in Wales.
Hear about Suzanne's background and career as well as the establishment of the Staff Psychological Wellbeing Service. Suzanne explains how they've incorporated ACT and the impact of the training. I love Suzanne's interest in what works and what can truly make a difference in the long term.
Suzanne also shares some fascinating aspects of their approach to the training, including the delivery model, how they encourage attendance and refresh the skills.
We finish part one with a brilliant takeaway on how to take a biophilic approach to your breaks at work - even if they're micro-breaks.
The wonderful photo of Suzanne was taken at a recent Reconnect in Nature event in the woods where she was leading a nature connection session. The photo was taken by Mike Erskine (one of the founding directors of Reconnect in Nature and a filmmaker)
Shownotes at www.rossmcintosh.co.uk
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Nov 24, 2019 • 33min
Slow Radio
Season 3 Episode 13
This is a bonus episode. Last week I anticipated the train journey from Newcastle to Hexham. This week you can join us on the actual journey. It's the perfect antidote to the modern, busy world - you'll hear the train and snippets of conversation from me and Paul - with no particular aim in mind. Our first attempt at slow radio.
Links
Shownotes at www.rossmcintosh.co.uk
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Nov 17, 2019 • 12min
Flaxintosh Road Trip Part 2
Season 3 Episode 12
Welcome to the second part of our recording on the road. In this episode you'll hear me and my ACT pal, Dr Paul Flaxman, chatting in the lobby of Motel One in Newcastle.
We reveal our big news for 2020 - an international research collaboration and opportunity for us to flex and adapt our protocol for the workplace.
I work with Paul at City, University of London where we have redeveloped and refined a training protocol for Psychological Well-being in the Workplace. The training has a strong evidence base and we've spent time over the last year delivering Training for Trainers, to enable the protocol to be shared more widely and reach more people. Next year we go international.
We finish with an anticipation of our train journey from Newcastle to Hexham - where we were going to be working with some psychologists from across the NHS in the region. That particular train line has some personal meaning for me as it goes through my first workplace, my home village, passed my schools and my birthplace.
We also recorded the actual train journey and I'm going to make that into a separate bonus episode - our first attempt at slow radio.
Shownotes and more links at www.ross.mcintosh.co.uk
Connect with Ross and the show:
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Nov 10, 2019 • 19min
Flaxintosh Road Trip Part 1
Season 3 Episode 11
Welcome one and all. It's another first for People Soup - a recording on the road. In this episode you'll hear me and my ACT pal - Dr Paul Flaxman, on the way to a meeting with some NHS legends up in Northumberland. We chat on a train and a hotel lobby in Newcastle.
I work with Paul at City, University of London where we have redeveloped and refined a training protocol for Psychological Well-being in the Workplace. The training has a strong evidence base and we've spent time over the last year delivering Training for Trainers, to enable the protocol to be shared more widely and reach more people.
It's like a Flaxintosh performance review. We cover some of the gigs we've done this year, how the ACT in the Workplace training protocol has evolved and key moments & developments that have stuck in our minds.
Shownotes at www.rossmcintosh.co.uk
Connect on social media
Twitter https://twitter.com/PeopleSoupPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/people.soup/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peoplesouppod/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ross-mcintosh-261a2a22/

Oct 27, 2019 • 18min
Grief at Work
Season 3 Episode 10
In this episode I share my personal experience of grief and what I've found useful over the last six months with a particular focus on the workplace. This includes a metaphor, a model and a poem.
I also share some information and statistics from The Loss Foundation - who are the only UK charity dedicated solely to providing bereavement support following the loss of a loved one to cancer.
Shownotes at http://www.rossmcintosh.co.uk/2019/10/grief-at-work.html
Twitter - @PeopleSoupPod
Facebook - @PeopleSoupPod
Instagram - @people.soup