ACT for Acting with Dr Ben Askew

ACT for Acting with Dr Ben Askew

Author: People Soup February 1, 2024 Duration: 29:35

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.


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 sharing the ingredients for a better work life from behavioural science and beyond.

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.

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 PSOUP20

I'm honoured to have the opportunity to speak at the Association for Business Psychology on 6 February from 6-7pm. My presentation is entitled - How behavioural science can support the cultivation of authentic leadership. If you're curious about Contextual Behavioural Science and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy then please do join me - it's free for members of the ABP and you can find all the details here.


Visit Ross' Website.

Connect with Ross on LinkedIn

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

He's now also on Bluesky

The People Soup Website on CAPTIVATE


Ever wonder why we do the things we do, especially at work or when trying to lead others? People Soup digs into that question, but it doesn’t stop at theory. Each episode is built on a foundation of behavioural science, which means you’ll get more than just interesting stories-you’ll get a clearer understanding of the human ingredients that make up our daily interactions. The conversations here feel real and unscripted, often touching on the messy, rewarding, and sometimes frustrating experience of simply being human. You’ll find that this podcast operates at the intersection of our professional ambitions and our personal well-being, exploring how they influence each other in ways we might not immediately see. It’s for anyone who has left a meeting baffled by a colleague’s reaction, struggled to motivate a team, or just wanted to navigate their own goals with a bit more clarity and less friction. The ideas discussed are deliberately practical, designed to be used almost immediately, whether you’re looking to improve a process, a relationship, or your own mindset. Tune in for a blend of thoughtful analysis and actionable insight that aims to make the complex recipe of human behaviour a little easier to understand and work with.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

People Soup
Podcast Episodes
The Mindful Freak-Out with Dr Eric Goodman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 12 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. In this episode I continue my chat with Dr Eric Goodman and we dive into his new book, 'The Mindful Freak-Out - A rescue ma…
Anxiety, vulnerability & compassion with Dr Eric Goodman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:51
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 11 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. In this episode I welcome back Dr Eric Goodman to the podcast. Eric is an expert in treating anxiety and OCD, an author and…
Acceptance with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:13
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 10 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. In this episode I continue my collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon that started in Season 5. We're continuing our explor…
ACT for Burnout with Dr Debbie Sorensen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 9 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.Today I continue my chat with Dr Debbie Sorensen, Clinical Psychologist, podcast host and author. And we're going to focus in…
Curiosity, ACT and podcasting with Dr Debbie Sorensen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 8 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.Today my guest is Dr Debbie Sorensen, Clinical Psychologist, podcast host and author of the book - ACT for Burnout. The ingre…
BONUS Election Anxiety with Dr Eric Goodman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
Hi there, and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 7 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This is a bonus episode, A short cup-a-soup, if you like, where we're going to hear from anxiety expert Dr. Eric Goodman fro…
Committed Action with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:27
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 6 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode I continue my collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon that started in Season 5. We're continuing our explorat…
The Tree That Bends by Professor Ross White [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:02
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 5 of People Soup it's Ross McIntosh here.You've just heard Professor Ross White reading the preface to his book - "The Tree That Bends". In this episode we continue ou…
Equity, creativity & courage with Professor Ross White [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 4 of People Soup it's Ross McIntosh here.Professor Ross White is back on the show to talk about his brilliant book, "The Tree That Bends". The ingredients Ross brings…
Clarifying Personal Values with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:11
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 3 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode I continue my collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon that started in Season 5. We're continuing our explorat…