Anxiety, vulnerability & compassion with Dr Eric Goodman

Anxiety, vulnerability & compassion with Dr Eric Goodman

Author: People Soup November 27, 2024 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 a pioneer in the use of ACT and CFT, both with his patients and in his writing. Eric's People Soup ingredients are anxiety and compassion, with a healthy sprinkle of vulnerability. You'll hear Eric talk about his near daily cold water immersion and dear listener - you'll also hear how I commit to having a go - would I let you down P-Soupers? You'll find out at the end of this episode. Eric also talks about his fear of flying which developed as a young man and one of the darkest moments of his life on the operating table. It's a conversation full of wisdom and vulnerability.

And just a note that this episode was recorded in the run up to the US elections. I also had some problems with the sound quality at my end, which I've done my best to address.

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.


I worked with Russ from A Modern Remedy on my new brand and website. A Modern Remedy is a human-focused strategic design studio, delivering innovative solutions for people & planet. I'd thoroughly recommend working with AMR and you can check out their website here.

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.

Visit Ross' Website.

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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
Quick Spoon: Speak to three people [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29
What do you do when anxiety shows up… right when something matters?A networking event.A room full of strangers.A voice in your head saying:“Your Spanish isn’t good enough.”In this Quick Spoon, I share a very real moment…
Quick Spoon: If I was at my absolute best... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25
What do you do in those moments when emotions are running high?An awkward conversation.A difficult email.A family disagreement.A colleague who’s pushing your buttons.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric…
Quick Spoon: Pain is part of being human [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34
What if the goal was never to become stress-free?Or anxiety-free.Or grief-free.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we challenge a myth that many of us still buy into:That difficult emotions are…
Quick Spoon: Get off autopilot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33
Ever noticed how pressure can shrink your options?A difficult conversation.An awkward email.A deadline.A piece of feedback you weren’t expecting.And suddenly… you’re reacting before you’ve even realised it.In this Quick…
Quick Spoon: Locked out of the controls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:30
Why do we sometimes react in ways that don’t feel like us?Why do we say things we later regret, shut down under pressure, or act against our values?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explor…
Quick Spoon: When the threat system takes over [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35
Why do good people sometimes say things they later regret?Why do we shut down, snap, or go into fight mode when pressure rises?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a powerful idea:Som…
Quick Spoon: We don't choose who we become [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18
Why do some people push our buttons so easily?And what if compassion wasn’t about excusing behaviour… but understanding how people are shaped?In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we explore a po…
Quick Spoon: The power of the pause, creating space to choose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23
When life and work feel busy, speed can become the default.We move quickly from one conversation to the next, reacting, deciding, replying, and solving without much space in between.In this final Quick Spoon from Ross’ c…
Quick Spoon: Why leadership feels so hard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22
Leadership roles often come with more pressure than preparation.In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on why leadership can feel so difficult — especially when people step into bigger roles and suddenly face new expectation…