I'm too much and I'm not enough with Michaela Thomas

I'm too much and I'm not enough with Michaela Thomas

Author: People Soup March 14, 2024 Duration: 33:14

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 45 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. 

P Soupers - here's the second part of my chat with Michaela Thomas. Michaela is s senior clinical psychologist, CBT psychotherapist, author, award winning podcaster and corporate speaker. Michaela is currently one of 8 nominees for the Inspirational Modern Woman of the year award - I've voted already and if you like what you hear - you can vote too here or via the link in the show notes.

One of her most recent initiatives is that she is facilitating and curating a group coaching program called Burn Bright. A transformational group coaching for the ambitious working woman who needs to be nicer to herself and calm the overwhelm. And if that sounds interesting - listen on - Michaela is open about her life experience and how she supports others - you'll find more details of the Burn Bright Programme in the shownotes.

In this episode you'll hear about the evolution of Michaela's practice as a psychologist. Including her training in Sweden, the dark side of caring for others and the inner work she's undertaken to realise that she matters too. You'll also hear about when she discovered ACT and how she's uses her extensive, evidence based toolkit in her client work.


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

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
Quick Spoon: When we avoid disappointing others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07
Success doesn't always feel like success.In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on a coaching conversation with someone who appeared to have everything going for them: successful, respected and on track for a remarkable care…
Quick Spoon: Awareness often begins with a metaphorical itch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06
You can't lead beyond what you notice and awareness often begins with a metaphorical itch.A feeling that something isn't quite right. Something isn't fitting. Something needs attention.In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects…
Quick Spoon: The leadership skill that's going out of fashion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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We're encouraged to be quick, responsive and always on.But what happens when urgency becomes identity, reaction becomes leadership and speed becomes a virtue?In this Quick Spoon, Ross reflects on why he believes the paus…
Why good leaders go off track - A People Soup special #1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:41
Why do good people do things they later regret?It's a question that's fascinated me for years.Before I became a coach, studied organisational psychology, or discovered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), I spent yea…
Quick Spoon: Leadership starts feeling difficult [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:51
In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the fourth skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Adaptability.Inspired by a candid reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode explores what happens when leadership becomes unce…
Quick Spoon: What's love got to do with it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29
In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the third skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Authentic Action.Inspired by a powerful insight from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at the tension leaders face between acting…
Quick Spoon: I always had an eye looking in [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09
In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the second skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Awareness.Inspired by a reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at the leadership power of noticing what’s happening b…
Quick Spoon: Why did I react like that? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13
In this Quick Spoon, Ross explores the first skill in the McIntosh Leadership Framework: Pause.Inspired by a powerful reflection from Gabriella Braun, this episode looks at those moments when our reactions feel immediate…
Quick Spoon: That difficult person at work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25
Every workplace seems to have one.The difficult colleague.The challenging client.The person who pushes your buttons before they’ve even opened their mouth.In this Quick Spoon from my conversation with Dr Eric Goodman, we…
Why work feels so personal with Gabriella Braun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:04
In this episode of People Soup, Ross is joined by consultant, psychoanalytic thinker, and author Gabriella Braun for a deeply human conversation about why work can feel so personal.Drawing on her remarkable book All That…