Meet Dr Ben Askew

Meet Dr Ben Askew

Author: People Soup January 25, 2024 Duration: 49:20

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 38 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. 

We're back - it's 2024 and what a guest we have to start the year. Let me introduce you to Dr Ben Askew - he's an acting teacher, writer and director. He is the originator of the #ACTforActing project and is one of the UK's leading exponents of Theatre Analysis and the Laban-Malmgren System of Movement Psychology.

You'll hear about how he got into acting, when he first discovered ACT and how he realised it's potential - not only for actor wellbeing but also for character development. I loved this conversation and this is the first of three episodes with Ben. In the second episode we'll focus on the use of ACT in his work and in the third - we have a spontaneous chat about Macbeth - partcularly Lady Macbeth and we look at her behaviour and relationship with her husband through the ACT lens - how cool is that.

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.

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.


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
Coaching, Creativity and The Cramps with Tom Loncar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:00
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 22 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I chat with Tom Loncar who is an accredited coach and mentor with a background that spans the c…
Navigating Legal Ethics and Well-Being with Lucinda Soon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:57
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 21 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I continue my chat with Lucinda Soon. Lucinda is a qualified solicitor and expert in profession…
The Road Less Paved with Lucinda Soon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:22
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 20 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. In this episode of People Soup, you'll meet Lucinda Soon. Lucinda is a qualified solicitor and expert in professional ethic…
Rethinking Leadership Development with Jessica Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:38
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 19 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I continue my chat with Jessica Lee. Jess is a chartered organizational psychologist and accred…
Energy, Passion and Fun with Jessica Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:22
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 18 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I chat with Jessica Lee. Jess is a chartered organizational psychologist and accredited EMCC co…
Coaching Through Burnout with Hazel Anderson-Turner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:14
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 17 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I continue my conversation with Hazel Anderson-Tuner. Hazel is a business psychologist and mind…
Bringing lightness to heavy topics with Hazel Anderson Turner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 16 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - this week I chat with Hazel Anderson-Turner. Hazel is a business psychologist and mindset coach specialising in…
Navigating Self-Doubt with Sam Hart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:36
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 15 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I continue my conversation with Sam Hart. Sam is many things - he's a podcast host, primary sch…
Flexibility, humility & personal growth with Sam Hart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 14 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - it's great to be back with a continuation of Season 6 after what turned into an extended festive break - blimey…
Flexible self concept with Dr Richard MacKinnon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:00
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 13 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. In this episode I conclude my collaboration with Dr Richard MacKinnon that started in Season 5. We're continuing our explor…