Meet Michaela Thomas

Meet Michaela Thomas

Author: People Soup March 7, 2024 Duration: 27:41

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 5 Episode 44 of People Soup – it’s Ross McIntosh here. 

P Soupers - here's the first part of my chat with Michaela Thomas. Michaela is s senior clinical psychologist, CBT psychotherapist author and corporate speaker. Her first book is called "The Lasting Connection, Developing Love and Compassion for Yourself and for Your Partner". She's also the creator and host of an award winning podcast called Pause, Purpose, Play. Michaela offers support for individuals, couples, and groups on issues such as perfectionism, excessive worry, and low self esteem. 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.

You'll also here how she's making space to write her second book on the theme of perfectionism, how she is an embodied leader for her community and beyond, the impact of striving for perfection and her first training as a clinical pscychologist in Sweden where she was taught that "you don't speak about anything in your private life." For me - the clarity of Michaela's expression reflects her deep inner 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
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…