Quick Spoon: We don't choose who we become

Quick Spoon: We don't choose who we become

Author: Ross McIntosh May 3, 2026 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 powerful idea:

None of us chose our genetics.

None of us chose our upbringing.

None of us chose the experiences that shaped us.

But…

We do have some say in who we become next.

A thought-provoking reflection on compassion, responsibility, and how we respond to difficult people—at work and beyond.

People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas you can actually use.

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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: 50

People Soup
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