The Power of Listening at Work with Miranda Birch

The Power of Listening at Work with Miranda Birch

Author: People Soup March 11, 2026 Duration: 41:10

Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 47 of People Soup.

Listening is one of the most powerful communication skills at work — yet it’s often the one we practice least.

What happens when someone really listens to you at work?

In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh talks with Miranda Birch — former BBC journalist and founder of The Richest Conversations — about the power of listening and why better conversations can transform how we work together.

Drawing on her career in broadcasting and interviewing, Miranda shares what journalism can teach us about communication at work, leadership conversations, and creating the space where people feel heard and understood.

Ross and Miranda explore:

  1. Why deep listening is becoming a rare skill at work
  2. How great interviewers build trust and rapport quickly
  3. What leaders can learn from broadcast journalism techniques
  4. The connection between conversations, confidence, and wellbeing
  5. How simple moments of connection — even saying hello — can have a powerful impact.

You’ll also hear Miranda’s reflections on growing up surrounded by radio, her journey into the BBC, and how curiosity and listening shaped her approach to storytelling.

If you’re interested in better communication at work, leadership skills, coaching conversations, or workplace wellbeing, this episode is packed with insights you can use straight away.

So get a brew on, settle in, and enjoy part one of Ross’s conversation with Miranda Birch.

About People Soup

People Soup is a podcast that mixes stories, science and a sprinkle of daftness to explore what helps people thrive at work and beyond. Drawing on behavioural science — especially Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — Ross shares practical ideas to help you build a better work life.


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: Not Today, Kevin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59
What if your inner critic had a name… and you didn’t have to believe it?In this Quick Spoon, Dr. Jill Stoddard shares a simple but powerful technique for creating distance from self-doubt.“Not today, Kevin” might be exac…
Quick Spoon: Do It Scared [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:49
“If I have to convince myself I’m extraordinary… it’s never going to happen.” In this Quick Spoon, Dr. Jill Stoddard shares a powerful truth: confidence isn’t a prerequisite for action.A short, practical insight into mov…
Dr Jill Stoddard: Imposter Thoughts, Courage, and Doing It Anyway [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
What if confidence isn’t required before you take action?In this episode of People Soup, Ross McIntosh sits down with Dr Jill Stoddard — psychologist, author of Impostor No More, and co-host of Psychologists Off the Cloc…
A Fresh Ladle of People Soup [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:24
A short episode from me today — and a gentle update on what’s coming next for People Soup.People Soup: Real conversations about work, leadership, and being human — grounded in behavioural science, with practical ideas yo…
The Richest Conversations: From Noise to Clarity with Miranda Birch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:12
Hi there, and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 48 of People Soup. It’s Ross McIntosh here.Peace Soupers… welcome back to part two of my conversation with Miranda Birch.In part one, we explored the power of really…
Small is Beautiful - updates from The Friday Towards Move Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:27
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 46 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This week it’s a cuppa soup - a short episode and I’m going to update you on our new free club - that anyone can join - it’s…
The Friday Towards Move Club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:57
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 45 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This week it’s a cuppa soup - a short episode and I’m going to introduce you to a new club - that anyone can join (and it's…
We Were Unpublished with Yass Rad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 44 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.This episode, is the second part of my conversation with Yass Rad. Yass is the founder of We Were Unpublished, a part-time c…
Balancing Art & Science: The Dual Passions of Yass Rad [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:18
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 43 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode, I welcome Yass Rad to People Soup. Yass is the founder of 'We Were Unpublished', a part-time consultant at…
Navigating Life Transitions with Dr Joe Oliver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 42 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here.In this episode I welcome back friend of the show - Dr Joe Oliver - and together we discuss how Acceptance and Commitment Th…