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
Meet Dr Ryan Kemp - Director of Therapies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:14
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 31 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode you'll get to meet Dr Ryan Kemp who is a clinical psychologist and Director of Therapies at a l…
My Grief My Way [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 30 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode I chat with Dr Anne Finucane and Dr David Gillanders about brilliant website - mygriefmyway.co.…
Meet Dr David Gillanders - The University of Edinburgh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:51
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 29 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode you'll get to meet Dr David Gillanders who is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Senior Lect…
Meet Dr Anne Finucane - Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:55
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 28 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode you'll get to meet Dr Anne Finucane, who is a Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow at The Univers…
Debrief - Mindful Noticing Exercise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:06
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 27 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. This week., it's another cup-a-soup. A short episode which is in essence a debrief on the last two episodes where i talked…
BONUS - Mindful Meditation of Body and Breath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:37
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 26 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. This week, it's a special bonus episode. In fact it's an extract from the previous episode. It's a practical, mindfulness m…
NOTICING - The Human Superpower [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:12
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 25 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. This week., it's another cup-a-soup. A short episode from me. I'm going to explore the human superpower of noticing. I'll t…
Embracing Intellectual Humility with Tom Loncar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:05
Hi there and a very warm welcome to Season 6 Episode 23 of People Soup, it's Ross McIntosh here. P-Soupers - In this episode it's the second part of my chat with Tom Loncar who is an accredited coach, mentor and contribu…
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…