Episode 7

full
Published on:

11th Apr 2026

Quick Spoon: When your brain makes success feel like a mistake

Ever noticed how your mind talks you out of big opportunities?

In this Quick Spoon, Jill Stoddard shares what happened when a TEDx opportunity triggered a spiral of self-doubt — and what we can learn from it.

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

If you’re enjoying People Soup, hit follow so you don’t miss future episodes.

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

Dr Jill Stoddard

Jill's Website.

Jill's Books.

Jill's TEDx Talk - How to Succeed in Every Moment Even When You're Failing

Connect with Jill on LinkedIn.

Transcript
Jill: [:

Speaker 4: Hi there, and welcome to People Soup, quick Spoon, real conversations about work leadership and being human grounded in behavioral science. With practical ideas you can actually use. I'm Ross Macintosh and here's your quick spoon.

Jill: Yeah. So it was, this last minute opportunity that I was given you know, I, I was, already preparing to want to do this at some point, but I wasn't ready. But this sort of fell in my lap. And so it was like deer in headlights kind of panic, like, Oh my God, I'm not, I'm not ready.

Oh, well, obviously she was [:

And, you know, so basically these thoughts were just present throughout the entire experience. And I just really did not think that I could do this.

I was feeling like particularly self conscious about memorializing myself on video for forever. I was just overwhelmed with self doubt and fear. And I really didn't know if I could do it.

Speaker 4: and that's your quick spoon. A little distance from your thoughts can make a big difference. If this resonated, why not share it with one other person? And if you'd like the full conversation with Dr. Jill s You'll find it wherever you get your podcasts.

Show artwork for People Soup

About the Podcast

People Soup
Real conversations about work, leadership and being human
A podcast exploring work, leadership, and being human through real conversations — grounded in behavioural science and full of practical ideas you can apply straight away.

About your host

Profile picture for Ross McIntosh

Ross McIntosh

I'm a work psychologist. I want to help you navigate the daily challenges of work by sharing behavioural science in a way that's accessible, useful and fun.
I'm originally from Northumberland in the UK and I now live near Seville in Spain with my husband.