About this episode

The episode explores how our genetics and upbringing shape us, and emphasizes the importance of compassion and responsibility in dealing with difficult people.

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

People in this episode

Host: Ross

Guest: Dr Eric Goodman

Topics covered

• compassion
• responsibility
• genetics
• upbringing
• difficult people
• behavioural science

Keywords

• compassion
• genetics
• upbringing
• behavioural science
• difficult people
• responsibility
• personal growth

More episodes of People Soup

• Quick Spoon: The power of the pause, creating space to choose · May 1, 2026 · 1 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the People Soup podcast page.