Access to Inspiration

In this special bonus episode, Pierre Heistein, who was guest in episode 91 takes the host's chair alongside co-founders Sue Stockdale and Clive Steeper . They celebrate reaching 150 episodes by reflecting on the conversations with guests, lessons learned, and the common threads that bind these stories together. Pierre delves into the origins of the podcast, what does it mean to be inspirational,...

In this landmark 150th episode, Sue Stockdale talks to Kris Tompkins, one of the world's most prolific conservation philanthropists.  Kris shares a powerful, personal perspective on what drives her and urges listeners to ditch the myth of individual powerlessness: “The excuse that ‘I’m just one person’ - that’s the weakest, nonsensical excuse there is. One person, it does matter.” In the conversat...

Sue Stockdale talks to Alice Morrison, an adventurer, author, and TV presenter. Alice has journeyed across deserts, trekked through mountains, and immersed herself in diverse cultures from Morocco to Saudi Arabia. Alice shares her experiences of resilience, discovery, and connection, including surviving the Moroccan earthquake, navigating Saudi Arabia on foot, and the joy of storytelling. Alice di...

Sue Stockdale speaks to adventurer, author, and deep thinker Ed Ley-Wilson. Ed shares insights from his life exploring both the outdoors and the mind. From kayaking the rugged west coast of Scotland to reflecting on resilience, solitude, and the power of slowing down, Ed reveals how adventure - whether on land, sea, or within ourselves shapes our engagement with the world.  About Ed Ley-Wilson Ed...

Sue Stockdale welcomes Zara Lachlan, who shares her extraordinary experience of rowing solo across the Atlantic from mainland Europe to South America, covering over 3,500 nautical miles in 97 days. Despite overcoming many challenges as well as mental and physical hurdles during her voyage, Zara highlights the importance of resilience, self-belief, and the power of support from loved ones. About Za...

Sue Stockdale talks to Rosemary Hoskins, a learning and development expert, about navigating uncertainty in careers, personal growth, and leadership. Rosemary shares her journey from graduating during a recession to building a diverse career and offers insights on the importance of critical thinking, adaptability, and peer learning. The conversation emphasizes the value of evaluating risks, asking...

Sue Stockdale interviews Anil Damle, a passionate nature and wildlife enthusiast from India, about his epic road trips across the continents of Africa, Latin America, and Australia. Anil shares his experiences of overcoming logistical challenges, the importance of teamwork, and the unexpected kindness of strangers. They delve into his journey's practicalities, including vehicle maintenance and ada...

Sue Stockdale interviews Jayshree Seth, who was appointed 3M’s first ever Chief Science Advocate in 2018 and is using her scientific knowledge, technical expertise and professional experience to advance science, communicate its benefits and the importance of STEM fields to drive innovation.   About Jayshree Seth Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and currently holds 80 patents for a vari...

Sue Stockdale interviews trailblazing conservationist Astrid Vargas in episode 143 of the Access to Inspiration podcast. Astrid shares her journey from childhood fascination with nature to leading efforts in bringing species like the Iberian lynx back from the brink of extinction. They discuss the importance of inspiration, systemic thinking, and community engagement in conservation, and delve int...

Sue Stockdale interviews Ricky Ellcock, a man who defied significant challenges to excel in two remarkable careers: professional cricket and aviation. Raised in impoverished conditions in Barbados, Ricky's journey saw him overcoming racial and socio-economic barriers. His ingenuity as a child, along with his resilience in facing career-ending injuries, led him to become Virgin Atlantic's first Bla...

Host Sue Stockdale reflects on an incredible year filled with growth and achievement and co-founder Clive Steeper and Sound Editor Matias de Ezcurra reflect on the episode has the greatest impact on each of them. Listeners are invited to revisit highlights, key insights, and memorable moments from the year, including a reminder of practical tips on embracing failure, fostering openness within team...

Sue Stockdale interviews philosopher Dr. Christoph Quarch, exploring his definition of philosophy and its relevance in today's world. Christoph shares his personal journey toward philosophy, his academic path, and the importance of meaningful conversation as a means for individual and collective transformation. They reflect on the significance of inspiration and spirit in fostering innovation and...

Sue Stockdale talks to Paméla Bisson from Quebec City, who is a media arts advocate and the founder of Le Machin Club - a nonprofit dedicated to engaging children aged 9 to 13 in creative projects like short films, podcasts, and a weekly radio show. Through Le Machin Club, Pamela strives to empower children and foster a more conscious and aware generation in Quebec City's vibrant cultural landscap...

Keith Sharpe, Head of Coaching and Leadership Development for the GB Cycling team talks to Sue Stockdale about his work helping athletes and coaches to be better tomorrow, by supporting them today. Keith explains how to create a high performance environment by role modelling curiosity, kindness and humility, and why playfulness and concise communication are key elements of success.   About Keith S...

Award-winning photographer Renato Granieri discusses with host Sue Stockdale his transformation from a corporate career to becoming an wildlife and travel photographer. Born in Sardinia and settled in the UK, Granieri shares how a trip to the Faroe Islands sparked his passion for photography at the age of 40 and the pivotal role his partner, a travel journalist, played in his career switch. Granie...

Sue Stockdale talks to learning designer Agnese Spona about the process of creating learning experiences. Agnese shares her frustrations with traditional education systems and the barriers to scaling individualised learning. The conversation concludes with thoughts on how to inspire better human interactions and curiosity within educational contexts, considering the rapidly evolving landscape infl...

Sue Stockdale speaks with Mark Fletcher, the owner of Altitude Esports, about what led him to forming and leading an esports racing team. Mark shares his deep-rooted passion for racing, influenced by his father's racing background and their combined foray into model car racing. He explains how the team was founded from personal loss and a desire to create a community. The conversation also touches...

Sue Stockdale talks to Eveline van den Heuvel about her fascinating life journey and academic background in cognitive neuroscience and health psychology. Eveline delves deep into the importance of questioning everything, connecting with people, and harnessing intuition and creativity in both personal and professional life, highlighting its significance in today’s world driven by technology and art...

In this episode 134, previous guest from episode 87 Dr Sarah Gilchrist introduces her guest, David Smith MBE, a former Paralympic rower with an impressive sports background. David shares his journey from winning a gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, to facing the reality of paralysis and living with challenging medical issues. David stresses the significance of staying connected to the...

Host Sue Stockdale interviews Shoko Doherty, CEO of Celtic English Academy, who originally hails from Japan and now resides in Wales. Shoko shares her experiences of cultural differences between Japan and Wales after moving 20 years ago, highlighting aspects of respect and societal values. Shoko also describes how they embrace cultural differences and foster a multicultural environment with the st...

Sue Stockdale talks to Cobe Williams, the Director of U.S. programming for Cure Violence Global, as he reflects on his upbringing in Chicago, his exposure to street and gang life, and the impact of violence in his community. From childhood memories of block parties to the absence of a father figure leading him to the streets, Kobe shares poignant moments that shaped his life and perspective on the...

Manuela Gil who was a guest on episode 73 returns to introduce Maritza Lopez, a former corporate professional turned eco-entrepreneur from Colombia. Maritza, the CEO of MyEcoHome is working on regenerating the Earth through bio-products extracted from Colombian forests, and explains the importance of maintaining forests for sustainability, creating value from forests, preserving biodiversity, and...

Sue Stockdale talks to Urs Koenig about his insights and experiences from his time serving as a peacekeeper, shedding light on the importance of humility in leadership in a demanding and high-stakes environment. Koenig explains the concept of 'radical humility' which he describes as the ability to be a bad ass leader and a good human at the same time. About Urs Koenig Urs is a former United Nation...

In episode 129 Sue Stockdale talks to Dana Frank, who shares the story of her family business, TD Frank Family Properties. Dana explains the origins of the business dating back to 1950 and how determination and hard work laid the foundation for a successful business that continues to thrive today. Learn about the legacy of resilience and entrepreneurship that shaped TD Frank Family Properties over...

In this episode host Sue Stockdale talks to Ricardo Brito about his journey of experiencing burnout and how it led him to a pivotal moment of realisation. Ricardo reflects on the challenging work environment, dissatisfaction with the tech world, and the breaking point that made him reassess his path.  About Ricardo Brito Ricardo Brito is a career and life coach helping people pave their way to per...