Access to Inspiration
by Sue Stockdale
Access to Inspiration is an award-winning podcast ranked among the top 10% of podcasts globally, featuring conversations with explorers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and changemakers from around the world. Hosted by executive coach, author and polar explorer Sue Stockdale, the podcast explores leadership, resilience, personal growth, innovation, exploration and the mindset required to navigate uncertainty. With guests from more than 30 countries, each episode uncovers the stories behind remarkable achievements, revealing the lessons learned through challenge, adversity and discovery. Topics span leadership, business, adventure, sustainability, creativity, social impact and human potential. Listeners gain practical insights, fresh perspectives and actionable ideas to help them build confidence, embrace change and step beyond their comfort zones.<
Episodes
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157. Hilde Fålun Strøm and others: The Call of the Arctic
(00:00:00) 157. Hilde Fålun Strøm and others: The Call of the Arctic (00:01:26) Life in Polar Night (00:02:40) 19 months at Bamsebu (00:05:58) Tourism and Conservation Role (00:09:24) Avalanche Turning Point (00:09:56) Rapid Warming in Svalbard (00:12:04) Tourism Growth and Regulations (00:13:33)...
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156. Kristy Halvorsen: Trusting the Unknown - Living Life Without a Map
(00:00:00) 156. Kristy Halvorsen: Trusting the Unknown - Living Life Without a Map (00:02:29) Coddiwomple Explained (00:03:51) Reinvention Through Openness (00:05:16) A Day of Unplanned Magic (00:09:45) What Freedom Really Is (00:11:47) Staying Safe Off Grid (00:14:12) From Loneliness to…
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155.Mario Haberfeld: Conservation, Courage and the Jaguar Rivers Initiative
(00:00:00) 155.Mario Haberfeld: Conservation, Courage and the Jaguar Rivers Initiative (00:01:19) Africa Trip Inspiration (00:02:38) Racing to Conservation (00:05:17) Starting in Pantanal (00:07:13) Habituating Jaguars (00:09:08) Oncafari Expands Mission (00:13:28) Biggest Challenges Fires...
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154.Margaret Heffernan: Why Great Leadership Needs Friction, Doubt and Better Questions
(00:00:00) 154.Margaret Heffernan: Why Great Leadership Needs Friction, Doubt and Better Questions (00:01:02) Why Leaders Love Failures (00:04:04) Inspiration needs Friction (00:09:08) From Inspiration to Next Steps (00:12:46) Time and Cooling Off (00:15:18) Efficiency Myth and Multitasking...
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153.David Brabham: Life at 200mph - What it takes to win in endurance racing
(00:00:00) 153.David Brabham: Life at 200mph - What it takes to win in endurance racing (00:02:47) Farm Life and Go Karting (00:05:00) Motivation and Parental Support (00:07:37) What Le Mans Means (00:10:39) Focus at 200mph (00:12:46) Stints, Sleep and Preparation (00:16:59) Fitness, Heat and...
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152. Krzysztof Karolczak: AI and the Future of Work
What if AI could free us from the reactive work that consumes most of our day and create more space for creativity, purpose, and human connection? Sue Stockdale speaks with entrepreneur and AI innovator Krzysztof Karolczak, who has spent more than two decades building companies. After taking a...
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151. Mike Foreman: From Navy Pilot to NASA Astronaut
(00:00:00) 151. Mike Foreman: From Navy Pilot to NASA Astronaut (00:00:12) Meet Mike Foreman (00:02:53) Navy Pilot to NASA (00:03:38) Three Applications Later (00:06:35) Life in NASA (00:08:25) How Astronauts Train (00:10:46) First Spacewalk Nerves (00:11:32) Earth View Effect (00:12:22)…
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Celebrating 150 Episodes: Reflections and Insights from 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...
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150. Kris Tompkins: Conservation, Leadership and Legacy
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...
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149. Alice Morrison: Exploring Africa and Arabia
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...
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148. Ed Ley-Wilson: Exploring the mind and the sea
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 -...
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147. Zara Lachlan: One Woman’s Journey Rowing Across an Ocean
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...
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146. Rosemary Hoskins: Developing Skills for an Uncertain Future
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...
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145. Anil Damle: Epic Road Trips
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...
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144. Jayshree Seth: From STEM to Storytelling: making science relatable
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...
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143. Astrid Vargas: Saving Species, Regenerating Landscapes, and Inspiring Action
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…
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142. Ricky Ellcock: Defying Limits- from Cricket Pitch to Cockpit
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,...
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2024 A Year in Review: Highlights and Favourite Episodes
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…
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141. Christoph Quarch: Why philosophy is relevant in today’s world
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...
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140. Pamela Bisson: Empowering youth through media arts
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…
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139. Keith Sharpe: How to become a better version of yourself
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…
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138. Renato Granieri: Capturing nature from behind the lens
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…
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137. Agnese Spona: Exploring the future of learning design
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...
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136. Mark Fletcher: Creating an eSports team
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…
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135. Eveline van den Heuvel: Embracing Intuition and Creativity
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...
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134. David Smith: High performance, health and humility
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...
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133. Shoko Doherty: Inspiring global citizenship
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...
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132. Cobe Williams: Street Life, Second Chances and Saving Lives
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…
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131. Maritza Lopez: From corporate leader to eco entrepreneur
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…
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130. Urs Koenig: Leading with radical humility
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…
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129. Dana Frank: Building legacy through real estate
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…
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128. Ricardo Brito: From Burnout to Breakthrough - Reinventing your Career
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...
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Preview of Series 18
Sue Stockdale previews upcoming Series 18 and describes the typical diversity and range of guests that appear on the podcast. In Series 18 there will be a guest hosted episode and another featuring a guest recommended to us by a previous podcast guest. Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter…
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Launching our Impact Report 2024
In this bonus episode of the Access to Inspiration podcast, host Sue Stockdale announces the release of the 2024 Impact Report, highlighting the podcast's achievements and how it creates a social impact. Listeners share their love for the inspiring conversations and the hidden gems found in each...
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127. Monique Maissan: Recycling plastic waste into textiles
Sue Stockdale talks to Monique Maissan, CEO of Waste2Wear about her entrepreneurial journey to manufacture textiles from recycled plastic bottles. Monique saw an opportunity to make a positive impact in the textile industry, one of the most polluting industries in the world, and pivoted her...
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126. Sofia Heinonen: Rewilding Argentina and beyond
Sue Stockdale talks to Sofia Heinonen, Executive Director of Rewilding Argentina. Sofia shares her journey from a young girl fascinated by the natural world to leading significant conservation efforts in Argentina and beyond. She discusses her initial work in national parks and how her encounter...
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125. Jeremy Fish and Lucy Constable Fernandez: The Enduring Impact of Raleigh International
Sue Stockdale explores the transformative power of Raleigh International expeditions with Lucy Constable Fernandez and Jeremy Fish. Since the organisation was launched in 1978 by Colonel John Blashford-Snell, more than 50,000 individuals have participated in expeditions around the world. Sue...
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124. Neil Wightwick: Transforming lives through nature's classroom
In episode 124 we delve into the world of outdoor education with Neil Wightwick, a leading figure in driving national policy in Scotland to make outdoor education accessible to all. Discover how outdoor environments can become powerful classrooms and how physical challenges can foster growth and...
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123. Danielle McDonough: The power of mindset on athletic performance
In episode 123 we explore the world of sports and mindset mastery with Danielle McDonough, a former professional ice hockey player turned mindset coach. Danielle shares her journey from the ice rink to coaching, emphasising the importance of overcoming self-doubt to achieve peak performance. Host...
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122. Roderick Aitken: Sourcing sustainable timber
In episode 122, host Sue Stockdale explores the delicate balance between commerce and conservation in the world of forestry with guest Roderick Aitken. As a fifth-generation family business in Scotland importing tropical wood, Roddy shares insights on sustainable practices and the collective...
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121. Arild Nydegger Øvre-Eide and Gyrid Dahl: Embracing Change and Tradition in Norwegian Farming
In this episode host Sue Stockdale talks to Arild Nydegger Øvre-Eide and Gyrid Dahl, from Øvre-Eide farm in Bergen, Norway. Arild, the fifth-generation owner of a small farm, discusses his decision to become a farmer and how his father's support played a role in his journey. Gyrid who works at…
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120. Robert Thirsk: From medicine to Mars - Insights from over 200 days in space
In this guest-hosted episode Clive Steeper from episode 1 talks to engineer, physician, and former astronaut Dr. Robert Thirsk about the preparation and training needed for astronauts to operate effectively on space missions, and how these skills are also relevant for leadership more generally....
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119. Reanne Olivier: Empowering African Youth
In podcast episode 119, Reanne Olivier, co-founder of Africa Matters Initiative talks to Sue Stockdale about how her first journey to South Africa was sparked by her parents' curiosity and exploration of the continent. This led her to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about Africa, and...
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118. Kate Leeming: From Africa to Australia: Exploring the world by bicycle
In episode 118 Sue Stockdale interviews Australian adventurer Kate Leeming. Kate has cycled almost 100,000km completing major journeys around the world. She became the first person to cycle an unbroken line from Africa's most westerly to its most easterly point. Sue explores the motivations…
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117. Sue Stockdale: Building trust and psychological safety
In episode 117 former guest Dr. Nashater Deu Solheim (episode 49) talks to Sue Stockdale. Sue discusses her experiences as an adventurer and athlete, focusing on her expedition to the Magnetic North Pole. She talks about her initial curiosity and decision to apply for the expedition, as well as…
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116. Bruce Parker: The opportunity that was too good to be true
This episode explores the concept of sliding doors moments and emphasises the importance of trusting oneself and finding stillness and clarity in life. Host Sue Stockdale interviews singer and entertainer Bruce Parker. They discuss Bruce's love for soul and Motown music, which he grew up with in...
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115. Georgina Bark: Exploring the craft of dry stone walling
Sue Stockdale speaks with Georgina Bark, also known as Bo, a dry stone waller. Bo shares her journey of leaving an office job behind to pursue a career outdoors and why she enjoys her work. Bo emphasises that problem-solving is a crucial aspect of her job, both in building walls and repairing…
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114. Aneela Rose: Balancing Powerlifting, Business, and Family
Sue Stockdale interviews Aneela Rose, the founder of PR agency Rose Media Group and world and British powerlifting champion. Aneela shares her journey of embracing a growth mindset and how it transformed her life personally and professionally. Learn about Aneela's challenges of balancing work,...
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Series 16 Preview
Sue Stockdale previews Series 16 of Access to Inspiration podcast highlighting some of the guests to be featured over the next few weeks - including: Georgina Bark, known as Bo shares her passion for dry stone walling. We will also discuss the solo nature of dry stone walling with Bo talking…
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113. Elise Wortley: Finding inspiration in nature
In this episode, Elise Wortley joins Sue Stockdale to discuss her adventure in the Canadian wilderness for the Channel 4 TV show "Alone". She shares her experience being dropped in the middle of nowhere and having to fend for herself in the wild. Elise reflects on the challenges and rewards of...
About this show
Access to Inspiration is an award-winning podcast ranked among the top 10% of podcasts globally, featuring conversations with explorers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and changemakers from around the world.
Hosted by executive coach, author and polar explorer Sue Stockdale, the podcast explores leadership, resilience, personal growth, innovation, exploration and the mindset required to navigate uncertainty.
With guests from more than 30 countries, each episode uncovers the stories behind remarkable achievements, revealing the lessons learned through challenge, adversity and discovery.
Topics span leadership, business, adventure, sustainability, creativity, social impact and human potential.
Listeners gain practical insights, fresh perspectives and actionable ideas to help them build confidence, embrace change and step beyond their comfort zones.<
Hosted by
Sue Stockdale