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Access to Inspiration

Access to Inspiration

Written by: Sue Stockdale
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About this listen

 Access to Inspiration is a not-for-profit podcast dedicated to uplifting and motivating listeners through compelling conversations with extraordinary individuals.

The show features guests from more than 30 countries who have pushed boundaries, explored the unknown, and made significant impacts in their respective areas.

Topics range from business and adventure, to the arts and social change.

Each episode delves into the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs of these inspiring figures, offering valuable insights and actionable advice.

The Access to Inspiration podcast is more than just a series of interviews; it is a catalyst to inspire change within people across the globe.

Through the powerful stories it shares, the podcast encourages listeners to step into the unknown, embrace challenges, and make meaningful contributions to their own lives and the broader world.

Find out more at our website



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.Access to Inspiration Careers Economics Personal Success Self-Help Social Sciences Success Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Celebrating 150 Episodes: Reflections and Insights from Access to Inspiration

    Celebrating 150 Episodes: Reflections and Insights from Access to Inspiration
    Jun 11 2025
    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, and how the show has impacted Sue and Clive and their listeners. Together they discuss how the podcast has influenced their perspectives about life and work, and how they look to the future for taking the next steps of development.

    Key Reflections
    • "The most inspirational people often have an overriding purpose – something greater than themselves that motivates them to act."
    • “Inspiration is about more than success or achievement. It's about attitude – a willingness to explore, to take risks, and to stay curious.”
    • “Many of our guests had to embrace uncertainty or ambiguity at some point in their journey."
    • “Being an inspiration to others was often something guests had not considered about themselves.”
    • “The podcast is designed to challenge assumptions – by hearing from people outside your own world, you begin to understand different ways of thinking.”
    • “What guests often valued most about the interview was the opportunity to reflect on their life and what shaped them.”
    • “Each episode is a window into someone’s world, and those windows have revealed the many forms that inspiration can take.”
    • “These conversations continue to affirm one thing – that every person has a story worth hearing.”

    Time Stamps
    01:26 Origins of the Podcast
    03:41 Defining inspiration
    06:06 Personal reflections on inspiration
    12:36 The role of curiosity and vulnerability
    23:31 Unexpectedly inspiring guests
    27:17 The journey of resilience and tenacity
    29:45 The power of ordinary acts
    32:21 Impactful stories from the podcast
    36:17 The Atuel river journey
    42:14 Reflections on longevity and success
    47:54 The future of the podcast


    Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Read our Impact Report and if you would like to support us then Buy Me A Coffee

    Producer: Sue Stockdale
    Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.
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    50 mins
  • 150. Kris Tompkins: Conservation, Leadership and Legacy

    150. Kris Tompkins: Conservation, Leadership and Legacy
    May 28 2025
    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 conversation, Tompkins reflects on how her business experience helped shape a vision for nature conservation at scale, highlighting themes of risk-taking, leadership, and the power of direct engagement. She reminds us that the gritty, uncomfortable days in nature often leave the strongest impressions: “I like people being miserable in the national parks - those are the days we remember.”About Kris TompkinsKris Tompkins is the president and co-founder of Tompkins Conservation, and former CEO of Patagonia, Inc. For three decades, she has committed to protecting and restoring wild beauty and biodiversity by creating national parks, inspiring activism, and fostering economic vitality as a result of conservation. Kris and her husband, Doug Tompkins have protected over 15 million acres of parklands in Chile and Argentina through Tompkins Conservation and its partners, making them among the most successful national park oriented philanthropists in history.Kris served as Patron for Protected Areas for the UN Environmental Programme from 2018 to 2022. The recipient of numerous honours, she was the first conservationist to be awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. Her 2020 TED talk "Lets make the earth wild again" has over two million views. Find out more about Kris Tompkins and the work of Tompkins Conservation : Rewilding Argentina : Rewilding Chile :Trailer for National Geographic documentary - Wild Life Time Stamps01:57 Developing a passion for nature 04:29 Challenges and Triumphs in Conservation11:25 Building Teams and Collaborative Efforts27:34 The Role of Technology in Conservation31:22 Reflecting on Successes and Lessons Learned34:24 Inspiration and Call to ActionKey Quotes I'm actually inspired and motivated probably more by grief and a kind of yearning, than I am by something that's fabulous and positive. You can't fall in love with something you don't know. I like people being miserable in the national parks as those are the days we remember- the days you were freezing.The excuse that “I’m just one person”. That's the weakest, nonsensical excuse there is. One person, it does matter.People have to decide that they want to participate in something more than what they currently have in their daily life. They see what's going on in the outside world and they want to do something. And that's a decision. And that's probably the most difficult step of all. There are people working for nature who need what you're good at. It's the wilfulness that people get stuck on. Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Read our Impact Report and if you would like to support us then Buy Me A CoffeeProducer: Sue Stockdale Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.
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    39 mins
  • 149. Alice Morrison: Exploring Africa and Arabia

    149. Alice Morrison: Exploring Africa and Arabia
    May 14 2025
    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 discusses her passion for adventure, the importance of cultural understanding, and why she believes exploration is about more than just physical endurance.About Alice MorrisonAlice Morrison is an adventurer, TV presenter, and writer known for her bold expeditions and compelling storytelling. From racing her bike across Africa in the Tour d’Afrique to running the Everest Trail Race and walking thousands of kilometres across Morocco, she has consistently chosen the path less travelled. Her adventures are driven by a desire to understand our rapidly changing world, celebrate shared humanity, and bear witness to environmental and cultural transformation.Her work is now showcased in documentaries such as From Morocco to Timbuktu, and Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabataeans, alongside her acclaimed books Dodging Elephants, Walking with Nomads, and Adventures in Morocco. Now based in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Alice lives immersed in the landscapes she writes about, walking alongside Amazigh guides and camels, podcasting from remote deserts, and sharing insights through public speaking and media appearances.Connect with Alice Morrison - Website: Instagram : Podcast : YouTube : TikTokKey Quotes"Adventure isn’t about searching for yourself; it’s about experiencing as much of the world as possible.""I treasure my freedom, and I’m grateful every day that I have the opportunity to explore, to learn, and to share stories with others.""The reality of Saudi Arabia was so different from the stereotype—I found warmth, humour, and incredible hospitality at every step.""People are fundamentally good everywhere in the world. The more we meet and understand each other, the more barriers we break down."Time Stamps01:28 Experiencing Ramadan in Morocco02:56 Challenges of Adventuring in Saudi Arabia06:55 Alice's Background and Attraction to the Middle East09:09 The Importance of Storytelling10:44 Surviving the Moroccan Earthquake12:53 Themes of Freedom and Self-Reliance15:09 Community vs. Individuality21:06 Packing Tips for Explorers24:41 Lessons from Nature and Camels26:08 Future Adventures and GoalsConnect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Read our Impact Report and if you would like to support us then Buy Me A CoffeeProducer: Sue Stockdale Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/access-to-inspiration--4156820/support.
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    35 mins
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