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 curiosity in students. Neil shares his passion for varied outdoor activities and recounts his own experiences, such as rowing across the Atlantic, which taught him the importance of resilience and the po...
May 22, 2024•28 min•Season 17Ep. 124
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 Sue Stockdale talks to Danielle about athlete psychology, imposter syndrome, and practical strategies for reshaping our thinking in challenging situations. About Danielle McDonough Danielle McDonough st...
May 15, 2024•35 min•Season 17Ep. 123
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 responsibility we have towards the planet, discusses the importance of protecting precious ecosystems while meeting the demand for exotic woods. About Roderick Aitken Roderick has a degree in forest manageme...
May 08, 2024•32 min•Season 17Ep. 122
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 the farm explains what motivated her to change career from being a hairdresser to learning how to run a farm. The episode also explores Arild's surprising role as a teacher in a local prison and why tradit...
May 01, 2024•28 min•Season 17Ep. 121
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. Robert reflects on training for astronauts, non-technical skills in space missions, adapting back to life on Earth, providing healthcare on deep space missions, AI-enabled technologies for space explorati...
Mar 20, 2024•31 min•Season 16Ep. 120
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 ultimately shape her passion for making a difference. By immersing herself in the diverse cultures and communities of Africa, Reanne gained a deeper understanding of the continent and its people, allowing h...
Mar 13, 2024•26 min•Season 16Ep. 119
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 behind Kate's adventures and the impact she aims to make through her expeditions. The episode also covers topics such as education for sustainable development, the role of women in community development, and ...
Mar 06, 2024•28 min•Season 16Ep. 118
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 the challenges she faced in raising funds and preparing physically and mentally. The conversation also explores themes of building safety within a team, curiosity and resilience. About Sue Stockdale Sue S...
Feb 28, 2024•32 min•Season 16Ep. 117
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 Inglewood, Los Angeles. Bruce shares his experiences of touring in China and encountering a dangerous situation with the Chinese triads. About Bruce Parker Bruce Parker is known as The California Soul Ma...
Feb 21, 2024•38 min•Season 16Ep. 116
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 them and offers advice to listeners, encouraging them to pursue their passions. Georgina Bark is based in Gloucestershire and an Advanced Certificate holder and member of the Dry Stone Walling Association. ...
Feb 14, 2024•28 min•Season 16Ep. 115
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, family, and personal interests, the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, and the value of continual learning and collaboration. Aneela also discusses her achievements in powerlifting, how she has ...
Feb 07, 2024•34 min•Season 16Ep. 114
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 about how she enjoys the sounds of nature while working outside. We will also dive into the world of sliding doors moments with singer Bruce Parker. Get ready to be inspired by his incredible unexpected adve...
Jan 31, 2024•5 min
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 immersing herself in nature, including hunting for food and building shelter for the first time. Elise also talks about how reconnecting with nature can have a positive impact on our wellbeing and why she ...
Oct 18, 2023•25 min•Season 15Ep. 113
Host Sue Stockdale interviews Bettina Ovgaard, a versatile professional who has pursued a career by following her curiosity. Bettina shares her experiences working in various industries, including costume design for film, leading tours in the Arctic, and serving as Chief of Civil-Military Cooperation for Joint Arctic Command. They delve into Bettina's work at the Thule Air Base (now Pituffik Space Base) in Greenland situated near the North Pole, the attraction of the dark season, the challenges ...
Oct 11, 2023•36 min•Season 15Ep. 112
Have you ever come up against rules, procedures, or obstacles that make it incredibly difficult to create change? This week's guest shares some brilliant examples of organisations that have successfully overcome these challenges. Sue Stockdale interviews Paolo Savaget, Associate Professor at Oxford University, about his work in transforming unjust systems through workarounds and entrepreneurship. He shares inspiring examples of organisations in Zambia and the Netherlands that have successfully c...
Oct 04, 2023•29 min•Season 15Ep. 111
In episode 110, host Sue Stockdale interviews Dr Poornima Luthra, an associate professor at Copenhagen Business School. They explore the concept of active allyship and discuss ways to overcome the fear of saying or doing the wrong thing when supporting diversity and inclusion within organizations. Poornima is the founder and CEO of TalentED Consultancy ApS. Poornima’s work in DEI focuses on expanding the dimensions of diversity we address with an emphasis on intersectionality, empowering individ...
Sep 27, 2023•31 min•Season 15Ep. 110
Slowing down and engaging in activities that quiet the brain can bring more wonder into our lives. Monica Parker talks to host, Sue Stockdale about how practicing mindfulness and being observant allows us to cultivate a slower thought process, which is essential for experiencing wonder. Additionally, exposing ourselves to new ideas, new perspectives, and new environments can also stimulate wonder by breaking our routines and allowing our minds to notice novelty. Monica suggests that we don't hav...
Sep 20, 2023•26 min•Season 15Ep. 109
In this episode, host Sue Stockdale welcomes Kevin Chapman, co-founder of the Physical Intelligence Institute. Kevin shares his passion for helping people perform at their best by understanding and utilizing the full potential of their bodies. He introduces the concept of physical intelligence and explores how our bodies can impact our confidence and anxiety levels. Through science and practical applications, Kevin empowers listeners to optimise their performance and achieve their desired outcom...
Sep 13, 2023•30 min•Season 15Ep. 108
In episode 107 of the Access to Inspiration podcast, host Sue Stockdale interviews Gary Fildes, an astronomer and the founder of the Keilder Observatory in the UK. Gary's passion for astronomy and his encyclopedic knowledge of the subject have contributed to the success of the observatories he has worked at. They discuss the distinction between being an astronomer and an astrophysicist and how Gary's interest in astronomy was sparked by childhood experiences with a telescope and seeing the Milky...
Sep 06, 2023•30 min•Season 15Ep. 107
In today's world, the term "ecology" often evokes images of sacrifice, expense, and inconvenience. In this final episode of our Climate Solutions series, renowned explorer and environmentalist, Bertrand Piccard explains why focusing on ecology is not only profitable but also exciting. Piccard is best known for his groundbreaking achievements in exploration: flying around the world in a solar-powered airplane and circumnavigating the globe in a hot air balloon. These adventures allowed him to wit...
Jul 19, 2023•34 min•Season 14Ep. 106
In this episode of our podcast, host Sue Stockdale talks to Professor Dame Anne Glover, President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Anne emphasizes the importance of effective communication in science and geography. Whether it's encouraging more people to pursue science or communicating the importance of research findings, clear and effective communication is essential. With Climate Solutions as the theme of this podcast series, Anne shares her thoughts on how the data generated from u...
Jul 12, 2023•35 min•Season 14Ep. 105
Concrete is one of the most widely used building materials in the world, with one third of global resources going into its production. However, the production of concrete has a significant impact on the environment, and there is a growing need for sustainable alternatives. Host Sue Stockdale interviews Roisin Hyde, a chartered architect specialising in sustainable design and 3D printing of low carbon concrete components as concrete alternatives. Her business, Nomad, has recently been nominated f...
Jul 05, 2023•33 min•Season 14Ep. 104
In this episode, Iain Stewart, an expert in geoscience and sustainability, highlights the need for the scientific community to communicate differently to engage communities in developing sustainable climate solutions, learning to move away from the 'tell and sell' approach, to one of 'sense and respond' in order to build trust. Iain explains to host, Sue Stockdale about his latest project in northeastern Jordan, where a wetland has dried up due to climate change, and what he has learned in getti...
Jun 28, 2023•33 min•Season 14Ep. 103
Sue Stockdale interviews Jojo Mehta, the co-founder and executive director of Stop Ecocide International who talks about the organisations mission of advocating for the criminalisation of ecocide and make the destruction of nature a global crime. Jojo Mehta co-founded Stop Ecocide in 2017, alongside barrister and legal pioneer the late Polly Higgins, to support the establishment of ecocide as a crime at the International Criminal Court. The core work to make ecocide an international crime at the...
Jun 21, 2023•31 min•Season 14Ep. 102
Sue Stockdale talks to Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) about his adventurous and philanthropic background, and how experience on an expedition to Borneo inspired him to give back to the environment. Mike also describes his work at the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, its function as a small charity, and how he believes that it is not enough for the charity to just inform and influence things, the organisation needs to inspire people that it is...
Jun 14, 2023•35 min•Season 14Ep. 101
Sue Stockdale welcomes Simeon Wood, a multi-talented musician, educator, and composer, to celebrate the Access to Inspiration podcast's 100th episode. Simeon shares tales of his 30-year journey as a guest entertainer perfoming all over the world in concert halls, on cruise ships, and even in a prison. Simeon describes his two homemade instruments - the walking stick flute and the bicycle pump - and explains why he believes humor and communication are integral to forming a meaningful connection w...
May 10, 2023•40 min•Season 13Ep. 100
Who would have thought that a Bronx-born rookie cop would go on to become a successful author, giving readers an intimate look into the world of law enforcement? In conversation with host Sue Stockdale, Vic Ferrari talks about the powerful connection between his deep love for the NYPD and his mission to share his experiences through his writing. Growing up in the Bronx, Vic always dreamt of becoming a police officer, and he eventually achieved that goal at the age of 21. Throughout his 20-year c...
May 03, 2023•27 min•Season 13Ep. 99
In episode 98, Berit Lewis shares her personal story of how she arrived at her area of interest in helping people over 50 in their later years of life. Berit talks about how she found a passion for psychology, mindfulness and learning to regulate her physical sensations as a way to manage her thoughts and emotions. This theme of primary and secondary suffering is also brought up, with Berit suggesting that our caveman brains naturally try to keep us safe but not thrive. Berit Lewis is the owner ...
Apr 26, 2023•27 min•Season 13Ep. 98
Roshni Pandey, who is Indian by ethnicity, Fijian by birth, Australian by citizenship, & Singaporean by residence, explains how her experience of freedom, imagination and creativity as a youngster influences her work today as a creative strategy consultant, angel investor and social entrepreneur. She reflects on how self-imposed limitations can get in the way of new idea generation, and how a desire for planning hindered her own ability to follow her passions. Roshni is Founder & Managin...
Apr 19, 2023•28 min•Season 13Ep. 97
Judith Keys talks to Sue Stockdale about how the ups and downs of emigrating to live and work in France. She explains what prompted her to move, how she initially found it difficult to integrate into the French way of life, and what helped her to adapt. Originally from Ireland, Judith has now lived in Provence for over 10 years. In 2013 she left her corporate job in Scotland, sold her house, and decided I wanted a better dream than the standard 9-5. Since the birth of her youngest son in 2021, s...
Apr 12, 2023•26 min•Season 13Ep. 96
