Access to Inspiration Sue Stockdale

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 business to focus on this. Monique emphasises the importance of seeing waste as a valuable source and viewing it not as a problem to be disposed of, but as a resource that can be repurposed and reused, so that we can shift towards a more sustainable and circular economy.  

About Monique Maissan
Dutch entrepreneur, Monique Maissan specialises in sustainable solutions for the textile industry.  As CEO of Waste2Wear she is a pioneer in creating products from recycled plastics. This includes fabrics and finished products from recycled plastic bottles (RPET) and bags from recycled polypropylene (RPP) from discarded domestic appliances and single use food containers. Through Monique’s leadership, Waste2Wear has won several industry awards for their unique products; blockchain transparency and RPET testing method (RA-3) that identifies recycled plastic bottle content in fabrics.
Find out more via website | LinkedIn | Instagram

Time Stamps
[02:17] Textile industry pollution concerns.
[09:51] The impact of marketing on recycling.
[14:07] Transparency in recycling industry.
[15:54] Ensuring authenticity in supply chains.
[22:59] Sustainability and changing demands.
[25:16] The importance of innovation.
[32:18] A sustainable legacy.
[35:24] Viewing waste as valuable resource.

Key Quotes
“I hope that I actually could close the business because there's no more plastic to recycle. That is my goal."“The textile industry is a very polluting industry”“We calculate with every step what is the reduction in water, in energy and in carbon footprint compared to the virgin equivalent”.“To date we have recycled about 100 million plastic bottles”.“Post consumer recycled polypropylene is only being recycled 1% in the world”.“The millennials, when they are sitting with a Gen Z it's going to be a comparison of how sustainable are you, not if you are sustainable”.“The key to any business is you need to keep innovating”.“I am inspired by young people who actively want to make a difference.”“It's not always good to keep on doing things. It's also good to stop things”.Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn 
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Producer: Sue Stockdale 
Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra

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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 with conservationists Doug and Kris Tompkins profoundly influenced her perspective, shifting her focus from merely protecting land to actively restoring and rewilding ecosystems.

About Sofia Heinonen
Sofía Heinonen was born and raised in Buenos Aires where she trained as a biologist. An activist by nature, she has spent more than thirty years designing large-scale and long-term projects to create protected areas and restore natural ecosystems. Sofía was part of Fundación Vida Silvestre and the National Parks Administration before joining the Iberá Project in 2005, led by Doug and Kris Tompkins (CLT Argentina), which Rewilding Argentina would later continue. 

She is currently Executive Director where she leads four projects that cover more than one million hectares and a team of more than 200 people.

In 2022, the BBC recognised her as one of the 100 most influential women on the planet.

Find out more about Rewilding Argentina at Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

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Time Stamps
02:34 - Rewilding Argentina's Mission
04:01 - Achievements in Iberá Wetland
06:30 - Economic and Legal Challenges
08:28 - Personal Challenges and Growth
10:25 - The Impact of Rewilding on Iberá
14:37 - Cultural and Mindset Changes
18:15 - Vision for Expanding Conservation Efforts
22:08 - Leadership and Inspiration
28:17 - The Importance of Perspective
34:27 - Passing the Baton 

Key Quotes
"Doug Tompkins said it will take time, but eventually we will win because the law is on our side, and in 20 years nobody will remember the conflicts.""It was like a big war in the sense of changing of land use and changing of paradigm and change the economy.""Changing culture is really the big issue with climate change."“We need to change the context that get the jaguars to become extinct. And that is economy, the culture and the way we perceive the territory."“We are facing now this big challenge of trying to reconnect South America through the rivers. And that is our vision for the next 20 years.""I'm 100% passionate about what I do. It's not work, it's life.""We work for nature and to restore nature, but nature is basically the way we restore ourselves. In a way, it's like rewilding our own spirit.""I think to be more conscious that we can make a change is a good thing".Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | a...

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 discovers the impact that it has had, and how the organisation has adapted to continue offering life-enhancing journeys for young people today. 

About Jeremy Fish and Lucy Constable Fernandez 
Jeremy participated as a venturer to Indonesia in 1987; and to Guyana in 1988 as a volunteer manager. He was a Raleigh Board member for seven years including three as Vice Chair. In 2018 Jeremy was founder of Raleigh UK Alumni society and is currently Co-chair. He has also been a businessman for 30+ years and is a passionate believer in providing young people with opportunities to develop their leadership skills. 
Connect with Jeremy via LinkedIn and the Raleigh UK Alumni Society or via Email. 

Lucy is Managing Director of Raleigh International. Her career spans over ten years in marketing and communications in the not-for-profit sector. As a proud mother to a 12-year-old boy, Lucy understands the importance of nurturing the next generation of leaders. Lucy steers the strategic direction and leads the marketing, recruitment, and pre-departure teams. She also collaborates closely with Country Directors and Expedition Delivery teams to fulfil Raleigh's mission of empowering young individuals worldwide.
Connect with Lucy via LinkedIn and Raleigh International via website : Instagram: Facebook : LinkedIn : YouTube 

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Key Quotes
Raleigh really changed my life back in the late 1980s and gave me a bigger perspective on the world.""If somebody has Raleigh on their CV, I think they're eminently more employable. It shows that they've got some get up and go. They're a self-starter. They've got some initiative.""Raleigh is generally recognised as being a fantastic way of accelerating people's development""You realise that you can do it. You never thought you could, but you get to the end of the day, it’s one foot in front of the other."“That's how you learn, develop and grow from listening to other viewpoints.""If they're missing home, actually sometimes having that constant contact makes it a lot worse and just getting stuck in is something that helps.""It encourages business leaders to think about their impact on the environment and also how they're developing their young people”.“Today's young people are tomorrow's managers and leaders of the future.""Raleigh is an experience that lives with you for your entire life. It's...

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 power of nature. Neil also discusses with host, Sue Stockdale his work in enabling young people to engage with the outdoors, particularly those from marginalised communities. 

About Neil Wightwick 
Neil Wightwick is a modern-day explorer and tireless advocate for adventurous education, whose remarkable adventures have taken him to the farthest reaches of the globe. With a resume that includes rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, scaling unclimbed peaks in Patagonia, and crossing the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert on foot, Neil's thirst for adventure knows no bounds. Throughout his career, Neil has been driven by a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of outdoor experiences, particularly for young people. He is currently serving as the CEO of the Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education and Head of Glasgow City Council's Outdoor Education Services. Through his leadership roles, he is shaping the landscape of outdoor education, ensuring that future generations have the chance to explore, learn, and grow through adventurous experiences in the great outdoors.

Connect with Neil Wightwick via LinkedIn. 

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Key Quotes 
"I like to have variety, and I like to learn from all of those different experiences.""The solutions and the challenges of today and tomorrow aren't going to be solved by students who have learned how to regurgitate information in a test."“If I don't get outside and I don't have some kind of physical activity, it does start to affect my mental well-being."“There are a number of ways that outdoor learning and adventurous education can interact in really positive ways with the digital world."“We're always coming full circle to appreciating the value of silence and conversation and experience in present time rather than looking at technology at the same time."Time Stamps
[02:15] Adventure in everyday life.
[06:03] Adventurous education and experiential learning.
[09:24] Outdoors as a mental tonic.
[13:55] Impact of adventurous learning.
[17:13] Outdoor education impact on society.
[25:35] Digital detox in expeditions.
[29:23] Small steps lead to adventures.
[30:52] Adventure and environmental impact.

Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
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Producer: Sue Stockdale
Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra

Become a...

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 started skating at age 4 and playing hockey at age 5, and later received a BA in Sociology from Providence College while on full athletic scholarship for ice hockey. She played in the National Women's Hockey League (WNHL) for 2 years and professionally in Lugano, Switzerland for 2 years. After retiring from professional sport Danielle gained a MA in Sport & Exercise Psychology and is now CEO of Peak Performance Training LLC working with athletes, coaches, and parents on the mental side of performance. She is the official Mental Skills Coach for the USA Hockey National Development Camp and author of  The Empowered Athlete—Self-Confidence, Self-Acceptance, and Self-Worth: An Athlete’s Guide to Excellence.

Connect with Danielle McDonough: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn  | get her free e-book

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Key Quotes 
"As soon as I step on the ice, I'm just free in a way. I really love that about it.""I like the full contact aspect. I like the hitting piece.""Your mind can sabotage everything. It doesn't matter how physically fit or capable you are. If your mind isn't right, you can talk yourself out of everything""I thought I was the only person on the entire face of this earth who was experiencing these things.""Diaphragmatic breathing is so powerful and so important and can change your state of mind and the way that you're feeling in your body in as little as three deep breaths.""If we're not making mistakes, if we're not failing, then ultimately we're not really growing because we learn in making these mistakes."Time Stamps

04:40 - The Only Girl in an All-Boys Team
05:11 - Forming a Girls Team and Being Recruited
07:57 - Mental Challenges and Imposter Syndrome
08:17 - Psyching Out and Overcoming Mental Hurdles
12:41 - Transitioning to Professional Sports and Pressure
15:20 - Identifying with Imposter Syndrome
16:40 - From Professional Athlete to Mindset Coach
20:02 - Breathing as a Fundamental Tool
21:59 - Visualising Success and Overcoming Fear of Failure
29:10 - Using Mental Skills in Personal Life
31:12 - Top Tips for Mindset Management in Sports and Business

Connect with Access to Inspiration: a...

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 management from The University of Aberdeen. He has spent one year working in Malaysia’s forest and sawmilling sectors, then two years with BSW timber in Scotland.   He joined Gilmour & Aitken in 2005 and is now Operations Director. Roderick is the principal buyer of tropical timbers for Gilmour & Aitken. He has carried out responsible purchasing audit work within West Africa, Far East and Guyana, traveling to these areas regularly. Roderick is a sailor and kayaker in summer, climber and skier in winter and enjoys being outdoors. The more remote and wilder the terrain, the better.

Find out more about Roderick Aitken at the website, and watch the video about Sustainable Forestry

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Time Stamps
[01:53] Sustainability in tropical timber industry.
[09:35] Long-term sustainability and traceability.
[14:14] Sustainable tropical logging practices.
[16:03] Hardwood for marine industry.
[22:05] Positive impacts of sustainable forestry.
[27:39] Maintaining supplier relationships.
[34:43] Materials for sustainable construction.

Key Quotes
“It isn't just always profit maximisation. It's a long-term sustainability goal as well.”"I get quite frustrated when people think that they're two different things, economic sustainability and environmental sustainability."“In the size of a football field, you're only taking two or three trees. So it's very light touch logging.""For every cubic metre of Greenheart arrived in the UK and used on a job, 1.24 tonne of carbon is being stored in the Guyanese forests as it's regrowing."“I think that relationship is really important. Supplier and buyer, you both have to be successful for it to work.”"Without trust, a lot of the tropical timber operation will fall apart."Connect with Access to Inspiration: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
If you are enjoying this and 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.