Celebrating Our 150th Episode: A Conversation with Conservation Pioneer Kris Tompkins

When you reach a milestone like 150 podcast episodes, you want to mark it with someone truly inspiring. That’s why I’m thrilled to share that our upcoming guest on Access to Inspiration podcast is none other than Kris Tompkins - former CEO of Patagonia and one of the most influential conservationists of our time.

Kris’s story about leading Tompkins Conservation is one of bold leadership, radical thinking, and profound impact. After a successful business career, she and her late husband Doug Tompkins turned their focus to conservation. Together, they helped create and expand national parks across Chile and Argentina, protecting over 14 million acres of land. That’s a legacy not just in hectares, but in hope - for biodiversity, climate, and the future of our planet.

In this landmark episode, Kris shares insights that reach far beyond environmentalism. She talks about:

• What it really means to live a life of purpose

• The courage to learn from failure as much as success and step into the unknown

• The necessity of individual action in conservation and why each persons’ actions count

As someone who’s explored the extremes - both geographically and professionally - I found Kris’s words both grounding and galvanising. This isn’t just a conversation about nature. It’s a reminder that inspiration comes from action, that business can be a force for good, and that real change often starts with reimagining what’s possible.

You can listen to the episode from Wednesday 29th May at accesstoinspiration.org and all major podcasting platforms.

Here’s to the next 150 episodes - and to all the pioneers like Kris Tompkins who show us what’s possible when we lead with vision and heart.