From the vibrant reefs of the Bahamas to the desert landscapes of Baja, T’Noya Thompson has transformed her lifelong love for the ocean into a career of deep impact. In this episode, host Kevin Matteson explores T’Noya’s journey from a zookeeper at Moody Gardens to becoming a PhD candidate, the owner of Wild Spark Consulting, and the first Wildlife Coexistence Fellow at the Cincinnati Zoo.
3 Key Takeaways
- The “Organization as an Ecosystem”: T’Noya’s PhD research treats conservation organizations like living systems. She is investigating the link between organizational culture and staff turnover, arguing that we must protect the people doing the work just as fiercely as we protect the wildlife.
- Building a Legacy in the Bahamas: After a chance meeting at her Master’s graduation with Dr. Ancilleno Davis, T’Noya co-founded “Bahamians, Birds, and Botany.” This citizen science program for teens provides the kind of early exposure to nature that T’Noya had to seek out on her own as a child.
- The “Day 4” Transformation: On Earth Expeditions, there is often a pivotal moment around the fourth day where the distance from home sets in. T’Noya shares how overcoming this emotional hurdle, through journaling and peer support, allowed her to be fully present and form authentic, lifelong kinships with her cohort.
The “Hidden Gem” Teaser
Listen for the heartwarming story of 12-year-old T’Noya calling up a local aquarium in Nassau to volunteer. Despite there being no formal program, her persistence led to a formative experience chopping fish and leading stingray talks—a “first spark” that eventually led her to help design our newest Earth Expeditions course.
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