logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
43m 56s

Sunday Pick: How free solo climber Alex ...

TED
About this episode

Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Today we're sharing a special episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, a podcast about what makes the greatest minds tick. 

In 2017, Alex Honnold did what even the world’s best rock climbers thought was impossible. He climbed to the top of El Capitan -- a granite rock mountain more than 3,000 feet high -- without a rope, harness, or net. His audacious feat was the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary “Free Solo,” and it left Adam with some burning questions about what we can learn from his unique approach to managing fear. Alex opens up about how he regulates his emotions when he’s hanging on by just a few fingers, what still scares him, and how he stays motivated to pursue ambitious goals. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/RWAG2


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Yesterday
"Marigolds," a poem about wonder | Safiya Sinclair
Poet Safiya Sinclair performs "Marigolds: A Letter to Wonder," an original poem she created for TED that explores memory, beauty and the fragility of life. After the poem, she talks with TED's Helen Walters about her writing process — and what it feels like when the creative muse ... Show More
9m 2s
Jul 8
The miraculous device that saved my farm — and changed my life | Josephine Waweru
Exhausted from carrying water up a hill to keep her small farm in Kenya thriving, Josephine Waweru received an unexpected call that offered a nearly unbelievable solution. She shares how one simple device allowed her crops (and her dreams) to flourish — and offers a glimmer of ho ... Show More
10m 18s
Jul 7
The inside story of Notre-Dame’s incredible reconstruction | Philippe Villeneuve
In a moment that stunned the world in 2019, the famed Notre-Dame in Paris went up in flames, threatening the future of the centuries-old Gothic treasure. Philippe Villeneuve, the chief architect of the cathedral’s restoration, recounts the collective effort to bring the building ... Show More
13m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Defying Gravity with Alex Honnold
Alex Honnold, known for his awe-inspiring climbs, takes us behind the scenes of his latest Nat GEO series, Arctic Ascent. Discover the challenges and breathtaking moments of scaling the icy, unforgiving rock walls of the Arctic, some of the science projects they did along the way ... Show More
57m 5s
Aug 2024
Alex Honnold (Free Solo): Conquering Fear, Defying Death and Finding Your Flow State (E280)
Alex Honnold is a world-renowned professional rock climber, best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. His most notable achievement is the free solo climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, a feat that brought him international fame and was featured in the Oscar-win ... Show More
48m 53s
Mar 2024
How to Keep Going When Things Get Hard: A Special Blue Sky Presentation of the “Ten Percent Happier” Podcast with Dan Harris, Featuring Bryan Stevenson
This episode is a master class on sticking with it, no matter what. From our friend Dan Harris on the Ten Percent Happier podcast, we’re joined by Bryan Stevenson, who is a public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated, and the condemne ... Show More
1h 8m
Mar 2024
World's #1 Extreme Athlete: The MINDSET Behind Overcoming FEAR! | Alex Honnold EP 546
Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?Alex Honnold recounts that though he has witnessed tragic climbing accidents and the sobering fragility of life while pushing extremes, staying open to loss and grief is essential, as going numb leads people to underestimate risks and mak ... Show More
6m 11s
Jan 2025
Emotional Freedom Feat. Jason Wilson
"I am a Lion and a Lamb" - Jason Wilson In this episode, I sat down with author, mentor, and the transformative leader behind The Cave of Adullam, Jason Wilson. We dive deep into what it means to break free from emotional incarceration, redefine manhood, and embrace both the lion ... Show More
1h 12m
Apr 22
(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards
What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest lows. An acclaimed mountain climber, photographer, and filmmaker, Cory has literally reached the top of the world. He climbed Mount Ever ... Show More
47m 27s
Nov 2024
Everest Expedition: Decision Time at the Summit
In 1991 Mount Everest is a very different place than it is today. A young American arrives at the remote outpost of Base Camp intent on tackling the planet’s tallest peak. Using the last of his student loan, Dan Mazur has blagged his way onto a Soviet climbing team. But his unlik ... Show More
55m 38s
Jun 2024
Riding the Giant Waves of Belief with Garrett & Nicole McNamara
Learn how to LIVE YOUR DREAMS even in the midst of adversity in this captivating episode with me and Garrett and Nicole McNamara, where overcoming the impossible becomes the norm.  Join us as Garrett, a legend who has surfed the world's largest waves, and Nicole, the strategic mi ... Show More
54m 13s
Nov 2020
Alain Robert - Achieving New Heights: Why The French Spiderman Battles With His Fear of Death | London Real
✅ #BrianForMayor 👉 https://BrianForMayor.London BUILD YOUR DREAM BUSINESS IN 8 WEEKS: https://londonreal.tv/biz/ 2021 SUMMIT TICKETS: https://londonreal.tv/summit/ NEW MASTERCLASS EACH WEEK: http://londonreal.tv/masterclass-yt LATEST EPISODE: https://londonreal.link/latest Alain ... Show More
2h 14m
Oct 2024
Dan Heath: Ideas That Stick and Stories That Resonate
In this enlightening episode, Guy Kawasaki interviews Dan Heath, acclaimed author, thought leader, and host of the "What It's Like To Be" podcast. Heath shares powerful insights from his bestselling books and discusses how his podcast uncovers fascinating stories from people in u ... Show More
1h 1m