Mind Over Mountain

iHeartPodcasts

From the bestselling author of Wild and co-host of the beloved Dear Sugars podcast, Cheryl Strayed returns with a new kind of journey.

In Mind Over Mountain with Cheryl Strayed, Cheryl sits down with athletes and adventurers from the most high-adrenaline corners of the world (climbers, surfers, ultramarathoners and more) to discuss the inner landscapes that inspired these extraordinary feats, and give advice to listeners on how they too can face seemingly insurmountable moments in their own lives.

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24 episodes
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Avg 52 min
English

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S1 · E24
Today · 57 min
The Thing That Scares You Most: WWE Pro Wrestler AJ Mendez on Finding Your Superpower
Wrestling icon, writer, and mental health advocate AJ Mendez joins me to talk about what happens when we stop hiding the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to fear. AJ reflects on becoming the trailblazing AJ Lee, walking away at the height of her career, and returning to wrestling a decade later as a healthier, more whole version of herself. We talk about vulnerability, finding power in the things that make us different, and why sometimes the thing that scares us most is exactly where we need to go. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about heartbreak, emotional intensity, and learning to build the love and security we seek within ourselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E23
August 27 · 50 min
Don’t Let the Injury Decide: Professional CrossFit Athlete Rebecka Vitesson on Starting Over
Professional CrossFit athlete Rebecka Vitesson joins me to talk about what it means to come back; not just from injury, but from the fear that the thing you love might be over. Rebecka shares how repeated setbacks taught her to be gentler with herself, celebrate small victories, and measure success by the effort she gives rather than the outcome she earns. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about finding the discipline to begin, and why sometimes the way forward is to make the first step a little easier. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S1 · E22
August 20 · 48 min
How Do I Want to Show Up? with AVP Beach Volleyball Player Kelly Cheng
Two-time Olympian and AVP beach volleyball player Kelly Cheng joins Cheryl to talk about what it means to keep showing up—with joy, ferocity, and an open heart. We talk about weathering pressure, trusting the people beside us, and learning to quiet the voice that says we aren't enough. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about making peace with the bodies we're given. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E21
August 13 · 53 min
Forty-Three Days Alone at Sea: Kelsey Pfendler on Letting Go of Control
After becoming the first American woman to row solo across the mid-Pacific—and the fastest person ever to do it—Kelsey Pfendler joins us to discuss resilience, healing through adventure, and what the wilderness can teach us about ourselves. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about how to choose a path when every dream feels possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E20
August 6 · 50 min
Building the World You Wish Existed | The Sports Bra's Jenny Nguyen
I sit down with Jenny Nguyen, founder of The Sports Bra, to talk about what happens when frustration becomes purpose. Jenny shares how one ordinary night watching women's basketball sparked an extraordinary idea, why she finally decided to stop waiting for someone else to build the world she wanted to live in, and how trusting a dream that had never been done before transformed not only her own life, but an entire movement. Together we explore the courage it takes to go first, the people who help carry us up the mountain, and why the smallest acts of belief can create ripple effects far beyond what we ever imagined. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a young woman struggling to forgive her parents after their divorce, and reflect on what it means to love imperfect people while making room for grace. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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#1
July 30 · 42 min
Reissue: I'm Not Lifting Weights; I'm Lifting People with Tamara Walcott
We sit down with world-record powerlifter Tamara Walcott to talk about strength in every sense of the word. Tamara shares her journey from being picked last to lifting record-breaking weight, the difference between motivation and dedication, and how she replaced shame with pride. Plus, they offer advice to a mom struggling with guilt around taking time for herself—and why saving your own life sometimes starts with one rep. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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July 23 · 56 min
Reissue: Be So Good They Can't Ignore You: Sarah Spain on Persistence
Sarah Spain joins us for a conversation about nonlinear careers, unexpected pivots, and trusting that the path will reveal itself to you. From comedy to ESPN, Sarah reflects on saying yes before she felt ready and what happened next. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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July 16 · 59 min
Reissue: Blair Braverman on Letting Go and Staying Alive
Iditarod musher and bestselling author Blair Braverman joins Cheryl for a conversation about risk, resilience, and the deep bond between humans and animals. She shares what it’s like to navigate blizzards, isolation, and uncertainty all while being guided by her dogs. Together, they explore fear, leadership, and how trust is built not through control, but through genuine connection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S1 · E19
July 9 · 49 min
From WNBA Pioneer to Lifelong Inspiration: Kym Hampton
Kym Hampton was there at the beginning of the Women's National Basketball Association, helping to pave the way for generations of athletes to come. But this conversation isn't just about basketball—it's about how we continue evolving throughout our lives. Kym and I talk about resilience, reinvention, and the quiet power of choosing kindness, even when the path ahead isn't clear. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a listener wondering how to handle a complicated work relationship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E19
July 2 · 1 hr 5 min
The Audacity of Vulnerability with Abby Wambach
Soccer icon Abby Wambach joins Cheryl Strayed to explore the inner life behind extraordinary achievement. Abby reflects on the relentless drive that fueled her legendary career, the complicated relationship between success and self-worth, and the emotional journey of redefining identity after elite sports. Together, they discuss grief, sobriety, partnership, and what it means to live with both humility and audacity. The episode ultimately asks a powerful question: how do we measure a meaningful life once the medals are won? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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June 25 · 1 hr 1 min
Walking through Loss with Author and Hiker Cara Benson
Writer and hiker Cara Benson joins us for a deeply personal conversation about grief, addiction, healing, and the solace found in wild places. We explore how hiking helped us navigate profound loss, what it means to keep moving forward when life shatters, and how nature can offer connection, perspective, and comfort when words fail. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a woman searching for meaning after a lifetime of caring for everyone but herself. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E17
June 18 · 46 min
Panic, Presence, Self-Compassion and Yoga with Adriene Mishler
Yoga teacher and founder of Yoga with Adriene, Adriene Mishler, joins us for a conversation about courage, self-care, and learning to truly listen to yourself. Adriene reflects on the lessons that emerged from an unexpected panic attack, the importance of showing up imperfectly, and why meaningful change often comes through small, consistent acts of care. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E16
June 11 · 47 min
The Olympian Who Never Planned to Be One - Speed Skater Erin Jackson
Olympic gold medalist speed skater Erin Jackson joins us to discuss embracing unexpected opportunities, finding joy in the journey, and navigating life's setbacks. Erin reflects on her improbable rise from roller skating in Florida to Olympic champion, the teammate whose selfless act helped send her to the Olympics, and we answer a Dear Sugar letter about how to keep moving forward when life keeps knocking you down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E15
June 4 · 49 min
Olympic Cross-Country Skier Julia Kern on Falling Short and Moving Forward
Olympic cross-country skier Julia Kern joins us for a candid conversation about resilience, recovery, and the courage to keep dreaming. Fresh off the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Julia reflects on the highs of making an Olympic final, the heartbreak of falling short of a medal, and the years-long battle with chronic pain that nearly made her walk away from the sport. We'll explore the parallels between athletic setbacks, heartbreak, healing, and the importance of finding joy in the journey. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E14
May 28 · 48 min
Headfirst into Fear with Olympian Skeleton Racer Mystique Ro
This week we're joined by Olympian skeleton racer Mystique Ro for a conversation about fear, control, and learning to trust yourself at 80 miles per hour. Mystique opens up about the mental discipline behind skeleton racing, navigating the sport as a Black athlete from a working-class background, and the unlikely journey that took her from track and field to the Olympic stage and we'll answer a Dear Sugar letter from a bride-to-be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
S1 · E13
May 21 · 51 min
What Strong Women Know with Heptathlete Louise Hazel
On this episode we're joined by Olympian heptathlete Louise Hazel for a personal conversation about strength, grief, endurance, and what our bodies are truly capable of. Louise reflects on her journey from a sports-obsessed kid in rural England to competing at the 2012 London Olympics and what led her to opening her own gym, SLAY, in Los Angeles. We talk about loss and grief, navigating miscarriage, and how movement became her way through heartbreak. Our advice this week focuses on body image, women’s health culture, resilience, and why learning what your body can do matters far more than what it looks like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E12
May 14 · 47 min
Polo, Pressure, and Paving the Way with Shariah Harris
This week we talk to trailblazing polo player Shariah Harris to discuss resilience, identity, and the unexpected journey that led her from a chance encounter with horses in Philadelphia to making history as the first Black woman to compete at the highest level of the U.S. Women’s Polo Championship. Shariah reflects on growing up through the Work to Ride program, navigating predominantly white spaces in elite sports, and balancing the demands of being both a professional athlete and an operating room nurse. Together, we explore the lessons horses can teach us about patience, courage, and trust — and what it means to pave the way for the next generation while staying grounded in your love for the sport. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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S1 · E11
May 7 · 40 min
Overcoming Hurdles with Olympic Heptathlete Chari Hawkins
Olympic heptathlete Chari Hawkins opens up about what it really feels like to keep going when everything falls apart. What begins as a reflection on Chari’s career unfolds into something much more vulnerable—her struggles with identity, the quiet devastation of missing the Olympic team, and a moment where she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep going at all. Together, we explore fear, failure, and the small, brave decisions that shape a life. Our Dear Sugar letter this week touches on what it means to start before you feel ready, reminding us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s learning how to live alongside it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
April 30 · 57 min
The Comeback Mindset with Maddy Schaffrick
Maddy Schaffrick joins Cheryl for a deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. Maddy reflects on becoming a professional snowboarder at just 14, the pressure and injuries that led her to retire at 20, and how she rebuilt her life afterward. She discusses what it's like to go from teen prodigy to burning out and how coaching young athletes helped her discover a new mindset rooted in self-belief rather than external validation. Together they explore the importance of finding your “why,” navigating self-doubt, and learning how to fall and get back up, both on and off the mountain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
April 23 · 59 min
Trust the Dogs: Blair Braverman on Letting Go and Staying Alive
Iditarod musher and bestselling author Blair Braverman joins Cheryl for a conversation about risk, resilience, and the deep bond between humans and animals. She shares what it’s like to navigate blizzards, isolation, and uncertainty all while being guided by her dogs. Together, they explore fear, leadership, and how trust is built not through control, but through genuine connection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 24 episodes