Episode 36: Alex Honnold on Climbing’s Olympic debut, life after Free Solo, the Oscar-winning documentary about his historic climb, and his new podcast, Climbing Gold.

Boardroom Talks

Boardroom Podcast Network

Business, Entrepreneurship, Sports

4.4 • 620 Ratings

🗓️ 7 April 2021

⏱️ 61 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Alex Honnold gained global fame after the release of the film Free Solo, based on his death-defying climb --with no ropes or safety equipment-- of Yosemite Park’s El Capitan. The film captivated audiences, won the 2019 Oscar for Best Documentary, and established Honnold as one of the world's greatest athletes. Though Honnold has not always appeared to revel in the fame the film brought him, he’s made good use of the opportunities. Now, the primary face of his sport, he's expanded the work of his foundation, and has greatly raised awareness for rock climbing. As the upcoming Olympics prepares to feature climbing as an event for the first time, Honnold was likely a big factor in the sport achieving Olympic status. In this episode, Honnold talks to Rich and Gianni about what people get wrong about what motivates elite climbers, why he’s excited about his new podcast series, and the inspiration he's taken from legendary female climber, Lynn Hill. Honnold even invites Rich and Gianni to climb rocks with him in Central Park next time he visits New York City.

Transcript

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0:00.0	What's up everybody and welcome to another boardroom out of office podcast.
0:09.1	This is number 36 and here with my man.
0:11.4	As always, Gianni, what's good?
0:13.4	What's up?
0:13.8	What's up, bro?
0:14.7	Man, today we got solo climber, rock climber.
0:19.4	Free solo.
0:20.5	Free solos. But, you know, I mean, I didn't even, you know, I got the. Free solo. Free solo.
0:21.9	But, you know, I mean, I didn't even, you know, I got the words wrong with.
0:24.5	This guy's just like a one of one.
0:26.3	Alex Honnold.
0:27.4	Some people may know him from Free Solo, the documentary and the film that won the Oscar.
0:34.5	So, episode number 36, I'm excited, man. I think Alex is here. So I'm so excited. I feel he's
0:40.6	going to drop some gems. This dude can climb anything. Climb anything, man. So listen,
0:47.0	without further ado, man, please welcome to the show. Alex, man. How are you today? I'm good.
0:52.8	How are you? I'm doing pretty well. I'm excited to have you on.
0:57.4	You know, Gianni and I have done, I think, 36 of these now. And we've got to talk to some of the most
1:03.8	incredibly successful entrepreneurial people from all walks of life. But you have checked a box that
1:10.4	clearly we haven't been able to
1:12.1	check because there is nobody like you where the world knows you for rock climbing. I saw somewhere
1:18.1	online that there's a part of your brain, tell me if I'm wrong, where the sensor doesn't work like
1:23.4	everyone else so there's like a level of fear that you don't react to. Is that accurate?
	...

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