Erik Weihenmayer: World Renowned Blind Adventurer (ep. 866)
Live Inspired Podcast with John O'Leary
John O'Leary
4.8 • 695 Ratings
🗓️ 26 March 2026
⏱️ 63 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Erik Weihenmayer is an adventurer, bestselling author, and motivational speaker… but he's perhaps best known as the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. After losing his vision as a teenager, Erik refused to let blindness define his limits. Instead, he became a world-class climber, kayaker, and co-founder of No Barriers—a global movement helping people turn adversity into possibility.
Today, Erik shares how losing his sight reshaped his identity, how climbing became both his passion and his teacher, and how summiting Everest was never a solo achievement but a testament to trust, teamwork, and community. He opens up about learning to navigate fear, why saying "yes" to challenge is the doorway to growth, and how every one of us (regardless of circumstance!) can live a No Barriers life.
My friends, if you've ever felt limited by your circumstances, this conversation is for you. You'll leave inspired to rethink what's possible, encouraged to lean into community rather than go it alone, and reminded that your greatest obstacles might just become the foundation for your greatest purpose.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You know that Keeley companies is all about fostering the world-class culture through their incredible cultural pillars. |
| 0:07.5 | Well, it was time to add a seventh cultural pillar, Kewley Green. |
| 0:12.5 | Guided by the mission to raise the sustainability standards by which they design, build, operate, and live. |
| 0:18.8 | Keeley Green is dedicated to using a holistic approach to leave a positive impact on our |
| 0:24.6 | environment, create a future that is sustainable for generations to come. |
| 0:29.4 | In the words of Rusty Keeley, we are just getting started. |
| 0:34.3 | You can learn more about that just getting started mentality and all the work they do |
| 0:38.7 | by visiting my friends at Keeley Companies online at keelie Companies.com. Welcome to the Live Inspired |
| 0:47.7 | Podcast with John O'Leary. John is the two-time national bestselling author of On Fire and In Aw. |
| 0:54.9 | He's a world-class inspirational speaker, the host of the Live Inspired podcast. |
| 1:00.0 | And he's the real-life inspiration behind the major motion picture, Soul on Fire. |
| 1:05.4 | Each week, John interviews extraordinary individuals about their life stories so you can more fully live your life story. |
| 1:13.1 | Here's your host, John O'Leary. |
| 1:15.5 | Hello, my friends, and welcome to the Live Inspired podcast with John O'Leary. |
| 1:19.6 | Today, I have the honor of introducing you to a legend. |
| 1:24.0 | He's a friend. |
| 1:25.2 | He's an adventure. |
| 1:26.2 | He's a best-selling author. |
| 1:27.4 | He's a motivational speaker. |
| 1:29.1 | But perhaps what he is best known for is being the first blind person to summit Mount Everest. |
| 1:36.8 | After losing vision as a teenager, Eric, our guest today, my friend, refused to let blindness define |
| 1:42.9 | his limits. Instead, he became a world-class climber, |
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