
Mind Over Mountain
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…
From Olympic Heartbreak to Surviving Breast Cancer with Donna Fraser
Four-time Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser knows that winning and succeeding aren't always the same thing. She joins me to reflect on the heartbreak of narrowly missing an Olympic medal, the resilience that carried her through a breast cancer diagnosis, and the power of believing in yourself when life…
56:39
The Long Walk Forward: Libby DeLana on Change, Clarity, and What Comes Next
In 2011, my friend Libby DeLana decided to take a morning walk every single day, no matter what. She’s been walking ever since—by now, farther than the circumference of the Earth. We talk about what all those miles have taught her about finding calm and clarity, putting one foot in front of the oth…
59:03
The Mountain Is My Teacher: Everest Record-Holder Lhakpa Sherpa on Resilience
Mount Everest record-holder Lhakpa Sherpa has spent her life climbing—mountains, barriers, and her way through extraordinary hardship. We talk about becoming the first Nepali woman to summit Everest and return safely, what the mountain has taught her about resilience, and why she has returned eleve…
44:45
High Diver Molly Carlson on Being Scared and Doing It Anyway
High diver Molly Carlson knows what it means to be afraid and do it anyway. We talk about her journey from perfectionism and an eating disorder to finding joy in her sport again, how she learned to trust herself at the edge of a 27-meter platform, and why falling short of her Olympic dream ultimate…
57:28
A Monument to Paralympian Angela Madsen: Row of Life Director Soraya Simi
After watching the profoundly moving documentary Row of Life, I knew I wanted to talk with its director, Soraya Simi. The film follows Paralympian and 14-time Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen as she attempts a solo row from Los Angeles to Hawaii—and the devastating loss that transforms he…
53:36
The Courage to Start Over with Olympic Swimming Champion Natalie Coughlin
This week I talk with 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin about the mental strength behind her extraordinary swimming career, the failures that ultimately shaped her success, and what it means to keep beginning again. Natalie shares how visualization helped her become a champion, why missing …
59:09
The Same Dream, a Different Path with Paralympic Swimming Champion Christie Raleigh Crossley
Paralympic champion Christie Raleigh Crossley spent decades chasing an Olympic dream, even as accidents, motherhood, brain surgery, and disability repeatedly changed the path beneath her. Christie joins us to talk about learning to adapt, letting go of the life she thought she’d have, and finally r…
1:02:13
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…
57:10
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…
50:22
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 answ…
48:57