Mind Over Mountain

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 other, and having the courage to plunge into whatever comes next. See omnystudio.com/listene...

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 eleven times—more than any other woman in the world. Lhakpa also reflects on the difficult cha...

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 ultimately helped her find a better path. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about what it really means to lo...

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 her journey into something much larger. Soraya and I talk about Angela’s extraordinary appe...

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 her first Olympic team became a gift, and how she learned to embrace new chapters after swimming. We...

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 reaching the podium in Paris. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a mother struggling to acc...

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 t...

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...

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/liste...

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.

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 li...

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 lif...

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.

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 omny...

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 answ...

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 hum...

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 mea...

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 in...

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...

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...

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 De...

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 miscarriag...

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 whit...

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,...

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 discove...