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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32 episodes
weekly
Avg 54 min
English

Episodes 32

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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.
- Transcript
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.
- Transcript
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.
- Transcript
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.
- Transcript
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
April 16 · 46 min
Alone at Sea: Sarah Outen on Isolation, Survival, and Inner Strength
For Sarah Outen, adventure has meant rowing across oceans alone and navigating some of the most remote places on earth. She joins Cheryl to reflect on the risks she’s taken, the failures she’s faced, and the resilience she’s built along the way. Together, they explore endurance, self-trust, and the question at the heart of every journey: what are you really searching for? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
April 9 · 55 min
Speed, Risk, and Self-Trust with Katherine Legge
Cheryl talks with racing legend Katherine Legge about discipline, focus, and the mental strength required to compete at the highest level of racing. Katherine reflects on setbacks, persistence, and carving out space in a male-dominated sport. Together, they explore what it means to hold your ground, even when everything is pushing against you. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- Transcript
April 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.
- Transcript
March 26 · 56 min
Be So Good They Can't Ignore You: Sarah Spain on Persistence
Sarah Spain joins Cheryl 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.
- Transcript

Showing 21–32 of 32 episodes