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 give advice to listeners on how they too can face seemingly insurmountable moments in their own lives.

Mind Over Mountain is a sports podcast hosted by iHeartPodcasts, with 31 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

iHeartPodcasts hosts Mind Over Mountain, a sports show with 31 episodes published.

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  Episode #27

  A Monument to Paralympian Angela Madsen: Row of Life Director Soraya Simi

  Sep 24, 202654 minS1

  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 appetite for life, the love story between Angela and her partner Deb, and what it means to tell an athlete’s story when there is no traditional triumphant ending. We explore why films like Row of Life matter: because the stories we preserve shape our understanding of courage, disability, athleticism, love, grief, and what it means to live a big life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #26

  The Courage to Start Over with Olympic Swimming Champion Natalie Coughlin

  Sep 17, 202659 minS1

  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 also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a woman wondering how to start over and find a fulfilling second career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #25

  The Same Dream, a Different Path with Paralympic Swimming Champion Christie Raleigh Crossley

  Sep 10, 20261h 2mS1

  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 accept that parenthood looks different than she imagined. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #24

  The Thing That Scares You Most: WWE Pro Wrestler AJ Mendez on Finding Your Superpower

  Sep 3, 202657 minS1

  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 the things that make us different, and why sometimes the thing that scares us most is exactly where we need to go. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about heartbreak, emotional intensity, and learning to build the love and security we seek within ourselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #23

  Don’t Let the Injury Decide: Professional CrossFit Athlete Rebecka Vitesson on Starting Over

  Aug 27, 202650 minS1

  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 finding the discipline to begin, and why sometimes the way forward is to make the first step a little easier. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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