Alex Honnold
Alex Honnold: A Soul Freed
I’d been there physically for quite a long time. Really, it was the mental side that took so many years to develop.
Alex Honnold
Professional rock climber
Setup
On June 3, 2017, Alex Honnold became the first person to climb the 3,000-vertical-foot granite face of Yosemite’s El Capitan, alone, without ropes, a feat that was chronicled in the Academy Award-winning documentary, Free Solo. In his New York Times op-ed column, Bret Stephens wrote that with that act, “Honnold gave an extraordinary gift to everyone who believes that the limit of human achievement is far from being reached.” The climber and journalist explore questions like: How do you manage fear? What's the line between daring and recklessness? What should we sacrifice in the pursuit of excellence? And what is the connection between freedom and happiness?
- 2019 Festival
- Society
- Health
- Full transcript
Mentality, muscles, and 3,000 feet of rock
Mentality, muscles, and 3,000 feet of rock
From dirtbagging to the cover of Nat Geo
Risking it all... But for what?
What could be next after free soloing El Cap?
1.
Mentality, muscles, and 3,000 feet of rock
Jump to idea
03:01
Free soloing, or rock climbing without any ropes or safety equipment, takes a staggering amount of physical strength. But when Alex Honnold decided to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, he was more concerned about his mental confidence:
2.
From dirtbagging to the cover of Nat Geo
Jump to idea
10:15
Before Alex Honnold became famous for his free soloing feats, he was a full-time dirtbag who admired the graceful accomplishments of other record-setting climbers. But that all changed when it was his turn to achieve the impossible.
Know the Slang
Dirtbag isn’t an insult in the climbing world — it means someone who lives semi-nomadically (usually out of a van) so that they can devote most of their time to climbing.
Honnold’s full-time hobby was now his full-time job, and he accumulated sponsorships and highlight reels. And not only that, but the filming that eventually became the documentary Free Solo took place over two years of his life. He describes what that transition was like for him:
3.
Risking it all... But for what?
Jump to idea
23:12
Alex Honnold’s personal hero, climber Tommy Caldwell, famously called Honnold out for what Caldwell saw as reckless and dangerous free solo climbs. And Caldwell isn’t the only one who thinks free soloing is wantonly risky—In 2014, Clif Bar dropped its sponsorship of Honnold and other athletes whom Clif Bar thought were putting themselves in too much danger. Honnold, obviously, thinks differently about it:
4.
What could be next after free soloing El Cap?
Jump to idea
27:11
Alex Honnold’s free solo ascent of El Capitan was called “one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever” in the New York Times, and it’s left a lot of people wondering what Honnold will accomplish next. Bret Stephens asks if he’s planning anything, and that leads Honnold to explain how he thinks of these feats in his own mind:
Learn More
Additional Information
Resources
Free Solo (Film)–National Geographic
Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold
Explore More
Society
1243 ideas
Mar 26, 2025
In Defense of Misfits: Alok on Breaking the Bonds of Conformity
Living as a trans person in America comes with its share of challenges, which are sometimes even life-threatening. But some say it can also open up access to incredible freedo...
Podcast — 59m
Mar 19, 2025
Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic?
The rapid development of the Covid-19 vaccine and the ramp-up of manufacturing and global distribution were unprecedented feats of medical coordination. But those on the insid...
Podcast — 51m
Blog
12 Trailblazing Women in Health, Medicine, and Science
Since 2014, Aspen Ideas: Health has welcomed nearly 800 inspiring women leaders to our stages to share their bold approaches to better health. In honor of Women's History Mont...
Article
Collection
Women's History Month: Making Strides in a New Era
Global conflicts and health crises have put into stark relief deeply-ingrained gender roles in society. Yet the past years have also seen record-high numbers of women running...
37 items
Collection
The Bonds We Make (and Break): Building Better Relationships
The people in our lives shape who we are. But great relationships don’t just happen — they take care, intention, and ongoing effort. How do you know when to let go, adjust exp...
36 items
Feb 12, 2025
Living to 100
Advances in medicine and healthy living mean that more and more people will live to be 100. But just because their bodies can last doesn’t mean their bank accounts will keep u...
Podcast — 52m
Feb 5, 2025
Walking Through the Fire of Life
In the early days of cable television, there wasn’t a single network aimed at Black audiences. Sheila Johnson and her husband at the time saw an opening, and put all their hop...
Podcast — 57m
Collection
Boomers to Zoomers: Thriving at Any Age
Our attitudes, habits, pleasures, and responsibilities shift across the generations, influencing the health challenges we face and how we respond to them. Expectations about h...
17 items
Jan 29, 2025
Owning a Piece of the Sports Action
Owning a professional sports team is not for the faint of heart. Results are volatile and wins and losses come with the strong emotions of a city’s fan base. But it’s a sound...
Podcast — 57m
Collection
Bold Goals: The Biomedical Science of Tomorrow
Setting audacious goals helps to redefine what is achievable in health, medicine, and science. As we deepen understanding of the human genome, unravel the mysteries of the bra...
20 items
Jan 22, 2025
Finding Happiness Despite Suffering (Encore)
Looking around and experiencing the suffering and injustice in the world can make it difficult to believe that happiness exists. But the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches that...
Podcast — 48m
Jan 1, 2025
The Science of Groupiness (Encore)
This episode is from the 2022 Aspen Ideas Festival, but we’re bringing it back because it’s still as relevant as ever. Though it can sometimes feel like conflict and discord i...
Podcast — 44m
Dec 18, 2024
Sir Ken Robinson on Being in Your Element
Sir Ken Robinson believed that as a society, we tragically underestimate and underutilize human ability. We create linear systems for our minds modeled on industry and manufac...
Podcast — 56m
Collection
Health Wrapped: Top 15 Conversations of 2024
As we wrap-up another year of elevating big ideas at Aspen Ideas: Health, we're excited to share the 15 most-watched sessions from the event. These conversations with inspirin...
15 items
Nov 20, 2024
What is Missing in the Lives of America’s Young People?
Young people in America are struggling. The causes are varied and may not be entirely clear, but the results are unfortunately unmistakable. Many of our youth feel lonely, iso...
Podcast — 59m
Collection
Breaking the Silence and Opening Up About Mental Health
In America, millions of people struggle with mental health including depression, anxiety, and more — all further exacerbated by living through a pandemic. The National Allianc...
32 items
Blog
Life Hacks From David Brooks
New York Times columnist and bestselling author David Brooks is known for bringing his thoughtful reflections on politics and culture, but at this year’s Aspen Ideas Festival,...
Article
Collection
All-Time: The Most Popular Talks From Aspen Ideas
Jump in by watching our 15 most popular talks of all time. From black holes to jazz and civil rights to psychology hacks, we've collected the talks that remain audience favori...
15 items
Collection
Take a Break, Learn Something New
Finding the national and global headlines understandably bleak lately? Whether you need mental distraction or stimulation, engross yourself in compelling topics and get a gli...
33 items
Collection
Health Care Dollars and Sense
The United States spends $4.3 trillion—almost one fifth of the nation’s GDP—on health care. As the scale of the medical enterprise expands, venture capitalists are pursuing th...
19 items
Sorry, we couldn't find any results
Clear filters
