ALEX HONNOLD Sits Down For ONE Interview Before Free-Soloing the TALLEST Building in Taiwan.. LIVE.

In this podcast episode, Alex Honnold, renowned professional climber and free-soloist, shares an intimate and candid conversation about his upcoming live climb of Taiwan's tallest building. The discussion touches on his motivations for climbing, his relationship with fear, his training routines, family life, mindset, visualization techniques, and his broader mission beyond climbing. Throughout, Alex breaks down common myths about climbing and fear, revealing a balanced, joyful, and deeply human approach to his extraordinary profession.

Why Climb Taiwan's Tallest Building?

Alex begins by explaining his excitement about climbing the tallest building in Taiwan, emphasizing that the opportunity is rarely granted. He likens it to a life experience where once you get permission to do something rare, you must say yes. He had scouted the building over a decade ago during a TV project that never materialized, recognizing it as uniquely suited for climbing—striking in architecture and challenging, but not impossible. The building's design offers the perfect combination of aesthetics and climbability for his objectives. He elaborates that a key motivation is the sheer fun and joy of climbing, making the experience more about passion than just the accomplishment.

Inspiration and Criteria for Climbing Projects

For Alex, choosing climbs—in rock formations or buildings—is influenced by a mix of aesthetic beauty, striking visual impact, historical or cultural significance, and physical challenge. Importantly, the climb must be feasible within the constraints of a TV program, meaning it cannot be the hardest possible feat but should provide a high but manageable level of difficulty. This perspective frames how he views his climbing objectives as a balance between pushing boundaries and staying within a realm of controlled mastery.

Starting Young and Becoming a Professional Climber

Alex started climbing around age 10, earlier than many elite climbers today who begin even younger. Initially, climbing was a niche and fringe activity without a clear professional pathway. Over time, as climbing grew as a sport—especially with its inclusion in the Olympics—opportunities emerged for climbing to become a viable profession. Alex describes the slow progression from working odd jobs and living simply (even in a van) to gaining sponsorships and realizing he could earn a living from doing what he loves. The transition to feeling like a "professional" climber took years and was gradual, anchored more in experience and sponsorships than sudden breakthroughs.

The Thrill of Climbing and Movement as Core Joy

Despite the high-profile nature of his exploits, Alex emphasizes that the core of climbing's appeal for him is the movement itself—the physicality, the flow, and the elemental joy of using his body. Climbing is akin to running or swimming, a natural and satisfying form of expression. Beyond movement, he appreciates the challenge of overcoming fear, the travel and adventure, the connection with nature, and the community among climbers. This holistic view grounds climbing as a multifaceted source of joy and meaning.

Climbing Skills Explained for Beginners

Alex demystifies climbing by comparing it to common experiences such as children climbing trees and structures. The skill involves body movement, balance, and efficient weight transfer—most force should come from the legs rather than arms, which people often misunderstand. Using hands as balance tools, optimizing body positioning, hip movement, and technique are essential. Finger strength is important but considered only one aspect; interestingly, Alex notes finger strength is his personal weakness compared to peers. Training involves enduring many hours on walls and climbing gyms, with practice five days a week being normal. Intensity varies between high-effort sessions and relaxed days navigating terrain or scouting routes.

Relationship with Fear and Managing Risk

A substantial part of the conversation centers on fear. Alex challenges typical perceptions by explaining that climbers constantly experience fear at some level but learn to manage and normalize it rather than be overwhelmed. He likens fear to hunger—an inevitable bodily sensation that must be acknowledged but not feared unduly. Years of exposure and practice moderate amygdala responses to fear stimuli; specialized training and experience create a different baseline for fear reaction. Fear in climbing is a mix of rational assessment and ingrained mental conditioning. Sometimes fear cues action (bailing or adjusting), but often it is simply accepted and ignored when the situation is safe. He highlights that psychological fear in climbing never fully dissipates because consequences can be lethal, unlike public speaking, which loses its scare value over time through practice. The mindset involves balancing excitement and nervousness, reframing sensations in ways that keep focus and performance optimized.

Preparation and Training Cycles

Training for a peak event like the upcoming building climb involves ramping efforts for about six weeks, then tapering for rest before the event. Alex stresses the danger of peaking too early or training too long without rest, which leads to fatigue or injury. His routine involves disciplined sleep, diet, and physical conditioning, with emphasis on whole foods, vegetarian meals, and minimizing sugar intake. Sleep is roughly 8 hours per night despite the interruptions of parenting infants. Maintaining balance in routines helps him approach "normal" days rather than treating important climbs as extremes. He underscores the importance of flowing with natural rhythms rather than rigid overpreparation.

Visualization and Mental Rehearsal

Visualization is a critical component of Alex's preparation and performance. He conceptualizes it less as an intimidating act and more like daydreaming about climbing—replaying moves, memorizing sequences, imagining bodily sensations, and mentally rehearsing possible variations such as weather or environmental conditions. He also deliberately contemplates worst-case scenarios (falls and risks) in a safe mental space to normalize the fear and be prepared emotionally. For the building climb specifically, he has access to drone footage and video of himself climbing, which enhances his mental map of each move. Visualization serves to create embodied familiarity with the climb's flow and challenges in lieu of physical practice reductions inherent in free solo climbs.

Life as a Family Man and Climber

Alex touches on how fatherhood and marriage have influenced his approach to climbing. His early relationship with his wife coincided with some of the hardest climbs he did, including a difficult free solo in Jordan. While parenting complicates logistics and sleep routines, it has not dampened his enthusiasm for climbing, though it adds new dimensions to risk assessment and priority. He and his wife climb together recreationally, particularly bouldering with their children on family trips. Parenting philosophy emphasizes safety without overprotection, allowing kids to explore and learn through experience while preventing catastrophic injuries. He reflects on the natural temperaments children bring and the balance between nature and nurture.

Mindset on Perfectionism and Focus

Alex identifies as a "recovered perfectionist" who now channels effort only into things he cares passionately about, while being intentionally lazy or minimum effort elsewhere. This selective focus allows deep progress without burnout or wasted energy. He regards this balance as characteristic of high performers who know how to prioritize impact and joy. Over time, he has shed early anxieties about appearance and expectations to place value on authentic, meaningful pursuits.

Broader Mission and Impact Beyond Climbing

While much of Alex's drive is personal joy and achievement, he also discusses his philanthropic efforts through the HANA Foundation, which funds global community solar projects. This initiative began as a way to meaningfully allocate income earned from sponsored media projects, approaching fame and financial gain with a sense of responsibility. His podcast work with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative also highlights conservationists and changemakers, providing a platform to share stories that inspire care for the environment and planet. He views these endeavors as part of a wider life purpose but centers his climbing as the joyful core.

Handling Public Attention and Personal Identity

Alex shares that despite media representation framing him as an entertainer or extreme athlete, his primary identity remains that of a climber focused on performing feats he respects and enjoys. He resists celebrity trappings and external validation, emphasizing the intrinsic value of climbing. He also describes a practical attitude toward public perception, focusing instead on internal motivation and doing climbs he's proud of irrespective of audience reaction.

Reflections on Success, Failure, and Legacy

Alex redefines failure in climbing as a natural and ongoing part of the learning and achieving process, where years of attempts and falls precede moments of success. This relentless cycle of trying, failing, and improving is intrinsic and prevents failure from being a fear-based deterrent. He reflects on living humbly earlier in life (over a decade in a van) as both fulfilling yet not a lifelong aspiration. His broader life goal is to build a legacy defined by meaningful relationships and family, aspiring to live a full life surrounded by loved ones.

Final Thoughts on Fear, Joy, and Living on Purpose

The conversation concludes by emphasizing that living courageously does not imply the absence of fear but managing and dialoguing with it calmly. Alex's approach is grounded in finding joy, maintaining balance, and appreciating climbing as a source of play and movement rather than purely high-stakes exploits. The focus on mindset, preparation, relationship, and day-to-day normalcy paints a picture of an athlete who embraces the full spectrum of human experience in pursuit of his passion.