He Was Terrified of Heights. Now He Climbs the Hardest Routes in Britain. | Alex Riley

Dan sits down with Alex Riley - elite climber, Mountain Leader, and founder of HowToClimb.co.uk for a conversation that cuts straight to the heart of what it actually takes to achieve something hard. Alex's journey started with a fear of heights. It ended at the top of some of the most demanding routes in British climbing. And what carried him there wasn't talent or natural ability - it was goals, habits, faith, and the willingness to show up every single day. This is an episode about elite performance - but it's really an episode about the gap between where you are and where you want to be, and what it takes to close it. Alex talks about the psychology of fear on a grade that punishes mistakes, the power of small daily habits over big dramatic moments, and the unexpected role that faith has played in his life on and off the rock. The parallels with Dan's coaching work at ARC are hard to miss - whether you're standing at the bottom of a route that terrifies you or the bottom of a life that needs to change - the inner game is identical.In this episode we cover:From fear of heights to elite climbing - Alex's unlikely journeyGoal setting for climbers (and for life) - how to aim at something that feels out of reachWhy big goals are won by small daily habits, not big dramatic momentsManaging fear and the psychological battle of high-grade climbingThe role of faith in performance and personal growthHow to build a community around something you loveInjury prevention, recovery, and the long gameWhy mentorship and coaching can change everythingThe mindset behind elite performance - and how it applies far beyond climbingWhether you're a climber, someone chasing a big goal, or just trying to make sense of where you are right now — Alex's story will remind you that where you start is not where you have to finish.Chapters00:00 Balancing Parenthood and Climbing38:19 Technical Aspects of Climbing40:33 Climbing with the Right Mindset44:25 Consistency in Climbing Techniques49:29 Preparing for Big Wall Climbing55:56 Managing Fear in High-Grade Climbing01:00:52 Injury Prevention and Recovery01:03:57 The Role of Faith in Climbing01:17:20 Building a Climbing CommunityKeep in Touch: Follow Dan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dutyhappybloke/Follow the pod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atomicrambopodcast/ARC website: https://www.atomicrambo.comTake the free ARC assessment: https://arcassesment.lovable.app/Follow Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtoclimb.co.uk/For more on climbing with Alex visit: https://www.howtoclimb.co.uk/Podcast Music: Transition X by Mehul Chaudhary