S. 2 Ep. 12 - Climbing to Sobriety by Keith Batenhorst

On the next episode of Survive & Thrive 8791, I welcome Keith Batenhorst to the Buck & Honey’s remote studios. Batenhorst is the creator and founder of the Mental Mountains Project, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide financial assistance to those who cannot afford mental health services.For years, Batenhorst battled anxiety and depression from an early age. A gifted basketball player in his youth, the sport was his outlet. But as he entered adolescence and his body began to change—as all young boys experience—those changes negatively impacted his self-esteem. Without coping skills, he decided to quit the sport that once brought him joy. He also began experimenting with alcohol and other substances to manage his anxiety and depression.Batenhorst graduated from Berlin (WI) High School and later from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse with a degree in business management. During college, he took a summer job with a building supply company to earn extra money. That summer job ultimately became the professional career he still enjoys today.In 2023, his relationship with alcohol began to shift. A blackout drinker for years, he eventually reached sobriety in December 2024. Along the way, he climbed the Grand Teton with a friend—a turning point that helped him realize life would be better without alcohol. He found a new purpose, raising money by climbing mountains and supporting those who cannot afford mental health care.Keith Batenhorst’s mission is currently helping three people receive the mental health support they need, and he hopes to help many more in the future. You won’t want to miss this episode of Survive & Thrive 8791. CAN’T WAIT!!!