Season 14, Episode 5: Climb Every Mountain (with guest Bonita Norris)

Dahlia is joined by Bonita Norris, a record breaking mountaineer who is the youngest person in the world to have climbed both Mount Everest and the North Pole Bonita Norris has stood higher on the planet than almost anyone — but what makes her story powerful isn’t just the summit, it’s the preparation. In this episode, we talk about the part of mountaineering no one romanticises: getting dressed. Layering for survival, choosing what protects you, what frees you, what gives you the confidence to step into the cold.Bonita takes us inside the psychology of extreme environments — fear, discipline, ambition — and how the smallest decisions, including what you put on your body, shape your ability to keep going when everything in you wants to stop.We explore the parallels between the mountain and everyday life: the armour we choose, the layers we shed, and the mindset required to face something bigger than ourselves. It’s a conversation about courage, competence, and the quiet rituals that prepare you to meet the moment.Bonita Norris is the youngest person ever to have reached both “tops of the world”; the summit of Mt Everest and the North Pole.She is only the 3rd British woman to have climbed the world’s 4th highest peak, Mt Lhotse - and has been on 8 expeditions.Bonita has guided teams to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro, climbed the Matterhorn and attempted K2, some of the deadliest mountains on Earth.Bonita went from beginner climber aged 20, to the youngest British woman to climb Mt Everest at the age of 22. This story of transformation is the backdrop to her keynote speeches.In 2017 she published her bestselling memoir, The Girl Who Climbed Everest. Today, Bonita is a mother and an award winning motivational speaker.