Strength Through Challenge in the Mountains

Spending time in the mountains can offer something rare in modern life – space to think, to feel and to see our lives from a wider perspective. For many, the outdoors provides not only challenge and adventure but also regulation, clarity and meaning.In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David is joined by adventurer and Mind Over Mountains founder Alex Staniforth to explore how time outdoors can shape resilience, perspective and everyday choices.They discuss how early experiences of illness, bullying and feeling different can shape self-belief, and how discovering the mountains offered Alex a sense of safety, possibility and purpose. The conversation explores how stepping beyond familiar limits – outdoors or in daily life – can build confidence and coping capacity.The episode reflects on Alex’s experiences on Everest and the lasting impact of the Nepal earthquake, including making sense of trauma and finding meaning through helping others. Rather than viewing resilience as toughness alone, the discussion highlights values, connection and self-compassion in sustaining wellbeing.They also explore nature’s role in mental health – widening perspective, supporting presence and creating opportunities for connection. Alex shares how this led to Mind Over Mountains, combining outdoor activity with psychological support to help people build lasting tools for wellbeing.This is a grounded conversation about finding strength through challenge, living in line with what matters and using small, intentional choices to support resilience and wellbeing.Key moments00:33 Challenge, perspective and resilience03:18 Early experiences and self-belief07:29 Finding safety and possibility in the mountains11:50 Values, purpose and challenge15:15 Connection, solitude and restoring energy20:14 Creating space through the outdoors23:07 Everest, survival and the Nepal earthquake27:12 Trauma, meaning and long-term recovery35:59 Nature as therapy and Mind Over Mountains39:14 Nature's impact on wellbeing and connection42:14 Supporting mental health with time outdoors About the guestAlex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, ultra-runner, speaker and founder of the mental health charity Mind Over Mountains. By 19, he had survived two Mount Everest disasters, and has lived with epilepsy, mental ill health, a stammer and bullying since childhood. He is the fastest person to climb all 446 mountains in England and Wales under human power and is the author of Icefall and Another Peak.Connect with Alex: Website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram @alexstaniforth_Mind Over Mountains About the hostDr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david), Facebook and LinkedIn.  You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:  https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.david