Hey everyone, welcome back to the Beyond the Mountains podcast! Today, I’m joined by an incredible guest—Giulia Monego. Instagram profile : @giuliamonego She’s a big mountain athlete with a passion for skiing steep terrain, but that’s just the beginning of her story. Giulia grew up in Venice, Italy—a city surrounded by water and canals, far from the mountains—but thanks to her ski-loving parents, she spent winters in Cortina, where she fell in love with speed, competition, and the thrill of the slopes. She started as an alpine ski racer, became a ski instructor, and then pushed herself even further into the world of big mountain free-ride competitions. But for Giulia, growth has always come from stepping outside the box. Her hunger for new challenges led her to become one of the few fully qualified female mountain guides based in Chamonix France — breaking barriers and deepening her connection to the mountains in the process. And in yet another out-of-the-box move, she’s now training as an osteopath, combining her love of movement with a desire to help others stay strong, mobile, and pain-free in the mountains she calls home. This conversation goes deep—we talk about the psychology of pushing limits, decision-making in high-risk environments, the impact of mentors, climate change and even the role of mountains as therapy in an increasingly chaotic world. We also dive into the power of stepping outside our comfort zones—because, as Giulia sees it, true growth happens when we challenge ourselves. So, whether you’re a skier, an adventurer, or just someone looking for inspiration, this episode has something for you. As a bonus episode, Giulia agreed to take the Beyond the Mountains questionnaire to reveal her true mountain character. So you can find the bonus episode after this inspiring conversation. This is where we play around and have a bit of fun. Hello friends, I am your host Ashley Pettit welcome to season 4, episode 1 of the Beyond the Mountains podcast. Where I talk to people who live, work and play in the mountains. Let's start the intro music and get on with the show. Allons-y No, hang on a minute, Giulia is Italian, so instead of saying Allons-y which is French for let's go, I need to say Andiamo. So let's start the intro music, and get on with the show. Andiamo ! How can you help the show and grow the community? Connect / leave a comment and follow Please Rate & Review me on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Follow us on social media Instagram : @beyondthemountains.podcast Facebook : Beyond the mountains podcast Join the conversation: Comment on instagram or send us a message I'd love to hear from you. Share this episode with a friend! If you enjoyed it, tag us on social media and let us know your favorite takeaway.