Having already faced death twice on Mount Everest by the age of 19, having survived two of the deadliest disasters in the mountain's history, Alex Staniforth shares how his greatest challenges weren't on the world's highest peak - they were much closer to home.

Battling epilepsy, a lifelong stammer, bullying, and mental health issues, Alex's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the human spirit. From a struggling youth to becoming a record-breaking adventurer, author, and charity founder, his story is one of transformation and inspiration. In this episode of The Resilience Project, host Wes Linden delves into Alex's extraordinary life, uncovering the mindset that drove him to climb all 100 UK county tops in just 72 days, covering an astounding 5,000 miles by human power alone. Alex shares his experiences of turning adversity into opportunity, raising over £100,000 for charity, and founding Mind Over Mountains - a groundbreaking charity that uses nature to restore mental well-being.

Packed with powerful insights on overcoming personal 'Everests', this conversation explores how Alex harnessed his challenges to fuel his success. From surviving avalanches to battling inner storms, Alex's story offers practical wisdom on building resilience, redefining success, and finding strength in vulnerability. Whether you're facing your own mountains or seeking inspiration to push beyond your limits, Alex's journey from a stammering youth to an ultra-endurance champion and mental health advocate will motivate you to take that first step towards conquering your own peaks. Join us for an episode filled with adventure, courage, and the transformative power of nature in building mental resilience. 00:00 What’s coming up? 00:56 Introduction 01:55 Your first Mount Everest disaster 03:02 Your second Mount Everest disaster 06:10 What’s going through your mind during near-death experiences? 07:12 At what point do you realise, “I think I've survived this?” 10:43 Being stranded 12:43 Psychological guilt complex over those who died 16:48 What motivated you to put yourself into extreme scenarios? 20:18 Moving on from your bullies 21:29 How listeners can overcome bullies and turn adversity into a driver? 24:19 Taming your stammer 30:11 The cost of reaching Everest 33:01 The dedication to achieve 34:36 Break 34:48 Overcoming failure 37:28 Beating other challenges 39:52 Helping people improve their mental wellbeing 45:45 Mental health stats 46:41 Meeting the Queen 47:05 Receiving an award from The Prime Minister 48:17 How to push through when you feel like giving up 51:35 What advice would you give to people who are struggling to move forwards? 53:23 What would you say to your younger self? 55:07 Avoiding doomscrolling 57:35 Mindfulness 58:25 You've written two books so far - 'Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World' and 'Another Peak: Everest Is Not The Only Summit'. What message do you hope readers would take away from those books? 59:58 Closing thoughts for someone who for whatever reason, life isn't going their way right now? 01:02:00 How can people donate to Project 500 or even be part of it? 01:02:43 Will you go back to Everest? 01:03:25 Closing Follow me: https://beacons.ai/theresilienceproject Alex’s book ‘Another Peak: Everest Is Not The Only Summit’ on Amazon (UK): https://amzn.to/4a2pGEN Alex’s book ‘Icefall: The True Story of a Teenager on a Mission to the Top of the World’: https://amzn.to/40eTsD6 Alex’s charity: https://www.mindovermountains.org.uk Donate to Project 500: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/project500 Alex's speaking website: https://www.alexstaniforth.comAlex on social: https://www.instagram.com/alexstaniforth_ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexstaniforth/ Wes on social: https://www.instagram.com/weslinden https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslinden Never miss an episode: https://www.weslinden.com/podcast