At 8,000 metres, every breath burns. The wind cuts like knives, avalanches thunder past, and climbers face life-or-death decisions: push for the summit or stop to save a life.

Most of us will never stand on Everest, let alone all 14 of the world’s highest peaks without oxygen or Sherpa support. But today’s guest has done exactly that.

Andrew Lock is the only Australian to summit all fourteen 8,000-metre mountains. His story is one of resilience, risk, and relentless pursuit of the impossible.

In this episode of Why Do You Think You Could Do That?, Andrew shares:

• How a slideshow in a country pub turned a young policeman into one of the world’s elite mountaineers.
• The near-death moments on Everest, K2, Annapurna and beyond – and the choices that meant saving lives over summiting.
• Why he rejected oxygen bottles and Sherpa support to climb “pure.”
• The psychological turning point where fear nearly made him retreat – and the mindset shift that defined his climbing career.
• The flatness that followed completing all 14 summits, and how he found new challenges in ocean sailing, Arctic expeditions, and beyond.
• Practical lessons on courage, risk, and stepping outside your comfort zone – no matter what mountain you’re climbing in life.

If you’ve ever looked at a goal that seemed far out of reach, this conversation will show you that the next step is always possible.

Connect with Andrew Lock

🌍 Andrew’s Website

Connect with Sam Penny

🎙️ More episodes: sampenny.com/brave
👤 Mentoring with Sam: sampenny.com/action