Caught in Everest’s Darkest Hour: How Two Failed Everest Summits Built Unbreakable Resilience in Alex Staniforth

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Great British Adventures

Tom Bryan

46 episodes

1 week ago

Hey I'm Tom! I'm a film-maker, adventurer and former BBC journalist. Join me in conversation with those who chose a life of adventure, those who don't take normal as normal and those with incredible stories to tell. If you think you know someone who has a Great British Adventure story to tell, please get in contact: https://linktr.ee/tombryanyeah

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Personal Journals

Society & Culture

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Caught in Everest’s Darkest Hour: How Two Failed Everest Summits Built Unbreakable Resilience in Alex Staniforth

Great British Adventures

1 hour 58 minutes 4 seconds

7 months ago

Caught in Everest’s Darkest Hour: How Two Failed Everest Summits Built Unbreakable Resilience in Alex Staniforth

From childhood struggles to scaling life’s biggest challenges, Alex Staniforth’s journey is one of resilience, adventure, and mental strength.

After two failed attempts to summit Everest, and surviving an avalanche on the mountain's most fatal year, Alex was forced to shift his mindset, realising that true achievement isn’t always about reaching the top - sometimes, no matter how hard we try, external forces are simply out of our control.

These experiences reshaped his perspective on resilience, leadership, and overcoming adversity in all areas of life.

Alex opens up about the power of mindset, the lessons learned from embracing discomfort, and how the outdoors became his greatest teacher.

He also discusses recent attempts to run the UK's Coast to Coast and his work with Mind Over Mountains, a charity helping others find clarity and confidence through nature.

With his next big challenge ahead, this conversation is a reminder that adventure is about more than just the destination—it’s about the setbacks, the growth, and the courage to keep moving forward.

Follow Alex:

https://www.alexstaniforth.com/

https://www.instagram.com/alexstaniforth_/

https://mindovermountains.org.uk/

Support the podcast: Get a whopping 65% off your first Gousto box at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.gousto.co.uk/raf/?promo_code=TOM42277653⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get in contact:

⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/tombryanyeah/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/greatbritishadventurespodcast⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@tombryanyeah

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:36 Alex in the city

04:02 Changing travel mindset after losing licence

10:26 Who is Alex?

12:22 Struggles and stammer at school

17:44 Advice to younger self

19:54 Grit over Grades

23:44 What expeditions teach us.

26:42 Finding opportunity in adversity

31:27 Alex tragic Everest attempts

37:13 How to process a life threatening moment

47:54 Finding our own Everests in life

54:40 Challenging yourself with what's next?

01:01:17 Tackling the UK's Coast to Coast trail

01:04:49 2nd Coast to Coast attempt

01:12:50 The mountains aren't always there

01:16:38 Finding the acceptance to stop

01:21:59 Processing 2 failures

01:24:58 A completion that was different to the initial goal

01:27:49 The balance between performance and pleasure

01:33:44 Mind over Mountains

01:48:59 Alex's fundraising targets

01:52:12 Exciting 2025 challenge

01:53:23 Advice to those who doubt themselves