Overcoming Fear, with Alex Honnold

Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is taking action even though the fear is there.

I find it hilarious when Honnold goes on these podcast cause he's basically the least long winded guy on earth, he just goes straight up to the point

It was interesting to witness Dr Tyson's perspective of Alex change from 'A person with a death wish' to 'A person who respects danger and loves life'. IMO Alex is a real down to earth guy. Thanks for sharing.

I love how for once, it's the scientists asking the silly questions :))

Alex is one of the few guests who has the raw intellectual horsepower to challenge Neil, but he also has the right kind of humility to respond in a way that doesn't alienate him. To be fair, Alex is so far to the right of the normal distribution curve that basically no one can relate to him, but man we're lucky to have Alex around to share everything that he does. What an awesome show, thanks!

Thank god for Chuck, when I am worrying about the Strait opening closing, gas prices skyrocketing once again. Chuck makes me smile and for that moment of time I forget about all the loud noise going on in the world

Studied comparitive psychology and evolutionary biology and our species' evolutionary journey took us through an arboreal stage. We do have vestigial feelings of safety from being off the ground. I contend the thrill of heights comes from the dissonance of feeling safe from predation and the fear of falling all at the same time.

I would also contend that his obvious humility is what keeps him alive. I would guess the most deadly thought he could have on a wall is, "I'm special."

Oh wait, I MET HIM! He was at Yosemite with his family. I drove bus there.

Oh my, the algorithm has blessed us

I so agree with Alex and Chuck re: horror movies/entertainment. I loved hearing "Nobody cares about the environment until their basic needs are met."

It’s so great that you had 2 guests, that way you went from speculating about Alex’s psychology to getting into the actual science of fear. Well done!

Yeah, I don't think people truly understand who this man is... Alex Honnold is THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY who has ever climbed a major route of El Capitan (the Freerider Route) with NO ROPES. It's a CRAZY accomplishment.

The psychologist said a lot of things I do every day. I used to stutter; I trained myself not to stutter. It was very hard at first, but now it's automatic unless I am seriously tired. I also used to get massive panic attacks. I taught myself to control them, I tell myself, what are the chances something is really wrong, right at this time? It took a lot of effort, but you can control your body with your mind. It just takes a lot of practice.

I just have to see a picture of this guy and my palms immediately start sweating.

I like how Chuck gave the grander introduction... Honnold deserves it, hes an absolute legend! a phenomenon!

We need more of this, let Alex be the first of a new startalk subseries where you guys bring on guests who are the best in there profession and discuss the science behind the core discipline that makes them successful

“If I had a death wish, I woulda just gone and done it, I wouldn’t have spent 9 years training for it.”

Okay, I have felt a lot of confusion in the past at how people do risky activities like this, that explains a lot

Never thought Alex Honnold would come on as a guest

bro might be the chillest guy ever

This is basically what I picture when I think of Neil's first interview with an alien.

I'm a climber, but also a huge fan of StarTalk. Never thought these two worlds would come together. I love it.