Alex Honnold On Climbing the Taipei 101 Skyscraper

Alex Honnold just climbed Taipei 101—no ropes, no safety equipment—live on Netflix.

Over 6 million people tuned in to watch it happen in real time, creating one of those rare monoculture moments that reminds us that what unites us is more powerful than what divides us.

But the most unsettling aspect about watching wasn’t the height or the danger. It was how much joy he was having doing something that would terrify the rest of us.

This week we’re doing something entirely new: our very first live event with a studio audience. And there’s no one I’d rather have for this inaugural experience than Alex.

What millions didn’t see: the week of relentless rain threatening to cancel everything. The grease-like soot from fireworks coating the building. The chrome dragons so slippery Alex questioned what was holding them to the structure. The mental inflection point that transmuted anxiety into genuine joy.

And they certainly didn’t know about the 8 or 9 other free solo climbs Alex completed between Free Solo and Taipei that nobody ever heard about.

Joining us are Adam Skolnick, journalist who wrote the New York Times feature ahead of the climb and captured the viral 37-million-view observation deck video; Sanni McCandless Honnold, Alex’s wife; and Grant Mansfield and Alan Eyres from Plimsoll Productions, who produced the live broadcast.

Specific topics we explore today include:

• The unexpected obstacles that almost derailed the climb
• The mental shift that transformed pressure into joy
• Training philosophy at 40 and why climbing has a “long, slow decline”
• How fatherhood has recalibrated his relationship with risk
• Why he challenges our totems of what’s “dangerous” versus “normal”
• Using mortality awareness as a practical tool for living intentionally
• The question: Are you living in alignment with your values?
• Production complexity and Grammy scheduling conflicts
• Community values that keep Alex grounded

This exchange goes beyond climbing buildings. It’s about finding your version of the climb—whatever endeavor both scares and excites you. It’s about questioning the lines we draw around acceptable risk. And it’s about asking honestly: Am I spending my time on what actually matters?

For those who prefer a visual experience, the conversation is available on YouTube. As always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Peace + Plants,