
About this episode
Hazel discusses adventure, parenting, and mindset with Leo and Jess Houlding and their daughter Freya.
Hazel sits down with Leo and Jess Houlding and their eldest daughter, Freya. They start with Leo’s legendary adventures, expeditions and first ascents, exploring how his mindset and approach to risk have evolved over the years. Then the focus shifts to family life — from climbing El Cap together to powder skiing in Japan — and what it means to raise resilient, curious, and courageous kids in a world that often prioritises safety above all else. If you’d like help working on your mindset, check out our free mindset workbook and guided reflection. Link Sign up for our thought of the week here! Link 00:00:00 – Intro 00:05:51 – Why did Leo choose to move back to the UK? 00:08:56 – Reflecting on his bold climbing days: how does Leo feel about his past now? 00:24:23 – Balancing passion and profession: what motivates Leo today? 00:31:17 – What advice would Leo give to people who feel stuck in life? 00:35:21 – Leo’s biggest fear for his kids 00:38:33 – What have Leo’s kids taught him about fear? 00:41:40 – Getting the challenge level right for children 00:49:49 – Balancing psychological safety and resilience in parenting 00:57:01 – Kids and social media: where do they stand? 01:06:40 –…
People in this episode
Host: Hazel
Guests: Leo Houlding, Jess Houlding
Topics covered
- adventure
- parenting
- mindset
- resilience
- family life
- climbing
- risk
Keywords
- Leo Houlding
- parenting
- resilience
- climbing
- adventure
- family
- mindset
More episodes of Strong Mind
- Rethinking Bravery – Strong Mind Session with Hazel and Angus · December 20, 2025 · 57 min
- Can You Climb Without Ego? Zen Lessons from Francis Sanzaro · August 13, 2025 · 1h 21m
- AMA with Hazel – Climbing, Mindset, Motherhood & More · July 22, 2025 · 1h 17m
- Performance psychology for climbers: AMA session with Hazel and Angus. · June 15, 2025 · 54 min
- Rethinking Masculinity In The Outdoors: Resilience, Vulnerability, Emotional Strength and Fatherhood · June 13, 2025 · 1h 33m
- The Cost of Winning: Shauna Coxsey opens up about mindset, mental health, motherhood and her time at the top · May 29, 2025 · 1h 51m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Strong Mind podcast page.