Big walls and bedtime stories with Leo Houlding

Big walls and bedtime stories with Leo Houlding

From Strong Mind by Strong Mind

July 9, 2025 · 1h 36m

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

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