Can You Climb Without Ego? Zen Lessons from Francis Sanzaro

Can You Climb Without Ego? Zen Lessons from Francis Sanzaro

From Strong Mind by Strong Mind

August 13, 2025 · 1h 21m

About this episode

Hazel discusses the concept of ego in climbing and life with philosopher and climber Francis Sanzaro, exploring how Zen philosophy can help manage it.

Hazel sits down with climber, philosopher, and author Francis Sanzaro for a deep dive on the ego—what it is, how it shows up in climbing and life, and how Zen philosophy offers tools to loosen its grip. From ambition, status, and self-worth to the joy (and traps) of goal-setting, Francis draws on decades of climbing experience and insights from Zen and philosophy. Along the way, they explore how the ego shapes who we are and what it means to have a mind that’s truly free. If you’d like help working on your mindset, check out our free mindset workbook and guided reflection . Get your free resources: go.strongmindclimbing.com/download And don’t forget to check out our newsletter, Thought of the Week , for regular insights on mindset, fear and performance in climbing. Join our newsletter: courses.strongmindclimbing.com/newsletter Timestamps 00:00:10 - Intro 00:02:40 - Who is Francis Sanzaro, and how did philosophy meet climbing? 00:06:22 - What is Zen, really—religion or self-inquiry? 00:00:10 - intro00:09:09 - What does a Zen life look like day to day? 00:12:46 - What is the ego, and how does it show up in climbing? 00:16:54 - Are we constantly trading ego like currency in social…

People in this episode

Host: Hazel

Guest: Francis Sanzaro

Topics covered

  • ego
  • Zen philosophy
  • climbing
  • self-worth
  • goal-setting
  • mindset

Keywords

  • ego
  • Zen
  • climbing
  • self-improvement
  • mindset
  • goal-setting
  • philosophy

More episodes of Strong Mind

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Strong Mind podcast page.