Climbing Gold with Alex Honnold

“What's your climbing origin story?”

This is a standard opening question to establish the guest's background for the audience.

“Was there a specific route or turning point that made you fall in love with this discipline?”

The hosts look for the 'lightbulb moment' that defined a guest's passion.

“How did you progress from your local climbing scene to the world stage?”

Honnold often asks this to trace the guest's development from humble beginnings to elite status.

“Why did you transition away from competition climbing toward the outdoors?”

This question explores a common career path for modern professional climbers.

“Looking back, how has your skill level changed since that major early ascent?”

This is used to gauge a guest's self-perception of their own progression over time.

“What draws you to a difficult or obscure style of climbing that others avoid?”

This question seeks to understand the unique motivations behind specializing in demanding disciplines like off-width climbing.

“What did it feel like to succeed on that critical move or crux pitch?”

A go-to question from Honnold to tap into the guest's subjective, emotional experience of a high-stakes moment.

“At the elite level, does this discipline start to feel 'normal' in its difficulty?”

A follow-up question to probe the nature of mastery and perception at the highest level.

“How do you balance your climbing career with school or other life commitments?”

Often asked of younger climbers to understand their priorities and dedication.

“How did a major project or public moment, like a film, influence your career path?”

This explores how public perception and milestone projects shape a climber's future.

“How does the difficulty of this niche compare to more standard climbing grades?”

Honnold uses this to translate the esoteric difficulty of a specialty into terms the broader climbing audience can understand.

“What do you see as the current cutting edge for this style of climbing?”

This question is often used near the end of a discussion to get an expert opinion on the future of the sport.