Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We enjoyed this topic so much, we're releasing the entire video interview! Let us know if you'd like us to do more video podcasts in the future.
Elite athletes spend a lot of time training their bodies for strength, endurance, coordination, and precision. But what about their brains? Can psychology help athletes achieve peak performance?
Joining Flora Lichtman to talk about this are professional climber Alex Honnold and Jessica Bartley, psychologist for U.S. Olympians and Paralympians.
Guests:
Alex Honnold @alexhonnold9601 is a professional climber, founder of the Honnold Foundation, and host of the Planet Visionaries Podcast: in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative @ROLEX
Dr. Jessica Bartley is senior director of psychological services for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Other episodes you may enjoy:
• Can Better Equipment Eliminate Concussions In Sports? (sciencefriday.com/segments/concussions-sports-brain-injury-helmet-lab?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
• Olympic Ski Mountaineering, And Mountain Goat Climbing Feats (sciencefriday.com/segments/winter-olympics-ski-mountaineering-goats?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com (sciencefriday.com/segments/extreme-athletes-stay-calm-under-pressure?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?) . (sciencefriday.com/segments/parenting-tips-from-the-animal-kingdom/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri)
Subscribe to this podcast. (pod.link/73329284) Follow our show on Instagram (instagram.com/scifri/) , TikTok (tiktok.com/@scifri) , Facebook (facebook.com/scifri) , and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social) @scifri and sign up for our newsletters (sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Christian Adam
We enjoyed this topic so much, we're releasing the entire video interview! Let us know if you'd like us to do more video podcasts in the future.
Elite athletes spend a lot of time training their bodies for strength, endurance, coordination, and precision. But what about their brains? Can psychology help athletes achieve peak performance?
Joining Flora Lichtman to talk about this are professional climber Alex Honnold and Jessica Bartley, psychologist for U.S. Olympians and Paralympians.
Guests:
Alex Honnold @alexhonnold9601 is a professional climber, founder of the Honnold Foundation, and host of the Planet Visionaries Podcast: in partnership with the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative @ROLEX
Dr. Jessica Bartley is senior director of psychological services for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Other episodes you may enjoy:
• Can Better Equipment Eliminate Concussions In Sports? (sciencefriday.com/segments/concussions-sports-brain-injury-helmet-lab?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
• Olympic Ski Mountaineering, And Mountain Goat Climbing Feats (sciencefriday.com/segments/winter-olympics-ski-mountaineering-goats?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?)
Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com (sciencefriday.com/segments/extreme-athletes-stay-calm-under-pressure?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri?) . (sciencefriday.com/segments/parenting-tips-from-the-animal-kingdom/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri)
Subscribe to this podcast. (pod.link/73329284) Follow our show on Instagram (instagram.com/scifri/) , TikTok (tiktok.com/@scifri) , Facebook (facebook.com/scifri) , and Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/scifri.bsky.social) @scifri and sign up for our newsletters (sciencefriday.com/newsletters/?utm_source=wnyc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=scifri) . Got a science question that’s keeping you up at night? Call us: 877-472-4374
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Christian Adam
