*Please note: At 9:01, Simon and Cory have a discussion about suicide.

What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's nowhere left to run from yourself?

In Part 2 of my conversation with Cory Richards, Cory explains why reaching the summit of Everest marked the beginning of a long, painful fall from grace.

After his tumultuous decision to retire from climbing, Cory found himself lost and confused about his true identity. At the same time, he was forced to grapple with multiple life-shattering events at once -- some of his own making.

In this episode, we discuss the difference between identity and purpose, the skills Cory learned to cope with multiple tragedies, and why the more we ignore life’s harshest lessons, the louder they become.

Listen to Part 1 here or watch it on YouTube.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Cory Richards and his work, check out:

coryrichards.com

What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.

Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest lows. An acclaimed mountain climber, photographer, and filmmaker, Cory has literally reached the top of the world. He climbed Mount Everest with no supplemental oxygen, became the first American to summit an 8,000-meter mountain, and narrowly survived an avalanche, after which he skyrocketed to fame when his photos graced the cover of National Geographic.

And yet, after all that success, Cory felt like an emotional wreck. As his mental health deteriorated, his volatile behavior damaged his career and his relationships. Without the identity of “climber” to give him validation, Cory was forced to confront who he really is.I

n Part 1 of this conversation, Cory shares with me head-spinning stories from climbing the Himalayas, his struggles with mental health as a teen, and the difference between survival and resilience.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Cory Richards and his work, check out:

coryrichards.com

Change happens to all of us whether we choose it or not. What’s the best way to go through transition, especially when it’s something we didn’t want?

Melinda French Gates has seen her fair share of big transitions. A philanthropist, author, and champion for female empowerment, she spent decades building the Gates Foundation into one of the mightiest charitable organizations in the world. But after 25 years, she decided it was time for a change. Leaving the Foundation and her marriage to Bill Gates behind, she struck out on her own for a new decade of philanthropy.

I was delighted to sit down with Melinda to talk about how we can successfully navigate the big changes in life, and why finding your allies during tough transitions is the best way to start a new chapter.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Melinda French Gates and her work, check out:

her book, The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward

her investment and philanthropy organization, Pivotal Ventures