#138: The Blind Adventurer Who Climbed Everest and Broke Barriers with Erik Weihenmayer
b"As a blind adventurer, Erik Weihenmayer has been lucky to experience a life of meaning and purpose\\u2014of breaking through barriers. After he safely came down from the summit of Mt. Everest in 2001, becoming the first blind person to reach the highest peak in the world, his team leader told him something that would change the course of his life: \\u201cDon\\u2019t make Everest the greatest thing you ever do.\\u201d\\n\\xa0\\nThese words stuck with him, and he has spent the last 16 years trying to live up to that challenge: climbing the tallest peak on each continent; kayaking the Grand Canyon; authoring three books; and starting a nonprofit movement, No Barriers.\\nOn today\\u2019s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Erik Weihenmayer, one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in the world. He is the author of the bestselling memoir, Touch the Top of the World, which was made into a feature film, as well as The Adversity Advantage, which shows readers how to turn everyday struggles into everyday greatness. His latest book, No Barriers: A Blind Man\\u2019s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon is more than an adventure story; it illuminates how we move forward in our lives towards growth and purpose \\u2013 despite the barriers that get in our way. He is an internationally recognized speaker and brings his message of living a No Barriers Life to audiences around the world. No Barriers is an organization that helps people with challenges tap into the human spirit, break through barriers, and contribute to the world.\\nIn this episode, Dhru and Erik talk about loss and suffering and how to look deep within ourselves to find our strength, resilience, and purpose. They discuss breaking through limitations and turning our greatest challenges into our greatest triumphs. They also talk about gratitude and the importance of giving back.\\xa0\\nIn this episode, we dive into:\\xa0\\n-Erik\\u2019s story of being diagnosed with a very rare disease, juvenile retinoschisis, and told he was going to lose his eyesight (3:52)\\xa0\\n-Breaking through limitations that society places on you (8:05)\\xa0\\n-Erik\\u2019s mental state when he finally lost his eyesight and how he responded to the external world (10:22)\\xa0\\n-Erik\\u2019s fear of being forgotten and dying an insignificant life (16:40)\\xa0\\n-Erik\\u2019s open heart policy (19:26)\\xa0\\n-The power of belief (42:10)\\xa0\\n-How to not let external pressure consume you (46:35)\\n-The moment Erik reached the top of Mount Everest (52:04)\\n-The power of creating connections (1:18:25)\\n-Erik\\u2019s lasting message (1:20:50)\\n-Where to learn more about Erik (1:24:12)\\nFor more on Erik Weihenmayer, you can follow him on Instagram @erikweihenmayer, on Facebook @erik.weihenmayer, on Twitter @erikweihenmayer, on YouTube @touchthetop, on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/erikweihenmayer, and through his website https://erikweihenmayer.com/.\\xa0\\nAlso mentioned in this episode:\\n-The Weight of Water - https://www.weightofwatermovie.com\\n-No Barriers Summit - https://www.nobarriers.live\\n-Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story - https://amzn.to/3j2TiqH\\n-The Adversity Advantage: Turning Everyday Struggles into Everyday Greatness - https://amzn.to/2WiRDDw\\n-No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon - https://amzn.to/3iYowzr\\nFor more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.\\nInterested in joining Dhru\\u2019s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.\\nSponsor: This episode is sponsored by our partnership with the AquaTru Water Filter. To get exclusive access to this deal visit www.brokenbrain.com/filter \\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices"