Tough Girl Podcast Jane Kanizay: Climbing Mt. Everest, Advocating for Consent, and Building Resilience in the Death Zone—A Mother’s Journey of Strength, Survival, and Purpose.
Jane Kanizay is an adventurer, educator, activist, speaker, artist and mother of four who on 14 May 2022 successfully climbed Mt. Everest with her 19-year-old daughter. Jane enjoys sharing the highs and lows of her Everest experience and the journey of resilience required to take on such an immense challenge as a survivor.
Jane climbed with the message of @teachusconsent to campaign for holistic consent education in school education curriculum and to advocate for the prevention of violence against women.
To have a message to take to the summit provided additional strength on the days Jane had reached her physical or emotional limits.
High altitude mountaineering is one of the deadliest sports in the world. Jane successfully summited mountains above 6000m plus an 8000m summit of Cho Oyu, Tibet, to prepare her for the extreme environment of Everest, considered to be in the ‘death zone’ above 8000m where oxygen content is only 34% compared with sea level.
Listening to Jane on the Tough Girl Podcast offers a rare insight into the mental and physical fortitude it takes to summit Everest, but also the deeper purpose behind her journey.
Through her incredible story, Jane not only inspires adventurers but also advocates for change, sharing how carrying a message of consent and empowerment gave her the strength to push through her limits.
Her story will resonate with anyone looking to overcome challenges, build resilience, and find purpose in their own lives.
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Show notes
- Who is Jane
- Mother of four, living with one child
- Mountain climbing with her eldest daughter, Gabby
- Being motivated by Gabby's dream to climb
- Completing several trips to the Himalayas
- Reaching Everest's summit together on 14 May 2022
- Becoming the second mother-daughter pair to summit Everest
- Growing up in an athletic family
- Having siblings achieving high levels in sports
- Discussing her childhood experiences with athletics
- Her belief in ordinary people achieving extraordinary things
- The importance of family support in sports and life
- Starting running marathons at 33 after having four children
- Transitioning from marathon running to trekking and climbing in her late 40s
- Remembering her 40s as an empowering period, winning races in her age group
- When Gabby's interest in climbing started
- The mother-daughter duo's plans evolved into larger climbing goals over time
- Gabby reflecting on her experience, appreciating the timing of climbing at age 19
- Climbing experience which fostered a unique friendship
- They relate differently outside of typical family roles
- Maintaining their bond while balancing parenting responsibilities
- Initially planned to finance their climbs through a mortgage and potential scholarships
- Selling their house and funding the majority of the trip
- Adapting to unexpected financial changes
- Gabby's focus on balancing her love for climbing while pursuing an income in the industry
- Jane's reflections on the dynamics among her children regarding climbing adventures
- How she has navigated potential feelings of jealousy among her children
- Sharing her experience of climbing Everest with Gabby
- The dynamic of being both mother and climbing partner
- How they communicated effectively at base camp
- Gabby often acted as a mentor, helping Jane to regain confidence during tough moments
- A pivotal moment at Camp Four where she doubted her strength to continue
- Getting encouraged by Gabby to persevere
- Reflecting on precious time spent with her children
- Prioritising family over personal ambitions
- Societal concerns about young climbers tackling high peaks
- Jane's internal struggles regarding the ethics of taking Gabby on such a dangerous expedition
- Engaging with other young adventurers and parents
- The meticulous preparation and strategy leading up to their summit attempt
- The challenging conditions they encountered
- The summit push filled with historical significance and personal reflections
- Jane leading the ascent, following in the footsteps of climbing legends
- A heartwarming moment for Jane spotting Gabby approaching the summit
- The "Teach Us Consent" campaign
- Jane's desire for her sons to be good allies and her daughters to be safe
- The pyramid of abuse
- Advocating for calling out disrespectful behaviour
- Creating a safer environment for women
- Experiencing vision problems while descending
- Hallucinating due to altitude sickness
- Dealing with laryngitis and media attention after her climb
- Building a supportive network among women
- Final words of wisdom
Social Media
Website: janekanizay.com
Instagram: @jane_kaniz