First Things THRST E112 - Become Mentally Strong & Train Your Mind To Overcome Anything | Cory Richards
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Oct 16, 2025 Cory Richards, a National Geographic photographer and professional climber turned author, opens up about his journey of overcoming mental health challenges after leaving the mountains. He discusses the importance of rewriting your life story and how media consumption can impact happiness. Cory shares insights on bipolar disorder, emphasizing it as a behavior pattern rather than a deficit. He also explores self-sourcing love, the healing potential of psychedelics, and the role of compassion in defining purpose. His candidness about vulnerability sparks powerful discussions on identity and connection.
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Leaving The Mountains For A Fresh Start
- Cory left the mountains and moved to Venice to wash his hands of an identity tied to climbing and photography. He wanted to try something totally different after living in mountains his whole life.
Filter News To Protect Your Baseline Happiness
- Cory limits social media and news because constant negative input reduces his mean happiness. He believes if something important happens, you'll find out without doomscrolling yourself into a bleak outlook.
You Are The Stories You Tell Yourself
- Cory argues humans are storytelling machines and the stories we tell ourselves drive habits and identity. Changing your internal story can reframe behavior and change life trajectory but it's hard because stories feel automatic.
