1115: Caroline Leon - "From Rock Bottom to Everest"

What if you survived a devastating rock climbing accident that doctors said would leave you unable to walk—yet ten years later, you broke speed records on the world’s volcanic seven summits and stood atop Mount Everest? This episode of Thrive Loud with Lou Diamond is the awe-inspiring story of Caroline Leon, an adventurer, speaker, and psychologist whose journey from a near-fatal fall to conquering the world’s highest peaks redefines the limits of human resilience. Caroline takes us through the harrowing details of her accident and the grueling physical and emotional recovery that followed—14 surgeries, years of immobility, and a battle with despair so deep she could barely read a sentence. She shares candidly how listening to audiobooks and memoirs in her darkest moments planted seeds of hope, eventually inspiring her to reclaim her life by climbing again. Listen as Caroline reveals:The micro-victories that built her comeback—learning to roll over, crawl, and take her first steps againHow mountains became her sanctuary and teachers, restoring her spirit one summit at a timeThe spark that ignited her return to adventure, from a “simple” hike up Mount Kosciuszko to becoming one of the few to summit Everest, just ten years after nearly losing everythingThe unexpected aftermath of Everest—her passion to give back by cleaning up the world’s most majestic peaks, and her views on preserving nature’s wonders Plus, hear Caroline’s strategies for overcoming the voice of doubt, her favorite sources of inspiration, and the hope that comes from sharing and receiving stories of resilience. If you need a boost of determination, a reminder of the power inside each of us, and a reason to chase your own mountains—this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Episode Timeline Overview:[00:00:07] Lou welcomes Caroline Leon & introduces her incredible story[00:01:29] Caroline vividly describes her life-altering climbing accident[00:03:22] The brutal road to physical recovery—surgeries and relearning basics[00:07:17] The psychological toll and Caroline’s mental strategies for survival[00:10:09] Finding hope through audiobooks and inspirational stories[00:13:47] The unpredictable “logic” that drove her to climb again[00:16:08] How the mountains transformed her inside and out[00:18:06] Caroline on pain, healing, and progress after injury[00:19:52] What giving her story gives back: the power of hope[00:21:13] Climbing Everest and the new frontier: mountain conservation[00:24:14] How to connect with Caroline and follow her adventures[00:24:46] Caroline’s favorites: movies, music, food, and more fun facts Prepare to be moved—press play for a story of defiance, discovery, and relentless human spirit.