From Avalanche to Addiction: Cory Richards on Trauma, Survival, and Rewriting His Life
Mark Hyman
May 7, 2025
Episode description
Cory Richards has summited Everest without oxygen, survived avalanches, and photographed some of the world’s most remote regions. But his most grueling expeditions didn’t happen on a mountain—they happened within. In this revealing episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, you’ll hear how a life shaped by mental health struggles, institutionalization, and homelessness led Cory to push the limits of endurance—and how those experiences can offer powerful lessons on healing and self-discovery.
We explore:
• Why big achievements don’t guarantee fulfillment—and what actually does
• How spending time in nature and solitude can help you reconnect with yourself and find clarity
• What Cory’s journey through trauma and recovery can teach you about your own capacity to heal
• Why creativity, purpose, and self-reflection are essential tools for building a meaningful life
Don’t miss this powerful conversation about what it really takes to overcome adversity.
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