Tia Banks - Summiting Volcanoes and the Quest to Help Others Build Resilience

Bush & Banter

In this episode, Jen and Dyana sit down with Tia Banks — motivational speaker, resilience expert, mountaineer, and mental health advocate. Tia is on a mission to help students and educators build resilience and push through the heavy weight of anxiety and depression. She’s climbed some of the world’s tallest volcanoes, including Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa and Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. She’s also the author of Mind Over Mountains, a certified resilience coach, and a viral voice on social media known for her raw, powerful insights on mental strength and growth. Today, she shares her journey — from hitting rock bottom in college to standing on volcanic summits — and how she’s helping others find the grit to keep going.

Tia’s Website - www.tiabanks.com
Follow Tia on social media at @thetiabanks

NOTABLE TIMESTAMPS

3:35 Welcome, Tia Banks!

6:46 Tia's painful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and how progress fuels resilience

20:45 What Tia was thinking on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

25:45 How mountains and nature connect us to something greater

30:03 Why Tia climbed Pico de Orizaba in Mexico and her first attempt

34:53 Tia's second attempt on Pico de Orizaba

43:49 The Mind Over Mountains Program

48:37 What drew Tia to helping educators and students

1:03:30 What's next for Tia and where to connect with her

1:06:33 Advice for those who have fear that is holding them back

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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. Welcome, Tia Banks! (00:03:35)

3. Tia's painful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and how progress fuels resilience (00:06:46)

4. Dyana and Tia's devastating sport injuries (00:08:26)

5. Tia's timeline to summiting her first volcano and getting sick (00:13:58)

6. What Tia was thinking on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro (00:20:45)

7. How mountains and nature connect us to something greater (00:25:45)

8. Why Tia climbed Pico de Orizaba in Mexico and her first attempt (00:30:03)

9. Tia's second attempt on Pico de Orizaba (00:34:53)

10. The future climbs on Mount Sidley in Antarctica (00:41:27)

11. The Mind Over Mountains Program (00:43:49)

12. What drew Tia to helping educators and students (00:48:37)

13. How building emotional resilience can lower bullying incidents (00:50:15)

14. How owning your greatness helps when you feel judgment from others (00:55:25)

15. What's next for Tia and where to connect with her (01:03:30)

16. Advice for those who have fear that is holding them back (01:06:33)