That movie Free Solo, which was wild because you know it's incredible movie, but I think a lot of its popularity can be explained by a puzzle.
Andrew Huberman · Lex Fridman Podcast · Nov 2020 Listen at 4:58 What they say about it
- Discussing the film“everyone watching the movie comes out of it”3
The best things said about it
There's a scene in Free Solo, you know, they show a little clip from that where and basically everyone watching the movie comes out of it like, 'Well, there's something wrong with his brain.'.
Alex Honnold On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Jan 2026 With free soloing El Cap, like I knew it would be the biggest thing I'd ever do.
Alex Honnold On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Jan 2026 No, for the most part, I mean, um when we first met, I mean, like if you've seen the free film Free Solo, it all sounds pretty, you know, like like I don't care at all about her feelings.
Alex Honnold On Purpose with Jay Shetty · Jan 2026 Where and when it comes up
Most mentions, by podcast
4 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Free Solo is a gripping documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin that chronicles professional rock climber Alex Honnold's historic, unroped ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. On On Purpose with Jay Shetty, Alex Honnold reflected on the documentary, noting that he knew the project would far surpass anything he had previously accomplished and discussing how viewers often mistakenly concluded there was something neurologically wrong with his brain after seeing brain scan clips in the film. Honnold also mentioned how the documentary captured the early days of his relationship with his wife. On the Lex Fridman Podcast, Andrew Huberman referenced the movie to explore the neurological puzzle of why heights evoke intense fear responses even when audiences know the subject survives. Similarly, on The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan and Andy Stumpf marveled at Honnold's daring feats, discussing the immense skill of the world-class camera crew required to capture the climber suspended thousands of feet over nothingness. Across these appearances, the film served as a focal point for discussing extreme risk-taking, mastery, and the psychology of fear.
Every mention
Andrew Huberman I've been listening to an amazing book by Twyla Tharp. She's a choreographer. She was a ballerina. She's a… 2
“I've been listening to an amazing book by Twyla Tharp. She's a choreographer. She was a ballerina. She's a choreographer and she said that what distinguishes, you know, sort of virtuosity from mastery is when you start to surprise yourself.”
“and I if people want to challenge me on this I I like to point to that movie free solo which was wild because you know it's incredible movie but I think a lot of its popularity can be explained by a puzzle”
Alex Honnold It's a shame cuz there's a scene in Free Solo, you know, they show a little clip from that where and basica… 3
“It's a shame cuz there's a scene in Free Solo, you know, they show a little clip from that where and basically everyone watching the movie comes out of it like, 'Well, there's something wrong with his brain.'”
“So, with uh with free soloing El Cap, uh like I knew it would be the biggest thing I'd ever do. Like, I knew I mean, I didn't think the film would be as successful as it was, but uh but I knew that it would be far beyond anything I'd ever done. Cuz it's, you know, it's a feature”
“No, for the most part, I mean, um when we first met, I mean, like if you've seen the free film Free Solo, it all sounds pretty, you know, like like I don't care at all about her feelings.”
Andy Stumpf the team that I think they put together was like 5 to 7 world-class guys but there's a movie of him called… 1
“the team that I think they put together was like 5 to 7 world-class guys but there's a movie of him called yeah no thanks what is that what is that guy doing he's hanging probably 3,000 foot over nothing focusing on capturing the shot”
Joe Rogan as I see oh my god Honnold I want maybe three times in a row and here's the thing I know he's alive 1
“as I see oh my god Honnold I want maybe three times in a row and here's the thing I know he's alive”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“he's the guy who they made that movies free solo about he's the the guy who climbs all these mountains with no ropes”