Mind Over Mountains: How Tia Banks Turns Setbacks Into Summits
When Tia Banks set out to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, she wasn’t just taking on a physical challenge—she was stepping into a new chapter of her life. A former professional athlete, Tia had built her identity around sports, excelling in professional basketball and flag football. But when an injury ended her career, she found herself searching for something new.
That search led her to the mountains.
Tia’s journey from athlete to mountaineer is one of resilience, self-discovery, and mental toughness. In our conversation, she shares how learning to manage setbacks helped her transition into a new passion. From growing up in Nebraska to organizing mountaineering trips and inspiring thousands through her speaking tour, her story is proof that adversity can be a stepping stone to something greater.
Mindset is what makes all the difference and as Tia explains in the episode, the setback is the setup.”
Key Takeaways
The power of self-talk – What we tell ourselves matters in the hardest moments.
Resilience is built, not given – Hardship creates opportunities for personal growth.
The outdoors is transformative – Mountains provide a unique space for reflection and challenge.
Community is essential – Finding support in the hardest moments can make all the difference.
Tia is now on a mission to bring more diversity to mountaineering and inspire people to step into the unknown. Through her book Mind Over Mountains, her speaking engagements, and her nonprofit work, she’s showing others that their greatest setbacks might just be the setup for something incredible.
Image courtesy of Tia Banks
What’s Your Mountain?
If you’re facing a challenge, consider this: What’s the mountain you need to climb? Whether it’s personal growth, a career shift, or an adventure you’ve been putting off, the lessons from the mountains apply to every part of life.
Episode Chapters and Links
Introduction
Tia’s Background
Resilience & Overcoming Setbacks
Transition from Athlete to Speaker
Climbing Kilimanjaro
The Power of Self-Talk
Diversity in Mountaineering
Mind Over Mountains Tour
Thanks for stopping by!
If you found this helpful or inspiring, I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below or contact me at emory@byland.co.
- Emory, By Land
Recent Episodes and Articles
Tia Banks turned a career-ending sports injury into a new passion: climbing mountains. In this episode, we discuss how setbacks can lead to self-discovery, the power of self-talk, and why adventure is the ultimate teacher.