EP 65: Natalie Duran — Ninja Antics, Fear Conditioning, and Living Like a Superhero

Natalie Duran is a “Proish Climber”, Ninja Warrior finalist, Guinness World Record holder, television host, actor, influencer, and scientist. We talked about her new rollerskates, growing up with the pressure to become a doctor, early YouTube fame, climbing structures, studying neuroscience, brain scans, overcoming fear, motorcycles, and making a TV show.

Support on Patreon:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

Show Notes:

http://thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/natalie-duran

Nuggets:

3:16 – “Today is Thursday!”

5:04 – Natalie’s new roller skates

6:46 – Learning in the shadows…

8:10 – Style transitions

9:54 – Who is Ninja Natalie

12:41 – Born to be a doctor, growing up with parental pressure, and discovering YouTube

17:19 – The Cinnamon Challenge, sharing stories, and going viral

21:40 – A day in the life

25:02 – How to stay organized

27:02 – “The theme parks are closed so I made my own.”

29:09 – The police code

31:46 – The swing

33:27 – Natalie’s gym circuit

35:22 – Maintaining ninja abilities, and Ninja Warrior gyms

37:50 – Coaching ninjas

39:07 – Brain scans, fear, and breathing

43:52 – Running across the South African desert, and “Just Keep Swimming”

45:26 – Thinking about emotions analytically, the placebo effect, and mindset

47:47 – Discovering climbing, Natalie’s first car, and early competitions

52:04 – Current climbing, and integrating climbing into daily play

53:27 – Partnership, sneaking into buildings, and climbing cranes

55:22 – Natalie’s goal of producing her own reality TV show

1:00:01 – Stunt motorcycle riding and skydiving

1:01:32 – Keanu Reeves and Jason Momoa

1:03:30 – Motorcycle playlist

1:04:57 – Emotional growth

1:07:31 – Alone time, and gratitude journaling

1:09:45 – Grateful for not having covid, and not being arrested

1:10:41 – Snowboarding

1:12:06 – Mom’s fight with cancer

1:13:53 – Kid’s movies

1:15:13 – Reality TV shows

1:16:30 – Wipeout, and meatballs

1:19:26 – Superhero outfit

1:20:33 – The tucked-in side braid

1:21:23 – Ninja Natalie’s superpower

1:21:59 – Excited to travel again

1:22:43 – Current work on Ninja Warrior obstacles

1:23:45 – Natalie’s Instagram @ninja_natalie and website ninjanatalie.com

1:24:46 – “Live every day like you’re a superhero. You don’t know what you are capable of unless you attempt to push past your limits.”