The Right Time with Bomani Jones

Guest: Elle Duncan

Episode: Elle Duncan gets REAL on Alex Honnold's climb on Netflix, leaving ESPN

Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Bomani Jones

Episode Overview

In this episode, Bomani Jones welcomes media personality Elle Duncan for a candid conversation spanning her recent Netflix project covering free solo climber Alex Honnold’s skyscraper ascent in Taiwan, reflections on risk and awe, her vibrant experiences with climbing culture, and an honest discussion of her exit from ESPN. Elle provides a behind-the-scenes look at the intensity of covering Honnold's death-defying feat, her personal and professional evolution, and what it’s like moving on from an institution like ESPN. The episode is filled with warmth, humor, self-reflection, and lots of memorable stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playful Banter & Setting the Vibe

• Bomani and Elle start with a light exchange on language quirks, mispronunciations, and playful aging references.
• Establishes a friendly, informal tone for the conversation.
  • Notable Quote:
    • Bomani: "I've decided that I'm moving into that age where it's the Netflix. We got to start putting 'the' in front of things." [00:28]
    • Elle: "Pretty soon you're going to be saying things like 'on tomorrow' and 'on yesterday.'" [00:37]

2. Inside Alex Honnold’s Taipei 101 Free Solo Climb

• Elle’s Immersion in Climbing World:
  • Elle shares her deep dive into Alex Honnold’s world while covering his climb of Taipei 101—a 1,700 ft skyscraper in Taiwan.
  • She demystifies free soloing and highlights the calculated mindset behind the extreme risk.
• Key Insights on Honnold:
  • Alex is not a reckless thrill-seeker, but deeply analytical and “Mensa smart.”
  • He keeps detailed journals, thoroughly plans ascents, and accepts but does not ignore the presence of fear.
  • Elle reflects on how Honnold visualizes not just success, but also the possibility of death:
    • Quote:
      • Elle: “He’s talked about the fact that ... he visualizes his death because it’s a possibility and he doesn’t run from fear. It's not that he doesn’t feel fear.” [08:45]
• Broader Reflections on Fear, Risk, and Mastery:
  • Elle connects Honnold's approach to broader life lessons about embracing challenge, managing fear, and not making "mountains out of molehills."
• Cultural Observations:
  • Elle discusses the perception of climbing as a largely white activity and critiques cultural boundaries in outdoor adventure:
    • Notable Quote:
      • Elle: “Black people do not understand this world...I was getting texts like, ‘This is truly us witnessing white history.’” [09:55]
  • She realized the inclusive, open-minded nature of climbing communities, and the broader life inspiration they provide.

Key Segment Timestamps:

• [03:08] — Introduction to Alex Honnold and the climb
• [05:02] — "If you fall, you die" – the reality of free soloing
• [06:19] — Elle’s personal impressions of Honnold, his motivations and approach
• [12:10] — Conversation on awe, risk, and the focus climbing brings
• [13:50] — Reflections on "awe" and encountering humbling experiences

3. Broadcast Challenges: Calling the Free Solo Event Live

• Elle discusses the emotional and professional pressure of calling Honnold’s climb for Netflix:
  • She aimed to tell Alex’s story authentically, share his greatness at age 40, and address public perceptions.
  • Retrospectively, Elle felt her live energy may have mismatched the somber tension felt by TV viewers:
    • Quote:
      • Elle: "I went in with some objectives...and we didn't know what the tone was going to be. When I went back and watched it, it was like, oh, my god." [16:24]
  • Caring for Honnold’s safety, personal adrenaline, and an amped crowd made for a unique experience.
  • She is critical, but ultimately grateful for the challenge and visibility.

Key Segment Timestamps:

• [16:24] — The challenge and self-reflection on play-by-play
• [22:01] — Bomani’s lesson: “You can’t start all the way up here” with energy in a broadcast
• [22:24] — Final thoughts on broadcasting, nerves, and letting the moment breathe

4. Espn Experiences & Why Elle Left

• Breaking the Negative Narrative:
  • Elle refused to bash ESPN upon her departure, instead expressing gratitude:
    • Quote:
      • Elle: “I just feel like, I don't know, I feel a lot of like—no place is perfect...I just, I got so tired...of criticism...ESPN is just filled with a lot of really hardworking people...” [32:13]
  • ESPN gave her major opportunities and took risks for her when few would.
• The ESPN System vs. Personal Fulfillment:
  • Elle describes ESPN as “volume is value”: grind, take every opportunity, but at the cost of creative bandwidth.
  • Leaving gave her chance to focus, write, and explore a breadth of projects—from reality shows to scripted TV.
    • Quote:
      • "I am not currently feeling very fulfilled at what my life looks like right now...I just chased the unknown." [36:23]
• The Leap of Faith:
  • Drawing from a prior layoff, Elle emphasizes you “take your talent with you.”
  • More creative opportunities arrived once she left due to contract freedom.
  • She keeps the door open for possible ESPN return but celebrates her agency and new professional autonomy.

Key Segment Timestamps:

• [32:11] — Elle’s positive exit and thoughts on ESPN
• [36:23] — Reflection on personal fulfillment and why she left
• [40:42] — Realizing how wide, rich, and varied media opportunities are outside ESPN

5. Looking Ahead: Netflix, Sports, and New Possibilities

• Elle discusses how Netflix offers more flexibility and diversity in projects (e.g., Tyson Fury fight, baseball coverage).
• She values not needing to “chase occupied lanes” in the crowded ESPN system; at Netflix, she can stretch in new directions.
  • Quote:
    • Elle: “At ESPN, if you wanted to do anything for baseball, you had to do everything for baseball…at Netflix, I get to dabble.” [46:12]
• Bomani and Elle joke about her potential future work (e.g., covering a Jake Paul fight), and the unpredictability and excitement it brings.

Key Segment Timestamps:

• [46:12] — What makes Netflix different for her
• [51:04] — Newfound freedom, family time, and hosting events outside the sports grind

6. Storytelling and Hijinks

• Elle and Bomani share stories about crashing events, including Bomani’s near-success in sneaking into the Super Bowl.
• They riff on breaking rules in harmless ways, sneaking into movie theaters, and the calculated risks of youthful adventure.
• The stories tie back to themes of risk, opportunity, and living outside one’s comfort zone.
  • Quote:
    • Bomani: “I love being in a room I have no business being in. That’s a great feeling when that happens.” [53:19]

Notable Quotes

• Elle Duncan, on Alex Honnold's fear:
  • "He visualizes his death because it's a possibility and he doesn't run from fear. It's not that he doesn't feel fear." [08:45]
• On cultural perspectives in climbing:
  • "This is truly us witnessing white history." [09:55]
• Bomani, on awe and risk:
  • "The importance of finding things in your life that generate awe and the kind of humbling nature that comes from awe...to consistently find that." [12:10]
• Elle, leaving ESPN:
  • “I wouldn't have had the opportunity to go to Netflix without all the things that ESPN gave me. ... I always err on the side of gratitude.” [32:13]
• Elle, on career change & risk:
  • “You take your talent with you...everything that you learned is foundational and fundamental to the next place, but you can't be afraid.” [40:42]
• Bomani, on ESPN’s system:
  • "They run a system, okay? ... They're viewing everybody by where you exist in this system...That's not an indictment, but...there's only but so much of you they're even thinking to look at." [43:23]

Memorable Moments

• Calling the Climb: Elle’s realization about matching broadcast tone to audience tension and live energy.
• Risk and Representation: Elle’s story of dangling off a 90-story building, confronting her own fears, and the cultural boundaries of adventure sports.
• ESPN Departure: Mutual appreciation for ESPN’s role in their careers, but humorous resignation about “the grind.”
• Banter and Storytelling: Anecdotes about crashing the Super Bowl, movie theaters, and other mischievous but harmless adventures.
• Personal Evolution: Elle’s excitement for a “period of growth” and finally discovering what it feels like to have control over her schedule and be bored for once.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:28 – Banter on language quirks
• 03:08 – Into the world of Alex Honnold & Taipei 101 climb
• 06:19 – What Elle learned from Honnold; facing fear
• 09:55 – Climbing culture & race: “witnessing white history”
• 12:10 – The science of awe; finding risk in life
• 16:24 – Calling the free solo climb live & self-critique
• 22:01 – Lessons in broadcast energy & pacing
• 32:11 – Elle on leaving ESPN, gratitude & personal fulfillment
• 40:42 – Discovery of broader opportunities outside ESPN
• 46:12 – What Netflix offers vs. ESPN: schedule & range
• 51:04 – Newfound time, family, and events
• 53:19 – Sneaking into events: Super Bowl, movies, rooms you don’t “belong” in

Episode Tone

• Warm, honest, introspective, humorous, and refreshingly candid.
• Elle is thoughtful and gracious, Bomani is witty and probing; their chemistry shines throughout as friends and seasoned media pros.

For New Listeners

• The episode delivers unique insight into what drives people to extreme sports, the realities behind big career changes in sports media, and the value of seeking awe and risk in life.
• Elle Duncan’s stories and candor provide meaningful perspective on personal growth, gratitude, and embracing the unknown.

Recommendation: Listen for equal parts entertainment, life wisdom, and a masterclass in candid sports media conversation.