Friday, January 9th 2026

6:30pm – 9:00pm ET

In-Person Only | $117, $70

Scholarships prioritized for Bangladeshi/Tibetans/BIPOC & AAPI communities needing financial assistance.  Contact: [email protected]

Co-Sponsored with High Karma

Register: https://shop.thus.org/products/k2-taming-the-masculine-within-with-wasfia-nazreen

Join National Geographic Explorer and mountaineer Wasfia Nazreen for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, visuals, and reflection on one of the greatest tests of the human spirit: K2. With epic, never-before-seen footage, Wasfia will guide us across the globe with a special focus on the Himalayas and the Karakoram mountain ranges, home to the world’s most formidable peaks. Known for her raw honesty and signature humor, Wasfia weaves together tales that will make you laugh through your deepest sorrows and transcend beyond them.

This talk is more than an account of climbing mountains—it is a journey into the untamed landscapes within ourselves. Drawing from her historic ascent of K2, the world’s most dangerous and unpredictable peak, Wasfia invites us to reexamine the balance of feminine and masculine energies within, and how taming our inner extremes allows us to unlock resilience, growth, and boundless potential.

Whether you are scaling your own inner mountains, seeking inspiration to push beyond perceived limits, or simply curious about the extraordinary capacities of the human spirit, this evening promises to reignite your inner power and elevate your perspective. Through humor, heartbreak, and triumph, Wasfia reminds us that every challenge—like every summit—offers a chance to dismantle limitations and awaken the untapped strength and potential within.

BIO

Wasfia Nazreen is a trailblazing force of nature who has shattered countless barriers on and off the mountains. She is the first Bengali, and the only Bangladeshi, to scale the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on every continent, including Everest)—alongside K2, the world’s most dangerous and unpredictable mountain.

Born in Bangladesh and abandoned by her mother at the age of 13, Wasfia’s early life was marked by unimaginable adversities. At 21, she was blessed with the mentorship and friendship of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, whose compassion and guidance transformed the course of her life. Over the next two decades, she immersed herself in Vajrayana, meditation, and self-realization practices under the direct guidance of HH Dalai Lama, HH Karmapa, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Yangsi Rinpoche, and Kyabje Mingyur Rinpoche.

Rooted in this inner journey, Wasfia has risked everything for the causes she believes in—whether working with the “homeless” in development and nonprofits, breaking barriers in mountaineering and guiding, or using storytelling and education as vehicles for change. A writer, activist, educator, producer, and lifelong advocate for human rights and the environment, Wasfia stands as a symbol of resilience and empowerment globally.

Wasfia recently founded High Karma Journeys, which leads transformative retreats and expeditions designed for healing and reconnection with the natural and inner world. As an Expeditions Expert, she curates & guides journeys that inspire profound connections with self, humanity, and Earth, catalyzing positive change for our planet. Her activism and commitment to empowering women through adventure have earned her numerous global recognitions. In 2016, Men’s Journal named her one of the 25 Most Adventurous Women of the Past 25 Years, and Outside magazine honored her as one of the 40 Women Who Have Transformed the Outdoor World in the Last 40 Years. She is also the only female to hold the simultaneous titles of National Geographic Explorer and Adventurer.

Her memoir and a feature film on her K2 ascent are currently in development. To glimpse her extraordinary life, watch the award-winning short film Wasfia on National Geographic or visit wasfianazreen.com.

Social: @wasfianazreen on IG and FB