Beth Rodden started climbing in 1995, and it wasn’t long before she radically changed the sport. Within three years, she’d become the first woman to climb 5.14; within five, she established a still unrepeated free route on Yosemite’s El Capitan. Today, Beth is making waves in a different way: by leading the climbing community in difficult, vulnerable conversations. Fitz chats with Beth about her new book, A Light Through The Cracks , and what it means to live a big life. Thanks to our sponsors T...
Sep 06, 2024•39 min•Season 7Ep. 18
After a protracted battle over bolts and sport climbing, American climbers nearly lost the ability to climb on public lands in the early 1990s. It would have completely altered the course of our sport. Fortunately, lawyer and climber Armando Menocal rose to the challenge of protecting climbing for generations to come, despite the fact that many climbers hoped he would fail. We take a peek into the early days of the Access Fund and Leici Hendrix adds perspective on the importance of local climbin...
Aug 30, 2024•43 min•Season 7Ep. 17
In 1986, a rag-tag group of dirtbags including Beth Wald, Russ Clune and Todd Skinner came up with a scheme to go behind the Iron Curtain with the goal of competing in the Soviet Union's speed climbing competition. It was audacious as any cutting edge climb. Originally aired in 2021. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the purchase of a VERTIX 2s watch when both items are in your cart. LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack w...
Aug 23, 2024•31 min•Season 7Ep. 16
Adieu Paris. After a week at the Olympic games, Alex and the team reflect on an incredible moment for climbing and its brightest competitors. Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube Thanks to our sponsors The North Face : Join Alex and TNF in NYC at Climb Fest , August 23-24 COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the purchase of a VERTIX 2s watch when both items are in your cart. LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack with any order...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 15
The Tomoa Skip. The Chinese Top. Records are falling and what is fast this year will be middle of the pack next year. For competitors Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly, and Sam Watson, they are in the midst of a golden moment for their chosen discipline. For the climbers leading the charge, what’s beyond personal bests and world records? And how will the climbers apply these incredible skills beyond the 15-meter route? Thanks to our sponsors The North Face : Join us in NYC for Climb Fest Aug 23-24 COROS Us...
Aug 09, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 14
Records are falling. Beta is getting tweaked. We’ve entered the sub five second era of speed climbing. The athleticism is off the charts and the format is friendly to the viewing public. Despite that, what happens on the 15 meter speed wall seems to be a sideshow to the greater climbing community. How did speed climbing arrive at this moment? We are joined by legends Hans Florine, Jacky Godoffe, and Olympians Sam Watson, Piper Kelly and Emma Hunt. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Join us in...
Aug 02, 2024•41 min•Season 7Ep. 13
Paris here we go. Today, we dive into what to expect, the stories that will define the games, and the Olympics’ impact on our sport. Plus we make our picks and learn what the deal is with Team Japan. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face -- Join us in NYC at Climb Fest Aug 23-24 LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack with any order COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the purchase of a VERTIX 2s watch when both items are in your cart. AeroPress use promo code CLIM...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 7Ep. 12
The weight of expectations is real. Today, Olympians Natalia Grossman and Jesse Grupper share their journey through the highs and lows of winning and losing. Even when you're winning, the road to Paris is a difficult path. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Join us at NYC Climb Fest Dr. Squatch Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get 20% any purchase (new customers only) LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack with any order COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the purchas...
Jul 19, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 11
At only 23, Brooke Raboutou has established herself as one of the best climbers indoors and out. While that’s taken an extreme amount of talent and dedication, Brooke and two other Olympians, Natalia Grossman and Colin Duffy, are graduates of a groundbreaking approach to climbing created by Brooke’s mom Robyn Ebersfield-Raboutou. Climbing has a lot to teach about life. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face AeroPress use promo code CLIMBINGGOLD to save 20% off your order COROS Use code CLIMBINGGO...
Jul 12, 2024•49 min•Season 7Ep. 10
Yes, the Olympics are entertainment, but they can also transcend sport. Ukrainian climber Jenya Kazbekova carries a weight few competitors have to shoulder. Two years into Russia’s unprovoked attack on her home, Jenya is channeling the strength of her country into competing in Paris. She just hopes the world doesn’t forget Ukraine. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack with any order COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the p...
Jul 05, 2024•45 min•Season 7Ep. 9
What’s Ashima Shiraishi been up to? Since she was eight, Ashima made waves with staggering ascents beyond her years. In 2021, Ashima helped bring us into the mind of a competitor walking us through in meticulous detail of what it’s like to compete in a World Cup. Today, we reshare that short segment and then find out about Ashima’s new path through climbing far from the spotlight of the competitive circuit. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch car...
Jun 28, 2024•33 min•Season 7Ep. 8
When we think of cutting edge climbing, we think of cutting edge athleticism. But what about the mental side? The true test of finishing the world’s most difficult routes may not come down to strength, but mental fitness. Today, we are joined by Jonathan Siegrist to discuss the mental hurdles climbers experience. Sometimes you have to let go to hang on. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Dr. Squatch Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get 20% any purchase (new customers only) COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD...
Jun 21, 2024•50 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Kai Lightner is on a tear. When we last spoke with Kai, his path in professional climbing was unclear. He’d struggled with disordered eating, injuries, and growing into his adult body after a decade of success in competition and his path back to the upper limits of climbing seemed uncertain. Last year, Kai turned his attention to climbing outside and took the emphasis off results. An incredible string of sends followed, and once again Kai has found himself at the forefront. Watch Climbing Gold o...
Jun 14, 2024•51 min•Season 7Ep. 6
A decade ago, climbing’s most controversial figure wasn’t someone who’d lied, chopped routes, or chipped holds. It was a young woman who’d savvily harnessed the internet and social media to power her competitive career. Unintentionally, Sierra Blair became a lightning rod. Today, Sierra’s approach might simply be considered best practice for an athlete on social media, but a decade ago it sparked conversations about who gets to call themselves an athlete or a “real” climber, and it exposed a vei...
Jun 07, 2024•34 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Sometimes we all need healthy competition. Last summer Alex, Tommy Caldwell , and Sonnie Trotter hatched a plan – each would attempt to climb 9a in the coming year. Climbing at your limit demands attention and accountability, something each was struggling with on their own. Together, the goal seemed a little more probable. Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube Thanks to our sponsors The North Face AeroPress use promo code CLIMBINGGOLD to save 20% off your order Dr. Squatch Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get ...
May 31, 2024•42 min•Season 7Ep. 4
When Kris Hampton launched the Power Company, training for climbing was in an awkward adolescence. Research and tactics were woefully behind adjacent sports like gymnastics. Gym sessions were a stop gap for time outside and training programs were the realm of competitive youth teams and a few hardened professionals. We dive into the evolution of training, the difference between a coach and a trainer, and how close we are to the limits of human possibility. Written in Stone Kris' podcast Watch Cl...
May 24, 2024•54 min•Season 7Ep. 3
News flash: having kids changes things. Paige Claassen and Emily Harrington join Alex to discuss the new normal, reaching limits while sleep deprived and the calculus of risk as they move into parenthood. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner with the purchase of a VERTIX 2s watch when both items are in your cart. LMNT Use link to get a free LMNT sample pack with any order Dr. Squatch Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get 20% any purchase (new cus...
May 17, 2024•48 min•Season 7Ep. 2
For the last decade, no climber has moved our sport closer to the future than Adam Ondra . While he’s known for his visionary sport routes, he’s excelled in every aspect of rock climbing from competition to big walls. Adam sat down for a wide ranging interview to talk about the limits of what’s humanly possible, the Olympics and shiver bivying on El Cap with his father. Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube Thanks to our sponsors The North Face COROS Use code CLIMBINGGOLD to get a free watch carabiner ...
May 10, 2024•55 min•Season 7Ep. 1
We will be back later this spring with all new episodes of Climbing Gold, but in the meantime we wanted to rerun an episode from our first season: “This Place Will Change Climbing”. We dive into what makes Memphis Rox a unique climbing gym. And right now, Memphis Rox needs the climbing community to step up and help them through a tough financial moment. Good ideas need champions. Support Memphis Rox Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Mar 22, 2024•45 min•Season 6Ep. 11
In Part 2 of Adapted, Mo Beck and Jim Ewing head to the Lotus Flower Tower. Hugh Herr embarks on life after climbing and tackles one of humanity’s greatest challenges. Denny Kowska seeks to build an adaptive community from the ground up. Resources Hugh Herr's Ted Talk Jim Ewing's Film Adaptive ParaCliffHangers Paradox Sports Adaptive Climbing Group Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Dec 15, 2023•54 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Climbing’s first phenom survives a near death experience and life altering accident on Mount Washington. In rural Maine, a young girl born without a hand discovers climbing. In the aftermath of an accident, an engineer resolves to complete a lifelong dream. Hugh Herr, Mo Beck and Jim Ewing take us on a journey in a two part series about human potential, generational friendships and the power of climbing. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold ...
Dec 08, 2023•48 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Style vs substance-- they are one and the same in climbing. It governs how we aspire to do routes. It inspires us. Done right, it will stand the test of time. Today, we sit down with climber Katie Lambert and photographer Ben Ditto . Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Dec 01, 2023•57 min•Season 6Ep. 8
When protests erupted in Iran in fall of 2022, human rights activist and professional climber Nasim Eshqi was climbing in France. As she watched the uprising back home unfold, Nasim knew that returning home at that moment would mean arrest and imprisonment at the hands of the government. She doubled down on her criticism of Iran’s repressive regime and used her climbing to bring the struggle to the international climbing community. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. ...
Nov 24, 2023•48 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Underground legend and editor of Accidents in North American Climbing , Pete Takeda joins us to talk safety. We can learn from mistakes, but sometimes it’s worth speaking up before they happen. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Nov 17, 2023•58 min•Season 6Ep. 6
After successfully establishing the first fair means ascent of Cerro Torre’s SE Ridge and chopping Maestri’s bolt ladder, Hayden Kennedy and Jason Kruk smash into reality. In the mountains, a rescue for their friend is under way. In El Chaltén, frustration boils over and the police get involved. Meanwhile, David Lama heads back up the mountain. Years later, the community reflects on the Cerro Torre. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on Yo...
Nov 10, 2023•47 min•Season 6Ep. 5
In the 2000’s, a new, global generation of alpinists armed with a broad toolkit of skills and advancements in weather forecasting led a climbing golden age in Patagonia. While popular, Maestri’s Compressor Route becomes the target of climbers looking to leave a lasting impression on the sport. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Nov 03, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 4
How big of a problem is lying in climbing? Jonathan Siegrist returns to the show to talk about dishonesty in our sport. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Oct 27, 2023•49 min•Season 6Ep. 3
With doubts circling in the press, Cesare Maestri returns to Cerro Torre with hundreds of bolts, a compressor engine and gallons of gasoline intent on conquering the mountain. What ensues borders on madness leaving the next generation to untangle Maestri’s lies and correct an abomination. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Oct 20, 2023•41 min•Season 6Ep. 2
In 1959, Cesare Maestri, an outsider and rebel drawn to the siren song of the world’s fiercest mountain, Cerro Torre, ripped a hole in climbing’s only true rule – a climber is only as good as their word. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Peak Design Dr. Squatch Watch Climbing Gold on YouTube...
Oct 13, 2023•31 min•Season 6Ep. 1
In May 2022, The Full Circle Everest team made history when seven of the members reached the world’s highest point. They were the first all black expedition team to do so. Today, we talk with Phil Henderson, Adina Scott and Eddie Taylor about their experiences on Chomolungma and the power of summits. Thanks to our sponsors The North Face Momentous Athletic Greens...
Jun 30, 2023•42 min•Season 5Ep. 10
