The Enormocast: A Climbing Podcast

On Episode 211 of the Enormocast, I connect with climber and photographer, Drew Smith. After growing up in Eastern Montana, Drew Smith set out on a life of adventure and work in his late teens. A snowboarding accident lead him to discover the relatively impact free world of climbing in his early twenties. Coupling climbing … Continue reading "Enormocast 211: Drew Smith – Willing to Work for It."

On Episode 210 of the Enormocast, we journey into the impossibly distant past of a year ago for an interview recorded in the pre-pandemic bliss of January 2020 with climber, guidebook author, and artist, Jason Nelson. Jason hails from Maine, but is most associated with the small town with big climbing aspirations: Ouray, Colorado. As … Continue reading "Enormocast 210: Jason Nelson – A Life’s Work."

On Episode 209, I sit down on home turf in Carbondale, Colorado with climber and engineer, Natalie Afonina. Natalie grew up in the States but with a strong connection to her parents homeland, mother Russia. Fluent in Russian and holder of dual citizenship, Natalie has used that pedigree to her advantage as she’s travelled the … Continue reading "Episode 209: Natalie Afonina – The Innumerable Paths."

On Episode 208 of the Enormocast, I have a very enjoyable and inspiring talk with ice climber and author, Margo Talbot. Margo is Canadian and based out of Canmore, Alberta. In her memoir, All That Glitters, Margo reveals that she had a youth of drug addiction, depression, and suicidal tendencies but found climbing ice to … Continue reading "Episode 208: Margo Talbot – Climbing Through the Pain."

On Episode 207, Tara Kerzhner joins me via the Internet tubes to discuss her life as a climber, but more importantly, her life behind the lens. Tara came up a sheltered child in Bend, Oregon, and grew into an awkward, dark-poetry-writing tween before finding her mother’s old Pentax. Quite a few cat photos later, and … Continue reading "Episode 207: Tara Kerzhner – Emergence."

On Episode 206, we get down to climbing talk and climbing stories with Andres Marin. Andres was born and grew up in the mountains of Colombia, but immigrated to the US as a young man. Ending up in Grand Junction, Colorado, Andres was quickly drawn to the climbing opportunities in his back yard. Soon, he … Continue reading "Episode 206: Andres Marin – El Afortunado."

On Episode 205 of the Enormocast, I get to go sideways from rock climbing to rock and roll with musician/climber, Alexis Krauss. Alexis is a Gunks climber, a guide, and also happens to be living one of my alternate dreams as half of the “noise rock” (Wikipedia) band, Sleigh Bells. During a tour in 2013, … Continue reading "Episode 205: Alexis Krauss – There’s More Than One Way to Rock."

On Episode 204, I connect across state lines with climber, doctor, athlete, ninja, cancer survivor, and last but not least, president of the Southern Maryland Youth Foreign Film and Cuisine Club, Favia Dubyk. Favia grew up “below the Mason-Dixon line” but ended up attending Harvard and Columbia and ended up living in Cleveland and now … Continue reading "Episode 204: Favia Dubyk – Upon the Mortal Side."

On Episode 203 of the Enormocast, I meet up with Mary Eden, AKA Tradprincess on a porch in Moab, UT. It was a pleasant morning prelude to scorcher of a day and Mary and I got a solid hour in just before she bailed to Flagstaff. Mary came from Appalachia and ended up in Moab … Continue reading "Episode 203: Mary Catherine Eden AKA Tradprincess – Fun and Freedom."

On Episode 202 of the Enormocast, I sit down across an internet gulf with neophyte climber and veteran MMA fighter, Celine Haga. Celine hails from Norway, but is ensconced in Albuquerque, NM to train for a sport that is illegal in her home country. Her desire to fight came after failing several physical fitness tests … Continue reading "Episode 202: Celine Haga – Fight or Flight."

On Episode 201 of the Enormocast, I sit down at the Monkey House climbing gym in Carbondale, CO with repeat guest Mary Harlan and Rock and Ice’s Francis Sanzaro to answer listener mail. Both Mary and Francis have decades of climbing experience, and Mary happens to also be an experienced guide. On this long awaited … Continue reading "Episode 201: Listener Mail Volume 4 – The Almost No PAS Edition."

On Episode 200 of the Enormocast, I sit down with Timmy O’Neill. Timmy made a name for himself as a speed demon on the walls of Yosemite, but also as a fast-talking wise ass in such films as Urban Ape and Paralellojams. Born on the mean streets of Philly as one member of an enormous … Continue reading "Episode 200: Timmy O’Neill – A Life of Yes."

On Episode 199 of the Enormocast, my coach, Kris Hampton, and I talk about what its been like to try and train a crusty curmudgeon like me. Since adulting hit me hard in the last couple years and Carbondale got its first real climbing gym, I came up with a plan to actually train for … Continue reading "Episode 199: Old Dog, New Ticks with Kris Hampton"

On Episode 198 of the Enormocast, I sit down in Ouray, Colorado on a too bright Sunday morning with British alpinist, Tom Livingstone. Tom was born in the climbing desert of southern England, but now bases out of the climbing Mecca of North Wales. A traditional rock climber at first, Tom has made a name … Continue reading "Episode 198: Tom Livingstone – Devotion’s Visage."

On Episode 197 of the Enormocast, I sit down with former champion comp climber, Katie Brown. Katie Brown inhabited a place in competition climbing in the 90s when the kids took over the sport. Her cohort, the likes of Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, were the first wave of young competitors to put the … Continue reading "Episode 197: Katie Brown – The Invisible Girl."

On Episode 196 of the Enormocast, I sit down with couple, Janelle and Mark Smiley. Janelle and Mark spent much of the last decade in a van pursuing the 50 Classic Climbs of North America. In addition to that hair-brained addiction to climbing and alpinism, both are crack skiers and guides, with Mark and 18 … Continue reading "Episode 196: Janelle and Mark Smiley – The Purpose Makes Strong the Vow."

On Episode 195 of the Enormocast, I sit down in my comfortable study with British climber Tom Randall. Tom just happened to be driving by in a snowstorm and turned up on my doorstep desperate for shelter. So we made a deal: warmth and comfort for an Enormocast. Tom talks about his entry into the … Continue reading "Episode 195: Tom Randall – Just a Pony Shuffler at Heart."

On Episode 194, I sit down in Denver, Colorado with Louisville, KY native and Red River Gorge climber, Dru Mack. Dru is a youngish climber and coach who dropped roots in the Red as a kid, and now uses the base he gained there to tick hard sport pitches and boulders worldwide. At an early … Continue reading "Episode 194: Dru Mack – Getting Out of His Own Way."

On Episode 193, I sit down with American alpine legend, George Lowe. George grew up in Ogden, Utah, among an extended family of climbers, skiers, river runners that included his equally legendary cousin, Jeff. A self-described dork, George found a home among the small counter culture of climbing and began using his problem solving skills … Continue reading "Episode 193: George Lowe III – A Fortunate Man."

On Episode 192 of the Enormocast, I sit down in the Access Fund offices late night with Jenny Fischer. Jenny grew up and lived in the small city of Port Huron, Michigan until she was 30. Then she blew up her rather preordained life and lit out after a dream she’d had since she was … Continue reading "Episode 192: Jenny Fischer – Love and Logic."