Sends And Suffers

Welcome to this special episode of the Sends and Suffers podcast. Join host Mario Stanley as he engages with the passionate climbers and industry experts at the Indoor Climbing Expo. Hear the thrilling stories of their experiences, organizations, and their substantial roles in shaping and supporting diverse climbing communities.  

Tanner is a Single Pitch Instructor certified by the AMGA, American Mountain Guides Association. He currently works as a behavioral interventionist and community coach for a Colorado based group called, "REVEL" where he leads climbing and rafting trips for people with autism. He also teaches clinics at festivals like the annual Adaptive Climbing Festival, where he brings first-hand experience as a lower-limb amputee.   In today's conversation we talk about the current push for more mountain guides with disabilities, and importance of properly fitted prosthetics. Tanner is also a member of the ROMP climbing team. ROMP stands for Range of Motion Project — their climbing team goes on expeditions to raise money for the nonprofit, which Tanner will tell us all about…"

Click here to find Katie Joe Myers  

Pete Woods walks you through the thrilling world of climbing. A highly respected ESPN climbing broadcaster and experienced youth coach, Pete provides a fascinating glimpse into his climbing journey's exhilarating heights and challenging lows. Pete shares his early days of climbing passion that fueled him to coach young climbers. Pete's unwavering enthusiasm for the sport and commitment to the climbing community is palpable from coaching to broadcasting. He discusses how his coaching experience has honed his skills as a sports commentator, providing invaluable ability to explain the sport’s intricacies to a broad audience. Pete also delves into some surprising revelations about his approach to coaching. He shares his enjoyable experiences of coaching renowned climbers like Sean McCall and Jason Holloway during the youth world championships. Hear about his emphasis on understanding complex movements and the joy he experienced in seeing them grow and excel.    

To kick off this special collaborative podcast project, we’ve got a conversation with two undeniable pillars of the adaptive climbing community, Ronnie Dickson, and Maureen, better known as Mo, Beck. We're talking about the annual Adaptive Climbers Festival. The festival was started by a whole rowdy crew of climbers and allies -- Ronnie and Mo are two of the current organizers.    Ronnie is based out of Chattanooga and leads the group, Prosthetic and Orthotic Associates of Tennessee specializing in custom prosthetics. He was also the first American above the knee amputee to send a V10 and climb 5.13c.    Mo has served as an athlete ambassador or representative for organizations including with the American Alpine Club, USA Climbing, and Paradox Sports. She was also named National Geographic's "Adventurer of the Year" in 2019.   Host, Emily Chen-Newton produced a documentary style segment about the Adaptive Climbers Festival in 2023 for the show, Inside Appalachia. You can listen here. 

In this enthralling edition of the Sends and Suffers podcast, delight in a deep dive into the adventurous and exciting world of rock climbing. Our host, Mario Stanley, brings to life the spectrum of experiences and passions that constitute the climbing culture. In this episode, Mario brings our attention to the heart and soul of a unique indoor climbing gym, The Blök, in Fort Worth, Texas. He ventures into the lives of this gym's visionary owners, Skylar and Vanessa, who uprooted their life in California to pursue their passion in Texas.  

In this episode, host and guest Paula Horwitz discuss her role as the executive director of the Climbing Wall Association. Paula shares her background in business management and how she became involved with the organization. They also touch on the challenges and opportunities that the climbing industry faces, particularly in attracting and retaining talent in a post-pandemic world. Tune in to learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the climbing industry and the work being done by the Climbing Wall Association.   CWA Website: https://www.cwapro.org/ CWA Summit: https://www.cwasummit.org/ CWA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/climbingwallassociation/   [00:02:00] Climbing industry and passion. [00:04:19] Climbing in Pennsylvania [00:08:27] Supporting regulatory issues in the States. [00:12:41] Community Hub Launch [00:17:43] There's nothing amusing about that. [00:19:57] Rapid growth and risk management. [00:24:55] Gym participation at the event. [00:29:29] Route setting and coaching. [00:31:10] Lack of career coaches. [00:36:09] Coaching career paths. [00:39:03] Don't start a comp team. [00:43:17] Opportunity for growth in gyms. [00:46:08] The secret to making the mole good. [00:49:06] CWA supporting industry growth. [00:53:10] Motorcycles and family support. [00:57:32] Collecting motorcycles and cutlery. [01:00:27] Passionate CWA team and Portland.

In this podcast episode, Marcus Garcia, a longtime climber and mentor, discusses the importance of mentorship in the climbing community. He shares his own journey in climbing, starting in Texas and eventually settling in Durango, Colorado. Marcus emphasizes the need for mentorship, especially in the youth climbing community, and how it can help climbers develop their skills and find their own identity. He also explores the challenges of being a coach, mentor, and guide and the differences between these roles. Marcus highlights the importance of vulnerability and transparency in mentorship, as well as the need for climbers to detach from their egos and focus on making a difference rather than seeking recognition.    Marcus Garcia: https://www.instagram.com/mgclimber1/

In this episode of the Sons and Suffers podcast, host Joyce Hayter shares her journey of becoming a gym owner and her connection to CWA (Climbing Wall Association). Joyce talks about her experience taking over the New Jersey Rock Gym, a well-established rock climbing gym in Northern New Jersey. She discusses her motivations and the challenges she faced in this new role. Tune in to hear Joyce's inspiring story and learn about her passion for climbing.     CWA: https://www.cwapro.org/ Climbing Gym: https://njrockgym.com/

In this episode, host Mario sits down with Alex Bernstein, owner of Ascend Climbing Gym in Pittsburgh. They discuss the origins of climbing in the city, the unique urban climbing initiatives taking place, and the challenges and rewards of owning a climbing gym. Alex shares his personal journey in the climbing industry, the impact of the pandemic on his business, and his hopes for the future of climbing in Pittsburgh. Tune in to hear about the vibrant climbing community in the city and the exciting opportunities for growth and accessibility.   Alex: https://www.instagram.com/alexbpgh/ CWA: https://www.cwapro.org/ Climbing Gym: https://www.ascendclimbing.com/   [00:01:03] Pittsburgh climbing gym history. [00:04:53] Urban rock climbing initiative. [00:07:19] Revitalizing urban bridge piers. [00:10:00] Urban climbing in the city. [00:14:21] The biggest struggle in opening the gym. [00:18:59] Making climbing accessible. [00:20:02] Transportation and convenience. [00:23:44] Making climbing more accessible. [00:28:43] Quick shout out to mom.

In this episode, the host sits down with Karl, who has a long and illustrious connection to the outdoors and rock climbing. Karl shares his background, starting rock climbing at a young age and eventually starting their own company, Climb Tech. Karl discusses how he brought climbing equipment into the industrial safety market, revolutionizing the industry. I expressed my surprise that climbing equipment had a place in industrial safety. Karl invented the removable bolt led to collaborations with a large concrete company for use in the construction industry. Overall, this episode explores the intersection of rock climbing and industrial safety, highlighting Karl's innovative contributions to both fields.  

In this episode of Sends and Suffers podcast, host Mario Stanley welcomes Taylor Fragomeni, an online climbing coach and rock climber, to the show. Recorded at the International Climbers Festival, the two friends-turned-homies talk about Taylor's climbing industry experiences. The episode is sponsored by Organic Climbing, a company that offers a range of climbing gear and accessories. Listeners are encouraged to support the podcast by becoming a Patreon and leaving comments and reviews.

In this Sends and Suffers podcast episode, host Mario Stanley introduces Mr. Alan Watts, a legendary sports climbing community figure. Known as the godfather of sport climbing in America, Watts's love for rock climbing is evident as he shares his perspective on the joy it has brought him. We also discuss where climbing has come from and where it is going in our eyes in the coming years.   The episode is sponsored by Organic Climbing, a leading company in the climbing industry, and listeners are encouraged to support the podcast by using the code "sends and suffers" for a 10% discount on Organic Climbing products.    Alan Watts website: https://www.wattsrocks.xyz/ 

In this episode of Sends and Suffers podcast, host Mario Stanley welcomes guest Jakar. They discuss their friendship and spending time together in Dallas. Mario also shares information about the podcast's sponsor, Organic Climbing, and encourages listeners to support the show by leaving comments and becoming a Patreon. Tune in for a fun conversation and updates on the podcast's offerings.

Episode 67: Paradigm Shift in Rock Climbing and Rollerblading | Frankie Morales In this episode, we dive into a paradigm shift in the world of rock climbing and rollerblading. Our guest, Frankie Morales, shares his personal journey and the moments that sparked his passion for these extreme sports. First, Frankie recalls the moment he realized that rock climbing was more than just a hobby. He vividly describes the exact moment when he knew that rock climbing was what he truly wanted to pursue. Similarly, Frankie shares a story about being introduced to rollerblading and witnessing a skater performing impressive tricks. This moment ignited his interest in the sport and set him on a path of rollerblading greatness. One impactful quote from this episode comes from Frankie himself, as he reflects on the profound impact his friend Jason has had on his life. He says, "Nobody probably knows this. You do. But if it wasn't for Jason, there wouldn't be no Frankie Morales."

In this episode of Sends and Suffers podcast, host Mario Stanley welcomes Chris Mitchell as the guest. Chris, who started off as an Instagram friend and quickly became a close friend, joins Mario to discuss their time together in Denver and their experience participating in the GCI Climb Malawi fundraiser. They also share their adventures at a comedy club. Don't forget to check out the official sponsor of the podcast, Organic Climbing, for all your climbing gear needs. And if you enjoy the podcast, consider becoming a Patreon to support the show.

In this episode, Daniel Pellain, a climber from Tulsa, Oklahoma, shares his love for the outdoors and his passion for climbing. He talks about how reading "Into Thin Air" inspired him to start climbing and his journey from being a freshman in high school to finding a climbing gym in Edmond, Oklahoma. He also mentions the now-closed gym, Hold-Distic, and its unique features, like a foam pit bouldering area. Stay tuned to find out more about Daniel and I conversation.