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The Nugget Climbing Podcast — Education
The Nugget Climbing Podcast

Welcome to a podcast about performance climbing, self-improvement, and being a human being.

5M+ downloads.

“One of the best long-form interview podcasts in the outdoor space.” – Climbing Magazine

Copyright: © 2020 The Nugget Climbing, LLC

Latest Episodes:

EP 265: Katie Lambert Returns — How to Eat on a Climbing Day, Ingredients to Avoid, Nutrition on a Budget, Farm-to-School, & More Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

Katie Lambert is an accomplished all-around climber with a master's in nutrition. We talked about how to get more value out of climbing trips, her training and cold plunge routine, perimenopause, her 40:30:30 approach to nutrition, how to eat on a climbing day, ingredients to avoid, go-to carb sources, eating healthy on a budget, her non-profit Sacred Rok, getting kids to enjoy healthy food, farm-to-school, and more.

Maui Nui Venison:

mauinuivenison.com/NUGGET

The healthiest red meat on the planet. Wild harvested and responsibly sourced.

AG1:

drinkAG1.com/NUGGET

Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs.

Donate to Sacred Rok:

Directly 👉 sacredrok.org

Via The Nugget 👉 patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/katie-lambert-returns

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:02:14) – Chickens

(00:06:18) – El Salto

(00:07:36) – Outline of topics

(00:11:27) – Katie’s climbing these days

(00:18:38) – Getting more value from climbing trips

(00:30:05) – How to continue progressing

(00:33:55) – Training & cold plunge routine

(00:42:17) – Perimenopause & menopause

(00:52:28) – 40:30:30 & nutrition tips for climbers

(01:05:35) – Katie’s thoughts on keto & carnivore

(01:13:57) – Ingredients to avoid

(01:21:58) – Starting Sacred Rok with Ron Kauk

(01:35:28) – Getting kids to eat healthy food

(01:39:07) – Farm to school

(01:47:19) – Affordable nutrition

(01:54:36) – Katie’s go-to carb sources

(01:59:46) – Saturated fat, dairy, & best fats for cooking

(02:02:10) – Seed oils

(02:04:54) – Rapid fire questions

(02:12:59) – Cathy Wagner’s scorecard

(02:15:18) – Wrap up

EP 264: Tony Yaniro — The Grand Illusion, Tin Foil Training, & Leslie Gulch Chipping Drama Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Tony Yaniro is a climbing legend and the first-ever person to redpoint a 5.13b with his ascent of The Grand Illusion in 1979. We talked about his early years, handmaking cams in his garage, developing The Needles, inventing the first campus board, training for 5.14 using tin foil, the controversy of chipping routes at Leslie Gulch, his legendary homewall on wheels, building a climbing gym, the importance of respecting your body, and much more.

PhysiVantage:

physivantage.com (link includes 15% off coupon)

Use code "NUGGET15" at checkout for 15% off your next order.

Arc’teryx:

Women’s climbing clothing

Men’s climbing clothing

Check out the NEW Kragg Collection.

Mad Rock:

Use code “NUGGET10” at checkout for 10% off your next order.

Rúngne:

rungne.info/nugget-club

👆 Join the Rúngne community & start earning.

Use code “NUGGET” to get 10% off storewide.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/tony-yaniro

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:49) – Tony’s early climbing

(00:11:01) – Sticky rubber & homemade cams

(00:15:32) – 5 steps ahead

(00:21:12) – Hangdogging & The Grand Illusion (world’s first 5.13b)

(00:26:45) – Snowbird, backlash, & soloers

(00:30:08) – The Needles

(00:37:40) – Training for Scarface with tin foil

(00:40:58) – Pull-ups & Jim Collins

(00:45:57) – Quitting climbing the second time

(00:49:59) – The Winnebago

(00:52:50) – Making climbing holds

(00:57:07) – Leslie Gulch

(01:05:11) – City of Rocks

(01:10:24) – Drawing the line

(01:16:12) – Old school bolting

(01:24:40) – Riggins

(01:28:08) – Hideous Thing

(01:30:32) – Tony’s career & weekend climbing

(01:36:29) – Building a climbing gym

(01:41:41) – Tony’s climbing these days

(01:43:13) – Listen to your body

(01:46:17) – Respect your body

(01:47:50) – What excites Tony

EP 263: Adam Ondra — A Conversation With the Best Climber in the World Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Adam Ondra is the greatest climber of all time. We talked about his trip to Smith Rock in 2018, onsighting Just Do It, what he was like as a kid, his 9c projects, Soudain Seul 9A, the Imhotep project, how he trains for long boulders vs routes, the Olympics, The Dawn Wall, climbing ethics, the monster within, why he thinks he can push his level for 7 more years, and much more.

Rúngne:

rungne.info/nugget-club

👆 Join the Rúngne community & start earning.

Use code “NUGGET” to get 10% off storewide.

Mad Rock:

Use code “NUGGET10” at checkout for 10% off your next order.

Arc’teryx:

Women’s climbing clothing

Men’s climbing clothing

Check out the NEW Kragg Collection.

AG1:

drinkAG1.com/NUGGET

Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/adam-ondra

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:34) – Onsighting ‘Just Do It’

(00:05:13) – Rock Stars

(00:07:26) – Adam as a kid

(00:15:14) – Unfinished business

(00:18:49) – Unclimbed 9c projects

(00:23:50) – Untapped potential

(00:27:25) – Soudain Seul & other 9As

(00:31:17) – The Imhotep project

(00:39:55) – Training for long boulders

(00:43:43) – Training for sport climbing

(00:46:19) – Golpe de Estado

(00:48:40) – Patxi training

(00:51:07) – Modern comp routes

(00:54:29) – Feelings about comps

(00:58:32) – Weight for lead comps

(01:05:41) – The Olympics

(01:07:40) – Speed climbing

(01:09:45) – The Dawn Wall

(01:21:02) – Adam’s ethics

(01:25:54) – Projects in Yosemite & Smith Rock

(01:28:30) – Satisfaction with his career

(01:32:50) – The monster within

(01:36:48) – 7 more years & endless routes

(01:38:50) – 8a at 80

(01:40:23) – How climbing grades scale

(01:41:59) – Finger size

(01:45:09) – Hugo

(01:46:44) – Letting kids do risky things

(01:48:15) – What’s next

(01:49:21) – Wrap up

EP 262: Max Didier — Quitting the Air Force to Climb, Enjoying the Process, and Projecting a Potential V17 in South America Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Max Didier is a Chilean big wall climber and alpinist turned boulderer. We talked about leaving the Air Force to climb, the value of exploration and adventure, his trip to India, maintaining simplicity in life, becoming a bouldering coach, the balance of strength and technique, his training routine, training with intention, mindset and motivation, enjoying the process, starting late, finding your passion, his futuristic project, and more.

PhysiVantage:

physivantage.com (link includes 15% off coupon)

Use code "NUGGET15" at checkout for 15% off your next order.

Revival Climbing Coalition:

revivalclimbing.com

EP 225: Tony Bell & David Bress (my episode with the founders of Revival)

Learn more about Revival’s adjustable climbing walls and landing systems.

The NUG:

frictitiousclimbing.com/products/the-nug

Check out my new portable hangboard.

Tindeq:

Use code “nugget” for 10% off your order.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/max-didier

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:09) – Chiloé Island

(00:04:05) – Max’s home gym & coaching

(00:06:30) – The Air Force

(00:13:22) – Climbing for the first time

(00:18:36) – Quitting the Air Force

(00:21:10) – How Max improved so quickly

(00:25:02) – Yosemite & the beauty of climbing

(00:30:40) – Max’s early finger training

(00:35:20) – India

(00:49:24) – Simplifying & kids

(00:53:54) – Sofia

(00:56:06) – Climbing areas in Chile

(00:59:42) – Facundo Langbehn

(01:01:28) – Becoming a boulderer

(01:06:46) – The complexity of strength

(01:13:49) – Hangboarding vs. board climbing

(01:18:31) – Max’s simple strength workout

(01:26:36) – Example training week

(01:30:02) – Consistency & intention

(01:35:49) – Focusing on enjoying the process

(01:47:27) – Believing in yourself

(01:55:43) – Adapting your sessions

(02:00:26) – Advice for climbers who started late

(02:05:28) – How to find your passion

(02:15:22) – Max’s V16 or V17 project

(02:22:37) – Future plans

(02:24:02) – Favorite training music

(02:24:50) – Go-to climbing shoes

(02:25:29) – Pre-send ritual

(02:28:43) – Favorite rock type

(02:30:20) – Moonboard 2016

(02:33:00) – Favorite climbing film

(02:34:10) – Chilean climbing destinations

(02:35:59) – Photography

(02:38:04) – Patagonia

(02:38:54) – Follow your dream

EP 261: Chris Sharma & Ron Kauk — The Essence of Climbing, ‘Vision Quest’ FA, and Following Your Own Path Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Chris Sharma and Ron Kauk return to the podcast for a philosophical chat. We discussed early bouldering in Camp 4, the essence of climbing, the source of motivation, reinventing your climbing identity, Chris’ latest deep water solo ‘Vision Quest’ 9a, thoughts for future climbers, the key to good climbing technique, following your own path, and much more.

Maui Nui Venison:

mauinuivenison.com/NUGGET

The healthiest red meat on the planet. Wild harvested and responsibly sourced.

Mad Rock:

Use code “NUGGET10” at checkout for 10% off your next order.

AG1:

drinkAG1.com/NUGGET

Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs.

Arc’teryx:

Women’s climbing clothing

Men’s climbing clothing

Check out the NEW Kragg Collection.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/chris-and-ron

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:01) – Fish sticks

(00:04:45) – Chris & Ron introduce each other

(00:15:08) – Threads & identity

(00:23:38) – Pure climbing & societal rules

(00:31:15) – Follow your heart

(00:43:32) – Vision Quest

(00:48:50) – The freedom of gym climbing

(01:01:02) – The essence

(01:14:35) – Supreme Jumbo Love & The Force

(01:20:12) – The evolution of bouldering

(01:23:25) – Thoughts for future climbers

(01:30:39) – Flow & precision

(01:32:40) – The inspiration of the line

(01:39:33) – Self-awareness & freedom

(01:46:31) – Le Blonde

(01:48:19) – Motivation

(01:54:04) – A good feeling

(01:56:24) – Mother Earth

(01:57:37) – A personal path

(01:58:49) – Wrap up

EP 260: Caroline Ciavaldini — The Magic and Selfishness of Competition, Becoming Adventurous, and Gentle Feminism Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

Caroline Ciavaldini is a French professional climber specializing in sport, trad, and multi-pitch climbing. We talked about growing up in La Réunion, early climbing, her mother’s suicide, the magic and selfishness of competitions, eating disorders, becoming adventurous, trips with Yuji Hirayama, meeting her husband James Pearson, discussing hard things with your kids, the color yellow, naming emotions, gentle feminism, and much more.

Mad Rock:

Use code “NUGGET10” at checkout for 10% off your next order.

Rúngne:

rungne.info/nugget

👆 Win a year supply of Chalk from Rúngne

Use code “NUGGET” to get 15% off storewide.

PhysiVantage:

physivantage.com (link includes 15% off coupon)

Use code "NUGGET15" at checkout for 15% off your next order.

Revival Climbing Coalition:

revivalclimbing.com

EP 225: Tony Bell & David Bress (my episode with the founders of Revival)

Learn more about Revival’s adjustable climbing walls and landing systems.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/caroline-ciavaldini

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:32) – Growing up in La Réunion

(00:07:14) – How Caro started climbing

(00:09:25) – Early competing

(00:14:03) – Her mom’s suicide

(00:21:29) – Mental coaching

(00:25:27) – Magic & selfishness

(00:37:42) – Competition vs. outdoor skills

(00:46:18) – Eating disorders & food obsession

(00:54:37) – Recovery & satiety

(01:01:13) – Becoming adventurous

(01:08:09) – Trad moments

(01:15:43) – Trips with Yuji Hirayama

(01:20:38) – Discussing hard things with kids

(01:24:42) – Paradoxes & genetics

(01:30:25) – Yellow

(01:36:41) – Le Voyage & retraining fear

(01:44:24) – Naming emotions

(01:48:45) – Gentle feminism

(01:58:07) – Women’s cycles

(02:03:28) – Menopause & aging in climbing

(02:13:20) – The struggles of a pro athlete

(02:21:31) – House projects & side hustles

(02:26:22) – Wrap up

EP 259: Randy Leavitt — Developing 1000+ New Routes, the Anti-dirtbag Lifestyle, and Why the Best Day of Surfing Beats Climbing Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

Randy Leavitt is a climbing pioneer, prolific route developer, pilot, and surfer. We talked about training on the Dune Cracks with Tony Yaniro, inventing the Leavittation offwidth technique, his journey from mountaineering to sport climbing, bolting Jumbo Love and other famous routes, why money equals freedom, his passion for surfing, reflections from almost drowning, aging gracefully, and much more.

Rúngne:

rungne.info/nugget

👆 Win a year supply of Chalk from Rúngne

Use code “NUGGET” to get 15% off storewide.

AG1:

drinkAG1.com/NUGGET

Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs.

PhysiVantage:

physivantage.com (link includes 15% off coupon)

Use code "NUGGET15" at checkout for 15% off your next order.

Arc’teryx:

Women’s climbing clothing

Men’s climbing clothing

Check out the Psiphon and Serratus Alpine Kits launching January 15th.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/randy-leavitt

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:12) – The Dune Cracks

(00:05:52) – Offwidth climbing

(00:09:17) – Traumatic hip belays

(00:14:35) – Bolting Jumbo Love

(00:20:01) – From mountaineering to sport climbing

(00:26:03) – Book of Hate

(00:31:11) – Planet Earth

(00:33:39) – The first cell phones

(00:39:47) – Money, freedom, & happiness

(00:42:45) – Surfing vs. climbing

(00:54:15) – The vision of new routing

(00:56:52) – A new area in Baja

(01:01:16) – Thinking ahead to 40

(01:13:44) – Almost drowning

(01:21:50) – Aging gracefully

(01:27:54) – Hallux limitus

(01:34:24) – Getting remodeled

(01:39:21) – Piloting

(01:49:55) – More route development

(01:53:36) – The Grand Canyon

(01:56:26) – Time

(02:00:06) – Don’t squander your days

Follow-Up: Dave MacLeod — Mindset Shifts, Choosing Finger Training Protocols, & How to Be a Pro-environmental Carnivore Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Dave MacLeod is back to answer some of your most burning questions. We talked about notable mindset shifts that affected him, how to reconcile contradictory advice, how to balance longevity with pushing your max, whether prehab training is necessary, his thoughts on Emil Abrahamsson and Keith Baar’s study on “No Hangs”, his thoughts on active flexion or finger curls, how to choose your training method, whether eating meat can coexist with environmentalist and much more.

Get 90% off 1 month of Patreon 👉 http://thenuggetclimbing.com/reviews

Or skip the discount and listen to the full episode here 👉 patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

EP 258: Louise Shepherd — “The Lynn Hill of Australia” on Her Dirtbag Days, Flying Breasts, & How to Save Arapiles Climbing Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Louise Shepherd is a living legend, and has been called “The Lynn Hill of Australia”. We talked about climbing in the late 70s, her formative experiences, dirtbagging in Arapiles, onsighting some of the first 5.12s in Yosemite, access issues threatening Aralipes climbing, putting cultural heritage into context, and how climbers can help save Arapiles climbing.

How You Can Help:

https://www.climbingvictoria.com/arapiles

Revival Climbing Coalition:

revivalclimbing.com

EP 225: Tony Bell & David Bress (my episode with the founders of Revival)

Learn more about Revival’s adjustable climbing walls and landing systems.

Crimpd:

Or download the Crimpd app.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy and Mark and Julie Calhoun

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/louis-shepherd

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:26) – Fahrenheit

(00:03:09) – Australian bolting system

(00:05:49) – Louise’s intro to climbing in 1978

(00:16:46) – Dealing with health issues

(00:18:36) – Formative experiences

(00:24:34) – Flying breasts & Kim Carrigan

(00:29:34) – Yosemite & yoyo style

(00:36:16) – Living in Arapiles

(00:49:09) – Guiding & The Millennium Draught

(00:58:35) – Cultural heritage & closures in Arapiles

(01:20:00) – How we can help

(01:27:29) – Endangered species & preservation

(01:34:15) – Potential outcomes & complexities

(01:41:53) – Recap & wrap up

EP 257: Sol Wertkin — Surviving Cancer, a Richer Life After Climbing, and Saying Goodbye to Johnny G. Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Sol Wertkin is a former rock climber, cancer survivor, nurse, and avid mountain biker. We talked about new routing in the PNW, the “Golden Era” of Leavenworth climbing, the passing of Johnny Goicoechea, Sol’s cancer diagnosis in 2020, the long and difficult road to recovery, how e-biking saved his life, sailing, why life feels richer now that he doesn’t climb, and nuggets to help your own health journey.

Feel free to message Sol on Instagram if you have any questions about cancer diagnosis or long covid.

AG1:

drinkAG1.com/NUGGET

Use this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs.

Arc’teryx:

Women’s climbing clothing

Men’s climbing clothing

Check out the Psiphon and Serratus Alpine Kits launching January 15th.

Rúngne:

rungne.info/nugget

👆 Win a year supply of Chalk from Rúngne

Use code “NUGGET” to get 15% off storewide.

Crimpd:

Or download the Crimpd app.

Become a Patron:

patreon.com/thenuggetclimbing

We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:

Michael Roy, Mark and Julie Calhoun, and Yinan Liu

Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/sol-wertkin

Nuggets:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:00:57) – How I met Sol

(00:03:56) – Depression & climbing roots

(00:09:02) – New routing in the PNW

(00:12:02) – The “Golden Era” in Leavenworth

(00:23:37) – Johnny Goicoechea

(00:28:37) – Training & sport climbing

(00:31:27) – Smith Rock & Spain

(00:35:40) – Getting diagnosed with cancer

(00:49:07) – Lifetimes, surgery 1, & do the things

(00:54:43) – Short of breath

(00:59:12) – Systematic diaphragm paralysis, & surgery 2

(01:03:33) – E-bikes

(01:10:20) – Diaphragm plication

(01:21:54) – Chylothorax

(01:25:15) – The early stages of dying

(01:28:39) – Surgery 3

(01:32:31) – Planning for the worst, & getting discharged

(01:36:40) – Bonus life

(01:41:55) – A final hurdle

(01:52:32) – Every day is a gift

(01:54:14) – Sailing

(02:01:06) – Replacing climbing

(02:08:48) – Goals

(02:13:59) – E-biking & ableism

(02:19:07) – Why Sol doesn’t climb anymore

(02:22:33) – A richer life after climbing

(02:29:58) – Trail clearing & volunteering

(02:34:38) – What’s next

(02:37:44) – Healthcare & nursing

(02:40:46) – Sol’s nuggets

(03:06:19) – Let’s go!

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