Taking a moment to come back and say hello and give you an update on what's been going on in my life.

Elliott Nguyen says that as a second-generation Vietnamese-American, queer, transgender climber, when he first started climbing he didn’t meet many people who looked like him. But, he found a sense of belonging in the adaptive climbing community.

Elliott is often on the podiums of both National and World Para Climbing Championships, and is on the board of ParaCliffhangers. He's also a grad student in social work at UC Berkeley, and hopes to work in mental health counseling focusing on the healing power of outdoor recreation.

Elliott has a degenerative motor neuron disease that can make dynamic climbing moves difficult. And with the spasticity caused by this condition, he is no stranger to "Elvis-legging" on a route. In fact he says, sometimes he's just "Elvis-legging through life". But, more importantly, he's found a style of climbing that suits his movement -- trad climbing. We'll pick up the conversation with Elliot describing how he got into trad and why it's such a good fit for him. 

You can follow him on IG with:@nguyen.elliott

Elliott helps to run the Touchstone Chapter of ParaCliffhangers. Watch a video about the program here.

 

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.

Emeline Lakrout is a para climber and disability rights activist. She's been legally blind since childhood and has competed on the US National Para Climbing Team since 2022. Currently based out of NYC, she works as a marketer in the consumer products industry, and uses that expertise to consult brands on disability inclusion on the side. Among other things, her consultation focuses on disability language.

 

She’s worked on disability awareness campaigns, legislative lobbying, and as a community mentor --She is a force to be reckoned with. Her life's mission, she says, “is to fight for the rights, dignity, and joy of every single disabled person.”

 

She's an ambassador for the National Ability Center and a member of the ParaCliffhangers. In our conversation we get into some of the history of disability rights, and the importance of language as it can shape the image or idea of a community -- and how our language can impact how we see ourselves. 

 

Resources for show notes:

University Interscholastic League in TX

Adaptive Climbing Group

ParaCliffhangers

Catalyst Sports

Paradox Sports

National Ability Center

Degree Gym Accessibility PDF

Climbing Business Journal Article [Accessibility]

Climbing Business Journal Article [VI Accessibility]

Adaptive Climbers Fest

 

- Indoor Blind Climbing Video

- Outdoor Blind Climbing Video

 

- The headset company that Emeline uses

Emeline’s instagram: Instagram.com/EmelineClimbs

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.

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.

We pay tribute to Summit Dallas, a gym that revolutionized rock climbing in the DFW area. The episode features Paige Martinez, who has worked for Summit Dallas since August 2020, and Eddie Funtanilla, who started climbing in 2017. The hosts discuss their love for rock climbing and their experiences at Summit Dallas. They also talk about the impact that Summit Dallas had on the climbing community and how it will be missed. This episode is a farewell tribute to Summit Dallas, which has closed its doors permanently.

In this Sends and Suffers episode, we pay tribute to Summit Dallas, a gym that changed rock climbing in DFW. The episode features two guests, Paige Martinez and Eddie Funtanilla, who share their connections to rock climbing and their experiences at Summit Dallas. They discuss the impact of the gym's closure and reflect on their love for the sport. This episode serves as a farewell tribute to Summit Dallas and its impact on the climbing community.

In this episode, Veronica Baker, the Executive Director of Global Climbing Initiative, joins Mario while at CWA to discuss her love for climbing and the importance of GCI. She shares her journey of discovering the outdoors in her early 20s and realizing the beauty of mountains and foothills. Veronica also explains what GCI is and why it is important, given her decade-long study of the climbing community. This podcast episode serves as an insightful conversation about the joys of climbing and the significance of organizations such as GCI.

Come hang out with me and Denver on June 9 tickets available at the link below:

GCI fundraiser tickets

URL:  https://secure.givelively.org/event/climbing-initiative-inc/gci-climb-night-fundraiser-presented-by-outdoor-prolink

This episode delves into inclusivity in the outdoor industry. We explain that inclusivity means having a diverse range of ethnicities, genders, orientations, and perspectives, which leads to a broader perspective and more creativity. We stress that inclusivity is not simply reversing the lack of diversity by focusing solely on one group, such as creating an all-black team. Instead, inclusivity should be about creating a welcoming environment for all individuals and ensuring everyone's voices are heard. We acknowledge that the outdoor industry is not yet ready for true inclusivity, but organizations and events, such as Hoods to Woods and the Black Ski Summit, are working towards this goal. We emphasize the importance of understanding the difference between inclusivity and reverse diversity and the need for the outdoor industry to embrace true inclusivity.

EP 59 —  My Time at Red Bull's  Mosaic session. It was a gathering of the justice league of Outdoor sports

EP 56 — Michelle Patten is a para climbing national champion, head coach of Go Beyond Climbing, and a Texas legend

Show Notes: https://mariostanley.squarespace.com/ep-54-55-mahmud-akel

Show Notes: https://mariostanley.squarespace.com/ep-54-55-mahmud-akel

Show Notes: https://mariostanley.com/ep-52-53-mary-catherine-eden

Shoe Notes: https://mariostanley.com/ep-52-53-mary-catherine-eden

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In this episode you’ll hear an excerpt from my conversation with Amruta Wyssman, who goes by Amy. She started bouldering in 2018, and by 2021 she was helping to start the Swiss Paraclimbing team. Before climbing, Amy was into all kinds of snow sports. So, we talked about the similarities between different outdoor sports, like climbing, snowboarding, horseback riding…ect. These sports are slowly making their way into the Olympics and Paralympics. So, we get into how being presented on a world stage is changing these sports – Paraclimbing included, even though the community is still waiting on an official announcement about its incorporation into the LA 2028 Para Games (as of the date we recorded this episode). 

Shownote: https://mariostanley.com/ep-51-andy-chasteen

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Show Notes: https://mariostanley.squarespace.com/caleb-timmerman 

Show Notes: https://mariostanley.squarespace.com/luke-skinner 

Show Notes — https://mariostanley.com/luke-skinner

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Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!

Show Notes: https://mariostanley.com/kaya-lindsay

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Show Notes: https://mariostanley.com/caleb-timmerman

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Craig Demartino lost his leg in a climbing accident one would we think this traumatic experience would make you stop climbing. However, Craig has dived deeper into climbing, now he has created a place on the island of Puerto Rico that is inclusive and accessible for climbers from all walks of life. In this episode, we talk about how he lost his leg, returned to climbing, and ultimately thrived.

www.craigdemartino.com

IG: @craigdem

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ltnBub73nHU

Join the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sendsandsuffers

Stay Connected at: https://mariostanley.com/

Proud Member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective: https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/

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Craig Demartino lost his leg in a climbing accident one would we think this traumatic experience would make you stop climbing. However, Craig has dived deeper into climbing, now he has created a place on the island of Puerto Rico that is inclusive and accessible for climbers from all walks of life. In this episode we talk about how he lost his leg, how he came back to climbing, and ultimately has thrived.

www.craigdemartino.com

IG: @craigdem

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ltnBub73nHU

Join the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sendsandsuffers

Stay Connected at: https://mariostanley.com/

Proud Member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective: https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/

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A few summers ago I decided to take a road trip and spend some time in New Orleans. Amazing food amazing culture edit who would’ve guess one of the most tightknit climbing communities I’ve ever seen in the United States. I in this episode we’re gonna talk about how this community has flourished and survive during the height of the pandemic. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sendsandsuffers/message

Oakley Boycott a Lander WY local running for public office and a friend to the climbing community. We met during my time at the international climbers festival which is an amazing event along with many others I'm excited to share with you my time in Lander Wyoming at the international climbers festival.

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In this episode, we hear from Jared Lenahan, a US Navy Veteran. He was a combat medic for the Marine Corps known as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman. After an accident overseas in 2014, he found himself going from climber to paraclimber.

 

He used adaptive climbing as an integral part of his recovery and has competed as a US Paraclimbing Team Athlete for four years. Jared is also an ambassador for both the National Ability Center and Move United (a Warfighter ambassador for MU). Because the outdoor adaptive community has been so critical to his personal recovery, he started a program to help other wounded warriors get reintegrated into community through adaptive climbing.

 

This program called “Climbable” introduces warriors to the adaptive sports community before they lose their military community and shows them a streamlined path to transition from recovery to the rest of their lives.

 

In this interview, Jared and I talk about disability identity, imposter syndrome, addiction, and how climbing as a through-line in his life has guided his life decisions — especially the decision to start Climbable. We recorded this conversation in early 2024 with Jared hoping to officially launch the program by the summer of 2024.

Alexa and I bond and share our thoughts over some special moments NRLBGTQ plus series take over.

Alexa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexafordproductions/

Mario’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariorstan/

Join the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sendsandsuffers

Stay Connected at: https://mariostanley.com/

Proud Member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective: https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/

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Alexa & Mario takes a moment to recap about moments they've grown from in doing this collaboration. Next, you hear some recap on some favorite highlights from a couple of episodes and why there are so meaningful. I hope you guys have enjoyed this series as much as I have working with Alex and creating it we look forward to bringing this to you again in the future and as always please like follow and subscribe and share with your friends and family. The next episode will be part two of the conclusion of the series. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sendsandsuffers/message

I am absolutely honored to have the opportunity to speak with Nikki Smith, she is single-handedly one of the most well-known individuals in the climbing industry and is a sheer force of nature that champions inclusivity, equality, and access to the sport that we all love. She's not shy about letting us know the very tools that we use to be successful at this sport are the very same ones that can be repurposed to change the sport and make it better for everyone. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did please leave us a comment of what you thought of this episode and follow like and subscribe and share with your community.

Nikki’s Website: https://nikkismith.com/

Nikki’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikkik_smith/

Mario’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariorstan/

Join the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sendsandsuffers

Stay Connected at: https://mariostanley.com/

Proud Member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective: https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/

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Nikki Smith (she/her) is a climber, photographer, athlete, and much more, all while being an inspiration to me and so many other trans climbers out there. I had this conversation with Nikki at the Flash Foxy Climbing festival in March 2022. We talk about: how she started climbing, the harms of gender norms, her photography, and her experiences as a trans climber.

Nikki’s Website: https://nikkismith.com/

Nikki’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/nikkik_smith/

Alexa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/alexafordproductions/

Join the Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sendsandsuffers

Stay Connected at: https://mariostanley.com/

Proud Member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective: https://www.plugtoneaudio.com/

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