Sends And Suffers – Details, episodes & analysis

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/