The Duffel Shuffle Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Alex Honnold makes a special appearance on The Duffel Shuffle Podcast. Sam and Adrian chat with Alex about his motivations in climbing, why he's decided high altitude climbing isn't for him, and what his future goals are, now that he's a father to two. 

This interview was originally recorded in April 2024, but due to technical difficulties, its release was delayed.

Emily Harrington joins Sam and Adrian to talk all things Olympics. Emily, who herself participated in an exhibition event in 2006 at the Winter Olympics, has followed the growth and expansion of competition climbing for more than 2 decades. From the early days of the World Cup circuit in which Emily competed to the addition of climbing in the Olympics in which Emily has followed as a fan, competition climbing is exploding in popularity. Emily's perspectives as at athlete provide invaluable insight into the sport. 

Welcome to the Duffel Shuffle Podcast!

Cory Richards joins Sam and Adrian on this episode of The Duffel Shuffle. After publishing his memoir, The Color of Everything, Cory talks about his fond memories of exploring the worlds tallest mountains, his ongoing struggles with BiPolar 2 and mental health, and what he’s up to today to feed his soul. 

To check out Cory’s new book, visit a local bookstore, or order it online here. 

Sam and Adrian are joined by author Will Cockrell to discuss his new book titled "Everest Inc." Will, who has covered the Mt Everest climbing season as a journalist for nearly 2 decades, chronicles the development of an industry that, each spring, becomes a focal point of the outdoor media.

Everest Inc.: The Renegades and Rogues Who Built an Industry at the Top of the World

Featuring original interviews with mountain guides and climbers—including Jimmy Chin and Conrad Anker—this vivid and authoritative adventure history chronicles one of the least likely industries on guided climbing on Mount Everest.

Anyone who has read Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air or has seen a recent photo of climbers standing in line to get to the top of Everest may think they have the mountain pretty well figured out. It’s an extreme landscape where bad weather and incredible altitude can occasionally kill, but more so an overcrowded, trashed-out recreation destination where rich clients pad their egos—and social media feeds—while exploiting local Sherpas.

There’s some truth to these clichés, but they’re a sliver of the story. Unlike any book to date, Everest, Inc. gets to the heart of the mountain through the definitive story of its greatest the Himalayan guiding industry. It all began in the 1980s with a few boot-strapping entrepreneurs who paired raw courage and naked ambition with a new style of expedition planning. Many of them are still living and climbing today, and as a result of their astonishing success, ninety percent of the people now on Everest are clients or employees of guided expeditions.

Studded with quotes from original interviews with more than a hundred western and Sherpa climbers, clients, writers, filmmakers, and even a Hollywood actor, Everest, Inc. foregrounds the voices of the people who have made the mountain what it is today. And while there is plenty of high-altitude drama in unpacking the last forty years of Everest tragedy and triumph, it ultimately transcends stereotypes and tells the uplifting counternarrative of the army of journeymen and women who have made people’s dreams come true, and of the Nepalis who are pushing the industry into the future.

Professional ski mountaineer Jim Morrison joins Sam and Adrian for Episode 6. The three talk about Jim's recent exploits in the Karakoram: a successful descent of the Great Trango Tower after he was unsuccessful the year prior. Jim talks about enduring some of life's lowest lows and highest highs, and consistently coming back to the joy he experiences from any adventure, near or far. 

After full team success on Mt. Everest for the Alpenglow Expeditions crew, Adrian and Sam connect in person to recap the season. After a bit of background on happenings of the South Side, the two dive into the Alpenglow team's experience on the North Side, including the great fortune they had with regard to crowds as well as challenges created by their timeline and weather. 

Episode 4 comes to you straight from Everest Base Camp! Sam and Adrian catch up and discuss what has been 4-years in the making: Alpenglow Expeditions' return to the north side of Mt. Everest since the closure as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. After hearing about changes on the mountain, and the current state of the Everest season, the two dive into Adrian's history on the mountain, his thoughts about the state of guiding it, and how he has made the tallest mountain in the world such a big part of his career. 

In Episode 3 of The Duffel Shuffle, Adrian and Sam sit down with ski mountaineer Caroline Gleich. The start off talking about one of Caroline's most notable accomplishments, becoming the fourth person and first woman to ski all lines in Andrew McLean's book, The Chuting Gallery. Following this accomplishment, Caroline set her sights on the greater ranges. With Everest as a goal, Caroline gained experience at altitude in places like Ecuador and Peru, before ultimately finding success on the tallest mountain in the world. Finally, Caroline talks about her current climb, running for a Senate seat in Utah. Follow her campaign and support at www.carolineforutah.com.

In Episode 2 of the Duffel Shuffle Podcast, Adrian sit's down with Ecuadorian Mountain Guide, and Black Diamond athlete, Topo Mena. Topo talks about his start in climbing, his mentor Iván Vallejo, and a recent accident paragliding. After Topo's accident, he's been forced to adjust his perspective on life, and the love he has for the mountains.