Circle Up!

CONTENT WARNING: Nothing too scandalous is talked about in this episode, but we do refer to the platform OnlyFans and if you are a parent, maybe listen to this episode first before letting someone under 18 listen! If you are under 18, please talk to your parent, guardian, or trusted adult before listening. With that said, this is our next episode in our series of "ethical debates" in climbing and sport. We start with the apparent glorification of danger, specifically free soloing and highballing and how it relates to the age of social media and click baiting. We then discuss how OnlyFans has been offering athletes contracts to endorse their platform and use it however they want to--we discuss whether this would change your career as a professional athlete or limit potential opportunities. That leads to a discussion about the use of athletes to garner positive public perception and how the "Enhanced Games" are doing just that for big pharma and venture capitol firms. We also go a bit more climbing specific and talk about whether it still counts as a "flash" if you've trained on a 3D printed replica before trying an outdoor boulder. This was spicier than our typical episodes so PLEASE let us know what you think!

Welcome back for another episode of the Circle Up! Podcast. In this episode, Kyra and Allison go over what Allison has been up to in the recent months since she hasn't been on the podcast for a while. She's mainly been in the "pain cave" focusing on training now that she's healthy and was able to have a proper "off" season. Allison shares what she's been focusing on and how that focus on improving her weaknesses has actually helped hone in her training over the last couple months and make tangible improvements, even if it costs some margin on her strengths. Her and Kyra then go on a long tangent about board climbing and how it can be helpful in anyone's training of any level. Kyra shares some big updates on her end, like how she's gotten into trail running, her new position on the IFSC Board, and what events she has coming up.

The Glassbergs are no strangers to juggling chaos. Between running a production company (Louder Than 11), raising two-year-old twin girls, and traveling the world to capture some of the most impressive climbing of our time; their lives are full to the brim. Which is exactly why Kyra and Freddie thought they'd be a fantastic fit for the Mentorship Sessions Series. In this conversation, Jon and Jess open up about the challenges of parenthood, the exciting projects they’re working on, Jess’s crash course into climbing, Jon’s own climbing journey, and Jess's PHD, among many other topics. Since recording, their feature length film GIRL CLIMBER—featuring Emily Harrington’s groundbreaking free ascent of El Cap Free in a day—has been released, so be sure to check it out. This episode also shines a light on how mentorship can look different within a partnership, highlighting the ways couples can mentor and support each other across all areas of life. Like what you hear? Join our Patreon! 👉 patreon.com/circleup Follow us on Instagram: 👉 instagram.com/crcleup

In this episode Kyra Condie and Freddie Kolwey chat about how sometimes your mood (and let’s be honest) your self worth is tied to sending a rock. Kyra experienced this on her latest trip to Africa, talking about how projecting was wearing down on her and how she had a specific day where the goal was to stand on top of “anything”. Kyra and Freddie both share stories relating to how their mood has improved after sending or how they’ve managed that, and whether that is an inherently “bad” thing or not. Then they talk about what it’s like to climb with a climbing parter who has a very different ability level than yourself, whether that’s much better or much worse. Freddie shares how she’s framed climbing with people who are stronger than her and Kyra shares how she sometimes finds it easier to climb alone when the social dynamics get too complicated or are taking away from the quality of her session. Like what you hear? Join our Patreon! 👉 patreon.com/circleup Follow us on Instagram: 👉 instagram.com/crcleup

Welcome to the Mentorship Sessions, a Circle Up! mini-series where we share high-level mentorship insights through real conversations with pairs who’ve guided and learned from each other. In this episode, UK-based professional climber and full-time coach Mat Wright joins with his client and friend Sevan Mclean, an incredibly strong and enthusiastic climber from Montana. Together with hosts Kyra Condie and Freddie Kolwey, they dive into the ways their coaching relationship has shaped both of them—showing that mentorship goes both directions. Mat and Sevan share how their late starts in climbing, unique backgrounds, and outlooks on life have influenced their approaches to the sport. Sevan, who has also coached a local youth team, talks about the thoughtful lessons he aims to pass on to the next generation, while Mat reflects on the joy he finds in helping others push their limits through focusing on improving their mental game, technique, and physical fitness. Like what you hear? Join our Patreon! 👉 patreon.com/circleup Follow us on Instagram: 👉 instagram.com/crcleup