Best Chris Kalous Podcasts (2024)

1
Eva Lopez on Women in Sports, Rivalries, and What Josune Means to Climbing History 57:56

2h ago57:56

57:56

Eva Lopez is one of the top Spanish climbers in history. While she is largely known as one of the world’s foremost researchers on training for climbing, she’s also a crusher. She was the 5th woman to to climb 8c and in 2013, at 42 years old, climbed her first 8c+, a route she bolted called Potemkin. In this episode, Eva and Kris discuss the state o…

1
RunOut 123: How NFL Lineman Wes Schweitzer Uses Rock Climbing to Move Better and Get Stronger 1:06:45

2d ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Our guest today is #71 for the New York Jets: Wes Schweitzer, an offensive guard whose injuries sent him down a curious path of recovery: rock climbing. Since discovering the sport, Wes has fallen in love with climbing and uses it as a tool to improve his performance on and off the field. At 6’4” 330-pounds, Wes is considered one of the strongest l…

1
Josune Bereziartu Goes Honky Tonkin' 33:52

4d ago33:52

33:52

Basque superstar Josune Bereziartu first tied in as the 80’s were changing into the 90’s, after seeing a documentary showing two women climbing in the Verdon. Within those first few months of Josune learning to climb, Lynn Hill did the first 14a ever climbed by a woman. By the middle of the 90’s Josune became the 5th woman to equal the feat, which …

1
Episode 113: 2025 gear preview 52:07

7d ago52:07

52:07

This is a quick PSA that spring is the most dangerous time of year to let your guard down in avalanche terrain. Listeners, please stay safe out there. Then, we get into the gear previews for the upcoming season! Thanks for listening and joining us for the 2023-2024 season. And remember: be safe out there. More info about TDP at Totally Deep Podcast…

1
Enormocast 283: Clint Helander – To Live in Hearts We Leave Behind 1:16:17

10d ago1:16:17

1:16:17

On Episode 283 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a hotel in Munising, Michigan at the Michigan Icefest with Alaska-based alpinist, Clint Helander. What with the Chris Kalous Dance Party and the last call nightcap(s) at a bar literally called Whisky Dick’s, it had been a long night and an early morning for both … Continue reading "Enormocast 283: Cli…

1
Enormocast 283: Clint Helander – To Live in Hearts We Leave Behind 1:16:17

10d ago1:16:17

1:16:17

On Episode 283 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a hotel in Munising, Michigan at the Michigan Icefest with Alaska-based alpinist, Clint Helander. What with the Chris Kalous Dance Party and the last call nightcap(s) at a bar literally called Whisky Dick’s, it had been a long night and an early morning for both … Continue reading "Enormocast 283: Cli…

1
Chris Schulte on the Magic of Fontainebleau, Climbing Lifelist Boulders and Catherine Miquel 1:15:37

11d ago1:15:37

1:15:37

Chris Schulte is a boulderer who is obsessed with the lines and shapes of climbing. He fell in love with Fontainebleau many years ago based on a photo of Fred Nicole climbing Karma and has cultivated a relationship with the forest and climbed many life-list boulders there. In this episode, Kris asks Chris to describe the forest in his poetic way, a…

1
Catherine Miquel Wins the Duel 31:15

18d ago31:15

31:15

Throughout the 90s, Catherine Miquel was the undisputed queen of bouldering. Surprised you haven’t heard her name? I was too, but we aren’t alone. Not many of the people I’ve talked to know of her or her incredible resume. Climbing in Fontainebleau, she entered the decade as the only woman to climb V8, and then it was off to the races. Again and ag…

1
Josie McKee on Curiosity and the Mindset of Climbing Freerider 2:09:45

23d ago2:09:45

2:09:45

Josie McKee is a climbing guide, former YOSAR member, all-around big wall super badass and a climbing coach through her company Mind Athlete. She’s climbed El Cap over 20 times, set several speed records, has free climbed damn near every Valley classic, and her Yosemite resume rivals just about anyone’s. In this episode, Josie walks Kris through ea…

1
RunOut 122: Will Moss Leaves No Stone Unclimbed 1:31:03

23d ago1:31:03

1:31:03

Will Moss is a comp climber turned traddie from New York City, who has been quietly ticking some of the hardest gear-protected routes in the country over the past couple of years. His most recent notable ascent is the FA of the Gunks hardest: The Best Things in Life Are Free (5.14d R).But first, we wind our way into a discussion about the elusive “…

1
Chris Kalous on Freerider, Big Wall Climbing Rules, and How the Hubers Shifted History 1:12:24

25d ago1:12:24

1:12:24

If you were following Chris Kalous and The Enormocast in the early days, then you are well aware that he’s climbed Freerider. And if you follow his new show, The Runout, you know how interested he is in the history of one specific pitch of The Free Salathe - Pitch 19 - the pitch that Alex Huber subverted by climbing the Monster Offwidth, thus layin…

1
Enormocast 282: Natalia Grossman – The Tyranny of Expectations 54:32

28d ago54:32

54:32

On Episode 282 of the Enormocast, I sit down with US Olympic qualifier, Natalia Grossman. That’s right, Natalia is headed to Paris to represent the US in Lead and Boulder combined (speed is separate this time around). But this moment was caught during a bit of down time for Natalia as she ramps up for … Continue reading "Enormocast 282: Natalia Gro…

1
Enormocast 282: Natalia Grossman – The Tyranny of Expectations 54:32

1M ago54:32

54:32

On Episode 282 of the Enormocast, I sit down with US Olympic qualifier, Natalia Grossman. That’s right, Natalia is headed to Paris to represent the US in Lead and Boulder combined (speed is separate this time around). But this moment was caught during a bit of down time for Natalia as she ramps up for … Continue reading "Enormocast 282: Natalia Gro…

1
Alex Huber Rides Free 50:40

1M ago50:40

50:40

In 1998, Alex and Thomas Huber climbed the first ascent of Freerider on El Capitan in just over 15 hours. Their climb ushered in a new era of big wall free climbing, and there’s no question it was a hugely important moment in climbing history. But the way we credit it, most often simply to Alex Huber, ignores the rich history of the route. The Hube…

1
Enormocast Tweener: Harvey Wright Returns with Patio Pacifica 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

On this in-between episode of the Enormocast, Harvey Wright from Episode 222 returns to discuss his ongoing treatment and recovery for addiction. But more importantly, Harvey is here to talk about his new album, Patio Pacifica, written almost entirely while in a Vancouver treatment facility. Also, we talk about the rough and dirty years since … Con…

1
Enormocast Tweener: Harvey Wright Returns with Patio Pacifica 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

On this in-between episode of the Enormocast, Harvey Wright from Episode 222 returns to discuss his ongoing treatment and recovery for addiction. But more importantly, Harvey is here to talk about his new album, Patio Pacifica, written almost entirely while in a Vancouver treatment facility. Also, we talk about the rough and dirty years since … Con…

1
How to Climb Cowboy Direct: Jordan Cannon on The Struggle Climbing Show 1:44:31

2M ago1:44:31

1:44:31

Today, we're featuring a great conversation between our friend Ryan Devlin, host and creator of the Struggle Climbing Show and member of the Plug Tone Collective, and Jordan Cannon. In this bonus episode, Jordan takes us on the unbelievable adventure of tackling one of the toughest high-altitude big wall ascents in the world, the Cowboy Direct rout…

1
RunOut #121: Beth Rodden Reveals A Light Through the Cracks

1M ago

—

Today’s guest is a climbing icon and legend: the great Beth Rodden. Beth was a youth national comp champ who went on to become one of the greatest female climbers of her time, with important first free ascents of El Cap and single-pitch trad test pieces such as Meltdown, a 5.14c crack that many say is harder and took a decade before it was repeated…

1
Mike Lilygren on Todd Skinner, Leadership, and Climbing Trango Tower 1:01:14

1M ago1:01:14

1:01:14

In his book, Beyond the Summit, Todd Skinner wrote, “Mike Lilygren had a schoolboy face and Dennis the Menace hair, an irritatingly endless sense of humor, and a tinkerer’s mind for detail. He would turn into “the closer” on the expedition, the one who kept getting stronger as the burden increased, the keystone that bridged the way to the summit.” …

1
Jordan Cannon on Cowboy Direct, Climbing History and the Importance of Storytelling 1:22:12

2M ago1:22:12

1:22:12

In 2023, Yosemite big wall free climbing ace Jordan Cannon joined Matt Segal and Jesse Huey on a trip to Pakistan to test their mettle against Trango Tower. Specifically, they were looking at the unrepeated Cowboy Direct, established in 1995 by Todd Skinner, Mike Lilygren, Bobby Model and Jeff Bechtel. In this episode, Kris and Jordan discuss the a…

1
Enormocast 281: Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins of Memphis Rox – Peace Above All 1:20:03

2M ago1:20:03

1:20:03

On Episode 281 of the Enormocast, Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins from Memphis Rox join to discuss the mission of the famous pay-what-you-can gym, Memphis Rox, in the inner-city of Memphis, TN. Jon is director of operations, and Tye went from walk-in to head coach and course-setter. Memphis Rox, founded by Tom Shadyac in 2018, … Continue reading "Enormoca…

1
Enormocast 281: Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins of Memphis Rox – Peace Above All 1:20:03

2M ago1:20:03

1:20:03

On Episode 281 of the Enormocast, Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins from Memphis Rox join to discuss the mission of the famous pay-what-you-can gym, Memphis Rox, in the inner-city of Memphis, TN. Jon is director of operations, and Tye went from walk-in to head coach and course-setter. Memphis Rox, founded by Tom Shadyac in 2018, … Continue reading "Enormoca…

1
Todd Skinner and Team Cowboy Up 51:13

2M ago51:13

51:13

In 1995, Todd Skinner began assembling a team for an audacious ascent in the Himalayan Karakoram. He’d been shown photos of a golden, rocket-ship-shaped tower that looked like it could be sitting in Yosemite, except it sat at 19,000 feet and was surrounded by some of the greatest mountains on earth. But he didn’t gather a team of experienced alpini…

1
Jonathan Siegrist on the Difficulty of Grading and Climbing for the Challenge 1:13:26

2M ago1:13:26

1:13:26

Jonathan Siegrist isn’t just one of America’s best and most prolific sport climbers, having climbed over 25 5.15’s. He’s also someone who thinks deeply about what climbing offers us, and works to make sure we stay on track. In this episode, Kris and Jonathan discuss one of the most controversial topics in climbing, grades. How grades come about, wh…

1
RunOut #120: Josh Wharton Redpoints the Alpine 1:16:04

2M ago1:16:04

1:16:04

Josh Wharton is one of America’s top alpine climbers, with light and fast ascents of iconic peaks from Patagonia to Alaska to the Himalaya. His latest first free ascent with Vince Anderson, is called Suerte (5.13a, WI6, M7, 3,500 feet) and it’s located on Jirishanca (20,100 feet) in Peru. This ascent, which took years to “alpine redpoint,” is featu…

1
Seb Bouin on Akira, Grading DNA and French Climbing History 43:29

2M ago43:29

43:29

Seb Bouin is one of only three climbers who have climbed 5.15d (9c). Following in the footsteps of leading French climbers, he established his testpiece, DNA, in 2023 in the Verdon Gorge. It may not be a coincidence that this came shortly after his Vintage Rock Tour, in which he climbed all of the firsts in France from 7c+ to 9a+, including the fir…

1
Enormocast 280: Taps 2024 – The Really Bollocks Edition 2:23:32

2M ago2:23:32

2:23:32

On Episode 280 of the Enormocast we present the 2024 Taps edition of the Enormocast. This is the annual episode where we lay to rest traditions, foibles, and notions in climbing that are either sadly going to sleep never to reawaken, or should be put to bed for good. The Enormocast is joined by our … Continue reading "Enormocast 280: Taps 2024 – Th…

1
Enormocast 280: Taps 2024 – The Really Bollocks Edition 2:23:32

2M ago2:23:32

2:23:32

On Episode 280 of the Enormocast we present the 2024 Taps edition of the Enormocast. This is the annual episode where we lay to rest traditions, foibles, and notions in climbing that are either sadly going to sleep never to reawaken, or should be put to bed for good. The Enormocast is joined by our … Continue reading "Enormocast 280: Taps 2024 – Th…

1
Fred Rouhling, Akira and the Biggest Climbing Controversy of the 1990s 49:04

2M ago49:04

49:04

Fred Rouhling was a good climber, but 5.15b? At a time when 14d was the hardest grade, Fred suggested that his half boulder/half route hybrid, Akira, was much harder than any other climb on the planet. Not many people believed the quiet, usually reserved French climber. Many of the top pros at the time; Ben Moon, Jibe Tribout and Alex Huber, would …

1
BONUS: Nina Caprez on Attempting to Climb The Nose with Lynn Hill 9:08

2M ago9:08

9:08

Nina Caprez is a weapon. Known as the ‘Swiss Machine’, and easily one of the most accomplished big wall free climbers on the planet, she had her eyes on freeing The Nose, and she had partnered up with none other than Lynn Hill. What could possibly stand in her way? The same thing that nearly stopped Lynn. Changing Corners. In this episode, Kris and…

1
Lauren Delaunay Miller on Lynn Hill and The History of Women Climbing in Yosemite 59:11

2M ago59:11

59:11

Lauren Delaunay Miller is a climber, former YOSAR member, and award winning author of Valley of Giants: Stories from Women at the Heart of Yosemite Climbing. From her first moments in Yosemite Valley, hearing the stories of the inspiring women who not only climbed hard things but built the community, she knew that a book was necessary. She just did…

1
Enormocast 279: David Smart and Royal Robbins – Some Work of Noble Note 1:34:51

3M ago1:34:51

1:34:51

On episode 279 of the Enormocast, we have an allt-ime double-header. First, David Smart joins from Toronto to talk about his life as a climber and his new book from The Mountaineers, Royal Robbins: The American Climber. Royal Robbins was one of the most influential climbers of all time, and David’s book is the most … Continue reading "Enormocast 27…

1
Enormocast 279: David Smart and Royal Robbins – Some Work of Noble Note 1:34:51

3M ago1:34:51

1:34:51

On episode 279 of the Enormocast, we have an allt-ime double-header. First, David Smart joins from Toronto to talk about his life as a climber and his new book from The Mountaineers, Royal Robbins: The American Climber. Royal Robbins was one of the most influential climbers of all time, and David’s book is the most … Continue reading "Enormocast 27…

1
Chelsea Griffie on Leading the Way and Being the First Black Woman to Climb El Cap 33:03

3M ago33:03

33:03

In 2001, Chelsea Griffie topped out on Lurking Fear on the far left side of El Capitan and became the first black woman to climb the world famous formation. But she didn’t realize that until years later. She was just looking for things to challenge her. In this episode, Kris and Chelsea discuss the path of her climbing that led to El Cap, what bein…

1
RunOut #119: Dean Fidelman, Portraits of an Artist 1:26:18

3M ago1:26:18

1:26:18

Dean Fidelman is a legendary climbing photographer, whose body of work and portraitures have come as close to capturing the elusive soul of our sport as any photographer ever has. He’s perhaps best known for his Stone Nudes series of fine-art black-and-white bouldering photographs, but his career first began as a 16 year old kid with a camera, docu…

1
Bobbi Bensman on Lynn Hill and 1990s Competition Climbing 36:51

3M ago36:51

36:51

Bobbi Bensman was one of the most dominant competition climbers of the 1990s, winning the Phoenix Bouldering Contest 13 years in a row and 20 National Championships. She’s still going strong, adding every year to a 5.13 ticklist that’s now over 250 routes long. In this episode, Kris and Bobbi discuss her years as a competition climber, her greatest…

1
Lynn Hill Proves It Goes 39:58

3M ago39:58

39:58

Lynn Hill was looking for a different kind of progression. By the mid-1990’s climbing grades had skyrocketed, and Lynn was climbing harder and harder. But the difficulty wasn’t what drove her. She wanted adventure. Partnership. To push into the unknown. Something BIG. And there was one prize that had been talked about for decades with the air of a …

1
Enormocast 278: Thomas Bukowski – A Funny Little Life 1:20:37

3M ago1:20:37

1:20:37

On Episode 278 of the Enormocast, I connect with Thomas Bukowski from my home to his van sitting in Yosemite. Thomas had just completed three El Cap routes in three days, and was recovering. His next adventures in Patagonia were just on the horizon. Thomas is an American citizen, but is also half Chinese and … Continue reading "Enormocast 278: Thom…

1
Enormocast 278: Thomas Bukowski – A Funny Little Life 1:20:37

3M ago1:20:37

1:20:37

On Episode 278 of the Enormocast, I connect with Thomas Bukowski from my home to his van sitting in Yosemite. Thomas had just completed three El Cap routes in three days, and was recovering. His next adventures in Patagonia were just on the horizon. Thomas is an American citizen, but is also half Chinese and … Continue reading "Enormocast 278: Thom…

1
RunOut #118: The Power of Climbing Community and Development—and the Threats it Faces

3M ago

—

Two amazing guests today. Two important conversations related to community and development.First, we speak to Sam Lightner Jr. about the latest threats to climbing access in America. Sam is a prolific route developer, who is perhaps best known for developing the climbing in Southern Thailand and helping turn Railey and Tonsai beaches into the desti…

1
BONUS: The French vs. The British | A Battle of Route Names 30:13

3M ago30:13

30:13

Starting in the 80s, and extending well into the 90s, it seemed to be the French vs. The British for sport climbing supremacy. At the middle of this war of words and routes were Ben Moon and Jibe Tribout, and the greatest battles would play out at Buoux and Raven Tor, two of the most legendary crags of the era. Check out more here! Join the Secret …

1
Episode 112: Doug vs the military 55:23

3M ago55:23

55:23

Doug sits down with Nathan Fry and Pantelis "Jerry" Geralis to talk about their experience in the Edelweiss raid, a military training event for mountain warfare. The gauntlet is thrown leading up to the 2024 Elk Mountain Grand Traverse race where Nathan and Jerry will text their need for lycra and speed to drop the rucksacks and come out to Colorad…

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