The Power Company Climbing Podcast

Meghan Baker is a recently married 43 year old mom (to a teenager), who works 50 hours a week, is a brilliant actress in local theater groups, volunteers her time to both The Beta Fund and The HERA Foundation, and still makes time to train for climbing.  We talk through why she sought out coaching, the challenges and benefits of her lifestyle, and what we've focused on for the first year of her tr...

In our first episode of 2017, we talk with climber Craig Demartino, who also happens to be an amputee.  You'd never know it by talking to him or climbing with him, unless he pulls up his pants leg.  Despite the odds, he's become a better rock climber after deciding to amputate his leg.  That's correct... he DECIDED to amputate.  A tough decision that he's very nonchalant about.   You can learn mor...

This is our final episode of 2016!  It's been an amazing year, and 2017 will only be better.  In this Board Meeting, Nate and I discuss strategies and tactics for redpointing.  Some you may know, many you may not.  Most you've probably forgotten or ignored when you needed them.   I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again.  THANK YOU.  Thanks to our patrons, our clients, our listeners, the...

This isn't about training.  It's bigger than that.  It's about community. Miguel's Pizza.  It's been called the "Camp 4 of the East", but that title isn't big enough.  More than what you see on the surface... the cheap camping, amazing pizza, great place to meet partners and sneak beers in brown paper bags, an undeniable climbing institution... Miguel's is a community.  It's an idea.  An inspirati...

Honorary Co-Host Steve Bechtel is back, this time talking about his concept of Integrated Strength Training.   What is that, you ask?  Well, lucky for you, we discuss it at length.  So listen.  Then apply.  Then get stronger.  It's that simple, right?   It's almost our birthday, which means it's almost Christmas, which means we should exchange gifts!  You give us a rating and review on iTunes, and...

Another week, another episode.  You guys have 2 more left before we go back to our 1 or 2 per month regularly scheduled program, and I get to relax a little!  Or maybe we'll make it an even 24 episodes for 2016.  I might... MIGHT... have a special bonus bonus episode for Christmas.  If you're good kids.  We'll see.  In this episode, Nate and I sit down to talk about the top 3 ways to balance your...

LEGEND!  Not much more needs to be said about this weeks guest, Stevie Haston, but I'll say a few more things anyway. How does "flashed 14a trad" grab you?  Or "14d in his mid fifties"?  I figured that would be enough to get your attention. Simply put, Stevie Haston is a machine.  A simple, hard working, sensible machine.   I've admired the Common Sense approach that Stevie brings to his training...

  So many Bonus Episodes!!! In this one, Nate and I sit down to discuss the Top 3 Things We've Changed Our Minds About. Fact is, if you still believe all of the same things you believed last year, then you're probably fucking up. Growth comes at the expense of shedding old ideas, and embracing new ones.  Not all old ideas are bad, and not all new ideas are good.  You've got to weed them out, and o...

In this episode I have a really great conversation with V11 boulderer, mom, and Physical Therapist Carrie Cooper.  She's set big goals for her sport climbing... but 5.11 is still difficult for her.  Not physically, but it's hard nonetheless.  We walk through her process, how she deals with the ego, and talk about what she's learning.  Carrie takes a really smart approach to her fears... one that w...

  In Episode 17 I sit down with mental training guru Arno Ilgner of The Warriors Way.  Most of us recognize The Warriors Way as a way to get over the fear of falling, but it's so much more.  Athletes of all levels can benefit hugely from what Arno and I discuss during this podversation... the differences between being motivated by goals and being motivated by process.  We go into depth with his pr...

  For our first bonus episode, we sit down for a much needed podversation to remind us that climbing and training should be fun.  Stoke is high with Dru Mack, and even though he comes about it naturally, we dig into how he brings that good energy, how he chooses partners that aren't energy suckers, and what being a good partner means.   The Power Company Podcast is brought to you by Power Company...

  In this episode of the Board Meetings, Nate and I have a late night discussion about the top 3 ways we've invested in ourselves.  That could be monetarily, emotionally, with time.... however, as long as it's an investment into bettering ourselves.  A few surprising answers here!   The Power Company Podcast is brought to you by Power Company Climbing and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio C...

In this episode I sit down with strength coach, climber, and multisport athlete Charlie Manganiello, from ClimbStrong, to find out how we can all perform in multiple sports.  Charlie takes a common sense, no bullshit approach to his training and performance, and even though I've chosen to dedicate my energy completely to climbing, I appreciate that candor.   We can't all climb all the time, and so...

As we've taken our Boulder Better workshops to gyms across the country, we've been able to watch and work with climbers of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and attitudes.  We've seen lots of cool, positive things happen, but we've also seen lots of mistakes being made.  In this episode, Nate and I sit down after drinking a pot of coffee and a bottle of wine, and discuss each other's list of Top 3 Mis...

In episode 12 we sit down for a ridiculously fun conversation with coaches and elite boulderers Will Anglin and Rowland Chen.  We dig into their concept P.O.E., which is something I've worked with since forever, but never had a cool name for. Taking this conversation to heart could potentially change your climbing, and may very well be the key to taking it to the next level.   You can find Will at...

It's finally here.  For quite some time I've toyed with the idea of "in between" episodes.  I can get the great podversations that you've come to expect out about once per month.  More than that and I lose my mind.  So while on our recent workshop tour, Nate and I sat down and figured out a rough format for a new concept.  The Board Meetings were born.   We've recorded several episodes already, an...

You already know the name.  You've read his books.  He's basically the first name in training for climbing in America. Eric Hörst.  My initial foray into training led me directly to his early books, and I've learned more about the science of training and how to apply it to climbing from Eric than from anyone else.   This podversation is about a new chapter in the updated, 3rd Edition of Eric's "Tr...

In this episode I sit down with professional climber, routesetter, and youth coach, Jon Cardwell, and talk about the challenges inherent to long distance projecting.  Jon recently completed his long term project, Biographie (5.15a), in Ceuse, over 5,000 miles from his home.  And you thought 150 miles was too far... We talk about the mental and emotional toll, as well as how he structured his physi...

In this episode we talk with honorary co-host Steve Bechtel and his co-author Charlie Manganiello about their new resource "The Climb Strong Deadlifting Manual".  They tell us why deadlifting is the number one bang for your buck exercise for strength training for climbers, and give some background on the how, why, and when.  You can find out more about Steve and Charlie at  climbstrong.com , or by...

In this episode I have a short podversation with Carlo Traversi.   You know him as a boulderer, or maybe, if you follow him closely, you know he's been National Sport Climbing Champion.  But that's not all.  He started in Yosemite as a traddie, and plans on taking it back to there.  He calls it "Folding the sport over on itself".  This concept resonates with me, as it's the path that I'm choosing...

In this, Episode 6, we sit down with listener favorite Steve Bechtel at his gym in Lander, Wyoming, and talk about the question everyone is asking... "will running help my climbing?" We delve into running as both a weight loss tool and as aerobic training for climbing, whether or not you should be running, and if Crossfit is even worth it.     You can find Steve at  www.climbstrong.com .   The Pow...

In this episode I sit down with Alli Rainey, a Tensleep, Wyoming based climbing coach and trainer, writer, and yoga instructor.  Alli climbed up to 5.14 in her signature, vertical, technical style, and then decided to learn how to climb steeper, more gymnastic routes... and had to change her entire approach to training and climbing, not to mention her body type, to do so.   You can find Alli at  w...

In this episode I sit down for a podversation with strength coach Paul Corsaro about our new Ebook training plan, Kettlebells for Climbers.  We discuss why we like kettlebells as a strength training tool for climbers, as well as their limitations.    You can find the training plan  HERE. You can find Paul's blog HERE.   The Power Company Podcast is brought to you by Power Company Climbing  and is...

Very excited to bring this talk to you!  In this episode I sit down with my good friend Rannveig Aamodt, a Norwegian climber and model, and talk about her impressive road to recovery after a terrible accident.  In 2012 she took a 50 foot groundfall in Turkey, with only herself to blame.  We go deep into how that affected her mentality and her psyche to return to climbing, or physical activity in g...

    In Episode 2 I sit down with Steve Bechtel at his gym in Lander, Wyoming, to talk resistance training for climbers.  Yes, lifting weights.  No, you won't get swole.  Yes, you should do it.  But enough of that.  Just listen.  We've already recorded two more hours with Steve, so you'll hear more from him in the coming months!   You can find Steve at  climbstrong.com , and more about his gym, Ele...