EP 179: Cat Runner — Life After Winning The Climb, Embracing Trans Pride, and Sending Big at 5’0”
The Nugget Climbing Podcast
The Threat of Identity Labels
"People are just so threatened by the fact that their version of something could mean something else to someone else," she says. "I think people, I think it all stems from people's own insecurities probably, it must." She adds: "Even if you don't understand it, we're all performing ... We're all like following rules or in gender and like careers and life"
Cat Runner is the winner of the HBO show The Climb. Cat sat down with me and Ethan Pringle at our cabin here in Rocklands to talk about what his life has looked like after The Climb, his experience filming the show, the stereotypical trans narrative in the media, why he chooses to be visible, his ungendered childhood, gender roles in sports, why people feel threatened by trans or queer identities, dealing with trolls, owning your accomplishments, building the Queer Climber’s Network, Rocklands highlights, and much more!
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Show Notes:
thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/cat-runner
Nuggets:
0:04:44 – Cat’s tea situation
0:07:53 – Ethan’s coffee addiction, and why he doesn’t drink it before doing something scary
0:11:20 – The Queer Climbers’ Network
0:16:15 – Life after winning The Climb
0:22:23 – Finding community through climbing, and helping others find that too
0:25:37 – Cat’s experience filming and watching the show
0:28:54 – Being trans as part of Cat’s identity, and how that came across in the show
0:30:38 – More behind the scenes, and what the climbing experience was like on the show
0:32:15 – Meeting Jason Mamoa, and meme accounts
0:34:14 – The reaction to the show, and getting messages from trans kids and their parents
0:36:35 – The stereotypical trans narrative in the media, and pushing people into the role of spokesperson
0:39:22 – Choosing to be visible, being proud of being trans, and seeing a future
0:42:36 – Being who he needed when he was younger, and trying to change one person’s world
0:44:14 – What Cat would have benefitted from as a kid, experiencing severe depression, and knowing he’s a part of the future
0:46:36 – Reading The Alchemist, and having intimate connections with individual people
0:51:43 – Cat’s childhood, transitioning within the binary, and how his gender identity has evolved
0:58:14 – Connecting with he/him pronouns
1:00:36 – Why people feel threatened by trans or queer identities, trolls, and the reaction to my video clip with Alayna Joy about climbing as a queer space
1:07:30 – Why Cat is particular about who he climbs with
1:10:28 – The trolliest of troll questions
1:11:16 – People’s insecurities, and “we’re all performing”
1:15:03 – Knowing when to give your energy to people, and leading with respect
1:19:36 – “Trans people are humans”, and the stat that 80% of Americans have never met a person they know to be trans
1:22:00 – An issue of isolation and ignorance
1:25:16 – Hopeful conversations, anti-trans legislation, and false information about gender-affirming care
1:27:56 – Cat’s parents
1:31:50 – Gender roles and sports, and the gender gap in climbing
1:38:25 – Height in climbing, the subjectivity of grades, and why outdoor rock climbing is so cool
1:43:49 – Rapid Fire: Best decision
1:44:19 – Rapid Fire: Most proud of
1:49:09 – Rapid Fire: What frustrates you
2:01:00 – Taking responsibility
2:03:28 – “Take! Falling!”
2:05:02 – Rapid Fire: Favorite rock type
2:07:46 – Rapid Fire: Ultimate dream climb
2:15:36 – Rapid Fire: Favorite send reward
2:17:04 – Rapid Fire: Go-to climbing shoes
2:23:00 – Rapid Fire: Desert Island DVD
2:25:31 – Rapid Fire: Favorite album for a long drive
2:28:49 – The one thing Cat wants people to know about trans stuff
2:31:29 – Taking representation seriously, and how sharing human stories cracks people open
2:38:17 – Doing your best, and sharing information with your circle
2:44:30 – Cat’s ankle injury, and his tick list from Rocklands
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