Climbing Gold cover image

Climbing Gold

Beth Rodden: A Light Through The Cracks

Sep 6, 2024
Beth Rodden, a trailblazing climber and the first woman to conquer 5.14, shares her journey of vulnerability and resilience. She discusses her new book, shedding light on the emotional struggles within the climbing community. Topics include navigating trauma from personal experiences, the balance of love and risk in climbing relationships, and adapting to life changes like injury and divorce. Beth emphasizes finding joy in simplicity and shared experiences, encouraging climbers to embrace change while cherishing personal growth.
41:56

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Beth Rodden's journey underscores the emotional complexities of climbers, revealing how personal struggles often contrast with their public success.
  • The evolution of success in climbing reflects a shift from external accolades to internal fulfillment and community support for mental health.

Deep dives

Aspiration and Challenge in Climbing

A climber's ambition is often guided by both personal goals and the routes that have yet to be completed, with aspirations such as freeing the Nose in Yosemite serving as a testament to their skill. Many notable routes have been repeated, while others like Lurking Fear remain challenges yet to be conquered, highlighting the ongoing quest among climbers for achievement and recognition. The enduring legacy of significant climbs can be seen in the history of attempts, for instance, the first ascent of Lurking Fear by Tommy Caldwell and Beth Rodden, which remains a benchmark in modern climbing. The discussion underscores how the climbing community continually strives towards excellence while also navigating personal growth through these monumental challenges.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode