

the Sharp End Podcast
the Sharp End Podcast
A podcast produced/hosted by Ashley Saupe, sponsored by Rocky Talkie and supported by the American Alpine Institute. This podcast aims to minimize future outdoor accidents by way of story telling. Real people sharing real stories.
"Play Hard and Be Smart"
www.thesharpendpodcast.com
"Play Hard and Be Smart"
www.thesharpendpodcast.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 1, 2025 • 50min
Ep 117 - Early Season Avalanche - Dominic Torro
On December 9th, 2023, Domimic triggered an avalanche in the great gulf on the North Eastern side of Mt Washington. The plan was to ski “Airplane Gully", which is one of the longer and more remote lines in the Presidentials. He ended up getting rescued and spent the next year and a half getting seven surgeries dealing with recovery after recovery. This is really the perfect episode to produce as we all roll into fall and start to think about the winter season approaching. What type of ski bindings are you going to invest in and why? What type of equipment will be in your backcountry pack? What type of skills will your backcountry partners have?
I hope you learn something from this episode and of course, I hope you enjoy.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie, the American Alpine Institute and Desert Mountain Medicine.
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ 10% off any wilderness med course with Desert Mountain Medicine using code SHARPEND
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ Global Rescue Insurance: https://partner.globalrescue.com/thesharpendpodcast/index.html
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Sep 1, 2025 • 36min
Ep 116 - Early Off Piste Lesson - Gregg Kavet
What is it like to see a pair of skis on a glacier with no one around? What is it like to hear someone’s hoarse and terrified voice deep inside a crevasse screaming up at you? Gregg Kavet knows first hand. Gregg has lots of learnings from this incident in this episode. The classic objective learnings, of course, as well as how this experience shaped his parenting style with his own boys. He reflects on how to discuss threatening environments with his kids and how to describe the risk his kids take can affect their future.
Tune in to hear the full account.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie, the American Alpine Institute and Desert Mountain Medicine.
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ 10% off any wilderness med course with Desert Mountain Medicine using code SHARPEND
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ Global Rescue Insurance: https://partner.globalrescue.com/thesharpendpodcast/index.html
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Jul 31, 2025 • 44min
Ep 115 - LIVE RECORDING at eTOWN Boulder CO - Part II - Route to Resilience - Laura McGladrey
A Route to Resilience: Recognizing and Supporting Psychological Stress Injuries in Outdoor Culture A LIVE Sharp End Podcast with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Part 2:
The Route To Healing- Supporting Each Other & Ourselves
In the second installment of this two-part series, Laura McGladrey shares a range of practical tools for recognizing and managing stress injuries. Drawing from her extensive experience in mental health and wilderness medicine, McGladrey explores both personal strategies and broader systemic approaches that can be implemented within outdoor communities and workplaces. Her insights emphasize resilience, peer support, and the importance of creating a culture where stress injury awareness is normalized and actively addressed.
Episodes to listen to before this one:
--> Ep 111 - Big Fall from Bad Comms with Manny and Tyler
--> Ep 114 - Part I - Route to Resilience
We reference Episode 111 several times throughout this conversation, so we encourage you to give that one a listen first. Then, be sure to check out Episode 114, which is Part 1 of the Route to Resilience series. That episode focuses on psychological stress injuries in outdoor culture and lays the groundwork for the tools and strategies discussed here in Part 2.
This episode was brought to you by:
Rocky Talkie and Desert Mountain Medicine
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ 10% off any wilderness med course with Desert Mountain Medicine using code SHARPEND
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ Global Rescue Insurance: https://partner.globalrescue.com/thesharpendpodcast/index.html
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Jul 15, 2025 • 33min
Bonus Episode - July 15 - Designed By Disaster - Danny Giovale
In this conversation, Danny Giovale shares his journey as an outdoor enthusiast and innovator, discussing his film 'Designed by Disaster' which recounts a life-altering climbing accident. He explains the development of his products, including the KTS crampon and microspikes, designed to enhance safety in non-technical terrains. The discussion emphasizes the importance of risk assessment in outdoor activities and how personal experiences shape product innovation. Danny also highlights the significance of preparedness and the lessons learned from his and others' experiences in the field. In this conversation, Ashley and Danny discuss innovative outdoor gear, particularly the upcoming Microspikes Ghost, and share personal hiking experiences that highlight the importance of safety and preparedness in outdoor activities. They also delve into the philanthropic aspects of Danny's business, emphasizing environmental responsibility and community engagement. The conversation wraps up with plans for future adventures and a call to action for listeners to prioritize safety and support local businesses.
Make sure to watch 'Designed by Disaster'.
Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s GIVEAWAY! Kahtoola is gifting one lucky winner a pair of the KTS’s, since those tie directly into the origins of Danny’s story. In addition to that product, Kahtoola will also throw in a pair of MICROspikes! To enter the giveaway, head to thesharpendpodcast.com and enter right on the homepage. Drawing will be 7/31. One entry per person.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This is a BONUS episode supported by all my PATREON members. Head over to Patreon.com, search ‘The Sharp End Podcast’ and become a Patreon member today. This podcast survives off of the support from my listeners.
→ 20% off all traction and crampon products including the original KTS with code SHARPEND
(Discount valid from 7/15 to 8/30) at https://kahtoola.com/
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ 10% off any wilderness med course with Desert Mountain Medicine using code SHARPEND
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ Global Rescue Insurance: https://partner.globalrescue.com/thesharpendpodcast/index.html
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Jul 1, 2025 • 36min
Ep 114 - LIVE RECORDING at eTOWN Boulder CO - Part I - Route to Resilience - Laura McGladrey
A Route to Resilience: Recognizing and Supporting Psychological Stress Injuries in
Outdoor Culture A LIVE Sharp End Podcast with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Part 1: Psychological Stress Injuries in Outdoor Culture
As you all know, the guests on my show share outdoor incidents they were involved in. Many of those stories have a physical injury that takes the focus. Say, a broken ankle from a climber falling, etc. In the outdoor and climbing industry we often think of stress injuries as being a physical overuse injury, but this is something different.
In 2018, I had the pleasure of interviewing Laura McGladrey for the 34th episode of my podcast. The podcast is titled, Psychological First Aid, and at that time, I didn’t know very much about what that was. It was during this interview that I did with Laura, I learned that I actually have a stress injury from producing this podcast!
What I’ve learned in 10.5 years of producing this podcast is the importance of highlighting and creating awareness around the very topic that this episode is all about.
Tune in to hear Laura McGladrey, founder and director of the Responder Alliance, explain how and why stress injuries came to be.
Make sure to follow up on August 1 for Part 2 (The Route To Healing: Supporting Each Other And Ourselves) of this series!
This episode is brought to you by: Rocky Talkie and Desert Mountain Medicine

Jun 15, 2025 • 32min
Bonus Episode - 6:15 - "...But I Won't Fall There." - Peter Johnston
Peter Johnston is a long-time rock climber and currently resides in Portland, Oregon. After seeing years of truly poor decision making at his local crags, Peter gathered his observations and thoughts about these experiences and began writing it all down. About one year ago, the final result was "...But I Won't Fall There," released by Sharp End Publishing from Boulder, CO.
Peter believes the content of this book has a lot of potential overlap with topics on the Sharp End Podcast and he is excited for you to read it.
Make sure to grab your copy of "...But I Won't Fall There," by Peter Johnston.
Click this link to get yours.
https://stores.sharpendbooks.com/but-i-wont-fall-there-risk-assessment-when-transitioning-from-gym-to-crag/
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This is a BONUS episode supported by all my PATREON members. Head over to Patreon.com, search ‘The Sharp End Podcast’ and become a Patreon member today. This podcast survives off of the support from my listeners.
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Jun 1, 2025 • 49min
Ep 113 - Second Attempt on Temple Crag Peak - Megan and Michael
Over the past few years, Megan and Michael had their eyes set on Temple Crag Peak; a 13,000 foot peak about six miles into the backcountry of the Eastern Sierras in California. The two of them attempted it in late July of 2021, and ended up being stuck on the side of the mountain during a thunderstorm for several hours during the retreat. That’s one story… but then they went back this past summer to try again. After a 23 hour day, they made the summit and learned a lot along the way. Tune in to this episode to hear the full story.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie.
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

May 4, 2025 • 2min
LIVE EVENT: Route to Resilience
ROUTE TO RESILIENCE:
Recognizing and Supporting Stress Injuries
A LIVE Sharp End Podcast Event with Responder Alliance Founder Laura McGladrey
Wed, May 28, doors at 6pm
7pm - 9:30pm MDT
eTOWN in Boulder, Colorado
$15 tickets
Beer * Wine * Raffle
Get tickets!
https://events.humanitix.com/the-sharp-end-podcast?fbclid=IwY2xjawKElu9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFQUUVadnh0emIyMnhTU3dVAR7sR3ueIkQTx_YXN2Bq-EYLtcN-VjDFnxoPOIzvdXN0kdGzM3Cecqs1WWC_Fw_aem_BI6oOK2hsioGWrfB2OaT7w
This live event is in support of the nonprofit, the Responder Alliance Foundation
With every eTown ticket purchase, you're supporting the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. eTown donates $1 per ticket to Conscious Alliance, aiding hunger relief, youth programs and sustainable solutions for the Oglala Lakota Nation.

May 1, 2025 • 32min
Ep 112 - Lost In The Colorado Rockies - Liz Gergel
On June 13, 2019, Liz and her friend set out to hike the Oxford and Belford Peaks, which are 14ers in Colorado, including eleven long miles and lots of elevation gain. At one point on their hike, they got off route and lost the trail. In this episode, Liz has lots of lessons learned that she wants to share with you. Tune in to hear her whole story.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Institute.
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
→ 20% off American Alpine Club membership with code sharpend20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com

Mar 30, 2025 • 45min
Ep 111 - Big Fall from Bad Comms - Manny and Tyler
In this episode, Manny and Tyler talk about an incident that happened in Fraser Valley, British Columbia while on a multi-sport adventure, which included a kayak / rafting / climbing trip in July of 2024. There were many reasons why this particular incident occurred. Manny was physically injured and Tyler ended up with a stress injury from it all. Tune in to hear them recount the scenario and what they learned from it all.
This podcast is produced by Ashley Saupe. This podcast is sponsored by Rocky Talkie and the American Alpine Institute.
Responder Alliance: https://www.responderalliance.com/
American Alpine Club Grief Fund: https://americanalpineclub.org/grieffund
GriGri Manual Instructions: https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Belaying-with-the-GRIGRI
→ 10% off Rocky Talkie radios at RockyTalkie.com/SharpEnd
→ Use code SHARPEND to waive the activation fee on ZOLEO
→ 10% off LIVSN clothes with code SharpEnd10 (limited to 30 uses)
→ 15% off Swoop garments with code SHARPEND
→ 20% off First Aid contents at MyMedic.com with code SHARPEND20
Instagram: the_sharp_end_podcast
YouTube: @thesharpendpodcast
Become a Patron: patreon.com/thesharpendpodcast
Visit my website: www.thesharpendpodcast.com