

The TrainingBeta Podcast: A Climbing Training Podcast
Neely Quinn
Hosted by climber, nutritionist, and mindset coach, Neely Quinn, The TrainingBeta Podcast is a regular conversation with rock climbing’s best and brightest, including pro rock climbers, climbing trainers, and other insightful members of the climbing community. You’ll learn how to train for climbing, how to fuel yourself well for climbing, and mindset strategies to help you perform well on the wall and have a great time doing it. Whether you’re a beginner climber or a seasoned pro, you’ll learn something from these conversations, or at the very least, get really stoked to climb and train.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 9, 2020 • 1h 10min
TBP 160 :: Dietitian Marisa Michael Explains Intuitive Eating
About Marisa Michael Marisa Michael is a dietitian, a personal trainer, and an athlete. She’s been a dietitian for 18 years and has a private practice at RealNutritionLLC.com where she helps athletes optimize nutrition for sports performance, from recreational to elite. While she has mainly focused on running and triathlons, 6 years ago when her son got into climbing, she followed suit.
The reason I wanted to speak with Marisa is that she has a lot of knowledge about Intuitive Eating, which is a popular topic right now. She gives us an explanation of exactly what it is and how it can be used to improve our health and our relationship with food.
Marisa Michael Interview Details 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating
Who it’s helpful for
Who it may not work for
Intuitive Eating and Caffeine Usage
Eating Disorders and Intuitive Eating
“Health at Every Size” Discussion
Weight Loss Goals and Intuitive Eating
Marisa Michael Links Website: realnutritionllc.com
Instagram: @realnutritiondietitian
Marisa’s new book: Nutrition for Climbers: Fuel for the Send
BOOKS ON INTUITIVE EATING Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole
Health at Every Size by Linda Bacon
Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
Rock Climbing Training Programs Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta…
At-Home Training Program
Personal Training Online
Bouldering Training Program for boulderers of all abilities
Route Climbing Training Program for route climbers of all abilities
Finger Strength Programs
All of our training programs
Please Review The Podcast on iTunes Please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes here to help the show reach more curious climbers around the world.

Nov 11, 2020 • 59min
TBP 159: Alex Stiger on How Climbing Harder Made Her A Better Coach
About Alex Stiger Alex Stiger is a Certified Personal Trainer, Sports Performance Coach, and Head Coach at Movement Climbing + Fitness in Boulder Colorado. Alex spends most of her week working with clients of all levels and ages to help them reach their climbing goals. She has climbed 5.13d and is currently working towards her goal of climbing 5.14.
Beyond all of that, though, Alex is one of my best friends and a super dedicated trainer/coach. I’ve watched her improve her climbing exponentially over the last 5 years through efficient and specific training. I wanted to have her on the show again to talk about how her coaching has evolved as she has, and how she’s come back strong after difficult injuries.
You’ll be hearing more from Alex on TrainingBeta soon, so stay tuned for that.
Alex Stiger Interview Details Difference between her coaching as a 5.13a climber and now as a 5.13d climber
Overcoming big shoulder injury to come back strong
How she improved her climbing so much
More assessments, fewer assumptions in training
How more rest helped her climb harder
Why she changed her core workouts
Training program coming up on TrainingBeta for women
What she focuses on with older climber clients
Alex Stiger Interview Links Instagram: @alex.stiger
Article by Alex: 3 Ways to Develop Your Strongest Core
1st Interview with Alex on the podcast
Training Programs for You Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta. Something for everyone…
At-Home Training Program
Finger Training Programs
Injury Protocols
All of our training programs
Photo Credit Photo of Alex on Homunculous 5.14a in Rifle by Jill Stompel @shmitpiex
Please Review The Podcast on iTunes Please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes here to help the show reach more curious climbers around the world.
Transcript Coming soon…

Oct 28, 2020 • 1h 13min
TBP 158 :: Diana Rodgers on How Meat Can Help the Environment and Our Health
About Diana Rodgers Diana Rodgers, RD, LDN is a Licensed Registered Dietitian who helps people regain their health through proper nutrition. Her website is www.sustainabledish.com, where you’ll find blog posts and other useful resources to learn more about eating well.
She recently co-wrote a book with Robb Wolf called Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat: Why Well-Raised Meat Is Good for You and Good for the Planet. She also produced a film, Sacred Cow: The Case for (Better) Meat and you can sign up to watch the world premier starting November 22, 2020 here.
I watched the film and it’s fantastic. It’s all about how we’ve been raising meat all wrong since the industrial revolution, and how our mismanaged farm and ranch lands are destroying the environment. When animals are raised properly, their biproducts and behaviors actually sequester carbon, help plants grow deeper roots to maintain foliage, and make our soil much more nutritious and viable. It’s the cycle of life, and it’s been this way since there have been plants and animals.
I asked Diana to be on my show because nutrition is low hanging fruit for climbers, and when I ask my clients to eat more protein, they feel better and climb better. Meat in all its forms is the most nutrient dense and efficient form of protein we can eat, but a lot of climbers have eschewed meat for the sake of the environment and their health.
But I–rather, Diana–is here to tell you that meat, when raised properly and humanely, can be supremely helpful to the environment and very beneficial to your health, much to the contrary of what you’ve been told recently. In fact, plant-based diets can actually be quite detrimental to both the environment and your health. There’s a lot to learn here.
Please give this one a listen. I guarantee you’ll learn something, whether you’re a plant-based or carnivore eater, or anything in between. I really appreciate you listening.
Diana Rodgers Interview Details Why meat is not actually bad for us
Why plant-based diets are not good for disease
Why plant-based diets are not good for the environment
Why protein recommendations are way too low
What’s wrong with studies done on meat
What it’s so important for children to have animal products
Saturated Fat and Cholesterol 101
Her thoughts on the movie Game Changers
Diana Rodgers Interview Links Instagram: @sustainabledish
Sacred Cow book
Sacred Cow film
Where I get my sustainable, humanely-raised meat: Wild Pastures
Where you can get local sustainable, humanely-raised meat: eatwild.com
More info on meat, cholesterol, saturated fat, etc ChrisKresser.com
Chris Masterjohn PhD
Denise Minger and the China Study
Training Programs for You Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta. Something for everyone…
At-Home Training Program
Finger Training Programs
Injury Protocols
All of our training programs

Oct 14, 2020 • 1h 7min
TBP 157 :: John Brosler on Training for Speed Climbing
About John Brosler John Brosler is a 23-year-old professional climber who specializes in competitive speed climbing. He currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, and was featured in the highly entertaining and educational 2018 Reel Rock film “Up to Speed.” John is a sponsored climber, and according to his bio page on La Sportiva, these are some of his proudest accomplishments:
1. 6-time Open Speed National Champion
2. National speed climbing record holder
3. 2018 Pan-Amercian Speed Champion
4. 2019 U.S. Overall Team Member
5. Sending The Vice, 8B/V13 in Rocklands, South Africa
Pretty impressive, right? That’s why I asked him to be on the show to talk about how he trains for speed climbing. He clearly takes his sport very seriously and he personally piqued my interest in speed climbing, so I was honored that he agreed to this interview.
NOTE: This interview was recorded on March 19, 2020 in the beginning of the COVID lockdowns, so some logistics we talk about may not line up with what’s happening right now. The training information is still as relevant as ever, though.
John Brosler Interview Details Speed Climbing 101: A primer on the sport
Exacly how he trains day by day for speed climbing
How his diet affects his training and performance
Whether or not he climbs outside
Why it sometimes comes down to luck who wins
His thoughts on the Olympic and World Cup format
John Brosler Interview Links Instagram: @johnbrosler
Rent or buy the Reel Rock film “Up to Speed”
Article on GymClimber.com by John called “Speed Climbing 101”
Training Programs for You Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta. Something for everyone…
At-Home Training Program
Finger Training Programs
Injury Protocols
All of our training programs
Please Review The Podcast on iTunes Please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes here to help the show reach more curious climbers around the world.

Oct 7, 2020 • 1h 27min
TBP 156 :: Dr. Jared Vagy on Healing Hip Injuries
Interview Details: Dr. Jared Vagy on Hip Injuries Dr. Jared Vagy is a physical therapist, and he’s a climber who’s incredibly motivated to help other climbers heal their bodies. In this interview, we talk about common hip injuries in climbers and what to do about them. It’s super in-depth and he describes exact protocols to use on hip injuries, so I hope it helps you out.
More Details
Why healthy hips are important for climbing
What the most common hip injuries are
How shoulder pain and hip pain can be related
How to tell if hip pain is originating from back
Specific stretches for high-stepping
What to do about hip injuries
Other Interviews with Dr. Vagy Interview #1: We talked in general about how to heal injuries, but since that time he has gotten way more specific about the steps we need to take to address them.
Interview #2: He talked about how to heal shoulder impingement.
Interview #3: We talked about rotator cuff injuries and neck strain.
Interview #4: We discussed finger pulley sprains.
Interview #5: We discussed elbow injuries.
Jared Vagy Professional Credentials Dr. Vagy is an authority on climbing related injuries. He has published numerous articles on injury prevention and delivers lectures and seminars on the topic. He received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from the University of Southern California, ranked the number one DPT Program in the nation for the last decade by US News and World Report.
He is now a professor at the University in the DPT Program. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy in clinical practice, he went on to complete a one year residency program in orthopedics and a one year fellowship program in movement science. He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Supporting Videos from Episode Hip Mobility Part 1
Hip Mobility Part 2
Rock Rehab Protocol Links Dr. Vagy has created 6 injury protocols using his Rock Rehab Pyramid method that are available on TrainingBeta. You can find out more about his methods by clicking on any of the links below. You can see a description of all of the protocols (which we’ve made available for $15 each) at www.trainingbeta.com/rock-rehab.
Inside Elbow Pain
Outside Elbow Pain
Finger Pulley Sprain
Shoulder Impingement
Rotator Cuff Strain
Neck Strain
Dr. Jared Vagy Links Jared’s book, Climb Injury Free
Website: www.theclimbingdoctor.com
Instagram: @theclimbingdoctor
Training Programs for You Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta. Something for everyone…
Personal Training Online: www.trainingbeta.com/mercedes
For Boulderers: Bouldering Training Program for boulderers of all abilities
For Route Climbers: Route Climbing Training Program for route climbers of all abilities
Finger Strength : www.trainingbeta.com/fingers
All of our training programs: Training Programs Page
Please Review The Podcast on iTunes Please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes here to help the show reach more curious climbers around the world.
Transcript Coming soon…

Sep 30, 2020 • 59min
TBP 155 :: Dr. Tyler Nelson on High Volume Power Training
About Tyler Nelson Learn More from Tyler: If you want to work with Dr. Tyler Nelson on an individual basis for injuries or strength training, he offers remote consultations to people all over the world. He also teaches online classes on strength training and injuries. Learn more.
In this interview, Tyler explains why we should be training power differently in climbing than we typically do. Normally, we’re training power at very high intensities as in the campus board. However, in climbing we need to have sustained power output over long periods of time. So he describes how to gain more true power endurance using specific techniques.
Tyler recently wrote an article on this topic for TrainingBeta, called High Volume Power Training for Climbers, and this interview is a supplement to that article. If you haven’t read it yet, and you’re interested in this topic, I highly recommend that you give it a read before or after listening to this interview.
Tyler Nelson has a lot of qualifications, so I’m going to let his website sum those up for you:
Tyler is a second generation chiropractor whose father was a leader in chiropractic sports medicine for many years. In graduate school he did a dual doctorate and masters degree program in exercise science with an emphasis on tendon loading. He completed his masters degree at BYU and was a physician for the athletics department for 4 years out of school. He currently is the owner of Camp4 Human Performance where he treats clients through his license as a chiropractic physician. He also teaches anatomy and physiology at a local college in Utah and is an instructor for the Performance Climbing Coach seminar series and a certified instructor for gobstrong. When he’s not working he’s climbing or hiking outside with his family.
You can find Tyler in Salt Lake City at his clinic, Camp 4 Human Performance, where he tests athletes, creates training programs, and treats all kinds of athletes for injuries.
I met Tyler at Steve Bechtel’s first Performance Climbing Coach Seminar in Lander in May of 2017, where we were both instructors. Since then I’ve done 4 more seminars and 6 other podcast episodes with him:
TBP 149: The Different Roles of Stretching for Climbing
TBP 133: The Simplest Finger Training Protocol with Dr. Tyler Nelson
TBP 084: Injury Rehab and Blood Flow Restriction Training
TBP 098: Isometric Movements to Prime and Test Your Body
TBP 108: Bood Flow Restriction for Injury Healing and Performance
TBP 118: Latest Technology for Finger Training and Performance Testing
TBP 128: Surprising Methods for Healing Tendon Injuries
He is well-spoken and a wealth of knowledge about how the human body responds to climbing and training.
Tyler Nelson Interview Details What high volume power training is good for
How it can improve your overall power and power endurance
Why it’s better for sport climbers than boulderers
Why it’s important to stop training when you lose power
How this kind of training has helped his athletes
What to know about high volume power training and how to use it
Why campus boards need to have a way to take weight off
Tyler Nelson Links Article by Tyler about high volume power training
Personal website: camp4humanperformance.com
Take an online class with Tyler: camp4humanperformance.com/store
Do a consultation with Tyler
Instagram: @c4hp
Facebook: @camp4chiropractic
Learn More from Tyler: If you want to work with Dr. Tyler Nelson on an individual basis for injuries or strength training, he offers remote consultations to people all over the world. He also teaches online classes on strength training and injuries. Learn more.
Training Programs for You Do you want a well-laid-out, easy-to-follow training program that will get you stronger quickly? Here’s what we have to offer on TrainingBeta. Something for everyone…
At-Home Training Program: trainingbeta.com/covid
Personal Training Online: www.trainingbeta.com/mercedes
For Boulderers: Bouldering Training Program for boulderers of all abilities
For Route Climbers: Route Climbing Training Program for route climbers of all abilities
Finger Strength : www.trainingbeta.com/fingers
All of our training programs: Training Programs Page
Please Review The Podcast on iTunes Please give the podcast an honest review on iTunes here to help the show reach more curious climbers around the world.
Transcript Coming soon.

Aug 24, 2020 • 1h 12min
TBP 154 :: Neely Quinn and Alyssa Neill on Increasing Energy Levels with Nutrition
Neely Quinn and Alyssa Neill, two nutrition practitioners, discuss how to increase energy levels using food, covering topics like carb and protein intake, meal timing, caffeine intake, sleep, and water consumption. They emphasize the importance of carbohydrates for optimal performance and highlight the impact of sleep and water intake on energy levels. They also touch upon the significance of vitamins, meal timing, and fueling strategies for climbers. Overall, they offer valuable insights and practical advice for improving energy levels and fueling for climbing performance.

Aug 12, 2020 • 60min
TBP 153 :: Chelsea Murn on Women’s Specific Training and Nutrition Needs
About Chelsea Murn Chelsea Murn is a Certified Health Coach and a climbing coach at LadyBetaCoaching.com who specializes in females’ training and health needs. She’s also a business coach for females in the climbing community, and in this interview we talk about all of that. Chelsea has caught my eye recently with her blogging at LadyBeta, and because she’s one of the only people talking about women’s specific training needs.
We talked about women’s specific needs in climbing training and performance as well as our specific diet needs. We talk about what we should be training in the different phases of women’s cycles and how hormones affect our physical and emotional states. And we discuss how we can work with our cycles instead of just being annoyed that we have to deal with our periods every month.
We also talk about her business coaching and her climbing coaching services, and how she might be able to help you. Chelsea is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about her climbing and her coaching, and it shows in this interview. I really enjoyed my talk with her and I hope you do too.
Chelsea Murn Interview Details Women’s specific needs with training fr climbing
What estrogen and progesterone do to our bodies
How to accommodate our cycle with our training
The times of the month when we’re most likely to perform well
What we should be eating to support our bodies (different than males)
How to track your cycle
How her business and climbing coaching took off and has become a real career
Chelsea Murn Interview Links Programs by Chelsea at LadyBeta.com
Instagram: @ladybeta.coaching
Blog post about women’s cycles and performance
Books mentioned Beyond the Pill
Period Repair Manual
In the Flo

Jul 29, 2020 • 1h 21min
TBP 152 :: Juliet Hammer on Weight Training and Racism in Climbing
I talk with Juliet Hammer about strength training for climbing using weights, compensating for being a short climber, what to focus on with your training during the pandemic, and racism in the climbing community.

Jul 15, 2020 • 1h 36min
TBP 151 :: Neely Quinn and Alyssa Neill on Body Image and Disordered Eating in Climbers
About Neely Quinn and Alyssa Neill In this episode, I had a conversation with my friend and fellow nutrition practitioner, Alyssa Neill, about body image and disordered eating behaviors in climbers. We both have experienced negative body image and have worked with client on body image and disordered eating behaviors. We discuss candidly our own experiences with it all and provide tips on how to balance your diet to get all the nutrients you need while maintaining your optimal, healthy body composition.
We talk about common behaviors we see in our clients that sabotage their performance and health goals, and how to improve those behaviors. And we provide mental/emotional tools to help deal with negative body image/body dysmorphia. This discussion was a very vulnerable one for me, and I discuss some personal things I’ve never talked about on the podcast before.
Our hope with this episode was multifaceted: 1) we want to bring body image issues more into the open, 2) we want people to learn how to eat in order to avoid common emotional eating pitfalls, and 3) we want people to start re-thinking the “optimal body type” for climbers, and realize that extreme leanness is not the end all be all of climbing hard. It’s also incredibly important to be healthy and happy.
Lastly, if you believe you have an eating disorder or are suffering with disordered eating behaviors, we encourage you to seek help. Whether that’s from a therapist, a nutritionist, a doctor, or all three, there are many resources out there for you. I did an interview with Kate Bennett, who is a therapist who specializes in eating disorders among athletes and she sees clients remotely. Alyssa is also currently taking clients remotely.
Interview Details Our personal stories
Common behaviors we see in clients
Common signs and symptoms of disordered eating
Mental/emotional tools that have helped me
How limiting beliefs about your weight can affect climbing performance
Our thoughts on “Intuitive Eating”
How a balanced eating routine can help with emotional eating
Dilemma of professional climbers
How your hormones are affected by disordered eating
About Me (Neely Quinn, ICNT) A little about me that you might not know…
After completing my Bachelor’s degree in both Psychology and Zoology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, I completed a 4-year holistic nutrition program called Seven Bowls School of Nutrition, Nourishment, and Healing. I graduated in 2007 as a Certified Integrative Clinical Nutrition Therapist. During my education, I learned about not only nutrition, but Western and Chinese herbs, homeopathy, the psychology of eating, and other alternative practices.
I started practicing nutrition with private clients in 2007, and I’ve been working exclusively with climbers since 2015 to help them optimize their energy levels, body composition, climbing performance, and overall well-being. I was heavily involved in the Paleo nutrition community for a few years, and I was recruited to write The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Paleo, which was published in 2012. I’ve led nutrition seminars online, taught at Bauman College (a certificate program for nutrition), and taught several community classes in person. I’ve been a panelist at several conferences and festivals, including the International Climbers’ Festival in 2017-2019, and PaleoFX. I’m also an instructor for the Performance Climbing Coach seminars with Steve Bechtel et al, and I travel around the country with them to teach people about nutrition for climbers.
Outside of my nutrition life, I’m the owner of TrainingBeta.com and the host of The TrainingBeta Podcast. I live in Longmont, Colorado with my husband and co-founder of TrainingBeta, Seth, and our dog, Zala. I’ve been sport climbing for 20+ years and I’ve worked with my diet extensively to figure out proper fueling and recovery for optimal climbing performance–a lifelong pursuit. For more info about who I am as a climber and a person, check out my personal bio.
About Alyssa Neill, RDN From Alyssa’s website…
In addition to her Didactic Program & Nutrition Science degree from the University of Rhode Island, Alyssa completed her 1300 hour Dietetic Internship at the nation’s leading school for natural medicine and whole-food nutrition, Bastyr University, in Washington.
She has over seven years of personal and professional experience with holistic nutrition, weight loss, fat loss, women’s health, hormone balance with diet, diet and lifestyle modifications, and supplement support. In addition to NourishMEnt Nutrition, she has worked as a Practitioner at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, in the supplement industry, as a Private Chef, in hospitals, in Naturopathic clinics and as a Detoxification / Biotransformation researcher at High Tech Health International, Inc.
She also hosts and teaches at Womxn’s Retreats, Womxn’s Circles & gatherings. She loves cooking and creating, and so she occasionally private chefs for retreats. She leads rituals, guided meditation, writes for Climbing Magazine and for Gnarly Nutrition. She is also a sport climber and a boulderer, and she works with climbers as well as all kinds of nutrition clients.
For more info about Alyssa or to work with her as a client, visit her website at www.nourishmentnutrition.com.
Links Warning signs and symptoms of Eating Disorders
Climbing Magazine Article: Disordered Eating Poses a Danger to Climbers
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Check the Facts Worksheet
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Opposite Action Worksheet
Dialectical Behavior Therapy: Radical Acceptance Worksheet
RED-S resources: Podcast Interview with Marisa Michael, RD
Mina Leslie-Wujastyk’s article about her experience
Alyssa Neill
Instagram: @nourishment_nutrition
Website: www.nourishmentnutrition.com
Summer Sale! 25% Off All Training Programs and eBooks Use code: summer at checkout for 25% off all training programs from July 15-July 21, 2020.
At-Home Training Program ebook
Finger Training Programs
Injury Protocols
All of our training programs
NOT APPLICABLE for Remote Coaching with Matt Pincus or Sport Psychology Sessions with Dr. Chris.