
Circle Up!
Come Circle Up with Allison Vest and Kyra Condie. This podcast is the perfect length to get you psyched on your way to the gym or during a 30 min workout. Listen to some light hearted and deep diving talks into climbing, motivation, body image, mindset, and more! Great for climbers and non-climbers alike!
Latest episodes

Jan 6, 2025 • 1h 1min
E45 A Wicked Good Chat with Campbell Harrison
In this episode, Kyra sits down with Campbell Harrison, Australian Olympic climber and passionate advocate for athlete representation, to explore a wide range of topics. They discuss the impacts of social media on their careers and mental health, and how it can be especially challenging following the Olympic explosion in popularity. They talk about the outdoor industry as a whole, and how climbing stars may be outgrowing the scope of the climbing industry in years to come. The conversation then delves into the challenge of advocating for topics that are close to the chest and putting what is best for the group above what is best for yourself. throughout the episode, Kyra and Campbell discuss the all-too-familiar struggle of fighting the inner voice that creates guilt around taking necessary rest days, indulging in small joys, or stepping back from the grind to focus on holistic well-being.
**They discuss drinking alcohol and taking time off drinking, so if this is a sensitive topic for you, skip 27:00-32:45.

Dec 30, 2024 • 32min
E44 Power behind the Pump: Lessons in Endurance
In this episode, Kyra and Allison dive into their lesser known backgrounds as lead climbers and how it has shaped their skills as primarily boulderers. They share their favorite exercises and drills for training endurance and discuss why reflecting on your goals can help you modify your training to stay on track.
They explore the challenges of climbing well while pumped, overcoming fear to push your limits, and the value of rest and focused attempts over grinding through fatigue. Whether you’re aiming to train for a specific goal or just want ideas on how to switch up your training, this episode has plenty of actionable takeaways for climbers of all levels!

11 snips
Dec 9, 2024 • 48min
E43 Reddit Review: Life as a Mediocre Climber, V15 Potential, and Underrated Exercises
In this Episode, Kyra Condie and Dan Beall went into the recent top posts from r/climbharder and talked about some of the topics and themes they saw reoccur in recent hot posts. They talk about how, if you want to, to avoid "life as a mediocre climber" and what small changes and tweaks you can make to your attitude and everyday schedule to improve your climbing. Then, they break down the art of projecting—what it truly means to push your limits and challenge yourself on a climb. Plus, they debate whether anyone could climb V15 in perfect conditions, if Kyra has what it takes to dunk a basketball, and which training exercises are criminally underrated (or totally overrated).
T-shirt link: https://tinyurl.com/Circleuppodcast
Interested in coaching with Dan?
Email at danbeall.climbingcoach@gmail.com for details (availability is limited)

Dec 4, 2024 • 36min
E42 Training Tips and Youth Team Takeaways
In this episode, Kyra and Allison dive into listener questions from their Patreon, covering everything from building finger strength and improving crimp endurance to valuable lessons learned from their youth competition days. The conversation meanders through a variety of related topics, including when to consult a PT—whether for an injury or strength training, current trends in climbing science, and how climbing parents can stay engaged and advocate for safe, inclusive environments within youth teams.

Nov 25, 2024 • 36min
E41 Enabling Success: The Balance of Parenting an Athlete
In this episode Kyra brings on her parents once again to talk about what they do to support her at competitions and how they supported her dream of becoming a professional climber. Currently being in Santiago at the Panamerican Championships, they talk about specifics around supporting Kyra while at an event. Later, Tom, Kyra’s dad provides some insight into his theory of providing guardrails but casting a wide net of possibilities for your kid, while Cathy, Kyra’s mom, shares some of her own upbringing that led to her unwavering support and belief in what her kids were capable of.

Nov 11, 2024 • 36min
E40 Overcoming Injuries, Finding Mastery, and Common Training Mistakes
In this episode, Kyra Condie and guest Dan Beall use Dan's experience with overcoming catastrophic injuries to give some advice when facing adversity in sport. They talk about Dan's shoulder dislocation and accompanying nerve damage that left him without a clear path to recovery and how he dealt with that, both mentally and physically. They also explore the nuances of confidence versus mastery, and how a delicate balance of the two can lead to an enjoyable experience for some (not all) on highball boulders, as well as how to confront fear in a safe and productive way. They finish by talking about the most common training plan mistakes Dan sees in his coaching and provide some tips to maximize your learning potential during each climbing session.

Oct 31, 2024 • 33min
E39 Can't Stop Won't Stop
Kyra and Allison dive into the challenges of balancing their climbing obsessions with the need for rest days. They discuss the mental pressures of endless competition seasons and the importance of timing their schedules. Their training experiments reveal the quest for peak performance amid varied demands. A nostalgic trip to their first meeting at the Pan American Youth Championships brings laughter and memorable insights about friendship, citizenship, and the thrill of competing under a new flag.

Oct 14, 2024 • 32min
E38 Rocklands Reflections
In this episode, Kyra recounts her past two trips to Rocklands, South Africa for climbing trips and how she approached her third one differently than the first two. She remembers some lessons learned from her first trip in 2016, what she did wrong (like switching birth control right before leaving), what she would have done differently, and how that changed her whole approach to climbing outside in general. Sometimes, finding what motivates you is the most important.

Oct 9, 2024 • 41min
E37 Beta & Banter: Strong Partners, Ex Partners, and Romantic Partners
In this episode of the Beta & Banter series Kyra and Allison chat about how to deal with a self deprecating climbing partner, when (and how) to avoid an ex at the climbing gym, and how does all that advice carry over to climbing with your romantic partner. other questions included what their opinions are of the recent age limit change in IFSC and how an unfunded athlete does the World Cup series. Tune in to hear all of their advice, beta, and banter!

Sep 30, 2024 • 35min
E36 Codes of the Crags: Climbing Etiquette Inside and Out
In this episode, Allison and Kyra dive into the tricky world of climbing etiquette and ethics—both indoors and outdoors. From navigating social situations, like approaching someone with headphones in at the gym or downgrading someones "first of the grade", to managing the vibe at the crag when loud music takes over; they break down common dilemmas. Tune in as they explore how to balance personal preferences with respect for the climbing community, offering insights and practical tips for climbers of all levels.