The Climbing Advocate
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Episode #62: Tribute to Armando Menocal
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a tribute to one of the most influential characters in the climbing community and the original climbing advocate: Armando Menocal...
Episode #61: Climate Resiliency & Conservation in Tennessee
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features multiple guests who all bring a unique perspective and area of expertise to the topic of climbing and climate resiliency. T...
Episode #60: Fixed anchors in Wilderness areas, mentorship, and working in the tech industry
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features Access Fund’s new executive director, Heather Thorne. Heather joins Access Fund with nearly 30 years of climbing experien...
Episode #59: The "stewardship gap" and creating adaptive access with Access Fund's Conservation Team
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features Loryn Posladek and Kyle Leihsing who are leading the charge on national stewardship efforts representing Access Fund’...
Episode #58: Daniel Dunn & Meagan Evans: New boulder fields, economics, and Tennessee conservation
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features two rockstars out of the Southeast. Meagan Evans, Executive Director of the Southeast Climbers Coalition (SCC) and Dan...
Episode #57 - Dave Thompson, Crystal Hudelson and Keith Murakata
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, we host two conversations to recap Access Fund’s 2023 Annual Climbing Advocacy Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas. First with...
Episode #56- Erik Murdock
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, Erik Murdock returns to take a deep dive into an issue that Access Fund and the climbing community have worked on for decades: h...
Episode #55- Andrew Staff
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this month’s episode, we chat with Andrew Staff, president of the Illinois Climbers Association (ICA). Andrew’s experience climbing in southern...
Episode #54- Rob Schorr
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are joined by zoologist and founder of Climbers for Bat Conservation, Rob Schorr. Rob has a particular passion for bats, which can be somewha...
Episode #53- Stephanie Giguere
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for this episode is Western Massachusetts Climbers Coalition (WMCC) operating director, Stephanie Giguere. Stephanie recently took on this l...
Episode #52- Quinn Brett & Sam Sala
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this month’s episode, we are joined by Quinn Brett and Sam Sala. Quinn is an adaptive athlete and prominent voice in the adaptive space. As an av...
Episode #51- Molly Kawahata
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for April’s episode is alpinist and climate activist Molly Kawahata. You may recognize her name from The Scale of Hope, a Patagonia-sponso...
Episode #50- Chris Sharma
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This month marks the 50th episode of the Climbing Advocate podcast! Chris Sharma, our guest for this special episode, needs little introduction as one...
Episode #49- Elaine Elliott
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode we head south with Elaine Elliott. Elaine is one of the founders and writers of Steep South, a climbing media company. Elaine asp...
Episode #48- Iowa Climbers Coalition
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This month we head to the Midwest to hear from Raud Kashef and Adam Brummett of the Iowa Climbers Coalition. You read that right, Iowa. No time was wa...
Episode #47- Access Fund Annual Conference
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, Access Fund rallies dozens of exceptional climbing advocates from across the country and this year was no exception. Peter had the chance t...
Episode #46- James Maples
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Though James Maples, who holds a doctorate in sociology, isn’t a climber himself, he’s still an integral member of the climbing community. As an a...
Episode #45 - Kyra Condie
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re not really sure how much free time training for the Olympics leaves you, but we’re pretty sure it’s not a whole lot. Which makes it all th...
Episode #44- Kris Hampton and Josie McKee
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s episode, we’re joined by Kris Hampton of Power Company Climbing and Josie McKee of the Central Wyoming Climbers Alliance. Together with...
Episode #43- Daniel Dunn
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This month, we're joined by Access Fund Southeast Regional Manager Daniel Dunn. Daniel has a unique perspective to share, thanks to his work with the ...
Episode #42- Indigenous Field Guide
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we learn from Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard and Skye Kolealani, creators of the new Indigenous Field Guide. Over the course of 2021, Bri...
Episode #41- Pennsylvania LCOs
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We’re heading east on this month’s episode to interview three advocates, each representing a local climbing organization in Pennsylvania: Kate Fet...
Episode #40- Dave Wiens
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you get right down to it, what we admire most about this month’s podcast guest, Dave Wiens, is his simple but deep passion for trails. Trails a...
Episode #39- Chris Kalman
12 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for today's episode is author and creative writer, Chris Kalman. A storyteller at heart, Chris’s writing has landed him in the pages of O...
Episode #38- Lanette Oliver & Michelle LeBlanc
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lace up your ice boots for a trip up north to hear from Valdez Adventure Alliance (VAA). Based in southeastern Alaska, the organization has accomplish...
Episode #37- Lauren Hebert & Johanna Cogen
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In fall of 2021, Access Fund started the new Climber Steward program in Indian Creek. On this month’s podcast, Peter sits down with Lauren Hebert an...
Episode #36- Luke Mehall
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for today’s episode is writer, podcaster, and perhaps most notably, the creator of the Climbing Zine, Luke Mehall. Originally hailing from...
Episode #35- Felipe Proaño
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for today’s episode is Felipe Proaño. Felipe is a professional climber based in Quito, Ecuador and is the founder and former president of...
Episode #34- Kendra Stritch
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for today’s episode is Kendra Stritch. Kendra is a competitive ice climber and serves as the board president of the Minnesota Climbers Ass...
Episode #33- Jon Hawk
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for today’s episode is Jon Hawk. Jon is the Director of Gym Operations at Memphis Rox in Tennessee. Based in Soulsville, an underserved ne...
Episode #32- Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for today’s episode is Briana Mazzolini-Blanchard. Briana sits on the board of the Red River Gorge Climbers’ Coalition (RRGCC) and is ve...
Episode #31- Peter Monks
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest for today’s episode is the president of the Bay Area Climbers Coalition (BACC), Peter Monks. Peter recently took over as president in Janu...
Episode #30- Curt Shannon
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for this month’s episode is Access Fund’s Policy Analyst, Curt Shannon. Access Fund and other allies have been working on protecting Oak...
Episode #29- Audrey & Curtis Gale-Dyer
01 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guests for today’s episode are Audrey and Curtis Gale-Dyer. This power couple serves as the land management team for the Red River Gorge Climber...
Episode #28- Sarah Garlick
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for this month’s episode is Sarah Garlick. Based in North Conway, New Hampshire, Sarah serves as the board president of Friends of the Led...
Episode #27- Ben Scott
31 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for today’s episode is Ben Scott. Ben is perhaps best known for his role as president of the Northern Colorado Climbers Coalition (NCCC), ...
Episode #26- Chris Winter
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The guest for today’s episode is Access Fund’s fearless leader, executive director Chris Winter. As executive director, Chris leads the charge on ...
Episode #25- Veronica Baker & Dani Dobrot
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s guests are Veronica Baker and Dani Dobrot. Veronica and Dani are, respectively, the executive director and director of community engage...
Episode #24- Graham Zimmerman
31 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s guest is Graham Zimmerman. Graham is a professional alpinist, filmmaker, and staunch climate advocate. Through the past couple decades ...
Episode #23- This Is Us, Too
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features multiple guests who share their insights and experiences in the space of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Th...
Episode #22- Conservation Team East
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of my conversation with the Access Fund–Jeep Conservation Teams. Today is Annie and Mat from the East Conservation Team. This dynam...
Episode #21- Conservation Team National
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My guests today are Loryn Posladek and Kyle Leihsing. Together they make up the Access Fund–Jeep National Conservation Team. As the national team, t...
Episode #20- Mark Kenyon
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Mark Kenyon. Mark is a hunter, author, fellow-podcaster, and dedicated conservationist. He is the first guest of the show who is not...
Episode #19- Scott Underwood
31 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s guest is Scott Underwood. Scott sits on the board of the Washington Climbers Coalition (WCC) and spearheads the Olympic Peninsula Climb...
Episode #18- Kareemah Batts
30 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is Kareemah Batts. Kareemah is an adaptive climber based in New York City with one incredible story. She was diagnosed with a rare for...
Episode #17- Tommy Caldwell
16 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
My guest this month was none other than Tommy Caldwell. We all know Tommy for his athletic accomplishments, but what’s becoming just as impressive i...
Episode #16- Paul Guarino & Hilary Harris
01 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features two advocates from the indoor climbing world, Paul Guarino and Hilary Harris. Both Paul and Hilary are founders of the...
Episode #15- Erik Murdock
31 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features Access Fund Policy Director Erik Murdock. Erik provides some incredible insight on the top five threats facing our nat...
Episode #14- Aaron Mike
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features Aaron Mike. Based out of Tucson, Arizona, Aaron operates Pangaea Mountain Guides and is Access Fund’s native lands r...
Episode #13- Cody Roney & Andrea Hassler
01 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features two crusher advocates coming out of the Southeast: Cody Roney and Andrea Hassler. Cody is the former executive director of the S...
Episode #12- Shelma Jun
30 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s episode features a powerful individual in the climbing world: founder of Flash Foxy, Shelma Jun. Shelma started Flash Foxy as a social ...
Episode #11- Seth Maciejowski & Mike Morin
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, we highlighted the latest happenings in the Northeast. My guests were Seth Maciejowski with CRAG-VT and Mike Morin with Access Fund....
Episode #10- Brian Tickle
31 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Brian Tickle, Access Fund’s Texas regional director. The Texas Legislature was entering their session in January when I first had ...
Episode #9- Ashlee Milanich
30 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
My guest for this episode is Ashlee Milanich, the executive director of the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition (RRGCC) based in Lexington, Kentucky. A...
Episode #8- Midwest Climbing Advocacy Summit
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guests for this month’s episode came from the Midwest Climbing Advocacy Summit, held this year at Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. Jenna ...
Episode #7- Jason Keith, part 2
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second part of the conversation with Access Fund Senior Policy Advisor Jason Keith. In part one, we discussed the recent success of the pa...
Episode #6- Jason Keith, part 1
04 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode’s guest was Access Fund Senior Policy Advisor Jason Keith. Based in Moab, Utah, Jason wears multiple hats in his line of work. He runs ...
Episode #5- Laura Boggess
28 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month’s guest was Laura Boggess, a professor, scientist, and yoga instructor based in Mars Hill, North Carolina. We discussed the importance an...
Episode #4- Brian Tickle & Adam Mitchell
31 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features a conversation with Access Fund Texas Regional Director Brian Tickle and Texas Climbers Coalition President Adam Mitchell. We di...
Episode #3- Ty Tyler
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is a conversation with Access Fund Stewardship Director Ty Tyler about the program he oversees. We chat about the growth of the stewardsh...
Episode #2- Joe Sambataro and Andy Fitz
30 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For this episode, I interviewed Joe Sambataro, Access Fund’s national access director and Northwest regional director, and Andy Fitz, with the Washi...
Episode #1- Patagonia Athletes & Local Climbing Advocates
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our pilot episode features a short discussion with Patagonia athletes, as well as other advocates working with local climbing organizations around the...