The Strong AF Climbing Podcast
Episodes
30. The Weight Loss Double Standard Climbers Don't Talk About
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Strength-to-Weight Ratio Debate: Why "Just Get Lighter" is as Oversimplified advice.Climbers often dismiss strength training for not tra...
29. If Strength Training Is Killing Your Climbing Sessions, Listen to This!
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Strength training is one of the most common things climbers tell me they want to do, and also one of the most common things they quit.Not because they...
28. What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You: Somatic Therapy, Pain, and Rehab
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and client Dani, a somatic psychotherapist and climber, to talk about how the body and mind communicate —...
27. Muscle Imbalances in Climbers: What’s Normal, What Isn’t, and What Actually Matters
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode breaks down the truth about muscle imbalances and asymmetry in athletes. Natasha and Ryan explore why asymmetry is normal, why it often g...
26. How to Recommit to Training (The RECOMMIT Framework)
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve fallen off your training routine, this episode is your restart button.In this conversation, Natasha breaks down why we lose momentum and w...
25. Why your shoulder rehab isn't working (and what to do instead)
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your shoulder still hurts no matter how much rehab you’ve done, this episode is for you. We’re digging into why traditional shoulder rehab fail...
24. Shoulder Series Part III - Rethinking rehab & surgery for shoulder pain
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I unpack why traditional shoulder rehab often fails climbers — and how to rethink the entire approach. Using guided reasoning and e...
23. Shoulder Series Part II
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into the complexities of shoulder pain and pathology, particularly in the context of climbing. Natasha explores how MRI findi...
22. Shoulder Series Part I
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join us as we delve into the topic of shoulder pain among climbers. In this episode, Natasha shares insights on the prevalence of shoulder injuries, t...
21. Reframing Consistency
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Natasha emphasizes the significance of consistency in training, discussing how it leads to long-term progress. She addresses common me...
20. It’s Not Just a Strength Program: The Real Value of the FSP
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m pulling back the curtain on what the Foundational Strength Training Program actually is.Because if you’ve ever looked at it and thought,...
19. Why Strength Training Wrecks You—And Why That’s a Sign, Not a Problem
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Takeaways from the episode:Strength training is essential for climbers.Feeling wiped out after lifting indicates a need for capacity building.General ...
18. How to Actually Stick to Your Training When Life Gets Messy
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Natasha discusses the common reasons why training plans fail and offers practical strategies to create more realistic and flexible tr...
17. Jesse Firestone Becoming a Lifer: Strength, Longevity & Climbing
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really mean to be a lifer in climbing? Is strength training just a trend, or is it the key to climbing longevity?In this episode, I sit d...
16. Tammy Wilson on Strength Training, Overcoming Injuries, and Being A Client in The Foundational Strength Program
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we dive into a compelling episode featuring Tammy Wilson, an accomplished climber and endurance athlete. Tammy shares her inspiring journe...
15. Balancing Strength Training and Climbing V14 with Kelly Birch
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today we have a remarkable guest who embodies the perfect balance of elite climbing and strength training. Kelly Birch, a climber who has sent routes ...
14. Why You (probably) Don't Need That MRI
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, we're tackling an important topic that often goes misunderstood in the world of sports and fitness: the complex role of imaging,...
13 Pelvic Floor Health with Annemarie Everett, DPT
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this latest episode of the Strong AF Podcast, we dive deep into the transformative world of pelvic health with our guest expert, Dr. Annemarie Ever...
12 - Consistency Over Perfection: Overcoming All-or-Nothing Thinking
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, we're tackling a mindset hurdle that many of us face: the "all or nothing" thinking. This common cognitive disto...
Listen to this if you want to lose weight for climbing performance
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Natasha Barnes addresses common concerns climbers have about weight and strength training. Many climbers worry that gaining muscl...
10. My Journey With Climbing & Powerlifting
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me in this podcast episode as I share the incredible journey of blending climbing and powerlifting in my life. I'll take you through the high...
9. In-Season Strength Training for Climbers: Maintaining Performance, Reducing Injury Risk, and Preserving Gains
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Dr. Natasha Barnes, your host and strength and rehab coach for climbers, discusses the importance of inseason strength training for c...
8. Climber Posture, "Antagonist" Training and Pain - Separating Fact from Fiction
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we'll be exploring the relationship between posture and muscle imbalances in climbers, and how it relates to pain and injury. We&...
7. Rethinking Pain: How Beliefs and Expectations Shape our Experience of Pain & Injury
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that our minds have the power to reverse the effects of a powerful opioid? That's right, a drug that can numb our pain can also be co...
EP 6 - How To Warm Up for Strength Training
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we'll be discussing various strategies for warming up for your strength training session. Plus, we'll touch on the importance...
5. Demystifying Autoregulation: The Science and Art of Adjusting Training Intensity
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Autoregulation is a game-changer when it comes to achieving optimal results in your workouts. It involves dynamically adjusting your training intensit...
EPISODE 4: Implementing Effective Strength Training Strategies for Climbers
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, we dive deep into the world of programming for strength training, specifically tailored for climbers. Our host, Dr. Natasha Ba...
EPISODE 3: Powerlifting Competition Recap
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Powerlifting competition recap. We talk about: What powerlifting is How a powerlifting competition works My training for the powerlifting compet...
Strength Training For Climbers
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we’re going to talk about: 3 Reason climbers should strength train Why you can’t just climb to get strong Strength st...
Podcast Introduction
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing the STRONG AF Climbing Podcast with your host Dr. Natasha Barnes. A podcast for climbers about managing injuries, getting stronger, and be...