Clipping Chains Podcast

Today on episode 20 I am so very pleased to welcome back to Clipping Chains climber, coach, trainer, and all-around great guy, Steve Bechtel. Steve joins us from Lander, Wyoming where he is the owner of Elemental Performance + Fitness and Climb Strong. Steve is a highly regarded pillar of the climbing coaching and training world, seemingly due to his no-nonsense persona, a dedication to simplicity, and a focus on key principles that generate results for his athletes.

That said, regardless of your dedication to training or even climbing in general, Steve has so much insight and clarity into living our best lives. Perhaps most poignant of all, Steve values the impermanence of today. If we can understand that the glass is already broken, a topic we’ll discuss, we know that every moment with it is precious.

• Steve’s origins on being a climber and a business owner
• The importance of time as a non-renewable resource
• Steve’s evolution on the importance of saving to enhance our available time
• Steve’s thoughts on the many ways we all participate in self sabotage
• Why Steve stepped away from social media
• Simplicity: the universal importance of basic principles
• Anti-fragility in a comfortable world
• The importance of the “mini retirement”
• The growing demand for climbing coaches
• So much more

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Steve’s original interview with Clipping Chains: Steve Bechtel: The Importance of Time

Steve’s gym in Lander, WY: Elemental Performance + Fitness

Online-based training and coaching for climbers: Climb Strong

Performance Climbing Coach

Logical Progression, 2nd Ed: Building Training Programs for Year-Round Climbing Performance

Unstoppable Force: Strength Training for Climbers

Lander Rock Climbs 2018

Mettle (coming soon!)

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It (Michael Gerber)

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World (Cal Newport)

Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (Incerto) (Nassim Taleb)

Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness of Crowds: All Volumes – Complete and Unabridged (Charles Mackay)

The Simple Path to Wealth (JL Collins)

Supertraining (Yuri Verkhoshansky)

Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West (Wallace Stegner)

Hangdog Days: Conflict, Change, and the Race for 5.14 (Jeff Smoot)

The Nugget Climbing Follow-Up with Steve Bechtel (Patron only)

Baffle Days: Steve Bechtel

Enormocast Episode 176: Jeff Smoot – The 80s Come Alive with Hangdog Days

The Simple Systems to Kicking Monetary Ass

Automation: The Dirty Little Secret to Spending Less

The GameStop Saga: Hedge Funds, Reddit Investors, and Why They’re All Wrong

Bitcoin and Other Things You Shouldn’t Own

Digital Minimalism: Give Me Back My Brain

Fear: Here’s How It’s Holding You Back

Emotional Fragility: Is This the New Normal?

Taking Action: Moving Beyond Inspiration

Ego and Mastery: Looking Good vs Being Good

Today in episode 19 we return for more details on our boring guide to successful investing. Now that we have an idea on types of funds and asset allocation from part 1, we can take a detailed dive on each investing account and how to simply save more and minimize taxes. Oh boy!

• A deep dive on tax-advantaged accounts, including the 401(k), the HSA, and the Roth IRA
• The important tax implications of each investing “bucket”
• The hierarchy of different investing accounts
• Details on the importance of a brokerage account and why it should be used after filling tax-advantaged accounts
• How we invest in each account
• 2022 contribution limits for each account
• The importance of automation
• A final summary of our simple investing strategy
• So much more!

Part 1 Original Written Post: The CC Family Investing Strategy, Part 1: Philosophy and Asset Allocation

Part 1 Podcast and Show Notes: EP 16: The Boring Guide to Successful Investing (Part 1)

Part 2 Original Written Post: The CC Family Investing Strategy, Part 2: Where Exactly Is Our Money?

Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) details (no affiliation)

Vanguard’s Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) (no affiliation)

Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX) (no affiliation)

Millionaire Educator: A Teacher Couple’s Journey to Financial Independence

Insurance: A Tax on People who are Bad at Math? (Mr. Money Mustache)

Tax-Efficient Fund Placement (Bogleheads Wiki)

Roth IRA Resource (Kiplinger)

Backdoor Roth IRA 2022: A Step-by-Step Guide with Vanguard (Physician on FIRE)

The Bold and Beautiful Roth Conversion Ladder

But I Don’t Want to Be Frugal

Expense Ratio & Fees: They’ll Hose You Big Time

Your Questions Answered: Volume Two (Brokerage Account info)

Your 2021 Guide to Actually Saving Real Money (Brokerage Account info, and much more)

Bitcoin and Other Things You Shouldn’t Own

Value Spending: How to Really Save Money (Pareto’s Principle)

Today on episode 18 I want to welcome Kenzie King. If you listened to last week’s interview with Michael Langer you will recognize Kenzie as Michael’s girlfriend. Kenzie and Michael walked away from lucrative engineering careers in Houston, Texas and moved into a van. Only months later, seemingly on a whim, they smashed the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking over 2,600 miles across California, Oregon, and Washington.

I promise that this is not a retelling of last week’s story. Kenzie has a very unique perspective on their journey. And regardless of your thoughts on the backpacking or thru-hiking, Kenzie shares a number of insightful opinions on the evolving dynamics of workplace culture, relationships in trying environments, and levels of financial or emotional security necessary to make bold and truly lasting changes in our lives. Hang on all the way to the end for some of the best moments of this conversation.

• Kenzie’s original interest in achieving financial independence and retiring at approximately age 35
• Dreams of a year-long sabbatical to travel the world
• Pandemic change in plans: Van life and domestic travel
• Van life challenges and a desire for change
• The Pacific Crest Trail (navigating the lottery system, ideal start times, budgeting, food, day in the life routines)
• Richness of community on the trail
• Saving money versus living for today
• Transitioning from the trail to the workforce
• Implications of the Great Resignation for workplace culture

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Pacific Crest Trail Association

PCT Permits and Lottery System

Elina Osborne Youtube Page

Clever Hiker: Gear Reviews and Tutorials

Backpack Weight Calculator

Mr. Money Mustache

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, By Bill Bryson

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, By Cheryl Strayed

FarOut App

Mountain Mama Meals

But I Don’t Want to Be Frugal

Walking the Walk and Other Tales by Foot

The Fallacy of Happiness and Meaningful Work

Contentment: The Greenest Grass of Them All

Van Life: The Economics and Trade-Offs

In Contrast: The Reality of Life on the Road

The Simple and Complicated Life on the Road

Maximize Adventure or Career?

Early Retirement: Is It the Solution?

Should I Quit My Job? I Want to Climb!

Today on episode 17 I want to give a very warm welcome to my guest Michael Langer, who along with his girlfriend Kenzie, walked away from lucrative engineering careers in Houston, Texas and moved into a van. Only months later, seemingly on a whim, they smashed the Pacific Crest Trail, hiking over 2,600 miles across California, Oregon, and Washington.

Today we will hear Michael’s perspective on this wild and unexpected journey, but it doesn’t end there. Next week stay tuned for an interview with Kenzie King, who shares her own unique perspective and motivations for their abrupt shift in lifestyle. After all, it takes a special couple to trade a solid paycheck for a heavy pack and mosquitos for five months.  

Topics Discussed with Michael Langer:

• Desire to leave well-paying jobs in Houston, TX and travel in a van
• The financial dilemma of saying “I quit.” More on how Michael and Kenzie funded their journey.
• Mental health and the need for a break
• Exposing who we really are
• How Michael and Kenzie hiked the entire PCT having only backpacked three consecutive nights!
• Logistical considerations of hiking the PCT (gear, re-supply points, pack weight, day-in-the-life routines)
• Transition from the trail to society: culture shock and finding meaningful work
• Stories from the trail: people, weather, and wildlife
• Why Michael doesn’t see van living as a long-term way of life

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Michael Langer on Instagram

Nervous Excitement on Instagram: Documenting People in Pursuit

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Elina Osborne Youtube Page

The John Muir Trail

Clever Hiker: Gear Reviews and Tutorials

Backpack Weight Calculator

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, By Bill Bryson

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, By Cheryl Strayed

Superfeet Insoles

Mountain Mama Meals

Enlightened Equipment

But I Don’t Want to Be Frugal

Walking the Walk and Other Tales by Foot

The Fallacy of Happiness and Meaningful Work

Contentment: The Greenest Grass of Them All

Van Life: The Economics and Trade-Offs

In Contrast: The Reality of Life on the Road

The Simple and Complicated Life on the Road

Maximize Adventure or Career?

Early Retirement: Is It the Solution?

Should I Quit My Job? I Want to Climb!

This week on episode 16 I want to revisit a two-part series on the nuts and bolts of our very simple investing strategy. I wrote these posts early in the history of this website, back in late 2018. We felt an investing strategy needed to be simple and lasting, so you might be surprised to learn how boring it all seems. But in this case, boring is good.

And like a simple investing strategy should be, it really hasn’t changed much. However, once we achieved financial independence and left our traditional jobs, we have made some minor changes to our plan. And I’ll share those changes with you today.

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• The critical importance of spending less than we earn
• Investing vs savings
• A simple case study of how cash falls behind to price inflation
• The key elements of our investing strategy
• Investing psychology
• Asset allocation
• Our favorite funds
• The importance of automation
• How we handle home equity
• Whether or not to pay extra on a mortgage
• How our plan has changed
• So much more!

Original Post: Part 1: The CC Family Investing Strategy: Philosophy and Asset Allocation

The S&P 500 through time

Expense Ratio & Fees: They’ll Hose You Big Time

Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) details (no affiliation)

My guest this week is climber, math professor, and real-deal van lifer, Craig Faulhaber. On September 19, 2021 Craig was involved in a very serious climbing accident. This is the sort of accident that can end a life at worst, and dramatically alter its course at best. But, as you will hear in this conversation, Craig has an amazing sense of optimism in the face of very difficult life events.

To add to my shock at his accident, I was surprised to learn that Craig was on the cusp of retiring early just before his accident. Please enjoy this special conversation where we discuss the delicate nature of life, unconventional living, home ownership, relationships and marriage, and even the ethics of investing. Plus so much more!

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• The details of Craig’s accident and recovery to date
• Plenty on van life. How Craig and his girlfriend have lived together in a van, while working their careers, for five years! Thoughts on van builds and where most people fail to make it long-term in a van.
• Why Craig is pro-home ownership but can’t live in a house
• Craig’s plan to retire early
• Why Craig doesn’t invest and has saved for early retirement with cash only!
• Craig’s thoughts on the stress and ethics of investing
• Moving the goal posts on contentment
• Thoughts on health insurance and the idea of medical bancruptcy
• Thoughts on marriage and relationships, from romance to practical implications
• Craig’s performance climbing philosophy and achievements before his accident
• Craig’s background with music
• So much more!

Craig’s website

Craig on Instagram

Detailed account on Mountain Project

Route: Burning Down the Haus

Far From Friday

Music video for "When We're Honest"

Shocking Headlines of the 2008 Financial Crisis (And Why They Are So Important Now)

Many more posts on investing and investing psychology here

Should I Buy a Home? Part 1

Should I Buy a Home? Part 2: Opportunity Cost

Relocation: A Guide to Moving and Housing Affordability

This Just In: The Real Cost of Home Ownership

And We’re Back to Home Ownership! But Why Now?

Housing Affordability: This Isn’t Normal

Van Life: The Economics and Trade-Offs

Is Healthcare Insurance About to Get a Lot More Expensive?!

Some Fantastic News on Healthcare Costs

How to Have Negative Health Insurance Costs

Wow, another year almost in the books! As we wind down 2021, now is the time to make sure we are on track with our financial goals. Remember how we started with Your 2021 Guide to Actually Saving Real Money? Let’s examine a few crucial steps with this year-end financial and tax checklist.

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Written post (with all embedded links): 2021 Exciting Year-End Financial and Tax Checklist

Now seems as good a time as any to welcome back climber and software engineer Mike Doyle. Mike appeared on Clipping Chains for a written interview in February of 2020. At the time, I was curious as to how he managed to climb at an elite level while juggling a very demanding remote job. Mike was still managing to travel to multiple places a year for months at a time, taking his full-time+ job along with him.

After the arrival of the pandemic and surge in remote work, Mike’s original interview feels so much more relevant. In the intervening time, my wife and I have also experienced living and working while traveling, so my thoughts on this lifestyle have evolved dramatically. With all this in mind, the timing feels right to have Mike on for a deeper dive on the realities of the remote work lifestyle.

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• Mike’s background in computer science and thoughts on the current and future job market in that field
• Mike’s history of remote work, travel, and early days of van living. Plus, why Mike doesn’t think traveling in a van is optimal for him now
• Thoughts on work as a distraction or a point of focus
• Mental tips for keeping work and play separate
• Time efficiency tips for maximizing climbing while working
• Building and leveraging career capital to enhance lifestyle flexibility
• Tips for searching and securing deals on long-term Airbnb stays
• Keeping a good work routine in new and different places
• Community and social outlets while traveling or at home in Las Vegas
• Mike’s ideal work/life/climbing balance (hint: it’s not all climbing!)
• Mike’s thoughts on home ownership and how he has deployed rental income
• Words of caution for those pursuing a life of travel while working
• So much more!

Original Clipping Chains Written Interview: Mike Doyle: A Remote-Controlled Climbing Life

Mike Doyle on Instagram

Mike rented an apartment in Mesquite, NV to maximize his time working the nearby Necessary Evil, a 5.14c in the Virgin River Gorge. This excellent 2014 video by Joe Kinder gives us a glimpse into Mike’s process with balancing work and climbing projects.

Nugget Climbing Podcast, Episode 12: Mike Doyle

EP 10: Mark Anderson: The Seasons of Life (Clipping Chains)

The Shocking Truth About Sleep

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams, by Dr. Matthew Walker

Maximize Adventure or Career?

Chasing Your Dreams is Probably a Bad Idea

The Fallacy of Happiness and Meaningful Work

So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love, by Cal Newport

Should I Buy a Home? Part 1

Should I Buy a Home? Part 2: Opportunity Cost

Relocation: A Guide to Moving and Housing Affordability

This Just In: The Real Cost of Home Ownership

And We’re Back to Home Ownership! But Why Now?

Housing Affordability: This Isn’t Normal

Reflectix thermal insulation and security cover for vehicles

I’m happy to announce that today’s guest is pro climber and all-around genuine person, Paige Claassen. Paige is one of the top sport climbers in America and the world, having sent multiple 5.14+ routes, including her latest send of Dreamcatcher, a 5.14d in Squamish, British Columbia.

Pro climbers are paid in large part to climb, at least for a portion of their life. But Paige does so much more than climb. She’s worked insane hours at a packhouse in Namibia harvesting grapes, she founded and promoted nonprofit projects across the globe, and she’s heavily involved in making a more equitable world.

That said, despite all these achievements, Paige admittedly struggles at times with issues we all face: self-disappointment, a hesitation to celebrate victories, and a feeling that the anticipation of the thing is greater than the thing. Paige is learning to recognize wins and take compliments, with simple refrains, like, “this is a big one for me.” Her thoughts here gave me a lot of room for self-reflection.

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• Paige’s recent send of Dreamcatcher (5.14d) and 5.15 ambitions
• Competitiveness and healthy relationships when climbing with a significant other
• Difficulty celebrating achievements, struggling with disappointment
• Paige’s disregard for the term “first female ascent”
• The importance of family support
• Paige’s surprise to still be climbing professionally
• Why Paige never returned to college after expecting she would
• Is professional climbing more lucrative now?
• Thoughts on social media and influencers
• Side income: rental income, van builds, and the uncomfortable discussions of who gets to build wealth
• Life in South Africa, Namibia, and Colorado with her husband
• Helping African children as a female American outsider
• Struggling to maintain a sense of community in multiple home bases
• Paige’s recent embrace of van life
• So much more!

Original Interview: Paige Claassen: Making a Difference

Paige on Instagram

Paigeclassen.com

Southern Africa Education Fund

Forged Vans

Lead Now Tour with Louder Than Eleven

EP 10: Mark Anderson: The Seasons of Life

Dave MacLeod: Life Outside the Box, Part 1

Dave MacLeod: Life Outside the Box, Part 2

Video: Paige working Empath (5.15a) with Keenan Takahashi

Video: How Dave MacLeod Celebrates Sending Projects (Eating the Raspberry Cheesecake 2.0)

Should I Buy a Home? Part 1

Should I Buy a Home? Part 2: Opportunity Cost

Relocation: A Guide to Moving and Housing Affordability

This Just In: The Real Cost of Home Ownership

And We’re Back to Home Ownership! But Why Now?

Housing Affordability: This Isn’t Normal

So many of us in the outdoor world choose a life and career path guided by a seemingly unavoidable fork in the road. Do we choose a safe path, paved with a steady paycheck and a retirement plan? Or do we cobble together whatever it takes to make it work, focusing on experience and patching the inevitable cracks as we go? Today we examine the completely accessible and exciting grey area between these two black and white choices. We can have money and still enjoy life.

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Original Written Post (with links): Shades of Grey: How to Enjoy Life and Have Money