
What’s the best way to belay with a GriGri? How should you build an anchor? Is that CE-certified piece of webbing really strong enough for real-world climbing? The internet has an opinion on this and more! Walk with us through the muck of know-it-alls offering their two cents on everything.



Next, one of our favorite writers Jeff Smoot returns to the show to plug his new book All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing, and regale us with his own experiences in this darkest of dark arts.



Last but never least, Madaleine Sorkin shares how her experience of sending the Hallucinogen Wall inspired her inner bard. 



Show Notes



All and Nothing: Inside Free Soloing, available from The Mountaineers or wherever you get books.



Follow Jeff Smoot on Instagram.



Check out episode #21 of The RunOut for our first interview with Jeff Smoot on his last book, Hangdog Days.



Follow Madeleine Sorkin on Instagram



Listen to our bonus interview with Madaleine by joining us on Patreon.



Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com

RunOut #94: Inside Free Soloing with Jeff Smoot

Only interesting conversations about climbing. With Chris Kalous and Andrew Bisharat.

Comedy

Sports

Wilderness


Last fall, Jesse Grupper took home the gold medal at the Pan Am games, securing his spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics in 2024. Now just a few months out from the Games, we caught up with Jesse to hear about how he is preparing and getting psyched to represent our country in lead and bouldering at the Olympics—all while balancing life as a mechanical engineer pushing the limits of soft robotics to improve people’s lives.



But first, yr sticky, sweet podcast hosts get into a debate about glue and when it’s appropriate to use it to fix boulder problems that break. This discussion comes after one of Colorado’s oldest and most historic boulder problems broke, and locals put the question to the community for a vote.



Buster Jesik, IFMGA / AMGA mountain guide, lays down a sick drum track for today’s final bit.



Show Notes



Jesse Grupper Wins PanAM



Watch Jesse flash Livin' Astro



Follow Jesse Grupper on Instagram



Mental Standard Has Broken — Instagram



Mental Standard — Mountain Project



Mountain Project Thread



Follow Buster Jesik on Instagram, Youtube, or contact him for guiding buster@coloradomountainschool.com



Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com

RunOut 124: How Jesse Grupper is getting Psyched and Ready for the next Olympics


Our guest today is #71 for the New York Jets: Wes Schweitzer, an offensive guard whose injuries sent him down a curious path of recovery: rock climbing. Since discovering the sport, Wes has fallen in love with climbing and uses it as a tool to improve his performance on and off the field. At 6’4” 330-pounds, Wes is considered one of the strongest lineman in the game, putting up 765-pound deadlifts well over twice his body weight. As a true professional athlete, Wes delivers some fascinating insights into how both football and climbing training mentalities could benefit from each other.



But first, yr favorite climbing podcasters play a game of Fuck, Marry, Kill with climbing gear.



Our final bit is a track from Harris Freif called “Tortillas and Peanut Butter” off his album Guitar 2.



Show Notes



Follow Wes Schweitzer on Instagram and Twitter



“Meet the 330-pound NFL Lineman Addicted to Rock Climbing”



Check out Harris Freif on Spotify







Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com

RunOut 123: How NFL Lineman Wes Schweitzer Uses Rock Climbing to Move Better and Get Stronger


Will Moss is a comp climber turned traddie from New York City, who has been quietly ticking some of the hardest gear-protected routes in the country over the past couple of years. His most recent notable ascent is the FA of the Gunks hardest: The Best Things in Life Are Free (5.14d R). 



But first, we wind our way into a discussion about the elusive “undercover crusher,” and whether this mythical beast actually climbed the thing before everyone else, or if this is just what some bro is saying in order to take you down a peg or two.



Last, we’re honored to feature the atmospheric music of climber and musician Jessica Kilroy, with her track “It’s Infinite.”



Show Notes



Follow Will Moss on Instagram



William Moss, 18, Establishes 5.14d R Trad in the Gunks via Climbing Magazine



R-Rated: 5.14 Climbing on Marginal Gear on YouTube



About James Litz



Nacho Sanchez on Instagram



Follow Jessica Kilroy on Instagram



Jessica Kilroy Bandcamp



Jessica Kilroy on Spotify



Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com



Will Moss on Brozone (5.14b) at the Gunks. Photo by Gregory Berg 

RunOut 122: Will Moss Leaves No Stone Unclimbed


Today’s guest is a climbing icon and legend: the great Beth Rodden. Beth was a youth national comp champ who went on to become one of the greatest female climbers of her time, with important first free ascents of El Cap and single-pitch trad test pieces such as Meltdown, a 5.14c crack that many say is harder and took a decade before it was repeated. Her new book is called A Light Through the Cracks.



But first we talk about the elusive “all-around” climber, with Bronwyn Hodgins at the top of mind. What does it take to be considered a great all-around climber? And is that the future for what we demand of our top-end climbers?



Today’s final bit comes courtesy of the extremely talented Beezer (aka Mason Earle) with the track Loggersports.



Show Notes



Follow Beth Rodden on Instagram



Pre-order A Light Through the Cracks from an independent book store or big one



Follow Bronwyn Hodgins on Instagram



News / post about Bronwyn’s latest redpoint



Watch Bronwyn and Jacob Cook free climb a big wall



Follow Mason Earle on Instagram



Check out Beezer on YouTube 



Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com

RunOut #121: Beth Rodden Reveals A Light Through the Cracks


Josh Wharton is one of America’s top alpine climbers, with light and fast ascents of iconic peaks from Patagonia to Alaska to the Himalaya. His latest first free ascent with Vince Anderson, is called Suerte (5.13a, WI6, M7, 3,500 feet) and it’s located on Jirishanca (20,100 feet) in Peru. This ascent, which took years to “alpine redpoint,” is featured in a new film headlining Reel Rock 18.



But first, yer friendly RunOut hosts discuss Kalous’ recent trip out to his namesake dance party at the Michigan Ice Fest, where there was more festing than icing.



Our final bit comes courtesy of Evan Philips, fellow podcaster at The Firn Line, with his song Close to Me.



Show Notes



Josh Wharton and Vince Anderson send Suerte on Climbing.com



Reel Rock 18 Spotlight: Jirishanca



Michigan Ice Fest



Chris Kalous Dance Party



The Firn Line podcast



Close to Me on Spotify



Become a RunOut Rope Gun! Support our podcast and increase your RunOut runtime. Bonus episodes, AMA, and more will be available to our Rope Guns. Thank you for your support! http://patreon.com/runoutpodcast



Contact us Send ideas, voicemail, feedback and more. andrew@runoutpodcast.com // chris@runoutpodcast.com

RunOut #94: Inside Free Soloing with Jeff Smoot

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