The Testpiece Podcast

By TestpieceSports

The Testpiece Podcast episodes

June 09, 2025#162 Jonathan Siegrist — What It Takes To Send At Your Limit, Different Climbing Cultures Around The World, and Having Longevity As a Professional In Climbing
Jonathan Siegrist, aka J-Star, is one of the top sport climbers in the world, and he has been for at least a decade(s?). He recently sent another 9b in Italy, called Erebor. This wasn’t his in his typical style and he shares how he trained for months before the trip specifically for this line.
Jonathan is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable climbers in the game right now and he shares SO much in this chat. Both in how to reach your potential now, and how to be successful over the long haul.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Tension Climbing! Tension makes the best climbing training tools on the planet.
SHOW NOTES:
Jonathan’s Instagram
Erebor, 9b
Tension Climbing

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2 hr 11 min
June 02, 2025#161 ‘Good Temps’ — A New Recurring Group Podcast with Carlo Traversi, Will Anglin, Austin Hoyt, and Joshua Horsley
Welcome to the first episode of the ‘Good Temps’ podcast!
This is a recurring podcast focused on the latest things happening in climbing and what it means for our sport from industry veterans: Carlo Traversi, Will Anglin, Austin Hoyt, and Joshua Horsley.

SHOW NOTES:
Carlo’s Instagram
Will’s Instagram
Austin’s Instagram
Josh’s Instagram
The Dark Side Movie

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1 hr 52 min
May 26, 2025#160 Hamish McArthur — Going ‘Invisible Man’, Sending Megatron And NOMTW, and What Achieving Your Potential Actually Means
Hamish McArthur has been making huge headlines in the climbing world lately with his send of the highly sought after second ascent of Megatron [V17]. He quickly followed that up with another V17 second ascent of No One Mourns The Wicked, on his first session! Yes, that’s right, Hamish sent a V17 in a few hours.
Hamish is an incredible person through and through and it’s a pleasure to get to peer into his process and hear about his path from “Good to Great”.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Mad Rock! Mad Rock’s mottos is “CLIMBING SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY! Innovative, highly technical and affordable climbing shoes and gear.”
SHOW NOTES:
Hamish’s Last Testpiece Episode, #122
Hamish’s Instagram
Hamish Sending No One Mourns The Wicked [V17] In A Session
Hamish Does The Second Ascent Of Megatron [V17]
Madrock Climbing, This Episode’s Sponsor

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1 hr 45 min
May 19, 2025#159 Dave MacLeod [Part 2] — Be The Lightest Possible FOREVER, How To Peak For a Specific Moment, and Why Cutting Calories Is The Last Resort
You know him, you love him — Dave MacLeod (again!).
This episode was ‘snipped’ from the original, #158, and focuses on a nuanced discussion of nutrition. It felt very different from the other topics so we made it a standalone.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Tension Climbing! Tension makes the best climbing training tools on the planet.
SHOW NOTES:
Podcast [Part 1] with Dave
Dave MacLeod’s Instagram
Dave MacLeod’s YouTube Channel
Moving The Needle, Dave’s Latest Book
Dave’s Journey To The Ketogenic Diet
Dave Eating McDonalds Everyday
Tension Climbing

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1 hr 18 min
May 12, 2025#158 Dave MacLeod — You Can’t Avoid Risk, The Right Definition Of Bold Climbing, Low Confidence Is Good, and Why Being Great Means Being Different
You know him, you love him — Dave MacLeod.
This episode focuses on boldness and risk in climbing, as well as some of the key theme’s in his latest book, Moving The Needle.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY ORGANIC CLIMBING! Simply put, Organic makes the best and highest quality crashpads.
SHOW NOTES:
Dave MacLeod’s Instagram
Dave MacLeod’s YouTube Channel
Moving The Needle, Dave’s Latest Book
Organic Climbing

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1 hr 57 min
May 05, 2025#157 Josh Lowell — World's Best Climbing Films, Reel Rock 19, What Made Sharma Different, Climbing Is ‘Badass’, and How To Make Something Great
Josh Lowell is THE guy behind the camera and computer who has made all of your favorite climbing videos over the past 25+ years. He is one of the founders of Big UP Productions, Reel Rock, and was the director of The Dawn Wall. The guy even has 2 Emmy’s under his belt!
Josh shares all of his amazing stories from starting out as an OG dirtbag, picking up his first camera to show the world how ‘badass’ climbing is, all the way through winning Emmy’s. This guy is a legend and is one of the reasons why climbing is viewed the way it is today.
SHOW NOTES:
Josh Lowell’s Instagram
Reel Rock’s Instagram
Reel Rock Website
Rampage on YouTube

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2 hr 24 min
April 28, 2025#156 Tim, My Dude — When Olympians Go Rock Climbing, The Best Red Rocks Season Ever, Are Soft Shoes Better Than Stiff Ones, and How To Have A Successful Trip
Tim, my dude, [aka Tim Kang] is back on the pod for another fun episode.
Tim and Josh talk about the latest big news stories in climbing and then get into their latest climbing experience. For Tim that means sending Trieste, an iconic Red Rocks V14, while being a ‘weekend warrior’. For Josh that means his recent big trip to the historic bouldering Mecca that is Fontainebleau.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Mad Rock! Mad Rock’s motto is “CLIMBING SHOULD BE FOR EVERYBODY! Innovative, highly technical and affordable climbing shoes and gear.”
SHOW NOTES:
Tim Kang’s Instagram
Focus: A Bishop Highball Project with Tim Kang
Hamish McArthur Testpiece Episode
Mad Rock

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2 hr 11 min
April 25, 2025 #155 [BONUS] Kevin Thibault — All About Karma, The State Of Development In Font, and 9A Slabs By Kids?!
This is a behind the scenes discussion right after Episode #154 was finished.
Kevin Thibault and Josh go deep on the legendary ‘Karma’, the current development happening in Font, skin management, and the issues of weight vs performance.
We hope you enjoy this peek into what happens right after episodes are “finished”!
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Tension Climbing! Tension makes the best climbing training tools on the planet.

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Visit our podcast page: HERE
48 min
April 21, 2025 #154 Kevin Thibault — A Lifetime In Fontainebleau, Circuits / Pof / Chipping / Nazi’s, Good vs Great Climbers In Font, and Does Climbing Need Weightclasses?
Kevin Thibault is a fixture in the Fontainebleau scene. He grew up there, started climbing there, and continues to climb there for almost 40 years now!
It runs in the family too, his Dad climbed there and was the one who brushed the legendary ‘Karma’ which was sent by Fred Nicole and became one of the most famous boulder problems in the world.
Hear from Kevin all about Fontainebleau, what makes it special, and what it has taught him in his journey deep into the 8th grade.
THIS EPISODE IS SUPPORTED BY Tension Climbing! Tension makes the best climbing training tools on the planet.

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Visit our podcast page: HERE
2 hr 4 min
April 14, 2025#153 Tyler Thompson — This Is The Most Fun You Can Have Climbing, Why 14a In America Is Like 9a In Europe, and How Sport Climbing Rewards Time On Rock More Than Bouldering
Tyler Thompson is one of the best young sport climbers in America with multiple 5.15 ascents and over 100 5.14 sends.
Tyler shares his perspectives on sport climbing in America and why sport climbing hasn’t grown as quickly as bouldering.
And we get to hear some of his hard earned wisdom about how to become and better climber and why there are no shortcuts to time on the rock.
SHOW NOTES:
Tyler’s Instagram
Tyler’s YouTube Channel
Full Metal Brisket (15a)

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Visit our podcast page: HERE
1 hr 38 min