The Enormocast

On Episode 233 of the Enormocast, I sit down with musician and climber, Bradley “Chum” Carter. Chum grew up climbing in Tennessee and the greater Southeast, but did stints in the Northwest and Yosemite and Hueco and beyond. Somewhere in there, he also became an accomplished multi-instrument musician. Then came the difficult task of “balancing” … Continue reading "Enormocast 233: Bradley “Chum” Carter – Mountains and Music"

On Episode 232 of the Enormocast, I meet up across the pond with fellow podcaster, Niall Grimes. Niall grew up during “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland and learned to climb on his local crags amid that terrible conflict. But as soon as he knew what was good for him, Niall moved the storied city of … Continue reading "Enormocast 232: Niall Grimes – The Language of Humor"

On Episode 231 of the Enormocast, I connect to the other side of the world with Indian climber, Gowri Varanashi. Gowri learned to climb in the US but fell in love with climbing in her home country of India. Immediately, she felt the need to bring more women into the small, male-dominated climbing community in … Continue reading "Enormocast 231: Gowri Varanashi – Bringing It All Back Home"

On Episode 230, I connect with Paul Pritchard all the way from Tasmania. Paul’s new book The Mountain Path: A Climbers Journey Through Life and Death examines his life of climbing and life-changing accident on the Totem Pole in Tasmania through the lens of his scholarship in Buddhism. Paul came of age in Wales climbing … Continue reading "Enormocast 230: Paul Pritchard – The Tao of Paul"

On Episode 229.5 of the Enormocast, I rebroadcast an interview I did with Luke Mehall over at his podcast The Dirtbag State of Mind Podcast. In this interview, we spend time on the history of the Enormocast, its current state and its future. I get all mushy about what its meant to me and how … Continue reading "Enormocast 229.5: REBROADCAST of Luke Mehall’s Dirtbag State of Mind Podcast with Chris Kalous."

On Episode 229 of the Enormocast, Steve Schneider joins me from his home in Oakland, California. Though Steve’s resume is longer than almost any previous guest on the show, he seems to fly in the nether regions of the global climbing consciousness. Steve became a YOSAR member and Valley denizen in the early 80s and … Continue reading "Enormocast 229: Steve “Shipoopoi” Schneider – Blonde Ambition"

On Episode 228 of the Enormocast, I sit down with climber and guide, Aaron Livingston. A Utah native, Aaron splits his time between Ouray, Colorado and Moab, Utah while guiding for San Juan Mountain Guides. While we get to know Aaron in the first half of the interview, his purpose for coming in the show … Continue reading "Enormocast 228: Aaron Livingston – We Shall Be Brothers"

On Episode 227 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a van (his) in Rifle with return guest Jordan Cannon. Jordan’s career continues to flourish since his last appearance on the Enormocast with Mark Hudon and his first appearance back in 2018. The main topic on the table is Jordan’s saga with freeing Golden Gate … Continue reading "Enormocast 227: Jordan Cannon – The Full Picture"

On Episode 226 of the Enormocast, Stacy Bare (episode 103) returns to the Enormocast with an urgent message. At this moment, Afghanistan is in crisis and evacuations are underway for allies and Afghans who worked for, collaborated with, and trusted the American mission in their country. Through his Adventure Not War initiative, Stacy travelled to … Continue reading "Enormocast 226: Stacy Bare – Resist with Joy"

On Episode 225 of the Enormocast, I sit down in a yard with goats with ice climber, Manoah Ainuu. Manoah popped up on a lot of climbers’ radars in the film Black Ice from last year’s Reel Rock, but he’s been a North Face Athlete for 3 years and getting it done in Bozeman for … Continue reading "Enormocast 225: Manoah Ainuu – Life’s Sustenance"

On Episode 224 of the Enormocast, I connect with bouldering legend, John Sherman. “The Verm”, as he is widely known, is a seminal boulderer in America and the world. Known as much for his antics and his legendary toughness, John Sherman also likely bouldered there first as he spanned the continent looking for and developing … Continue reading "Enormocast 224: John “The Verm” Sherman – Foot on the Gas"

On Episode 223 of the Enormocast, I sit down with legend, John Long. I first met Long, AKA Largo, some 25 years ago in West Los Angeles at a climbing gym. As I got to know him in that gym community, I quickly realized that the John Long I knew from his books like Gorilla … Continue reading "Enormocast 223: John Long – Existential Horsepower"

On Episode 222 of the Enormocast, I connect with Harvey Merritt Wright. Harvey Wright is a climber, musician, and hair dresser from Vancouver, BC and the recent subject of a full length documentary film, Crux. Harvey also deals with drug and alcohol addiction. When Harvey first started climbing, he hit it hard and quickly achieved … Continue reading "Enormocast 222: Harvey Wright – Heart Like an Ocean"

On Episode 221 of the Enormocast, I manage to sit down face to face and maskless with Lor Sabourin. Lor’s recent send of East Coast Fist Bump in Northern Arizona piqued my interest and a tip from Mary Eden got them in the room. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, like so many kids before, Lor started … Continue reading "Enormocast 221: Lor Sabourin – Being Themself"

On Episode 220 of the Enormocast, I sit down across the internet with Alex Honnold. A lot has happened to Alex Honnold since we last talked in 2017. Back then, he had just free soloed El Cap, but the Oscar winning film of that ascent was still year away from blowing our minds and moistening … Continue reading "Enormocast 220: Alex Honnold – The Same, but More So"

On Episode 219 of the Enormocast, I connect online with Genevive Walker. Genevive is living the “dream” on the road full time. In the last year, she’s taken some offers for sponsorship and is now trying to reconcile the life of a public figure and “pro” with the realities of living hand-to-mouth in a van … Continue reading "Enormocast 219: Genevive Walker – Holding Fast to the Dream"

On this BONUS episode of the Enormocast, I rebroadcast an interview we did on Steven Dimmitt’s The Nugget Podcast where he interviews me. Steven and I decided it would be a nice addendum to the Enormcast feed. In the interview, we focus much more on my climbing than any interview I have done previously. If … Continue reading "Enormocast 218.5: REBROADCAST Kalous Talks to Steven Dimmitt on the Nugget Podcast."

On Episode 218 of the Enormocast, I connect after some really weird internet glitching with climber and author Mark Synnott. Mark’s book The Third Pole: Mystery, Obsession, and Death on Mount Everest and its imminent release was the occasion for our talk, but the convo quickly turns to our shared past and his personal struggles … Continue reading "Enormocast 218: Mark Synnott – 50 Shades of Adventure"

On Episode 217 of the Enormocast, I connect after some internet trouble with the indomitable Michaela Kiersch. Michaela grew up a Chicago girl – loving baseball and the White Sox- but when she found the climbing gym, her baseball goals were supplanted. The climbing community embraced Michaela at just the right time as her mother’s … Continue reading "Enormocast 217: Michaela Kiersch – Life’s Greater Needs"

On Episode 216 for the Enormocast, I luck into an interview with the elusive Jim Reynolds. Jim popped onto most of our radars with a really fast ascent of the Nose with the late great Brad Gobright followed by some truly audacious solos in Patagonia including an onsight solo up and down of Fitzroy. Finally, … Continue reading "Enormocast 216- Jim Reynolds Searches for the Rhythm"

On Episode 215 of the Enormocast, I connect with climber, writer, former YoSAR member, Lauren Delaunay Miller. Lauren found climbing in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, and quickly made a plan to climb El Cap in 5 years despite not having any idea what rock climbing actually entailed. She pursued her goal not … Continue reading "Enormocast 215: Lauren Delaunay Miller – The Five Year Plan…"

On Episode 214 of the Enormocast, I beam myself to Sheffield, England, the heart of British climbing, to talk to Pete Whittaker. Pete is one half of the infamous Wide Boyz but not just an offwidth climber. His prowess on cracks of all sizes is well known and has lead to his new definitive modern … Continue reading "Enormocast 214: Pete Whittaker – A Right Wad"

On Episode 213, I sit down through a computer screen with Chelsea Murn of Lady Beta Coaching. Chelsea’s coaching business caters exclusively to women and women’s climbing performance. Chelsea brings a deep holistic approach to her craft. On this episode, we talk about how impediments to climbing performance can be deep seeded in the emotional … Continue reading "Enormocast 213: Chelsea Murn – Free Your Mind."

On Episode 212 of the Enormocast, brothers in spray, Andrew Bisharat and Steve Dilk return for the annual chat about the fallen trends in climbing. Despite 2020 being a hellscape, we still managed a tongue-in-cheek raucous conversation about the stuff we lost to COVID’s shut downs and economic hardship, as well as long time trends … Continue reading "Enormocast 212: TAPS 2020 – Cursed Pestilence Edition"

On Episode 211 of the Enormocast, I connect with climber and photographer, Drew Smith. After growing up in Eastern Montana, Drew Smith set out on a life of adventure and work in his late teens. A snowboarding accident lead him to discover the relatively impact free world of climbing in his early twenties. Coupling climbing … Continue reading "Enormocast 211: Drew Smith – Willing to Work for It."

On Episode 210 of the Enormocast, we journey into the impossibly distant past of a year ago for an interview recorded in the pre-pandemic bliss of January 2020 with climber, guidebook author, and artist, Jason Nelson. Jason hails from Maine, but is most associated with the small town with big climbing aspirations: Ouray, Colorado. As … Continue reading "Enormocast 210: Jason Nelson – A Life’s Work."

On Episode 209, I sit down on home turf in Carbondale, Colorado with climber and engineer, Natalie Afonina. Natalie grew up in the States but with a strong connection to her parents homeland, mother Russia. Fluent in Russian and holder of dual citizenship, Natalie has used that pedigree to her advantage as she’s travelled the … Continue reading "Episode 209: Natalie Afonina – The Innumerable Paths."

On Episode 208 of the Enormocast, I have a very enjoyable and inspiring talk with ice climber and author, Margo Talbot. Margo is Canadian and based out of Canmore, Alberta. In her memoir, All That Glitters, Margo reveals that she had a youth of drug addiction, depression, and suicidal tendencies but found climbing ice to … Continue reading "Episode 208: Margo Talbot – Climbing Through the Pain."

On Episode 207, Tara Kerzhner joins me via the Internet tubes to discuss her life as a climber, but more importantly, her life behind the lens. Tara came up a sheltered child in Bend, Oregon, and grew into an awkward, dark-poetry-writing tween before finding her mother’s old Pentax. Quite a few cat photos later, and … Continue reading "Episode 207: Tara Kerzhner – Emergence."

On Episode 206, we get down to climbing talk and climbing stories with Andres Marin. Andres was born and grew up in the mountains of Colombia, but immigrated to the US as a young man. Ending up in Grand Junction, Colorado, Andres was quickly drawn to the climbing opportunities in his back yard. Soon, he … Continue reading "Episode 206: Andres Marin – El Afortunado."

On Episode 205 of the Enormocast, I get to go sideways from rock climbing to rock and roll with musician/climber, Alexis Krauss. Alexis is a Gunks climber, a guide, and also happens to be living one of my alternate dreams as half of the “noise rock” (Wikipedia) band, Sleigh Bells. During a tour in 2013, … Continue reading "Episode 205: Alexis Krauss – There’s More Than One Way to Rock."

On Episode 204, I connect across state lines with climber, doctor, athlete, ninja, cancer survivor, and last but not least, president of the Southern Maryland Youth Foreign Film and Cuisine Club, Favia Dubyk. Favia grew up “below the Mason-Dixon line” but ended up attending Harvard and Columbia and ended up living in Cleveland and now … Continue reading "Episode 204: Favia Dubyk – Upon the Mortal Side."

On Episode 203 of the Enormocast, I meet up with Mary Eden, AKA Tradprincess on a porch in Moab, UT. It was a pleasant morning prelude to scorcher of a day and Mary and I got a solid hour in just before she bailed to Flagstaff. Mary came from Appalachia and ended up in Moab … Continue reading "Episode 203: Mary Catherine Eden AKA Tradprincess – Fun and Freedom."

On Episode 202 of the Enormocast, I sit down across an internet gulf with neophyte climber and veteran MMA fighter, Celine Haga. Celine hails from Norway, but is ensconced in Albuquerque, NM to train for a sport that is illegal in her home country. Her desire to fight came after failing several physical fitness tests … Continue reading "Episode 202: Celine Haga – Fight or Flight."

On Episode 201 of the Enormocast, I sit down at the Monkey House climbing gym in Carbondale, CO with repeat guest Mary Harlan and Rock and Ice’s Francis Sanzaro to answer listener mail. Both Mary and Francis have decades of climbing experience, and Mary happens to also be an experienced guide. On this long awaited … Continue reading "Episode 201: Listener Mail Volume 4 – The Almost No PAS Edition."

On Episode 200 of the Enormocast, I sit down with Timmy O’Neill. Timmy made a name for himself as a speed demon on the walls of Yosemite, but also as a fast-talking wise ass in such films as Urban Ape and Paralellojams. Born on the mean streets of Philly as one member of an enormous … Continue reading "Episode 200: Timmy O’Neill – A Life of Yes"

On Episode 199 of the Enormocast, my coach, Kris Hampton, and I talk about what its been like to try and train a crusty curmudgeon like me. Since adulting hit me hard in the last couple years and Carbondale got its first real climbing gym, I came up with a plan to actually train for … Continue reading "Episode 199: Old Dog, New Ticks with Kris Hampton"

On Episode 198 of the Enormocast, I sit down in Ouray, Colorado on a too bright Sunday morning with British alpinist, Tom Livingstone. Tom was born in the climbing desert of southern England, but now bases out of the climbing Mecca of North Wales. A traditional rock climber at first, Tom has made a name … Continue reading "Episode 198: Tom Livingstone – Devotion’s Visage."

On Episode 197 of the Enormocast, I sit down with former champion comp climber, Katie Brown. Katie Brown inhabited a place in competition climbing in the 90s when the kids took over the sport. Her cohort, the likes of Chris Sharma, Tommy Caldwell, Beth Rodden, were the first wave of young competitors to put the … Continue reading "Episode 197: Katie Brown – The Invisible Girl."

On Episode 196 of the Enormocast, I sit down with couple, Janelle and Mark Smiley. Janelle and Mark spent much of the last decade in a van pursuing the 50 Classic Climbs of North America. In addition to that hair-brained addiction to climbing and alpinism, both are crack skiers and guides, with Mark and 18 … Continue reading "Episode 196: Janelle and Mark Smiley – The Purpose Makes Strong the Vow."

On Episode 195 of the Enormocast, I sit down in my comfortable study with British climber Tom Randall. Tom just happened to be driving by in a snowstorm and turned up on my doorstep desperate for shelter. So we made a deal: warmth and comfort for an Enormocast. Tom talks about his entry into the … Continue reading "Episode 195: Tom Randall – Just a Pony Shuffler at Heart."

On Episode 194, I sit down in Denver, Colorado with Louisville, KY native and Red River Gorge climber, Dru Mack. Dru is a youngish climber and coach who dropped roots in the Red as a kid, and now uses the base he gained there to tick hard sport pitches and boulders worldwide. At an early … Continue reading "Episode 194: Dru Mack – Getting Out of His Own Way."

On Episode 193, I sit down with American alpine legend, George Lowe. George grew up in Ogden, Utah, among an extended family of climbers, skiers, river runners that included his equally legendary cousin, Jeff. A self-described dork, George found a home among the small counter culture of climbing and began using his problem solving skills … Continue reading "Episode 193: George Lowe III – A Fortunate Man."

On Episode 192 of the Enormocast, I sit down in the Access Fund offices late night with Jenny Fischer. Jenny grew up and lived in the small city of Port Huron, Michigan until she was 30. Then she blew up her rather preordained life and lit out after a dream she’d had since she was … Continue reading "Episode 192: Jenny Fischer – Love and Logic."

On Episode 191 of the Enormocast, I sit down with climber, author, and avid urban adventurer, Dakota Walz. Dakota grew up in the Midwest, Fargo and Kansas City, but longed for adventure beyond the confines of the flat lands. First finding adventure in urban climbing and train hopping and then turning to climbing, Dakota eventually … Continue reading "Episode 191: Dakota Walz – From Catch Outs to Runouts."

On Episode 190 of the Enormocast, I sit down with friends Andrew Bisharat and Steve Dilk take aim at foibles, dangers, and annoyances in climbing that continue to plague our sport and our minds. What’s on the block this year? Bad dog owners, simul-rappelling, snotty belay testers, speed climbing, and more. Fueled by our whiskey … Continue reading "Episode 190: TAPS 2020 aka The Things We Wished Were Cancelled Edition."

On Episode 189, I sit down with Australian rock climber, developer, Lee Cujes, and force him to do the impossible: speak for the entire climbing community of Australia. Lee is the first Aussie ever on the Enormocast, and I can’t help but recall some of the great times I had on my seminal trip to … Continue reading "Episode 189: Lee Cujes – Welcome to Australia, Mate."

On Episode 188 of the Enormocast, I sit down in Squamish, BC with Canadian alpinist, Jason Kruk. Jason and I have been threatening to do a show for almost 8 years now and finally got it on tape. Jason delves into his beginnings, his storied partnership with Will Stanhope, his love of alpinism, and his … Continue reading "Episode 188: Jason Kruk – When There’s Nothing Left to Prove."

On November 27th, 2019, climber, friend, and former guest of the Enormocast, Brad Gobright fell to his death in Potrero Chico, Mexico. I had known Brad for a decade, and he had appeared on the the Enormocast in 2016. This is a repost of that interview with an added intro. The original is here. Since … Continue reading "Special Episode: Brad Gobright Repost."

On Episode 187, I sit down with recent trad convert, Brittany Goris. We were ensconced on a very cold evening in the Mobile Studio parked in the Supercrack Parking lot in Indian Creek. Brittany started as a boulderer and sport climber but has been spending her energies recently exploring the limits of her trad climbing. … Continue reading "Episode 187: Brittany Goris- To Dream the Impossible (Trad) Dream."