The Ground Up Podcast

The Ground Up Podcast

Stories From the Steep | Climbing conversations with local legends and unsung crushers from hometown crags around the country.

Recent Episodes

37: The Good, The Bad, & David Sharratt
June 2, 2026

37: The Good, The Bad, & David Sharratt

David Sharratt is one of the East Coast's great underground crushers. From bold headpoints at Moon Rocks, pushing the boundaries of free climbing at Looking Glass, to the legendary Good, Bad, and Ugly at Ghost Town, David has...

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36: Mademoiselle Fissure - Laura Pineau
May 19, 2026

36: Mademoiselle Fissure - Laura Pineau

Fresh off the world premiere of Queen Swing , return guest Laura Pineau is back on the podcast—this time stepping away from the Yosemite speed climbing stories to dive deeper into the experiences and climbing that shaped her....

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35: You Asked, We Rambled
May 5, 2026

35: You Asked, We Rambled

We're switching things up a bit this week with our first ever listener questions driven episode! Instead of our usual format interviewing guests, it’s just us this time—riffing on climbing films, hot topics, and however many ...

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34: Arno Ilgner - The Rock Warrior
April 21, 2026

34: Arno Ilgner - The Rock Warrior

Today’s guest is none other than mental‑training expert and longtime first‑ascensionist Arno Ilgner. While most climbers know Arno for The Rock Warrior’s Way —his influential book and program on focus, risk, and commitment—hi...

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33: Big Wall Chronicles with Wilson Cutbirth
April 7, 2026

33: Big Wall Chronicles with Wilson Cutbirth

Wilson Cutbirth is an expedition climber at heart—driven by ground-up style, remote objectives, and first ascents on some of the wildest big walls out there. With a deep background in rigging and rope systems, his approach bl...

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32: Andrew Leich - Rattlesnake Redemption
March 24, 2026

32: Andrew Leich - Rattlesnake Redemption

In this episode, we sit down with West Virginia climber and prolific developer Andrew Leich to trace a climbing journey shaped by obsession, grit, and an almost unthinkable comeback. From his early days at the New River Gorge...

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