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

May 13, 2025

Ground Up 19: Level Up Your Trad Climbing with Dana Taylor

Training for trad climbing isn’t something most climbers think about—but Project Direct coach Dana Taylor is here to change that. Originally from Chicago, Dana spent years sport climbing at the Red River Gorge before catching...

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April 29, 2025

Ground Up 18: The Sandstone School of Rock with Professor Joel Brady

Whether you know him as the Vampire Professor, the Banjo Man, or the founding president of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Climbers Coalition (SWPACC), you know that Joel Brady has the undeniable ability to crush nails hard roc...

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April 15, 2025

Ground Up 17: The Need for Speed with Joe Kennedy

Speed climbing is the ultimate culmination of dozens, if not hundreds, of hours spent dialing in beta, trimming the rack, and pushing the body to move as quickly up the wall as possible. Few do it better than today's guest, J...

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April 1, 2025

Ground Up 16: Becoming a Quadfather - Tanner Wanish

Finding first ascents and new potential link-ups in Yosemite Valley is a rare opportunity these days, especially when they're as monumental as the QUAD! In a mind-blowingly short one year between his first NIAD (Nose in a Day...

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March 17, 2025

Ground Up 15: Raging in El Salto with Karly Rager

While most climbers gravitate to El Potrero Chico when visiting Nuevo León, Karly Rager has spent the past five winter seasons learning the dark arts of kneebars in El Salto's tufa filled playgrounds. Fresh off her all female...

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March 4, 2025

Ground Up 14: Legends From the Steep with Doug Reed

If you've pulled onto the perfect Nuttall Sandstone of the New River Gorge, odds are you've climbed a Doug Reed route. Boasting one of the most impressive list's of first ascents in Southeastern, and perhaps national climbing...

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