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Wild Ideas Worth Living

Beth Rodden - On Rock Climbing, Living in Yosemite, and Reframing the Perfectionist Mindset

Wild Ideas Worth Living

REI Co-op

Rei, Writing, Trailrunning, Mountaineering, Author, Sailing, Girlboss, Sports, Environmentalism, Lifestyle, Health, Entrepreneurship, Snowboarding, Paddle, Activelifestyle, Outdoorsports, Rockclimbing, Health & Fitness, Running, Surfing, Inspiration, Athlete, Skiing, Nutrition, Vegan, Alternativelifestyle, Watersports, Podcast, Camping, Climbing, Yoga, Travel, Society & Culture, Snowsports, Places & Travel, Cycling, Backpacking, Fitness, Adventure, Wilderness, Endurancesports, Wildideas, Outdoors, Sup, Womensadventure

4.71.3K Ratings

🗓️ 27 June 2018

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Beth Rodden is a well known climber who has won competitions and climbed some of the most challenging routes in the world, including many first ascents like her free climb of the Meltdown in Yosemite, where she showed that women can climb as well as men. In 2000 Beth and three climbing partners were captured by a militant group in while on a climbing trip Kyrgyzstan. After is days in captivity, they escaped. Between that and her divorce shortly after, Beth has had to rethink her perfectionist ideals.

Transcript

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0:00.0

This conversation is with rock climbing superstar Beth Rodden.

0:04.0

Welcome to Wild Ideas Worth Living,

0:08.0

an adventure podcast presented by REI Co-op,

0:11.0

the brand who helps get you outside through gear, classes, and adventures.

0:16.0

We talk to experts who have taken a wild idea and made it a reality so you can too.

0:20.9

From people who have climbed the tallest peaks, started thriving businesses, and even broken records,

0:26.2

some of the wildest ideas can lead to the most rewarding adventures.

0:30.3

I'm your host, Shelby Stanger, and I hope you enjoy this show.

0:39.6

Today we're talking about breaking the perfectionist cycle and being an overachiever.

0:44.2

And today's guest, Beth Rodden is a recovering overachiever, and I say that lightly because

0:48.9

she still achieves so much today.

0:51.6

Beth got her start at climbing gyms in California when she was 14 and quickly started winning national

0:56.6

competitions.

0:58.0

Then she began climbing outside and all over the world setting tons of records.

1:02.2

She became famous for free climbing the nose on El Capitan,

1:04.9

among completing many other first descents, like free climbing the meltdown, which is an incredibly

1:09.3

difficult route in Yosemite, where she showed the world women can climb as good as the men.

1:14.6

Then in 2000 she was involved in a really challenging experience.

1:18.4

When she was on a climbing trip with her then boyfriend Tommy Caldwell who she married, two other rock climbers they were in

1:24.7

Kirkistan when they were captured by IMU fighters which is a militant group linked to

1:29.4

Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. They went six days in the mountains of being held by their captors with only a

1:34.4

power bar each, no tent, no gear, just the clothes on their backs. On the sixth day, Beth

...

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