Best Plug Tone Audio Podcasts (2025)

1
SENDTEMBER EP 4: "Hold the rope" 36:32

16h ago36:32

36:32

🚨 SPECIAL RELEASE 🚨 LAUREN HERE: Last September I created a limited release podcast that only went out to about 100 people. I got a lot of great feedback on it. I decided to re-release it during our break. There are four episodes and I'll be releasing them over the next four weeks! This is episode 4. This series is meant to be listened to IN ORDER.…

1
Paul Piana and Todd Skinner Partner Up and Push The Boundaries (Part 1) 42:52

4d ago42:52

42:52

By the middle of the 1980s, the shift to sport climbing was in full swing. Two Wyoming cowboys, Paul Piana and Todd Skinner, recognized that the strength they’d gained from sport climbing would give them an advantage on projects left behind by the previous generation. However, that previous generation wasn’t so quick to embrace the changes. Particu…

1
SENDTEMBER EP 3: "He'll start at his shoe for an hour" 34:56

8d ago34:56

34:56

🚨 SPECIAL RELEASE 🚨 LAUREN HERE: Last September I created a limited release podcast that only went out to about 100 people. I got a lot of great feedback on it. I decided to re-release it during our break. There are four episodes and I'll be releasing them over the next four weeks! This is episode 3. This series is meant to be listened to IN ORDER.…

1
TAPED TIPS | How Good Tactics Can Be Bad For Your Climbing 8:15

13d ago8:15

8:15

Employing good tactics is something all climbers should do, but there is a point at which continuing a tactical approach can slow your climbing gains. That is, unless you make sure you don't skip this step... Read the rest on the blog! Watch the video on YouTube! _________________________ 🔍 EXPLORE FURTHER You might enjoy these related articles, ep…

1
Rob LeBreton on Snowbird And Australian Sport Climbing in The 1980s 41:58

13d ago41:58

41:58

Rob LeBreton wears a lot of hats. First, he’s a long time friend of the show, but he’s also a dad, husband, gym owner, former president of Sport Climbing Australia, and absolute climbing legend - the first Australian to establish climbs of 31 and 32 (13d and 14a) in Australia. After the Snowbird episode came out, Rob sent me a video of the finals t…

1
SENDTEMBER EP 2: "Do not hang your heads" 38:14

16d ago38:14

38:14

🚨 SPECIAL RELEASE 🚨 LAUREN HERE: Last September I created a limited release podcast that only went out to about 100 people. I got a lot of great feedback on it. I decided to re-release it during our break. There are four episodes and I'll be releasing them over the next four weeks! This is episode 2. If you haven't listened to episode 1 yet - go ba…

1
TAPED TIPS | Boulder Harder With This Simple Stability Technique 17:35

20d ago17:35

17:35

In my coaching and consultations with climbers, it’s become pretty obvious that there are common bouldering grade plateaus at around V4, V6 or 7, and V9 or 10, and that the vast majority of stuck boulderers fall into these three ranges. There is a single, relatively small skillset that can help climbers break through these common bouldering grade p…

1
Alan Watts on Setting for Snowbird, The Drama That Unfolded and The Comp's Importance to American Indoor Climbing 1:03:38

20d ago1:03:38

1:03:38

Alan Watts is widely recognized as the father of American sport climbing and a leading developer at Smith Rock. However, most don’t know about his impact on the indoor climbing industry in the US or the fact that in 1988 he set for the very first international climbing competition in the country - Snowbird. In this episode we discuss his role as ro…

1
SENDTEMBER EP 1: What it takes to win a game 28:18

23d ago28:18

28:18

🚨 SPECIAL RELEASE 🚨 LAUREN HERE: Last September I created a limited release podcast that only went out to about 100 people. I got a lot of great feedback on it. I decided to re-release it during our break. There are four episodes and I'll be releasing them over the next four weeks! This is episode 1. What it takes to win a game. ______________ Welc…

1
TAPED TIPS | The Technique Error Holding Sport Climbers Back: Embracing Instability 16:53

27d ago16:53

16:53

After working with thousands of sport climbers, I’ve noticed a pattern of climbers getting stuck at around 11c, then 12b, and again at 13a. One of the hallmarks of routes at these grade bottlenecks is that it gets harder to find stable positions. The climber who hopes to move further will need to be comfortable in that instability. And while it's t…

1
Showdown(s) At Snowbird | Edlinger vs. Tribout and Destivelle vs. Hill 1:05:30

27d ago1:05:30

1:05:30

In 1985, 19 of the top French climbers signed a manifesto against competition climbing. But competitions came anyway. Quickly, most of those same signees defected - becoming the climbers to beat at every event. As happens in every competitive sport, rivalries were formed, and would play out in the vertical theater. In 1988, America would host its f…

1
Sends and Suffers: Ep 85 Coaching Youth Insights and Experience Sharing with Mario Stanley and Dru Stulb 1:12:14

1M ago1:12:14

1:12:14

We're on break but that doesn't mean we don't have things we want to share with you. This week we're highlighting a fellow PlugToner, Mario Stanley. Mario is the host and creator of the Sends and Suffers Podcast. A renaissance man through and through, he is a climber, coach, filmmaker, podcaster, former route setter, advocate for making climbing ac…

1
TAPED TIPS | The Two Biggest Barriers to Sending Hard Climbs 8:19

1M ago8:19

8:19

Have you ever tried a hard climb or a hard move and immediately said, “I just need to get stronger,” but then a few attempts later you just do the thing? Did you somehow magically get stronger in those few attempts? No, of course not. A lot of things could have happened in those few attempts, but what didn’t happen is you gaining strength. We shoul…

1
Ted Kingsnorth on The Influence of Jerry Moffatt And Chasing History 1:02:24

1M ago1:02:24

1:02:24

A big part of my research for any UK climber ends up being first, climbing-history.org run by Remus Knowles, but then immediately after I start reading endless threads on UKclimbing.com. While there, I often bump into an authoritative voice who obviously absolutely LOVES climbing history. Ted Kingsnorth. I first came across Ted’s name when he made …

1
SUMMER BREAK + CREW ANNOUNCEMENT 3:09

1M ago3:09

3:09

We're taking a break! See you back here in August! EPISODE TOPIC REQUEST FORM https://forms.gle/GAinnha1sG8EveUB9 LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CREW www.goodsprayclimbing.com/the-crew last day to enroll for July is 6/27! Join Caitlin's Newsletter https://mailchi.mp/caitlinholmes/newsletter-bingo-signupBy Plug Tone Audio | The Average Climber Podcast

1
TAPED TIPS | There Are 3 Types of Climber. This One Is ALWAYS Better. 15:32

1M ago15:32

15:32

When it comes to putting effort into climbing, there are 3 types of climber. All can be effective, but one type is ALWAYS better. Which are you? Read the rest on the blog! Watch the video on YouTube! _________________________ 🔍 EXPLORE FURTHER You might enjoy these related articles, episodes, and other resources: Try Harder Toolkit Metrics for Clim…

1
Jerry Moffatt Climbs Everything, Everywhere 49:32

1M ago49:32

49:32

In 1984, Jerry Moffatt was quite possibly the best climber in the world. A year later, he was out of climbing entirely, with severe elbow problems. During his couple of years off, climbing moved on without him - and it moved fast. Bolts became the norm, yo-yo ascents were all but gone, replaced by redpoint tactics, difficulty had skyrocketed from 1…

1
BOARD MEETINGS | How To Use Outdoor Sport Climbing As Training 52:31

2M ago52:31

52:31

Not all training needs to be indoors. If you're lucky enough to be able to spend a large amount of your time outside, it might make sense to use some of that time for training rather than performance. In this episode, Kris and Nate discuss examples of how we can do this without sacrificing our performance time. _________________________ 🔍 EXPLORE F…

1
Mark Anderson on Wolfgang Güllich, The Campus Board, and Climbing on Your Heroes' Routes 1:22:00

2M ago1:22:00

1:22:00

Beyond being a top athlete, Wolfgang Güllich was also a training nerd and developed the campus board. Because of this, I knew I needed to talk to Mark Anderson. Mark is one of the twin Anderson Brothers - both great climbers and pioneers in the training space. They wrote The Rock Climbers Training Manual, developed the Rock Prodigy Hangboard and Tr…

1
Battling the pump, combining physical and mental training 22:44

2M ago22:44

22:44

"If I train my endurance enough, I'll never get pumped and I'll never fall" If that's the way you're approaching your endurance training, this episode is for you. Improving your pumpy climbing abilities has a lot to do with A. your forearm endurance and B. how well you can keep your cool when the pump sets in. In this episode, we're taking you thro…

1
TAPED TIPS | How To Toe Hook: The Most Misunderstood Climbing Technique 17:36

2M ago17:36

17:36

Toe-hooking is a technique that is very often misunderstood in two principal ways. This confusion leads to toe hooks seeming harder and more like sorcery than other techniques. But you’re probably just going about it the wrong way. Most people don’t need to get stronger. They need to get better. They need a better understanding of the move itself..…

1
Wolfgang Güllich is a Wolf on Wallstreet 33:44

2M ago33:44

33:44

After establishing Punks in the Gym, the first 14a (8b+), Wolfgang Güllich was looking for a change. First he accepted an invitation to a competition in Bardonecchia, Italy. It left a bad taste in his mouth. Over the next year, after doing a few more hard routes, he experimented with bold climbing on gritstone and free soloing, culminating in his f…

1
ep 79: SIX KILLER TIPS, how we've changed our minds about habit formation, behavior change and goal settingal setting 1:10:42

2M ago1:10:42

1:10:42

Want to eat better? You have to change your behavior. Follow a training plan? Gotta change your behavior. Stick to a stretching routine? You guessed it - BEHAVIOR CHANGE. Changing your behavior is the root of everything you want to accomplish. In this episode, we're giving you six killer tips (beyond "Atomic Habits" stuff) to help you change your b…

1
TAPED TIPS | The Most Important Skill for Climbing 5.13 11:17

2M ago11:17

11:17

When I finished my 100th 5.13 sport climb and was writing a book about the lessons I learned along the way, something became clear to me. There is one single skill that trumps all others when it comes to being able to climb 5.13. It’s not better footwork, it’s not a stronger pull-up, and it’s not more finger strength. Those things can – and often d…

1
Back To The Regular Season Plus An Announcement 6:06

2M ago6:06

6:06

Thanks for listening. We're back next week with our regular season. Check out our website for related episodes, resources and more! Join the Secret Stoners Club for FREE and get bonus episodes. ---------------------------------- Season Two is generously supported by Rab. This episode is supported by Tension Climbing and The Tension Board 2. Written…

1
Rosie Andrews on No Spare Rib and Women in Climbing From the 80s to Today 53:14

2M ago53:14

53:14

Over 40 years ago, Mountain Magazine published an article by Rosie Andrews called No Spare Rib. Filled with photos of strong women and asserting that women would eventually climb at the highest levels while explaining why they were behind in the 80s, it did two things: inspired some and ruffled the feathers of others. Today, women like Brooke Rabou…

1
What Climbers get wrong about core training with Evan Ingerson DPT 48:03

2M ago48:03

48:03

Dr. Evan Ingerson is back and this time we're tackling CORE TRAINING FOR CLIMBERS. Get the perspective of a physical therapist (Evan) and a coach (Lauren) as they dissect the big questions of core training like... - Should your core training be climbing specific? - How can you tell if your core is "low hanging fruit"? - What are the most common cor…

1
BOARD MEETINGS | Better Working Goes: How To Send Faster 1:08:17

2M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

The length of time we spend working a project often depends on the strength of our projecting game – particularly what we do on those important working attempts. Many of us either keep working things when we should have sent weeks ago, or we cut off the working goes and start redpoint attempts way too early. The best climbers put themselves into se…

1
Louise Shepherd on Her Female Climbing Role Models and Connecting With Other Women in the 80's 42:55

3M ago42:55

42:55

Louise Shepherd was and is a juggernaut for women’s climbing, particularly in Australia, where she did for climbing what Lynn Hill did in the US - make it impossible to ignore that women are excellent at this. And this was before everybody got the news from everywhere immediately - so, yes, there needed to be a palpable example in all of the climbi…

1
Ep 78: Should you climb with pain? How to do it and when to get help with DPT Evan Ingerson 1:04:54

3M ago1:04:54

1:04:54

Should you take a week off or keep climbing on that tweaky finger? If a move makes your shoulder hurt a LOT but it feels fine 5 minutes later, what does that mean? If injury and pain feel confusing (or frustrating) to you - which is understandable - this episode with Climbing DPT Evan Ingerson is right up your alley. He has been working with climbe…

1
TAPED TIPS | Triple Your Sends Using If-Then Intentions 10:06

3M ago10:06

10:06

There's one simple thing that can result in the biggest performance gains in your climbing, no matter what level you’re at. And you can implement it right now. I’m going to tell you not only what this simple superpower is, but also what the sports research says about how you can give it an even greater boost... Read the rest on the blog! Watch the …

1
Alison Osius on The Women of Climbing and Media in the 80s 1:30:09

3M ago1:30:09

1:30:09

Alison Osius is easily one of the most impactful people in climbing media. She helped to shape how so many climbers learned more about and engaged with the sport from the 80s into the 20s. She’s a former editor at Climbing, Rock and Ice and Outside, the first woman president of the American Alpine Club, wrote Second Ascent: The Story of Hugh Herr a…

1
How to rescue an off-track afternoon (and still get your training done) 42:17

3M ago42:17

42:17

If you're someone who trains in the evenings after a long day of work - we see you, we feel you, and we know that some afternoons get totally off track. In this episode we're guiding you through the process of saving yourself from saying "eh, I'll just move that session to tomorrow". If you ever struggle with evening training motivation - this is f…

1
Lynn Hill on the Women of the 80s, Who Inspired Her and Who Is Inspiring Her Now 1:16:44

3M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

Lynn Hill is THE legend, and quite possibly the most impactful climber of all time. I could make a case that Lynn's free ascent in a day of The Nose is the greatest climbing achievement of all time. But Lynn and I aren't talking about Lynn. We're talking about the other women of the 80s: the women she climbed with, competed against and was inspired…

1
Ep 77: Trail Running Race Week - how Caitlin got Lauren ready and fueled for her 16 mile trail race 34:31

3M ago34:31

34:31

This episode features some b roll that we recorded for the hell of it. For those of you looking for some nutrition help when you're thinking about big days out in the elements, this episode will have some tasty tips for you. Plus, if you're one of those climber-runner types - this episode has plenty of nutrition tips you'll want to tune in for. *A …

1
Amy Skinner on Las Vegas Climbing in the 80s and the Importance of Great Female Partners 1:33:54

3M ago1:33:54

1:33:54

Today I sit down with my good friend Amy Skinner - who, in the early 80s in Las Vegas, sort of stumbled into the scene that would eventually be called sport climbing. We discuss that movement, where she first encountered other female climbers, who her favorite female climbing partners have been, and more. Like many of the women who have been mentio…

1
Fontainebleau, France: Caitlin’s trip reflection and travel tips 43:55

3M ago43:55

43:55

Ever wondered what it's like to boulder in France? What if your rest days could be a day trip to Paris? In this episode Caitlin is giving us all the details on her recent trip to Fontainebleau. This episode is two parts travel guide and one part chat between two good friends. If you're looking for climbing trip ideas, tune in ASAP. PLAY NUTRITION B…

1
Women Climbers of the 80s Part 3: Unique Strengths 36:56

3M ago36:56

36:56

In Part 3 of our series on female climbers of the 1980s, we wrap up the decade with difficulty reaching new heights. We see a smart pattern start to emerge at the top of the pack as women realize how to leverage their unique strengths, and in doing so, they prove themselves with resounding success at the most futuristic crag in the world - Buoux. I…

1
Ep 76: Should you change your beta or try harder? 6 tips to help you decide 45:25

4M ago45:25

45:25

With the limitless options for how you can climb something, it's understandable that you might be looking over your shoulder every now and again for beta that feels better. So how do you decide if you need to ditch your beta for an upgrade, or stick with it and try harder? We're serving up 6 tips to help clear that up. PLAY NUTRITION BINGO WITH CAI…

1
Women Climbers of the 80s Part 2: Power In Numbers 35:20

4M ago35:20

35:20

In Part 2 of our series on women climbers of the 1980s, we focus on the middle of the decade, when difficulty soared. We take a closer look at the 1984 International Ladies Meet hosted by The Pinnacle Club in North Wales, how it connects to the women who were at the forefront of sport climbing a year later, and how standards began to skyrocket. We …

1
Our Top 10 Favorite Outdoor Snacks 24:17

4M ago24:17

24:17

In this snack break, we're talking about - you guessed it: SNACKS. Our top 10 favorite snacks to eat outside and why. If you're looking for some inspo for your next trip to the grocery store, look no further - we've got you covered. Register now for THE CREW! Last day to enroll is 4/11/25. LAUREN LINKS: 1. Get on Lauren's newsletter for a chance at…

1
Women Climbers of the 80s Part 1: It Wasn't Because They Weren't There 43:15

4M ago43:15

43:15

The history of women in climbing, in it’s written form, is woefully incomplete. In this, the first of a multi-part series, we attempt to correct some of these oversights by taking a look at not only the early 80s, but the years and accomplishments that laid the foundation for the women of the 80s. In this episode, we discuss Bev Johnson, Sibylle He…

1
Q&A: fall practice on "easy mode", burnout, the deal with caloric deficits, short but effective route sessions, pain with board climbing and more! 1:10:18

4M ago1:10:18

1:10:18

Today we have a big, bad listener Q&A episode covering topics like: - how to start from square one when it comes to fear management - what to do if you're always starving when you climb outside - the deal with caloric deficits + climbing training - how to get an effective route session done in 90 minutes or less - preventing burnout and MORE. Thank…

1
We're Giving Away 3 Rab Hoodies! 2:57

4M ago2:57

2:57

Our main sponsor this season, Rab, is giving away three of their Ascendor Light Hoodies, mens or womens, any color in stock. To enter, go to https://www.patreon.com/secretstonersclub Learn more about Rab at https://rab.equipment/us/By Plug Tone Audio

1
SOS! What to do about muscle soreness 31:34

4M ago31:34

31:34

If you feel as stiff as a board and it sucks to walk down the stairs, we need to talk. In this episode we're tackling the topic of delayed onset muscle soreness. How to prevent it and what to do if you're experiencing it. HINT: managing and preventing DOMS may require tweaks to your training and nutrition. Tune in! RPE Training: https://youtu.be/yZ…

1
Ep 75: Which one are you missing? Introducing the Forgotten Five 1:04:14

5M ago1:04:14

1:04:14

Should we be sharing Lauren's signature coaching framework on air for all to hear? Top chefs would tell us to keep the secret recipe under-wraps. But, eh, we aren't the type to gate keep. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, unsure, or confused about decisions in your programming - this episode is for you. You're about to learn a process that will take…

1
History Misses Things 4:05

5M ago4:05

4:05

We're taking a short break because we want to make sure that we don't miss the important contributions from the women climbers of the 80's who were pushing things forward. We'll be back soon! In the meantime, there are a bunch of free bonus episodes in our Patreon, The Secret Stoners Club!By Plug Tone Audio

1
Three nutrition skills every climber needs 25:29

5M ago25:29

25:29

If we could wave a magic wand and give every climber three nutrition skills - this is what we'd pick. Tune in to hear all about them. Do you have these skills, or if could you use a tune up? CAITLIN LINKS: 1. Get on the Resource Vault NOW 2. Join Caitlin's Newsletter LAUREN LINKS: 1. LAUREN'S SECRET LIST OF MYSTERY AND RIDDLES 2. Get on Lauren's ne…

1
Jeff Smoot on John Bachar, Peter Croft and the Shift in Climbing in the 80's 57:55

5M ago57:55

57:55

Because this season is focused on the 1980’s, and we are talking about the two best free soloists of their generations, Peter Croft and John Bachar, there is a Venn Diagram that puts today’s guest squarely in the center: Jeff Smoot. In Jeff’s book Hangdog Days: Conflict, Change and the Race for 5.14, he tells the tale of the beginnings of sport cli…

1
Alex Honnold on Peter Croft, John Bachar, Free-Soloing and Climbing Big Yosemite Linkups 52:12

5M ago52:12

52:12

Does Alex Honnold need an introduction? No, of course he doesn’t. But he was particularly suited for this conversation about Bachar and Croft for several reasons: #1, Alex is a student of history. He cares about this stuff. If you haven’t listened to his Climbing Gold podcast, you should. I highly recommend the Dope Lake series - it’s a 5 part seri…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Plug Tone Audio Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide