
Road to V8: My Kilter Reassessment and the 2026 Plan
2025/12/17 | 1h 9 mins.
Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available! https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow Coach Kevin Cuckovich from Kilter joins to discuss: Results from my Kilter reassessment Improvements in strength and movement Struggles in beta and commitment Plans for doubling my hold set Going steeper and harder next block V8+ projecting schedule Should I set a replica? Off-the-wall conditioning plan Here's the first assessment episode with Kevin Here's the 90-90 stretch - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter. So mega! - BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO: PhysiVantage: the official climbing-nutrition sponsor of The Struggle. Use code STRUGGLE15 at checkout for 15% off your full-priced nutrition order. ForceBoard: A better way to train fingers. Portable, accurate, and created to train finger strength and endurance exactly how YOU need it. Score $10 off and support the show by using code STRUGGLE10 at checkout. And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals - Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right) 00:00 Introduction and Year-End Reflections 00:39 Holiday Season and Personal Life 01:45 Training Recap with Coach Kevin Kovich 02:44 Assessment and Progress Evaluation 03:04 Outdoor Climbing and Future Goals 03:54 Training Insights and Techniques 05:18 Assessment Challenges and Mindset 08:22 Footwork and Technique Improvements 18:16 Mental Approach to Climbing 27:21 Product Endorsements and Personal Insights 33:56 Reflecting on the First Training Block 34:29 Upcoming Changes and New Holds 34:51 Programming and Projecting Strategy 35:55 Training Angles and Volume 36:36 Project Day Structure 39:37 Adjustable Board Benefits 43:11 Outdoor Projecting Insights 44:35 Programming for Specific Projects 57:49 Conditioning and Strength Training 59:42 Concluding Thoughts and Future Plans - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega. - Follow along on Instagram and YouTube: @thestruggleclimbingshow - This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry. And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!

Pro Clinic: Dr. Tyler Nelson on How to Maintain and GAIN Strength Beyond Age 35 (FREE)
2025/12/10 | 30 mins.
Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available! https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow In this Pro Clinic, Dr. Tyler Nelson digs into recent scientific studies to explore: What 'masters athletes' can do to maintain or build strength Why losing strength with age is not inevitable How to maintain strong tendons with age How to get strong without getting big What younger climbers can do to prep for their older years Specific protocols for strength, power, and hypertrophy Sets and reps schemes for a 5-day program How to keep strength and power up during a climbing season The fallacy of fatigue Large vs small muscle group programming When to focus on power vs strength in season Winter programming Should we lift before or after climbing? How to build power as part of a climbing warmup Hang board protocols for strength and health Nutrition, supplements, and sleep guidelines for aging athletes HERE is a fantastic article Tyler wrote about the subject, to support what was covered in this interview Other episodes about strength and power to check out: Dr. Tyler Nelson on Finger Strength Dr. Tyler Nelson on Power Dr. Tyler Nelson Q&A Dr. Natasha Barnes on Strength Training Colin and Jesse of C4HP on Strength Training - Gain instant access to the FULL Pro Clinic by supporting the show as a Patron (you can even check it out for FREE with a 7-day trial): https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow - Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right) 00:00 Introduction: Stronger at 43 00:27 Welcome to the Struggle Climbing Show 00:38 Defying Aging: Science and Strength 02:09 Understanding Aging Athletes 02:32 Specific Training Programs for Older Climbers 18:46 The Importance of Tendon Health 25:59 Programming for Aging Athletes 26:21 Conclusion and Membership Information - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega. - Follow along on Instagram and YouTube: @thestruggleclimbingshow - This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry. - The struggle makes us stronger! Let's get out there and try hard. Thanks for supporting the show, y'all. - And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!

Ethan Pringle: Common Climber Mistakes, Releasing Mental Baggage, and Finding Better Beta
2025/12/03 | 1h 49 mins.
Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available! https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow - In this episode, pro climber Ethan Pringle explores: Dealing with discomfort Releasing mental baggage Struggling with self-image Prioritizing outdoor climbing over indoor training What he and Sharma have in common Going back for unfinished business Goals for Meltdown and La Rambla The benefit of discovering “tired beta” What the best boulderers do There’s always better beta. Always. A sport climber's mentality for bouldering Managing risk and fear on scary boulders - BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO: PhysiVantage: the official climbing-nutrition sponsor of The Struggle. Use code STRUGGLE15 at checkout for 15% off your full-priced nutrition order. ForceBoard: A better way to train fingers. Portable, accurate, and created to train finger strength and endurance exactly how YOU need it. Score $10 off and support the show by using code STRUGGLE10 at checkout. Rúngne: Soft threads and high performing chalk! Use Code STRUGGLE for 10% Off Bags, Buckets, Chalk & Apparel from Rúngne! Rungne.com Nature Climbing: Beautifully crafted lifting edges and hangboards that feature real granite edges for improved texture and skin conditioning. Sustainably crafted works of art, I love them so much! Get 20% off everything at natureclimbing.com using code STRUGGLE. And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega. - Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right) 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Ethan Pringle's Climbing Achievements 02:49 Deep Dive into Climbing Philosophy 04:25 Interview Begins: Ethan's Background and Struggles 12:03 Mindset and Emotional Challenges in Climbing 56:09 Unlocking Beta: The Key to Climbing Success 57:42 The Philosophy of Constant Refinement 01:00:23 Creative Solutions and Beta Breakthroughs 01:03:37 The Importance of Strategy and Tactics 01:19:11 Managing Fear and Mental Barriers in Climbing - Follow along on Instagram @thestruggleclimbingshow and YouTube /@thestruggleclimbingshow - The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation, whose mission is to promote solar energy for a more equitable world. - This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry. - The struggle makes us stronger! I hope your training and climbing are going great. - And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!

My Training Plog: November 2025
2025/11/26 | 1h 2 mins.
Casually reflecting on my training, performance, and experimentation for the month, including: Recap of November goals (hits and misses) Learnings from my second 12c What being "board strong" has meant for my route climbing What it took to send 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d in the past 6 weeks My first session on Bulldog boulder (V6 / V8) How I'm adjusting my training during this performance window The fear factor of trying higher moves on a boulder Patron questions December goals Thank you so much for supporting me. I love hearing what you're up to, so feel free to hit me up on IG. Have an awesome month!

Coach Tom Randall: Training Strength for Endurance, How to Self-Assess Weaknesses, Max Hang Testing, Crack 101, and other Listener Questions
2025/11/19 | 1h 17 mins.
Join The Struggle’s Patreon community to get 100+ hours of Bonus Episodes, Pro Clinics, Uncut Videos, and Submit Questions for Future Guests. FREE TRIAL available! https://www.patreon.com/thestruggleclimbingshow In this special Listener Q&A episode, Coach Tom Randall explores: Improving endurance by getting stronger How to self assess weaknesses Is there such thing as “active rest”? Developing beginner crack skills Periodization for gym climbers Which crack size is the best to train What standard tests should climbers do How often should we test finger strength Building a cheap crack trainer at home Correlation between finger strength and climbing grade Plus a bonus episode about free soloing buildings, and the mega building Alex Honnold will be soloing in January! - BIG THANKS TO THE AMAZING SPONSORS OF THE STRUGGLE WHO LOVE ROCK CLIMBING AS MUCH AS YOU DO: PhysiVantage: the official climbing-nutrition sponsor of The Struggle. Use code STRUGGLE15 at checkout for 15% off your full-priced nutrition order. Rúngne: Soft threads and high performing chalk! Use Code STRUGGLE for 10% Off Bags, Buckets, Chalk & Apparel from Rúngne! ForceBoard: A better way to train fingers. Portable, accurate, and created to train finger strength and endurance exactly how YOU need it. Score $10 off and support the show by using code STRUGGLE10 at checkout. Nature Climbing: Beautifully crafted lifting edges and hangboards that feature real granite edges for improved texture and skin conditioning. Sustainably crafted works of art, I love them so much! Get 20% off everything at natureclimbing.com using code STRUGGLE. And check out ALL the show’s awesome sponsors and exclusive deals at thestruggleclimbingshow.com/deals - Here are some AI generated show notes (hopefully the robots got it right) 00:42 Listener Questions Overview 02:20 Personal Climbing Journey 03:22 Reconnecting with Tom Randall 04:36 Tom Randall's Training Insights 15:21 Self-Assessing Climbing Weaknesses 25:37 Active Rest and Recovery Tips 30:31 Learning Crack Climbing 36:54 Periodization for Gym Climbers 39:05 Adapting to Training and Periodization 42:03 Indoor vs. Outdoor Climbing 45:09 Crack Climbing Techniques and Training 47:46 Testing Metrics and Their Importance 53:52 Urban Crack Climbing and Unique Locations 55:30 Listener Q&A: Training and Climbing Insights 01:07:49 Encouraging Gyms to Set Crack Boulders 01:11:18 Conclusion and Bonus Content Announcement - Shoutout to Matt Waltereese for being a Victory Whip supporter on Patreon! So mega. - Follow along on Instagram and YouTube: @thestruggleclimbingshow - This show is produced and hosted by Ryan Devlin, and edited by Glen Walker. The Struggle is carbon-neutral in partnership with The Honnold Foundation and is a proud member of the Plug Tone Audio Collective, a diverse group of the best, most impactful podcasts in the outdoor industry. And now here are some buzzwords to help the almighty algorithm get this show in front of people who love to climb: rock climbing, rock climber, climbing, climber, bouldering, sport climbing, gym climbing, how to rock climb, donuts are amazing. Okay, whew, that’s done. But hey, if you’re a human that’s actually reading this, and if you love this show (and love to climb) would you think about sharing this episode with a climber friend of yours? And shout it out on your socials? I’ll send you a sticker for doing it. Just shoot me a message on IG – thanks so much!



The Struggle Climbing Show