Kathy Karlo never sought out to be a storyteller when she started her climbing focused blog, For the Love of Climbing. Rather, the rock climber found that posting to her blog was the easiest way to show her mom that she was still alive during a year long climbing road trip. Over that course of twelve months she would post stories from the road, some happy and some sad.
But when began originally as a trip report ending up evolving into a meaningful and introspective look at the sport—a sport that is now one of her greatest passions. Her blog has now been recognized as one of the top 25 climbing blogs by the Adventure Junkies and supported by Dirt Bag Climber.
Kathy Karlo has been passionately climbing for the past seven years. She originally discovered the sport when ice climbing in Colorado. Chris Vultaggio Photo.
However, the purpose was never to document impressive routes or grandiose expeditions. Instead, she wanted to discuss the culture and community that intrigued her.
Particularly, Karlo found the full spectrum of human emotions interesting, so she began to explore both success and failure with her writing. Often this meant refocusing the discussion on the human qualities we’re too vulnerable to talk about—something she hopes to change with the blog’s new podcast, where she’s moving the discussion away from herself and onto to us.
“The difficult things can be hard to talk about because,well they’re hard. But I think they’re also worth sharing,” Karlo says in the podcast teaser. The new series will be a collection of narratives from a variety of climbers, all themed with the underlying narrative of vulnerability.
We caught up with Karlo to learn more about the podcast and what to expect with her four up-in-coming episodes.
So essentially it’s a climbing podcast that’s not primarily focused on climbing—do I have that correct?
KK: Yeah it’s going to focus on uncomfortable topics within the sport—pain, awkwardness, trauma—all with the greater purpose of showing that we’re all human. I’ve found that most climbing podcasts focus on training or success, and I think there’s other important stories being missed. If you look at my blog it’s all personal stories,but it always ties back to climbing.
Why did you feel compelled to start it?
KK: My goal is to normalize the vulnerability within climbing. When somebody asks you ‘How are you’, there’s often this feeling that we can’t be fully honest. I want to show that there’s a place for that, I want people to feel like it’s okay to talk about trauma and pain—as well as success.
She hopes that the podcast will change our lives in little ways. She believes that difficult stories have the ability to create empathy and that climbing just happens to be the vehicle to tell the story through. Matthew Parent Photo.
Do you feel like there’s currently a space for vulnerability in climbing?
KK: I think the general norm doesn’t. Climbing is a very emotional sport, and if we disregard that then we’re missing the bigger picture. Sending or climbing hard grades—that’s only one part of it. It doesn’t speak to my soul the same way that exploring the emotional context does. I think that’s true with a lot of people. I heard a quote somewhere that said “there’s no safe space in climbing for feelings,” and I got so upset when I read that. I want this podcast to challenge that.
Who will we expect to hear on it? What kinds of stories are you seeking?
KK: I want it to be diverse, I’m not as interested in connecting with the professionals—but am curious to hear from everyday climbers. I think that when one person stands up and explains that they’ve experienced [a hardship] it’s going show other people that’s okay to share their story as well.
The podcast is slated to launch on August 15th, in the meantime you can hear a few teasers of what to expect at the podcast page.
About The Author
stash member Katie Lozancich
TGR Staff Writer and photographer. Fond of bikes, pow, and dogs. Originally from Northern CA, home for me has ranged from the PNW to a teepee in Grand Teton National Park.