In the second half of this two-part series, Ollie Torr is joined by international coach Jesse Firestone, Lattice coach Jemma Powell, and elite climbers Will Bosi and Aidan Roberts to delve deeper into the nuances of strength and conditioning in climbing.

Jesse Firestone brings his expertise as a renowned U.S.-based climbing coach, known for his holistic approach to athlete development. Jemma Powell, a seasoned Lattice coach with over 25 years of climbing experience, shares insights from her work with climbers across various levels. Will Bosi and Aidan Roberts, both at the forefront of elite climbing, discuss how tailored strength and conditioning programs have influenced their performance and progression.

Key Topics Covered:

• The importance of individualised training programs for climbers.
• Addressing the specific needs of female, older, and younger athletes in strength and conditioning.
• Strategies for integrating strength training without compromising climbing technique.
• Managing fatigue and recovery to optimise performance.
• Real-world experiences from elite climbers on balancing training and climbing.

Join us as we explore these topics and more, providing valuable insights for climbers and coaches aiming to optimise performance through personalised strength and conditioning strategies.

Listen to Part 2 now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your preferred platform.

The Lattice jingle is brought to you by Devin Dabney, music producer of the outdoor industry who also hosts the American Climbing Project.

In this in-depth episode, hosts Maddy Cope and coach Flo Tilley explore the intricate relationship between flow state, climbing performance, and mindset. Flow, often described as a state of effortless control and total absorption, is more than just a performance booster, it’s a transformative mental space where climbers feel deeply engaged and in sync with their challenges. Maddy and Flo dive into the science of flow, sharing practical techniques to cultivate this state by balancing skill and challenge, embracing playfulness, and applying mindfulness.

Listeners will also learn how self-compassion plays a pivotal role in allowing climbers to quiet self-criticism and focus on being present. The hosts discuss how coaching can facilitate an individual’s exploration of their personal experiences, leading to breakthroughs in both mental strategies and climbing performance.

Whether you’re battling mental barriers or looking to improve your performance, this conversation will help you tap into the flow state and find joy in your climbing journey.

Takeaways:

• Flow is a natural experience that happens when skills and challenges align.
• Embracing playfulness and self-compassion can make it easier to access flow.
• Mindfulness helps slow down negative thoughts, creating space for peak performance.
• Coaching and self-reflection are powerful tools to enhance your mindset and approach to climbing.

🎧 Dive into this episode now and learn how to cultivate flow, conquer mental barriers, and bring more joy into your climbing. Link in bio!

The Lattice jingle is brought to you by Devin Dabney, music producer of the outdoor industry who also hosts the American Climbing Project.

Weightlifting in climbing. It’s one of the most debated topics in the sport, and we’re diving into it with the people who coach the best in the world.

In this two-part conversation-style series, host Ollie Torr is joined by an expert panel of performance coaches and elite athletes to explore the evolving role of weightlifting in climbing, looking at strength, injury prevention, mindset, and longevity in the sport.

We’re talking to:

• Steve Thompson – Lecturer and Head of Strength and Conditioning at Sheffield Hallam University. UKSCA-accredited coach with research expertise in resistance training, periodisation and performance. Steve also works with GB Diving and professional football teams.
• Dave Mason – Former GB team athlete and IFSC World Cup competitor, now elite outdoor climber and coach. Dave has worked with climbers from youth squads to elite performers, blending strength training with movement and mindset.
• Jemma Powell – A Lattice coach, mother of two, and former GB climber. Jemma specialises in coaching pregnant and postpartum athletes, helping them rebuild strength safely and sustainably. She also works with weekend warriors and performance climbers, with a strong focus on injury prevention, movement quality, and mindset.
• Jesse Firestone – US-based coach and founder of JFire Climbing. Jesse offers personalised, sustainable coaching for climbers of all levels, including elite competitive and outdoor climbers, focusing on holistic progress and long-term development.

You’ll also hear real-life experiences from athletes at the top of the sport:

• Aidan Roberts breaks down how he stays strong on the road with portable training and why specificity beats max effort.
• Will Bosi shares why he’s not lifting right now, but might again soon.
• Drew Ruana gives insight into his use of lifting for power, endurance, and competition prep.

In Part 1, we explore how climbers and coaches are rethinking lifting, moving beyond outdated fears of bulking and into smarter, tailored training for every phase of the season.

We’ll cover:

• Why climbers are finally embracing strength work (and who needs it most)
• How top-level athletes integrate lifting without compromising performance
  What female climbers should consider with hormones, pregnancy, and strength training
• Portable solutions: what athletes like Aidan use while travelling full-time
  The compound lifts that actually carry over to climbing, and how to use them
• Why “doing less” might be the smartest thing for your climbing

Whether you’re curious about hypertrophy, looking to prevent injuries, or trying to train sustainably, this episode offers insight for climbers of every level.

🎧 Stay tuned for Part 2, where we dig deeper into hypertrophy, burnout, identity shifts, and the long

The Lattice jingle is brought to you by Devin Dabney, music producer of the outdoor industry who also hosts the American Climbing Project.