95. SASHA DIGIULIAN ON CLIMBING TO NEW HEIGHTS, FACING FEARS & CULTIVATING MENTAL STRENGTH

March 06, 2024 Crate Media

I’m honored to sit down with Sasha DiGiulian, a remarkable figure in the climbing world whose story is not just about reaching new heights in her sport, but also about overcoming personal and physical challenges with incredible resilience and grace.

She has won the World Championships for Female Overall, and has placed Silver in the Bouldering World Championships, as well as Bronze in the Duel. Sasha has been the undefeated panAmerican Champion 2004 to the present, and she is a three-time US National Champion.

However, Sasha's mark as a female athlete and impact on the climbing world extends beyond these incredible physical accomplishments.

How to Cultivate the Mental Strength to Take On Any Challenge

In today's conversation, we explore the physical and mental training routines that have helped her face some of the world's most challenging climbs. We discuss her unwavering commitment to paving the way for other female athletes in climbing and her advocacy for equal recognition and pay in the sport.

Sasha's resilience shines through as she shares her experience of overcoming a significant hip surgery that left her immobile for months. This period of recovery not only tested her physical limits but also led to an inspiring shift in her mindset, culminating in the launch of her superfood protein bar company and the writing of her new book, Taking Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life's Hardest Climbs.

Sasha vulnerably opens up about the challenges of disordered eating within the sport, the importance of proper nutrition and how she has gotten through her own battles with depression.

She’s a role model to all of us for how to stay mentally tough and how focusing on gratitude can be a total game changer. Join me in celebrating her journey as a powerhouse woman who has dared to stand up for herself and make an indelible mark in the world of climbing!

And remember – if you’re in Austin for SXSW on March 9th, come hang with me and Kendra Scott, from 11am to 1pm, at her flagship store for a little sip and shop in partnership with Kendra Gives Back, where 20% of proceeds will benefit The Big Silence foundation and our programs.

Facing Your Fears and Cultivating Mental Strength: Episode Timestamps

(00:05:58) Sasha’s Career as a Professional Climbing Athlete

Indoor vs. outdoor climbing
Track your progression with the Yosemite Decimal Scale
Why Sasha started climbing at six years old
Sasha’s competition journey from junior nationals to the World Cup
Transitioning to outdoor climbing from indoor climbing
Advice for anyone interested in getting started in climbing

(00:12:57) Advice for Developing Mental & Physical Resilience

Free climbing vs. free soloing
Developing skills to confront fear
Sasha’s training systems off the wall to be able to climb
Mental training required to get through tough climbs

(00:22:02) Sasha’s Mission to Empower Female Athletes & Fight for Equal Pay

What’s most important when working with a climbing partner?
The longest climbs she’s completed
Being a female in a male dominated sport
Building all-female expeditions
Advocating for equal pay and recognition for female athletes
Dealing with criticism from people in the climbing community

(00:30:30) The Power of Gratitude & Mindset Shifts for Challenging Times

A transition in her career – needing five hip surgeries across two years
Experiencing tragedy on a climbing expedition
What it was like going through double hip surgery
Launching her superfood protein bar during recovery
A message for anyone feeling stuck to find motivation
Cultivating resilience through low points or depression

(00:41:42) Confronting Climbing’s Disordered Eating History

Discussing the history of disordered eating in climbing
How the sport has evolved over the years
The importance of proper nutrition for climbing
Send Bars: sendbars.com
Fueling for triathlons or an IronMan
Read: Take the Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life's Hardest Climb by Sasha DiGiulian

Thank you to our partners, CLEARSTEM. Visit clearstemskincare.com and use code THEBIGSILENCE for 15% off your first purchase. In doing so, 15% of your purchase will also be donated to The Big Silence Foundation to support mental health programs.