Cat Runner is the winner of the HBO show The Climb. Cat sat down with me and Ethan Pringle at our cabin here in Rocklands to talk about what his life has looked like after The Climb, his experience filming the show, the stereotypical trans narrative in the media, why he chooses to be visible, his ungendered childhood, gender roles in sports, why people feel threatened by trans or queer identities, dealing with trolls, owning your accomplishments, building the Queer Climber’s Network, Rocklands highlights, and much more!
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Show Notes:
thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/cat-runner
Nuggets:
0:04:44 – Cat’s tea situation
0:07:53 – Ethan’s coffee addiction, and why he doesn’t drink it before doing something scary
0:11:20 – The Queer Climbers’ Network
0:16:15 – Life after winning The Climb
0:22:23 – Finding community through climbing, and helping others find that too
0:25:37 – Cat’s experience filming and watching the show
0:28:54 – Being trans as part of Cat’s identity, and how that came across in the show
0:30:38 – More behind the scenes, and what the climbing experience was like on the show
0:32:15 – Meeting Jason Mamoa, and meme accounts
0:34:14 – The reaction to the show, and getting messages from trans kids and their parents
0:36:35 – The stereotypical trans narrative in the media, and pushing people into the role of spokesperson
0:39:22 – Choosing to be visible, being proud of being trans, and seeing a future
0:42:36 – Being who he needed when he was younger, and trying to change one person’s world
0:44:14 – What Cat would have benefitted from as a kid, experiencing severe depression, and knowing he’s a part of the future
0:46:36 – Reading The Alchemist, and having intimate connections with individual people
0:51:43 – Cat’s childhood, transitioning within the binary, and how his gender identity has evolved
0:58:14 – Connecting with he/him pronouns
1:00:36 – Why people feel threatened by trans or queer identities, trolls, and the reaction to my video clip with Alayna Joy about climbing as a queer space
1:07:30 – Why Cat is particular about who he climbs with
1:10:28 – The trolliest of troll questions
1:11:16 – People’s insecurities, and “we’re all performing”
1:15:03 – Knowing when to give your energy to people, and leading with respect
1:19:36 – “Trans people are humans”, and the stat that 80% of Americans have never met a person they know to be trans
1:22:00 – An issue of isolation and ignorance
1:25:16 – Hopeful conversations, anti-trans legislation, and false information about gender-affirming care
1:27:56 – Cat’s parents
1:31:50 – Gender roles and sports, and the gender gap in climbing
1:38:25 – Height in climbing, the subjectivity of grades, and why outdoor rock climbing is so cool
1:43:49 – Rapid Fire: Best decision
1:44:19 – Rapid Fire: Most proud of
1:49:09 – Rapid Fire: What frustrates you
2:01:00 – Taking responsibility
2:03:28 – “Take! Falling!”
2:05:02 – Rapid Fire: Favorite rock type
2:07:46 – Rapid Fire: Ultimate dream climb
2:15:36 – Rapid Fire: Favorite send reward
2:17:04 – Rapid Fire: Go-to climbing shoes
2:23:00 – Rapid Fire: Desert Island DVD
2:25:31 – Rapid Fire: Favorite album for a long drive
2:28:49 – The one thing Cat wants people to know about trans stuff
2:31:29 – Taking representation seriously, and how sharing human stories cracks people open
2:38:17 – Doing your best, and sharing information with your circle
2:44:30 – Cat’s ankle injury, and his tick list from Rocklands
Follow-Up: Mercedes Pollmeier — Your Flexibility Questions Answered (Teaser)
EP 66: Mercedes Pollmeier — How to Improve Flexibility in 6 Minutes Per Day, and Cycling Your Training
BONUS: Matt Sparks — Earth Day, and the Impacts of Chalk
EP 65: Natalie Duran — Ninja Antics, Fear Conditioning, and Living Like a Superhero
Follow-Up: Jon Glassberg — Sending ‘The Nest’, and Representing for the Big Guys (Teaser)
EP 64: Christophe Bichet — Climbing As a Metaphor for Life, Finding ‘Why’, and the Awe of Being Alive
EP 63: Megan Mascarenas — Solving Puzzles, Pole Dancing, and Discovering a New Identity
Follow-Up: Natasha Barnes — Listener Q&A, and Training “The Position” (Teaser)
EP 62: Q&A 1 — How We Get Strong, Dealing with Injuries, and Patterns Among High Performers
EP 61: Chelsea Murn — How to Rewire Your Brain, Take Courageous Leaps, and Manifest Your Dream Life
Follow-Up: Ben Herrington — A Guide to Developing New Boulders (Teaser)
EP 60: Leif Gasch — Becoming a Trainer, Mini-Goals, and Tackling Listener Questions
EP 59: My Eating Disorder — Starving Myself to Climb Harder, and Lessons Learned
EP 58: Carlos Tkacz — Lessons from Teaching, a Free Training Book, and Self-Publishing Sci-Fi
Follow-Up: Emily Harrington — Sending 'Golden Gate', Shoe Tricks, and Pancakes (Teaser)
EP 57: Dave MacLeod (Part 2) — Highlights From ‘9 Out of 10’, Flexible Programming, and Listener Questions
EP 56: Dave MacLeod (Part 1) — Jumping Up 4 Grades in 18 Months, Fingerboard Rituals, and Nutrient Density
BONUS: Blake Cason — Upcoming Retreats
Follow-Up: Blake Cason — Dancing with ‘Joe SixPack’ (Teaser)
EP 55: Kai Lightner — Disordered Eating, Flexibility for Tall Climbers, and Climbing for Change
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