Mary Eden - part II

Mario: [00:00:00] I don't know, but I imagine we should just

Mary: Oh, I was saying, um, you know, I, I just always want like more, more like, I was like, I want all the Barbies in the world. Yeah. Gross. And um, and then I was like, and I also wanna be the best artist ever cuz I was like really into when I, I think I was like third grade.

Mary: I liked drawing and, uh, So, I don't know, I don't think like that mindset really ever changed of like, like I love Cams, I wanna collect all the cams, and like, I wanna rock climb to the best of my ability. And like, it's like I don't wanna be, you know, I'm not a kid anymore. I don't wanna be the best I, that's too exhausting

Mary: But I, I wanna. be the best that I can be. Mm-hmm. . And, um, I really like finding that like limit for myself.

Mario: Well, I think that's the thing, and I think that's the thing that about you is like very interesting. It's like, it's like growth is [00:01:00] something that you thrive on and you like seek after. And I don't know.

Mario: So I just recently did a post about talking about that and like, you know, there's spiritual dollars, there are emotional dollars and there are physical. And spiritual and emotional dollars are heavier than, uh, physical dollars. Cuz those are like the easiest things that you can have. Yeah. And I don't know, and it's just, it's very obvious and everything that you do that like you're chasing after growth.

Mario: And I think a lot of people, especially Americans, I mean, I'll say this from my experience, like most people want to get comfortable and growth, consistent growth is not. Not, it's just not seeking

Mary: comfortable. No, it's not comfortable at all. Yeah. It's actually just fraught with failure and like over and over and over, and you're just like, absolutely.

Mary: I don't actually enjoy pain. I don't enjoy failure, but I also enjoy failure because, because it's a part of it. It means that I'm not. I'm not [00:02:00] stuck, you know, I'm not in a, a rut, I'm just failing. I'm just trying. And then like, oops, you get some success and you, you learned all these things and, and, um, yeah.

Mary: There's just so much stuff from failure. Just so much good

Mario: stuff. Yeah. I mean, well, I mean, it's kind of like I say at the end of this podcast every single time, like I always say like, if you weren't, if you're not suffering, was it really a send at all? Yeah. And it's like Exactly. I think that that is a true statement with.

Mario: Like mm-hmm. you if you're not suffering. And when I say suffer, I don't mean like anguish, I don't mean pain. I mean, it's a part of it, but I don't mean like misery. Mm-hmm. , you know, even though there are stages of that, but like you are consistently seeking growth and I think that's why your career is flourishing.

Mary: I mean, I wouldn't be who I am without, you know, my family going through what they went through. And then, You know, seeing them literally suffer [00:03:00] and like, you know, and then there's like a lot of anguish and like, just being too young to be able to really help. Oh. And, uh, being, you know, like, and you wanna help, you hate seeing the loved ones, you know, have a bad time.

Mary: I have a hard time and, but like, you're not in a position to help anybody. You're so young. And so I think that, I don't know. I think I was always trying to like, fix everything when I was younger. Mm-hmm. and like take care of everything. And then, uh, I had to just like learn to let go and accept that. Like, you just can't fix it all.

Mary: You can't save it all. No. But what you can do is you can work on yourself and you can, you know, you can educate yourself. You can, you can try your best, you can push yourself and uh, hopefully, you know, , hopefully that spreads and you can help your friends

Mario: too. Is that something that you wanna see come to [00:04:00] pass with all of this and everything that you're growing towards that you can consistently help your family and kind of like move, I guess, like, you know, just based on like your past and everything that you said before, is that something that's important to you?

Mary: Yeah. Um, I, I want my parents to have like an easier life than they do for sure. . I just want them to be happy and like Yeah. Have what

Mario: they need. Yeah. Happiness is, happiness is not easy. I just want

Mary: them to be able to relax. , , I can see that. Yeah.

Mario: It's just like, ah, fuck. Yeah. I think that's something we want for all of our parents, especially if you come from a family that like genuinely loves you and genuinely has tried to give you the best, like you wanna give back at some point in time and you want to be.

Mario: To do that. And I think, I don't know. I mean, based on my conversations with my parents, the biggest thing that they've always told me that is giving me back is seeing me consistently grow. Yeah. And seeing me consistently [00:05:00] flourish. Yeah. And yeah, I think, I don't know, I'm just, I'm really impressed. I'm like, and I think you embody that a lot and I, yeah.

Mario: Once again, I think that's why your career has been like really just. You know, taking off, and it, it is the work that you're putting into it. I mean, it's very obvious that you put grind time into this. Like, you know, Chris, Chris Hampton and I always talk about this. Like the hustle. Yeah. Like the hustle. Is it, and there's not many people who are constantly willing to be on the hustle and willing to do that because, I mean, it's hard

Mario: Yeah. I mean, it's legitimately hard. Yeah. It's not something that you can. , you know, half ass or halfway kind of do like Yeah. It is consistent. It is relentless and you have to be even more so than it is. And it is this big existential thing of life and whatever it is. [00:06:00] But yeah, I don't know. For a little woman you kick life in the teeth pretty hard.

Mary: uh, I don't know about that, but I'm

Mario: just hanging in. I guess you're fighting it. Yeah. , you're not

Mary: laying down. I. I feel like I learned something, um, when I was projecting the crack house. That has always like, stuck with me and like, if you leave the ground with doubt, you're not gonna send agreed. You know, and it's, it could be like, it could be like, , the tiniest little bit of doubt, right?

Mary: Just like tiny, but like doubt is like insidious. Like you ha insidious, ugh. I can't say it. Can you say it ?

Mario: No, but we know

Mary: what we're doing now and, and it just like creeps in and then we will, you know, in that moment between, um, giving that last 5%, which usually is that fine line between. fail or go send or suffer

Mary: Yeah. And that doubt will get you in your week and then you won't give that extra 5% cuz you'll give up. So what? Or [00:07:00] you'll be like, oh, that's my limit. I can't, when you, you know, if you then like, if you can train your brain, be like, no, I can, and you push that extra 5% that you didn't think you have in you, you'd be surprised.

Mario: How did you learn how to do that? Or you feel like that's. Been a part of your upbringing because I think people listening to this like learning how to do that is not intuitive. Not, and I also think if you don't, and it speaking in the context of climbing, if you don't project and you don't like mm-hmm.

Mario: just like put yourself through the ringer. It's really hard to understand that. And so, but how would you encourage someone else? Into that, like pushing that kind of growth, consistently going that, like what advice would you give

Mary: to someone? I feel like maybe it was intuitive, like growing up like that, um, like, oh, you just try harder or whatever.

Mary: Um, but I don't think I ever really put words to it or awareness to it until, until I was [00:08:00] working the crack house like several years ago. And I just kind of quickly learned that like if I started not believ, then I wasn't gonna make it. And it was just as practical as that, you know? Okay. Just like hanging on and pushing.

Mary: I'm not having doubt, so I was not as heavy, you know? Cuz doubt is heavy.

Mario: It is, it is. It's like, yeah, like I said before, like emotional and spiritual things way more. Mm-hmm. , they have more value and it's like if you don't spend those dollars and you don't spend that equity that you've built up, um, over. I think it does wade you down and it does, it definitely can hold you.

Mario: I mean, I know from personal experience, definitely the times that I've sent the hardest roots in my life is either when I just stop caring. Mm-hmm. about the root. Yeah. Altogether. Yeah. Or I finally had to tell myself, you know, something like, basically I had to talk my, talk myself outta my doubt. Yeah. And talk myself into a [00:09:00] position of power.

Mario: Mm-hmm. and a position of strength and you moving forward. And I think that's, . I don't know. It's, it, it's, it's harder than people think and I don't think people give enough credit for like self, self-love and self-treatment. Yeah. Like it is

Mary: hard . It is. It's, it's, and it's hard disrupting the, disrupting the na disrupting the negative cycle.

Mary: When you start to get into the, uh, the negative like feedback, um, loop, especially, you can see it on people, on lead. They get scared and they. They get stuck, you know, and they'll stop and they'll just be like, I can't, I'm scared. I'm scared. And then I do a lot of coaching from like a fixed line next to people who are going through that.

Mary: And it's something that like, I struggle with too. And, and, and so it's like, okay, what we need to do is we need to disrupt this cycle that we're in and like, you know, approach this positively. And it's a really hard thing to train. Um, I feel like. It's worth it

Mario: though. Yeah, no, it is. I mean, it's immensely worth it.

Mario: Like, [00:10:00] like if you don't, I don't know, like if you, if, if you as a coach, like the most detrimental thing I've ever seen is when someone has the ability to disrupt that cycle. Yeah. And they just stop. Yeah. Because I think it's harder to pick that ball back up. And get it moving then if you just kept on rolling with

Mary: it.

Mary: Yeah, it is, it's, it's really hard when that creeps up on you and then you have to like, like jolt it away almost, and like, pivot.

Mario: Um, so what did you learn from creating this film that we're gonna watch tonight? Oh,

Mary: that I'll walk so far from my friends.

Mary: Oh man. , I liked creating this one. Um, going to the Grand Canyon was, uh, was uh, kind of like going back home a little bit cuz um, I lived in Moab most, mostly. Um, but there was like a [00:11:00] year where I lived in the Grand Canyon on the South Rim. Mm-hmm. , um, not quite a year, actually. Just like a season, A full season.

Mary: Mm-hmm. . Um, and it was just so much fun. getting into backpacking and doing all that stuff. So like when Kaya asked me to do this with her, um, I was like, you know how far of a walk that is? Right? I knew very clear how far of a walk that was gonna be, and uh, she was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, it would be great.

Mary: And I was like, you do realize that like I'm a slow backpacker. Right. You know, I just wanna make that like very clear . And she's like, yeah, yeah, no, I want you to do it with me. And I was like, I'm down, but you might be mad about how slow I am and, uh, I actually wasn't that slow. I've gotten stronger since I was that young kid.

Mary: I'm still slow, but usually at high elevation,

Mario: ah, slow and steady wins the race. Or as they say, slow, as smooth and

Mary: [00:12:00] smooth as fast. I turn into grandma at high elevation. That's

Mario: not, no, there's nothing wrong with that. .

Mary: There's the reason I like the. You could breathe down there.

Mario: Yeah, I was about to say, you got lots of air, lots of the ability to move.

Mario: Yeah. Lots. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah,

Mary: man. So, so I, I learned, yeah, I learned that, um, you know, That my friends wanna do something, I'm fucking down. I don't know. I already knew that. I don't know. It was a really good time. .

Mario: I'm excited to watch this tonight. I think it's gonna be really cool. Like it's pretty, I knew this was coming, but I like, I don't know anything about

Mary: it.

Mary: Um, it's a beautiful rock climb. It's really only three pitches of rock climbing. But, um, we like tracked our mileage and it ended up being like 38 miles.

Mario: So why did she choose this climb? Um,

Mary: fuck. I don't know. She told, well, why did you choose to do it? Because she told me to.[00:13:00]

Mario: Oh,

Mary: that's great. I just don't say no very much. I'm gonna be honest. ,

Mario: no. Get witted girl. I, I'm gonna hold you to this. There's some for something else in the future when they know this, that I'm going to hold you to this .

Mary: Um, um. Yeah, I just said yes. And, uh, then we did it and um, I watched, um, her hustle on the back end like in a whole spring, cuz I was going to school full-time and working part-time and then trying to train and doing some freelance, so I didn't have a lot of extra time.

Mary: So I was like, Kaya, you have to do all the, the backend stuff. What have you gone to school for? Uh, marketing business?

Mario: Yes. . Yeah. Well played. Yeah, that makes sense.

Mary: Switching my geology, um, geology degree from my early twenties to business one.

Mario: That makes sense. Uh, how far along, how much farther are you done?

Mario: I

Mary: probably have a year left. Okay. Exciting. Yeah. None, none of my, none of my sciencey stuff really [00:14:00] transferred . None of it at all. Not really. Oh yeah. I was like, why do I have to take business statistics? I took Coke two. And they're like, you can test out of it. And I said, I haven't taken a class math class in seven years.

Mary: I don't wanna try to test out of it. , I've been thinking about rocks for seven years, man. Yeah,

Mario: no, I mean, yeah, you'd be biting off 'em probably a little bit more than you can chew. Yeah, that's, there comes back though. So what is, so you've got this coming out tonight, which I'm super excited to. You've got, we've talked kind of about a lot of things that, but like what is something that you, well this, this is another question that I like to ask too, is like, is with, is this that's coming out tonight, the thing that has brought you the most joy recently?

Mario: Or what has in your life recently brought you the most consistent joy? Um, let's just narrow it down to maybe like this year. [00:15:00] I

Mary: mean, I feel like this thing we created this. Much earlier in the year. Mm-hmm. . And so much has happened since then that like my brain is always like forward, forward, forward. So it's almost like this is like, oh yeah, we did that , which is kind of funny.

Mary: Um, so I would say recently the thing that has brought, brought me the most joy. Um, I just finished like a week in the Wind River range. Um, I had never been to the circle of the towers. Oh, that was amazing. Jelly. I was honestly super majestic and you know, I came from climbing in the VU and, um, I feel like.

Mary: Uh, before when I visited the Vita V, um, which was not actually very much, I would just like go in with a list, um, and not deviate from my list. Get all those routes done and then like, leave. And so, um, this was my first real trip to the vu where I just didn't go with a list. Okay. And I just like [00:16:00] embraced, like, you know, becoming more friends with the locals and climbing and taste testing out a bunch of different things and sampling around and, ah, I don't know, it was just so much fun.

Mary: And I, I think I grew to love Vita V more than I thought was possible. And, uh, yeah,

Mario: that, I think that is, I think that place in HP 40. It's two of the most magical places to climb in. Mm-hmm. in all of the United States. There. It was. It's really nice. It's, it's, it's, they're different. There's, it's different.

Mario: So

Mary: different. It's different. I couldn't climb there all the time cuz it's too short. , it's 40 feet. I wanna go climb some tall rocks. Yeah. Big roots. You know, that's why I thought it was like a perfect balance to, you know, kind of like enjoy vi avu and then really embrace the Wind River range, you know. Get up on some summits and I don't know, and I just had an amazing time this spring in Moab.

Mary: Um, I got to watch Mari uh, flash Belly full, which was [00:17:00] really meaningful for me. I was so excited about that. It was, what does that go as, uh, it's, it's some sandbag 13 invert off with thing and she just flashed it. It's five 13, but it's the. Like, I've done a lot of off with thirteens now, and it's the hardest one.

Mary: And it's just not even the grade that they say it is, it's That's boss just flashing. Yeah. She just flashed it. And I, I got to see that. And, um, it was really meaningful for me. And I think I took, it took her aback how like emotionally invested I got into that and she was like, it's not that, you know, it's, it's, you know, and I was like, no, that was literally.

Mary: So amazing for me. Like I just needed that. It's

Mario: funny you say that cuz I've told some of my friends like, they're like, what's the most, most momentous moments for you? And I'm like, bling Some people on the end of a rope and like, I don't know, sometimes I feel like you can literally feel the energy transfer Oh, totally.

Mario: Through the rope and you're just like, totally. You're like in it and [00:18:00] you're so invested. Yeah. And yeah, I know that feeling. And I think that's one of the reasons why I keep coaching. Yeah. And I have a hard time walking away from coaching. Like I just, I can't do it because like, it fuels your psyche. Yeah.

Mario: And it fuels you so, so, so much. It was unreal.

Mary: It was just so awesome because I got, um, Got wrist surgery in February and six weeks, six weeks of like nothing. You know, just healing, like really focusing on healing and really focusing on school and, and work and all that real life stuff. And, um, And I got, well as soon as I got cleared, um, my friends Tom and Pete and Mari like, came over and it was just like perfect timing.

Mary: I was like, this is great. You know, I got cleared to rock climb like six days ago and uh, I met up with them in the creek and. And I don't know, just getting to see my friends that I don't get to see very often, like [00:19:00] write post like surgery and like, Hey, you're finally able to rock climb now. Go ahead. And like day one, they're like, yeah, let's climb all these thirteens.

Mary: And I'm like, oh, my ass is so kicked. You know, I haven't climbed at all. Fucking, my hand is fucked. Like, and then the second day back, like seeing Mari flash, And I was like, this is so fucking awesome. Like, it was just so motivating cuz I had been, you know, working out and like, you know, trying to stay fit while like not using my right arm, but trying to keep everything else pretty decent.

Mary: Yeah, it's rough. And so, I don't know, just to come back and then like. Uh, just get to experience that moment with them. Um, and then just like get to climb and get to kind of like take them to the classic test pieces and try the test pieces with them. And it was just so, it was so positive. It was [00:20:00] awesome.

Mary: I think that was like, I don't know. That was just great . It was, I don't have a lot of words for how, how that made me feel. It, I think it's hard to

Mario: put

Mary: end words. Yeah. I felt so inspired, and I hate using that word, but because I feel like people toss it around a little too cheaply, you know? They, yeah. I can see a, a cool picture on Instagram.

Mary: They're like, oh, inspiring. And I'm like, was it. or was it just kind of cool?

Mario: It's an action. It's not, it's not just something that you see. I

Mary: feel like inspiring is like something that gets into your soul. Yes. And like lights that fire under your ass. Yeah. It gets down into the marrow. Yeah. Like yeah. You know, seeing that and getting to experience that with, um, with them and, and, uh, and I don't know.

Mary: Tom started training me a few years ago and like Tom Randall. . Yeah. And uh, when him and Pete Whitaker stayed at my house and like they were putting up the black mamba and things like that and, and um, you know, I [00:21:00] felt like Tom was like one of the first people to actually like, see that I could climb well and like gave me the credit for it.

Mary: And I feel like before that, like people didn't really like take me too seriously, you know, I was just kind of slow learner and a girl. You know, whatever, . Oh no. And Tom, Tom was one of the first ones that was like, no, you're like an athlete and this is how I'm gonna help you get better. And like he started training me and, um, and then so like getting to, you know, postsurgery and being told it was okay to go outside and.

Mary: Can you meet up with Tom and Pete and walk them to all the good stuff and try all the good stuff with them and not suck too bad and get to see Mari do that. It was fucking awesome. And when I went home from that, um, like the training felt less of a drudge and more of like, A fuck. Yeah. And then when I came, yeah.

Mary: And then when I came, you know, a few weeks later to teach a [00:22:00] month of crack camps and I only had like six off days in that month, you know, I got to do all my projects. I fucking fired it out and I was, cuz I had like, I just had the psyche, you know, and I felt like it was, it was fucking awesome. I felt like a dog off its leash for the first time in a while.

Mary: I was like, fuck. Oh yes, for nuts. The, the wind in my tongue, like fucking going crazy. Chasing after a squirrel. , you know? . Yeah. I was insane. I was like, let's go do P'S blue ribbon in the morning cuz it's shade, you know? And then we could go over. Belly full in the afternoon when it goes into the shade and, and then people are like, nobody wanted to do that.

Mary: It was May. They were like, that's horrible. Why were you doing that? I was like, cause it's two different muscle groups and you're not gonna get tired for off with climbing a finger crack and

Mario: truth. I mean, there is truth in that statement. Yeah.

Mary: So it was, it was just cool.

Mario: Yeah, it's funny, like that's, yeah, I, but I think that's also too, going back to [00:23:00] like your desire for growth and your ability to just mentally keep yourself there.

Mario: Um, I think it was, will and I were talking about this today, like Carlos Traversi, when he did. Jade something else and then did something on the don wall all in a day. Yeah, like it's like you, you have to have the ability or you have to make the choice. Yeah. To like mentally be able to push through. And I think over time, and I think this is probably really true for what's happened to you, you've grown the ability to make it something that you.

Mario: I don't wanna say it's just a switch you can turn on. Mm. But it's something you can muster up. Yeah. Okay. . And I think that's ability that you can just kind of like the lack of a better term, like conjure up and you're just like, all right, let's do this. Like let's go, let's, I

Mary: like doing things in blocks cuz of that.

Mary: Yeah. I feel like having like the balance of like, You know, going home and resting and getting [00:24:00] your work stuff done and then so you can just, full throttle. Mm-hmm. agree. You know, and yeah, it, it's good. It's good stuff. I'm sure you know what it's like cuz you live in Texas and then you travel and so when you go home you're in work mode.

Mary: Yes. And then when you're out, you're out.

Mario: You're doing it. It's the very Texas theme cuz it's so hot, we don't get a lot. Yeah. And people are always like, I get it all the time. Like you, people from Texas are insane. You guys come up and you're just like, rearing, like, I, I gotta do everything. Like I just gotta do it right now.

Mario: Like, like it's good. Cool. It's in the shade. And then people are like, it's 90 degrees here. I'm like, it's great sending temps. Let's just go. Let's just do it. You know? And yeah, it is a mindset and I don't. Think it's something, it's a mindset that it like, and I also wanna be very clear and make, just tell me if you disagree with this or not, but like it's a mindset that also requires a certain amount of wisdom and knowledge and foresight about one self.

Mario: Mm. Like knowing yourself just cuz you're not, you're not blindly raging. No. Like you are very strategic, calculating and it is very

Mary: tactical and [00:25:00] strategic. Yeah. Yeah. There. And it's kind of like, you know, like I said about going to vi avu and. Like, um, I think for Girls Gone Wide, one was the most time I'd spent there.

Mary: And, um, like the summer before, I think it was like my first real visit, you know? Mm-hmm. and that was just for two total weeks. Like it was not for very long. And you know, if I choose to travel somewhere, , I'm gonna probably go in it with a pretty clear picture of what I want to accomplish. Mm-hmm. . But, but here's the caveat.

Mary: You can't be married to it. No. Because, you know, you have to allow for real life to get in the way almost of your, of your goals. You know, like, uh, you might sprain an ankle or Yep. You might, you know. , your car might break down or anything. Anything. Family things might pop up. And so like, I think, uh, or weather.

Mary: Weather. . Yeah. . I've gotten shut down on [00:26:00] so many trips cuz weather and, you know, I feel like. Yeah. Being like clear and and focused and, and being able to rage and setting that time aside for yourself, but also like having a backup plan so you don't just depressed that you didn't get to do the thing you wanted to do.

Mario: Yeah. That's big I think. Yeah, definitely. I've seen that happen a lot. Mm-hmm. , especially with people in winter sports, like Yeah. If they get injured or something happens or the. The season just kind of goes a little awry than like their whole world crumbles is this crumble. Can't like that. And that's like weather, depression or athlete.

Mario: There's a term for this where like athletes

Mary: get super depressed. Yeah. I don't think you can be like that. I think you think you have to. You have to be like, oh, well I didn't get to do it. All right. What's next then what I'm doing? What am I doing

Mario: now? But that's a growth skill. That's a growth skill. Cause I don't think that's normal.

Mario: Mm-hmm. . And it's not normal. When I say, , is it the possibility to be norm? Yes, but I don't think it's normal because it's not easy and it's not comfortable. Mm-hmm. and we as human beings gravitate towards things that are comfortable and we gravitate towards comfort. Yeah. And I [00:27:00] don't, yeah, I, I, I agree with you wholeheartedly.

Mario: I just think it's harder. I think it's harder for the average person to do, and it's a skill set and it's a learned skill, and it comes with seeking after growth. Growth is uncomfortable, but you are moving forward.

Mary: I feel like, I feel like I give this example to my clients, um, you know, they sometimes they get really attached to just like a goal.

Mary: Mm-hmm. and they get attached to it within a certain timeframe and I'm like, it doesn't have to happen. You know exactly when you want it to. You know, you have your whole life to work on it. Mm-hmm. . Um, like for me, one of my major goals in my life is to, um, climb five 14 trad like I want to so badly. I think it would be so much fun, you know, I think it's gonna be a blast.

Mary: Yeah. It just fucking love that. I love, I love climbing at my physical limit. I'm not a [00:28:00] bold climber. I like hard. Hmm. I tell people there's like a little bit of a difference. Don't, and then there's like a marriage in between. You know, you can be bold and hard and you can be just bold and or you could be just hard.

Mary: And I'm somewhere like more in the hard of, I like things to be non That's funny. Death .

Mario: That's where you and I differ. I like bold climbs. Yeah. I like, like, I can't tell you how many friends of mine and exes of mine have always said like, you choose routes that have. You choose routes that have like little ambulances and skull and bones on the all time.

Mario: I'm like, I'm not trying to, it's just like this route calls me and like

Mary: Yeah. I mean, embrace your stok, dude. I, you know, you gotta follow it.

Mario: Yeah. I just like getting on things where like I have to commit, like I'm 100% committed to this. Yeah. I'm married to this movement. Yeah. I'm married to like what I'm doing in this exact.

Mario: And nothing Yeah. Is going to get in the way unless I feel like strategically like, yeah, this, the whole thing is collapsing, but like I, I just gravitate towards bold, big, [00:29:00] bold moves. I

Mary: always think in those moments I'm like, why am I risking my legs for this? Yeah. Is this worth it? And then I'm like, no, it's not

Mary: And unfortunately I can't move past that mindset. I'm like, my legs though. I heal so slow. I'm old now. ,

Mario: like, is it something you want

Mary: to. No, I don't give a shit. I don't Fair enough. I have to prove anybody about if I feel bold, albeit, but most of, fair enough of the time, I'm just kinda like, I don't really care.

Mary: There's so many like, hard ass shit that's totally reasonable that I'm just like, that's what I wanna do. . Yeah. Well that's fair. Yeah. But um, like last summer, I bought a month's worth of permits for the white rim. Got you. Like, got land like a four by four. My friend was gonna drive us down the, the whole time and camp with us.

Mary: And that's like a big ordeal. And then like, I found a partner for it and like got all these things lined up and the permits are not cheap. Like , it's expensive, . [00:30:00] Um, and a month of them. And like we got everything set up, like got it, worked out with work, got school, worked out with it, and everything was good to go.

Mary: Day one of the trip realized it was too hot to actually climb the route. Yeah. Way too hot. And I was like midway through the route and second run. And um, you know, it's like my dream to climb this route. And, uh, I really like, I have such like a. Like an emotional, like love of it because it's like magic to me.

Mary: Like the first time I saw it, uh, like scrambled down cuz of where I thought it might be and like scrambled down to it and it's just a perfect, like arching horizontal crack. And there was like a herd, a big horn at the base and like. , like you're above Indian Creek, but you're below, you know, island in the sky.

Mary: And like, oh wow. It's just like a magical place. And it was just like such a special, quiet [00:31:00] moment when I was like the first one to like walk up on it, um, in the group. And like, it's been done before, but it was the first time I saw it and it was just like this perfect remote, beautiful thing. And like the movement on it is like amazing.

Mary: And. Takes beautiful gear and like, I don't know, it's just so you know. Are you going back? Uh, yeah. I got, I bought three weeks of permits for it. Um. this fall, giving myself plenty of allowance to play on it, you know? And so like, day one, to realize that it's just too hot for this root. And so I was, um, I was climbing it and Ben Rook asked me, he was like, Mary, how do you feel right now?

Mary: And I was like, I feel like garbage. Ben . And I had already developed like a heat blister. And, uh, yeah. Yeah, it was like kind of fucked up. Wow. And, uh, Ben was like, I don't wanna crush your dreams, but, and I was like, Ben, I'm stubborn. [00:32:00] I'm not stupid. I understand that this is way too hot. I'm gonna back aid this and clean it, and we're getting outta here tonight if that's okay with you.

Mary: And he was like, perfect. I'm so glad that was so easy. And I'm like, yeah, I understand. Like the conditions are just not. And it's okay. Like I'm not, it's not gonna be the end of my world if I don't do this thing. You know,

Mario: I think it's very important that you stated that because like, you can be ambitious, you can try hard routes, you can try bold routes, but like understanding yourself and understanding yourself, the situation, your partner, there's a lot of aspects that gun by the effect the matter that like you're not too big and you're not too proud.

Mario: To like understand like, like this will come another day. It will

Mary: or it won't truth and my life is more than just one route. Truth, you know? Very truth. Like I'm not defined by one rock climb.

Mario: No, definitely a truth. I, you know, yeah. I backed off a climb. [00:33:00] I had a friend, I'll never forget Trevor, he. . He just wasn't feeling it on a route.

Mario: And I, I remember coming down and he was like, dude, I, I got up to the sec, I got up to the pitch where he was about to take over and he looked at me and I could just see the look in his face. Yeah. And I just remember looking at him. I was like, dude, the rock's not going anywhere. Yeah. But our friendship can, so like, yeah, let's just turn around and let's just call this good for a day.

Mario: And yeah, like, I don't, like, it's, This route. This route is not worth you. Exactly. At the end of the day, it's not worth you. Yeah. You are way more important to me. Yeah. And we're still best friends to this day. See, that's awesome. And now that's what matters. That's, yeah.

Mary: You put his feelings first and that's amazing.

Mary: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love

Mario: that. So man. I guess like, I, I don't want to finish this conversation right now, but I definitely want to give us some time to get ready for everything else that's going on tonight. Mm-hmm. . But if you, I wanna say how to say this. Okay. I'm gonna ask a silly question first, and then I'm gonna, then I'm gonna say this stuff.

Mario: [00:34:00] So, in your training, and this is just a recent question I've been asking people. , is there an album or a playlist that you have that you can just kick on and it's just like, gets your

Mary: sight? I, I, I, I'm gonna tell you a dirty secret. I loved rock climb with, with music. , but I wear head, I wear like, um, wireless earbuds.

Mary: Yep. Because I, I hate playing music out loud. Um, I, I feel like it, I feel like it disturbs,

Mario: um, people No, I, I appreciate it. From someone who is hard at hearing. Yeah. I can't tell you. So there's a, like, just a little side story. So I was climbing at Rogers Parks. It's this little trashy bouldering area near Dallas, but I'll never.

Mario: That I was telling these guys to turn off their music and me being hard of hearing, I'm polite about it. But like there was an issue. Yeah, there was a hornets nest and they couldn't hear it. They could not beehives nest or whatever it was. Yeah. A bunch of bees. But they're about to get jacked up. And I was like, Hey, you wanna turn off your music?

Mario: And I just remember these younger guys were just being so rude about it. And I walked up, turned off their music and the guy was like, what the, and I [00:35:00] was like, before you decide to fight me, listen. And they, you could just hear all these bees. I was like, your buddy's climbing into a bee. and they just couldn't hear it because they were blaring music.

Mario: Mm-hmm. , you know, granted I could not hear my partner, like, oh, selling him like, Hey man, I'm gonna do this boulder. I'm getting sketched out. Like this is a known spot where people break their ankles. Yeah. So like, I, I need you to like Yeah. Like be on the spot, like Yeah. Float the pad. Yeah. Like, I need two people to float the pad so I can like, try this move.

Mario: Yeah. Um, and I'll never forget that. And, you know, I. To each his own, like, you know, you're not disturbing

Mary: everybody in the gag and it's not creating, not disturbing and then, you know, it's, that's different's fine. But, uh, it's a personal choice that like, I like, I like it in my ears and, uh, I wear like a headband, so it's not even an issue.

Mary: Most people don't even realize I, I have it. Another thing too, I hate being talked to when I'm rock climbing. I absolutely hate it. Um, I'm talk [00:36:00] to or being

Mario: cheered on

Mary: either anything. Just silence. Just leave me alone. I'm rock climbing. That's cool. Honestly, I'm so adhd, and as soon as you fucking say my name and say something to me, you pulled me out of my rock climb and you've now pulled me into a communication with you.

Mary: I'm no longer focusing on rock climbing. I'm now focusing on you, and I don't give a fuck about you. You're my Blair. Hold the fucking rope and shut up. You got one job, one job only. I love you though, . Yes, I love you though. But like, shut, shut the fuck up. Oh, I,

Mario: I say this to people all the time when I'm like definitely getting on a prod.

Mario: I look at 'em like, you got one job and one job only. Yeah.

Mary: Just like, are you ready Stone? Yeah. You know, don't kill me. Don't show

Mario: me and feed me. So what's the tunes? What's, what are you

Mary: jamming to? Um, . So, yeah, a lot of times I hate having to tell people that I hate being talked to, so I just put my headband on, put my earphones in, and no, most of the time people don't even know.

Mary: Yep. And then like, it's so easy to pop a headphone out and just put it in your, uh, sports [00:37:00] bra, uh, when you need to talk or like put, you know, do you get to top of the route and I pull it out, boom. All the time or rest, I'll pull it out and I'll, you know. Mm-hmm. , maybe brief people. Um, it depends on. What I listen to, I have a playlist called Rage.

Mary: Ooh. Which is like, you know, uh, Spotify, apple Music, uh, Spotify, which is just like really fun, like, um, like raging house music, you know, like, ha like we're, we're, we're, we're at a party and we're, yes, it's, it's, there's a DJ and we're raging. Would you be,

Mario: be willing to share your playlist? Totally. So if could listen to that, I would totally share.

Mario: Awesome. I'm gonna put it in the chants. . This

Mary: is gonna be great. Um, and I have another one called Euphoria, um, which is actually the vibe I'm really feeling right now with my rock climbing. I like to listen to euphoria cuz it's like, it's not as hard. Like as upbeat as rage is, but it's more, it's like, but it still has like a good vibe.

Mary: It's still, it's still upbeat and still still kind of housey. [00:38:00] That's cool. . That's cool. I like it. And then, and then I have another playlist for if I'm feeling a little introspective or moody or just grumpy. Um, Marose.

Mario: it's name. Marose. Yeah. .

Mary: Why? Uh, it's just, you know, I don't know. It's what I titled it when I created it and it's, I don't necessarily feel marose when I play it, but like I'll put it in, you know.

Mary: Okay. That has more of like, you know, Johnny Cash, um, white strip. Yeah. Things like that. Yep. I'm with you. I'm with you. Yeah. . I got some other ones. Okay. Mellow Vibes is an old one that I was really listening to last year, and it's not mellow at all. . It's just like, it's like weird hip hop . Oh

Mario: my God. All right.

Mario: I'm excited. Like I'd love to put all these in the show notes so people can listen and

Mary: Jam Pillow Vibes is odd. Okay. It's like, it's like, no, it was odd or the better because I guess what I was psyched on right before Mellow Vibes was I had a, we call it a playlist called gangster. [00:39:00] I have to hear this.

Mary: And it was just hard ass like, oh no, I had to hear this. And then so when I was like, ah, I'm just not, I just need to calm down a little bit. And so it was like less aggressive and that's why it was called Mellow Vibes, . Nice. Okay. Not that it's mellow, it was just less aggressive.

Mario: Nice. Okay. And then I guess the last question really would be is this is, um, for right now, um, is there a, um, What advice would you give someone coming into climbing now and their desire is to climb like much like you're climbing.

Mario: Like they're like, for example. Yeah. Um, for example, I, when I first started climbing, one of my big heroes was Jeremy Collins and still is to this day. Yeah. Big mentor of mine and I had a chasing Jeremy Collins list. Yeah. And so I chased. Almost every single route he has ever established, done, or has noted in anything online

Mary: or anything.

Mary: I do guys [00:40:00] advice. Huh? I got some advice. Yeah. I got a few things.

Mario: Hit me, hit me with the one time,

Mary: um, never turn down a free top rope.

Mario: Yep. L

Mary: legit. Um, number two, a mile in each size. Okay. And,

Mario: um, what do you mean by a mile in

Mary: each size? So that one more pertains to crack climbing. Yep. Um, but you know, I see commonly like people work their hand.

Mary: and they work the size that they're good at, but they don't work their weakness, you know, like mm-hmm. , you have everything from a triple zero to a seven, seven Camelot, right? Yeah. Can you tell me, you've like done a mile in each size. Are you proficient in all that? Oh, one of my, um, one of my life goals was, uh, to climb five 13 in each crack size.

Mary: And I was really psyched when I did it and um, because I was like, this is, [00:41:00] this means that like I can climb 0.3 fingers, I can climb 0.4 fingers, I can climb 0.5 fingers, I can climb seven fives. I can climb ones and twos and threes and fours and fives and sixes and sevens. It's just about equally. Mm-hmm.

Mary: not exactly equally cuz there's gonna be some advantages, but like, I can be, you know, what I want in each. Yeah. And so, um, yeah, a mile in each size. Okay, cool. And even the sizes that you think you have dialed, it's really good to like keep pushing harder grades in them because, um, you, you like learn it's different how to be more efficient.

Mary: Mm-hmm. in them. You know, I think that's really cool. Um, and the third thing is like, you know, it's been the topic of this whole conversation, but, you know, embrace failure. If failure is a beautiful, beautiful place to be because it's a stage of growth. Yes. The whole theme of this conversation, it's, it's not a place to be feared.

Mary: It's not a place to, um, beat yourself. It's a place of like celebrating [00:42:00] yourself and growing because you don't wanna be the same person tomorrow that you are today. Agreed. Right. Agreed. Like that sucks.

Mary: you. Like I, you know, I said earlier in this conversation, I never wanted to be like, this was the last place I explored. This was the last thing I did well, right. Yeah. You have to fail to get. . So yeah, it's

Mario: beautiful. Eh, eh, it's definitely beautiful. . Cool. Cool. Well I want to thank you for your time. Yeah. It was super fun.

Mario: And I wanna thank fun. Thank you. And this is fun. And I'm happy that we got to do this now, and I look forward to following your career. And I honestly look forward to hopefully having much more conversations like this with you, because like I said, Like, I don't know, like in the world of coaching, especially with youth, there are coaches who just [00:43:00] have it and then there are athletes that just have it.

Mario: And what I mean, it is like, You, you're not just trying to get the kid to climb the hard thing. You see them for who they are Yeah. And in front of you. And there are athletes who are not just trying to climb the next thing, they're trying to grow themselves, and they're trying to grow who they are. Yeah.

Mario: And it is very obvious and it is very abundant. And it oozes out of you, it completely, utterly oozes out of you. And once again, If I'm floating your, if I'm floating your ego, making your head big, great. You can use it as a cam. But, um,

Mary: I have a hard time looking at people when they're saying nice things.

Mary: It makes me so

Mario: itchy. Oh, I know. I, I see you squirming in this chair. I'm well aware. I, I'm, I'm still gonna say it. Can't do it. I'm gonna say it no

Mary: matter what. Uh, well, thank you. You know? Yeah, yeah. It's nice.

Mario: But, uh, I look forward to this and I look forward to watching your career. Cool. And I think you're an amazing

Mary: human.

Mary: Thank you. I think the same thing. I've really enjoyed, um, following [00:44:00] all your shenanigans with the podcast and all your videos and everything. It's been really awesome. Good? Yeah. Good. Good. Yeah. Thank you. Yeah, I think you should keep it up. I will

Mario: do the grind. Um, okay. We're good with that. Uh, one thing I do want to ask you is like I definitely with your films and things like that, um, I.

Mario: There is some projects I wanna work on in the future, and most of them will revolve like remote interviews and remote things like that, and there might be some things. actually involve like physically being there. But I just want to know like, is it okay if I just like pitch you the ideas later on in the future?

Mario: No, I'm

Mary: totally down. Perfect, perfect. I think we'll be wrap. I'd love to work on stuff. Yeah, I feel like, I feel like, I feel like I'm getting to be known as the great collaborator, .

Mario: Nice. I have some things that I'm working on. I'm trying to get the rest of the group on board, but like I, so I know from my career what I'm trying to do is the next page of my career is like I wanna start bolting in more establishing routes.

Mario: Yeah. Around the world. Mm-hmm. . But I'm trying to do it [00:45:00] with, I'm trying to do it in a place where, in a place where I become part, I wanna do it more ethically and I wanna do it more responsibly, but I wanna do it with compassion and being invited into these places. And so the first. Oh, come on over. We're done.

Mario: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're just chatting now. Um, the first place that I'm doing it,