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
EP 190: Josh Champion — Quitting After Sending V13, and Reengaging With Climbing in a Healthier Way
Follow-Up: Martin Keller — Sending V16 at Age 45, Getting More Out of Less, and the Skill of Delayed Gratification (Teaser)
EP 189: Lily Kral — Building a Board Climbing Gym, Exotic Dancing, and Being a Work in Progress
EP 188: Joey Jannsen & Rich Breuner — Underground Hip-Hop, Cage Fighting, and Hustling ‘Til You Make It
EP 187: Stefanie Myr — Miniature Carpentry, Becoming Polyamorous, and Finding “Church” at the Gym
Four Women Have Climbed V15
Follow-Up: Katie Lamb — Box Therapy V16, and the Willingness to Persist (Teaser)
EP 186: Q&A 7 (feat. Ethan Pringle) — Rocklands Wrap-Up, Bat Hang Shenanigans, and Challenging Your Perceived Limits
EP 185: Mattias Braach-Maksvytis — All Things Dynos, Why Boulderers Should Train Their Legs, and How to Enjoy Your Climbing
EP 184: Nic Rummel — Embracing Thickness, Lessons From 9 Years of Hangboarding, and Doing Whatever It Takes to Feel Like a Badass
EP 183: Jenn DeBellis — Chasing Dream Boulders, Turning Small Wins Into Big Wins, and Sustaining a Full-Time Job on the Road
EP 182: Carlos Tkacz & Steph Letourneau — Lessons From 7 Trips to Rocklands, Being Good at Being Consistent, and Writing Novels
EP 181: Charlie Schreiber, Adam Shahar, Noah & Benn Wheeler — Accidentally Flashing V13, Board Training, and Ultimate Dream Sends
EP 180: Troy Fauteux, Austin Hoyt, & Bryce Viola — Times We Almost Died, Toe Hook Training, and Laughs and Sends in Rocklands
Follow-Up: Ollie Torr — How to Improve Your Critical Force, Training Endurance at Home, and Listener Q&A (Teaser)
EP 178: Ethan Pringle Returns — Two Things He Does Every Day, Taking Your Time, and Honoring His Dad
EP 177: Tiba Vroom — Confronting Fear of Failure, Being the 8, and Taking Responsibility for Your Life
Follow-Up: Dave MacLeod — Lessons From Recent Diet Experiments, the 9a+ Goal, and Getting Stronger After Age 40 (Teaser)
EP 176: Eric Hörst Returns — Top 7 Most Common Training Mistakes
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