Author: Chris Kalous

Owner, operator, guru, yogi of enormocast.
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Enormocast 281: Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins of Memphis Rox – Peace Above All

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On Episode 281 of the Enormocast, Jon Hawk and Tye Liggins from Memphis Rox join to discuss the mission of the famous pay-what-you-can gym, Memphis Rox, in the inner-city of Memphis, TN. Jon is director of operations, and Tye went from walk-in to head coach and course-setter. Memphis Rox, founded by Tom Shadyac in 2018, is a nonprofit climbing gym, but as we find out from Jon and Tye, it is so much more: food center, voting center, work training center, health center, and more. Since its founding, the gym has used its experience to grow and remake itself to serve the community around it. Most importantly, its fostered a diverse and supportive climbing community in the unlikeliest of places.

Tye’s Rox story

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Enormocast 280: Taps 2024 – The Really Bollocks Edition

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On Episode 280 of the Enormocast we present the 2024 Taps edition of the Enormocast. This is the annual episode where we lay to rest traditions, foibles, and notions in climbing that are either sadly going to sleep never to reawaken, or should be put to bed for good. The Enormocast is joined by our returning arbiters: Andrew Bisharat of Evening Sends and The Runout Podcast, former interview guest Mary Harlan, and Andy Salo from Wolverine Publishing. On the docket on this rollicking episode are the rise of McGyms, the death of sleeping in the dirt, why we need to put to bed the Gym to Crag initiatives, gatekeeping, and so much more. All fun, mostly joking, mildly offensive, this year’s Taps will not disappoint the fans and newbies alike.

PSA: The following podcast contains adult language coupled with childish humor. Male and female genitalia may be referenced. We talk about sex, baby. If you take climbing and your place in it very very seriously, the royal we here at the Enormocast suggest that you skip this one. We will also be taking climbing seriously again on the next episode of the Enormocast coming soon.

A Brief History of Taps (the song)

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Enormocast 279: David Smart and Royal Robbins – Some Work of Noble Note

Photos of Royal Robbins by the late Tom Frost
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On episode 279 of the Enormocast, we have an allt-ime double-header. First, David Smart joins from Toronto to talk about his life as a climber and his new book from The Mountaineers, Royal Robbins: The American Climber. Royal Robbins was one of the most influential climbers of all time, and David’s book is the most comprehensive look the great man’s life in print. David is also a lifer having climbed throughout Canada and beyond for 50 years. Then, tune in to hear Royal Robbins himself from a 2012 interview in Lander, Wyoming during the International Climbers Festival. This long shelved interview gives insight into Royal’s personality and though it occured late in life, the fire is still burning.

Helen Mirren Reads Tennyson’s Ulysses

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