black climber

On Episode 295 of the Enormocast, I sit down at a splintery picnic table on a hot morning in Lander, Wyoming with Aaron Peterson. Aaron is a young (ish) climber for whom activism, protest, and speaking his mind goes hand in hand with his motivations as a climber. At a cost to his mental health, Aaron will engage on the thorny subjects of racism and Trumpism online and in person wherever he goes. His need to speak up comes from a youth exposed to inequality in Phoenix, AZ and a previous life with one foot in the dangerous side of hip-hop culture. A difficult illness for his mother and theft of his life-collection of music production equipment sent Aaron on a difficult path to wellness and climbing, in that order. Now Aaron is a half-time road-dawg spreading the gospel of equality, inclusion, and environmentalism as he sees it while climbing and visiting the far corners of the America.

Music Tracks:

Boom, Boom

Wake Up, E$cott ft. Shawn P

E$cott – Cliche Ft. Doberman

James Baldwin Quote

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

On Episode 236 of the Enormocast, I sit down next to, but for some reason not in, a hot springs pool with Malik Martin and Conrad Anker. Conrad and Malik met at Memphis Rox when Malik was working there, and the North Face had sent Conrad to check it out. Memphis Rox is a unique gym, a non-profit, and known for its outreach to the South Memphis community. Malik was already a photojournalist, but his curiosity about outdoor photography bonded him and Conrad. Since that fateful meeting, Malik has come to call Conrad his “Mountain Dad”. Since entering the industry, Malik has become an outspoken advocate for diversity and representation for the Black community in the outdoor industry. He’s not afraid to confront racism, hypocrisy, and apathy in climbing around diversity. Climbers may be most familiar with Malik Martin from Sender Films’ Black Ice.

Malik and Conrad at the Alpenglow Speaker Series

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Tag: black climber

Enormocast 295: Aaron Peterson – Paying His Dues

Enormocast 236: Malik Martin and Conrad Anker – Brothers, Friends, and Countrymen