Climbing, Motherhood, and the Path to Self-Discovery with Beth Rodden

The Sonya Looney Show

Legendary climber Beth Rodden has accomplished so much in her incredible career - and is now also bravely shared her personal journey of growth. I sat down with Beth to hear about her experiences navigating professional climbing as a woman, the highs and challenges of achieving big goals, and how becoming a mother completely shifted her perspective.

Beth is one of the best female rock climbers of all time, the youngest woman to conquer 5.14a, and a globally recognized ambassador for the outdoor community. She's also a mother, and an author. Her new memoir, ‘A Light Through the Cracks: A Climber’s Story,’ vulnerably recounts her harrowing experience with trauma and kidnapping and her healing process.

For any athletes, parents or anyone pursuing self-discovery, I hope you'll be inspired by Beth's wisdom on finding balance, speaking your truth, and embracing vulnerability. It was so powerful to chat with Beth - I know you'll enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it.

Here are a few key takeaways:

- Navigating professional climbing as a woman and the evolution of the industry towards greater inclusivity and respect. - The importance of owning one's story, finding one's voice, and speaking out against injustice, even when it's scary - The challenges of achieving big goals and deriving a sense of self-worth solely from accomplishments - How parenthood can shift one's priorities, sense of purpose, and relationships with others and one's body in a life-changing way. - Healing from trauma and learning to embrace vulnerability and emotions through therapy, relationships, and personal reflection.

LINKS:

- Read Beth's new memoir "A Light Through The Cracks" - Listen to other episodes about motherhood and athletics - Hear from four women athletes of Tailwind Nutrition