Dirtbag State of Mind podcast, from The Climbing Zine

I listen to a lot of audiobooks and a lot of podcasts. I’m not sure I would’ve gotten around to reading American Climber by Luke Mehall if he hadn’t read it out loud chapter by chapter in the first season of this podcast. I’m really glad I listened to it. It’s an introspective memoir that also captures something larger about middle class American Millennial experience. I think the most interesting thing to me is that Mehall is very honest and introspective about the dirt bag and Vanlife lifestyles. There’s nothing glamorized about them and you realize that there’s a lot of loneliness and aimlessness built into much of those lifestyles. I definitely experienced that when I was younger and the process of growing up that Mehall describes rings true to me. He comes to realize that freedom without love is empty and both freedom and love in their highest forms require a lot of commitment, which requires vision and goals. I got more than I bargained for. Looking forward to The Desert now.

This is more than just a climbing podcast. The way Luke writes, he creates an appreciation of the smaller things in life and how climbing puts the things we do (outside of climbing) into a better perspective! His zines and books bring the reader into the same mindset as the listeners of this podcast. Keep it coming!

I like your writing. You are a great writer with good insights. But this new format, where you are just interviewing people is less engaging and less interesting. I’m so tired of listening to two people “chat” forever. It’s why I can’t listen to the Enormocast or Mark Maron anymore. I appreciate your writing because so much more thought goes into it than an unrehearsed (and often meandering) conversation.

This is a great podcast! Really enjoyed listening to Luke’s adventure stories. As a Colorado climber I can relate to a lot to what Luke discusses in his podcast. Highly recommend!!