The Strong AF Climbing Podcast

Natasha Barnes

Climbing is a lifestyle sport. So how can you perform at your best, prevent injury, and improve your longevity in the sport all at the same time? This podcast is the answer. The Strong AF Climbing Podcast is for climbers who want to build strength to support climbing and become more resilient athletes. In this podcast, we’ll talk about all things strength training for climbers, rehab and managing climbing injuries! Hosted by Dr. Natasha Barnes, an elite athlete herself and strength and rehab coach for climbers. Listen to the podcast and hop aboard the gainz train!

  1. Sep 16

    32. Climbing with Intention: Becky Switzer's Journey

    What does it actually mean to train your climbing intentionally? In this episode, I sit down with climbing coach Becky Switzer (who is on my coaching team eeeee!!!) to talk about her journey,how her approach to climbing has evolved from simply trying to get fitter and stronger to becoming much more intentional about how she climbs. We get into the difference between training fitness and training skill, why climbers often avoid the things they’re bad at, and how something as simple as giving each climbing session a clear purpose can completely change what you get out of your time in the gym. Becky also shares her journey from competitive soccer to climbing, how climbing became an important part of her life during a difficult transition, and how her background as a multi-sport athlete shaped the way she thinks about coaching today. We talk about limit bouldering, practicing basic movement skills even when you’re an experienced climber, using bouldering to improve sport climbing, climbing drills, remembering sequences, choosing problems that actually challenge your weaknesses, and why good coaching sometimes means having someone else notice the things you can’t see yourself. We also get into injury prevention, why getting hurt shouldn’t simply be accepted as part of being a climber, and how thoughtful strength training, appropriate progression, and better management of your climbing can help you stay on the wall. If you want to become a better climber without making your training unnecessarily complicated, this episode is a great place to start. Follow Becky on Instagram Follow me on Instagram Join the Foundational Strength Program Book an Injury Consultation or Rehab Coaching Train with my team  My Website

  2. May 4

    31. Hypermobility and Strength: Unraveling Myths with Taylor Goldberg

    Most hypermobile people are told to avoid strength training — but what if the key to stability is actually lifting heavy? Taylor Goldberg, a fellow chiropractor turned hypermobility coach, reveals how progressive, heavy strength training transforms stability, reduces dislocations, and can even help avoid surgery. Her unconventional approach challenges outdated beliefs and shows how you can build resilience in your body, no matter your stretchiness. In this eye-opening episode, Taylor shares her journey from secret hypermobile struggles to helping clients thrive through tailored, evidence-based movement. You'll discover how traditional modalities fall short and what truly works for hypermobile bodies. She breaks down common myths—like Pilates and yoga being the only safe options—and explains why heavy lifting is essential for bone density and joint health. Plus, we explore how to safely progress when your nervous system feels overwhelmed, and how to handle unpredictable symptoms like post-exertional malaise or POTS during training. You'll learn practical strategies: how to start strength training safely at any level, modify exercises to meet your needs, and use external cues and tempo to control movement. Taylor emphasizes the importance of patience, realistic expectations, and self-compassion on your healing journey. Whether you're hypermobile yourself or a clinician working with this population, this episode offers the hope and tools to unlock stronger, healthier movement—without fear or restrictions. Make no mistake: hypermobility isn’t a life sentence of fragility. It’s an opportunity to optimize how your body can handle load, stress, and everyday movement. If you've ever felt discouraged by what you've been told, this episode will shift your perspective and empower you to get stronger — safely, confidently, and sustainably. Perfect for athletes, coaches, clinicians, or anyone on the spectrum of hypermobility and connective tissue concerns—if you're ready to stop playing it safe and start pushing your limits with purpose, this episode is your game-changer. In this episode, we cover: The difference between hypermobility, HSD, and hEDS, and why it matters less than you thinkWhy many hypermobile people feel unstable, and what’s actually driving thatHow to approach strength training without flaring up constantlyWhat to do when symptoms show up during or after trainingWhy most rehab is under-dosed, not too aggressiveHow to build long-term capacity instead of constantly managing symptoms Taylor: Taylor's IG Taylor's website Hypermobility Resources Hypermobility Mastery Program for Clinicians Natasha: Instagram Join the Foundational Strength Program Book an Injury Consultation or Rehab Coaching Train with me  My Website

  3. Jan 28

    30. The Weight Loss Double Standard Climbers Don't Talk About

    The Strength-to-Weight Ratio Debate: Why "Just Get Lighter" is as Oversimplified advice. Climbers often dismiss strength training for not transferring directly to climbing performance—but then turn around and treat weight loss as if it automatically makes you climb better. In this episode, we break down the irony in the strength-to-weight ratio debate and explain why both approaches are oversimplifications. You'll learn: Why strength training and weight loss are both indirect levers (and neither replaces time on the wall)How building capacity through strength training supports climbing performance, recovery, and injury preventionWhy chasing weight loss often reduces training capacity instead of improving itWhat elite climbers can (and can't) teach us about trainingWhen strength training or weight loss actually work as performance leversWhat moves the needle for most climbers (hint: it's not one magic variable)If you've been stuck on a plateau, constantly injured, or wondering whether you should focus on getting stronger or getting lighter—this episode will help you think more clearly about what actually supports long-term climbing performance. Keywords: strength training for climbers, climbing performance, strength to weight ratio, climbing training, capacity building, climbing injury prevention, weight loss for climbers, climbing plateau, elite climbers, rock climbing training, foundational strength, climbing recovery Follow me on Instagram Join the Foundational Strength Program Book an Injury Consultation or Rehab Coaching Train with me  My Website

  4. 12/02/2025

    28. What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You: Somatic Therapy, Pain, and Rehab

    In this episode, I sit down with my friend and client Dani, a somatic psychotherapist and climber, to talk about how the body and mind communicate — and what it really means to feel your feelings. Dani shares how her own journey through chronic illness, trauma, and movement led her into somatic therapy, and we explore the deep overlap between her work and the kind of pain science–based rehab I do with climbers. We talk about why so many people struggle to slow down, why emotions show up as physical sensations, and how both somatic therapy and strength training can help you rebuild trust with your body. Whether you’re navigating pain, dealing with stress, or just curious about what it means to actually “listen to your body,” this episode will help you see how awareness, curiosity, and compassion can change the way you move — and the way you heal. WE TALK ABOUT: What somatic therapy really is (and why it’s not just for trauma work) The connection between emotions, sensations, and pain Why we tend to intellectualize our feelings instead of feeling them The role of awareness and curiosity in both therapy and rehab How pain stories and beliefs shape the way we experience symptoms The concept of allostatic load and how life stressors impact recovery Overlaps between pain reprocessing, graded exposure, and nervous system regulation Practical tools: the feelings wheel, body sensation lists, grounding and self-hold techniques, and how to start a dialogue with your body Why climbers might already be practicing somatic therapy on the wall — and how to bring more awareness to it Healing isn’t just about fixing tissue or solving a movement pattern — it’s about learning to listen, slow down, and rebuild trust in your body. Somatic therapy gives language and space to sensations, while strength training and rehab build the capacity to act within that space. Both help you reconnect with your body instead of fighting against it. CONNECT WITH DANI: 🔗 somaticswithdani.com📱 Instagram: @somaticswithdanni Follow me on Instagram Join the Foundational Strength Program Book an Injury Consultation or Rehab Coaching Train with me  My Website

  5. 11/18/2025

    27. Muscle Imbalances in Climbers: What’s Normal, What Isn’t, and What Actually Matters

    This episode breaks down the truth about muscle imbalances and asymmetry in athletes. Natasha and Ryan explore why asymmetry is normal, why it often gets blamed for injuries without evidence, and why strength training and load tolerance matter far more than chasing perfect symmetry. They walk through current research, explain how injuries change asymmetry rather than the other way around, and discuss why the best rehab focuses on building strength, restoring confidence, and exposing the body to sport-specific loads instead of “fixing imbalances.” TAKEAWAYS: • Research consistently shows that asymmetries increase after injury, not usually before.• Small side-to-side differences are normal in climbers and most athletes.• Asymmetry rarely predicts injury on its own.• Chasing perfect symmetry distracts from the real rehab goal: restoring load tolerance.• Training at a challenging but tolerable intensity often reduces perceived imbalances.• Most “imbalances” resolve as strength and confidence return.• Regular exposure to climbing-specific forces matters more than corrective exercises.• Functional strength and movement quality are better benchmarks than symmetry numbers.• Pain, deconditioning, and fear can create the sensation of imbalance.• You are not broken for feeling uneven. It’s a normal adaptation to training or injury. Follow Ryan on Instagram Ryan's website Follow me on Instagram Join the Foundational Strength Program Book an Injury Consultation or Rehab Coaching Train with me  My Website

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

Climbing is a lifestyle sport. So how can you perform at your best, prevent injury, and improve your longevity in the sport all at the same time? This podcast is the answer. The Strong AF Climbing Podcast is for climbers who want to build strength to support climbing and become more resilient athletes. In this podcast, we’ll talk about all things strength training for climbers, rehab and managing climbing injuries! Hosted by Dr. Natasha Barnes, an elite athlete herself and strength and rehab coach for climbers. Listen to the podcast and hop aboard the gainz train!

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