EP 157: Jeannie Wall — Getting Stronger in Her 50s, the Value of Doing Challenging Things, and Slowing Down to Go Fast

Jeannie Wall (aka “The Energizer Bunny”) is a world-class skier, life-long mountain athlete, and obsessed climber. She cofounded Broad Beta to cultivate a community for women and genderqueer folks to share their stories of outdoor adventures in the mountains. We talked about lessons from her upbringing, the importance of partnerships and mentorship in climbing, slowing down to go fast, engaging with the edge of our comfort zone, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, and much more!Check out The Nugget on YouTube:youtube.com/@thenuggetclimbingCheck out Athletic Greens!athleticgreens.com/NUGGETUse this link to get a free year's supply of vitamin D + 5 travel packs!Check out Grasshopper Climbing!grasshopperclimbing.cominstagram.com/grasshopperclimbingTell them I sent you to save $500 off a fully kitted out 8'x10' Grasshopper board! Check out PhysiVantage!physivantage.com (link includes 15% off coupon)Use code "NUGGET15" at checkout for 15% off your next order! We are supported by these amazing BIG GIVERS:Leo Franchi, Michael Roy, David Lahaie, Robert Freehill, Jeremiah Johnson, Scott Donahue, Eli Conlee, Skyler Maxwell, Craig Lee, Mark and Julie Calhoun, Yinan Liu, and RenzollamaBecome a Patron:patreon.com/thenuggetclimbingShow Notes:  thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/jeannie-wallNuggets:0:08:38 – Overview of our conversation, and growing up as the youngest of 11 children0:14:22 – Baggage and benefits from her upbringing, and being competitive as a racer0:16:52 – The chapter of life that Jeannie is in now, and learning patience0:19:22 – Competing at the Olympic Trials for nordic skiing, and why she doesn’t miss competing and racing0:23:58 – Shifting toward climbing, and how she has changed in her 50s0:25:38 – Examples of people climbing hard in their 60s, and Jeannie’s hut ski trip0:28:07 – Why Jeannie finally got hooked on climbing0:34:12 – Getting Swine Flu, dealing with chronic fatigue for two years, and finding a different path in climbing0:36:14 – “If you wanna go fast, you have to go slow most of the time.”0:41:31 – How media influences us in climbing, and giving the last 10% to be excellent at something0:47:02 – My inner tension with bouldering, the role of mentorship, and Jeannie’s story of climbing Fitz Roy0:54:42 – Challenge and risk as key parts of the human experience1:01:18 – “If we’re not learning are we really happy?”1:05:25 – Engaging with the edge of our comfort zone1:07:13 – The pressure to be someone other than who you are1:12:33 – The value of pursuing your passion1:15:05 – Wildness, and why Jeannie and Leslie started Broad Beta1:24:20 – Heroes, looking at the whole person, and the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things1:28:42 – Why stories are so powerful1:33:02 – Sharing the whole story, and Jeannie’s menopause article1:38:09 – Jeannie’s vision for Broad Beta1:45:12 – Where to find Broad Beta1:47:10 – Wrap up and final questions