Icebox Sessions Podcast - in conversation with Nova Scotia climbers

In this episode, longtime Nova Scotia climber Todd "The Bod" Foster (aka "Toddles") exposes ALL. He talks about his 25-year impact on the local scene through guidebooks, route and boulder development, and his award-winning film Eastern Tide. Foster explains how partnerships helped him produce multiple guides (rope climbing, Digby Neck, Halifax Region) and why he’s working on an Eastern Shore volume now, emphasizing knowledge transfer and community succession. He recounts learning to climb in the 1990s through top-roping at Eagles Nest, the Dal wall, and self-teaching from books, and later being inspired by early bouldering at Duncan’s Cove on homemade pads. We discuss the tradeoffs of beta videos, his preference for moderate climbing, an injury-averse approach focused on climbing rather than training. We also delve into his motivations for bolting accessible sport routes and his aversion to trad climbing - while also getting excited about the indoor gym scene and a growing generation of outdoor-focused climbers.More Show Notes⁠Icebox Sessions - All LinksChapters00:00 Welcome to the Icebox01:58 Writing Guidebooks10:01 Eagles Nest16:34 Bouldering With Homemade Pads21:46 Projecting and Beta Videos34:24 Eastern Tide World Tour 41:37 Is V5 Harder Than V15?46:18 Choose Easy50:30 Training and Injury 56:40 Bouldering vs Roped Climbing59:39 Lessons for Todd 2.001:05:18 Toddles Wants to Sport Climb 01:13:36 Is Trad a Thing Anymore?01:20:52 Route Development01:26:05 The Community

Heather Reynolds shares stories of 35+ years of contributing to the local climbing community, including route development, coaching, and releasing a book on performance rock climbing. Reynolds recounts starting climbing with Sean Willett, helping found Climb Nova Scotia in 1991 to protect access at Main Face, contributing to the Dalplex Fieldhouse wall (opened 1992) and later the Rock Court (opened 2002), and the importance of recognizing volunteers and first ascensionists. She describes years of road-tripping, researching and meeting elite climbers, emphasizing that mental approach and movement efficiency often matter more than raw strength. We discuss the differences between gym rats and outdoor climbing, route-setting, fear, flow state, and aging. She also explains how yoga, writing, and community connection shape her current life.Icebox Sessions - Episodes Notes⁠Icebox Sessions - All LinksChapters00:00 Entering Flow State06:57 This is What Life is About16:03 Kinesiology to Coaching18:40 Grand Wall Epic23:30 Five Years on the Road30:32 Legends and Mental Game36:48 Indoor vs Outdoor Climbers45:32 Coaching Without Climbing Hard50:08 Athlete Identity Shift52:19 Fear Of Falling Lessons54:40 Hueco Breakthrough58:31 Working in the Gyms01:02:33 Sending Tsunami01:08:47 Mindset And Aging01:20:00 Imposter Syndrome And Gender01:28:27 The Community Now

Join us as we sit down with the legendary Greg Hughes, a seasoned climber and guide, for a deep dive into the world of rock and ice climbing. Greg shares his experiences climbing in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, discussing his early adventures, his insufferable ice climbing habit, and his passion for route development. We also touch on his involvement with local climbing organizations like Ascent New Brunswick and his current life of chasing climbing adventures around the globe. This episode is packed with inspiring stories, practical climbing insights, and a glimpse into the bonds that build a climbing community. Listen up for Greg's tips on improving climbing skills and maintaining a lifelong passion for the sport.Icebox Sessions - Episode NotesIcebox Sessions - All LinksChapters00:00 I'm an Amanita01:29 Ice Climbing Origins02:33 Discovering Cape Clear07:02 Get your "Free Pass" Now09:31 Favorite Cape Clear Lines10:44 Main Face Rendezvous12:09 7 Skills Every Climber Should Know14:47 NOLs and Teaching15:59 Remember Why We Climb18:07 Longevity Beyond Grade Chasing24:52 Living the Climbing Life 27:30 Climbing Vagabond28:51 Ascent New Brunswick 32:32 Hug a Route Developer Today35:51 Ice And Mountain Highlights38:19 Where to Next?

One of the most passionate, innovative and elusive climbers among us,  Dave dedicated almost a decade and half of his life to climb and document every single boulder problem in Nova Scotia.  His work was captured in the highly popular online bouldering guide called "Mobeta" - complete with interactive maps and beta videos.  And his youtube site documents his ongoing evolution as a climber and development of innovative finger training devices.Icebox Sessions - Episode NotesIcebox Sessions - All LinksChapters00:00 Introduction05:28 The Birth of Mo Beta10:42 Innovations in Training21:30 No Funswick23:40 Return to Halifax31:02 The Refined Line - V1132:44 Grading Controversies43:50 Digital vs. Printed Guidebooks51:27 Winter Climbing Secrets01:00:19 Climbing Hacks01:07:37 Innovative Training Devices01:10:29 The Hand of God: From Concept to Market01:15:26 The Local Scene01:19:06 Challenges of Hard Bouldering01:27:58 An Evolving Climbing Philosophy01:33:36 Conclusionhttps://mobeta.ca/⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Mobeta

Emily Currie is the epitome of strength and resilience.  In this conversation she recounts the last tumultuous 12 months:  battling cancer, and somehow finding energy after multiple surgeries and treatments to shoot, release and tour a celebrated short film about three women bouldering on Dover Island.  We also get behind the scenes on the media side of promoting our local bouldering gym as well as the thrill of climbing and errrrrrr horse-back riding?!⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes⁠Icebox Sessions - All LinksChapters00:00 Welcome to the Icebox02:57 Seven Bays Media Manager05:27 Weightlifting to Climbing10:36 Outdoor vs Indoor15:31 Instagrammin'22:30 Women in Sport23:45 Unexpected Challenges31:24 Filming on Dover Island37:09 20 Grit Film Tour Launch43:44 Bouldering Projects44:35 Rallying to the End

Quietly crushing granite and inspiring all of us with her feline ways, Samantha Peverill joins me for Episode 3 to (reluctantly) share the story of her 5.13 sending spree last year of local test pieces. A feat that - to my knowledge - has not been accomplished before by any Nova Scotian climber!! Episode drops on Thursday on all major streaming platforms.⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:26 Finding Motivation09:53 Early Climbing Experiences14:09 Balancing Climbing and Frisbee16:40 Training & "Weight Stuff"23:30 Dynamic Climbing29:00 Lattice Training31:43 Learning to Try Hard36:45 5.13 Triple Crown46:16 Role Model Reflections50:00 Exploring New Projects55:41 Favorite Climbing Routes01:03:46 Climbing Community and Identity01:09:37 Final Thoughts

Forget about bouldering. Sean Therien rejoins us in Part 2 with a rope in his hand and suffering on his mind. Follow his adventures developing new routes at The Spot, Cape Clear, Main Face, and more. ⁠⁠⁠Icebox Session - Episode Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:49 Developing 'The Spot' & The Castle03:50 Cheater Stones & Tick Marks07:59 Columbus Wall09:20 Exploring Main Face14:52 Cape Clear Adventures19:37 Memorable Climbing Routes21:14 The Big Stupid Adventure26:38 Scariest Moments28:02 Closure of Ground Zero Climbing Gym29:34 Impact on the Climbing Community31:12 Return to Cycling40:24 Final Thoughts

Punk rock ignites the Nova Scotia climbing scene in the late 90s. Therien shakes the bedrock of Nova Scotia by starting its first commercial climbing gym, unearthing new climbing routes and opening world class bouldering areas.⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Show Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions Homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links⁠⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:38 The Early Days of Climbing04:11 Starting the Climbing Gym10:05 First Climbing Experiences in Nova Scotia12:37 Competition Climbing16:37 Training is Not Fun19:04 The Reminiscence Effect24:19 Coastal Bouldering26:30 The Land of Confusion and Dover Island31:35 Boulder Fest32:40 Rediscovering the Rope35:05 Wrap

Out of the limelight, Rich has been scaling Nova Scotia cliffs over 20+ years. On this inaugural episode he shares stories of harrowing moments on the rock, training attempts, and the value of climbing friendship.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Episode Show Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - Homepage⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Icebox Sessions - All Links⁠⁠⁠Chapters:0:16 Introduction3:44 Climbing vs Surfing5:54 Adventures in Potrero Chico11:02 Thoughts on Grades and Ratings13:13 Favourite Routes20:13 Training Philosophy25:47 Memorable Climbing Experiences28:40 In the Zone29:59 Bouldering in Musquodoboit33:49 Future Projects

Episodes coming Fall 2025. For more information check out: https://iceboxsessions.ca/