A Climber’s Mind with Mat Wright
Sports
About
I’m Mat Wright - a climbing coach focused on real outdoor performance. A Climber’s Mind explores what actually drives progression on rock - beyond generic training advice. Through personal stories from my own climbing, and lessons from coaching, I break down the mental, technical, and tactical factors that separate effort from real results. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about working on the right things, at the right time. Each episode gives you practical insights you can apply immediately to your own climbing, whether you’re projecting your first 7a or pushing into your hardest routes. If you’re interested in working with me, you can find more at matwrightcoaching.com
Episodes
- Climbing Feels Different Now
In this episode, Mat Wright reflects on how recent life changes, structured training, and organized coaching have influenced his psychological approach to climbing. He discusses the connection between attention and performance, the impact…
- Fear of Falling Isn’t the Problem
In this episode, Mat Wright explores fear of falling in climbing, suggesting it stems from poor clarity rather than a lack of courage. He discusses factors like uncertainty, poor decision-making, and ego that contribute to fear responses o…
- The Real Secret to Climbing Your Best (Learn to Try Well)
This episode discusses how climbers can improve performance by learning to "try well" instead of just trying harder. It covers understanding the difference between good and elite climbers, managing distractions, and applying a simple execu…
- Comparison: Ego vs Curiosity (Why It Helps or Holds You Back)
This episode discusses comparison in climbing, focusing on the distinction between ego-driven and curiosity-driven comparison. It explores how to use comparison effectively to improve performance and avoid pitfalls.
- Why You’re Strong Enough… But Still Not Climbing Harder
This episode explores why climbers often do not reach their full potential despite being strong enough. It covers the importance of commitment, understanding fear of failure, and developing projecting skills to improve climbing performance…
- Identity, Ambition, and Losing Yourself in Climbing
Mat Wright shares his experiences with identity and ambition in climbing, including the challenges of burnout and a loss of direction after achieving a significant goal. He discusses how changing his relationship with climbing helped him f…
- What Comes After Diagnosis: How to Turn Clarity into Progress
This episode of A Climber’s Mind with Mat Wright discusses how climbers can turn the clarity of understanding their limitations into actual progress. It covers strategies for structured progress, the impact of spreading effort, the role of…
- Diagnosis - Symptoms vs Causes
In this episode, Mat Wright explores the process of diagnosing what truly hinders a climber's progress, distinguishing between symptoms and underlying causes. He discusses why observation is crucial, how patterns influence performance, and…
- Why Climbers Plateau
This episode of A Climber’s Mind explores why climbers plateau, focusing on how misdiagnosing the problem can lead to stagnation. It covers various factors such as execution, body position, fear, and lifestyle as common underlying issues.
- Who I Am, My Climbing Journey, and Why I Started This Podcast
In this introductory episode, Mat Wright shares his personal climbing journey and the motivations behind starting the podcast "A Climber's Mind." He discusses the mental aspects of climbing, drawing from his own experiences and observation…