I wrote a blog.
My name is Kathy and I'm a writer and climber hailing from Brooklyn, NY. In 2014, I wrote a blog to let my mom know I was still alive and then I hit the road for twelve months.
I host and produce For the Love of Climbing Podcast. During my spare time, I am the Executive Director of No Man’s Land Film Festival and a regular columnist for Climbing Magazine and Alpinist. Along with cultivating a deep love for exploring the vastness of our planet from a rock climbing lens, I also have an affection for sharing doughnuts and conversations with strangers.
In 2014, I started writing to remind us to look for the tiny slices of joy in-between moments. Climbing was about finding out what the difference between impossible and possible was, and discovering where I lay on that spectrum. When I’m not on the road, I generally spend my time trying not to kill the last living basil plants in the apartment.
Update on December 4, 2020: I have since killed all of my basil plants and live in a van. Plants are so needy.
I made a podcast.
Someone told me: "Climbing doesn't change you," and "This is rock climbing. It isn't supposed to be nice or safe or accepting of who you are and your feelings."
I disagreed. So, I made a podcast about it.
Acknowledging someone else's reality allows people to show up as they really are, which I think is really important in a world where we often pretend that everything is ok when it's not.
When we’re transparent about our journey, it empowers others with the courage to speak their truth, too.
I am a person.
Biologically, I am now an adult. I've had a few adventures and I write about them. I’ve also had some growing pains and failures—I write about those, too. I have been published in Alpinist, Climbing Magazine, and Outside and I am a senior contributing writer for The Climbing Zine. In 2014, Climbing Magazine featured For the Love of Climbing as one of 13 Must-Follow Climbing Websites, Blogs, and Podcasts. Two years later, I made a film. It won an award. I felt proud.
Some other things happened between then and now: I stopped worrying so much, cried on an African big wall, moved back to New York City, ate a lot of $1.25 tacos, aid soloed my first big wall, drove across the country thirteen times, made a best friend, got a full-time job, took myself too seriously, lived in Spain for a month, sent my first 5.13, remembered that therapy is great, learned how to spatchcock a chicken, and found a little slice of happiness here and there.
I work to promote a vision of diversity and gender equality in the outdoor industry and beyond through No Man's Land Film Festival. Since 2018, I’ve lived on the road full-time to both climb and interview climbers (like you). I produce a podcast about choosing vulnerability and how we’re all really just shining examples of this messy, human existence.
Ultimately, all I’ve ever wanted to do with my life was something meaningful that impacted people in a powerful way. I’m proud of my work. If you see me, say hi.
A small (but mighty) team.
Peter does sound things.
Born and raised in New York City, Peter Darmi wears many hats: Composer, Sound Designer, Recording Engineer, Record Producer, video editor, and AfterEffects master. He is also the person behind all those silly Mr. Tricam videos.
Among his many awards and Platinum records, Peter is proudest of engineering Grammy award-winning albums for George Benson, Natalie Cole, and BB King, and nominations for Lou Rawls, Mose Allison, and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, for which he was nominated Best Recording Engineer.
In 2014 Peter expanded his business into Hello Joe Media, Inc., providing complete start-to-finish digital media production (including video) in addition to record producing + mixing, and audio post-production for commercials and feature films.
Kika draws things.
Kika MacFarlane is an artist and visual designer with a focus on the outdoors and activism. Born in Colorado and now based in Jackson Hole, her work is inspired by the wilderness of the places that she loves to play.
She uses illustration, animation, and design as a tool for social change, advocating for the protection of both people + planet. When Kika isn’t creating something behind the screen, you can usually find her on a paddleboard or a pair of skis, depending on the season. She also has a passion for petting dogs and an unquenchable sweet tooth.
