In this episode, Kevin Roet had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with professional climber Robbie Phillips.  Whose journey into climbing is as relatable as it is inspiring. Robbie first found climbing at a point in his life where he felt like an outsider.  Someone searching for belonging and a place to channel his energy. What he discovered was far more than just a sport. Climbing quickly became a home, a source of challenge, and a community that gave him both direction and purpose.

Robbie’s early years were spent cutting his teeth in the competition scene, where structured training, pressure, and performance were daily companions. But after a while, he found himself drawn away from the walls of climbing gyms and into the wild unpredictability of the outdoors. Trad climbing, with its spirit of exploration and adventure, became his true calling. It wasn’t about medals or scoreboards anymore.  It was about pushing into the unknown, carving out new lines, and testing himself against the raw, untamed world of rock.

Over the years, Robbie has racked up quite a few first ascents, each one demanding not only technical skill, but also a calm mindset under extreme stress. From wrestling with crumbly Scottish sandstone that threatens to fall apart in your hands, to venturing onto untouched faces where uncertainty reigns supreme.  Robbie has learned how to manage fear, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward even stress and anxiety may have been high.

In our conversation, he reflects on how the lessons he learned in competitions. Discipline, focus, managing pressure, growth mindset.  Still inform the way he approaches his climbing today. Robbie’s story is one of growth, resilience, and embracing the unknown.