In this episode, Kevin Roet had the pleasure of sitting down with Mina Leslie-Wujastyk. One of the UK’s most accomplished climbers and a deeply thoughtful voice in the climbing community. Mina’s story is a fascinating one — from her rise in the competition scene to her decision to step away from it. Aand the lessons she learned along the way about pressure, performance, and the power of mindset.

We started by exploring Mina’s early days as a competition climber. What struck me most was how honest she was about the weight of expectation, and how pressure — whether self-imposed or external — can sometimes work against performance rather than enhance it. Mina shared her strategies for lowering expectations, not as a way of aiming lower. But as a powerful tool for climbing with more freedom, presence, and joy.

Our conversation also turned to one of her most famous projects: Rainshadow. Mina opened up about the process of working this iconic route, and ultimately, her decision to walk away from it. Her reflections on knowing when to let go of a project were not just about climbing, but about life — how determination is vital, but so is the wisdom to recognise when something no longer serves you.

We didn’t shy away from harder topics either. Mina spoke candidly about REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), trauma, and the role of nutrition in climbing performance and long-term health. These are complex issues that affect many athletes but are too often overlooked, and Mina’s openness makes this discussion especially important.

This episode is a deep dive into resilience, balance, and self-awareness in climbing. Mina’s journey is not only inspiring, but also full of lessons that every climber can take to the wall — and beyond.