EP 260: Caroline Ciavaldini
Feb 17, 2025
Caroline Ciavaldini is a French professional climber specializing in sport, trad, and multi-pitch climbing. We talked about growing up in La Réunion, early climbing, her mother’s suicide, the magic and selfishness of competitions, eating disorders, becoming adventurous, trips with Yuji Hirayama, meeting her husband James Pearson, discussing hard things with your kids, the color yellow, naming emotions, gentle feminism, and much more.
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Show Notes:
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References:
Caroline’s Links:
Nuggets:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:01:32 – Growing up in La Réunion
00:07:14 – How Caro started climbing
00:09:25 – Early competing
00:14:03 – Her mom’s suicide
00:21:29 – Mental coaching
00:25:27 – Magic & selfishness
00:37:42 – Competition vs. outdoor skills
00:46:18 – Eating disorders & food obsession
00:54:37 – Recovery & satiety
01:01:13 – Becoming adventurous
01:08:09 – Trad moments
01:15:43 – Trips with Yuji Hirayama
01:20:38 – Discussing hard things with kids
01:24:42 – Paradoxes & genetics
01:30:25 – Yellow
01:36:41 – Le Voyage & retraining fear
01:44:24 – Naming emotions
01:48:45 – Gentle feminism
01:58:07 – Women’s cycles
02:03:28 – Menopause & aging in climbing
02:13:20 – The struggles of a pro athlete
02:21:31 – House projects & side hustles
02:26:22 – Wrap up