EP 280: Stevie Hochbaum
August 4, 2025
Photo by Jörn Josiek of Stevie on the FA of Obsidian, V16
Stevie Hochbaum is an elite boulderer who established the first V16, Obsidian, in Germany. We talked about nearly losing his finger to an infection, how he became obsessed with the project, what it feels like to spend 50+ sessions on a boulder, supportive friends, learning patience, training on the project, how losing weight affected his mental health, pacing and breathing, what’s next for Stevie, and much more.
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Show Notes:
Related Episodes:
References:
Inheritance film (FA of Obsidion V16)
The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin
Stevie’s Links:
Nuggets:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:01 – Nicknames
00:04:58 – Swollen finger
00:12:24 – The process begins
00:20:47 – Investing everything
00:28:57 – What happens after 15 sessions
00:45:17 – Sending, disorientation, & celebrating
00:52:10 – Supportive friends & learning patience
01:04:16 – The unexpected send
01:09:46 – Training on the project
01:16:32 – Pacing & breathing
01:24:24 – Taking breaks
01:27:35 – Calorie deficit & mental health
01:33:13 – Bodyweight & small crimps
01:41:06 – Veganism
01:49:01 – Choosing our reality
01:53:00 – Inheritance
01:54:26 – What’s next for Stevie
01:57:14 – Dream trips