Best The Routing Table Podcast Podcasts (2025)

1
E167: Stefano Ghisolfi - Transitioning into a boulder bro, hold fabrication and the collaborative future for elite sport climbing 2:05:05

Play Pause

6h ago2:05:05

2:05:05

Stefano, one of the world's best sport climbers has rapidly been becoming one of the world's best boulderers so we thought now was the perfect time to get him on our podcast! We chatted about a bunch of things, his processes with Excalibur, Silence and Burden of Dreams, the situation with hold fabrication in sport climbing, how the future of sport …

1
Old Trafford curse continues after calamitous first half collapse 50:14

2d ago50:14

50:14

13 games without a league win at Old Trafford... THIRTEEN!!! Matt Davies-Adams has got Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson along for our post-Man United pity party after the shambolic showing in the torrential Manchester rain on Saturday night. We discuss Enzo's baffling substitutions, the Robert Sanchez experience, whether we need to start worrying abou…

1
SOC Extra: Bayern 3-1 Chelsea reaction 22:16

6d ago22:16

22:16

Not *quite* the return to Europe's top table we were looking for... Producer Lucy's got The Athletic's Chelsea reporter Simon Johnson on hand to bring his post-match reaction to the 3-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in Matchday 1 of the 2025-26 Champions League campaign. We hear from Enzo Maresca on how the Blues can 'build something special from this de…

1
E166: Adam Shahar - The Process, Burden, boards and World Cups 1:48:22

7d ago1:48:22

1:48:22

Joining us this week is one of the last (if not the last) board climbing specialist still on the world cup circuit! Adam is one of the strongest people around on a board and he's really started to show what he can do on rock, but he's fighting the siren call of the stone for a little longer because he's still competing internationally. We talk abou…

1
Can Chelsea show they're ready to be back at Europe's top table against Bayern? 49:51

9d ago49:51

49:51

A draw?! At Brentford?! Never... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Thom Harris alongside him to look back on the frenetic 2-2 draw with the Bees at the Gtech on Saturday night. We discuss the controversial late equaliser, the eyebrow-raising first half team selection - and whether this shows that Enzo Maresca still has a lo…

1
The Mississippi’s Forgotten People: Life on Shantyboats and the Margins of American Society 1:20:32

14d ago1:20:32

1:20:32

Send us a text A hundred years ago, shantyboat communities could be found along many rivers in the US. Historian Gregg Andrews went in-depth to research these communities, inspired in part by the discovery of a personal connection to them, which resulted in a book called “Shantyboats and Roustabouts: The River Poor of St. Louis, 1875 to 1930.” In t…

1
Early season takeaways, the Brentford test - and a bright start for CFCW 46:27

15d ago46:27

46:27

Let's not get stung by any Bees... Matt Davies-Adams has got Thom Harris and Sam Parkin alongside him as we prepare for the return of the Premier League after it was rudely interrupted by the international break! We begin with some early reflections on the season so far - and some of key tactical moves and talking points which have stood out from E…

1
E165: 'Barefoot' Charles Albert - Footprints down the paths least travelled 1:32:22

14d ago1:32:22

1:32:22

Charles definitely provides a different flavour for this week's episode. A man who truly goes his own way, he climbs without shoes, mostly without any gear and usually without crash pads. He climbs, he downclimbs, he jumps and sometimes lives a cave. On top of all these brilliant eccentricities he's also one of the strongest climbers in the world. …

1
E164: Zoe Wood and Ros Beveridge - Route setting pod Mk 2, this time with different perspectives! 2:11:22

21d ago2:11:22

2:11:22

The other side of the coin from episode 150, it's another route setting deep dive pod, but this time with renowned setters Zoe and Ros, who were able to offer some different perspectives that four dudes can produce by themselves, who knew right? Just a bunch of chats about route setting, some of it is specific to women in route setting and some of …

1
Jackson and Nkunku out, Garnacho in, Sterling stays - and so does George 1:00:28

22d ago1:00:28

1:00:28

It's not physically possible for deadline day to be dull, this is Chelsea lads... Matt Davies-Adams has got a slightly delirious and sleep deprived Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to try and sum up all the chaos from another highly eventful transfer window for Chelsea Football Club. We dissect the dramatic Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Muni…

1
163: Benn Wheeler - Wheel Rock, board climbs and rolls and rolls of euros 2:20:57

28d ago2:20:57

2:20:57

We had an absolute blast chatting to Benn this week. He's not just ebullient and funny he's also a heck of a climber. He makes YouTube content with his older brother and one of the best climbers in the world, Noah. It's a funny position to be in, to be one of the best climbers around but to have a brother who is even better so we did talk about tha…

1
Estêvão shines in Palmer's absence as Blues rout West Ham 47:21

1M ago47:21

47:21

No Palmer? No problem (on this specific occasion at least...) Matt Davies-Adams have got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on the impressive 5-1 win over a pitiful West Ham at London Stadium on Friday night. We give props to the team for adapting to the late line up change, revel in Estêvão's youthful exuberance and heap some…

1
E162: Darth Grading, climbing ethics and Aidan getting bullied by trad climbers 1:35:12

1M ago1:35:12

1:35:12

This week we answered a bunch of questions from our Patroon community on discord as well as rambled about a few extra bits and pieces as they came to mind. Pub chat stuff really, objective grading scales, when does gear become cheating, flash ethics, Aidan getting abused by trad climbers you know all the classics. If you're enjoying the podcast and…

1
Law 13 to the rescue in Palace draw as a trip to Potter's sorry West Ham awaits 45:37

1M ago45:37

45:37

Failing to score at home for the first time since the opening day of last season!? Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher along for the ride as we look back on the pretty underwhelming goalless draw with Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. We take the positives from Josh Acheampong's excellent performance in the he…

1
E161: Ethan Salvo - Having an incredible trip without sending anything followed by one of the best ever weeks in Canadian climbing 2:27:56

1M ago2:27:56

2:27:56

We like chatting to Ethan, he's got some great perspectives and he thinks deeply about his climbing. The base of the chat was around two recent segments in Ethan's climbing, one trip to Bishop where Ethan didn't really climb anything and a few weeks back in Squamish where Ethan climbed some incredibly hard things. It was interesting to hear how the…

1
Nifemi: From Science Lab to Chartered Accountant and Influencer 11:55

2M ago11:55

11:55

Nifemi’s career didn’t start in accounting — in fact, she studied science at university before discovering her true passion at a graduate careers fair. In this inspiring conversation, she shares how she made the leap into Chartered Accountancy, topped national exams, and built a thriving career that blends finance, content creation, and mentoring. …

1
Shaun McGlade: Building a Business, Balancing Life 10:26

2M ago10:26

10:26

From growing up on a family farm to leading his own accountancy practice, Shaun McGlade’s journey shows the power of hard work, adaptability, and vision. In this episode, Shaun reflects on the lessons learned from his parents’ business, the importance of making numbers “real” for clients, and the leap of faith it took to leave a secure job to start…

1
A successful pre-season weekender, big Palace preview - and ACL heartbreak for Colwill 45:30

1M ago45:30

45:30

The countdown to Sunday, 2pm is on... Matt Davies-Adams gears up for the brand spanking new 2025-26 Premier League season with the help of The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey. We begin with our reflections on the two impressive victories over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan in the *very* truncated pre-season. What lessons will Enzo Maresca hav…

1
E160: Adam Ondra - Legacy, the future, parenthood and rare failures amongst a litany of successes 2:36:51

2M ago2:36:51

2:36:51

One of the biggest names in climbing and a strong contender for being the best climber of all time, Adam Ondra joins us this week! Have you heard of him? We chat about a whole bunch of things:- Rock manipulation, Onsighting vs Flashing, Lexicon E11, goal-setting, competitions, The Olympics, B.I.G etc etc.... If you're enjoying the podcast and would…

1
Chelsea transfer latest: Hato, Simons, Garnacho, Dewsbury-Hall, Ugochukwu & more 49:40

2M ago49:40

49:40

2025-26 season coming in hot... Matt Davies-Adams, Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson are BACK as we round up a rather extensive list of transfer incomings and outgoings with the new campaign fast approaching. First things first, The Athletic's German football expert Seb Stafford-Bloor gives us an flavour of what Blues fans can expect from Jamie Gittens…

1
Beyond Mark Twain: Faye Dant on Hannibal's African American Stories 1:08:10

2M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

Send us a text You probably know a little bit about Hannibal, Missouri, because of the books written by a guy named Mark Twain, but I bet you don’t know much about the history of African Americans who’ve lived in Hannibal, even though Hannibal has had African American residents from its earliest days. I didn’t until I talked with Faye Dant, founder…

1
E159: Another round table with Katie Lamb, general chats and the fantasy climbing auction 2:09:32

2M ago2:09:32

2:09:32

Back by popular demand, Katie Lamb joins us again this week for some round table discussions about pro climbing, legacy athletes and if we could be motivated to climb with no chance of any further progression. We also play a game at the end which is a fantasy climbing auction devised by Sam which turned out to be a pretty good laugh. If you're enjo…

1
E158: Nicolai Uznik - Comps, Maltatal and a long journey to the top of Mount Doom 2:03:58

2M ago2:03:58

2:03:58

We had another wad on the pod this week, Nicolai Uznik is a rare breed of climber who has somehow managed to climb the highest grades outdoors whilst also achieving some great results in the comps. We talk about that juggling act, what it's like to be a competitor in the current era of competitions, competition setting, Maltatal, and his experience…

1
Tips for Traveling the Great River Road, Part 2 1:04:27

2M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Send us a text Our summer road trip down the Great River Road continues in this episode. We start just after Lake Pepin and make our way to the Mississippi’s confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois. Along the way, I’ll comment on the following places: the Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge; Winona, Minnesota; in Wisco…

1
E157: Let's devise a 4th Olympic climbing discipline 1:36:04

2M ago1:36:04

1:36:04

Yeah, it's one of those episodes this week. Nothing to learn and no great insights into the world of climbing, but we at least entertained ourselves trying to devise a new Modern Pentathlon after a chat about climbing films. Say what you want about the Careless Talk Climbing Podcast but at least they're making themselves laugh. We'll be back soon w…

1
Champions of the world! Chelsea stun PSG to bring home Club World Cup 45:30

2M ago45:30

45:30

We've really, really, REALLY won it all now... Matt Davies-Adams has got a bumper crew of Simon Johnson, Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin alongside him to look back on the sensational Club World Cup final victory over Paris Saint Germain in New Jersey on Sunday. We bask in the gloriousness of Cole Jermaine Palmer, laud Enzo Maresca for the tactical maste…

1
How will Chelsea fare in 'ultimate test' against PSG? 49:02

3M ago49:02

49:02

So... this PSG lot are quite good, ey? Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher with him to run the rule over the 2-0 win over Fluminense in the CWC SF's which has seen Chelsea set up a mouthwatering encounter with Champions League holders & French juggernauts PSG. Oli Kay reports from MetLife Stadium after João Pedro …

1
E156: Brooke Raboutou - Growing up in a climbing family and climbing the highest grades whilst maintaining balance 2:35:42

3M ago2:35:42

2:35:42

It was very exciting to have Brooke join us on the pod this week! We had a wide ranging chat talking about growing up in a climbing family, the Olympics, social media, maintaining a healthy balance away from climbing, Excaliber, the future of comp climbing, what it's like to compete against Janja Garnbret and much more! Big thanks to Brooke for joi…

1
Estêvão scores but Cole does too as Blues set up Thiago Silva reunion 45:40

3M ago45:40

45:40

28 games later... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Liam Twomey with him to look back on Friday night's 2-1 victory over Palmeiras. The Athletic's Senior Data Analyst Mark Carey was in Philadelphia for the game and sends us his thoughts - before we take a closer look at Cole Palmer's return to the scoresheet, the hugely impressive debut o…

1
Palmeiras preview, hello João Pedro & goodbye Kepa 41:19

3M ago41:19

41:19

The Estêvão Derby is upon us... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin back with him to look ahead to Friday night's Club World Cup quarter-final against Palmeiras in Philadelphia. Brazilian football aficionado Jack Lang pops by for a closer look at the Blues' opponents - and what we should expect from Estêvão going forward... We've g…

1
Tips for Traveling the Great River Road, Part 1 1:04:27

3M ago1:04:27

1:04:27

Send us a text It’s summer and many of y’all will be hitting the road to travel and see something new (or revisit places you enjoy). I haven’t done a travel-themed podcast in a while, so in the next couple of episodes, I’m going to go over the highlights of driving the Great River Road. In this episode, I start with an overview of what to expect fr…

1
E155: Natasha Barnes - Should we all be strength training? 2:08:55

3M ago2:08:55

2:08:55

We had a lovely chat with Natasha for this week's episode. She's been an outspoken advocate of strength training for years now and so there's nobody better to talk to about the dark arts of the gym gym than Natasha. She knows a thing or two about both worlds, we speak about her experience as a professional climber 20 years ago, and how an injury an…

1
Chelsea storm into quarter-finals after dramatic delay & flurry of extra-time goals 38:50

3M ago38:50

38:50

We hope no one had any plans on Sunday morning... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the bonkers 4-1 (AET) victory over Benfica in a crazy match that lasted more than four hours and included a near two-hour delay due to extreme weather. We discuss the pretty farcical scenes in Charlo…

1
Delap's delightful first goal and a last 16 date with Benfica 39:44

3M ago39:44

39:44

The Bank of America Stadium awaits... Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin in tow for your latest dose of Club World Cup chatter! We start with the MD3 3-0 victory over ES Tunis on Tuesday night in a balmy Philadelphia which saw the much-changed Blues comfortably wrap up 2nd place in the group - and arguably a much more favourable r…

1
E154: Austin Hoyt - The King of the North-East, Comp moves on rock and Lucid Dreaming 1:59:09

3M ago1:59:09

1:59:09

Austin Hoyt joins us on the pod this week! A name that's fun to say and he's a lovely chap who was really fun to talk to. We chat a lot about the lesser trodden North-East of the USA, heading to Finland to check out Burden of Dreams, using coordination moves to avoid having to pull too hard and the incredible crop of Wads that have popped up in his…

1
Jackson sees red (again) as CWC progress hangs in the balance 38:28

3M ago38:28

38:28

We didn't want to go to Miami anyway... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Chelsea experts Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson alongside him to look back on the 3-1 defeat by Flamengo in Philadelphia which means there's work to do if they want to progress to the knockout stages of the Club World Cup. We talk Nicolas Jackson's red, more confusing se…

1
The Missouri River, Part 2: Channelization, Community, and Recreation 48:44

3M ago48:44

48:44

Send us a text In this episode, we continue our detour along the Missouri River with part 2 of my conversation with Steve Schnarr from Missouri River Relief. In part two, Steve describes the process the Corps of Engineers used to channelize the river, how it changed the river, what we lost, and how some folks gained new land. He talks about a Misso…

1
Beating LAFC, empty seats (loads of them), Conference League vibes & Delap's debut 32:47

3M ago32:47

32:47

22,137... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Luke Bosher alongside him to look back on Chelsea's opening Club World Cup victory, beating LAFC 2-0 in a much less than half empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. We discuss the bizarre atmosphere inside an arena that's intended to house 71,000 raucous spectators - analyse the co…

1
E153: Using danger for clicks, Aidan's hardest climb of the season and Sam forgets his shoes 1:43:35

3M ago1:43:35

1:43:35

Hey all! You've had it too good with guests for the last couple of week so it's time to bring you back down to earth with a home team episode. We've got a few quintessentially CTCP rambles for your delight and delectation. Hope you enjoy :) If you like the pod and would like to support us to keep doing it whilst keeping it advertisement free for al…

1
E152: Daniel Woods - ROTSW, Alphane, shower gloves and the state of the game 2:34:52

4M ago2:34:52

2:34:52

A little over a year ago I got a message from Aidan just saying 'Daniel is in!'. You know you're a bit of an icon when surnames aren't required! It took a little over a year to actually get a date but much like a hard project, sometimes it just takes consistency! You know who he is, and we had a great chat about his hard projects, what the climbing…

1
The Missouri River, Part 1: Geography, Ecology, and Human Impacts 58:01

4M ago58:01

58:01

Send us a text In this episode, we detour off the main channel of the Mississippi River to get to know its longest tributary: the Missouri River. Our guide for this exploration is Steve Schnarr, Race Director for Missouri River Relief. We covered a lot of territory (like the Missouri River), so our conversation is split between two episodes. In thi…

1
E151: Kai Lightner -Comebacks, learning to work with the body you're in and climbing for change 2:01:09

4M ago2:01:09

2:01:09

We loved having Kai join us on the pod this week. He's a candidate for the most articulate climber around. He's been through a lot and he's come back swinging. We talk about his rise, fall and resurgence, his time climbing with Joe Kinder and the controversies there, his non-profit, and his hopes for the future. I poorly referenced this speech abou…

1
2024-25 review, CWC preview - and Sancho's a no-go with transfer chat aplenty 48:50

4M ago48:50

48:50

Who's hyped for the Club World Cup then...anyone...anyone!? Matt Davies-Adams has got Liam Twomey and Sam Parkin alongside him as we take a considered look back at the 2024-25 campaign following last week's Conference League victory out in Poland. Then, we pivot to the upcoming CWC over in the USA - with another piece of silverware up for grabs. So…

1
Chelsea Champions! Cole Palmer & co complete Conference League comeback 49:17

4M ago49:17

49:17

We've won it all... Matt Davies-Adams, Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher assemble to celebrate Chelsea's Europa Conference League triumph as they came from a goal down to beat Real Betis 4-1 in Wrocław! We talk through the dramatic evening in Poland including eyebrow-raising team news, a tumultuous first 45 minutes, a sprinkling of Palmer magic and an …

1
The First National Mississippi River Day: Building Community Around the Big River 47:08

4M ago47:08

47:08

Send us a text February 1 is National Baked Alaska Day. April 14 is National Ex-Spouse Day, but April 22 marks Earth Day. We’ve had these (and more!) national days celebrating things silly and crucial, but we’ve never had a National Mississippi River Day. Until this year. It’s long overdue. On June 2, we’ll celebrate the first National Mississippi …

1
E150: Ben Norman and Cailean Harker - Route setting deep dive, grades in indoor climbing and the state of the industry 2:46:30

4M ago2:46:30

2:46:30

Ben and Cailean are joining us for a four way pod this week! Ben and Cailean are the chaps behind Impact Route Setting. Which is a business that, amongst other things, runs route setting courses. They are both very well established route setters in the UK, as well as being strong rock climbers. We wanted to have a good chat about the inside scene, …

1
Chelsea beat Forest to finish fourth - now can they add another trophy to the cabinet? 46:39

4M ago46:39

46:39

It was never, ever in doubt... Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Luke Bosher and Liam Twomey alongside him to wrap up the 1-0 final day victory over Nottingham Forest to seal Chelsea's participation in next season's Champions League. Liam was on hand to soak up the atmosphere at the final whistle - and was in the room as Enzo Maresca silence…

1
Can Chelsea banish away woes at Forest to seal Champions League football? 50:49

4M ago50:49

50:49

It all comes down to this... Matt Davies-Adams has got Simon Johnson and Luke Bosher alongside him to look ahead to the final day of the Premier League season aka Nottingham Forest (A) aka the MDA Derby to end all MDA Derbies. The Athletic's Nick Miller - who happens to be a Forest fan - stops by to give us an insight into what the Blues should exp…

1
River to Table: Josh Galliano on Campfire Cooking 1:02:46

4M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Send us a text In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with accomplished chef and St. Louis area resident Josh Galliano. We talk about his path to becoming a chef and the family and cultural influences. He grew up in southern Louisiana near the Mississippi River, where he had regular access to fresh, seasonal products. Mostly, though, we ta…

1
E149: Aidan leaving Yosemite, new comp scoring and should sport climbers just bolt on resin holds 1:37:27

4M ago1:37:27

1:37:27

Just Aidan and Sam this week! We're catching up with Aidan as he looks to leave Yosemite, what life might look like for him if he lived in America and how that might impact his decision to not fly. At 52:45 we finally get to our first topic of conversation, the new IFSC scoring for boulder comps and at 1:21:45 we rattle a few cages and ask if sport…