Steve House and Scott Backes explore four decades of friendship forged in the mountains—from Scott’s 1980 Canadian Rockies baptism through the Slovak Direct on Denali. A raw conversation about self-hatred, transformation, brotherhood, and bringing love to alpinism.
Author: Uphill Athlete
In this episode of Voice of the Mountains, Steve House sits down with Kyle Lefkoff, a rare figure who has lived at the intersection of serious alpinism and venture capital for nearly four decades. From discovering his "mutant gene" for rock climbing as a kid in Atlanta to surviving K2’s deadliest season in 1986, from co-founding Array Biopharma (acquired by Pfizer for $12 billion) to serving as founding chairman of AIARE, Kyle shares how the same principles—luck, timing, patience, and pattern recognition—govern success on both big walls and in boardrooms. The conversation explores his philosophy of "where matters," his belief that geography shapes who we can become, and why he chose Boulder as the terrain where he could develop both his athletic and entrepreneurial potential. Kyle reflects on "Slater’s Law" (the climb isn’t over until the ropes are on the ground), the parallels between powder days and market momentum, and his ultimate legacy: building bridges—between climbers and guides, entrepreneurs and investors, communities and their mountains.
Learn how to choose safe, effective supplements with dietitian Alyssa Leib. Discover why third-party testing matters, which certifications to look for (NSF, Informed Sport), and get expert guidance on protein powders, creatine, and avoiding contaminated supplements for mountain athletes.
In this episode of Voice of the Mountains, host Steve House sits down with legendary climber and entrepreneur Randy Leavitt to explore how vision, hard work, and delayed gratification shaped a lifetime of adventure. From pioneering routes like Jumbo Love to building a real estate business that funded decades of climbing, Leavitt reveals how he approached both pursuits with the same discipline and curiosity. He reflects on lessons from the Great Depression, risk management in big wave surfing, and the art of creating routes that others would one day climb. Together, they discuss how craftsmanship, patience, and a willingness to be a beginner underpin both mountain and business success. It’s a meditation on purpose, endurance, and building a legacy that outlasts the climb.
Steve House and dietitian Alyssa Leib explore which supplements truly benefit endurance athletes, from protein and creatine to caffeine and greens, with a “food first” approach.
Discover practical foot and ankle care strategies tailored for endurance athletes—from biomechanics and injury prevention to recovery tactics and footwear insights—to support your training, performance and long-term mobility.
Uphill Athlete Coach Ben Morley shares insights from coaching athletes from juniors to collegiate skiers and discusses ways to build durability, athleticism, and efficiency through ski training that translates into other mountain sports.
In this episode, host Steve House engages thought-provoking conversation with Greg Penner on risk, resilience, and leadership which spans Everest summits, Fortune 500 boardrooms, and the Denver Broncos.
Climber Laura Pineau joins the Uphill Athlete Podcast to share her journey from deep water soloing to completing Yosemite’s Triple Crown in under 24 hours, with lessons on endurance, mindset, and adventure.
A deep dive into foot health with Dr. Jeff Hammond, covering footwear, injury prevention, and practical strategies to keep athletes strong from training to ultra-endurance events.