EP 95: Tyler Algeo — Starting a Climbing Gym in Africa, Climb Malawi, and Raising Black Sons as a White Dad

Tyler Algeo is a Canadian who moved to Africa and started a climbing gym, with the goal of creating a socio-economically inclusive climbing community in Malawi. We talked about learning to climb in Ireland, living in Africa, founding Climb Malawi, adopting and raising his two black sons, Tyler’s work with The Climbing Initiative, and creating a better world through climbing.

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climbmalawi.com

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Show Notes:

thenuggetclimbing.com/episodes/tyler-algeo

Nuggets:

5:05 – Living in Cincinnati and growing up in Calgary

6:14 – Learning to climb in Ireland

9:50 – Working in Ireland

10:13 – How Tyler and his wife ended up in Malawi

14:24 – Having to return to the States due to Covid, and salary differences between foreign workers and locals in Malawi

17:25 – Description of Malawi, the topography, and rock climbing

21:39 – The population of Malawi, and why so many people move there from neighboring African countries

24:23 – Day-to-day life in Malawi

27:05 – Having a housekeeper, and the risks of creating an upside-down economy

30:05 – Good intentions gone awry

32:58 – Tyler’s climbing leading up to Malawi, and building a wall in his backyard

37:21 – The socioeconomic divide in Malawi, and how Climb Malawi was born

42:26 – Other artificial climbing in Malawi

44:50 – Outgrowing the backyard climbing wall

45:35 – Local climbing in Malawi

47:24 – The Climb Malawi climbing wall and location description

52:44 – Ernest

54:29 – Outdoor trips and introducing Malawians to rock climbing

55:31 – Memphis Rox as an inspiration, and the Climb Malawi business model

1:00:03 – The impact of covid on Climb Malawi, and Malawi itself

1:03:17 – Tyler’s continued involvement with Climb Malawi

1:05:38 – How living in Malawi has shaped Tyler’s perspective of what the global climbing community looks like

1:09:05 – Ugly entitlement, the game of climbing, and introducing people to climbing with humility

1:14:11 – The Chichewa language, and some route names and phrases

1:18:47 – Bodie and Moses (Tyler’s adopted boys)

1:22:42 – Tyler’s thoughts on moving to Denver with two black sons, and how to provide them with mentorship

1:31:33 – “Try to use your privilege with honor.”

1:33:16 – The Climbing Initiative

1:49:48 – How listeners can support Climb Malawi and TCI

1:51:45 – Tyler’s current climbing, and working on his mental performance and making sport climbing more life-giving

1:58:43 – Who’s doing the more impressive thing, climbing at your emotional limit, grades, and having a relationship with each route

2:03:01 – A better world through climbing

2:07:35 – Gratitude for family and his wife