The Broad Beta Podcast
The Broad Beta Podcast and BroadBeta.com are spaces to openly share women’s and genderqueer experiences of climbing, skiing, and other mountain adventures, from the ordinary to the heroic. Our contributors tell stories that foster wildness within, and outside, ourselves. Through these stories, we hope to inspire and empower anyone who listens. Cover photo by @nathannorby of co-founder Jeannie Wall.
The Broad Beta Podcast
Hand Cycling Adventures & Trail Accessibility Advocacy - An Interview with Quinn Brett & Kim Givler
Quinn Brett and Kim Givler join us to share the epic story of a hand cycling expedition in the Grand Canyon (link to article with photos here). They encountered expected and unexpected challenges and triumphs during this inspiring trip. They make us laugh and captivate us with their resiliency and determination as they recount their group's attempt of the Rim to Rim to Rim.
Quinn Brett needs little introduction in the adventure sports world. Her accomplishments are extensive; we encourage you to check out her website at www.quinnbrett.com. Some highlights include the following:
- Tour Divide: First hand-cyclist to complete Canada to Mexico (25 days/2700+ miles), July 2021
- First female team to climb two El Capitan routes in a day
- Lurking Fear 5.11 C1, VI: free climb on-sight P4-5.12a, P5-5.12b, P6-5.12c follow, May 2014; 7:47 Women’s Speed Record, October 2014
- Spaceshot 5.13, Zion National Park (first free female ascent)
- Colorado Route, Fitz Roy: first ascent
- Lake Catamount Olympic (3rd place age group, 13th overall female), August 2014
In October 2017, Quinn fell over 100 feet while climbing on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. She sustained a T11 spinal cord injury, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. She currently pursues cutting edge hand cycling expeditions and works as the Development Director for Unite to Fight Paralysis, combining her extensive backcountry and search and rescue experience as a Rocky Mountain National Park climbing ranger (she was the first female climbing ranger there) with advocacy work for accessibility and spinal cord injury research. Check out Henna Taylor's award-winning documentary about Quinn and her accident: An Accidental Life.
Kim Givler, DPT, joins us from Whitefish, Montana, where she works as a physical therapist and volunteers for her local adaptive sports organization, DREAM Adaptive Recreation. She completed an internship in spinal cord injury and neurologic trauma in South Africa while completing her DPT through Idaho State University in 2009. She then returned to her home state and now works in an outpatient clinic. She has advanced training in manual therapy skills including spinal manipulation and dry needling, specialized training in the management of persistent pain and neurologic trauma, and multiple strategies in the assessment and treatment of athletes. During her free time, you can find Kim in the mountains running, hiking, rock climbing, or skiing, preferably doing something new and interesting that scratches her itch for novel adventures.
Check out the links below to learn more about advocating for spinal cord research and accessibility for adaptive athletes:
CureCast Podcast
Unite to Fight Paralysis & The Freestyle Challenge
@quinndalina on Instagram
@kimgivener on Instagram