Rock and Rice

EP 22: Daniel Pugeda — Privilege, Perspective, and Being Fans of Philippine Climbing

In this episode of Rock and Rice, we sit down with Daniel Pugeda — a Filipino-American climber whose first outdoor sport climb in the Philippines… was a 5.13a/7c+. But this conversation goes way beyond that wild first send. After multiple trips back to the Philippines, Daniel reflects on how his perspective has evolved — from being a stoked first-time visitor to someone thinking more critically about access, privilege, and what it really means to engage with the climbing community back home. We talk about: * The realities Filipino climbers face when it comes to travel, finances, and access * The difference between visiting the Philippines and living there * How Fil-Am climbers can show up with more awareness and intention * The rapid growth of the climbing scene — gyms, comps, and community This episode is about seeing the full picture — not just the climbing, but everything behind it. Maraming salamat to Charm Bartolay [https://www.instagram.com/mccbartolay/] for her interview with us on Episode 2. That episode was the impetus for this one. You can listen to our episode with Charm (and Wilson!) here [https://open.spotify.com/episode/7yobjxrn8VZgEUojyYEjuy?si=3928fd0af5e94ed6]. Also, a special mention to Nilo Batle [https://www.instagram.com/nilobatle]! Listen to learn more.  Follow Daniel: https://www.instagram.com/daniel4nthony/ [https://www.instagram.com/daniel4nthony/] Join the community: * Discord [https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ] * Patreon [ https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice] Credits Editor, Onassis Rabanes  [https://www.instagram.com/onassisfilms/] Social Lead, Christine Joy [https://www.instagram.com/cjoy_climb/] Host, Tim Casasola [https://www.instagram.com/timcasasola/]

EP 21: Ryan Juguan — Paraclimbing Nationals, Chicago Climbs, and Redefining Access

Di araw araw pasko… but today we dropped a nice one This week we sit down with Ryan Juguan — USA Paraclimber + disability advocate — to talk about competing at the highest level and making climbing more accessible for everyone. We get into: * what comp climbing is actually like * building Chicago Climbs [http://chicagoclimbs.org] from the ground up * the gaps in accessibility (and what needs to change) Also yes, CJoy [http://instagram.com/cjoy_climb/] (not Chicken Joy, but Christine Joy) is on the mic because Chicago climbing scene reunion. Go Bulls? Shoutouts to Ivee Leung [http://instagram.com/iveemeowpics/] for recommending Ryan as a guest! Salamat Ivy! Show Ryan some love 👉🏽 instagram.com/ryjuguan [https://instagram.com/ryjuguan] Hop in the Discord 👉🏽 https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ [https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ] Support the pod 👉🏽 https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice [https://www.patreon.com/rockandrice]

EP 20: Dane & Magnet — Di Araw Araw Pasko & Taking the Small Wins

Second episode of 2026! 🔥 This week on Rock and Rice, we sit down with Manila-based power couple Dane & Magnet — self-dubbed serial projectors who’ve been quietly stacking some of the biggest sends of 2025. From Magnet’s epic last-go send of Ben & Be [https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/philippines/route/8698924878] (7c+/5.13a) in Igbaras… to Power & Pinesse, White Flower, and the mental chess match of projecting at your limit — this one is all about the highs, the almosts, and why “di araw araw pasko” (not every day is Christmas). We talk: * The psychology of projecting * Booking climbing trips just to stay motivated * Why only ONE person is allowed to be crazy at a crag * Igbaras vs. Cantabaco * And what it really means to take small wins If you’ve ever left a trip without a send… this episode is for you. @magnetnavales [https://www.instagram.com/magnetnavales/] — Magnet’s Instagram @danepolicarpio [https://www.instagram.com/danepolicarpio/] — Dane’s Instagram — 🫶 Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/dgzb8cseJ Climbers & listeners — this is our space to connect. 🎙 Support the pod + get extra love on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/RockandRice Your support keeps these stories coming. Let’s gooooo.

EP 19: Mecia Serafino — Trad Shenanigans, Three Yosemite Orgs, and Leaving No Trace

Kumusta, mga ka-akyat 🧗🏽‍♀️🇵🇭 Welcome to the first Rock and Rice episode of 2026 — and we’re starting strong with longtime climber, community builder, and all-around legend, Mecia Serafino (@small_wonder [http://instagram.com/small_wonder]).  Tim and Mecia first met during their SPI course in Mammoth (yes, they’re still preparing for the exam 😅), but this episode goes way deeper than anchors and knots. Mecia shares her journey from growing up Filipino in Bernal Heights to becoming deeply involved in Yosemite climbing, outreach, and stewardship. We talk about: 🧗🏽‍♀️ Getting into climbing later in life — and getting absolutely sandbagged by your future husband, Lucho Rivera [https://luchorivera.com/] 🏕️ Eastern Sierra classics, Tuolumne epics, and why Cathedral & Tenaya still hit different 📸 Being the photographer of the friend group (and why none of the climbing photos are of her) 🧭 Old-school mentorship, climbing with Yosemite legends, and learning on stiff Friends and hexes 🚨 The real reason most climbing accidents happen on rappel — and how Friends of YOSAR [https://www.friendsofyosar.org/] teaches people to “Stay Alive” 🧹 Yosemite Facelift [https://www.yosemiteclimbing.org/facelift], high-angle trash cleanups, and 20+ years of climbers giving back to the park 🏛️ The Yosemite Climbing Museum [https://www.yosemiteclimbing.org/museum] in Mariposa and the wild history preserved inside 🌲 Restore Hetch Hetchy [https://hetchhetchy.org/] and the complicated balance between access and preservation 🌁 Bay Area Climbers Coalition [https://bayareaclimberscoalition.org], a local chapter of the Access Fund Mecia talks candidly about health struggles, finding healing in the outdoors, and why education and outreach matter just as much as sending hard routes. It’s a conversation about climbing, yes — but also about showing up for your community, protecting the places we love, and making sure more people get to experience them safely. This one’s for the climbers who love long approaches, old gear stories, and doing the work even when no one’s watching. Salamat, Mecia, for everything you do — and for reminding us that climbing is better when we take care of each other. 🤎 🎮 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/aMe7ktS2 [https://discord.gg/aMe7ktS2] 👏🏽 Become a Patron: http://patreon.com/rockandrice [http://patreon.com/rockandrice]

EP 18: Rain, Redpoints, and Rambles (2025 RECAP)

Maligayang Pasko, mga ka-akyat 🧗🏽‍♂️🇵🇭 In this end-of-year kwentuhan, Tim records from his parents’ house in Temecula (yes, still climbing, still dodging rain, still watching Severance late) to reflect on a very Rock and Rice year: * Rainy seasons in California and the Philippines * A trip back home (Manila ➝ Igbaras ➝ rice terraces ➝ thunderstorms) * A sketchy habal-habal ride you never forget * A fiancé reveal 💍 (surprise!) * And the official historical record that Andre [https://www.instagram.com/pandresal/?hl=en] 100% sent Alon [https://www.thecrag.com/en/climbing/philippines/route/1033231953] ✅ (no questions pls)  Tim looks back on the pod’s year. Six episodes, 21 climbers interviewed, most born and raised in the Philippines. He talks honestly about juggling work, climbing, creativity, and not burning out in an endless content economy. There’s gratitude for the community, love for Filipino climbers back home, big pride for Pilipinas Climbing [https://www.instagram.com/pilipinasclimbing/], and a few dangerous ideas about Rock and Rice someday becoming a balíkbayan service for climbing gear. 🪢🔩 Also: ✨ Big shoutouts to the guests this year: Nikki Cuna, Ina & Miel Pahati, Shaun Marquez, Mika Hooker, Tristin Rubia, Onassis Rabanes, Christine Joy, Vince Padios ✨ Goal next year: one episode a month ✨ Special salamat to Onassis [https://www.instagram.com/onassisfilms/?hl=en] & Christine [https://www.instagram.com/cjoy_climb/?hl=en] for joining the pod team 🎮 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/aMe7ktS2 [https://discord.gg/aMe7ktS2] 👏🏽 Become a Patron: http://patreon.com/rockandrice [http://patreon.com/rockandrice] This episode is less polished interview, more tropa catching up over pancit. Thanks for listening, thanks for climbing, and thanks for believing Filipino climbers belong everywhere.