Show Notes
Welcome back to the Female Guides Requested Podcast! I’m your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. Today I’m so excited to chat with Charlotte Lilley, the founder of The Retreat Company. Charlotte has such a cool story—she traded a fast-paced career in San Francisco’s tech startup world to combine her knack for community-building with her lifelong love of the outdoors. Now, she creates these incredible, curated ski and camping retreats just for women, blending outdoor adventure with yoga, amazing food, and authentic connections. In this episode, we get real about the hidden behind-the-scenes work of outdoor hospitality, why women-only spaces are so vital in male-dominated sports, and her big dreams for building a permanent retreat property in California. Charlotte’s Links: www.theretreat.company www.serene-ravine.com IG @_theretreatcompany IG @serene.ravine SFGATE article, published July 10th 2026 Quotes: “I wish I could say I had a business plan… honestly, the thing that I’ve taken away is just do stuff.” “I remember the moment it sort of clicked… this should be for women so that they can feel confident in the sport and we can get more women into the sport.” “If it goes super smooth and seems easy, that means you planned even harder.” “I started taking it seriously once strangers kept showing up. I need to make sure I’m providing a really nice experience for people.” “It’s in my nature… to just plan things with people. I’m definitely a natural community builder.”
More from Female Guides Requested
Episode Intro: Welcome to another episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast. This is Ting Ting, you host from Las Vegas. In this episode, we sit down with Krystina Maixner, an AMGA-certified rock guide, talented painter, and the owner of Chalkfox Studio.Based in Bishop, California, Krystina shares her inspiring journey from living out of her car in San Francisco to discovering her inner power and independence through climbing and guiding. We dive into her experiences working for NOLS, her decision to transition into a balanced lifestyle of graphic design and guiding, and her passion for educating and empowering other women in the outdoors. Tune in to hear how Krystina combines her creative artistry with herlove for the mountains to build a fulfilling, dual-career life!
Welcome back to theFemale Guides Requested Podcast. I’m your host, Ting Ting, from Las Vegas. Today, I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nikki Smith to the show. Nikki is a true powerhouse who wears many hats in the outdoor industry—she is a sponsored climber, an athlete, a remarkable photographer, and a guide. Nikki has been guiding since 1999, but in this episode, we dive deep into how she found her true niche around 2018 by shifting her focus to affinity spaces. We discuss herincredible work co-creating the successful LGBTQ+ Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course and how she integrates outdoor activities with a group therapy style to better support specific communities. Nikki also generously shares her personal experiences navigating the outdoor industry as a trans person, the financial realities of this often low-paying profession, andher inspiring work with the Open Aperture photography program, which provides scholarships and mentorship for underrepresented storytellers. We even talk about her current journey to get her Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling to merge trauma-informed practices with outdoor instruction. I enjoyed tremendously chatting with Nikki during our interview, and when I was editing this episode I thought "wow I could listen to the conversation over and over." Warm, honest, professional Nikki provided many thought-provokinginsights naturally brought me to reflect on my guiding and life. Without further ado, please enjoy my conversation with Nikki Smith.
Episode Intro: Hello listeners, and welcome back to the Female Guides Requested Podcast. This is your host, Ting Ting, coming to you from Las Vegas. I apologize that it took me a little while to publish this episode; I broke my tib/fib in a climbing accident six weeks ago. However, when I relistened to my interview with today’s guest, Patty Lankhorst—a woman who has faced multiple setbacks and always bounced back stronger through sheer grit—I gained the courage and faith to do the same.
Welcome to another empowering episode of the Female Guides Requested Podcast! This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today we sit down with the incredibly inspiring Carol Simpson, a trailblazing climber and guide who is proving that age and societal expectations are meant to be challenged. Raised in the 1950s South where athleticism in women was heavily discouraged, Carol didn’t embrace her inner athlete until her late 20s. But once she did, there was no looking back.
Show Notes: Resources for Candidates and Providers: Scenario overview video Scoring rubric + guidance Updated SPI Program Handbook New textbook release (May 5): Rock Climbing: The Official AMGA Single Pitch Manual Related Links: AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Page EP 20 – Everything SPI 01 – Professionalism and Risk Management EP 29 – Everything SPI 02 – Site Selection & Group Management EP 34 – Everything SPI 03 – Current SPI Eval System EP 38 – Everything SPI 04 – Teaching & Curriculum Design I Andrew Megas-Russell Instagram https://www.instagram.com/megas_sends/