Hand Holds | Climbing after Parenthood (featuring Beth Rodden, Majka Burhardt, the Taylors, and others)
La Honda, California | Series
Family, Documentary
Your contribution to this project creates a meaningful resource for new parents who may feel alone with their challenges. Through this web series of interviews with pro-climbers (e.g., Beth Rodden, Majka Burhardt, the Taylors), we expand the portrayal of family issues in climbing media.
Hand Holds | Climbing after Parenthood (featuring Beth Rodden, Majka Burhardt, the Taylors, and others)
La Honda, California | Series
Family, Documentary
1 Campaigns | California, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $7,350 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
49 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
Your contribution to this project creates a meaningful resource for new parents who may feel alone with their challenges. Through this web series of interviews with pro-climbers (e.g., Beth Rodden, Majka Burhardt, the Taylors), we expand the portrayal of family issues in climbing media.
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
HAND HOLDS: What is it?
Hand Holds is a free-to-watch web series resource for new parents who may be struggling with their shifting identities. The series is based on interviews with parents who are pro-climbers and focus on issues ranging from logistics of family life to postpartum and nursing challenges. Through interviews filmed on location at interviewees' homes, set to artistic visual scenics of climbing destinations, the crew explores challenges related to childcare as well as funny anecdotes and more simple tips and wisdom for continuing to climb after parenthood.
*This Seed and Spark campaign's goal is based on our potential reach; we must meet 80% of the goal to move forward with funding here. The stretch goal is $25,000.00.*
The Interviewees
The interviews will be filmed between Fall 2023 and 2024 and viewers will have the added experience of following the interviewer's growth as initially, the parent of an infant (under two years old) to the parent of a nearly three-year-old toddler.

- Beth Rodden, famous for her groundbreaking free climbing first ascents and author of the recently released book A Light Through The Cracks
- Majka Burhardt, accomplished ice climbing guide, mother of twins, and author of More

- Eddie Taylor, member of the all- Black Full Circle Everest team and Patagonia athlete and his wife Anna
- Jon and Jess Glassberg of the adventure production company, Louder than Eleven
- Kris Hampton
- Chris Kalous (Enormobaby Daddy)

Why?
After climbing for more than 15 years and driven by feelings of isolation after becoming a parent, Allyson (Director/Producer) set out to interview parents who are leading professional climbers about their experience fitting climbing in (or not) into their lives after parenthood. In her first few weeks postpartum, Allyson turned to social media for wisdom about how to get back out climbing and the depictions she saw--rosy families, outdoors with ease--were not her experiences at all. She realized she couldn't be alone; this series is her response.
Six episodes, a web series, in production now, coming 2025. The series offers a resource in an outdoor media landscape that has historically been male dominated and lacking postpartum and parenting stories.
Have you ever faced a huge life transition and felt alone? When we see our stories represented in media, we feel more connected. Allyson believes this project will have a positive impact on mental health and wellness for mom and parents in her community.
If these people who have climbed some of the hardest routes on the planet
have challenges with parenthood, we can feel better about our own limitations.

Context
As of this campaign, we have shot and edited two out of four episodes. The final four shoots are confirmed for the last week in August in Colorado and Wyoming. Your pledge to this campaign will ensure we stay on track to release the first episode by Spring 2025 at the latest.
Our Goal
We would LOVE to surpass our goal for this campaign (amount for which is based on our potential network and reach), which is only a fraction of the costs of production. We won't receive anything unless we meet 80% of our goal.
Also, if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, let Allyson know. This is a benefit we can offer through our fiscal sponsor, The Gotham Film and Media Institute.
How can you help beyond donating? Visit and follow Hand Holds on Facebook and @handholdsfilm_ticklistmama on Instagram. Share this campaign!
Product Sponsors and Supporters
- Beal
- The Power Company
- Uzumati Ceramics
- HandleStash
- Dirtbag Bar
- Hootie Hoo and CleanWaste
Thank you truly for your support. The issue of representation of families in climbing media
is small globally, but your contribution to this project allows us to continue this important work and will make a positive difference for new parents in our community.
Hand Holds: Climbing after Parenthood is a sponsored project of The Gotham (thegotham.org).
P.S. We won't receive anything unless we meet 80% of our goal. If you believe this work is worthwhile, please join us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Grip for Four August Interviews
Costs $4,500
Without lights, there's no "camera, action." This covers the cost of grip for the final four (out of six) interviews scheduled in CO and WY.
Lander, WY Shoot Accommodations
Costs $620
The crew will travel to Lander end of August to interview a community fixture with experience as a climber, dad, and grandfather.
Carbondale, CO Shoot Accommodations
Costs $340
You've heard about the Enormobaby, but have you wondered about the Enormodaddy? We'll be interviewing Chris Kalous end of August.
Insurance for August Shoot
Costs $2,600
This is the boring, but important part! Can't believe how much this costs.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
About This Team
Allyson Gunsallus, Director/Producer

Allyson is a California-licensed attorney with an international law degree from Duke University School of Law and bachelor's in linguistics from Boston University. She has diverse experience in event production and fundraising and has been a climber since 2006. Within the climbing community, she has held numerous leadership positions, including on the boards of directors for the American Alpine Club and Yosemite Climbing Association. In her first few weeks as a new parent, Allyson felt isolated and overwhelmed alongside her feelings of awe at her newborn. She wondered if she would ever get back to climbing, a passion she’s pursued since 2006. When she couldn’t find many realistic resources online, she started Wellspring Climbers LLC to create what she would have wanted to see in her first few months postpartum. Her goal is to produce a mental health resource for parents and families who enjoy the outdoors: a free-to- watch film series of interviews. Through leveraging her experience in business, law, and on boards of two notable climbing non-profits, she has lined up discussions with parent athletes to explore the questions that were most critical to her as a new mom.
Samuel Crossley, Cinematographer

Samuel Crossley worked on the Oscar-winning film, Free Solo, and does whatever it takes to safely document athletes as they push themselves in remote areas and high risk situations.
Samuel's commercial and editorial work has been for National Geographic, Google, Red Bull Media House, The North Face, Arc’teryx, REI, Reel Rock, MasterClass and ABC News, among others.
Samuel lives his professional life openly gay and is passionate about revealing diverse stories from within the climbing and outdoor community.
Taylor Keating, Editor

Taylor is a documentary filmmaker with notable credits including The Incredible Lamont (2022), Queen Maud Land (2018), Of Choss and Lions (2017), Stumped (2017), and Safety Third (2017). He also served as Videographer at the Colorado Ballet.
George E. Baker, Jr., Camera Production Assistant and Photographer
George has a BA in Photography from California State University and a studio in Oakland, CA. His clients include: Twentieth Century Fox Television, AbbVie, Bank of America, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Constellation Brands, Fleishman Hillard, WeWork, Plantronics, Suffolk Construction, A.T. Kearney, VOX Global, Cisco Systems, Company20, Jet Blue, Build Group of Companies (Pacific Structures, Pro-Shore, Level 5) NK Interactive, Western Allied Mechanical, Offset Design Partners, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants, Compass Consulting, PayZen, News & Review Group, Gatto Rivera Design, Velos Mobile, and Touchstone Climbing.
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
HAND HOLDS: What is it?
Hand Holds is a free-to-watch web series resource for new parents who may be struggling with their shifting identities. The series is based on interviews with parents who are pro-climbers and focus on issues ranging from logistics of family life to postpartum and nursing challenges. Through interviews filmed on location at interviewees' homes, set to artistic visual scenics of climbing destinations, the crew explores challenges related to childcare as well as funny anecdotes and more simple tips and wisdom for continuing to climb after parenthood.
*This Seed and Spark campaign's goal is based on our potential reach; we must meet 80% of the goal to move forward with funding here. The stretch goal is $25,000.00.*
The Interviewees
The interviews will be filmed between Fall 2023 and 2024 and viewers will have the added experience of following the interviewer's growth as initially, the parent of an infant (under two years old) to the parent of a nearly three-year-old toddler.

- Beth Rodden, famous for her groundbreaking free climbing first ascents and author of the recently released book A Light Through The Cracks
- Majka Burhardt, accomplished ice climbing guide, mother of twins, and author of More

- Eddie Taylor, member of the all- Black Full Circle Everest team and Patagonia athlete and his wife Anna
- Jon and Jess Glassberg of the adventure production company, Louder than Eleven
- Kris Hampton
- Chris Kalous (Enormobaby Daddy)

Why?
After climbing for more than 15 years and driven by feelings of isolation after becoming a parent, Allyson (Director/Producer) set out to interview parents who are leading professional climbers about their experience fitting climbing in (or not) into their lives after parenthood. In her first few weeks postpartum, Allyson turned to social media for wisdom about how to get back out climbing and the depictions she saw--rosy families, outdoors with ease--were not her experiences at all. She realized she couldn't be alone; this series is her response.
Six episodes, a web series, in production now, coming 2025. The series offers a resource in an outdoor media landscape that has historically been male dominated and lacking postpartum and parenting stories.
Have you ever faced a huge life transition and felt alone? When we see our stories represented in media, we feel more connected. Allyson believes this project will have a positive impact on mental health and wellness for mom and parents in her community.
If these people who have climbed some of the hardest routes on the planet
have challenges with parenthood, we can feel better about our own limitations.

Context
As of this campaign, we have shot and edited two out of four episodes. The final four shoots are confirmed for the last week in August in Colorado and Wyoming. Your pledge to this campaign will ensure we stay on track to release the first episode by Spring 2025 at the latest.
Our Goal
We would LOVE to surpass our goal for this campaign (amount for which is based on our potential network and reach), which is only a fraction of the costs of production. We won't receive anything unless we meet 80% of our goal.
Also, if you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, let Allyson know. This is a benefit we can offer through our fiscal sponsor, The Gotham Film and Media Institute.
How can you help beyond donating? Visit and follow Hand Holds on Facebook and @handholdsfilm_ticklistmama on Instagram. Share this campaign!
Product Sponsors and Supporters
- Beal
- The Power Company
- Uzumati Ceramics
- HandleStash
- Dirtbag Bar
- Hootie Hoo and CleanWaste
Thank you truly for your support. The issue of representation of families in climbing media
is small globally, but your contribution to this project allows us to continue this important work and will make a positive difference for new parents in our community.
Hand Holds: Climbing after Parenthood is a sponsored project of The Gotham (thegotham.org).
P.S. We won't receive anything unless we meet 80% of our goal. If you believe this work is worthwhile, please join us!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Grip for Four August Interviews
Costs $4,500
Without lights, there's no "camera, action." This covers the cost of grip for the final four (out of six) interviews scheduled in CO and WY.
Lander, WY Shoot Accommodations
Costs $620
The crew will travel to Lander end of August to interview a community fixture with experience as a climber, dad, and grandfather.
Carbondale, CO Shoot Accommodations
Costs $340
You've heard about the Enormobaby, but have you wondered about the Enormodaddy? We'll be interviewing Chris Kalous end of August.
Insurance for August Shoot
Costs $2,600
This is the boring, but important part! Can't believe how much this costs.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
About This Team
Allyson Gunsallus, Director/Producer

Allyson is a California-licensed attorney with an international law degree from Duke University School of Law and bachelor's in linguistics from Boston University. She has diverse experience in event production and fundraising and has been a climber since 2006. Within the climbing community, she has held numerous leadership positions, including on the boards of directors for the American Alpine Club and Yosemite Climbing Association. In her first few weeks as a new parent, Allyson felt isolated and overwhelmed alongside her feelings of awe at her newborn. She wondered if she would ever get back to climbing, a passion she’s pursued since 2006. When she couldn’t find many realistic resources online, she started Wellspring Climbers LLC to create what she would have wanted to see in her first few months postpartum. Her goal is to produce a mental health resource for parents and families who enjoy the outdoors: a free-to- watch film series of interviews. Through leveraging her experience in business, law, and on boards of two notable climbing non-profits, she has lined up discussions with parent athletes to explore the questions that were most critical to her as a new mom.
Samuel Crossley, Cinematographer

Samuel Crossley worked on the Oscar-winning film, Free Solo, and does whatever it takes to safely document athletes as they push themselves in remote areas and high risk situations.
Samuel's commercial and editorial work has been for National Geographic, Google, Red Bull Media House, The North Face, Arc’teryx, REI, Reel Rock, MasterClass and ABC News, among others.
Samuel lives his professional life openly gay and is passionate about revealing diverse stories from within the climbing and outdoor community.
Taylor Keating, Editor

Taylor is a documentary filmmaker with notable credits including The Incredible Lamont (2022), Queen Maud Land (2018), Of Choss and Lions (2017), Stumped (2017), and Safety Third (2017). He also served as Videographer at the Colorado Ballet.
George E. Baker, Jr., Camera Production Assistant and Photographer
George has a BA in Photography from California State University and a studio in Oakland, CA. His clients include: Twentieth Century Fox Television, AbbVie, Bank of America, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Constellation Brands, Fleishman Hillard, WeWork, Plantronics, Suffolk Construction, A.T. Kearney, VOX Global, Cisco Systems, Company20, Jet Blue, Build Group of Companies (Pacific Structures, Pro-Shore, Level 5) NK Interactive, Western Allied Mechanical, Offset Design Partners, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants, Compass Consulting, PayZen, News & Review Group, Gatto Rivera Design, Velos Mobile, and Touchstone Climbing.
