{"id":235,"date":"2025-09-01T07:42:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T14:42:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/?p=235"},"modified":"2025-09-01T07:42:27","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T14:42:27","slug":"a-stronger-chassis-for-everest-with-david-ghost-phillips-stronger-is-better-podcast-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/a-stronger-chassis-for-everest-with-david-ghost-phillips-stronger-is-better-podcast-11\/","title":{"rendered":"A Stronger Chassis for Everest with David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips | Stronger Is Better Podcast #11"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"lyte-wrapper\" title=\"A Stronger Chassis for Everest with David &ldquo;Ghost&rdquo; Phillips | Stronger Is Better Podcast #11\" style=\"width:640px;max-width:100%;margin:5px;\"><div class=\"lyMe hidef\" id=\"WYL_rZ39blyle7g\" itemprop=\"video\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/VideoObject\"><div><meta itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FrZ39blyle7g%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"embedURL\" content=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rZ39blyle7g\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT1H20M20S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2025-09-01T13:18:03Z\" \/><\/div><div id=\"lyte_rZ39blyle7g\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FrZ39blyle7g%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg\" class=\"pL\"><div class=\"tC\"><div class=\"tT\" itemprop=\"name\">A Stronger Chassis for Everest with David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips | Stronger Is Better Podcast #11<\/div><\/div><div class=\"play\"><\/div><div class=\"ctrl\"><div class=\"Lctrl\"><\/div><div class=\"Rctrl\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><noscript><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/rZ39blyle7g\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-youtube-lyte\/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FrZ39blyle7g%2F0.jpg\" alt=\"A Stronger Chassis for Everest with David &ldquo;Ghost&rdquo; Phillips | Stronger Is Better Podcast #11\" width=\"640\" height=\"340\" \/><br \/>Watch this video on YouTube<\/a><\/noscript><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"On this episode of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick talks with David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips, a retired Navy veteran, mountaineer, and member at Starting Strength San Antonio. David shares his journey from the Appalachian Trail to summiting Mount Everest, his battle with frostbite, and his ambitious \u201cProject 327\u201d\u2014the pursuit of the Triple Crown of hiking and the Explorers Grand Slam. We dive into: \u2022 Why strength training was the key to his success on Everest \u2022 The dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, from avalanches to frostbite \u2022 How strength provides the foundation for endurance, longevity, and survival in extreme environments \u2022 David\u2019s mission to support Disabled American Veterans through his expeditions Follow David\u2019s journey and support his project: https:\/\/www.grandexplorerscrown.com\/ 00:00 Intro \u2013 Welcome + guest intro 00:43 Who is David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips? 01:14 Navy career, trail name &amp; Starting Strength San Antonio 01:45 Why barbell training for Everest 02:51 Becoming a climber &amp; mountaineer 03:53 The Triple Crown of Hiking explained 05:27 Appalachian Trail experience after Navy retirement 07:43 Continental Divide reality &amp; challenges 08:48 Hiking solo vs. trail family 10:20 Pack weight, food &amp; survival tradeoffs 12:23 Mountaineering vs. climbing 15:07 Why Everest required more preparation 16:53 Building a bigger chassis + overcoming hip injury 18:31 Endurance vs. strength on big mountains 22:05 Surviving Everest &amp; making it down 23:42 Dangers of Everest \u2013 fatalities, team responsibility 25:20 The Khumbu Icefall 28:08 Avalanches &amp; rockfall hazards 29:48 Frostbite &amp; altitude risks 31:20 Everest vs. South America &amp; Alaska expeditions 32:57 Expedition logistics, videographer &amp; documentary 34:42 Training at Starting Strength San Antonio 36:56 TRT &amp; recovery 37:28 Barbell progression \u2013 squat &amp; deadlift 39:37 Combining lifting &amp; trail running 41:22 Re-baselining strength for longevity 44:12 Trail running performance after lifting 46:30 Running heavier \u2013 185 lbs vs. 155 lbs 47:41 Training phases \u2013 barbell, Everest plan, altitude work 50:56 Confidence &amp; health from strength 52:28 The summit experience on Everest 54:38 Team effort &amp; Sherpa support 01:01:23 Frostbite &amp; helicopter medevac 01:05:30 Hyperbaric recovery &amp; losing toes 01:09:11 Project 327 \u2013 Triple Crown + Seven Summits + Poles 01:12:55 Upcoming goals \u2013 Antarctica, PCT, documentary 01:15:04 Returning to barbells post-frostbite 01:17:53 Supporting Disabled American Veterans 01:19:28 Outro &amp; website plug \u2013 grandexplorerscrown.com \ud83d\udd17 Brought to you by Starting Strength Gyms \ud83c\udfa7 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify \ud83d\udce9 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com *Connect With* #startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/startingstrengthgyms https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/starting-strength-gyms \ud83d\udd17 *Book your free 30-min session:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/free-session.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Own a Gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/own-a-gym.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Train at a gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/locations.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Coach at a gym:* https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/become-a-coach.html?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral \ud83d\udd17 *Shop for apparel:* https:\/\/store.startingstrengthgyms.com?utm_source=youtube&amp;utm_medium=video&amp;utm_campaign=ytreferral #startingstrengthgyms #startingstrength #strengthtraining #fitness\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"lL\" style=\"max-width:100%;width:640px;margin:5px;\"><\/div><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>On this episode of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick talks with David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips, a retired Navy veteran, mountaineer, and member at Starting Strength San Antonio. David shares his journey from the Appalachian Trail to summiting Mount Everest, his battle with frostbite, and his ambitious \u201cProject 327\u201d\u2014the pursuit of the Triple Crown of hiking and the Explorers Grand Slam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We dive into:<br>\u2022 Why strength training was the key to his success on Everest<br>\u2022 The dangers of high-altitude mountaineering, from avalanches to frostbite<br>\u2022 How strength provides the foundation for endurance, longevity, and survival in extreme environments<br>\u2022 David\u2019s mission to support Disabled American Veterans through his expeditions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow David\u2019s journey and support his project: https:\/\/www.grandexplorerscrown.com\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>00:00 Intro \u2013 Welcome + guest intro<br>00:43 Who is David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips?<br>01:14 Navy career, trail name &amp; Starting Strength San Antonio<br>01:45 Why barbell training for Everest<br>02:51 Becoming a climber &amp; mountaineer<br>03:53 The Triple Crown of Hiking explained<br>05:27 Appalachian Trail experience after Navy retirement<br>07:43 Continental Divide reality &amp; challenges<br>08:48 Hiking solo vs. trail family<br>10:20 Pack weight, food &amp; survival tradeoffs<br>12:23 Mountaineering vs. climbing<br>15:07 Why Everest required more preparation<br>16:53 Building a bigger chassis + overcoming hip injury<br>18:31 Endurance vs. strength on big mountains<br>22:05 Surviving Everest &amp; making it down<br>23:42 Dangers of Everest \u2013 fatalities, team responsibility<br>25:20 The Khumbu Icefall<br>28:08 Avalanches &amp; rockfall hazards<br>29:48 Frostbite &amp; altitude risks<br>31:20 Everest vs. South America &amp; Alaska expeditions<br>32:57 Expedition logistics, videographer &amp; documentary<br>34:42 Training at Starting Strength San Antonio<br>36:56 TRT &amp; recovery<br>37:28 Barbell progression \u2013 squat &amp; deadlift<br>39:37 Combining lifting &amp; trail running<br>41:22 Re-baselining strength for longevity<br>44:12 Trail running performance after lifting<br>46:30 Running heavier \u2013 185 lbs vs. 155 lbs<br>47:41 Training phases \u2013 barbell, Everest plan, altitude work<br>50:56 Confidence &amp; health from strength<br>52:28 The summit experience on Everest<br>54:38 Team effort &amp; Sherpa support<br>01:01:23 Frostbite &amp; helicopter medevac<br>01:05:30 Hyperbaric recovery &amp; losing toes<br>01:09:11 Project 327 \u2013 Triple Crown + Seven Summits + Poles<br>01:12:55 Upcoming goals \u2013 Antarctica, PCT, documentary<br>01:15:04 Returning to barbells post-frostbite<br>01:17:53 Supporting Disabled American Veterans<br>01:19:28 Outro &amp; website plug \u2013 grandexplorerscrown.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd17 Brought to you by Starting Strength Gyms<br>\ud83c\udfa7 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify<br>\ud83d\udce9 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On this episode of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick talks with David \u201cGhost\u201d Phillips, a retired Navy veteran, mountaineer, and member at Starting Strength San Antonio. David shares his journey from the Appalachian Trail to summiting Mount Everest, his battle with frostbite, and his ambitious \u201cProject 327\u201d\u2014the pursuit of the Triple Crown of hiking [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[9,10],"class_list":["post-235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-podcast","tag-starting-strength-gyms","tag-stronger-is-better"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":127,"url":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/simplifying-advanced-programming-stronger-is-better-podcast-1\/","url_meta":{"origin":235,"position":0},"title":"Simplifying Advanced Programming | Stronger is Better Podcast #1","author":"Bre Acosta","date":"April 16, 2025","format":"video","excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/BGOR6Ho8UXA Welcome to Episode 1 of the Stronger is Better Podcast, brought to you by Starting Strength Gyms and hosted by Nick Delgadillo. In this kickoff episode, Nick lays out a comprehensive roadmap for barbell programming \u2014 from the simple and powerful Novice Linear Progression all the way to advanced\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Podcast - Stronger Is Better&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Podcast - Stronger Is Better","link":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/BGOR6Ho8UXA\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":184,"url":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/freedom-and-purpose-through-entrepreneurship-with-ray-gillenwater-stronger-is-better-podcast-6\/","url_meta":{"origin":235,"position":1},"title":"Freedom and Purpose through Entrepreneurship with Ray Gillenwater | Stronger Is Better Podcast #6","author":"Bre Acosta","date":"June 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/fKlfxrVEBVk In this episode of the Stronger Is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo sits down with Starting Strength Gyms founder Ray Gillenwater for a wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, vision, and the founding story of Starting Strength Gyms. 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James shares how barbell training prepared him physically and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Podcast - Stronger Is Better&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Podcast - Stronger Is Better","link":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/category\/podcast\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/IvKT0M6dgLg\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":137,"url":"https:\/\/www.startingstrengthgyms.com\/library\/programming-the-overhead-press-novice-to-advanced\/","url_meta":{"origin":235,"position":3},"title":"Programming the Overhead Press &#8211; Novice to Advanced","author":"Nick Delgadillo","date":"May 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the most common questions that people have about programming revolves around doing and improving strength in the overhead press. 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