By Leo Kirkbride

Cliff Simanski owns GP81, a rock climbing gym in Brooklyn. Despite facing significant challenges like COVID-19 and eviction, his dedicated community played a crucial role in keeping the gym alive. Discover how his perseverance and passion for climbing helped him overcome these obstacles.

Leo Kirkbride is a senior at NYC iSchool in SoHo. He is an active member of his school’s film club and jazz ensemble, playing the drums and the bass, as well as a competitive rock climber on the Vital Climbing Team in Brooklyn. He is also a voracious reader, his favorite book is “The Little Liar” by Mitch Albom. When he can, he spends his time in the mountains whether that be skiing or hiking in Colorado. He has three pets: Buster, Phoelix (both dogs), and Georgie the cat. 

The Summer Youth Podcast Academy is The Bell’s immersive beginner podcasting workshop for New York City public school students. This year’s academy was made possible by support from the Spotify Studios Union.