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Artwork for The Cutting Edge

The Cutting Edge

The American Alpine Club
Climbing
Pakistan
Cerro Torre
Free Rider
Alpine Climbing
El Capitan
Yosemite Valley
Karakoram
Yashkuk Sar
Ultar Sar
Karakoram Range
American Alpine Club
Babsi Zangerl
Flash Climbing
American Alpine Journal
Bivouac Coffee
Climbing Techniques
Game Of Hearts
Avalanche
Alps

The Cutting Edge presents in-depth interviews with the world's best climbers, just back from great new climbs, along with historical perspective from the editors of the American Alpine Journal and local experts. This podcast is hosted by Jim Aikman and produced by the American Alpine Club.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes73Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for The Cutting Edge

Latest Episodes

In November, Sasha DiGiulian free climbed The Direct Line (a.k.a. Platinum Wall), a 39-pitch 5.13d route on El Cap, in a 23-day push, including nine days trapped by a storm high on the route. For this episode, Jim Aikman explores the history and high... more

On September 7, Colin Haley reached the summit of Cerro Torre all alone. This was the first winter solo of Patagonia's stunning granite needle—and the culmination of a nearly 20-year dream for the American climber. In this episode, Jim Aikman shares ... more

In June 2025, Ethan Berman, Sebastian Pelletti and Maarten van Haeren spent ten days climbing and descending the enormous Southeast Pillar of 7,388-meter Ultar Sar in Pakistan—a route that had defied attempts for more than 30 years. Armed with knowle... more

On their second attempt in two years, in April 2025, Anna Pfaff and Andres Marin completed a direct new route up the south face of Mt. Providence in the Alaska Range, this time with Tad McCrea as their climbing partner. The nearly 1,000-meter climb h... more

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Recent Guests

Sasha DiGiulian
33-year-old American climber from the DC area, currently residing in Boulder, Colorado. She is a former competition climber and a political activist, known for her substantial contributions to rock climbing, specifically in female first ascents.
Episode: Sasha DiGiulian on El Cap's Direct Line
Eliot Faber
Construction worker and experienced climber from Santa Cruz involved in the development of The Direct Line route.
Episode: Sasha DiGiulian on El Cap's Direct Line
Alex Honnold
Renowned American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls.
Episode: Sasha DiGiulian on El Cap's Direct Line
Steve Swenson
Long-time Karakoram climber and past president of the American Alpine Club.
American Alpine Club
Episode: The Coveted Southeast Pillar of Ultar Sar Is Finally Climbed
Dougald MacDonald
Editor-in-chief of the American Alpine Journal and creator of this podcast.
American Alpine Journal
Episode: The Coveted Southeast Pillar of Ultar Sar Is Finally Climbed
Barbara Zangerl
Professional climber, first to flash El Capitan
Episode: Babsi Zangerl Flashes El Cap
Kilian Jornet
Multidisciplinary athlete from the Pyrenees mountains of Catalonia, known for his speed and endurance in mountain sports.
Episode: Kilian Jornet's Mind-Blowing Traverse of the Alps
Tom Livingstone
English climber and rider from Wales, known for his resilience and technical skill in alpine climbing.
Episode: Mt. Dickey: A New Route and a Brilliant History
Matt Cornell
Climber who summited Jannu
Episode: Matt Cornell, Jackson Marvell and Alan Rousseau: Jannu North Face

Host

Jim Aikman
Host of The Cutting Edge, guiding the conversation on recent climbs and stories from renowned climbers.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 322 ratings
  • Old format better

    I so much preferred the old format. The new format with its thematic approach obfuscates what actually happened and the simple reportage of the old linear interviews was clear. Also, It was also a shame to lose the old theme music and soundscape. It was the best intro in podcasting! Truly wonderful sound design. Please bring it back.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    As yea come
    Australia22 days ago
  • Mostly excellent

    The original format of this podcast was potentially my favourite of any podcast, and felt as though it captured the essence of the routes being discussed, and the feeling of the history of the aaj. Unfortunately, while a polished production, the new format has lost all of the magic of the original, which is a real shame. The old intro and music in particular was a real winner. Hope that maybe it returns in the future.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    IsolatedNZ
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • New format not as good

    I’m not a big fan of the new format. I listen to this show because I want to hear climbers talk about their climbing. The current format spends most of the time with the host (and other guests who weren’t on the climb) and a minimal amount of time with the actual climbers talking. If you want to learn about a remarkable new route, maybe wait for the write-up in the AAJ.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    not on vacation
    United States9 months ago
  • Love new format

    Love the new format!! Thanks for great storytelling!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lumen user
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great info for climbers

    I’ve enjoyed some of these nerdy deep dives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeslieSage
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners express a desire for a more climber-focused dialogue, suggesting a feeling that the host sometimes overshadows guests with personal anecdotes.
Auditory quality has received mixed reviews, with suggestions for improvement, though many enjoy the content regardless.
The mix of excitement and information resonates well, making it a favored choice among mountain enthusiasts.
Reviews highlight the podcast's ability to keep listeners motivated and engaged with personal climbing journeys.
Listeners appreciate the deep storytelling and technical details shared by expert climbers and find the historical context valuable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#42
Chile/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#156
Argentina/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#169
Sweden/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#225
Austria/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sasha DiGiulian on El Cap's Direct Line
Q: So thinking back to that younger version of yourself, did you ever imagine that something like a free climb on El Cap would be in the cards for you?
Honestly, when I started climbing, I was six years old... and I always loved going climbing outside.
Finding Providence in the Alaska Range: Anna Pfaff, Andres Marin and Tad McCrea
Q: How has this enormous change in your physicality affected the way that you select what you climb?
Anna emphasizes the importance of climbing partners who understand her new needs.
Finding Providence in the Alaska Range: Anna Pfaff, Andres Marin and Tad McCrea
Q: What initially drew you to that peak?
Andres was the one who spotted the line on Mt. Providence, guiding their exploratory climb.
Finding Providence in the Alaska Range: Anna Pfaff, Andres Marin and Tad McCrea
Q: What can I do with this new reality?
Anna discusses her adaptation and new approach to climbing after her accident.
Babsi Zangerl Flashes El Cap
Q: What were you expecting the hardest thing about flashing El Cap to be?
The hardest part is the mental game involved in the pressure of attempting to flash a route.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Cutting Edge

What is The Cutting Edge about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The podcast features in-depth conversations with some of the world's most skilled climbers, who share their recent climbing experiences and strategies. Interviews often include rigorous discussions on specific climbs, the emotional and physical challenges faced by these athletes, and the dynamics of teamwork in high-stakes environments. A unique aspect of the content is its combination of personal narratives and historical insights provided by experienced editors, enriching the listener's understanding of the climbing community. This blend is particularly valuable for those passionate about alpinism and the intricate stories behind monumental climbing achievements.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Cutting Edge?

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How many listeners does The Cutting Edge get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Cutting Edge?

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How many subscribers and views does The Cutting Edge have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Cutting Edge?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Cutting Edge:

1. The Enormocast: the climbing podcast
2. The RunOut Podcast
3. the Sharp End Podcast
4. Uphill Athlete Podcast
5. Climbing Gold

How many episodes of The Cutting Edge are there?

The Cutting Edge launched 8 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Cutting Edge?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Cutting Edge from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The Cutting Edge?

Recent guests on The Cutting Edge include:

1. Sasha DiGiulian
2. Eliot Faber
3. Alex Honnold
4. Steve Swenson
5. Dougald MacDonald
6. Barbara Zangerl
7. Kilian Jornet
8. Tom Livingstone

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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