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Artwork for The Cutting Edge

The Cutting Edge

The American Alpine Club
Climbing
Free Rider
El Capitan
Yosemite Valley
Yashkuk Sar
Pakistan
Karakoram
Flash Climbing
Babsi Zangerl
American Alpine Journal
Bivouac Coffee
Climbing Techniques
Alps
Frostbite
Expedition Planning
Alpine Connections Project
Alex Honnold
Josh Wharton
Nanga Parbat
Mount Logan

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.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes71Founded8 years ago
Category
Sports

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Artwork for The Cutting Edge

Latest Episodes

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

Three climbers from the U.S. spent nearly two months last summer in Baffin Island's Auyuittuq National Park, and they came away with three long new routes climbed in remarkable style. The trio went ultra-light (by Baffin standards) and packed only a ... more

In September, three young American climbers—August Franzen, Dane Steadman, and Cody Winckler—completed the first ascent of Yashkuk Sar I in northwest Pakistan. The 2,000-meter north pillar took five days to climb and descend, with challenges includin... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

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
Jackson Marvell
Climber who summited Jannu
Episode: Matt Cornell, Jackson Marvell and Alan Rousseau: Jannu North Face
Alan Rousseau
Climber who summited Jannu
Episode: Matt Cornell, Jackson Marvell and Alan Rousseau: Jannu North Face
Connor Herson
Young climber known for his groundbreaking ascents
Stanford University
Episode: Connor Herson and Fan Yang: 5.13+ on Mt. Whitney
Fan Yang
Professional climber, MD, and researcher in AI for medicine
Episode: Connor Herson and Fan Yang: 5.13+ on Mt. Whitney

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 321 ratings
  • 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 Zealanda month 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 States7 months ago
  • Love new format

    Love the new format!! Thanks for great storytelling!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lumen user
    United States10 months ago
  • Great info for climbers

    I’ve enjoyed some of these nerdy deep dives.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LeslieSage
    United States3 years ago
  • Every episode is a must-listen

    I get psyched whenever a new episode shows up on my phone. Thank you for making this!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Keffstyle
    United States4 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
#221
Italy/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#111
Chile/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#209
Israel/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Babsi Zangerl Flashes El Cap
Q: What does Yosemite mean to you?
Yosemite is like a mecca for climbers, a historic place where you can find many walls to climb.

Audience Metrics

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

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?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Cutting Edge has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 71 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Cutting Edge?

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. Barbara Zangerl
2. Kilian Jornet
3. Tom Livingstone
4. Matt Cornell
5. Jackson Marvell
6. Alan Rousseau
7. Connor Herson
8. Fan Yang

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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