
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.
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 77 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Sports | |||

In March 2025, the Bay Area–based climber Katie Lamb snagged the fourth ascent of Yosemite's most difficult boulder problem, The Dark Side, an unrelenting V16 on small crimps and dire slopers on the Thriller Boulder in Camp 4. In so doing, she became... more
One of the highlights of last fall's Nepal season was the first ascent of 7,468-meter Jannu East by French climbers Nicolas Jean and Benjamin Védrines, on their second attempt in two years. In this special episode of the Cutting Edge, Ben Védrines sh... more
The enormous granite peaks of Mozambique are among Africa's most impressive rock formations, yet fewer than a dozen climbing teams have ever explored them. In 2025, a Spanish and American trio put up a 17-pitch route in Mozambique, and for this episo... more
Last summer, the Women's Young Alpinist Team of the Swiss Alpine Club journeyed to East Greenland—without ever boarding a plane—and they climbed six long new rock routes, four of them in a fjord never that had never been visited by climbers. Team lea... more
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This podcast was literally perfect etc but the last bouldering episode was so boring.
I miss when this show was a simple interview format with MacDonald hosting. The updated show is cloyingly produced; the host’s script is unnatural sounding and the cuts and music interludes are unsuccessful flourishes. I used to never miss an episode but finding myself rarely listening in the past year.
I love this format where they have different guests, putting in historical context, education about the area, and of course, engaging question and storytelling by their guests! It’s obvious they put a lot of work into each episode and I greatly appreciate the production !
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.
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #205 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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This show features in-depth conversations with top climbers and industry editors, often centered on recent big climbs, expedition planning, risk management, and the broader culture of alpinism. Episodes frequently include expert commentary from editors and seasoned mountaineers, providing historical context and practical insights for serious climbers. A notable strength is the blend of first-hand expedition storytelling with analytical perspectives on technique, ethics, and risk, making it valuable for listeners who want both inspiration and deeper understanding of modern alpine climbing. A few episodes also emphasize the human side of extreme climbing—training, mindset, and resilience in the face of danger. The format can be resource-inten... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Cutting Edge:
1. The Enormocast: the climbing podcast
2. Alpinist
3. The RunOut Podcast
4. Climbing Gold
5. the Sharp End Podcast
The Cutting Edge launched 8 years ago and published 77 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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Recent guests on The Cutting Edge include:
1. Katie Lamb
2. Carlo Traversi
3. Benjamin Védrine
4. Steve House
5. Dakota Walls
6. Micah Burhart
7. Dougald McDonald
8. Sasha DiGiulian
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