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The Cutting Edge

The American Alpine Club
Climbing
Alpine Climbing
El Capitan
American Alpine Club
Yosemite Valley
Pakistan
American Alpine Journal
Cerro Torre
Free Rider
Platinum Wall
Yashkuk Sar
Karakoram
Ultar Sar
Karakoram Range
Patagonia
Greenland
The Direct Line
Rock Climbing
Big Wall Climbing
First Female Ascent

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. The Cutting Edge is generously supported by Feathered Friends.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes83Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for The Cutting Edge

Latest Episodes

In August 2026, the team of Ethan Berkeland, August Franzen, and Vitaliy Musiyenko turned around just a few pitches below the summit of Ogre I in Pakistan, nearly completing the first alpine-style ascent of the coveted southeast buttress. The Ogre (a... more

In August, Rachel Pearce braved the famed Indian Face on the north side of Wales’ highest peak, completing the first female ascent of this masterpiece of runout traditional climbing. First climbed by Johnny Dawes in 1986, the U.K.’s first E9 (E9 6c o... more

The south face of Kichatna Spire in Alaska was one of the great unclimbed walls of North America. Until July. On their second attempt in two years, young American alpinists Eli Spitulnik and Michael Telstad climbed the 1,000-meter face with a blend o... more

On February 11, Erwan Legrand—only 17 at the time, and barefoot!—took down one of the longest-standing open projects in the world: Le Bombé Bleu at Buoux, France. Bolted on the La Plage sector in 1991 by Marc Le Menestrel, the 100-foot route features... more

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Recent Guests

Vitaliy Musiyenko
Alpinist and emergency medicine nurse with experience in first ascents and high-altitude climbing
Episode: The Ogre: A Bold Attempt and Narrow Escape
Ethan Berkeland
Alaskan climber with experience in technical climbing and the greater ranges
Episode: The Ogre: A Bold Attempt and Narrow Escape
Dougald MacDonald
American Alpine Journal editor and climbing historian
American Alpine Journal
Episode: The Ogre: A Bold Attempt and Narrow Escape
Rachel Pearce
First female ascensionist of Indian Face
Climber, Welsh headpoint pioneer
Episode: Rachel Pearce Climbs the Indian Face, Britain's Storied Headpoint Route
Eli Spitulnik
Climber, Kichatna Spire team member
Pacific Northwest climber; student
Episode: The South Face of Kichatna Spire
Michael Telstad
Climber, Kichatna Spire team member
Pacific Northwest climber; product developer in outdoor industry
Episode: The South Face of Kichatna Spire
Conrad Anker
American alpinist, explorer
Alpinist; AAC grant recipient; multiple Kichatna expeditions
Episode: The South Face of Kichatna Spire
Al DeMaria
Climber, Vulgarians; first ascent participant in 1965 expedition
Gunks climber; 1965 expedition participant
Episode: The South Face of Kichatna Spire
Peter Geiser
Climber, 1965 expedition participant
Gunks climber; 1965 expedition participant
Episode: The South Face of Kichatna Spire

Host

Jim Aikman
Host of The Cutting Edge

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 347 ratings
  • New Favorite Climbing Podcast

    This podcast is actually focused on climbing, and contains more climbing stories and less of the bro-hangout thing that dominates other climbing podcasts. The editing keeps things tight, and they get great climbers on. Only just discovered this one, but it’s my new favorite.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Otto Jr
    United Statesa month ago
  • Please no more bouldering episodes

    This podcast was literally perfect etc but the last bouldering episode was so boring.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    NorCalLuke
    United States6 months ago
  • Overproduced

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    craigrandall
    United States7 months ago
  • Great storytelling!

    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 !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    eric V2
    United States7 months ago
  • 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
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

listeners appreciate the deep technical detail and historian edge of episodes
production quality is praised, though some callers miss the old format and music
guests are consistently strong and insightful, keeping climbers engaged
audio quality and pacing are frequent points of critique for some listeners
overall, fans describe the show as essential listening for climbers and route history enthusiasts

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#234
Italy/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#165
Poland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#229
Chile/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#229
Finland/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Ogre: A Bold Attempt and Narrow Escape
Q: Why does the summit matter? Why are you considering going back?
Musiyenko says reaching the summit was the team's goal and remains meaningful, but he would not risk his life for it. He considers the alpine-style climb a significant achievement and may pursue other challenges on Ogre I rather than repeat the same route simply to complete it.
The Ogre: A Bold Attempt and Narrow Escape
Q: You described this as one of your greatest successes and one of your greatest failures, and that it lives in that contradictory place. How would you define an experience like that, that is both such a profound success and a failure?
Musiyenko says the team was right to retreat because the conditions made climbing unsafe, though he still felt disappointed not to reach the high point. He rejects the idea that summits do not matter, while emphasizing that safety comes first.
Rachel Pearce Climbs the Indian Face, Britain's Storied Headpoint Route
Q: What makes Indian Face such a significant challenge at its height of difficulty?
Its 150-foot vertical to overhanging shield route combines sparse protection, long runouts, and a demanding sequence that rewards precision and composure over brute strength, illustrating the peril and poetry of traditional climbing at the highest level.
Katie Lamb: Becoming the First Woman to Do V16—Twice
Q: How did the grading controversy around Box Therapy influence you?
She recalls feeling initial discomfort but also the learning that controversy is a natural part of a sport with evolving standards and a communal decision-making process.
Katie Lamb: Becoming the First Woman to Do V16—Twice
Q: What does it mean to you to be the first woman to climb a V16 in Yosemite?
Katie emphasizes separating personal climbing from the milestone, acknowledges the cultural impact, and notes how the achievement can motivate others while also respecting the sport's ongoing history and gender dynamics.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cutting Edge

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

This show centers on in-depth conversations with top climbers, blending firsthand ascent storytelling with historical context from editors and experts. Guests range from first ascensionists and route developers to seasoned editors, offering technical insights, risk management, and reflections on climbing culture across notable expeditions and big-wall feats. The format often combines vivid ascent narratives with broader context, highlighting the evolution of climbing ethics, technology, and exploration. Noteworthy is the podcast's sustained engagement with legacy routes, Alpine style versus siege approaches, and close collaboration with the American Alpine Journal and American Alpine Club, which adds a scholarly, historical dimension to com... more

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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. Climbing Gold
5. Uphill Athlete Podcast

How many episodes of The Cutting Edge are there?

The Cutting Edge launched 9 years ago and published 83 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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What guests have appeared on The Cutting Edge?

Recent guests on The Cutting Edge include:

1. Vitaliy Musiyenko
2. Ethan Berkeland
3. Dougald MacDonald
4. Rachel Pearce
5. Eli Spitulnik
6. Michael Telstad
7. Conrad Anker
8. Al DeMaria

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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