
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 | 71 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Sports | ||||

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
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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.
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.
Love the new format!! Thanks for great storytelling!
I’ve enjoyed some of these nerdy deep dives.
I get psyched whenever a new episode shows up on my phone. Thank you for making this!
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 | #221 | |
Apple Podcasts | #111 | |
Apple Podcasts | #209 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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.
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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
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.
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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
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