Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS
Episode Summary
For Women’s History Month, we speak with Cassidy Randall about her book Thirty Below, which tells the gripping true story of the first all-women’s ascent of Denali in 1970. Facing extreme sexism, brutal conditions, and life-threatening storms, this pioneering team of climbers defied expectations and set a precedent for future generations of women in mountaineering. Randall shares the harrowing details of their climb, the deep social dynamics at play, and why this historic feat was largely forgotten—until now.
“If a woman failed on a climb, it was seen as proof that all women were incapable. But when they succeeded, their achievements were ignored.” — Cassidy Randall
Then, award-winning journalist and author Omar El Akkad joins us to discuss his latest book, One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, an urgent and unflinching critique of empire, media, and the failures of mainstream liberalism.
“They told us the loss of free speech would only apply to ‘them’—to terrorists, to the people who don’t matter. But it never stops there.” — Omar El Akkad
Connect with WV:
Follow us on Bluesky @writersvoice.bsky.social and subscribe to our Substack. Or find us on Instagram @WritersVoicePodcast
You can support our show and the others you listen to by contributing through Lenny.fm. Your support helps us bring you more of the episodes, like this one, that you look forward to. Thanks for being a vital part of our community!
Key Words: Gaza war and U.S. complicity, Gaza genocide, U.S. foreign policy and empire, Student protests for Palestine, journalism and state censorship, One Day Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, Thirty Below, women climbers, Denali, mountaineering, CassidyRandall, womens history, adventure stories, extreme climbing
You Might Also Like: Omar El Akkad: What Strange Paradise
Cassidy Randall Interview: Key Points
- Denali’s Brutal Environment – Why this 20,000+ ft peak is one of the most dangerous mountains on Earth.
- Sexism in Mountaineering – Women were considered too weak for high-altitude climbing, and even skilled female alpinists were denied opportunities.
- Grace Hohman’s Motivation – After witnessing a deadly 1967 Denali disaster and losing her husband in a Himalayan avalanche, Grace was determined to prove women could climb on their own.
- Team Conflicts & Leadership Struggles – Clashing personalities and altitude sickness pushed the expedition to its limits.
- The Psychology of Extreme Climbing – How genetics, risk, and a deep connection to nature drive climbers to seek the most dangerous peaks.
- Why the Ascent Was Overlooked – Despite its historic nature, the climb received little media attention, while a later, fatal all-women’s climb made headlines.
- Legacy of the Denali Damsels – How this climb influenced future female climbers, including Arlene Blum’s groundbreaking Annapurna expedition.
Omar El Akkad Interview: Key Points
- The meaning behind the book’s title and how historical injustices are rewritten after the fact
- How witnessing the bombardment of Gaza changed El Akkad’s perception of the Western liberal order
- The gap between the U.S.’s stated values and its actions—funding wars while condemning them
- How language is manipulated to obscure state violence, from media headlines to legal justifications
- The role of the Democratic Party in enabling war crimes and eroding civil liberties
- The rise of anti-protest laws, bans on boycotts, and the criminalization of dissent
- Generational shifts in political awareness and why younger people are rejecting liberal illusions
- Why El Akkad focuses his critique on liberals rather than the far right
- The challenge of voting within a broken system and whether electoral politics can still create change
- What gives El Akkad hope: grassroots activism, student protests, and the power of solidarity