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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

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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

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